The day's competition was coming to a close as the sun began to set over the tournament grounds. The remaining fighters had gathered back in front of the royal seats, their numbers very much diminished from where they'd been the previous day. All around them the crowd cheered, only falling silent when the King stood and began to speak.
"It has been an incredible day which has showcased your many skills and strengths. You can all count yourselves among the best fighters in all of Hyrule now. Rest, and prepare, for tomorrow we shall see who rises to the top to be crowned champion!" The crowd cheered once again, the competitors all giving various signs of respect to the king.
Link turned once the short speech ended, heading to check the tournament bracket to see who he would be fighting first the next day. Navi kicked her legs on his shoulder, humming contentedly as she looked around at the various fighters that surrounded them, all intent on doing the same thing.
Upon reaching the bracket Link searched for a minute before his eyes landed on the name of his next opponent. "Sir Valeti Turen…" He turned to look at his fairy, eyebrow raised in question.
"Name sounds familiar, but I can't place it, sorry." Navi said after a moment's thought.
Link turned with a shrug, not too bothered by the lack of information. He'd find out the next day in any case. He stopped in his tracks when the knight that had knocked the ocarina out of his hands earlier stepped in front of him, still sneering in a manner fit to make Ganondorf green with envy. "Well, it seems you will finally face a true warrior tomorrow, 'kokiri'." He said dismissively.
"You would be Sir Valeti, then?" Navi asked, irritated.
The knight glanced from Link to Navi and back. "Are you so pathetic that you must have your pet speak for you? Even for a commoner, that's just sad."
"What was that?" Navi said dangerously before being ignored.
"My liege, Lord Amesec, told me about how you had the gall to insult him in front of the King at the dinner you were lucky enough to attend." Valeti said dangerously. "It doesn't matter what strange transformation or odd spell you use, boy, I will take great pleasure in putting dirt like you back in its place for your arrogance." He turned around and began to leave. "Come at me with your best tomorrow, so I can show everyone what place trash like you belongs." Then he was gone.
Link and Navi were silent momentarily, ignoring the audience the little confrontation had generated, before the fairy let out a loud groan. "By the goddesses, could he be more cliche'd! He's like a badly written character in one of the novels Zelda likes to read."
"Not the first I've met." Link said as he began to make his own way out. "Just because they're a cliche doesn't mean they don't actually exist." He said simply.
"Well, at least you'll get the chance to knock this one's teeth in." Navi said petulantly. "You better humiliate the bastard, too. I won't accept anything less."
"He seemed confident." Link said thoughtfully.
Despite their time apart, Navi could still read her partner like a book. "You think he's got a trump card up his sleeve?" When Link nodded she tapped her chin thoughtfully as they walked out onto the festival grounds. "I'll head to the castle, see what I can find out."
"Thanks." Link said as he saw Malon run towards him quickly, a big smile on her pretty face and bunny ears bouncing about. She didn't seem to notice the way people stared at the speed she was displaying.
The redhead stopped in front of Link, almost stumbling to the ground had he not caught her. "Careful."
"Oof, thanks, Fairy Boy." She said, straightening up. "Note to self, no sudden stops when wearing this thing."
Link and Navi chuckled before the fairy turned to look at her partner. "Alright, you go have fun with Malon. I'll head to the castle and look into Sir Fop." She patted his cheek mockingly. "Be a good boy and stay out of trouble for five minutes, okay?"
Link rolled his eyes before turning to the giggling Malon as Navi left. "Goodbye, mother."
Malon finished giggling before taking his arm much the way she had the previous day, which Link didn't mind in the least. There were much worse things than to have an attractive girl cling to him. "Alright, Fairy Boy, lets get some food and look at the stalls we couldn't yesterday." She quickly made her way into the throng of people as the many lamps were lit, pulling him along with deceptive strength as he smiled indulgently.
Link found himself surprised by the amount of attention he was getting now. His showing in the tournament was much more impressive than it had been the previous day, and people kept trying to get his attention. Children came up to him and chattered excitedly about his performance, several girls of various ages approached him flirtatiously, which irritated Malon, and a couple of zoras moved to speak with him regarding his transformation into one of their own.
