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CHAPTER 4
NIGHT OF THE FIRST DAY
That Stubborn Southern Girl.
Jace looked to Iris as they passed by a few working keatons as they used their foxfire to light the torches around the Village. Iris blinked, who'd been examining the sword they bought.
Iris looked up at Jace, his light blue necklace giving a small shine by having the reflection of a near by high standing torch on it, when she answered "Jace, maybe you should take the sword?"
"Nah, I have my knife for now, It wont be much trouble." He answered.
The autumn-leaved girl smiled "Okay." She sheathed the blade and hung it around herself and adjusted the strap.
Iris and Jace were on their way toward the Spirit Tree when Iris soon asked "Where's Ilye?"
"She said she had to go get something."
"..." Iris looked around, then continued "Does she seem... Odd to you?"
"In a way, yes, but she is from the wildlands, and I've never met a wildlands southerner before. Everyone where she comes from coulda' been like that." Jace shrugged.
"She says she knew so much about us because she knew a guard who talks about us all the time, right?"
"Uh-huh."
"Jace, none of the guards like us. They never say anything nice about us to anyone! Why on earth would a guard tell her about our fight with Majora and tell her we're heroes? And there weren't even that many guards there at the time, and I remember them all. Only thing they cared about was the Queen's protection. They could've cared less what happened to us. Only reason they helped you when you were hurt so bad was because the Queen ordered them too."
Jace froze "... You've got a point there... You're right." the blond boy seemed to give a suspicious glance out at the village to see if he could see where Ilye was "... If it's not true, then how would she know us?" Jace asked.
"That's where I'm a little confused! As far as I know, we've never met her before. And have you seen her eyes?"
"Yes I have, they look like yours." Jace answered.
Iris corrected "A Hyrulean Deku Scrub's eyes. I've never seen anyone else from Hyrule here, aside from you-know-who- and she wouldn't even tells us how she got here! Ilye's gotta be from Hyrule!"
"She could be a descendent of a Hyrule Deku? Maybe one's been here before and made his or her home somewhere in the wildlands?"
"Yeah, Jace, another Deku got picked up by the Great Fairy years before me." She had a tone of disbelief in her voice.
Jace shook his head "All because that's how you got here, doesn't necessarily mean it's the only way to get here, according to what we learned a while back..."
"What other ways could there be?"
"I don't know, but I know there's a lot more that I've yet to learn. Maybe there's a hidden passage to Hyrule somewhere?"
Iris scoffed "You wont see me going through it if we find it." Iris cut her eyes and looked elsewhere.
Iris and Jace continued to go on about Ilye and the possible Hyrule passage, but soon grew quiet when a flash of light went off.
"What was that!?"
"I-I don't know!" he looked around frantically. He seemed concerned. "Did it have something to do with Twilight?"
When Ilye came running up behind them, she saw their looks of worry. "What's wrong guys?"
"You didn't just see that flash of light?" Iris questioned.
"…" Ilye looked around "No."
Jace glanced at Iris worriedly. Iris returned the glance, before Ilye cut in "Well, anyway, let's go." She began to walk ahead. Her lack of concern had Jace and Iris utterly confused. Perhaps she really hadn't seen it...
Jace and Iris shrugged it off and followed her until they were now leading the group. They were approaching the Spirit Tree by now.
When they began approaching the Spirit Tree, Ilye slowed down and had a some-what blank look on her face when she saw Silver Keaton. Iris and Jace didn't realize she'd slipped away elsewhere for reasons unknown.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Keaton." Jace said.
"It's fine young ones."
Iris began "We're ready to see the elder, right I-..." Iris looked back, and noticed Ilyes absence. She nudged Jace's arm.
"..." He looked back.
"So, where's the girl?" Keaton asked with a flicked ear.
Jace looked ahead "... I don't know, she was here a moment ago."
Keaton looked around, till he fixated his gaze to a large root sticking out of the ground. He sat down and called "... You can come out, Ilye."
Ilye looked up, looking almost a little irritated he'd seen her.
Iris and Jace grew confused again... Iris looked up, hearing the fluttering of wings. Skits had landed in the tree.
Ilye walked out and toward Keaton, seeming afraid of what he'd say.
"... Why so afraid? Are we not friends?" He smiled, waving his nine tails lightly.
