Here it is -- chapter 2. Yes, those are Dark Link and Shadow Link in the chapter. More will be explained about their "coming-to-be" later on. Next chapter goes to Link, Tetra, Bambi, and Aryll!
And for those who are confused with the maiden biz...here:
Green Maiden -- Lunatet
Blue Maiden -- Artet
Red Maiden -- Fiza
Purple Maiden -- Lazerus
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Note -- the beginning of the chapter starts out boring, but there are things I need to explain. Things get better later in the chapter.
Chapter 2 -- The Princess' Plea
"I can't stop having these dreams... They speak of the ancient prophecy, and my mother..." said the young Princess Pike, striding through the palace corridors with four women at her sides, who listening to what she had to say.
The princess was a pretty girl who was about twelve years old, nearly thirteen, with big brown eyes and dirty blonde hair that went a little past her shoulders. She was currently wearing a white sundress, white tights, and white low-heeled white shoes. On her head was a simple circlet with pink roses.
The four women accompanying her were quite unique looking. The first one was tall and slender with pale green eyes and light green hair worn in cinamon buns on each side of her head (Think Princess Leia from Star Wars). She was wearing a long gown the same color as her hair.
The next was a woman with deep blue eyes and straight, dark blue hair that went to the middle of her back. She too wore a gown, only hers was in blue.
The third woman had blood red eyes with blood red hair cut to just beneath her chin, and was garbed in a red gown.
The final maiden appeared to be the youngest, looking only 16 or 17 years old. She had purple eyes and long, purple hair worn in braids, and, you guessed it -- purple gown.
"I take it that these dreams have meaning to you, am I wrong?" inquired the blue maiden.
The princess turned to her, looking solemn.
"Yes, Artet. Something big is going to happen...but...I don't know what. I've read the ancient prophecy over and over again, but I can't decipher this dream. And what does my mother have to do with it, I wonder?" she said.
"Perhaps she will return, and play some role in the fulfillment of the prophecy..." suggested the green maiden quietly.
"We don't even know if her mother is still alive, Lunatet, I doubt that she is," the red maiden snapped at the green one.
"Fiza, must you always be such a pessimist?" asked Artet, glaring at her red sister.
"I'm saying what I think! Is that such a crime?" Fiza replied defiantly.
"Please, don't fight!" Pike pleaded. "This is a serious matter...I can feel it."
"Sorry..." murmured Lunatet, Artet, and Fiza ('Fiza' is pronounced FEE-zuh).
After a moment of silence, Lunatet turned to the purple maiden, who walked in deep concentration.
"You haven't shared your thoughts with us, Lazerus."
Lazerus, the purple maiden, blinked herself out of her state and raised her head to look at her sisters and the princess.
"Truthfully, I don't know what to think. I'd wait for signs before making assumptions," she said.
"That is wise, little sister," Artet complimented with a nod.
Princess Pike looked at her four friends.
"And you four have felt nothing strange approaching?" she asked suddenly.
"Nothing, princess. Sorry," Fiza admitted. "Why do you ask?"
"You four are the remaining maidens of the monumental Four Sword Sanctuary after the deaths of the white and yellow maidens, Astasia and Brigette." Pike frowned and bowed her head before continuing somewhat mournfully, "I remember nothing of their deaths, being an infant at the time of their occurence, but to this day I feel your pain. They were your sisters. But on less emotional levels, lack of both white and yellow maiden has weakened all of our powers as guardians of the Four Sword. Perhaps this is why none of you have felt what I have during the past few nights."
The four maidens nodded silently, and a sad quietness followed as the five continued their palace walk.
Finally, with what appeared to be some reluctance, Princess Pike spoke again.
"My mother and the prophecy were not the only things in my dream..." she began. The maidens looked at her.
Pike said, "There was also something about a sister... But...I don't have a sister... Do I?"
The maidens suddenly looked scared and shared glances.
