Hi guys! Glad to see you're enjoying this story so much! Thanks to SilasCidal who sent me some tips for keeping my character away from the darkness of the Sues! And thanks to Gargravarr, MegamanSora, Kaigon, and MetaGiga for all of your support! See, if you review, I'll probably thank you publicly!
Chapter 3: Hey! Listen!
"Let go!", Midna shouted angrily.
"NO!", I shouted back, clinging to the root of a giant tree.
"I said: LET GO!", Midna shouted, pulling on me.
"DIN DAMN IT, I SAID: NO!!", I shouted back. Link and the monkey girl stared at Midna and me with great interest.
"Are they Brother and Sister?", The monkey girl asked. Link tilted his head.
"I don't think so...", He replied in a growl.
"Are they mates?", she asked Link. Links eyes widened and he jumped into action.
"KNOCK IT OFF!!!", He barked loudly, cuasing Midna to tumble back in surprise. I stared at him, and Midna was getting up off the ground. I looked down at her, still clinging to the root.
"You okay?", I asked politely. She rubbed her head and nodded.
"Damn Link, what's with the noise?", Midna asked him with a headache.
"You guys are taking forever! Why can't we just go?", He asked. I looked at him as if he just asked the most obvious question in the world.
"Uh, duh. I can't fly like Midna.", I pointed out. Midna snickered, and I glared at her.
"It's true Link! He can't!", Midna stated, laughing at me. My eye twitched with anger.
"Well why not? He's just like you, right? Why can't you teach him?", Link asked. Midna raised a finger to protest, but put it down and shook her head.
"Alright! I'll teach you!", She said begrudgingly, "BUT! Only if you will ride Link while we get to the Sacred Grove, ok?"
I looked at her and sighed.
"Alright, deal. At least once I learn I won't have to ride on him when he's a wolf, I'll just fly.", I said letting go of the tree root. Midna took this chance to grab me with her hair-hand-thing and put me on top of Link. I groaned in great pain and fell off of Link when Midna let go.
"What happened to him?", Midna asked with concern. Link rolled his eyes.
"He is a guy you know.", Link pointed out to Midna. Midna made a sudden face of realization and poked me.
"Hey, uhh, sorry about that... I wasn't thinking... You gonna be okay?", Midna asked. I groaned but nodded.
"Five minutes...", I groaned rolling on the ground in pain. I got up a few minutes later and sighed.
"You ready now?", Midna asked impatiently. I took a deep breath and nodded. I jumped onto Link's back and held on to his mane for dear life. The monkey girl ran up to us.
"I just wanted to thank you guys for saving me from those bad guys! They were really strong, so be careful ok?", She told us. Link smiled and nodded. Midna floated over to the branch casually.
Midna beckoned Link to a branch with her hair-hand. He leaped to her with amazing speed. She dodged him and flew to the next branch with amazing speed. Link lept towards her again, and again, and again. Link lept to the ledge and I fell off. I was shaking violently and curled into a ball. Link looked at me nervously and Midna giggled.
"A little much for you?", Midna teased me. Link shot her a look and she rolled her eyes.
"You gonna' be okay?", Link asked apologetically. I looked at him and nodded slightly.
"What happened? You look like you just saw a ghost.", Midna asked leaning back in midair.
"I didn't think it was so deep... It has no bottom...", I muttered shakily. Midna snickered quietly and Link sighed. I stood up slowly and got onto Link's back. Midna raised an eyebrow.
"You're ready? So soon?", She asked. I nodded, stared straight ahead, and swallowed nervously.
"I've got guts. True courage is doing something despite being afraid to do it.", I told her. She smirked and laughed lightly.
"Well, let's see how courageous you really are. Ready Link?", He nodded and jumped quickly from branch to branch. We reached a large ledge and I let out a sigh of relief. Midna smirked.
"You did better than I thought you would.", Midna told me slightly impressed. I smiled with pride at her. Something behind her flew down.
"Midna! Get down!", I said quickly. She ducked down just in time for Link to pounce on two Keese. Midna got up and brushed herself off.
"Thanks, I didn't hear them.", She said to me. I waved my hand.
"Hey, no problem! I just said to get down. Link here took care of those Keese!", I said patting him. He looked up and smiled.
"C'mon, we should keep going.", Midna said anxiously. Link and I nodded and he moved to the bridges. He jumped down and a strong gust blew, turning the bridges around. We waited for another gust to blow until the bridges changed again. Link jumped onto another ledge and started walking on the tightrope. I clutched a ball of Link's fur tightly, afraid of falling off. He balanced himself well and timed when he passed the swinging logs.