Ilye jumped, then quickly fixed her expression to one of a friendly Deku smile "Uh-Y-yeah! We're best friends."
Keaton looked to Iris and Jace "She's an odd girl, and I can see you think so-" Jace rubbed his head at him saying that out loud. Ilye didn't seem the least bit bothered by it however. Keaton went on "But she's a sweetheart, and her intentions are good. I knew her and her parents growing up, we were very close friends, and always will be."
Ilye looked at him and smiled.
"She came from a village of the South that was taken over by the Twilight Realm. Her intention is to save her father, mother, and family from the Twilight. I'm sure she'd be delighted if you helped her?"
Jace smiled, knowing just what it feels like trying to risk your neck for family. "Sure, we don't mind at all."
Ilye hugged Jace, to his surprise... "Oh thank you so much! You have no idea how much this means to me!"
Jace looked at Iris strangely, and answered back to Ilye "You're welcome..." She held the hug, andKeaton laughed. "... Um.. Okay, Ilye."
She pulled away suddenly "Heheh, sorry..."
Jace gave her a weird look, before chuckling as Iris simply rolled her eyes. Skits landed on her head.
The tannish-blond leaved girl looked at Skits. "Aww~!"
Iris looked up "Oh! This is my brother-"
"Bird-brother." Jace corrected.
"Eh-Hem. My bird-brother, Skits."
Skits himself looked really curiously at Ilye, before cawing happily.
"Nice to meet you, too, Skits!"
Iris laughed "You can understand him?"
"Sort of. Live your life in the forest, and you can understand a lot of animals." Ilye responded.
Jace began "SO, am I the only one here who hasn't developed the odd ability to understand animals?"
"I do believe so." Keaton responded.
"Figured as much."
Keaton cleared his throat "Anyway, let's not waste more time, the Twilight's only spreading. So let's go."
Jace nodded, and walked in. Iris soon followed, as Ilye went last. She stopped when Keaton put a paw out in front of her. He leaned in and whispered "Do be careful young, Ilye-" He put a heavy emphasized tone on her name "Any wrong actions right now could easily disrupt things. From what I've seen of your memory, your intentions are good... So just be careful... Okay? You've never exactly been away from home before."
Ilye seemed nervous, him being able to see everything from her thoughts and to her own past "Okay, don't worry Keaton, I know what I'm doing." She passed by and approached Iris, Jace and Skits again.
They were all quiet, passing by the ghostly blue torches lining the path that lead inside the tree. Iris had her concerns about the whole 'Torches in a tree' thing. Keaton knew they were lit with Foxfire, so they wouldn't burn unless they were created to burn. Iris spotted a large glowing room far inside as they passed several corridors along the way. Jace finally stepped into the room. It was covered in white on the floor. When something licked at Iris' leg, she looked down at the floor, realizing the floor was covered in white flames in this brightly lit room! She'd jumped back higher than one would've thought she could jump, only to be shakily caught by Jace, as he himself was eyeing the floor pretty hard. Keaton laughed hard. When he stepped into the room, the air from his movement made the white flames dance. He looked at Iris and Jace, Iris having the cutest spastic look on her face.
"Do not fear, the flames can't burn you. Put your hands to it, it feels good."
Ilye wasn't shy to try it first, when she stepped into the room to touch her hand to the white fire. She chuckled "It feels like smokey water."
Jace looked to Iris, and put her down. He then knelt down and touched it. Astonished, his eyes widened.
Iris looked at him like he was nuts, but hesitantly reached down, hoping she wouldn't somehow go up in flames. But she didn't. It remained on the floor as she rubbed through it. "That's the coolest thing I've ever seen and felt."
"We must be the first deku scrubs to touch fire and not be hurt." Jace laughed.
Ilye snickered "I wouldn't say that."
Iris jumped when she heard an elder angry voice scolding Silver Keaton in the keaton language. Jace looked up to see a large white and forest green nine tailed fox staggering to them, before he lost balance and surrendered to his tired urge to lay back down. He was so old, he couldn't walk much anymore. His shaky legs crossing weakly, but his face curled into a slight snarl, showing his teeth. He'd lost a few teeth over the years and the others were old and yellowed. The beast was covered in overgrown flowing fur that even grew slightly over his eyes and off the edge of his muzzle. All nine tails' tips were engulfed in bright white ghostly flames that held a lighter blue hue. He growled.