"What is it? What do you know?" Pike demanded.
Artet stopped walking, and everyone stopped with her.
"Tell me!" the princess begged.
"Your father will have our heads...this was not to be mentioned again, but...I don't suppose it can be avoided now, can it?" Artet said with a nervous smile. She then went into the story.
"A while ago, when your father was merely prince and your grandfather was king, some outsiders intruded in our lands. We sort of welcomed them, as hospitality is of our nature, but we remained wary of their presence. After all, they were pirates. Their leader's name was Sylvia, if I recall correctly...
Well, of course, the pirates met the royal family. I remember that your father Arnav and the pirate leader Sylvia did not get along very well. But, trying to be nice, your grandfather invited the pirates to a banquet anyway.
Arnav and Sylvia ended up having a little too much to drink that night, and uh...kind of slept together. When he came around, your father was very angry, and alerted his father, who felt pretty much the same way, and ordered your mother and her crew to be killed.
The pirates escaped, however... And then another part comes in. Our deceased sisters, Astasia and Brigette were, as we knew, always hungering for more. They were sick of the boundaries of our kingdom, and snuck onto the ship as it was leaving.
They disguised themselves to look like normal women, and had children of their own before their deaths... We had been able to talk to them through telepathy.
Anyway, back to Sylvia...well...turns out that your father sort of, uh...knocked her up. So she returned to Oceana one day with twin girls, one of which was you... She showed them to your father, and he decided to keep you as his heir. Your mother left with your sister...we've heard nothing of them since."
Pike's brown eyes were round.
"All this...and...and I never knew it? My father told me my mother was a whore, not a pirate! I thought I was an only child!" Tears streamed down her face.
"Sorry, but...you asked to hear the truth..." Fiza said.
Pike said nothing. She just gazed at the floor, looking confused.ass
"I know this is a lot to take in..." Lunatet said quietly.
"I...I..." Pike stuttered, but was cut off as an old, stout man bustled towards them.
"Princess Pike, your father would like a word with you," he said.
A muscle in Pike's face twitched. She wiped away her tears.
"Yes, thank you for letting me know, sir. I'll go see him now..."
Turning to the four maidens, the princess said emotionlessly, "Thank you for talking to me." She then left to meet with her father.
"Ah, Pike, my darling daughter! You know how I don't like you wandering about the castle yourself! There could be bandits waiting outside the windows who might want to break in and put you in a big sack and tie it up so you can't breathe and then kidnap you and take you out of the sack and take off all your clothes and rape you and then kill you by stabbing you in the neck!" exclaimed King Arnav, rising from his thrown and striding to greet his daughter.
He was a tall, burly man with tan skin and long, curly blonde hair with an equally long and curly blonde beard. Arnav was dressed in a royally embroidered shirt and matching pants with a long, green cape and an a shining golden crown.
Pike's fists clenched.
"I was not alone. I was with the maidens," she snapped.
"Ah, yes, of course, but could they protect you from bandits?"
"Ye --"
"I thought not. Anyway, dearest daughter, I have grand news," said Arnav.
"Yes, well, I have some news for YOU! I just found out that --" Pike was cut off once more.
"You're getting married, Pike!"
Pike was stunned.
"W-what?"
"You're getting married, love! Isn't that great?"
"WHAT?"
"It's true. A messenger from a far away kingdom said that his king desired your hand in marriage. So I said yes," Arnav told his daughter.
"Father, how could you! Why didn't you consult me?" Pike choked out.
Arnav looked up. He had been examining his nails.
"Huh? Did you say something, sweetie?"
"This is MY life! Why did you make this decision without consulting ME?"
Arnav tossled his daughter's hair.
"Ah, my darling daughter, this is what's best for the kingdom. You'll grow to understand one day. Besides, I'm sure this king is a nice fellow who will take good care of you."
"Do you even know his name? Do you know what kingdom he rules?"
