Welcome back! And here's Chapter two! Special Thanks to BlueIrish for supporting me! (Gives him cake)
Read on!
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Link stumbled along, lost in this… treeless place.
He had never known anything like it, to see the sky without looking at green leaves, or a clearing this vast. Few trees dotted the field, along with a few scraggly bushes…
And for some reason, he was undeniably and erratically afraid of all this openness. And the fact that the sun was setting didn't help that much. He rubbed his arms, it was already getting chilly- where would he go for the night? Going back to the forest was out of the question… could he find this "castle" before dark? What did a castle look like? The Great Deku Tree said he had to go there… before he died.
He heard a wolf howl in the distance…
"Navi… do you know anything of… here?"
The ball of light peeked out from is green cap, "No, not very much. Only what I've heard from the Gr- um- what I've picked up." She almost said Great Deku Tree. It was a sore spot neither wanted to speak about.
Link took a step off the dirt road…
Something was bugging Navi. Something she knew that she should know, something she heard from the other fairies… About Hyrule field at night… What was it? Something bad. It wasn't until she heard the sound of digging did she remember.
"L-Link! Get your sword out!
A bony hand clawed out of the earth, as a stench of decaying flesh assaulted Link's nose.
Quickly he yanked out his sword and shield, blocking a swipe.
"Stalchilds!" Navi cried as she burst out from Link's hat, her form turning yellow to help Link see. Her light shined on bare bones, horribly animated to replicate how they moved in life. Disgusted, Link sliced its head off with a sickening CRUNCH of fleshless bone, only to find its body still blindly groping for him. Another popped out of the ground, and another, and another…
"How do I kill them?!"
"Ya bust it up ya Moron!"
Link paused for a millisecond, that wasn't Navi who spoke-
"DUCK YA FOOL!"
Obeying the new voice, he heard another whizzing sound where his head was.
A disgruntled shout and an inhuman choking sound followed. "Git in the river-NOW! They can't swim!"
Link hardly could either.
Nevertheless, he took off- hearing the ground being torn by undead hands, reaching to him. Behind him, Navi's bright form bobbed dizzily up and down, keeping pace with his, and the other set of living feet and the sound lungs behind him.
Finally, he plunged into the river- its freezing shock hit him like a rock, the river tossed him around like a rag doll- up and down, teasing him with air only long enough to open his mouth to breathe-but all he breathed was water. A tug at the back of his tunic pulled him under a bridge, to safety.
"Dun worry, hard part's over now. But what the hells where ya thinking?"
Link turned to look at his savoir…
He was a she, actually.
Black hair whipped around her face as water ran off it, a ratty bandanna was tied on her head in an attempt to keep it in check. A patched tunic (whether it was originally brown of stained brown was difficult to determine) with a worn belt and trousers that were soaked through. Her eyes… Link had only seen that kind of color in few flowers, purple. And right now, those odd eyes were scrutinizing him.
"You…" Link panted.
"Excuse meh?"
"Not ya, you. Meh's not right either, it's me."
Water went up his nose as his head was pushed under water- he came back up sputtering. "You gotta lotta nerve kid! Ah just saved yer life! Don't ya know it's stupid to walk 'round this field at night? Stalchilds'll come up and rip you and your little bug ta tiny shreds!"
It took Link a moment to figure out what "Bug" she meant- Navi however understood quite well, "Who are you calling a bug you little rat?!"
"You, ya little bug!"
"I am NOT a bug!"
"Pfft, look like ah bug, fly like ah bug!"
"I'm a fairy!"
"Fairies are rare, and even if yer one, you should beh pink! Blue's all wrong!"
"Um.."
"WHAT?" Both females glared at Link, Navi hovering only a few feet from the girl's face, her light a now fuming red.
"It's… kinda c-c-cold in the water…"
The girl rolled her purple eyes at Link's shivering form. "I'll take ya in ta town; I know a way in after the bridge closes." She pointed to there left.
