Seeing Truth

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Chapter 2: A Complicated Tale

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Before I could realize it, the sun had finally set behind the trees. I sat against the tree, gazing up at the sky as stars began to shine down on Hyrule's night sky. From many years of searching the skies for constellations such as Leo, the Big and Little Dipper, and Orion, none were shining down. Hyrule was clearly a different realm. How is it possible that such a place was possible? This was a video game, not reality. Maybe I'm in a different galaxy? Before I could think of anything else, I felt something bump into my shoulder. I glanced over to my side and realized a small, orb of light with wings was hovering only a few inches from my face. I jumped back in surprise when the sprite began to fly around in circles and make a bell-ringing noise. By the time I sat back again, more than a dozen small orbs of light began appearing from around the village. I watched them a bit curiously as they inched closer to me. After a few seconds of whispering, a small fairy began approaching me.

"What's your name?" the fairy said in a high-pitched voice.

"Jade."

"Really?" the fairy said as it came closer, "My name's Taliba. I'm Saria's fairy."

"Yeah, and I'm Mido's fairy, Torell." Another fairy said as it approached.

"Where are you from?" another fairy said from the fairly large cluster of fairies.

"A planet called Earth." I replied.

"Really?" the fairy called, Taliba said, "I've never heard of it before."

I heard fairies give agreeing remarks as they hovered up and down. How much time passed; I couldn't tell. Almost every fairy there had asked me a question like: What it was like where I lived? What is a TV? How does a car work? On and on it went, until finally I found myself saying it was getting quite dark. The fairies continued their chatter as they left, finally leaving me by myself. After a few minutes, I realized what I had said. Finally, after a long while of thinking about it in my head, I decided to get up. When I reached the ladder to Link's house, I glanced up and noticed that there was no light on inside. Curiosity overtook me, so I began walking slowly through the village, groping my way through the dark, until I finally reached a house not too far away. A simple curtain was draped to the entrance as a door. I didn't want to be caught, so I stood to the side of the doorway. I could hear two voices inside the house: one was of a girl and the other was of Link's.

"Link, I'm not sure how this is going to work, but I don't want you to be getting into trouble just because of this… stranger from A-me-ri-ca." a girl's voice said.

"I know, Saria, but a lot of thing are going on, and maybe she can help us." Link said.

"I know what you mean. I mean…As I said-you know-everything's turning haywire. It's like the goddesses won't answer to us when we call for them, and our powers seem to be dying." The girl named, Saria said.

"Yes, Zelda said some of her powers aren't working." Link replied.

"I know." Saria responded, dejected.

"Well, I'm not sure what to do right now. I need some rest. I'll see you tomorrow morning." Goodbyes, some shuffling.

I held my breath, then cursed inside my head. A few seconds of silence passed before I finally had the nerve to move my legs and run back to my original spot amongst the small tree. I had sat back down just in time when I spotted Link heading my direction. I, being my shy self, acted like I hadn't noticed him. I turned my head slightly to see him sit down next to me.

"Umm… Jade…" I heard Link say.

"Yeah…?" I said.

"I'm sorry what I said before. I was just kind of…well…confused." He continued.

"Like when you said I had to listen to everything you said and stuff?" I asked, cocking an eyebrow at him.

"Uhh-no. Not really" Link retorted with a small laugh, " Well, I meant it, but I didn't want to sound rude."

I nodded then answered, "That's ok. It's… I guess- frustrating after all the stuff you do."

Link nodded in return, but stopped when he realized what I had said. "How would you- "

I cut him off: "You said you wanted to say you were sorry because…?"

"Oh, yeah- right. Well, what I meant to say was, was that I was sorry for telling you we couldn't head over to the castle to see Princess Zelda since it's gotten dangerous to travel at night."

"Yeah-well, I would like to get home ASAP." I retorted.

"What does 'A-sap' mean?" Link asked.

