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CHAPTER 3
Head South.
Jace forced himself to look onward as he opened his watered eyes. A light was surrounding them both!
"Iris!?"
She opened her eyes. Suddenly, it felt like the darkness was easing away from her and Jace, as was the pain. A glimmering tear streaked down her face lightly when she looked around herself. Jace let go of Iris' hand, but the pain came back. He winced, before taking her hand again, every time they touched, it all quit. Iris was just as confused about this as Jace. She glanced at her surroundings, trying to find an answer. It wasn't until a light from the vessel around her waist caught her eye, it having the same light that had enveloped them.
"Jace, what's going on!?" Her cracked voice asked with a deep echo.
Jace responded "I-I don't know!"
"Come, my children." Called a divine voice. The two looked around each other, before off in the dark. They spotted a single standing figure, covered in a faint yellow and white light. "Do not fear me. Please, come before my power diminishes, I can not save you for long."
Iris seemed afraid, but followed Jace hesitantly when he began forward in caution, still holding Iris' hand. The walk felt aimless and dead, thanks to there being nothingness below them. It seemed like walking on an invisible bridge with a dark canyon below. Jace and Iris noticed their light barrier slowly shrinking around them by the time they reached the figure. This figure was nothing but a huge ball of light up close. It danced in a motion before drawing a door with it's light. The doorway lit up, a cool unexpected breeze rushing around the two deku scrubs, and day light was seen once more on the other side. When Iris stepped foot on the green grass, she instantly recognized where she was, it was where Jace proposed to her last night. Jace took a deep breath to take in the air.
"Keep forward, and face me." The voice reminded. The light ball was gone, however. Iris walked on, suddenly being greeted by fairies. Jace caught up with her, when he stopped at the center of the clearing to look at the sky. It was only the clearing that was bright and beautiful. Everything further on was tainted and dark. Iris jumped when a large figure ahead moved. It was the ball of light, ever so lightly hovering above the spring that rested at the edge of the clearing, still clear and calm. Iris swallowed deeply. "Jace, look."
He did so, and was quick to walk in front of Iris, to slowly lead her toward the light "Are you... The one who saved us?" He asked cautiously. After what he and Iris were just put through, he wasn't sure who he could trust right now if he didn't know them.
"Yes. Come to my spring."
Jace glared, as he twitched a leaf. He and his fiance approached the Spring quietly as a few fairies followed.
The large ball of light dropped to the water's surface and began to grow. Standing tall before them now was a divine beast as it lightly walked through the pure waters. It stood tall and proud with a long slender tail that had long fur at the end. The beast also had antlers that beautifully curled upward and around it's head. It had a silky white mane and split hooves. Jace and Iris about stumbled back when this large and glowing figure appeared to them both.
"You mustn't be afraid." The large divine swamp deer comforted lightly.
"Who're you!?" Iris asked, hiding behind Jace.
The deer stepped onto the grass and looked down at them both quietly, before answering "Sad, how the youths of these days do not know their Spirits... My name is Minami. I am the South Light Spirit."
"Wait… Minami? I thought you were just a myth?" Jace asked.
"I've owned the entire South for as long as Termina's been here. I've been away from these lands in rest for generations now... I was hoping maybe a few would remember me and have at least some knowledge as to who I am. After feeling my forest die three years ago, I asked my land about it, and was told by my child that is nature that the two of you saved Termina three years ago. Then suddenly, fate brought you here just last night, how convenient. This is my home, where I've been in slumber."
As astounded and in awe Jace was to be standing before a demi-god of sorts, he was too flabbergasted to know how to respond, other than to ask about the situation. Though he managed a small half-bow to the divine animal, Iris following after seeing Jace do it. "I-It's an honor meeting you, Minami… But, would you mind telling us what's happening?!" Jace finished frantically.
"... Well." The spirit looked up "As you've already seen and dealt with, a darkness has begun eating Termina as we know it. This darkness eating your home is known as the Twilight Realm."
"...Twilight Realm?" Iris questioned.
