fleets: I've been trying so hard not to rush my current stories, but dang it's really difficult because both of them are approaching the parts I've been dying to write. Breathe, slow down, breathe....arrghjustgoread

Chapter 6: Secret Bases and Rumors of Sages

Vaati ran over to Delta as soon as the class had been dismissed for recess and bumped him sharply with his elbow. "Hey, guess what you owe me?"

"Fine, fine, you won again," Delta grumbled, handing over his acorn cookie. Vaati took it, then split it in half and gave half of it back to the red headed boy.

"You can take the other half. You finished before me anyway, so it was more like a tie."

"You still got all the problems right though, and you were only four seconds away from finishing."

"Bah, don't be modest."

Delta took his half and bit it. "Hmph. I know the only reason why you're giving back half is because you don't like acorns anyway."

"Shucks, I didn't think you'd notice." Vaati laughed. "Yeah, honestly I didn't want it."

They continued to chatter when a group of boys called over to them. Half of them were tying strands of yellow string around their waists to form a team. They asked if the two wanted to play capture the flag with them.

Vaati was about to say yes when Delta interrupted him. "Nah, not today guys! Maybe tomorrow!"

Vaati tilted his head. "Why not today? You've got anything else to do?"

"Yeah, something way cooler. I found this really neat place but we're going to have to be sneaky about it so no one else follows us." Delta glanced left and right and snuck in between the tall grass. Vaati did the same and followed behind.

"Really? Where is it?"

"Just follow me. If Ms. Tutari catches us we'll be in trouble. It's outside the village and near the woods."

"That's awesome." Vaati's eyes glinted as he ducked through the blades. There were no paths through this area and the grass grew a lot thicker as they went along. They felt like explorers traversing into the savage wild or adventurers like Swiftblade: Vaati picked up a twig and swung it at several stalks of grass. "Hey Delta, going adventuring without a weapon is being really unprepared you know."

Delta laughed, picked up a twig of his own, and stuck it through his belt. They continued to pretend that they were famous adventurers until Delta squeaked in excitement and ran on ahead. When Vaati reached him, Delta was standing triumphantly next to the roots of a gigantic oak tree. "Tadaa, our secret base!"

Vaati had to admit the place was pretty cool. The roots of the gnarled tree twisted over to form a crack in the ground where it turned into something like a hideout. A few clovers covered the entrance, and one of them was a rare four-leafed shamrock serving as something of a natural flag. It was difficult to spot from afar so only the people who knew where it was would be able to find it easily making for the perfect secret base. Vaati pushed aside some of the clovers and climbed up onto the roots next to Delta. "Secret base huh?"

Delta swung around the four-leafed clover and jumped through the crack with Vaati following shortly after. "Exactly! I already moved some of my stuff over here." Vaati hopped through some of the clutter and mushrooms that had grown through inside. Delta had dragged in a few brass buttons for makeshift seats. There were a few books with pieces of leaf stuck between them – evidence of half-finished stories as Delta had jumped from one novel to the next.

Vaati leaned over to take a better look at some long rolls of paper that were propped in the corner. "What're these?"

"Huh?" Delta's face lit up, and he snatched one and ran out the base. Vaati rolled his eyes with a grin on his face from Delta's excited promises that he'll definitely like what he had.

Outside, Delta was busy spreading out a dry leaf on a flat area to keep away the damp. He quickly began to unroll the paper and placed rocks around the corners to keep it from rolling back on itself. As soon as he noticed Vaati poking his head out of the secret base, he jumped up and scrambled onto the top of the tree roots. "You gotta see this Vaati! Get up here so you can see."

"Whoa, is that from the big people?" Vaati craned his neck to see the writing that was half his height. He'd never really had a chance to see actual Hylian before, and it felt a little strange that he could read it even though he'd never studied it; it was all thanks to the Jabber nut that everyone had to eat when they were five years old.

"Yeah. I think it's what the big people use to let each other know what's going on. Neat huh?" Delta shrugged. "It's all a little confusing though. I think it's more for the grownups. You know, the big big people stuff."

"Where'd you get these?"

Delta smiled proudly. "It wasn't easy. I had to sneak around the big people's village and tear these off the walls. I think it was worth it though. This way we can keep up with what people outside our village are doing."

Vaati nodded. His fingers followed the large letters slowly as he tried to figure out what the notice said. After a while, he scrunched his nose and scratched his head. "This is so confusing. You're right, it's grownup stuff." He turned to the other boy. "Still, I think I kinda got the part where it was talking about how some of the big people were trying to hurt other big people."

"I think that's what it says. Something about robbers kidnapping the little big people to get money from their parents."

Vaati sighed. "The big people are so violent. I always hear about how they kill each other and stuff. Makes me wonder if they're worth helping."

"Oh come on. Not all of them are bad."

"But still…Have you ever heard of a Minish who's ever brutally tortured and killed another Minish just for the sake of it?"

"I bet some of the hot headed mountain Minish might've pushed each other into lava," Delta said jokingly. Vaati laughed, and then went on to read the next notice right under the first one. He laughed harder when he read what the big people had written.

"Goddesses, this one's hilarious. Did you read this yet?"

"You mean the one about how the big people think rats are becoming smarter? That one was my favorite. I think it was a bad idea that some of the Minish from our village decided to take some food from the big people in the winter. I mean, of course they'd notice."

