Hello! I apologize for the brief gap between updates. I got sick with a certain... virus. But I'm doing better today, so I figured I'd finish up the rest of the chapter I had started before. Enjoy!
-Joost

The Fierce God Given Life
Chapter 15: The Writing's On The Wall

"That was really stupid, Grasshopper!" Romani scolded as she sat down next to Link.

It was still early in the morning, and the moment the ranch sisters got the letter from Anju explaining how Link came home in the wee hours of the morning, injured, they set off to Clock Town. However, Anju and Kafei were still in the dark as to how it happened. Link hadn't told either of them yet. Cremia hardly minded, she was concerned for Link, and Romani was as well.

"I know… I'm sorry." Link replied, his voice small. When he explained what happened to him after he was knocked out, he knew he'd get a mouthful from everyone. It's why he purposefully neglected to tell his adoptive parents. However, Romani's expression didn't convey anger like he thought it would, just worry.

"Grasshopper… Romani needs to know what happened. Why were you acting so… odd yesterday?" Romani asked. Link took one look into her eyes and knew he had to tell her what was going on. She deserved to know by now.

But Link couldn't muster up the courage, at least not yet. He just looked down in sorrow. He never wanted to have to bear his own burdens with anyone. He already had with Anju and Kafei, but Romani was different. He couldn't exactly pinpoint how she was so different, but she was.

When Romani got no response, she just hugged her friend. He was hurting on the inside, she could tell. Their hug lasted a long time. Link could feel Romani's heartbeat, and she could feel his. The comfort was beginning to melt him and his heart.

"I- I had to give them peace…" Link began. Romani didn't dare interrupt. "There were souls within those masks… and they had families. But they never knew what happened to their loved ones."

Link's mind went back to the Deku Butler's Son, Darmani, Mikau, and even the Fierce Deity. All of them had something left behind here. The only one who had their past still shrouded in mystery was the almighty god, who's soul was confined to the mask under the bed. However, it was slowly but surely fitting into a bigger picture. Even if any time Link ever learned something was before, during, or just after a great battle.

"I had to tell them… because you had reminded me of them." Link looked at his best friend. "It- It didn't go well…"

"They'll forgive you, Grasshopper! Romani knows they will! One day!" The ranch girl's cheering demeanor helped ease Link. She always had a way of raising the mood of almost any situation. He admired her for being able to do that so naturally. Link embraced his best friend again; a slight sniffle being heard from him.

"Romani… I- I just don't want you to g-get hurt…" Link whimpered, finally starting to let out some of the emotions he had bottled up for so long. He rested his chin on Romani's shoulder and the embrace between the two tightened. Moisture began to well up in his eyes as his mind wandered to everything that had happened to him since that fateful morning in Kokiri Forest. All the people he had met in Hyrule, and how a few of them met terrible fates, all because of him, in a way.

"I've lost a lot… I can't lose you too… N-Not ever." The hug between the two children parted, and Link gazed into Romani's eyes. Everything about her made him feel at peace. At peace with everything he'd seen over the course of his life. He refused to lose that feeling.

"Link, you don't need to worry about losing us." Romani called him by his actual name again. The little girl had a proposition for her best friend. "If we can help… you won't need to lose us!"

"Skull Kid is getting good with his stick! Jim just earned his training sword from the Sword Master! And Romani's good with her bow!" Romani parted from Link and held his hand. Her grip was firm. "Grasshopper doesn't need to face things alone…"

Romani's persistence rivaled Link's. That right there was the best thing about her to him. She was one of the only people like him that he knew of. Fortunately, there were a lot more people as well.

"Come on, Grasshopper! Romani has an idea!" Romani took Link's hand and pulled him out of bed. His shoulder didn't hurt at all now, but he was still a little weary about moving about so soon.

"W-Wait! I need to tell Anju and Ka- "Link didn't get to finish his sentence. Romani had already gotten him outside. Tatl happened to notice the two kids leaving and joined them. Romani rushed to North Clock Town, where a certain imp and gang leader were.

"Hey!" Romani hollered as she neared the two, Link right behind her. Skull Kid and Jim stopped what they were doing as soon as they saw the ranch girl running towards them.