"It is a Realm that sits between Termina and Hyrule."
"Now Hyrule, I know." Iris added in.
The spirit continued "The goddess, Hylia, made for me and each of Termina's spirits the Light Vessels before we were sent to watch over this world for eternity with the giants- whom have moved on from their duties currently." He looked at Iris' side. She looked too, and she remembered that she'd been given something called the Light Vessel by Keaton. It was still wrapped around her waist "What you have now is my Vessel. It still holds the remains of my tears from when I'd given it to the wise Keaton Elder. I told him to give this Vessel to the ones who'd reawaken me and call me back home. In legend, I was told a Hylian would be the one to call me home, and it appears it was true." He paused, referring to Iris. "I was also told a Terminian would play part as well." he looked to Jace. "The legend is true then, that when Twilight would fall, a Terminian and a Hylian would be our saviors."
"W-wait, we're part of a legend…!?" Iris blabbered.
Jace was just as taken aback "Your um… You… Sir, I'm honored, but-"
"This Vessel saved you both just now from becoming Spirits in the Twilight Realm. What was happening was that your spirits were being pulled from you. Most wouldn't wake during it, so that is why you were in so much pain. A mortal not born of the Twilight cannot survive in it unless they're to wonder in spirit. Had you crossed over into Twilight as spirits, you'd have seen that our world has fused with the Twilight inside these walls. It is a good thing you found each other and stayed within contact of my relic."
Jace really didn't know what to say... He looked at Iris, then back up at the spirit. He was always one to welcome a great adventure, but this was too much and too sudden. All this talk of gods, realms, spirits and such was all a bit beyond him.
"The tears became still over years, and lost their magic. But it seems a light sparked between you two, and renewed the Vessel's magic just enough to wake me and guide me to you. There is only one tear left in the Vessel now."
Iris soon asked "So what exactly are we supposed to do now? We can't go back in there..."
"With my tears you can. I can give you more, or at least enough to let you pass through the Twilight Realm to reach the far South. I know it is sudden, and for this, I apologize, but I have one request: Take my Vessel and find the Ruina Temple. It is located in the wild lands. Twilight cannot touch the Temple at it's current power, for it is a sacred place. Near it is a small village named Yuriko Village in the Floreana Province, it remains close enough to the safety of the Temple to remain in the Light Realm, so when you reach it, rest up there. You'll need your strength. You must pass through the Twilight quickly however, my tears can only last so long when being used to guard yourself from the dark..."
"Wait, wait. Travel? To the far South?" Jace answered quickly.
"But we've never been there! We don't know where to go!" Iris feared...
"Young Heroes, I know you can. I have traveled this land for many years, and my footsteps forever remain. I have marked a path long forgotten back in days before your generation. Only a light can reveal it, but it is there. Use my tears if you must."
"And we had plans, w-why of all times must this occur now? I finally find some peace and now Iris and I have to throw ourselves into Termina's problems again!? Minami, is there anyone else out there? There's gotta be a misprint in those godly forecasts... There has to be… I mean, we saved Termina by dumb luck, there's no way we're the literal supposed saviors of Termina... I don't know if I'd be able to do this, I wouldn't know where to start on such short notice. Only thing I've been focusing on since three years ago is our life and our future..."
"There was a hero- The Hero of Time who saved Termina long ago, but he has gone now, living as a guide to the Heroes of Hyrule in Spirit waiting for the next who'll take his place in Legend in Hyrule. He can no longer help us here. But Jace, you wont have a future to look forward to if you do not try. Both you and Iris have big hearts and more courage than one would think, and you both know that from experience. As what this land has told me."
Jace sighed. He soon looked back, to look over his home land from the high hill they're on... Everything he could see was covered in Twilight.
And not only does your future depend on this Vessel getting to the Temple, but as do many other people's futures. Until then, I'll remain here to strengthen my power and try to hold off the Twilight from the rest of Termina field. Even now, I hear the land's cries for help, and feel it's pain. All I can do is stay here, for my power alone can't stop the Twilight Realm from taking over. The Twilight is strong… But I have faith in you both, little ones. And look at it this way, Jacon… You love seeing the world, no? You love being a hero, at least you did three years ago. This is another chance for both you and Iris to shine your light on this dying world and give it a chance."
