I'm am...so bored right now...

Moriko: Well, get cheery. We need you happy so the plot won't die. You practically died this last week.

Me: Well, I had my reasons...I thought my friend was mad at me, then I lost my internet connection, and now...well, nothing's bad now, but I know I need to get a job soon.

Moriko: Quit griping about a job! Finish my story first! OK, so anyway, answers for Lekki12

Me: 1: The past TP Link is still there. He's like the Hero's Shade, except he comes and goes when he pleases. Midna is still around because I always imagined that the Twili live a lot longer than humans, so...yeah.

2: I wanted Daisuke to be more of a caring father, but the way I imagined him was he takes his job a little too seriously, hence the scolding about the dinner. I mean, how would you feel if someone you cared about just insulted the king of your country? I don't think the king would take it too well.

3: Prince Zenith wasn't scared by Moriko's words. He was just caught off guard. He's the snobby, rich prince type, so he's not used to people talking back to him.

Anyway, I hope that helped a bit.

Moriko: It helped me. I can't help but wonder why you make all the men either idiots or possessive...

Me: It's because I have a lot of pent up rage over all of the men in my life, except for one who I go to school with. He's the only nice one.

Moriko: You're brother one of the others?

Me: Duh. But moving away from that touchy subject...DEAR GOD, PEOPLE! Over 1300 hits?! YAY!

Moriko: Calm down!

Me: Okay...calming down. Anyway, I don't own the Legend of Zelda, or any of their characters, so yeah...enjoy the story!

Chapter 22: Back in Ordon

Moriko couldn't keep herself from grinning as she and Meryl galloped through the last half of Hyrule Fields. She couldn't wait to see her friends again. She was going to see Laura and Tabatha! She was going to see Gabe! She felt her heart already bursting at the seems. She felt like screaming, crying, and laughing all at the same time.

She dismounted from Meryl and guided her down the narrow path, eventually emerging into the village. It was quiet, and people ambled about the main square. They looked almost bored.

Moriko failed to notice a flash of black that jumped in front of her, and before she knew it, she was on the ground, the wind knocked out of her. Gabe latched onto Moriko with such force that neither could get up for some time. When they got up, a crowd had gathered.

"Moriko, you're back! You're back, you're back, you're back! I knew you'd come back! Just like you promised!" he shouted, his face glowing with happiness.

"Gabe…," Moriko coughed. "It's great to see you again. Where's Tabatha? And Laura?"

Gabe latched onto her arm like a magnet. "Tabatha's in Ordona's Spring, and Laura's gone into the woods to get food. I got your letter! Did you really see a Goron? Did they try to eat you?"

"That's what I asked!" Taiki shouted from Moriko's hat. She took it off and emptied Taiki and Navi into Gabe's outstretched hand. Navi grumbled and flew back into the hat while Taiki began reciting "his brave acts of justice" to the little boy. Moriko stuffed him back in the hat before he gave Gabe any spoilers for her stories, then walked with Gabe to the spring.

Everyone seemed to lighten up when Moriko passed by. They were glad to have her back. She was finally home, and she'd proven herself worthy of her father's heritage. She was practically a knight of Hyrule.

Moriko saw Tabatha kneeling on front of the spring, her hands clasped in prayer. She looked as if she hadn't slept very well for the past few days, and she had dark circles under her eyes. Gabe left Moriko and ran to Tabatha, urging the woman to rise and turn around. The woman got up and turned around, then covered her mouth.

"Moriko?" she whispered. She was beginning to cry. "Oh, Moriko, you're safe!" She wrapped her arms around Moriko and smiled. "I knew you'd return to us! I always believed it!"

"I missed you, Tabatha. I missed the whole village, I missed the woods, and I missed…well, everything. I wanted to come back so many times."

"Hush. Tell us about your journey after you've eaten."

"Okay," Moriko said. Gabe took her hand and led them to Tabatha's house, where they ate lunch together.

Once everyone was fed and Navi and Taiki had headed to the spring, Gabe talked Moriko into taking a quick walk with him before she was to tell her story. Everyone in the village was going to listen, he told her, and she needed to loosen up before then. Moriko agreed and left the house with him, making sure she had his presents with her before joining him near the forest. He grinned and led the way, marching a few feet ahead into the forest.

"You know, Moriko, I was really happy when I got your letter. I was so excited for your return, I kinda went crazy."