'Why the HELL are there swinging logs!?', I thought angrily. Midna seemed to be thinking the same thing, judging by the look on her face. Link got across and I sighed with relief, again. Link walked over to the strange stone with a Sheikah symbol on it and he listened carefully to it. I got off of him and laid down on the grass with my eyes closed. Midna hovered over me like she was leaning in a recliner and yawned nonchalantly.
"Aren't you curious what he's doing?", She asked me. I cracked open an eye and looked over to Link, who seemed to be focusing intently with his ear raised and eyes closed.
"Looks like he's about to sing a song.", I told her seriously. She raised an eyebrow. Link started howling a tune, and he fell down, losing consciousness. Midna looked at Link then at me.
"How did you?...", she trailed off in confusion. I smiled.
"Oh, I recognized the stone. The symbol on it is the crest of the Sheikah, an ancient family dedicated to protecting the Royal Family of Hyrule. Thing is, I'm not sure of how many of them there are now...", I explained. She stared at me suspiciously.
"How do you know these things?", She asked me. I frowned, then smiled.
"Don't worry, I promise I'll explain everything, AFTER, the dark king is killed.", I said happily. She raised her only visible brow.
"Dark King? You mean that traitor Zant?", She spat out, anger rising at the thought of him. I frowned sadly.
"Sure.", I mumbled rolling on my side. Silence hung thick in the air.
"Did he curse you too?", Midna asked nervously. I chuckled.
"Curse? I suppose you could call what I've become a curse... Of course, it's all about how you look at it. I mean, I see it as living life in someone elses shoes. It's all about perspective. Sometimes, it can be a blessing in disguise.", I pointed out to her. She shook her head.
"I never thought about it that way... But, did Zant do this to you?", She asked me. I shook my head.
"Nope. Somebody else did. But I'm not angry at them, not at all.", I said happily. Midna got annoyed.
"Why not?! Why aren't you angry with this person?!", She snapped angrily. I frowned, and looked her in the eye with all the seriousness in my being.
"Because, if not for her changing me, I wouldn't be here right now.", I said to her. She looked down to the ground in frustration.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for getting angry.", She said quietly. I looked at her and smiled calmly.
"It's alright, you didn't know. How could you? I mean, it's not like you were there when it happened.", I told her sympatheticly. She looked at me and sighed.
"Why did she need to turn you into an Imp?", She asked me. I blinked and chuckled.
"That's another story for another day. Could you teach me how to fly now?", I asked her changing the subject. She looked at me curiously.
"Why do you want to learn?", She asked me. I looked at the entrance to the sacred grove and looked back at her with 'Take a guess' face.
"What?", she asked. I sighed and shook my head.
"Just call it a strong feeling. I think we haven't seen the last of those puppets.", I said. Midna shrugged and nodded in agreement.
"Well, first start by focusing your emotions to a state of serenity and make your body totally relaxed...", She began.
(Insert Divider Here)
"Keep going, you've almost got it!", Midna said supportively. Link began to stir and awake. He stretched lazily and yawned loudly.
"Okay Austin, you can open your eyes now.", Midna said excitedly. Link walked over to Midna he nudged her.
"Oh, hey Link! Have a nice nap?", She asked mischiefously. Link nodded. Midna pointed up to me and I waved to Link.
"How's the weather down there Link? It's pretty windy up here, I don't think you'd like it.", I said with a proud smile on my face. Link stared up at me with a slack jaw.
"Y-You're flying! How? When?", He asked in shock. Midna giggled.
"We thought that we'de make use of your little nap! You were out a lot longer than usual you know. I mean, we got here a little before sunrise, and it's already the late afternoon! What happened?", Midna asked Link curiously
"I don't know, I remember being told to meet him at the Ordon spring, but then I blacked out. Maybe I was just tired?", Link suggested. I shrugged and hovered down.
"Who knows? Still, we gotta change you back to your normal self, so let's put this flying of mine to good use!", I said enthusiastically. Link and Midna nodded in agreement. Midna mounted Link and we entered the lair of the Skullkid. I mean, the Sacred Grove. Link walked up to another stone and listened.
"Oh great! Another stone, another nap!", Midna groaned. I shook my head.
"No, this one's different, see? It has the Triforce on it, not the Sheikah crest.", I pointed out. Midna looked at it and rolled her eyes.
"Whatever, just no more naps! Got it?", She said sternly to Link. His ears lowered sadly and he began to howl Zelda's lullaby. I laughed at the irony of this.
"What? What's so funny?", Midna asked tilting her head to see me. I waved it off.