"... Well..." Jace began, Iris' orbs blinked as she looked down briefly. Jace soon spoke up "Y'know what? You can count on us, Minami."
Iris looked up at Jace upon hearing so, appearing rather shocked and unprepared.
"Thank you, Young Hero." Minami soon added "But you mustn't go alone..." He looked up, and gave a strange sounding call. The sound of rustling leaves made Iris look curiously at the trees, when a little ball of tired black feathers came flying down.
"Skits!" Iris called with a gasp, running over and catching Skits in her arms.
"The poor thing, I found him nearly unconscious. A little before I found you two, I'd brought him here. He's been resting here since.
"Oh Skits, thank Farore you're okay~! I thought I'd lost you!" Iris hugged Skits close, who gave a smiling yawn, before responding with a low caw.
Jace smiled at her before turning to Minami "... Don't you worry about a thing, we'll get there and put the Vessel in the Temple as you asked. I promise. Anything else you think we should know?"
"Yes, when you reach Floreana province, Find Yuriko's elder, and tell him that the South Spirit, Minami, sent you to place my Vessel into the Temple. If he does not believe you, then give him this." Minami put one of his antlers to the boulder next to the Spring, and began to rub the antler at the edge of the boulder, till a sliver of the antler came off. He reached down and picked it up gently and laid it in Jace's hand.
"Why wouldn't he believe us?"
"He's quit old, and his trust in new comers has faded. But, his knowledge is great. He can tell you about the Temple. Just try not to get on the elders bad side."
Jace chuckled "We'll try not to."
It was soon that Minami stepped forward to look down towards Iris. Small shining lights appeared from him and were absorbed into the Vessel at her side. "You don't have long, so please be quick. I've lent you more of my tears to get you through the Twilight for you to reach the other side, where you'll find Yuriko Village.
"Thank you… What of those beasts in the Twilight? Do we have to worry about them?
"Those are Twili Beasts. You are in no way fit to fight them yet, especially those of more human design. You cannot kill one of those in specific without killing all of them in the area at once. Just try to avoid them and stay out of sight."
"So those were the creatures we saw earlier?" Jace asked. "Anyway, we'll keep that in mind."
Minami gave a light nod "I'll use what energy I can to get you on the trail towards the village, but after that, you're on your own..."
"Thank you, Minami. We'll do our best." Jace smiled, before turning to Iris.
Minami walked back into the pure waters of the Spring, and turned back to his glowing sphere form. "Are you ready?" Minami asked kindly, his voice giving a breezy echo.
"Iris, Skits, you two ready to go?"
Iris couldn't believe how quick this all happened, but she shakily nodded yes, as did Skits. Jace soon added "Good."
"Be quick, because my tears will perish the longer you're in Twilight. When those tears are gone, the Twilight will take you again and turn you to spirits." Iris gulped at that, and soon watched as Minami floated up, before the light sphere crashed down between Iris, Skits and Jace, enveloping them in a golden light. The light began to close in around them all, before they vanished without a trace in the ray of light shooting to the sky.
Elsewhere deep in the South Wild Lands
The ray of Light soon crashed through the Twilight and landed in a tiny clearing. The golden glowing bodies of Iris, Jace and Skits soon formed out of the light. When Minami's light completely vanished to leave them in the Twilight Realm, the three began glowing a faint white. Iris looked down at the Vessel, it gave off most of the light. She lifted it and looked closely into it to see that every crystal grape that was once hollow was now filled in a small divine light.
"So those are Minami's tears?" Iris asked in curiosity.