A short time later the two youths were sitting on a bench a bit away from the crowd, eating some meat buns in companionable silence. Finishing the last of her meal Malon kicked her feet slightly, looking out over the mass of people still enjoying the festival. "You got pretty popular, Fairy Boy." She said finally, a small smile on her face. Her eyes moved over to look in his direction. "Lots of girls seem to want to take you home." At his noncommital hum she looked at him fully. "You ever find yourself a girl while you were travelling?" She asked with false nonchalance, doing her best to hide how interested she was in his answer.
Link was silent for a moment, remembering. "One or two…" He gave the same answer he'd given Navi when she'd asked the same question.
Malon bit her lip. "Ah…" She clasped her hands together and looked back into the crowds. "So you have somebody to go back to…" She mumbled slightly.
Link frowned. "No." He said simply, the word weighted with more meaning than she'd expected.
Her head snapped back to him, and after a moment realization appeared on her face. "Oh… I see… Sorry, Link…"
He shrugged it off before standing up. "Let's keep going." He began to head back into the crowd.
Malon looked at his back thoughtfully, taking in what she'd just learned from the short interaction. Then she quickly got up and followed him, taking his arm again as they once again lost themselves in the many stalls and games.
Her violet eyes seemed to glow as they looked at him lovingly, her soft hand caressing his cheek as she lay on her side facing him, her nude body hidden under a thin sheet. He smiled back at her, feeling happy and content, something that had been rare for him ever since he left the forest.
Their faces came together as they kissed, Link marvelling at the feel of her lips on his, the taste of her lingering even after she'd pulled back. Using his grip on her waist he pulled her body against his, her soft curves fitting perfectly with his chiselled body. The smile on her beautiful face widened as she felt him, and not to be undone she pushed herself up, catching him by surprise as she got on top of him, sitting on his waist, hands on his chest.
Laying on his back now he reached up, tangling his fingers in her silky hair, unwilling to let her have it all her way. The soft, aroused gasp that escaped her lips inflamed his passions, and she smiled down at him eagerly, shifting her body to continued their activities.
Leaning down she brought her lips back to his, only slightly brushing them together as she stared into his eyes. "I love you, Link…" She murmured softly before kissing him again, not giving him a moment to respond verbally.
Link opened his eyes as the morning sun slipped through his window, the sounds of Castle Town beginning its day helping rouse him from his sleep. He lay still, staring at the ceiling as he held onto the memory that had invaded his dreams. It'd been some time since he'd thought of those days, and he wanted savor it.
Eventually the sounds of his fairy waking up roused him, and he sat up on the bed, his bare feet landing on the cool wooden floor. Stretching and yawning slightly he began his morning routine once again as he waited for Navi to become coherent. She'd arrived the previous night from her information gathering as he'd prepared for bed, mumbled that she'd tell him what she found out in the morning, and promptly passed out on her small bed.
He was just finishing his sit ups when she muttered a good morning and grabbed a drink of water from the thimbleful he'd prepared for her the previous day. Finally more awake she sat down and looked at her partner. "So, I found out why Sir Fop is so confident about facing you." She said, sipping her water. At his grunt she continued. "Apparently he has an enchanted sword that has been passed down in his family for generations. He faced a goron earlier in the tournament and almost took off an arm when his opponent didn't protect himself thinking his natural durability would see him through. He backs that up with being an actually halfway decent swordsman." Another sip of water. "His arrogance has been known to get the better of him when up against more skilled knights though. Though some people throw fights with him because of the influence his family has."
Link paused in his exercises, thinking over what he'd been told. Now that he had some idea of what his opponent had in his arsenal he could begin to come up with some plans. Still, they'd need to remain fluid until he actually saw how what level of skill the knight possessed.
He was just finishing dressing when Malon knocked on the door, entering after he'd given permission. Seeing that he was dressed she hid a brief flash of disappointment which Navi didn't miss before speaking. "Breakfast is ready, Fairy Boy. Need to get ready for your fights."
Link tapped his feet, settling his boots, before looking at Malon and nodding. "Thanks." Shortly afterward he sat at the same table as the previous day, having a hearty meal and a nice conversation.
"Word has been going around that your opponent has been despariaging you, my boy." Talon said as he set his glass of milk down. "He's been saying that you're a coward that couldn't handle a straight fight against a 'true warrior'." The older man said with literal air quotes. "He said that he will easily defeat you, even if you use another 'unnatural transformation' to give yourself 'unearned strength'." Talon seemed to be having fun with his air quotes.
