Hey there, readers! It's The Wing Alchemist again, here to bring joy and cliffhangers to your mindless and insane lives! (huge grin)
Moriko: You really need a job or something.
Me: Yeah, right. I'll get a job when you and Tanner smooch.
Moriko: Oh, nasty! You can't be serious!!
Me: Oh, I'm serious, Moriko dear. When I get a job, you and Tanner will smooch! Ah, how romantic! 3
Moriko: I'll kill you!!
Me: (holds up fists) Try it little girl!
Moriko: Oh that's IT! You asked for it!(tackles me and we begin fighting)
Taiki: We're experiencing some minor difficulties, so if you could start reading, that would be great. (looks back at fight and shudders) Ugh...only a really powerful force could separate those two now...
Chapter 18: Father...
Moriko followed Tanner through hallways and up stairwells, barely listening to his explanations. "We're almost there," he said after turning down a few more hallways. Moriko kept up as they began ascending the last stairwell, nervous about meeting the king. They were suddenly enveloped in sunlight once more. They were on the roof of Hyrule Castle now, and the throne room was before them.
Tanner pulled her through the large doors, shaking his head with a smirk. "Calm down so I can introduce you." Moriko took a few deep breaths before stepping towards the throne.
"Presenting Lady Moriko of Ordon Village," Tanner called from behind her. She turned her attention back to the throne in front of her.
Seated on the middle one, dressed in the garb suited only for royalty, sat the King of Hyrule, in all his royal glory. He stared at her with curious eyes, almost surprised to see her there. Moriko felt her face erupt in color as she fell to her knees, her hand pressed to her heart. She could feel it hammering in her temples now, and the feeling of being analyzed didn't help much.
"Lady Moriko, I, King Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule VI, welcome you to my castle. I hope you enjoy your stay in Hyrule Castle."
"I-I will, your majesty. I am truly honored to be here, in your presence. I am truly sorry that I am late!"
The king laughed. "I can tell you are uncomfortable. If you would like to do something before we talk, I would be glad to postpone our much needed conversation."
Moriko fumbled over her feelings for a minute, then made her decision.
"If that would be alright with you, your majesty, I would like to get myself better acquainted with a few people."
The king nodded with a smile.
"Feel free to roam the castle. If you get lost, just ask one of the guards for help. I will speak to you tonight at dinner and afterwards."
"Your majesty," Navi said, flying out from behind Moriko, "I would like to speak to you about a few things."
"Alright. I'll speak to you in a moment," he said, nodding.
"Just one more thing, your majesty," Moriko said, squaring her shoulders. She had to face this sooner or later, and now was the best time. The king looked at you expectantly, his eyebrows raised. "Is there a man by the name of Daisuke here?"
"He is the captain of the guard here. You wish to see him?" Moriko nodded. "He should be in the training grounds around this time of day."
"Thank you, your majesty!" Moriko said, bowing deeply. She was relieved when the king turned from her and began chatting with a soldier next to him. She straightened and left the room, heading back down the stairs and towards the courtyard. If there was anything like a practice ground here, that's where it would be.
Tanner was surprised when he saw her run by him. He almost thought she was someone else. But the look on her face was one that belonged to Moriko, so he followed her all the way to her destination.
Moriko jumped down the last few steps and rushed out the door, almost colliding with a young man in a plain set of padded armor. His black hair was matted and sticking to his forehead, almost hiding his blue grey eyes from view. He glared at Moriko as he brushed past her, growling, "Move it."
"Watch where you're going," she growled back, returning his glare with one of her own. He sneered at her and continued on his way inside, leaving Moriko angry at men again. She stomped off down the right path, grumbling incomprehensible garble to herself. Taiki flew out from behind her shield, awakened by her words.
"What smells like a Deku Toad and looks like a Diababa?" he asked, repeating what she'd just said. She sighed and explained what a jerk that guy had been to her. Taiki half listened as he floated alongside her, watching the people pass them with intrigued eyes. How odd it must've seemed to see a fairy with a Hylian.
They emerged in the training grounds after turning right in the courtyard and following the sounds of clashing swords. It seemed like an odd place for a training ground, seeing as it was just inside the castle walls. Moriko imagined it would've been somewhere inside the castle, someplace underground. And where did the soldiers sleep?