Jace seemed just as curious "I would believe so." He looked around himself... The place they were in now seemed so... Gloomy. Everything was dark in mixes of black, gray, dark green and the occasional spotting of dark orange. It was still the South woods, but just covered in darkness. The sky literally looked like it was twilight, looking like it was near nightfall with a darkened sky patched with orange. There were blots of pitch black rising from everything around them, like bubbles would rise in water, only square shaped. The whole place just made Jace feel depressed. "This'd make for a great Honeymoon spot." He spoke sarcastically.
Iris glanced at him with a returned sarcastic response "Oh, certainly. It's gorgeous here, there's no other place I'd rather be."
"Where the heck are we anyway? And how do we know where to go?"
"Didn't Minami say to use the tears if we have too?" Iris held the vessel up again.
"Another thing that really irritated me is that he didn't exactly explain what he meant by that."
Skits hopped down, and cawed. Iris' leaves twitched "Oh, you're right! Jace, we need to get going, the tears only last so long here!"
"I forgot... Let's go then." Jace answered. He walked ahead, not even really knowing where to go.
They'd walked on and on. Everything looked the same as they walked deep within the trees. And the eerie colors and silence just made the walk sort of disturbing. Iris was nearly clinging to Jace, and Skits remained at his deku sister's feet right behind her. Though, when Jace came to a clearing, he soon realized they'd been there already. Iris looked around, before sighing "We're walking in circles."
"I know, I just-." Jace looked around.
Iris finally unwrapped the vessel from around herself, and examined it. She grew wide eye'd when she saw that there were a lot of tears gone already! "Jace, we really need to hurry!"
"..." He looked at the Vessel, before continuing "What're we supposed to do!? We haven't even gotten anywhere!"
Iris looked at it from top to bottom trying to figure out something that could help them, but found nothing. She sighed, and lowered the Vessel to the ground, just barely touching the grass. Jace rubbed his forehead and looked to Iris. He was about to speak, but a small light caught his gaze when he looked at the ground where the Vessel sat over. He could see something giving a small glow around it. "Hey Iris, let me see that for a second."
Iris looked down, then back at her fiance "Okay." She handed it to him.
When Jace examined the vessel for a moment, he then lowered it to the ground. It's light revealed green glowing grass! But only in certain places. It was in the shape of a cloven hoof. Iris raised an eyebrow at this. Jace moved ahead, and found there were more heading out of the clearing. "Minami did say he'd marked a trail... They show in his light's presence."
Jace walked on, and finally began getting somewhere new. The hoof prints lead them through the forest they now found themselves in. Iris shivered, however, when she heard something... "... Did you say something?"
"No, why?"
Iris quivered "... I hear someone."
Jace stopped, and looked around. As dark as it was, he could still see clearly enough to find that the place was clear of any figures. He continued on "I think the silence is getting to your head, hun. The place is making me feel a little paranoid myself."
Iris cut her eyes. Skits seemed to have that look on his face that he was hearing it too. He didn't seem frightened, but just uneasy.
Now that Jace was thinking about it, he was hearing things too. Terrified echoes of what sounded like a child crying, and the cowering voice of an older deku woman. A chill ran down his spine.
"You don't hear a child crying, Jace?" Iris asked lowly.
"..." He looked back to see if they were being followed by someone or something, but all was clear. At this point, he was starting to mentally wig out. But the further he walked, the louder the voices got. He looked at Iris, who had worry all over her. "Yeah, I do."
He walked on, hoping to find what they were hearing eventually without getting off the trail. Iris was hoping they wouldn't find what they're hearing, however... As sad as it sounded, it sounded so eerie as well… Could even be one of those monsters trying lure people to it…?
Jace soon came close to a large tree, when he silently shouted, "Crap!" and jumped back, his leaves standing on end.
"What!?" Iris shouted in response. Jace quickly shushed her and moved back. Around the corner of the tree, large Shadow Beasts were wondering around little balls of green light... These cries were coming from the light.
"What're they doing?" Iris asked lowly.
"Beats me... But somewhere over there is where we're hearing the voices. I can't understand them very well, though..."
Skits gulped.
"They could be spirits..." Jace lowered his leaves.
"So you mean they're already... Dead?" Iris asked in a tone of worry.