Silver Keaton answered in his own language, telling the Elder they couldn't understand the keaton language.
The old one sighed, before speaking again "I ask, who're these naive children you bring into my den!?" He didn't sound pleased at all still.
Silver Keaton answered "These are the ones who'll be saving Termina, my Elder. They have Minami's tear vessel."
The Elder growled in disbelief.
Silver Keaton nudged Jace forward "Show him the piece of Minami."
Jace nodded, and stepped carefully toward the Elder fox. He knelt down, and handed the sliver of Minami's antler to the Elder. The Elder examined the golden glow of the sliver of antler.
"Please believe us, sir. Minami told us to come to you to ask assistance to the Ruina Temple. He told me to even give you this piece from his antler. My name is-"
"Jace, Iris, Skits, I..." He stared at Ilye in confusion. Little did everyone know, Silver Keaton glanced at the Elder. The Elder continued, though displeased at more company. "Ilye."
The old keaton wheezed a cough, then continued "Minami wouldn't have given anyone a piece of his antler unless he trusted you. I'm starting to wonder if the old fool isn't just desperate, though..." He seemed a little taken aback and disappointed that Minami would choose someone of such small stature and weak build to carry on such a large task... Jace glanced back at Iris. "Anyway, I still trust him. I just pray he knows what he's doing." He tried to stand. Silver Keaton came and leaned on the Elder's side to hold his balance long enough for him to get a good hold of his steps.
The keaton wheezed, when he sat down shakily at a large stone replica of Minami at the far back of the room. He pressed his paw firmly to the cold stone front as he dug his grown out claws into the stone, and slid a piece of the stone open with a grunt, revealing a hidden cubbyhole. He reached his long muzzle into it and pulled out an item made of stone and ruby. Silver Keaton helped him back to the dekus and handed Jace the item. "If you all are the ones who I am to trust, I feel I can trust you enough with Ruina Temple's key. It hasn't been opened in ages, so be careful. I've been in possession of this key for six hundred years now..."
Jace was about to shout in complete amazement by how old the keaton was, but held enough respect to just say "I'll take care of it."
Iris and Ilye at once found themselves go "What!?" And earned them an irritated glare from the Elder that made Jace try and ignore it...
"As I'm sure you've already known, time is of the essence. Termina is in great peril. I want you all to be on your best defense and don't get killed getting the job done. Last thing we need is for feeble youths being like yourself to fail..."
Jace grumbled, he hated being referred to as weak.
"We wont fail you, sir. Twilight will fall, one way or another, even I can make sure of that." Ilye spoke up, to everyone's surprise- Except Silver Keaton's. "If these two could save all of Termina at the age of sixteen from the monster, Majora, then I know they can do this! And I'll be here to help if they are in need of it." She finished bravely.
The Elder gave a wheezing laugh "I wouldn't expect a young'en like you to be so brave... And though, my abilities are slow, they are strong. I've gotten enough information from your past to know that you are in fact stronger than you look, and your intentions are pure. I think you'll be of a lot of help to these two, so I'm glad you're going with."
Ilye seemed almost relieved he didn't mind her even being there now, and she smiled. Was strange knowing he, too, was sorting through her mind as they spoke, though.
"... Anyway, be gone for now... OH! And do you have a jar on you?"
Jace blinked. "Uhh..."
"I do!" Ilye spoke up "Why so?"
The Elder laid down "Come closer Ilye." She did so, and stopped in front of him "... You see the fire on my tails?"
She nodded, and he continued "I want you to take the jar and capture some of my fire. This flame will be needed in the Ruina Temple. I can tell you this, the Ruina Temple is Minami's Temple, but also the Temple of Mirages. You'll see what I mean when you step forth beyond it's gates. My flames make you resistant to the tests that these mirages give you. Without my flame, they will often cause you to face your worst fear before allowing you to pass. Carrying my flame will give off the effect that you are the guardian of the Temple and will not be effected by the mirages. When I was younger, I was chosen by Minami to guard the Temple, but in my old age, I've had to stay here in my healing flames to keep me healthy long enough to find someone to take my place... So I can pass my flames onto them. For now, you can use this sacred flame, just don't let it go out."