"Well, uh...no. But we shall find out tonight -- he's coming over for dinner."
Pike's anger bubbled over.
"NOW YOU TELL ME THIS? THIS IS THE LAST THING I NEED TO HEAR! I'VE JUST BEEN TOLD THE TRUTH ABOUT MY MOTHER!"
"What?"
"MY MOTHER WASN'T A PROSTITUTE LIKE YOU TOLD ME! SHE WAS A PIRATE, AND YOU ALMOST GOT HER KILLED! YOU KNOCKED HER UP, AND SHE GAVE BIRTH TO TWINS, ONE OF WHICH WAS ME! YOU NEVER TOLD ME I HAD A SISTER!"
"I, uh..."
"YOU NEVER TOLD ME!"
"YOUNG LADY, GO TO YOUR ROOM! YOU HAVE SPOKEN OUT OF TURN!"
Arnav turned to a pair of soldiers standing by the thrones.
"SOLDIERS! ESCORT THE PRINCESS TO HER BEDROOM SO SHE DOES NOT GET ATTACKED BY BANDITS AND THROWN INTO A SACK AND KIDNAPPED AND TAKEN OUT OF THE SACK AND HAVE HER CLOTHES TAKEN OFF AND GET RAPED AND STABBED IN THE NECK!"
The soldiers bowed, and began to lead the angry Pike to her chambers.
Pike sighed as she sat on her bed, staring at the prophecy in an ancient book.
The prophecy was a legend in Oceana. It was the thing haunting Pike's dreams. No one knew who had written it, but it had been known by heart to all, and was said to be the directions for saving the world some day in the future. Not a soul could decipher it, however. It said:
To smite the moonlight's lover
Thou must thwart those who are unpure
He who drains the night's day
The children of darkness will come forth
To lend aid to those true
To lay hand on the six tools of the gods
To help small girls find their way
Look for their red blood amongst the black
Seven heinous souls
One who reigns
Four who are weak-minded
And two who come forth to do what the gods see right
Spare the two
And leave all else to die
Unlock the door for he
Who is one, become four
Using time's key, save a boy and his lover
Then hurry to the church as the sky rains blood
Or else all will be gone for good
Pike angrily shut the book. She didn't want to think about that fucking prophecy then. She was just so...pissed. I mean, an arranged marriage? Pike didn't even know the man! It was apparent that her father was totally out of his fucking mind... Pike sighed and walked over to her bedside table and picked up an ocarina, fingering it gently.
The ocarina was known as the Ocarina of Time, and had been a treasure of her family. It was said that it belonged to the Hero of Time himself.
Most people in her kingdom thought of it with distaste. Their belief was that the Hero of Time was a traitor and a fool. Yet, Pike could sense the purity of the object in her hands.
Suddenly, the princess of Oceana heard voices outside her door. The voices of some of the castle's guards...
"Did you hear? One of our most prized artifacts, the Dark Mirror, has gone missing!" hissed one guard.
"Like, oh my gosh, no way!" said the other.
"They haven't found the culprit yet. It's as though it just...vanished. However...there have been some strange noises coming from that spooky old manor. You know, the one a ways out from town?"
"Yeah, I know the one. But no one would dare go to that manor...too creepy. So screw looking there."
"Yeah, screw it. The king wants us to look for the Dark Mirror so it doesen't fall into the wrong hands, but...we can do that later. Want to go grab some chicken fingers at Burger King?" asked the first voice.
"Yeah, that'd be cool," replied the second.
The guards' footsteps could be heard walking away. Then the second voice said, "Wait! We don't have a Burger King! WHAT ARE YOU GETTING AT, ASSHOLE?"
Then the other person fired a gun, Pike could hear... The sound of a body hitting the floor floated past her door.
Pike shrugged and turned to go look out the window.
The Dark Mirror was missing? The Dark Mirror was as ancient as the Ocarina of Time... The mirror had many dark powers. There were loads of rumors as to what evils it could cause, but no one knew for sure... The mirror had been safely kept by the royal family of Oceana...until now.
