Breaking News: The First Test!
Author's Note: I own nothing! I know I promised that I would post a few chapters this week but my computer glitched and the five chapters I had typed disappeared so instead I will try to retype the and post them next week.
Colin was standing in front of the forest temple. The spirit had told him he would need to pass a test if he wanted to prove himself worthy of the shard of light that he had journeyed with. The only problem was that Colin was terrified by the idea of entering the temple especially since he no longer had Link with him to make him feel less scared. He took a deep breath and forced himself to enter the temple. The place was wildly overgrown and very musty despite the large number of plants. He moved cautiously through the temple jumping at every sound. He reached a room full of water with wooden bridges all through it. It was there that he sat down completely exhausted. A splash sounded in the water and Colin jumped up, whipping around to find nothing there. He scoured the water in panic and continued to find nothing. He sat back down and flushed as he thought about Link laughingly teasing him about being a scaredy cat. Link would have told him to enjoy himself. He smiled as he let himself remember another adventure Link had dragged Colin on.
-Flash Back Start-
The two boys walked into the graveyard in Kakariko. Link dragged Colin towards the back where a tombstone sat in the very back. The tombstone had the royal family crest on it. Colin watched Link play Zelda's Lullaby and a bolt of lightning blew up the tombstone blasting the boys back and revealing a hole in the ground. Colin refused to jump down into the unknown. Link rolled his eyes. "C'mon Scaredy Cat, It's an adventure." Colin shook his head remarking, "I thought we were on an adventure." The blonde boy laughed at him. "Yeah but this adventure will be fun." Colin glared at his amusement. "How do you know? We'll be jumping down a hole into a tomb! You have no idea what's down there!" The boy sounded slightly hysterical towards the end of his little speech. Link nodded. "Colin." He said seriously. "That's half the fun." Colin went to protest and Link cut him off. "Look, if you just do the same thing day after day. Doesn't it get boring? You need to try something new occasionally, take a chance, leap into the unknown and enjoy the adventure it brings." The blonde seemed rather proud of his speech and Colin's glare intensified. "Cute speech Link, but I am not going down that hole and you can't make me." Link smiled ferociously and stepped forward Colin stepped back slipping and tumbling down the hole. The brunette stood up and brushed himself off as Link landed casually beside him. "I can't believe you." He told Link who shrugged. "I was being nice I offered you the chance to jump of your own volition but desperate times call for desperate measures. Link dodged the fist Colin aimed at him and rushed off into the tomb. Colin bolted after him unwilling to be left behind in a place that was that creepy besides he needed Link to get back out.
-Flash Back End-
Colin pulled himself out of his memories with an exasperated smile. The adventure had been scary and Colin hated tombs now but Link had been right in the end he had fun and he had learned a new song which had made it worth it. He pulled the fairy song out of his pocket and lifted it to his lips. He then proceeded to play the sun's song. As the song drifted through the air Colin's eyes closed. The song lit up the temple making the place seem almost warm and inviting. The last note was still ringing in the air when Colin put away his ocarina and forced himself to his feet. He began to move thinking not of the test but of the adventure and what he could uncover as he explored every nook and cranny of the forest temple. He finally reached the boss room he was soaking wet and covered in leaves and dirt and maybe some monster blood. He knew he had tree sap in his hair but Colin had on a grin that stretched from ear to ear. He stepped in ready to take on the boss only to find instead a young boy sitting on a stump wearing a green tunic and hat with a blue fairy hovering around him. The boy was playing Saria's song on a blue ocarina and Colin fished his own out and joined in. The song filled the air with happiness and the innocence of childhood friendship. When they were done, the last notes echoing in the huge chamber Link looked over at Colin and raised an eyebrow at the other boy's state. "Looks like you had quite an adventure." Colin nodded and Link smiled "Tell me about it." So, Colin did. Colin told Link everything about his fear in the beginning and about his realization that just like with the tomb he could wait for someone to push him and take away his choice or he could leap in and take off running. He chose to leap and he enjoyed himself a lot more. The boy spoke of finding treasure and defeating monsters. When his voice ran out and his throat was too dry to continue talking Link stood up and walked over to him. "Well Colin, let me be the first to congratulate you on a job well done." Colin blinked at him confused and Link continued with a grin of his own. "You passed the first test and proved yourself worthy of my shard of light. The ocarina will be the symbol of our connection and the talisman that connects you to me. May you always remember to enjoy every adventure and greet every day with a smile." Link bowed and disappeared. The ocarina in Colin's hands glowed as did the pouch he carried around his neck. The boy held up the ocarina staring at it in awe it now looked like a mixture of the ocarina of time and the fairy ocarina with its blue and peachy pink marbling. He turned and headed for the blue portal on the floor. The world shifted and he found himself in front of the faron spring. The spirit spoke to him pleased with his victory.
"You have done well, Little Hero. But, you have only gained one shard and many more await you. Each shard will teach you a new lesson and their tests will reflect that. Go now to the land of Eldin there you will gain another ally and find the way to the next shard."
Colin thanked the spirit before taking off for Kakariko. He hurried into the field and wondered if he would ever see the child Link again.