"Hey, you two!" Jim replied.

"Romani…" She panted, trying to catch her breath. "Romani has an idea to help out Grasshopper!"

"Romani wants to help Grasshopper fight the Garo!"

The group went silent. Skull Kid was still a little shaken from the night before. While he did a good job helping defend Tatl and Tael from the robed creatures, he was instilled with fear the entire time.

"Wait wait wait wait… Y-You're talkin' about the Garo spies?!" Jim was both excited and scared. He wanted to be like Link, however he had just gotten his own sword courtesy of the swordsman teacher just a few days ago. He hardly thought he was ready to actually fight.

"Romani, are you sure?" Skull Kid rubbed his shoulder with his hand.

"Yes! We all can help Grasshopper fight them! Romani is good with a bow, Skull Kid has his staff, and Jim is getting great with the sword!" Romani nearly repeated word-for-word what she told Link before. She was ecstatic, but the others were nervous.

"Listen, ranch girl… Your heart is in the right place, but this sounds crazy!" Tatl's sly comment didn't bring down Romani in the slightest.

"R-Romani, I don't think this is a good idea…" Link mumbled. He didn't even have the Gilded Sword anymore. Although he did have another sword in his possession.

"Grasshopper! Romani wants to help!" A frown grew across her face. She took his hands into hers. "You don't need to do all this alone…"

The words of the ranch girl instilled some confidence in the others. "If it's for Link, I'll do my best!" Jim said. Skull Kid donned a smile and lifted his mask to show it.

"B-but you all could get hurt! Or worse…" Link didn't dare finish his sentence that time. He felt Tatl look down upon him, but it wasn't with anger. It was with sympathy. The little fairy knew what it was like to feel like that.

"Link, you have done a lot to help Termina! I think we should at least try to help you now!" Skull Kid chirped. Link was reminded of when he asked the Bomber's for help with Cremia's carriage. He couldn't help but smile.

"Alright… But we need to prepare first!" Link said. His mood had improved at last, but in order to ease his conscience, he wanted to have his allies be better equipped. "We need to go to Snowhead."

The five made off to Snowhead. It was an hour-long walk, but the group were hardly tired by the time they got to the Mountain Smithy. Walking inside, Zubora was delighted to see his favorite customer after all this time.

"Ah! Link! What a pleasure! Gabora, fetch our customers some coffee!" Zubora chuckled when his companion complained and then sat up. Tatl just groaned. She was all too familiar with how this fellow was like. "So, what can I do for you, Link?"

"I want you to reinforce this." Link held up Skull Kid's staff.

"I see. This shouldn't take long. Anything else?"

"Yes… Do you still have that Gold Dust? I want to reforge my sword once I retrieve it from Ikana."

"Yes actually! I haven't gotten the chance to use yet. But… why do you need it reforged?" Zubora tilted his head a little bit. The Gilded Sword was his finest work.

"It was… destroyed. I need to get the pieces from Ikana Canyon." Link looked down a bit. He was ashamed of how the sword could get so damaged.

"Alright then. Give us a few minutes to handle your friends' staff, and then once you get the pieces of the Gilded Sword, we can fix that up for you by tomorrow." Link nodded and gladly paid the two workers. The friends sat outside for a little while, enjoying the nice summer air.

After some time, Link was called back into the workshop and left with Skull Kid's stronger staff.

"Woah!" Skull Kid exclaimed. He carefully swung his weapon around, the metal hilt gleaming in the sunlight. "It's perfect!"

"Hey! Just don't clobber any of us with it!" Tatl barked, her color shifting from a yellow-ish white to a bright red. She was constantly nervous when Skull Kid swung his staff around all willy-nilly.

"Heh heh… Sorry!" Skull Kid put the staff to his side.

"Alright, we have to get to Ikana next." Link stated. The others nodded and they all set off to the canyon.

It was another long walk to Ikana Canyon, but they eventually got all the way to the river. The destruction was all still visible around the cliff. Drops of blood in the grass, scorch marks all over, and some torn cloth of the robed spies. One of the limbs of the Garo Master was still laying on the ground, its flames had long gone out.