Moriko's thoughts were shattered when a stray arrow came whizzing down and thudded a few centimeters away. She jumped away and unsheathed her sword, caught off guard by it. There were a few laughs and a shout, then a young man with short blonde hair and pointed ears ran into the area. He wore the same tunic as Moriko and had a green hat on his head. He was breathing heavily when he saw Moriko. When it registered who she was, he straightened and sprinted over to her.
"Hello there! I'm Link, the new hero of legend. You are Moriko, correct?"
Moriko's stomach hit the ground with a splat. She looked him over carefully, her expression blank. So this was where her journey ended, eh? She hid her sorrow with a laugh and shook his outstretched hand.
"Yes. I'm Moriko. I'm actually looking for Daisuke?"
Link's expression lit up.
"He's over in the other area! I'll show you, come on!" He took her wrist and pulled her along towards the other area. She saw the Triforce mark on his hand perfectly, and her mood took another nosedive. She really wasn't the hero. She'd hoped so badly that she was, but fate was cruel, extremely rude, and had mood swings like a pregnant woman.
Moriko shook her depression away and surveyed the training grounds. It was spacious, and there were about thirty to forty young men chatting, practicing, or placing bets on those practicing. She got plenty of looks from them, mostly leers and looks that made you want to take a shower they were so grimy. Link led her though the worst of it, and she thought she felt someone pinch her.
"Link, can you let go? Just for a second?" she asked smiling sweetly. He smiled back and let go of her, going on ahead as she turned to face the immature men behind her.
"Are you looking to get hurt?" she asked.
"That depends on what kind of pain it is," one guy suggested. There was an eruption of laughter, which promptly died when Moriko unsheathed her sword, staring at them all blankly.
"Wow…I'm worried for the king, if you guys are our only protection." A few boos went up all around as Moriko turned to find Link. She only found a wall of soldiers.
"Hey guys, the little girl thinks we're all chumps. Shall we prove how mean we can really be to her?" There was a chorus of yeses all around as one of the guys picked up Moriko and brought her over to a black graveled area about thirty feet wide, as well as long. They began chanting the name Raz as the guy who'd picked Moriko up stepped into the opposite side of the area. He looked like the type of guy who got drunk every night at the local bar. He had unkempt hair and a bruise above his left eyebrow.
Raz drew his sword, which was at least a four foot long piece of folded steel, about an inch thick and three inches wide.
"Ready to learn your lesson, girlie?" he asked. Moriko stifled a laugh.
"Girlie? That the best you can do, fathead?" she retorted. There was a series of boos all around the area as Raz gripped his sword tighter, growling, "You're gonna wish you'd never said that."
"Try me."
Raz ran at Moriko and slammed his sword down over her. She sidestepped it and swung her blade at his neck. Raz ducked and aimed his sword's hilt at her stomach, but she twisted away at the last second. Raz grabbed her wrist sharply and yanked, causing her to let go of her sword. It fell to the ground as he tried to throw her. She remembered hand to hand training with Taro and used her other hand to try and aim for Raz's eyes. The man flinched as her nails briefly touched his eyelids, and he let go of her, stepping back as she steadied herself.
"Oi, this is a sword fight, wench. Pick your sword up."
Moriko glared at Raz and retrieved her sword, then ran at him as fast as she could. She didn't care if she got hurt now. She didn't need to do anymore work for the Goddesses. She had been just a tool for them, and for some reason, that hurt more than any wound could.
Raz was caught off guard by her sudden burst of strength and leapt back, but was once again caught off guard, but this time by the fence behind him. He dropped his sword and nursed the back of his head, grumbling a wide range of curses at Moriko.
Moriko stood over him and placed her sword at his neck, looking at him with a blank stare.
"A swordsman should always be aware of their surroundings. Even I know that."
Raz knocked her sword away and punched her in the shoulder, glaring at her.
"Shut up, bitch!" he yelled. His face was completely red now. Moriko nursed her shoulder and glared at him, staying silent. "Women should obey their superiors! Especially men!"
Moriko froze, staring at the ground with wide eyes. Raz yanked her up by her arm, successfully dislocating it, and pushed Moriko into the fence. She stared at Raz, her eyes livid.