"It's just... That happens to be a lullaby. Zelda's lullaby. I just found it funny for some reason is all.", I said smiling. Midna sighed and rubbed her temple. Link finished howling and the echo resonated throughout the meadow eerily. I floated back a bit.
"Midna?... I think you should lay down a field of dark energy...", I suggested quietly. She scoffed.
"Really? Are you that parano-", She began until Skullkid dropped down and blew a horn. Four of the same puppets from before flew down, surrounding Link. Midna quickly layed down the dark energy and Link attacked them all with lightning speed.
"Mhmm.", I said teasingly, "Am I that Para-What know?"
"Para-nnoying at the moment.", Midna said bitterly. I frowned.
"Ouch. That's cold.", I mumbled. Midna smirked and pushed Link to keep moving. I flew above, keeping an eye out for Skullkid or his puppets. A horn sounded, and more puppets flew down.
"Incoming Puppets!", I warned the two. Midna layed down more dark energy, letting Link attack them all at once. The puppets broke apart on impact and the pieces sank into the ground. I blinked, checking to see if the pieces really sunk into the ground.
"How many puppets can this person weirdo possibly have?", Midna asked in annoyance. I chuckled lightly.
"My guess? Unlimited.", I said looking at my fingernail. Midna turned around.
"Why do you say that?", She asked anxiously. I sighed, and pointed at the ground.
"What happened to the puppet parts? I saw them sink into the ground. They're probably made from the trees around here.", I theorized. Midna shook her head.
"Great! We'll be fighting forever!", Midna said throwing her arms up in defeat. I frowned in disappointment.
"Excuse me. Who ever said we had to fight forever?", I asked Midna with a smirk. Link looked at me and tilted his head.
"What do you mean?", Link asked. I flew down.
"He blew a horn before they flew down, didn't you guys see?", I asked them. Link and Midna's eyes widened.
"He's using the horn to control the puppets!", Link said excitedly. I nodded.
"We should listen for it and spring a sneak attack on him!", Midna said pounding her fist into her hand. Link raised his ears up and listened for a horn. His ear twitched and he ran through an opening. I floated after Link and looked for puppets.
"I hear music!", Link barked excitedly. Midna held tightly to Link as he ran into another opening. The dredded horn sounded.
"Get ready!", I told them, already seeing puppets form from the trees around me. As soon as the puppets landed, Link attacked fiercely. The remains of the puppets sank into the ground again. Link sniffed the ground suspiciously. Midna smacked Link softly and gave him a look that said 'Hurry up before they come back!'
"Hey! I think I see him!", I whispered as I floated into some branches for cover. I smiled happily. This flying thing really had its perks! Skullkid was dancing on a bridge made naturally from a tree. He danced and played his horn excitedly. I smiled and got floated down to Link and Midna.
"He's just a kid! He probably thinks we're playing a game! I'll go tag him, cover me in case he calls his puppets, ok?", I told them. Link nodded with the plan. Midna folded her arms.
"Midna, what is it?", I asked her. She looked up at me.
"This kid sure has a strange idea of 'fun and games.'", She said bitterly. I laughed lightly and floated quietly over to Skullkid. Link followed behind silently, avoiding any twigs that might alert him of our prescence. He blew the horn and I quickly tagged him. The puppets around Link fell to pieces and sunk into the grass.
"Gotcha'! You're good at hiding you know!", I said youthfully. Skullkid turned around in surprise and whipped around. He stared at me.
"Heh heh! Find me two more times, and I'll show you a special place!", He said with a wide smile. I widened my eyes.
"Really? Cool! Can my friends come, if they help?", I asked him childishly. He paused for a moment then nodded.
"Okay! Sure! They have to tag me each though! Good luck! Heh heh heh!", He giggled as he jumped into a whirlwind of leaves. I floated down to Link and Midna, with a smile on my face.
"So? What happened? We heard you talking to each other about something.", Midna asked impatiently. I smirked.
"We get to play a little hide and seek! Each of you have to tag him once, and only once.", I told the two. Link's tail began to wag violently.
"Hide and seek?! I haven't played that for years!", He barked out excitedly. Midna stared at Link and me with an embarrassed look on her face.
"Umm...," She muttered to grab our attention, "I forgot how to play..."
I smacked my face and shook my head. Link tilted his head, not understanding how one could forget such a memorable childhood game.
"Midna, it's really easy. Skullkid hides, you two seek. When you find him, sneak up on him and tag him.", I explained. Midna crossed her arms and grunted.
