A/N: This Chapter is much longer than the other two. It's my favorite so far.
The past two have been "World Setting" chapters. I wrote them to get the readers used to Hyrule in 1885. In this chapter and the next chapter we'll start to see more character's we'll know and we'll also get some plot. The plot is going to be very much a Zelda story (Hero visits temples, unlocks sages, defeats evil) but with a slight twist which will shock and sadden you. Also I don't like May very much any more. If you also don't like her tell me so in your reviews and I'll get rid of her (hopefully in a nice way) I'm sooo sick of saying Lon-Lon and I hate useless characters!
Chapter 3: The Forest Ranger
Carrie took the girl into her room and laid her on her bed. Upon regaining consciousness Carrie learned that her name was May Lon-Lon and was the daughter of Samuel and Emily Lon-Lon. She had run away from Lon-Lon ranch for reasons she refused to disclose to Carrie. As Carrie was a trusting person she decided not to hand her over to the Lon-Lon family and even consented to allowing the girl to travel with her. After several hours of questioning Carrie gave her the bed to sleep on and Carrie slept on a sofa near the fireplace.
Early next morning she was awoken by a knock on the door and upon answering it the porter handed her a telegram.
The event that was supposed to delay the carriage has been resolved STOP Carriage should arrive at 11am STOP Wait at Lon-Lon Station STOP
Carrie looked at her pocket watch. It was 9 o clock. She had 2 hours.
She treated May to a breakfast of eggs, bacon and a small stack of pancakes, which the girl ate with gusto. Carrie wasn't very hungry so she just drank a cup of Earl Grey tea while reading the Hylian Times. Apparently May was all over the news.
Famous Debutant Missing.
The daughter of famous landowner Samuel Lon-Lon was discovered to be missing from her home Lon-Lon Hall early yesterday evening. The girl May aged 15 was last seen in the Malon-Lon hotel in the company of a young woman who has yet to be interviewed by local authorities. Police are treating her disappearance as non-suspicious but the Lon-Lon family is begging anyone who has information to come forward. A 500 Rupee reward has been offered for her safe return.
Carrie looked around suddenly and noticed that the kitchen staff was chatting quietly and glancing over their shoulders at May Carrie decided it was time to leave.
Carrie half dragged May up to their room where the two girls packed Carrie things intro her traveling trunk. They had just placed Carrie's pictograph on top when there was a knock on the door "Hide, May! Quickly! I'll get them away from you." she half whispered. She reached under her pillow and pulled out a delicately ornamented pistol, cocked the hammer and got ready to fight her way out of the hotel. She peered through the peephole to see the hotel manager with several navy blue helmeted police officers. "On the count of three we kick the door open and we run ok. One, Two THREE!" The door was kicked open at tremendous speed and knocked the manager off his feet. The police officers lurched forward to grab Carrie but she ducked under them and a swift kick caused one to roll back in pain. The other who had been watching now moved forward but Carrie had fled down the corridor and she called to get his attention. As soon as the officer had chased Carrie, May left the room with their gear and crept the opposite way to go down the service elevator and out the back door. Carrie flew down the stairs and upon seeing the hotel staff blocking the exit she fired her pistol in the air and they took cover. She ran out into the square where an open topped carriage was waiting with an armed Forest Ranger in a green tunic behind the reins. She leapt on board and taking a hint the Ranger immediately turned and upon Carrie's quick instructions quickly galloped to the alleyway behind the hotel where May was waiting. She threw the case in the back, leapt aboard and in a flash they had left the village (and an angry mob) behind them.
Once he was certain that nobody was following them the Ranger turned to Carrie. "So…" he began "Why are you harboring a runaway?"
Carrie explained that her situation and told the Ranger that she had decided not to return her to Lon-Lon Hall as she undoubtfulty had a good reason for running away and the pair had been chased by the police for the 500 Rupee reward offered by the Lon-Lon family… The ranger seemed satisfied by this and turned his attention back to the road. He was silent for a moment before deciding to introduce himself. "They call me Link." He began "I'm a ranger which is why I wear this tunic and have a sword and Hylian Shield. I'm supposed to be your guide through the forest 'cause if you get lost in there we'll never find you!" He held out a tiny green vial on a string around his neck. "This is a vial of ground Deku Tree Bark. A Deku Scrub, Shaman gave it to me after I saved the chief's daughter. It prevents me from getting lost so you'll be safe with me. He tossed a lock of his dazzling blond hair and Carrie could see that he was exceptionally good looking.
"So Miss Lionell." He continued, "What do you know about these ruins they're getting you to look at?" Carrie had no idea so she told him so. "I was wondering if you would give me your ideas. Are there any stories about where I'm going, like what it is or whatever?" "Well What I know is that it isn't a Deku structure." It's a series of buildings, possibly houses that were built out of hollowed out trees. From what I've seen they appear to be made for a people that stand at about 4 feet tall and had rudimentary knowledge of iron tools, as we have found arrow heads and farming implements. Nearby there is a fossilized Maku Tree which has been hollowed out and fitted into a fortification by the same people, possibly while the tree was still living which would show that they lived in harmony with nature. So far we have found scribble-like markings, which appear to be a native tongue although some ancient Hylian has been used in small amounts. The last group to investigate had several meetings with the Deku population who call the area Kokiri Dekuina Which in their language means "Forest of the Leading Children" They told the archeologists that the people who lived there were a race made by their god to serve as leaders in the Deku army in a war they call "The Forest is Burning" which we believe was the unification war in the first age."
"Wow!" exclaimed Carrie "You sure do know a lot!" "Yeah" replied Link "I make it my business to know what goes on in my forest… Speaking of which…" As the cart passed over a hill they could suddenly see a forest of green, which spanned as far as the eye could see.
They entered the forest. All around her Carrie could see the carpet of pine needles that covered the darkness of the forest floor, and the occasional ray of light, which pierced through the gaps in the canopy revealed an abundance of life. Mushrooms, ferns, squirrels, snakes, deer, rabbits, and all kinds of birds shared the wood with mystical creatures like Skullatas, Deku Buka's and fairies, and from the carriage Carrie could see evidence of thousands of these creatures. In the distance a cheerful yet haunting melody could be heard and despite the abundance of animals, little else could be heard. Soon however the forest cleared out into a small meadow. Carrie now became excited. Around her a village was being excavated and artifacts were being pictographed and labeled before being studied by historians in white canvas marquees. The carriage kept moving through the archeologist's camp before stopping near where two workers were setting up a tent for Carrie. Seeing that she was in the company of another one of them ran off to fetch a second wood and Hessian stretcher for May. Within minutes Carrie was unpacking her case inside the tent that surprisingly was large enough to contain a dressing table, a bedside table and a shelf. The roof of the tent was surprisingly high and Carrie was able to stand upright inside. Carrie had been camping during her University days (not that long ago really!) and it was uncomfortable in comparison to this. It seemed to Carrie that this tent was intended to be lived in for a few weeks.
Having unpacked Carrie decided that she would go find out what she was supposed to do here.
She found the head professor; -An old Hylian with bird-like qualities named Kaporea Gabora- and was assigned to a team investigating a perfectly preserved path that led into the woods. The professor told Carrie that he believed that the path led to a sacred site of the people who built this village. Carrie was given one hour to prepare
Armed with a revolver and a machete Carrie and a team led by Link set off into the forest.
From behind a bush a small figure turned to a tiny sapling and giggled a message. The sapling laughed a quiet response… They knew what they had to do… the party must not reach the end of the path