"Oh no, what'd you do, Gabe?"

"I explored the forest you told me about. I know, I was supposed to wait until you returned, but I just couldn't help it! I wanted to be just like you!" Moriko bit her lip as he spoke. "It was so cool! There were things I'd never seen before in that forest! It was-"

"Gabe, you shouldn't have done that. You could've been hurt if a monster had found you."

"I know, but I hid whenever I heard them coming! They didn't even see me!"

"That may have happened once, but it might not happen again!" Moriko shouted. Gabe flinched. The tone in Moriko's voice was different.

"Moriko, are you alright?" he asked. Moriko sighed and looked at the ground, shaking her head.

"I'm fine. Maybe a little disappointed, but okay. I wanted to give you your presents now, but I'll have to wait until I completely finish with my journey."

Gabe's eyes went wide. "You mean you're not done yet?!"

"No. I still have a few things I have to do. Come on, let's go back to the village."

Moriko reached for Gabe, but he pulled away, his brown eyes welling with tears. "Don't! If you really missed the village, then why don't you stay?!"

Moriko closed her eyes, then unsheathed the Master Sword. Gabe looked at her in disbelief.

"You're…the hero of legends?!" When Moriko nodded, Gabe's jaw hit the ground. She frowned a his reaction.

"What? Is that such an impossible thing?"

Gabe was still for a second, then nodded slowly. Moriko gave him a look that had a mix of disappointment and the phrase "Oh come on!", then slapped her palm to her forehead.

"Ugh…come on, Gabe. Let's go surprise the village."

"Coming!" he said, walking towards her.

Suddenly the bushed on the upper cliff parted, revealing a oversized bokoblin wielding a wooden club. It was at least a head taller han the normal ones, and its skin was a bright purple. It shrieked at the sight of the Master Sword and retreated back into the woods. Moriko grabbed Gabe's hand and pulled him back in the direction of the village.

"Come on, Gabe! Move it!"

"Why don't you go take out that monster?!" he shouted. She didn't even stop as she spoke.

"I'm not going to stop, because that would put you in danger! If you're in danger, I can't concentrate! Remember what happened in the village when those monsters first attacked? I tossed my only weapon aside to go and rescue you! I lost my cool, and this journey has taught me not to do that anymore! Now be quiet and run!"

The rest of the way back to the village was passed in silence. Moriko got Gabe to Tabatha's house before anyone could ask what had gotten them so worked up, and then called the village to the main square. Moriko stood in front of them, the Master Sword in her hand. She was nervous, but the monster she'd seen was too powerful for anyone here but her.

"People of Ordon Village. My friends and family. I don't know how to put this, but I'll try anyway. As you all know, the light spirits sent me to find the Sacred Items of the Goddesses. Unfortunately, the one who was to become the hero turned out to be a fraud. The Goddesses then revealed that I was to be the hero." Moriko held her hands up as the crowd began murmuring. "Now, I know that sounds off. Believe me, I thought someone was touched in the head to say that as well. But after thinking about all the things I've done already, I realized that it was true. I wouldn't have been able to do all the things I did, had it not been true." Moriko looked at each pair of eyes staring at her. "You all protected me in the beginning, now I'm going to protect you."

Moriko looked out over the crowd again, then tilted her head to the side in confusion. "Where's Laura?"

The crowd mumbled amongst themselves for a while. A few mentioned Laura taking part in the recent food gatherings, but none remembered seeing her afterwards. The villagers began searching the area for the girl. Moriko felt her panic levels rising. Her best friend was missing and she had no idea where she could be! If only she'd come back a few hours, maybe even minutes, earlier. Then she might have some kind of clue as to where she was.

A deep rumbling shook the ground, starting the villagers into a small panic. Moriko steadied herself on a fence post and drew her sword.

"Everyone, calm down! What's going on?"

Moriko received a slew of shouts in response.

"There's a monster hiding in the deeper forest!"

"It prowls the village at night, looking for children to prey on!"

"It's the boogieman!"

"It's coming for my baby!"

Moriko bit her lip, turning in the direction the roars came from. Something struck a chord in her mind, and she began running into the forest. Half the village blocked her way, their familiar faces completely consumed in panic.

"You can't go, Moriko!" "That thing will kill you!" "You're too valuable!" "We can deal with it!"

Moriko held the Master Sword up for everyone to see. It glinted in the sunlight, casting rays of light across the crowd.