"Hahaha just read this! 'We suspect rats have finally discovered a way to pick locks and be smart enough to leave things the way they were after they had taken the food. The Smith family reports their locked pantry had been raided of some bread and jam, and the only signs of the rats had been the few paw prints in the dust. Similar accounts have been reported by other families.' Man, those big people are so dumb hahaha."

Delta laughed along. "This is nothing though. You've heard of the story of the shoemaker and the town Minish right?"

"Everyone knows that story."

"And the big people were so shocked that shoes kept making themselves overnight while they were asleep that they had so much trouble finding an explanation." Delta snickered. "Of course they'd never admit the Minish were helping them."

Vaati perked up. "Oh yeah, that reminds me! I think I heard Miss Britta say something about a really famous sage coming to visit the village. Apparently he was one of the Minish who took part in the shoemaking thing."

"Wow…he must be old then," Delta whistled. "What's he coming here for? There's nothing in our village."

The red-eyed minish shrugged. "Something about looking for an apprentice. Apprenticeship is really competitive though, so I doubt I'll have a chance."

"An apprentice for magic?"

Vaati looked at Delta who had his eyes wide, almost bursting with energy. "Uh, yeah."

Delta slapped Vaati across the back so that he fell off the root and tripped clumsily into the base. He nervously chuckled apologetically at Vaati who was frowning flatly before he continued excitedly. "That's so awesome! Magic! Don't you think that's so cool Vaati?"

Vaati pulled himself out of the base and sat at its edge. "Of course I think it's cool, but this guy has been visiting tons of villages to find the one lucky kid who gets to be his apprentice. Why should we have a chance?"

Delta crossed his arms over his chest. "Wow, way to be optimistic."

"I'm just being realistic."

Delta hopped down to Vaati's level and began to move the rocks away from the Hylian notice and roll up the paper again. "If one of us is chosen, you're going to owe me a chocolate bar."

Vaati raised his eyebrow. "Chocolate bars are hard to come by."

"And being chosen is difficult as well, so it's a fair bet." Delta grinned. "What, aren't you so sure that neither of us is going to be chosen?"

"Oh fine, I'll take the bet. I'm not complaining about a guaranteed snack."

"Loser, who said it was guaranteed?" He disappeared inside the base to put away the rolled paper. When he returned he had a toothy smile and a determined expression. "Tell you what. I want to change the bet."

Vaati began to walk back towards the direction of the school as recess was almost over. "Hmph, you're going to be a cuccoo and back ou – "

"I bet you a chocolate bar AND three days worth of homework that you'll be chosen for the apprenticeship."

"What?! Are you crazy?" Vaati stuttered in disbelief. Delta just continued to smile.

"Just think. Do you agree that if anyone from this village is going to be chosen it'll be one of us?"

Vaati fell quiet. "Sure," he said slowly after deliberation.

"Now do you agree that out of us, you'll be more likely to get it than me?"

"Why do you think that?"

"Because you're much sharper than me and I just have the gut feeling that you'll be chosen."

"Don't be stupid Delta," Vaati grumbled. Delta jogged after him.

"So are you in on the bet?"

"No."

"You don't have anything to lose. If I'm being so stupid, then you'll earn chocolate and three free homework passes."

"No."

"Unless you think you have such a great chance of being chosen that you'll lose the bet. You are so snooty."

Vaati sighed in exasperation. "Fine, I'll take the bet. You know you're going to lose."

Delta punched a fist into the air. "All right!" He pointed a finger at Vaati. "Just you wait. You're going to be an apprentice, and then you'll have to pay back the bet. Don't you dare sabotage your chances of getting it."

Vaati shook his head. "I'm not even going to have to try to make sure I don't get it. I know I won't get it."

Still, even as he said it, he secretly hoped he would be chosen for the apprenticeship. After all, who didn't want to learn how to be a master sage? Only a few Minish ever reached the level of magic the sages did, and this one was one of the most famous ones. What was his name again?

Ezlo was it? It was something like that. Vaati walked thoughtfully. I wonder if you'll notice me. Feh, why should an 'acclaimed' hotshot sage like you notice a nobody like me – even my parents abandoned me. He picked up his pace along with Delta so they wouldn't be late for the last half of school. Not like I care what the heck you or anyone else thinks.

Astral S. Kepeire: Ah, I need to stop being impatient...glad it was ok. I'm going to try to take more time with some of the more important chapters though.

Shadow Rukario: After being stuck together in a small car with nowhere else to go, it's only natural you learn everything about someone on a roadtrip. XD

marium: Aw, thanks. Glad you liked the small gallery too.

Bishieluver01: Minish anything tends to be cute. XD Yeah, I kept being reminded a little of Vaati and Link too. Now that I started writing this story, I think that Vaati has trouble seeing Link as a friend in BC because he reminds him of him and Delta (with Link as the equivalent of minish Vaati). Well, I could be overthinking things...

H-bomber: It's my first shot at a tragedy. It's either going to be bitter or teary (or dry, if I fail lol).

I luv Vaati: Ah, it'll probably last for a little bit longer. It won't be depressing too fast too soon.

Victoria-BlackHeart: He's a coming ;)

Peka the Corsair: Oh yeah! Then you know they're being honest with you or are at least showing you their worst. It can only get better, really. :P

DarkLinkvsRaineSagefan101: I admit it's hard and startling to compare the two. I get confused sometimes because I'll start writing minish Vaati as the older badass Vaati and then have to stop myself (i.e. "wait, since when was minish Vaati so mean and snappy and bad?"). He'll be completely reformed to the short arrogant baddy by the end, but it might (or might not) be hard to notice the progression.