"Don't tell me we have to swim down there!" Jim said as Link's gaze remained on the dark cave that led to the Secret Shrine.

"We won't, don't worry." Link pulled out his bow. He got a few ice arrows out and shot them at the river. The arrow's created several blocks of ice. He repeated this whole process until they had a trail that went to the cave.

"Watch your step." Link made sure everyone was careful making it across. Jim was a little overzealous and nearly tripped while on the way to their destination.

Soon enough, they got past the waterfall and stood at the entrance to the shrine. It's looming darkness cast a shadow of fear across the group, all except for Link. His wet hair glistened from the waterfall, and he took a step forward. The others eventually followed suit after a moment of hesitation.

The only thing they were met with next was a medium-sized area. A small pool of water was to the left, and a door faced them across the room. It had a set of steel bars that needed to be opened by the power of light. Taking out his bow and a light arrow, Link readied himself and shot at the sun with a face. Once the face lit up and the bars retracted, Link pressed forward, Romani, Jim, and Skull Kid right behind him.

This time he wasn't met by a spirit who challenged him to face Ikana's wandering spirits again, but just with a set of platforms erected from another pool of water.

"Tatl…" Link beckoned to his fairy companion, and he pointed to the walls of the cave. There were inscriptions, ancient text painted across the stone. "Can you read that?"

Tatl recognized the writing. It was old Terminian text, used often by the first settlers. One of the perks of being descended from the Great Fairies, she had a little bit of knowledge of these kinds of things, albeit limited since it had been generations.

"I-I'll try…" Tatl was a little embarrassed to have to interpret this kind of thing. It was always a little too much on the personal side for her, but she complied.

"Here… souls are…" Tatl did her best to transcribe the paintings. "…safe from the dueling… gods."

"Dueling gods?" Jim pondered, his hand to his chin.

Link, however, knew exactly what it meant, but he didn't dare say it aloud. There were legends of the sun and moon being at war, after all. But now, Link was certain it was referring to two certain masks. One under his bed, the other in the hands of someone who can protect it, wherever he may be.

Without saying a word, Link jumped across the platforms and entered the Garo Master's chamber. It was surprisingly similar to how Link had last seen it, when the moon was still in the sky. The plain, purple room wasn't much special. The Garo must have expanded their territory a bit within the Shrine. Heading over to the opposite chamber, where the Dinolfos once resided, he found the place he was held within the day prior.

The entire room was hollowed out to a much larger degree than any of the others. The cuts in the stone were recent, proving how much time the Garo had really been there. The remnants of the stone that stuck out of the ground were gone, carved away to provide more space. The most prominent feature of the entire place was the gaping hole in the side of the arena, the sunlight peeking through and illuminating the room better.

The only problem was, there was not a soul to be found. It had all been abandoned. The sound of the wind was the only thing heard aside from the footsteps of the four people exploring, and the little flutter of Tatl's wings.

"This is where they… kept you?" Skull Kid muttered, looking around.

There were a few places with the remains of candles once were, the wax having melted onto the stone floor. Everything in the chamber was still, and Link spotted the pieces of his sword on the ground near the center of the arena. He picked them up and gazed at the metal. It still had its fine luster. It wasn't beyond repair.

Romani walked up beside Link and saw the pieces of the Gilded Sword in his hands. Link's expression was one of remorse. That sword had been the Kokiri Sword before, and it held a lot of value to the boy in green.

"Romani's sorry, Grasshopper…" Romani put her hand on Link's shoulder and pulled him close a little. He put his head on Romani's shoulder and after a while, he returned to his "adventurous" self.

Link was about to say something to the others when the wind picked up. It grew faster and faster until three robed figures swung into the chamber from the hole in the wall. Their eyes remained calculated, surveying the room carefully. Immediately they spotted the squad.

"Trespassers!" The lead Garo shouted, pointed his weaponized appendage towards Link and Romani, and by extension, Jim, Skull Kid, and Tatl. The hero in green brought out the Great Fairy Sword as soon as the Garo raised his weapon. Romani was startled at first, but she drew her bow, which prompted Skull Kid and Jim to do the same with their weapons. The three spies stood across from the four kids. Skull Kid pointed his staff at one of the Garo and Jim took a defensive stance with his sword.