Then the guard said that there was some activity in the spooky, abandoned old mansion far out from town...
No one knew the mansion's origins. It had been there since Oceana's beginnings, and no one knew who owned it, or if it had ever even been inhabited. But nobody dared enter that mansion. It was said to be very haunted, so activity inside it was indeed very strange. Pike couldn't help but feel that the Dark Mirror case had something to do with the mansion at the present...
All these thoughts were overwhelming at the moment, so Pike reached under her bed and pulled out a Persian Shamshir (It's a type of sword, for those who don't know. Look it up on Google -- they're really cool). The princess was skilled in the ways of the sword, unbeknownst to her dumbfuck father.
He had said, "Swords will poke your eyes out and we'll have to put you on a horse and take you to a hospital where they might not be able to put your eyes back in!" Of course, Pike hadn't listened. She had been practicing her sword skills since she was six, and she still had both eyes intact.
Shamishir in hand, Pike opened her bedroom window. Below it was a courtyard, which Pike climbed down into with the aid of some vines growing outside the window. Pike began to practice the shamishir, but even that couldn't take her mind off everything.
Pike placed her thoughts about the mansion, Dark Mirror, and marriage aside to focus on her discoveries about her family.
A sister...she had a sister all this time. Why didn't her father want her to know? He had made everyone who did know hide the truth from her, and that pissed the princess off right good. It upset her to think how her father didn't realize how mature she was, and how she was mentally capable of handling something such as this. How sickening...
Pike practiced and thought for what must have been hours, and then she realized with shock that an evening sky had risen. She was meeting her husband-to-be over dinner!
Hurriedly, Pike climbed up the vine and back into her bedroom. She stashed the Persian shamishir under her bed just as one of her nursemaids, a senile elderly woman, walked in.
"Ralph, dearest! Your father asked me to tell you to prepare for the Yule Ball! There are lots of lovely ladies waiting to meet you, Ralph, my dear!" exclaimed the old bat.
"Erm...yes... Yes, thank you for telling me this, ma'am..." Pike replied as respectfully as she could.
"You really are too sweet, young Ralph. Quite a young stud you are, just like your mother. Now I must be on my way. I'm heading for the Olympics," and with that, the nursemaid walked out the door.
Honestly, Pike thought, Why doesen't father just fire them when they get this old?
Shaking her head, Pike got ready. She had a bad feeling about tonight...
At last, dressed beautifully in a blue Disney-princessish gown and crown, Pike joined her father in the throne room to await the arrival of the man she was to marry.
"Ah, Pike, my daughter! Did you have a safe trip down to the throne room? You didn't run into any bandits, did you?" asked Arnav.
Pike sighed. "No, father...I didn't meet any bandits."
"That's good. Bandits are quite awful, really. They'll attack you and --"
"I know, father."
"Good. Then I have taught you well."
Father and daughter waited.
At last, the portly messenger that had told Pike to see her father earlier that day bustled in and bowed.
"King Arnav, Princess Pike...we have guests," he said.
"They aren't bandits, are they?" Arnav asked frantically, his eye twitching.
"No, sir, I don't believe they are. They are here about the, uh...marriage?"
"Ah, yes...yes, of course. Send them in if you will, my good man."
"Right away, sir!" the messenger said enthusiastically as he stood up. With one last bow, he hurried out of the throne room.
Pike watched him go as she flexed her hands nervously...
Moments later, three cloaked figures strode in, lead by the messenger, who quickly left when he had finished escorting.
The figure in the middle stood ahead of the other two. His cloak covered his face, but he was handsomely shaped, tall and slim, yet muscular. The other two were obviously young males about her age.
"Good day to you, Your Highnesses. It is an honor to meet both of you," the man in the center said in a silky voice. He bowed, then stood up. The man then removed the hood of his cloak, and the two boys copied.