Ilye shook her head 'yes' before taking out a fairly good sized jar from a bag she'd picked up from her place when she went back earlier. She gently held the open jar's mouth over a flame, and got a pretty good sized ball of burning fire into it. Strangely enough, it continued burning and floated around in the jar.
"My flames stay lit on my command. If gone from me too long, though, I'll lose my hold on it and it'll die. I'll hold it long enough for you to make it through the Temple."
"Thank you sir!" Ilye bowed, and soon ran back to Iris and Jace.
"Now go! You don't have much time. Good luck." The Elder spoke
Ilye gave Jace the jar of fire, and seemed more than excited to head out.
Jace examined the jar, and nodded at the Elder "We'll do our best sir, you'll see."
"Yeah, Yeah..." He seemed to have less interest in Jace...
Jace paused, before turning slowly and walking out, Iris, Skits, Ilye and Silver Keaton following closely.
By the time they reached the center of the hall's pathway leading out, Jace began "He's a cranky old coot, isn't he?"
"Jace!" Iris spoke, fearing he'd hear them.
Silver Keaton laughed "He is, but you'd be too if you were six hundred and eighty seven years old."
"How's it possible for even a keaton to live that long?" Iris asked.
"Most don't. He's one of the few with age pausing flames. They call white foxfire the Spirit Fire, and who ever is gifted with this sacred flame is also cursed with long life. It's a large burden to bear in order to keep things running properly around here, and it often involves devoting your entire life to keeping it safe. Thanks to this, the Elder's out lived even his own mate, who died at the age of three hundred."
Jace held the flame out in front of him with a sort of freaked out look, and looked at Iris...
Keaton snickered "Only a keaton can be gifted and cursed by the flame, and they must be trained personally by the Elder to gain it."
Jace sighed "Oh thank goodness! One curse was enough to deal with! First short life, then long life, that'd drive me to insanity!"
Ilye seemed to mind her own business about the mention of Jace's old curse.
"I'm training to become a Spirit Fire user."
"But... You'd be miserable..." Iris seemed down.
Keaton shrugged "... I never said I wanted to live a longer life, but the Elder's getting older. The day his flames finally go out is when he'll pass on, and it wont be too long from now I fear. So Someone has to step up."
"That's an awful big heart." Iris finished.
"I've seen just about everything I can anyway, so it's about time I found something to do with my life other than hanging around Clocktown."
They all had left the tree by now and were being lead out into the forest and greenery away from the village by Keaton.
Ilye felt really stupid for changing the subject, but had to ask "... Not to change the subject or anything, but I noticed none of the keatons here have names... Why is that?"
Silver Keaton laughed "A few keatons have understandable names, but most of us born in Yuriko all speak our native fox language and so our own names are of the same language... You guys wouldn't be able to pronounce my name."
"Try us." Jace smirked.
Keaton cleared his throat. He soon began speaking in a really rough and hard to understand dialect. "... That's my name."
"..." Jace blinked "You're right, I certainly can't pronounce that..."
The keaton guffawed in amusement. "Of course."
Iris walked ahead and next to Jace. She looked back at Ilye and Skits, who was now sitting on Ilye's head. Iris giggled "Skits certainly didn't take long to warm up to Ilye."
"No, and he's usually not so trusting." Jace responded.
"... I guess all this is going to put off our marriage planning for a while, huh?" Iris had a sort of disappointed sound in her voice.
Jace sighed "I didn't like it either, Iris... But I guess this gives us some time to think things through, so there's a way to look at it."
"True."
Ilye couldn't help but overhear them.
"What were you looking forward to in all this, Jace? I mean, truly?" Iris asked. This question, oddly enough, caught Ilyes full attention, and seemed almost eager to hear his answer. Skits looked down at her with a 'What's up with you?' look.
Jace paused... "..." He looked over to his partner, her eyes fixated on him waiting for a sincere answer. He finally responded "I guess finally getting to form a permanent bond with you, and maybe other things ahead of time... And finally getting to settle down, it'd be nice for a change. Everything, really."
Iris smiled "Yeah… So, we're having it at the Woodfall Temple, correct?"