"It's the boy…" The rightmost Garo stated. His voice was cryptically soothing. Link just stood guard, a scowl across his face. The center one chimed in again. "I think it would be appropriate to exact revenge for our masters' hands!"

The Garo on the left simply cackled at the proposition, and then the trio took an attacking stance with their weapons. The groups were at a standoff for a moment until one of the Garo charged, being followed by the other two. Link moved first, then Romani, then Jim, then Skull Kid.

Link parried the first blow with the Great Fairy Sword, and he stood in a sword lock with his opponent for a second until Skull Kid blindsided it with his staff. While nervous, he was able to guess where the Garo would bring his weapon, and with assistance from Link, the two fended it off. The twin swords of the Garo met the Great Fairy Sword again, but the spy had an ally this time. Another swordsman leaped at Skull Kid to protect its cohort, allowing the two to get away. This just led to the staff and Great Fairy Sword falling onto the ground along with their wielders.

"Sorry, Link! Sorry!" Skull Kid was afraid he may have hit Link with his staff. Thankfully, he didn't.

"It's ok, just- Look out!" Link's thought was interrupted, pushing Skull Kid out of the way of a lunging attack. The Garo's weapons struck the ground, generating sparks, and for a moment the assailant was stuck in the stone. Its sword had driven into the rock, leaving it vulnerable. Skull Kid took the opportunity to bludgeon the spy and bring it to the ground.

Meanwhile, Romani shot two arrows at another Garo. They plunged into the cloth of its robe and penetrated its unseen skin. Reeling back in pain, the Garo foolishly tried to rip one out, but during the effort was hit by another arrow courtesy of the ranch girl. Jim took it as an opening and slashed at the creature with his sword. It wasn't a powerful strike, but it managed to bring the Garo to its knees for a second, allowing Romani to finish it off with an arrow to the face.

The first Garo was defeated, and it vanished in a blast of green fire, leaving no corpse behind. Romani and Jim cheered, and Link looked to his friend with pride. He and Romani locked eyes for a moment and smiled. However, the two were cut short as Link was almost hit by a slash of his opponent's weapon. Link turned his attention back to the Garo before him.

Link and the Garo exchanged hits via sword for a little while, sparks flying with each impact of the weapons. Jim started to sneak behind Link's attacker to take a swing at it. Sadly, Link's expression of worry gave his friend away. The Garo knew that this hero wouldn't be worried by his opponent, but at the prospect of his ally being reckless. Jim was forced to retreat when the Garo used his other bladed arm to swipe at the boy.

The Garo that had its sword stuck in the ground regained consciousness and forced its weapon to part from the stone. It scrambled to its feet and Skull Kid didn't have time to keep it at bay as it dashed to help its comrade against the Hero of Termina.

Jim was able to intercept the Garo before it could join its cohort, and Romani fired another volley of arrows at it. They stuck to the Garo and Jim pushed it off his sword, allowing Romani to take a few more shots.

Link, on the other hand, was still trying to take down his own opponent. The Great Fairy Sword was powerful, but it felt unnatural in Link's hands. He wasn't used to holding a weapon as big as it. Link considered taking one hand off the hilt of his weapon to reach for his shield, but figured he'd be overpowered by his enemy. Luckily, he had a saving grace, because Skull Kid decided to throw his staff at the Garo, and it was left disoriented after the weapon made impact with its head.

Skull Kid cheered Link on as the boy reached for the mirror shield. He didn't strap it onto his arm, but he instead threw it at the Garo. The hefty disk of wood and metal rammed into the Garo's stomach, and it hunched forward and groaned. The only thing Link felt he had to do was kick it to the ground, letting it feel the pain it now had from being mortal.

Link drew his attention to the Garo that now resembled a pin cushion more than a swordsman, arrows sticking out from a variety of places on its body. Romani had done a number on the thing. Link and Jim gave each other a knowing look, and then both ran towards the enemy. They jumped in unison and slashed their swords at the Garo together. Once it disappeared in a flash of green fire, the group cheered for each other.