"You don't have to talk to me like I'm a child.", She huffed in annoyance. I sighed.
"Sorry, but listen for his horn, I don't know when the puppets might... Come out. Shit.", I swore as five puppets fell from the canopy. Midna layed down some dark energy for Link and let him attack. Midna turned and glared at me.
"I thought we were just playing hide and seek?!", She snapped angrily. I cowered down in fear of her wrath.
"He does have a strange idea of 'fun and games', right?", I asked her nervously. She sighed and pinched her brow.
"Yes, yes he does... Let's just get this over with.", She grumbled. Link turned to her and looked at her softly. She stared him in the face. He smiled and licked her face.
"Ugh! Link! Gross!", She laughed as he licked her on the face. I smiled. Watching the romance blossom from this, was going to be cool to see. Link finally stopped licking Midna and she got on him.
"Hey Austin? Sorry for snapping at you. It's those damn puppets, they're just too damn creepy.", She apologized. I shrugged it off.
"It's alright. I just try to avoid unneccesary conflict is all. I guess I should've asked for him to stop using puppets, yeah?", I said. Midna smiled and nodded.
"Link, do you want to tag him first?", Midna asked patting him playfully. He nodded and wagged his tail.
"Sure!", He barked out excitedly. I followed the excited wolf and his impish rider into another section of the grove and looked around. A flickering blue light zipped into the bushes. I raised an eyebrow and floated over to the bush. I pulled some of the branches out of the way and my eyes widened. A small blue fairy stared at me in horror. Her wing looked bent and I reached slowly to offer her a hand.
"Please! Don't eat me!", She screamed out, raising her arms over her face. I gasped and looked sadly down at her.
"What?... No, please calm down... I was just offering you a hand. I saw your wing and thought that I might be able to help somehow...", I muttered sadly. She looked up at me, shaking with fear.
"That's what the last one said before he grabbed me and my wing got bent!", She spat out in terrified anger. I sighed and looked at her.
"I'm sorry that that happened to you. I'm Austin. Who are you?", I asked kindly. She looked at me and blew her hair out of her face.
"Prey...", She muttered sadly. I laughed.
"That's funny, cause it isn't true. Seriously, what's your name?", I asked her again. She looked at me and sighed.
"I don't know why I'm doing this... I'm Navi.", She told me. I gasped.
"You mean the Navi?! The fairy who aided the Hero of Time long ago?!", I asked her in amazement. She stepped back fearfully and nodded slowly.
"That's amazing! Holy crap! I can't believe it! It's a pleasure to meet you!", I said offering a finger for her to shake. She looked at it and slowly shook it.
"Hey Austin! What are you doing over there?", Midna asked me. I looked back, noticing they had just walked out of a passageway.
"Me? Oh I um... I made a new friend!", I said pointing at the bush. Midna looked at me nervously.
"You made friends with... A bush?... Should we be concerned?", Link asked me uneasily. I laughed.
"Not the bush! With Navi! She's a fairy! A famous one too! She's really nice, but she's hurt. Is it all right if we bring her along?", I asked with a puppy-dog look. Midna rolled her eyes.
"Fine, whatever. The more the merrier I guess!", Midna said sarcastically. I smiled and looked at Navi.
"Those were my friends, we're trying to help save the kingdom of Hyrule from the dark clutches of an evil king!", I said happily. Navi looked at me curiously.
"Wait, are you here for the Master Sword?", She asked me. I smiled and nodded.
"Sorta. See my friend was cursed, so Princess Zelda said we should get the Master Sword to fix him. He's the wolf with blue eyes over there looking for Skullkid.", I motioned over my shoulder.
"Here, let me on your shoulder I wanna see him.", She said. I nodded and held out my hand for her to get on. She stepped on my hand and I brought her up to my shoulder for her to see. She gasped when Link looked at her.
"His... His eyes!... I'd know those eyes anywhere!...", She said covering her mouth. I nodded, careful not to knock Navi off balance.
"The reincarnation of the hero.", I said quietly. She looked at me.
"How did you?..."
"Know?", I finished for her, "Din was bored. She felt like having me show up and make things a little more interesting."
Navi sighed and looked at Link sniffing the air.
"Is it... Is it alright if I join you? Just to meet him? The new...", She mumbled. I smiled.
"You mean the new Link?", I asked. She looked at me with wide eyes. I nodded.
"That's his name. Sure, just try not to but heads with Midna. She's sorta the alpha-female in our little trio.", I explained. Navi leaned over to my cheek, lightly kissing it. I blushed brightly and smiled stupidly.
"Thank you...", she whispered with a smile. I chuckled lightly.