"I think that's what Minami was talking about, when someone from our world can't survive in Twilight unless they're spirits, maybe they're in suspended animation in our world, not dead...? That must mean they're half way in our world and half way in Twilight." Jace answered.
Iris looked saddened "There's gotta be something we can do..."
"... I wish there was, but we're good as dead fighting those things the way we are now. The best we can do is do what Minami told us too." Jace responded, seeming down about it himself. Iris' bangs lowered. Given Jace's morality, it hurt him not helping more than he let on. He just hoped the spirits couldn't be seen or harmed by the monsters.
"I don't think the Shadow Beasts can hurt them… It looks like they don't even see them, just hear them like we can." Jace responded.
"C'mon... Maybe we can sneak passed these ugly brutes..." Jace continued. He slowly walked out to follow the path. He was becoming a little worried now, because the tears in the Vessel were almost out... Iris and Skits followed quietly. Iris repeatedly looked at the beasts, until they finally walked far enough where they couldn't even see the monsters anymore.
After that, they'd walked for another good long time. There were only about two spheres of light left in the Vessel, when Jace, Iris and Skits could now feel their protective light dying. Jace perked up when he saw a huge pitch black wall. "Hey Iris, look." Jace held the vessel to the ground next to the wall. The foot prints lead through the wall. "Think we should check it out?"
Iris groaned "Might as well..." She'd try anything as long as it got her out of the Twilight Realm.
Jace gave Iris the vessel. "I'll walk ahead, see if it's safe."
"Okay... Be careful."
Jace hesitantly put his hand to the black wall, expecting to be shocked, but it felt more like putting his hand to a soft, cold, thick smoke. He walked through as he disappeared from sight after a tiny flash of orange followed him, Minami's light making it easier for him to slip through.
About ten seconds after, Jace poked his head back through, making another dark orange ripple. "Iris, you gotta see this!" He grabbed her hand and pulled her through without even giving her a say in it. Skits hastily followed them both. She winced as a sudden bright light flashed down on her face, her eyes still used to only the dark. But when her vision settled slowly, she gasped when seeing the beautiful green land before her. It looked beautiful here. Foreign plants grew everywhere. It looked nothing like the swamp, so they could only assume that they were very far from the swamp. Though Jace had never been here, it could very well be on the Southern borders of Termina. It was only a small piece of the entire land. The rest was eaten in Twilight.
"C'mon." Jace walked on the only way they could: Straight ahead. Iris and Skits gazed around themselves. One of Jace's leaves twitched, when a little red fox caught his gaze. It looked to Jace, it's thin slanted eyes blinking calmly at his and Iris' presence.
"It's a fox. I didn't think I'd see one here..." Jace smiled. He continued on the trail, and the fox flicked it's ears. The closer they got, the more it grew curious. Jace was nearly at the point of walking across it's path, when something large came roaring out at the deku scrubs, a large yellow beast with it's long ears folded back, it's long slender muzzle brought up into a deep snarl while it bared it's large fangs in Iris and Jace's wake. The beast's fur stood on end. Jace stopped and moved back slightly. "Ah great..."
"What?" Iris whimpered "I-It's a keaton, isn't it?"
"… I think It's feral."
Iris froze. So it was wild…?
Jace slowly reached for his knife on his belt. "Don't move Iris... Wild keatons can be very dangerous."
The large wild fox set it's piercing red slanted eyes on the blond boy with a growl. It's two tails waving slowly behind it. Iris saw the little red fox still staring.
"Wait, Jace... I think it's a mother." Iris pointed slowly to the cub. "It's just protecting it's cub."
Jace kept his hand on his knife "What do you expect us to do? It'll attack if we try to pass."
The keaton spoke angrily in strange tongue, continuing to bear it's fangs wildly. Jace couldn't understand a word she said- He could certainly tell it's a she now, seeing as it had a very feminine voice. He'd never seen a female before. But it speaking was proof it wasn't too wild.
"I can't understand you..." Jace claimed with his leaves pinned back.