Jace nodded assuringly. "Only if you want to. A traditional deku wedding."
Ilye aw'd under her breath.
Iris and Jace continued whispering to each other away from everyone else.
The keaton, for once, minded his own business. However, Skits glared at Ilye in such a way that said 'Ever heard of privacy?' seeing as she was listening so closely, that she forgot Skits was on her head to begin with. Skits'd guessed they'd moved away from everyone so they could talk. Ilye was about to say something in between their conversation, But Skits kinda pulled on Ilye's leaves, and made her give a low "Ow!" before she looked up at Skits, and he looked down at her and glared. She chuckled, and patted his head.
'This girl's weird...' Skits seemed to think.
'You probably don't understand Skits as completely as you think, but he's telling you to leave them alone for a bit, little one.' Keaton sent this thought through Ilye's head that made her jump suddenly, before remembering he could in fact do that.
She answered 'I'm sorry, I'm just-'
'I know. But right now let them talk it out before we get to the Temple. They will need clear minds in this place, and letting them talk about what they're plans are for now will be the best way for them not to worry about having too much to think about when we get there, seeing as they would have already talked it out.'
Ilye sent back a thought in response 'But how will having a clear head help?'
'The Temple feeds off thought. It uses the mixing thoughts and fears to create the illusions and mirages that act as obstacles through the Temple. Less thought, less problems.'
'Wow... Well, mind If I speak with you about things? I know I can't talk to Iris and Jace about it. But you've already seen everything about me so there isn't really much to hide.'
'I do not mind at all. I want you all to have a clear head when you get there, and I can't go in and help, so right now is the best way I can help. What is it that's bothering you exactly? There seems to be a lot to sort through…'
Ilye paused, before answering '… Well, it's just I need advice…-'
Skits was the only one right now who wasn't part of anyone's attention... It irritated him a little. He groaned, and flew up and ahead. Ilye was so silent and as was Keaton, with the exceptions of simple random nods and hand gestures, as if Ilye was talking... And Iris and Jace being, well? Iris and Jace.
After a fairly long walk through the jungle-like forest with noisy silence, the Temple came into view. Ilye walked ahead and wowed as she looked up at the large Temple so agedly fused with the ground's plants and vines, nearly covered with overabundant green and earth. At the Temple's sides stood proud looking Minami statues. One's antlers were completely gone, and the other was broken apart at certain areas such as the tail and left front leg, the one that was supposed to be lifted high off the ground. Jace seemed taken away by the ancient place and broke from the company of Iris to walk up next to Ilye and look at the large stone doors grown over in vines. He had to wonder how he'd get these doors open to begin with...
Keaton cleared his throat "Here we are. I can't go in with you, but I can help open the doors. Let me see the key."
Jace held out the key. And here, Keaton showed his rarely-seen ability to lift objects with his mind. He didn't do it often. The key floated out of Jace's hand and was lifted to be stabbed into the center lock of the doors. The keyhole was between the antlers of Minami's ancient stone carving on the door. The door made a loud knocking sound when the key was forced to turn. Keaton used his best strength to open the doors. They gave a loud scraping and shaking noise that made Keaton's fur bristle slightly and made him force his ears back, as it hurt his sensitive ears.
Iris peaked in, the cracked door opened wide enough for the dekus to walk through. The walls at each side of the entry hall had large keaton statues standing valiantly in place, for generations surely. She stared in awe. The entire entry way was as though the large ancient keaton statues along the walls were there to guide them in.
"Go on, just be careful. Over the years, who knows what all's changed from age." The keaton warned. "And remember: Clear thoughts. To use the flame, you must stay together for it to effect you all, and focus on the flame. Your mind is your only control over anything in here for your safety."
Iris gulped "Well... We'll keep that in mind."
Jace chuckled "This'll be fun."
Ilye was now nervous, but said "Let's go then!"
Skits landed on Iris. When she walked up between Ilye and Jace, Jace threw his arm around her "This'll be like old times, Iris."
"With the exception of no Dragalfos, thank heavens." Iris chuckled nervously.
"Just remember to stay focused!" Keaton warned again.
Jace smirked "Don't worry, we'll keep things under control." He walked in without another word. Iris, Skits and Ilye looked at each other, before walking in.
To Be Continued...