The man was very handsome, and looked to be somewhere in his 20's or 30's. He had long, black hair, fair skin, and purple eyes, that while beautiful, made Pike's skin crawl... There was something wrong with this guy, something EVIL...
The two boys with him were handsome, too, but just as strange. They seemed to be twins, despite a few minor differences in their faces. They had messy black hair, and gleaming red eyes, which fastened on Pike as they smiled identically at her... Smiles that were almost...menacing?
"My name is King Majora," said the man, smiling at Arnav, then looking at Pike unblinkingly.
"What is the name of your kingdom?" Pike demanded coldly.
Majora blinked stupidly.
"Uuuhhhh...uh...Bethlehem?"
Pike leaned towards her father.
"Didn't you just see the way he made that up off the top of his head?" she hissed so their guests could not hear.
"Shut up, Pike. Honestly, you're such a silly-willy-walnut-head!" said Arnav, tossling his daughter's hair before turning back to Majora and the two boys.
King Arnav stood up, walked to Majora, and heartily shook his hand.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, King Majora!" he exclaimed.
My father said I was to marry a king...but...he is so much older than me! That's gross! Pike thought. This can't be right...
"Pardon my interruption, but is it one of them I am to wed?" Pike asked in a "polite" tone that failed to hide her confusion, coldness, and anger. She pointed to the boy twin standing on the right, who blushed.
"What? Marry one of them? Oh, no, my lady! You're going to marry me!" said Majora, laughing. Arnav joined in. Pike's fears had been confirmed.
When the laughter stopped, Arnav examined the twins.
"What fine young boys these are!" he said.
"Ah, yes. This is Dark," said Majora, gesturing to the boy on the left. "And this is Shadow." He pointed to the one on the right.
"Hello," said Dark, his face...uh...dark. He seemed awfully serious.
"Hi," said Shadow with a smile.
That was another difference between them -- their voices. Dark's was low, Shadow's was very high.
"What interesting names..." Pike commented with a snort.
"Shut up, dearest," said Arnav.
"Now, are they your sons?" the Oceanan king asked Majora.
Majora's reaction was similar to that of the kingdom question.
"Uuuuuhhhh...yeah...yeah, sure. Let's go with that," he lied. Then he began to tell some obviously made up story about it.
"Their mother, like...died. It was really sad. They were so broken up over it..." Majora began dramatically. Shadow fake-coughed.
"She got sick and died," claimed Majora. Shadow coughed again.
"Oh? And what did she die of?" Pike asked.
"PIKE!" snapped Arnav.
"Oh, no, no, curiousity is such a good thing...I would be happy to answer..." Majora said, smiling at Pike. "Their mother died of AIDs, you see." That earned another cough from Shadow.
"Did she get it from you?" asked Pike. Arnav looked pissed, and opened his mouth to say something, but the fakely-pleasant "king of Bethlehem" spoke first.
"No, she didn't."
Shadow coughed loudly, and Majora, who had been trying to ignore it, turned fiercely to the boy.
"Do you need a cough drop, Shadow?" he demanded.
Shadow flashed a smile.
"No, no, I'm good."
Majora gazed at him steadily, and said, "Good." before turning back to Pike and Arnav.
"In conclusion, it was a real American tragedy..." said Majora.
"But this isn't America, uh...FATHER..." Dark said. Shadow snickered.
Majora looked at Dark, stony-faced.
"It was an expression, my SON..." he said darkly.
A chef popped into the room.
"Dinner is about to be served," she said. "Please proceed to the kitchen."
"Well, shall we go eat then?" Arnav asked. Majora nodded, and everyone filed out of the throne room.
What liars these people are... What are they up to? They're weird... Pike thought.
Everyone took their seats in the dining hall. It was then that Pike noticed that the twins had gone missing.
Turning to Majora, she asked, "Where have your sons gone to?"