"This sword is a symbol of courage, as well as power and wisdom. It has saved countless lives, and taken many as well. But it's not just that. It's a symbol of trust between the hero of legend and the people he or, in my case, she protects! You guys have to trust me! Believe in me, and I can help you get through this!"

Everyone was silent, then Gabe and Tabatha stepped out of the crowd and to her side.

"We chose to believe in her. Anyone object to that?"

It was silent for a minute, until two voices broke though the silence.

"She can't do it!"

"She's too weak!"

Everyone turned to see Karin and Simeon standing in the back of the crowd, glaring at the three up front. The people between looked from Moriko, who wove her way through the throng of people, to Simeon and Karin.

Moriko stopped a few feet in front of Karin, who tossed her perfect golden hair over her shoulder. "Is that what you really think, Karin? That I can't do this? And Simeon, am I really so weak?"

"Yes!" they answered in unison. Moriko looked at the ground, sad, then looked up. Karin flinched and Simeon's glare hardened as Moriko smiled at them.

"I'm sorry you think that, but those are your opinions. If you chose not to believe in me, then so be it." She looked down again and sighed, then stared at both of them with her electric blue eyes, her eyes burning with determination. "But I won't be hindered from my duty because you won't let go of your selfish ideas."

Both Karin and Simeon looked abashed by Moriko's response as she turned to the crowd.

"Where is the monster hiding?" she called out. The crowd murmured until Tabatha stepped forward. She held Moriko's bag in her hand, and she was smiling sadly.

"The monster resides to the far south of the village, in a vine covered temple. So far it's only come out at night, but…well, I assume you saw it, from the look on both your and Gabe's faces." After she handed Moriko her bag, Tabatha dug her hand into her apron pocket and produced a rusty key. "This is for the gate. After that is a labyrinth, and the temple is just beyond that."

Moriko slung her bag over her shoulder and accepted the key gratefully, then turned to go. She only got a few feet before a familiar voice found her ears.

"Moriko, you're forgetting the light spirit. Go get Taiki and Navi."

"Oh, right. Sorry, Link," she whispered, heading towards the spring on the southeastern edge of the village. The villagers were confused as to why she wasn't heading south, but they followed her slowly.

Ordona was already visible when Moriko entered the clearing and kneeled in the spring. The giant goat spirit bowed its head in a greeting, then motioned for Moriko to stand.

"It is good to see you again, child. It has been too long."

"Yes, it has, Ordona. How have you been?"

"I've been well, as of late, but the darkness has begun to creep over the land. It radiates out of many hearts, and I am powerless to stop it."

"I'll stop it," Moriko said. She resisted the urge to pull out the Master Sword again.

Ordona looked into Moriko's determined eyes and shook his head. "Not at the moment, you can't. The Master Sword has lost its true power over the years. Only the Goddesses can restore it."

Moriko bit her lip to keep her jaw from hitting the ground. The Master Sword wasn't at full power. Well, that sucked!

"What can I do to change it?" she asked after a short silence. Ordona sighed, and shook himself.

"Place the Sacred Items of the Goddess on their respective altars, in their temples, and pray for the restoration of the blade of evil's bane."

Moriko memorized Ordona's words, then nodded. "I can do it."

Ordona nodded in approval, then disappeared. Navi and Taiki flew over to Moriko from a group of fairies a few feet away, grinning like mad-fairies (like madmen, only funnier).

"Are we ready to go?" Taiki asked.

"I got directions from the other fairies, so I know where to go," Navi said, bouncing with pride.

"Good," Moriko said. "Then let's head out."

Hoo! That was a fun chapter!

Moriko: Was it really?

Me: Yes it was. Next chapter is gonna be sweet!

Moriko: And now you've jinxed it.

Me: SILENCE!! It will be great! I shall make sure of it!

Moriko, Taiki, Navi, Tanner: You're an idiot.

Me: I shall thank you for that remark with a nice...Boot to the head!

(four boots come flying out of nowhere and hit three out of four targets)

Tanner: Ha! You missed me!

Me: (Hits him with a box of Teddy Grahams)

Tanner: (Is promptly knocked out)

Me: Well, that takes care of that! oh, and Lekki12? I plan on making good on your earlier suggestion ofr Tanner. I might jsut make him drown. (evil grin) Take care veryone! I'll update next Saturday or Sunday! XD