"We did it!" Skull Kid hollered, picking up his staff and raising it to the air triumphantly.

"Yeah! We took 'em down!" Jim added, patting Skull Kid on the back and sheathing his sword. His pride at his skills was unimaginable, but he took it with modesty. He had a lot of room to improve, and he wanted to let his hands finally stop shaking from the tension. "Wooo… ok… I think that's enough sword fighting for me today…"

Romani tackled Link with a hug, bringing him to the ground. The two giggled for a bit until the ranch girl kissed Link's cheek a few times. All he was left with was embarrassment as his face grew red.

The groups' celebration didn't last long. All the cheering stopped when the Garo that had a shield thrown at them finally stood back up. It still clutched its stomach, but fear wasn't at all evident throughout its voice when it finally spoke.

"You and your friends are quite strong together…" The Garo said. It sounded oddly calm for being the last one left of its team. If this had the Garo Master, he would've been bellowing with anger at his defeat. It proved to Link how much the Master had suffered mentally due to his thirst for power.

"I must commend you, Link…" The audience of the speaker only readied their weapons again. But the Garo remained unfazed. A part of that honor that Link had experienced when he first faced the Garo during those endless three days was still there.

"You are an excellent leader, and a fine fighter." The Garo was leading up to something, Link could sense it. "However…"

"You and your friends may have a tough time trying to beat us all when we're everywhere…" The cryptic words dug into Link's soul. He inwardly prayed they didn't mean what he though they did. "The roads of this land may not be the safest anymore."

After a second, the Garo dashed for the exit, that being the massive hole in the wall. Romani, Jim, and Skull Kid considered blocking the Garo from its escape, but a gesture from Link kept them all still. He let the robed one get away. The four stood in silence for a bit, and Tatl rested on Link's hat. Without even a peep, Link walked to his friends and brought them all in for a group hug. He was thankful they were able to help him with being a hero.

Collecting the pieces of the Gilded Sword, the group left the chamber. They left the Shrine, and they left Ikana Canyon at last. Taking a second to play the Song of Soaring, Link brought the pieces of his former weapon to Zubora to be repaired, and joined back with his friends as soon as he was done. It'd take about a day to fix, but Link had time. He and his friends all shared smiles by the time they neared the trail to Milk Road.

"Sister is probably worried about where Romani is!" The ranch girl realized it had been nearly five hours since she had last seen Cremia. The group rushed back to Clock Town as fast as the could. It wasn't close to dusk yet, but they felt the urgency around them.

Opening the door to the Stock Pot Inn, the group was met with Anju and Cremia, still chatting about things unknown. The two must've been talking for hours now but didn't seem to notice. All except for Kafei, who was sitting on the front desk behind his wife, head on his chin, asleep.

"Sister!" Romani said cheerfully. Cremia turned her attention to Romani, and only then did she notice the time.

"Oh goodness! We've been talking for how long?!" Cremia took Romani's hand and was ready to leave, oblivious to what her little sister had been doing with the others after all this time. Anju only chuckled at her friend and broke out into laughter when she noticed her husband fast asleep on the desk.

"See you, Anju!" Cremia waved goodbye as she and Romani rushed out the door. The whole process seemed very rushed, but everyone else figured the sisters had places to be. They weren't wrong in the slightest. Being the owner of a ranch was a big responsibility for Cremia.

"I'll catch you guys later." Jim patted Link and Skull Kid on the back before heading out himself. Skull Kid giggled, and he alongside Tatl went back upstairs to their room. It was only Link, Anju, and Kafei now.

"So, Link, how was your day with Romani?" Anju asked, walking to the kitchen to start dinner. She chuckled again when she made her next comment. "I hope Cremia and I didn't keep you two away with our conversation."

"It was good…" Link replied, sitting by Kafei at the front desk. "We had a lot of fun."

"Say, Link? You never did tell us about what exactly happened at the canyon last night…" Kafei looked down at Link, but the boy's reaction was to avert his eyes. After all that had just happened, he felt exhausted. But, the parting words of the Garo stuck with him, and all he could think about was that cave writing, Termina, and if it was safe from the race of spies.

"I'll… tell you guys later…" Link said.