Malon growled at the news her father provided. "What an arrogant bastard." She muttered angrily, viciously ripping some sweet bread to pieces. "Link is a hundred times the warrior he is."
"Pretty rich for him to complain about 'unearned strength' considering his own enchanted weapon." And now Navi was doing it. "He's just an elitist noble who looks down on those not born into entitlement lashing out because of what Link did during the dinner at the palace. Link will rip him apart."
Talon turned to the younger man. "Do you have any plans for the fight?"
Link considered that as he chewed on some bacon. Slowly a smile appeared on his lips, the kind that had Talon and Malon shifting away slightly. "I believe so…"
The stands were once again packed to the brim, every single person in Hyrule apparently wanting to see the final few rounds of the tournament and find out who the champion was going to be. The king and sages once again sat in the royal section, ready for another exciting day.
"Link's fight is one of the first, right?" Ruto asked as the first fighters took their places in the arena, a gerudo against a goron.
"Yes." Zelda said as she glanced at the day's brackets. "The one after this one, in fact."
"I heard some of the palace servants saying that his opponent was bad mouthing Link to anybody who would listen." Nabooru said frostily even as she kept her eyes glued on the fight that had just begun.
"Indeed, I heard the same." Darunia agreed, also watching intently despite the hardness in his voice.
Nohansen sighed. "Yes, Sir Valeti. He is known to be rather arrogant and petty. Definitely not one of the best examples of knights we have. His personal distaste is no doubt exacerbated by the fact that the lord he serves is one of those Sir Link humiliated during the dinner he attended. I have no doubt he was told to put the young man 'in his place', as it were."
"I look forward to seeing Link eat him alive, then." Nabooru said, a sadistic smile on her lips.
Eventually the current fight ended with the goron's stamina and natural toughness narrowly overcoming the gerudo's fighting prowess and skill, to Darunia's approval. He was in rough shape, though, showing how close things had been.
Once the two fighters had been helped out of the arena the next fighters were announced. "Link of the Kokiri will face Sir Valeti Turen!"
Navi flew over to Zelda as the two fighters entered the arena to the cheers of the crowd, those in the royal seats becoming more attentive. Once the fight began Valeti took a ready stance, preparing himself for any attack Link might launch. Arrogant as he may be, he was still a serious knight.
"Do you know what Link has planned, Navi?" Zelda asked her friend, who sat on her backrest.
"No clue." The fairy said with a shake of her head. "It's going to be good though. I think Link's annoyed with Sir Fop. He's hard to anger, but he does have his pride."
Link moved his hands much as he had the previous day, a mask appearing in his hands. Nobody there could tell what it was of due to the way he held it, but everybody immediately became more interested, eager to see another amazing transformation.
"Become whatever you wish, boy." Valeti sneered, adjusting his stance slightly. "I will defeat even your greatest form, as is my right."
The corners of Link's mouth twitched upwards in a smile before he quickly brought the mask up to his face. Much as the previous day, there was a cry of pain and a flash of light before Link was gone, another, much smaller, figure taking his place.
Zelda was sure she wasn't wasn't the only one to blink in shock at what she was seeing, if the sudden silence that fell upon the crowd was any indication. In fact, the only thing she really heard for a few long seconds was Nabooru's flat "What."
Where Link once stood was a short wooden being a little over half his height. It had a large, spherical head of rough wood, with hair made out of yellow-green leaves under a hat like Link's, except long enough to brush against the ground. It had large, orange-yellow eyes and a circular opening in place of a mouth. Its upper body was bare of clothing, and much like Zora Link it wore a green skirt that looked a lot like the lower part of Link's tunic. Brown boots completed the ensemble.
It was absurd, but there was no doubt as to what Link had become, the King being the first one to give it voice. "Did Sir Link just become a deku scrub?"
"Looks like it." Navi said, an edge of hysteria in her voice.
The crowd began to murmur to each other in confusion before an angry voice cut through the noise. "Are you mocking me, you lowborn brat!?" Valeti roared in a rage, his hands clenching his enchanted sword so hard several people were surprised he hadn't injured himself.