"Oh, those kids? Hmm...I think they went to the bathroom," Majora lied.
"They went to the bathroom? Together? Wow. They must be really close," Pike said with a smirk.
Arnav whispered to Pike, "Stop being so rude! Their personal lives are none of our business!"
"Yes, they are very close indeed," Majora said coolly, staring at Pike with those purple eyes of his.
More lies. What a surprise. But I don't want those THINGS wandering around my castle... Pike thought.
She decided she'd find Shadow and Dark...but first she would wait so she wouldn't seem so suspicious.
There was alcohol served, and after a few minutes, Majora and Arnav seemed to be getting a little on the drunk side. Majora's "sons" had not returned.
"Pardon me, but I'm going to the bathroom. I'll be back in a moment," said Pike, standing up.
"Ok! If you see them lil' rascals in there, then feel free to join them! They would like it," Majora said drunkly. He started laughing, and so did Pike's father.
Pike quickly began to walk away. She didn't want to hear any more of their alcohol-impaired babble.
"Oh, and Pike, my son! Watch out for 'em bandits on the way!" Arnav slurred. Laughter rang out again, so Pike quickened her pace.
Pike first decided to check the bathrooms, just in case. As she had suspected, the boys weren't in any of them. But then Pike heard something upstairs... She realized with horror that the sounds were coming from HER room! The princess raced up the stairs and to her chambers.
OOOOHH, IF THEY'RE IN THERE DOING GODDESSES KNOW WHAT... Pike thought, opening the door. Then she screamed.
There stood the boys, wearing her bras. Her things were strewn all over the place.
"Oh, look! It's just my size!" laughed the high-pitched voice of Shadow, gesturing to the bra.
"Yeah, you have nice boobs, princess, I'll admit!" said Dark, grinning tauntingly at Pike.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN HERE...WITH MY BRAS! AND WHY IS MY ROOM IN SHAMBLES, YOU ASSHOLES?" Pike barked.
"Oh...we were curious," Dark explained casually. He picked up the shamishir, which was laying in the middle of the floor. The boy examined it.
"Oh, how nice. What a cool sword," he said, looking bored.
"Put that down!" Pike commanded, clenching her fists.
"Yeah, sure, that sword's cool, but it's not as pretty as this little ocarina!" said Shadow, picking up the Ocarina of Time.
Pike rushed over and jerked the instrument from his hands.
"What do the two of you want?"
"We said we were curious," Dark reminded her.
Princess Pike glared at both of them.
"Listen, you...both of you! I know your so-called 'father' is a liar, as are the two of you! What's he really marrying me for?"
"Can't tell you, princess," said Dark, winking.
"You most certainly aren't working for the forces of good, are you?" Pike asked steadily.
"Did it really take you that long to figure that out?" Dark asked, raising a brow. Shadow giggled.
"What is your true relationship with Majora? Where does he come from?"
Shadow said, "Majora is technically not our father, that is true. And the two of us never had a mother. But Majora is sort of like a father to us... After all, he DID bring us out of the Dark World using the Dark Mirror, and created me. He ressurrected my brother Dark here."
"The Dark Mirror! Where are you keeping it?" Pike asked, shocked.
"Again, not telling. Well...screw you. We're going back to dinner to get bloated," said Dark, taking off the bra and tossing it onto the floor. Shadow took off the one he was wearing and did the same. The boys walked to the door, but stopped in the doorway.
"After tonight, you will see us many more times, princess. You've met the two of us. But we would like to meet YOUR sister. Maybe she could help you with what's to come... Perhaps she could help you decipher that silly little prophecy," said Dark, his eyes flashing as he grinned. Then he and Shadow left to go back to dinner.
Pike was stunned by what he had said. How did he know she had a sister? And why did he talk about the prophecy like that? Though she did not trust Dark, the princess did take his words to heart.
That night, she would try to reach her long lost sister through telepathy. Dark times were ahead, and Princess Pike needed answers...