The female fox stepped toward them warningly, as if trying scare them. When Iris, Jace and Skits didn't move, the fox began toward them more. Jace soon backed up slightly. "Please, we don't want to fight!"
A loud heavy yip caught the angered keaton's attention, as well as the trio's. Jace saw a large silver keaton running up and guarding the deku scrubs. Its nine tails raising wildly. It yelled at the mother in it's own language, baring itss fangs. The mother growled, and backed up as she glared at Iris and Jace, before turning and nudging her cub to go elsewhere.
The silver beast turned with an all-too familiar smile that left Iris and Jace completely relieved that they weren't about to be some keaton's chew toys.
"I trust Minami sent you?" Silver Keaton asked.
Jace was still sort of speechless. However, he did respond after getting a good second look at the fox "Y-yeah... How'd you get here?"
"I live here." The Keaton answered.
"You live here? I thought you lived in Clock Town?" Iris added in question.
The Fox motioned the three to follow him "Yes, I do live in Clock Town, but this is my true home, where I was born. Follow me."
"So, where are we now?" Jace asked.
"You're in the right place, it's Floreana Provence, right outside of Yuriko Village."
Iris sighed "Oh good! So we were able to make it here alive after all!"
"Indeed you have." Keaton walked them over a hill "Minami sent me here to wait on you."
"You knew about this whole Twilight mess before, didn't you?" Jace asked with a slight glare.
"I just knew Minami needed me to give you the vessel. You have the Vessel, don't you?" Keaton smirked.
Jace looked down at the Vessel.
"I'm sorry for what just happened, though. The Yuriko Elder has told us all to be on guard. That one before was only protecting her cub from intruders, and you two were intruders in her eyes. And not all of us can speak your tongue."
"Makes sense." Iris added.
"As for me, the Elder has told me to stay in the Village to help as much as I can. Though, I was determined to give you two the Vessel before doing anything."
When Iris and Jace walked over the hill, they looked down and in the surrounding thick trees was a fairly small village. Though, the residents caught them a little off guard. Wondering around the village were young and old keatons of all ages. It was packed right now. A few looked up and saw Iris and Jace, but went about their business when Silver Keaton walked up beside them. Skits was now staying high in the trees... Being around so many of them, he felt like a flying meal in their eyes...
"They're all keatons!?" Jace exclaimed in surprise.
"This is the home of the keaton's birth. Yuriko. There's a lot more here than usual, because the Elder called a lot of Termina's keatons home." Keaton trotted down hill, as Iris and Jace followed slowly to examine the area. They got plenty of glances and glares from skeptical foxes. There were kinds they'd never seen before, like rare ones that stood on hind-legs… Which was beyond odd. And few had light blue fire on their tails. Iris shivered at the sight of fire as she came to Keaton's side "Uhhh, is that guy on fire?" She asked pointing.
The silver fox laughed "No, it's called Fox Fire. It can't burn you unless that's what the user of said fire intends. Not many of us can use that kind of fire anymore. Those are also the easily angered and old fashioned ones, though, so stay on their good side if you know what's best for you."
Iris chuckled nervously "I'll be sure to remember that..."
Jace was too busy watching two foxes battling it out right outside the village. It was intense, but clearly training. He stood there watching in amusement wondering who'd win, mentally putting bets down in his head, when Iris came up and grabbed him by the arm and pulled him to follow. "C'mon, we got thing's to do!"
Jace laughed "Hey, wait, I wanted see that-!"
Silver Keaton stopped to look at them both "I'll be waiting for you at the Elder's den, it's at the far end of the Village at the Spirit Tree."
"Spirit Tree?"
"The large tree with the fairies flying around it. I'll give you both time to stock up on things you need. Don't be afraid to ask around, a lot of us are nice, just watch for the younger kits, they're tricksters… And merchants." The silver fox vanished, more than likely going to wait on them.
Jace sighed "Gosh, this is all happening too quick..."
"You're telling me." Iris laughed.