Deku Link seemed to crack his neck nonchalantly before hopping slightly on his feet, motioning to Valeti in the universal 'Come at me' gesture. The knight eagerly complied, a snarl on his face as he rushed the deku scrub.
Just as he was about to bring his sword down on the smaller being's head a deku nut hit the ground in front of him, bursting into a flash and making the hylian man stumble to a halt with a cry at the unexpected brightness. When he managed to get the glare out of his eyes he looked to see that the deku scrub was gone from in front of him. Then he stumbled forward with a cry as something impacted against the back of his head, making him turn around to find Deku Link wielding a long deku stick like a staff, which was coming down even as he turned to strike him in the face.
Nabooru couldn't help it, bursting out laughing as she watched Link make a fool of the knight. "I think he should have worn a helmet!" She cackled.
Zelda hid her mouth with her hand. "I think he wanted people to be able to see his face."
"That backfired." Ruto said with a giggle.
Valeti finally swung his sword down, aiming to cut his opponent in two, damn the rules, but Link literally twirled away, avoiding the blow with ease. When he stopped he blew a quick bubble at the knight, which impacted against the man's face, bursting with a crack and small flash, which made Valeti cry out and flinch backwards, which gave Link plenty of time to bring his staff down on his head again, the knight stumbling backwards once more.
When he finally opened his eyes, a trickle of blood trailing from his brow, he once again found his opponent missing. He was about to whirl around and go to a strike when he felt something hard and strong hit the back of his knees. Caught by surprise he didn't manage to react in time and fell down, kneeling on the ground. He looked around behind him only to find Link swinging his staff around at his head. Then he dropped like a sack of grain, knocked out as the deku stick shattered against his head from the force.
Everything was silent for a moment before the crowd began to cheer once more, many laughing at the way the knight had been humiliated by a supposedly weak enemy who had handicapped himself in the process.
Sir Valeti Turen would not be living this even down anytime soon.
In the royal seats Nabooru had stood up and began to clap as she laughed loudly, her cackling joined by Darunia's own bellows of mirth. The king smiled as he clapped politely, trying to hide his own mirth as Ruto and Zelda did the same.
Navi was cackling much like Nabooru as she watched the defeated knight be put on a stretcher and carried out, a large goose egg visible on the side of his head. "I didn't expect Link to go that far to humiliate Sir Fop, but I'm not complaining!"
"It also rather handily showed the crowd that Link is not one to be messed with lightly." Zelda said thoughtfully. "He defeated his opponent while in a weakened state through ingenuity and combat skill. No doubt everybody now realizes that Link can win even when he seems to be at a disadvantage."
"I'm interested in his transformations." Ruto said with a light blush on her cheeks. "Hopefully we'll be able to talk to him about it soon."
Navi was just about to leave to go back to her partner's side when the King spoke. "Navi." She turned at attention, waiting for him to continue. "See if your partner would be willing to join us for dinner again. Maybe then we can get some answers."
Navi nodded. "Yes sir, I'll ask and let you know during his next fight." With that she flitted off.
"Is everything prepared?"
"Yes, our agents are in position, the beast is ready to be let loose, and our enemies are none the wiser."
"Very good. In that case, begin the attack. Let's eliminate Hyrule's ability to make war in one fell swoop."
A roar resounded throughout the land, along with the beating of enormous wings.
I return!
So, this story once again won the poll. I meant to have it out yesterday but I've been sick with flu, which has slowed things down. Still, it's up now, so I won't complain.
Not too much to talk about this time. I'd been wanting to get to the fight with Sir Fop ever since I conceived of it. Link using his weakest form to humiliate an arrogant noble was just too good to pass up.
The hints into what happened while Link was away were also carefully considered. They will definitely have an effect on the story going forward.
The most important part of the chapter was undoubtedly the very end, though. This is when things begin happening. Next chapter is going to be action packed as all hell. I've been looking forward to it.
As always, I shall remind you all that you can have a voice in what I write by donating to my Pat A Ron, where there's a monthly poll for what gets updated. December's poll is going to be a bit special, as the two stories with the most votes will both be updated instead of just one. No Good Deed isn't on that poll due to me needing to plan some things out (which I have now done), but there are plenty of other things to vote on. So that's Pat A Ron dotcom /athanmortis.
Thank you all for reading. Please review. Till next time!