"How dare you," she said, glaring fiercely at the soldier. Raz took a step back as she took one forward. "How dare you say something so awful. Why in the world are there people like you? People like you taint this world. Why do the Goddesses allow you to exist? You…you people come from the same cloth as Ganondorf himself!"
"Moriko! Snap out of it!" Taiki shouted, flying up to her face. She blinked, looking at Taiki, then at Link, who was staring at her with saddened eyes. The man next to him was scowling.
Moriko bit her lip when she saw him, then hopped the fence and ran. She ran back through the courtyard, then on into Castle Town. She kept running until she was outside the city, staring to the south, towards Ordon.
She collapsed on the stairwell in tears, letting all her pent up emotions run rampant. She cried about missing Gabe. She cried about not being the hero. She cried about the man who'd stood next to Link and watched her display her weakness. She wanted to scream so badly that it hurt.
In fact, she was in actual, physical pain. Her shoulder was killing her. She tried to move it, but that only set it on fire.
"Are you alright?" a voice asked. Moriko froze. That voice hit a chord deep in her memories, awakening the times when her father had been around.
She turned to see him, her own father, standing a few steps behind her, his arms crossed over his chest. He wore the tunic of the Hylian army, decorated with the Hyrulian Royal Family's crest. Moriko averted her eyes and gripped her shoulder.
"I think I dislocated it."
"Let me see," he said, coming down so he was at her step. She flinched he gripped her arm and shoulder in his hands, then gritted her teeth when he popped her joint back into place. She instantly felt better, and she thanked him for it.
"It's nothing. I used to have a daughter who always managed to get hurt somehow, and that was one of her most frequent injuries."
"Really? What happened to her?" Moriko asked. Daisuke sighed and scratched his head.
"That's the worst part of my life; having to leave my little girls. I left her with my childhood friend to join the army. Sure, the army is exciting, but it's just not like being at home with your family."
"Yeah, I guess so. I have a sister, my best friend, my cousin Gabe, and my aunt Tabatha."
"No parents?"
"Well, I don't know much about my mom, but…," she turned to look Daisuke in the eye, "my dad went and joined the army. Funny how that seems to happen to a lot of families, eh?"
"Yeah…what a…,"Daisuke trailed off as he looked Moriko over again. His eyes widened in surprise, and she grinned.
"Hello, daddy. It's been too long!" she said happily. Daisuke grinned and hugged his daughter for the first time in 10 years. Moriko cried happily onto his shoulder, ecstatic to see her father again, this time under better circumstances.
"So what happened back there?" he asked after a while. Moriko pulled away, smiling grimly.
"How much did you hear?"
"Everything after 'How could you?'"
"Then you heard everything."
"Why'd you say that?" he asked. How could his daughter have said those things?
"Well, after you left, Simeon pretty much ruined my life." She explained everything to him, starting with the first few years after he'd left home. Considering they had about ten years to catch up on, Moriko tried not to drag the story out too long. But by the time she was done, Taiki had joined them, saying something about some kind of party. Moriko and her father agreed to talk later, as soon as dinner was over, and went their separate ways. Daisuke headed to the barracks and Moriko headed back to the castle. She felt profoundly better now that she'd talked with her father, but that Raz character was really something.
She refused to think about that as a maid met her at the door and guided her through the castle to her room. She would have a fun time tonight, even if she had to see that nitwit. She hoped that she'd be able to catch up with her father some more, and that Tanner might actually leave her alone for a while.
Me: Well? How was it? (nursing swollen cheek and fractured ribs)
Moriko: I'm still gonna kill you for bringing Tanner back. (sipping red potion for her fractured collar bone and broken arm)
Me: Go ahead and try it!
Taiki: Please, ladies, not again! I just cleaned up!
Navi: Hey, you're all being children! Just calm down and- (is suddenly sealed in a bottle)
Moriko: Ah, that's better.
Me: You said it. Review people, or I'll...I'll...uh, do something rash to the plotline?
Moriko: I've heard better threats from a ham and cheese sandwich.
Me: Shut up, I'm tired! It's late and I'm stuck watching Ben 10 until my shows are on...BTW, read freakyanimegal456's stuff, if you like Tales of Symphonia. I really like it! XD