Jace looked around, before spotting a little tree stump not too far off. Without informing Iris, he walked up to it. Standing next to it was a four tailed keaton that was a common yellow with black ears, legs, chest and tipped tails. He spoke in foreign language that made Jace a little confused. "... I don't speak your language."
"..." The Keaton stared for a moment "... Ohhhh! Why didn't you say so little scrub? I said you look new here! These are my potions and herbs, can be found no where else."
Jace began "... Got anything for medical use?"
The fox nodded. Jace jumped, when he saw one of the jars on the stump glowing and floating, a little purple light enveloping the item. "This is my best here. It was made with Celest Berries, Floreana Tree sap and Deku Wasp's Honey. You rub it on a wound, and it heals healthy and quickly~!" The fox smirked.
Jace was still surprised as to how it was floating... But snapped out of it, when he asked "Any safety issues I should know? Does it have a side effect?"
"There's only a few side effects if eaten. It'll cause drowsiness, possible hallucinating, and numbness in limbs. The sap of the Floreana Trees are special, and have a temporary effecting acids in it that often effect creatures that feed off it, so do not eat this medicine, it is for skin use only."
"How much is it?"
The Fox blinked "Fifty-Rupees."
Jace was hesitant, but he reached for his wallet on his waist to check, and pulled out the amount. He didn't even realize Iris was standing next to him now waiting for him to finish up.
"Here, I'll buy some." He began.
"Certainly! It's yours now." The Keaton made the jar float to Jace's hands, and then took the rupees the same way. Jace was only able to watch, given that wasn't something you see everyday.
Jace soon snapped out of his trance. "Thanks." He turned, and jumped slightly from being spooked, not even knowing Iris was there.
Iris giggled "Done yet?"
"Well, with this big old jar, I doubt we'll run out unless one of us gets mauled. So yes, medication-wise, I am. I just need to find some way we can defend ourselves. You have no means of protection, and can't go unarmed. I at least have my knife."
Iris shrugged "We best be hurrying, it's getting dark, and we still need to see the elder."
"I'll make it quick." Jace began forward as Iris followed.
They'd spent the last twenty minutes looking. The keatons didn't have much for biped-creature use... It made sense since they lived so far from actual people and they themselves only walked on fours mind a rare, rare few.
Jace finally caught sight of something that made him curious. He walked up to it and examined it. It was a fairly-good sized sword on a table of old antiques and weaponry. Jace lifted the sword and examined it. It was a clean steel with a reddish-brown hilt and what looked to be recently changed blade. A black keaton with dark blue on him chuckled "You've got excellent taste young man."
"It's a very nice sword. Looks like it was recently fixed up."
"It was. It's got a newly sharpened blade."
"... How much is this?" He was a little irritated he had to ask, since all the signs were in a language he didn't speak. 'Now I know how Iris felt when she first came to Termina not being able to read anything…'
"Oh, it is a little pricey, but it can't be too much for you. Two hundred and forty rupees."
Jace blinked. He almost screamed "Holy crap!", but replied more calmly. "We can't afford this then..." He chuckled nervously and sat the sword down gently.
Iris' eyes were wide. They weren't getting anywhere at this rate.
"I'm sorry to hear that, it's a shame you can't buy it." The keaton replied.
Jace wanted to roll his eyes, as he was hearing the tone of a money-hungry merchant. "We best be going..." He turned to Iris and began walking away.
"Maybe we can find a cheeper one elsewhere?" Iris began.
"HOLD UP THERE!" Called a girl's voice. Jace stopped, and turned with Iris. He was dumbfounded to see another... Deku scrub!?
"... What're the odds? Another deku?" Iris whispered.
The girl was around the age of seventeen, with a long but wide, worn, hanging forest green skirt of tribal attire and a belt. A dark red petal top that wrapped around her whole upper body, only showing a little part of her stomach. She had a dark brown and worn out animal pelt hanging tied around her neck and hanging behind her, and she wore one orange ponytail and one blue ponytail in her braided leafy long hair. She also wore a worn red headband that her bangs hung over, and an old pair of brown boots. She had dark blond leaves- nearly tan. She turned to Jace and smiled "I couldn't help but hear you talking... I don't see many dekus here, so figured I'd help out a little."