Link's heart stopped, it was the place from his dream. The high walls of stone and the river and everything- only now the wooden bridge was up- and no white horse in sight.
And thankfully no evil man.
"Um, where is here?" Link looked back at the girl. She stared at him, slacked-jawed. "Wadda mean where is here? Man, you musta wacked yer head good! Sure them Stalchilds didn't get ya?" Link's eye brows drew together and shook his head no. The girl sighed. "Ah guess I'll take care of ya… But ya owe meh!" She turned and started to swim down stream, closer to the stone wall Link failed to see in the descended darkness.
"Yer in Hyrule field. This place is Castle Town, most Hylands- that's you an' meh," She pointed to herself and him, "are here. If ya follow this river up, you'll come ta Zora River. Over cross that bridge is Kakariko Village and the gate ta Death Mountain. Sum Hylands live in Kakariko too, but the Gorons claim the Mountain."
"I-I'm not Hyland!" Link sputtered out as he swam, the girl's longer legs could touch the bottom on tip-toe, but Link was forced to swim, "I am a K-Kokiri!" She looked back at him, "One of da forest kids? They're only legend! You hit yer head harder than ah thought! Then again… ya do have da fairy an' green clothes…"
"You, the and and." Link corrected.
"Shuddaup!" He felt the water run up his nose as she pushed him under again.
Finally, the two came to the end of the river, where it flowed to the left under the drawbridge and in front of them it flowed through bars to the inside. The purpled eyed girl pushed forward towards the bars.
Link realized he never introduced himself, something he'd never done before, "Um, I'm Link."
"Link? That's an' odd name." She said without looking back at him, "Better than nutin' ah guess." She was now at the bars, twisting the end one closest to the bridge. Slowly, Link saw that she was pulling out. "This bar's cut at da bottom, we did that, just incase."
"We?" the blond asked.
"Meh an' ma gang."
He bit back the urge to correct her, "What's a gang?"
She sighed, shaking her head, "Damn kid. Yer clueless." The bar came free of the wall, "Git in, it's a tight squeeze, but you'll make it."
Obeying her, he pushed between the wall and the other bar- she was right, it was tight. Anyone bigger than him probably couldn't make it. At least he could touch here. Past the bars was a narrow passage for the water to go though, it was about two of his arm-spans' wide with the ceiling a foot above his head. Behind him, the girl moved through the bars in a practiced motion and replaced the broken bar.
"What's your name?" His voice echoed off the stone walls.
"Dun got one. All of ma gang just calls meh Boss."
"How can you not have a name?"
The Boss turned to him, "Cuze' Ah don't!" She shoved past him, stomping down the passage in the knee deep water. Link could now see she was a little taller than him, and much slimmer.
"Um, didn't your…" Link had to think of the word, "Parents name you?" Because of how the Kokiri were, they had no parents- Saria taught him that Hylands were different. They 'grew up' into 'adults' who then made kids (how, Link wasn't sure).
She stopped and whirled around, "Ah don't got any! None of us do!" Her eyes gleamed furiously, "We was all left on da road, left ta die!" She twisted back, stomping down again. "We dun need no stinking parents, or any Adult!"
Link stood still, shocked as the sloshing echoes of her foot steps faded.
That damn Kid pissed her off.
There she was, helping him. She saved his skinny little ass, showed him the secret entrance, he just had to- he just had to-
Ask that question.
The Boss pulled herself up into a tunnel in the passage; she left the kid behind.
But he really did seem clueless though; could he make it in Town alone? Exhausted, she sat down against the cave wall, cradling her head in her hands. He didn't know the consequences of his question, was she right to leave him there? Shivering… cold… alone.
In the cornier of her eye, she saw a blue light fly past. It was the kid's bug. Hidden in the cave, Boss watched as it hovered above the water. It made several sad tinks, and turned around, slowly fly back to the kid, no doubt.
The Boss could have killed herself for what she was about to do now.
