Past and Present
PART 1
I was put into the machine, yet again. I waited while it scanned me. Then I remembered something.
"Who were your outlawed people, again?" I asked Vandelum.
"I'm not telling you that yet." he said in a low, protective voice.
"No, I j... just..." I lost control, and went into a coma.
Link waited until the guards stopped looking several minutes later, and left his shady hiding spot, where the smell of fruit in the boxes made the terrible putrid smell die down some.
He was sure to keep along the rooftops, so he wouldn't be spotted. He kept low, and hid everytime he passed a guard. When he arrived at the main plaza, he hid his weapons on his belt, allowing the tunic to block them from view. He climbed down and looked around.
There were more people than ever here, hustling and bustling. Link watched one woman accidentally dropping the pot she was carrying. A huge commotion ensued, but the many heads of passers-by obscured the scene so much that he lost interest. He waited around patiently by the large fountain in the center of the area, kicking his feet bordely, occasionally stopping to let someone by.
A young boy ran up to him excitedly," Mister, do you have a rube I can toss into the lake?"
"Uh..." Link dug in his small pouch, and pulled out a green ruppee.
"Whoa, is that an emerald?!" the kid exclaimed.
"No, it's a ruppee." Link replied.
"Ruppee? Isn't that illegal money? My friends daddy got sent to jail for picking one up off the road. But can you secretly give it to me?" he asked.
Link's eyes grew wide with horror. I should have gotten this Gerudo currency. I am damned at this point.
"Um, sorry, I can't risk you being sent to jail." Link answered.
"Oh, c'mon mister! I want to throw it in the fountain for good-luck!"
Just as he said so, a tired, skinny woman approached Link, bowing in front of him. Link raised a brow at her suspiciously.
"Please sir, can you spare a few rubes? I am sick, tired, poor and hungry, and haven't a single place to lie my head down to rest. Not even shade!" she begged helplessly.
"Sorry, I only have ruppees." he answered cautiously.
The woman's eyes grew wide with horror," You're a hylian...?"
"Yes."
She stood up and started to scream, but Link quickly reacted and muffled her voice with his hand," Please be silent! I don't want to get caught!"
She slapped his hand away and continued to scream," Hylian! There's a hylian here!"
Link muffled her voice again, but everyone had already turned, or was turning, including the plaza soldiers.
"Hylian?" one man said in awe.
"Their illegal, aren't they, mommy?" one kid asked.
"Oh my word, he could get killed!" a worried old woman exclaimed.
"And what brings you here, oh cursed one?" an officer asked mockingly, striding towards him, parting the crowd. The little boy had long since run off, including the beggar.
"Cursed?" Link exclaimed," We've done nothing to you thieves!" he roared.
The crowd gasped, and some offended shouts could be heard. The crowd went silent again. The guard backhanded Link with a tremendous force, sending him onto the ground. Link moaned and stood up, rubbing his now red cheek.
"Do not insult my people. No - our people!" he yelled, motioning towards the crowd. There were a few nervous nods in agreement.
The rest of the guards started to approach the scene, drawing their swords angrily. A few that had them raised their shields up, too, willing to block any sort of attack. Link put his hand where his concealed blade was under the tunic's protection. The guard eyed him, waiting for him to move, or say something.
"I challenge all of you tan theives." Link said again, glaring daggers at the guards. It was true though, from centuries in the sun, the ancient Gerudos left their people permanetly marked by tan, brown, or red skin.
"You will die!" he roared, drawing his longsword and charging.
Link stepped to the side, dodging it. He kicked the officer back, sending him flying into the crowd. He drew his sword, and parried the swing from another guard, locking swords. A few people screamed, and almost everyone started to run.
Link drew a knife and stabbed the man he was locking swords with right through the neck, cutting off his airway.
He turned and swung for another, but missed. A different guard charged him and swung. Link ducked, allowing it to pass inches over him. He realized he couldn't fight them all off, so he ran. He found protection in an empty barrel. He stayed there until he knew the guards had passed. He opened it back up and left, sneaking back near the plaza, which was now crawling with guards, all frantically searching for him.
Using the windows to grab and put his feet on, he climbed to the roof of a near-by post office, and crouched down so as not to be seen. People in other streets were scattering when the guards charged by, swords drawn.
I was hoping to keep low. If only that little boy hadn't of shown up. And that ridiculous old lady. Oh well, I guess I will have to remain hidden until the speech. I am left with no other choice. I can't believe this!
Static passed my vision. I forgot I was alive! I thought. more static passed.
I watched as Link cleaned his knife and sword, still keeping low so no one would spot him. Maybe it just didn't occur to them though that there were numerous archer and guard towers, not to mention the occasional roof patrol.
MEMORY SKIPPED. ABLE TO PROCEED. REMAIN CALM, #3.
After a few seconds of darkness, vision returned. The sky was pretty cloudy, now, and the smell a bit better. Off in the distance, the sun was setting, turning near-by clouds golds, reds, and purples, and the sky the same.
The noise and activity caught my attention. The crowd in the plaza consisted of quite a few guards, and people. A lot of people. It seemed as if half the town had managed to squeeze into the plaza. They were gathered around a central area. A man stood, surrounded by two guards. He was talking to a male a few years younger, wearing an elaborae, coloful tunic and cape. As their conversation progressed, the crowd was talking amongst each other, creating a lot of racket and commotion. A few were asking their friends and relatives when the speech would begin. Link wondered the same, and so did I.
A few minutes later, as it was almost dark in the west, the two bodyguards around the center man blew two loud horns, silencing the crowd almost instantly, like a flickering candle being blown out.
"Greetings, citizens of Lone Lone, long has it been since I have spoken." he began, rasing both arms up high dramtically. There were a few claps and nods.
"I have good news! A camp of vile hylians, found in the Lost Woods several miles in, were arrested and brought to the Sacred Gerudo Valley. They were all executed." A few cheers came from the crowd, along with clapping." Yes, exellent indeed. We will soon conquer the last of Hyrule, and take the land that should have been ours over a hundred years ago!" Even more cheers erupted.
Link grunted in disagreement, but managed to keep his cool.
"Our soldiers prepare day and night. The great Emperor Ganondorf, said the conquest could begin in mere weeks from now if things go well!" he announced. The crowd went crazy, whooping, hollering, cheering, clapping, and jumping up and down in feverish excitment," And tomorrow, in celebration of this news, I will be holding a public party, in which all are invited to come and enjoy themselves! There will be entertainment, wine, bread, even a traditional band from our great Desert will travel here to play some nice music. Festivities and dancing will also be held!" There wasn't as much excitement, but just about everyone in the crowd seemed pleased.
"Come and enjoy!" he said, ending it. Not much of a 'speech'. The crowd ending with final excitment, as the man left with his bodyguards, heading back for the capital building. The crowd gradually started to disperse. The plaza became more and more empty, until only a few guards and wandering merchants and beggars were left under the moon.
A party... the perfect time to strike. I will end this pitiful man's life. And I have a new motivation! The army will start conquest in a few weeks. I must kill this Ganondorf and all the town leaders before then, or my land will surely be doomed. Link mentally reminded himself.
He left.
I was wondering when Van would pull me out, but I only recieved
MEMORY SKIPPED. ABLE TO PROCEED. REMAIN CALM, #3.