"As Soon As Possible." I answered, getting up with Link soon to follow. "So, um, not to be rude or anything, but I'm really bushed. Is there a place for me to sleep tonight?" I asked as we began walking though the dark and quiet forest village.

"You can sleep in my bed..." He replied. I gave him an incredulous look and he quickly rebuffed, flushing, with, "I'll sleep on the floor- since no one has extra room."

"I feel bad, though…" I said, climbing up the ladder after Link.

"It's all right, really." Link said before disappearing inside. I went inside after him to see him throwing out some extra blankets and a pillow. It looked, in no more terms than I could manage that night, very comfortable. And I was in no mood to argue with him.

"Well, fine," I alleged, sighing half-heartedly but not giving in entirely, "but for only one night. Next time we're here, though…" I took off my shoes and sat on the bed, watching Link as he sat down on the floor. And then, I felt bad, again. If there was a way to make up for it...I'd have to think up something soon.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah…" he returned, smiling wearily as he took of his boots and hat.

Some time passed as I lay in the dark, only the light coming from the window allowed me to see a few things around me. I sighed a bit sadly, realizing how far away I was from home- or not at all realizing how far I was and feeling utterly terrible. I had taken everything for granted, and now there was the possibility that I couldn't go back. It felt like a horrible punch to the gut- one that just wouldn't go away. I doubted it ever would.

There was movement next to me, subtle, but I shuffled to my side, propping up on my elbow. I leaned over and glanced down to see Link sleeping on his side, facing my direction.

"Umm… Link…"

"…Yeah?" I heard him say after a few moments as he slowly opened his eyes and glanced up at me.

"Umm… I just wanted to say…well…thanks." I continued a bit shyly.

"For what?" I heard him ask.

"Well, for helping me… and stuff." I said.

"Your welcome." He replied, as if it were nothing. As if he did this on a daily basis. As if he were...a hero... And I wasn't. I was just a damsel in distress. That was a more painful punch in the gut than the last one. It also left a bad taste on my tongue, and a loud echo in my mind.

"Yeah, and you are helpful," I continued, trying to talk myself out of this horrible dilemma inside my head, "Ya' know? I'm, well, sorry since you-you are helpful. I'm just sorry." I ended with a flabbergasted sigh, ready to finally just give in and shut up.

"Thanks. Anyways, I know it's late right now, but will you tell me exactly where you are from, someday?" Link asked, propping himself up with his elbow and gazing up at me curiously.

"Well, it's kind of complicated…" I answered, trying to avoid the question.

"Go on…" Link said with a wry grin.

"Well… Everything here is a video game in my world."

"What's a video game?" Link asked curiously.

"It's a game that you play on a TV."

"What's a Teevee...?

"It's this- uh, screen in um, in a shape of a box made of- of something where you- uh, watch people…" I looked down at him, eyes wide. Maybe he'd understand...?

Instead, he asked, "How would you get people to fit into a box?"

"You don't. It's been recorded…" And then, I added, "Well, sometimes it's live..."

"I don't understand…"

"Well, you record with this- um, camera, which is this type of machine of somewhat…" I said, but Link didn't respond, only staring at me confusedly, "I- I don't know how to explain. It's sort of hard... I'm not really a scientist or engineer or something."

"What's that?" Link finally asked, still utterly bewildered. I could tell I wasn't getting anywhere with him.

"They're, well, they are people who specialize in these certain categories… it's a type of job." I said.

"Oh…" he said then sighed, "Uh, now my head hurts…"

"Well, I'll explain it to you some other time…" I said and Link nodded in agreement.

I sighed, then laid back down on my back, my hands behind my head. I looked up towards the window, gazing up at the night sky.

"Is your world always this complicated?" Link asked, voice just a whisper- but a whisper that carried to my ears all the more.

I smiled to myself, glad that it was dark and glad that I had let Link talk me into taking the bed. "You wouldn't believe..."

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Well, I hope this was a pretty good chapter for everybody, so tell me if this was a good chapter, so review! So, HAPPY NEW YEAR!! :P