"Hey bug, tell da kid ta come dis way."
Roger was pacing in front of the hide out's entrance.
"Where IS she?! She should have been back by now!" He clamped his hands together, worrying. Amy rolled her eyes, "Roger, this is The Boss. She's fine. I bet she's just messing around somewhere. Maybe she found something interesting." She continued sewing one of Dan's trousers, still sitting on the makeshift seat.
Star and Chase- siblings- sat at her feet, resting their heads against Amy's leg. Both were small things, ) even for six and 7 year-olds) and had an angelic aura that all of the others lacked. They even had the golden hair that seemed to shine even when dirty. Star, the oldest, was playing with her doll that Amy made her. Chase seemed to stare off into space… but it was impossible to tell, for he wore a black blind-fold to hide his gouged eyes. He was blind. But with that blindness, came a… Talent.
"She'll be back soon Roger." Star said, Chase nodded, "Not only will she be back soon, but she'll have a new friend!" She cuddled her doll to her chest, and started sucking her thumb- a habit Amy gave up trying to break.
Roger looked to the little one, "Has Chase… seen it?" Chase only talked to his sister- neither Roger nor anyone else had ever heard him make a sound- even in pain.
Star looked up at him, her big innocent eyes gave the 'Duh, you know who you're talking to right?' expression. She continued to suck her thumb. Roger frowned, but sat down, picking up his book.
There are many theories on the tri-force. Some say it's myth, other's say it's real. Some go so far as to clam that the royal family has it, but denies it. There are many theories on the tri-force. Some say it's myth, other's say it's real. Some go so far as to clam that the royal family has it, but denies it. There are many theories…
Frustrated, he slammed the book shut. He kept re-reading the same line over and over-
"He saw that too." Star beamed at him. Sometimes, he just wanted to wring her neck, that child.
It wasn't until he heard footsteps coming from one of the back entrances he really relaxed.
"OI! Ah'm back!" The Boss yelled out as she walked up the narrow tunnel to the main cavern. The kid, Link, walked a few steps behind her, his 'bug' hidden under his hat. Roger was the first to come bustling down the passage.
"Where have you BEEN? It's way past dark! You used the water way entrance didn't you? Were you in the field AFTER dark? You KNOW it's dangerous! Even with a new dagger! I didn't give that to you so you could just pick fights with Stalchilds! Do you know how worried-!"
"ROGER! SHADDUP!" She cuffed him, "Ah can take care of meself, thank ya!" The Boss pushed him aside, "Ah brought a kid with meh. He was lost, I'm gunna let em' stay da night. Tell da twins ta NOT pickpocket em'. If they do, Ah'm gunna beat em both till theys wish theys wern't made!"
Roger looked back, just becoming aware of Link, "Oh. Hello." He held out his hand to shake, "I'm Roger. Welcome."
Link simply looked at the offered hand, "…Um, Hi…?"
Roger sighed, and withdrew his hand, "I can see why The Boss took pity on you. What is your name?"
"Link!" He was happy to do something right.
"Link… Well, that's not a name you hear everyday." The older boy shrugged. "Here, come in- anyone who The Boss invites is a friend." Roger lead him towards the main cavern where The Boss was presenting Amy the (slightly water logged) Hemmer's Lock, "-Couldn't find much. Place was blocked by boulders. Ah had to scavenge around." The Boss told her. Amy smiled and thanked her.
"The Girl Boss is talking to is Amy. If you have any wounds, talk with her, she'll patch you up. The little one next to her," Roger gestured to Star, "Is Star." Link nodded. "Don't go beyond ere', yer only spending one night ere', so it's pointless to show you all of the tunnels." The Boss turned back to Link, "I'm heading ta my place." She left the cavern, going into one of the other exits.
Star looked up at Link, taking her thumb away from her mouth, "Hello Link, So nice to meet you." She gave him a big smile.