"N-no problem! The m-more the merrier!", I said nervously. Navi giggled and I looked away.
"Hey guys!", I said floating over with Navi on my shoulder, "This is Navi! Navi, this is Link, and Midna!"
Midna stared at my shoulder and blinked.
"I thought you were joking about the fairy...", Midna mumbled in disbelief. Link walked up and looked at her.
"Woah... You're blue! I've never seen a blue fairy before! Nice to meet you!", He barked out, tail wagging. Navi smiled sadly.
"It's nice to meet you... again...", She whispered the last part, hoping no one would here it. I frowned, after barely catching what she said.
"So, any luck looking for Skullkid?", I asked the two. Link looked at Midna and she nodded.
"Link tagged him real fast, but I'm having a little trouble finding him. I don't suppose you have any pointers on how to catch him?...", Midna asked non-chalantly. I smiled and nodded. Navi tilted her head in slight confusion.
"Why are you looking for Skullkid?", She asked, "He didn't send his puppets after you, did he?"
"Actually, he did. But then I tagged him and now we're playing hide and seek. If we win, he'll show us a 'secret place'!", I explained to Navi. Navi made a silent 'oh' with her mouth and nodded. I looked back at Midna who huffed impatiently.
"It's rude to keep a girl waiting you know!", She said in annoyance. I rolled my eyes and floated over to her.
"You know, in a grove with this many trees, at this early in the morning, it's a wonder that we can even see without a lantern or something!", I said abitrarily. Midna looked at me like I was stupid and shook her head.
"What are you talking about?! How is that going to help?", She said in frustration. I sighed and shook my head.
"All I'm saying is, somebody would need a lantern, or some other source of light if they were going to live here.", I pointed out, hoping Midna would get it. Midna stared at me, with her jaw hanging loose. Her eyes began to widen in a sudden realization.
"Oh! I get it now! Why didn't you just remind me he had a lantern?", She huffed out. I chuckled.
"Well, I thought you would've clued in faster.", I said smiling. Navi giggled and Midna glared at her. Midna turned Link around and went looking for Skullkid and his lantern. I looked at Navi.
"Does it hurt?", I asked, talking about her wing. She looked down sadly.
"A little... It hurts to know I'm not needed...", She said in self-pity. I frowned.
"Um... I was actually talking about your wing...", I said awkwardly. She jumped at this realization and blushed lightly.
"Oh! Um, yes. My wing is a little sore.", She told me. I smiled.
"Actually, you are needed. Is it okay if I need you?", I asked her. Navi turned from blue to bright pink.
"Wh-what?! What do you mean?...", She asked nervously. I chuckled.
"Well, you know. To be a friend, and to help me out, and to let me help you.", I explained with a smile. She turned back to blue.
"Oh... Yes. Thank you.", She said smiling at me, sounding slightly dissappointed.
"Is it possible to fix your wing? So you can fly again, and so it isn't in pain?", I asked her. She thought for a moment.
"Actually, I think so. I need to visit the great fairy though...", She explained in slight hoplessness. I brightened up.
"That's wonderful news! Don't you worry! We'll run into the great fairy soon enough!", I said floating upwards in excitement. Navi got nervous.
"Hey! Listen! I wanna go back down, okay?", She told me. My eyes widened in a fanboy moment, as I drifted down to the ground.
"Oh my god! You said it! It sounds so cute!", I said squirming in glee. Navi raised an eyebrow and blushed lightly.
"What did I say that sounded cute?", She asked, not understanding what she had just said. I blushed.
"Did I say that out loud?... Oops.", I mumbled in embarrassment. Midna came riding in triumphantly.
"Haha! Oh yeah! I did it! I got him! Time for Link to be uncursed!", She cheered. Link wagged his tail in excitement. I floated over with a smile stretching across my face.
"You got him?"
"Damn right! Took me long enough too! He was trying to run away!", Midna griped loudly. I chuckled lightly, and floated towards a passageway.
"Well, let's go get that sword, and get Link back to normal!", I said motioning the two over. Link barked and jumped forward, running along side me. Navi giggled and held on to my long ear. I smiled, wondering how Navi would react to seeing Link in his human form.
Yeah, I got a little lazy, so I'm not gonna have the fight between Skullkid or the giant statue puzzle, seeing as how that's just between Link and the statues. I hope you enjoyed my little surprise guest! It was fun to throw her in here and join the group! I really like Navi as a character, sure she can be annoying, but she needs more love! Please review for a Fluffy-(Color of choice)-Muffin-of-Redundant-Happiness! See you next time!