Jace and Iris were both extremely dumbstruck now, when they saw her eyes had the flaming look Iris' did.
"... A Hyrule scrub?!" Jace asked.
"... Beats me..." Iris answered. "Looks like it…?"
"Do you, sir, know who these two are?" The girl asked the keaton.
The keaton shrugged "Two young ones looking for something of use on their travel, of course."
"These two are heroes! They saved the deku queen, her family, and all of Termina! And you're going to sell them an overpriced sword!?"
The keaton laughed "And you know this how? Explain to me."
The girl was a little hesitant, but soon replied "The story was passed through my village! I know a guard who works for the palace, and he said he saw everything! From the fight with Majora to the death of Majora!"
"You're lying... Majora was killed long ago!" The keaton answered unimpressed.
"... It's, actually true..." Jace added. "And I have the scars to prove it." He proudly walked up, holding his vest open to clearly show off his chest scars that he got during the Dragalfos battle.
Iris threw her palm to her forehead, now Jace was getting into this... Not even seeming the least bit concerned as to why this complete stranger was trying to help them or how she knew who they were...
"See this scar on my chest? I got this battling Majora's minions." Jace added proudly. The girl laughed.
"Even if it was true, no weak little deku scrub could battle that monster of legend." The keaton growled.
Jace crossed his arms "You'd be surprised."
The girl could see this wasn't getting through to the black and blue keaton's head, so improvised "And I also know Silver Keaton and so do they!"
Everyone jumped at that.
"You could ask him, his mind-reading self would know for a fact that I was telling the truth! He was there to help them fight Majora."
The black keaton raised an eyebrow.
"You know what?" The girl began "I can see you still don't believe me... And they need this sword, so how about blond boy here and I throw in some money?" she finished. Iris growled afterward.
"But-I-?" Jace stammered "... Okay!"
Iris grew wide eyed, and pushed between the girl and Jace, giving her an evil glance, before looking at Jace "And I'll pitch in too, Hun..."
The keaton wagged a tail "Okay then."
They stood for a moment trying to gather their money, and then set it all out to buy the one sword...
After this, they all walked off, Iris continuously giving this girl suspicious glares. And eventually just came out and asked "So, who are you? And why'd you help us back there...? We don't even know you! And HOW do you know so much about us!? Are you a stalker!?"
Jace just stared at Iris for a moment when she suddenly began asking, him having a blank but evenly surprised look in his eyes... He could see the paranoid Hyrule Iris again, when for a long time, she seemed to have magically vanished before...
The girl laughed hysterically before answering "A stalker!? Pfttt- Oh hail no! I told y'all before, I know a palace guard... He talks about it all the time."
Iris wasn't convinced "Really? Still, why'd you help us?"
"Quite honestly, I need your help... Or more specifically, I want to help you guys. I'd heard of you two before, and I just had to meet you! A friend of mine knows Silver, and told me he over heard Silver saying you'd be coming to Yuriko."
"And you got here... How?" Iris raised an eyebrow.
It never dawned on Jace till she said that. "... Yeah, how did you get here? Everything's covered in Twilight."
"I've been staying here, ever since the Twilight took over my home village."
Iris and Jace glanced at each other.
"Please let me come with you. I'm a great fighter! And I've got a few things that could help you out along the way. It'd mean the world to me if you let me help, it's for my family."
Jace nodded "... Okay, so, what's your name?"
Iris couldn't believe he's going to let some strange girl join them...
"My name's Ilye~! E-Lie. Floreana." she finished, making sure to say it slowly...
"Well, welcome aboard Ilye, we could use the help. I'm Jace, and this is my Fiance, Iris." He shook her hand, as she smiled and shook his hand in return.
Ilye looked to Iris "Nice to meet you!"
Iris grumbled, and shook hands with Ilye.
'What a strange girl...' Iris and Jace both thought.
To Be Continued...