Surpised, Link stared at the little girl, his introduction to Roger couldn't have been audible; they had still been in the tunnels that lead from the waterway! "Um, h-how-"
"Star and Chase, uh, know things." Roger gave the little girl a disapproving glance. "You can sit down and rest up. There's a bed other there." He pointed to a pile of rags similar to the ones Amy sat on. Link nodded as Roger went back to his book. Left alone, Link walked to the 'bed' Roger had pointed out to him.
He took off his sword and shield, gently placing them next the bed. He looked down at them, these, my wallet, and my clothes are the only things of home I have.
Star got up from where Amy sat, and walked over to Link. She stood there for a moment, staring with her thumb in her mouth.
"Where are you from?"
Link smiled at her, instantly won over by her adorable face, "The woods."
"What part of the woods?"
"Well, I live-lived far over that way," He pointed, "with the other Kokiri."
"What are they like?"
He grinned, "Well…
--
"So what did you do after the mean boy yelled at you?"
Link frowned, "I ran. I ran out of the woods. But Saria stopped me before I left. She was waiting for me on the bridge that leads out of the woods. She wanted to give me this," he pulled out a small brown object from his tunic, "she said it was a sign of our friendship."
It was a small ocarina. Link remembered playing with it with Saria deep in the Lost Woods. Star's eyes went wide at the sight of it, "Can you play it? For me? Please?"
The boy laughed, "Sure!"
He leaned back against the wall, and raised the ocarina to his lips. What song should he play? Perhaps that one he and Saria made up…
A bright and peppy tune unfolded from the instrument, turning Link's breath into so many notes from all over the spectrum- but all in harmony with each other. It wavered and flew, up and down, it's beat the only sure thing. It kept all the listeners guessing at what came next, up or down? Left or right? Soon, every pair of ears listened to Link's song.
Then, from somewhere above him, gentle notes started to weave, in and out of his song. They created order where there was none, sometimes clashing, but as the song went on, they made fewer mistakes. Finally, the song ended, leaving all of them deep in their own thoughts.
Link looked up, who had played the other instrument?
Star looked over at an alcove above that Link hadn't seen, "It was nice to hear you play the lute Boss."
Astonished, Link followed the little one's gaze; it was The Boss that made those gentle notes?
"You did a very good job too Link." Star gave him her best angelic smile.
He grinned at her comment, but he was still looking at the Boss. She was stretched out on a flat opening in the wall that was about 7 feet up above him. He guessed there must be another tunnel that lead up to it, he didn't see her climb up there. A small, wooden pheasant's lute rested on her lap, she now was idly picking at its strings, letting a few small notes ring out. Her face was distant mask. It was so far off from the constant annoyed look she wore that it was almost disturbing.
Star giggled, "Roger says that the lute is the only thing that keeps her still!"
Soon, another song drifted out from above.
It was slow, its notes left to hang in the air, before softly dying. They called out heartbreaking sounds, as if they had all lost something so dear. It reminded Link of the Great Deku Tree, how it now stood lifeless and still, alone in its meadow. He thought of the forest, what would become of it, now that its guardian was gone?
It was a mercifully short song.
"You don't seem like the kind that plays." Link said softly.
The Boss snorted unceremonsly, "Ah don't seem like a lot of things."
A quiet silence followed.
It was Star who broke it, "So Link, You're going to break into the castle tomorrow with Boss, right?" Star looked at him naively. Roger bolted upright, his trance broken, "WHAT did you just say Star?!"
She looked to the unofficial second-in-command, "Link has to go see Princess Zelda. He and Boss are going to go see her tomorrow." She beamed, "Chase saw it."
Roger gaped at her.
"Hey! Why don't Ah git a say in this?!" The Boss called down from above.
"Because you're going to do it anyway. It's the only path." The child stated in a way that gave no room for argument, and started sucking on her thumb.
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R&R, we don't want poor Blue's one review sitting all alone shivering in the cold loneliness or my o-so-empty review box now do we?
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