Sorry again for lateness, readers. I'm thinking I'll have to go to updates every other week, because the only reason I got this one done is because I've been sick and had nothing better to do for the last five days. But I do have the next chapter done as well, which is good. But how would you guys feel about updates every other week? That'd be okay, right?
Also, I know things are a bit different in this story than they are in the game. Don't worry about anything, because I've got it covered. There is a method to my madness, haha.
Disclaimer: LoZ does not belong to me. The extra bits in this story, however, do.
Warnings: Violence. General Weird. Minor Yaoi.
A Wandering Soul Proceeds All Darkness
Chapter – IV
Title – Enter: The Bombers
When once again they began their ambling journey, it was high noon and the sun rested high in it's roost. Dark grumbled about the heat and his pelt, but carried on regardless. The thought of wringing Skullkid's neck helped him urge his legs forward.
Link, beside him, was quiet as he observed Clocktown and its people. The sword in his hand spoke of courage and adventure, but whenever someone stopped to stare at him, they would only smile, murmur how cute he was, and then be on their way. And if that wasn't the case, they would scold him for venturing away from his family, and then shake their heads as they went back to their business.
It wasn't fair. Not at all.
With the thought of his human body being returned to him soon, he put most of his energy into concentrating. He had to figure out just where Skullkid had run off to, and after that, how to get the mask away from him.
His head clouded in thought, he began to pay little mind to where he was going, and for the second time that day, he found himself bumping into someone.
This someone, unlike the lovely Anju, was a bug-eyed child with a cap turned backwards on his skull. The boy regarded him with a look of amusement and wonder, and then began to laugh.
"Ha! You're a funny thing, aren't you? With those big sad eyes I almost thought you were a ghost or something!" The child continued to chuckle to himself, but Link didn't find it offensive. His eyes were kind, after all, and this boy was still just a child. He had yet to learn the meaning of cruelty.
Dark, on the other hand, was displeased. From his spot in the shadows he began to growl low in his throat, hackles rising. The boy didn't notice him, which was probably for the best.
Wiping a stray tear from his eye, the boy sighed and then nodded at Link. "So you must be new here, right? Or maybe just here for the festival? We don't see your kind running about in these parts after all."
Link, picking up on the mention of a festival, cocked his head. "What's this festival everyone is talking about? Is the town celebrating something?"
To his surprise, the boy's eyes widened, a look of shock taking control of his features. He regarded Link with a curious stare, searching for something in his expression, and then hummed to himself.
"You're definitely not from around here if you haven't heard of Clocktowns festival. It's famous, after all!" His chest puffed out, tone proud, and then he continued. "The Bombers make sure of that. We get to go around advertising for it every year. Although, most everyone already knows about it..." Scratching idly at his chin, the boy broke out into a smile. "My name is Zio. And you are?"
"Link." He replied. "What's the town festival for? And, ah, Bombers?"
Zio chuckled, patted Links shoulder and said, "The festival is to pray to the Four Gods for a healthy harvest next year. If you've walked through Town Square yet, you've probably seen the carpenters building a big 'ol platform. In about two and a half days, the door on the clocktower will open, and we'll be able to walk up onto the clockface with the help of the carpenters' platform. The elders in town always say that the Gods can hear you better if you're higher up, and the tower is the highest place in Termina." He paused, making sure Link was following what he was saying, then continued.
"The Bombers are a secret society of justice! We make it our duty to make the people of Clocktown as happy as possible. We're currently looking for new members, actually. Would you be interested in joining?"
Amused now, Link chuckled to himself. Here he was, nearly the same height as this child, being treated like another child! He was seventeen now, and yet, as a scrub, he appeared to be nothing but a youngster. He was reminded yet again of times that had never truly existed, of a pair of said blue eyes and darkness, and nearly lost himself in the flood of memories that should never have been. When Zio passed a hand over his field of vision, however, he blinked and managed his most intelligent response at that moment, "Uh. Okay?"
Behind him, he could hear give a snort of amusement, and he inclined his head to glare at the fox. It wasn't a tad bit threatening, though, and Link gave up on the Keaton to turn his attention back to Zio.
"What do I have to do to join?" It occurred to him then that perhaps this wasn't too bad of an idea. From what Zio had said thus far, he could tell that The Bombers played a huge role in the grand scheme of Clocktown. And through them, hopefully, the whereabouts of a certain imp would soon come to light.
"You'll have to go meet my Boss, first of all." Zio said suddenly, interrupting Links silent musing. "He gives out a test, and if you pass, you get to be a part-time member. But to be a full-time member, well, you'll see." With a grin, Zio spun on his heel, walking due north as a clock chimed in the background. "Just follow me!" He said, motioning for Link to hurry up.
Dark huddled in the shadows, following the two boys. His focus was on the reverbrations in the air, though. The tock tock tock of clock hands.
It was three 'o clock in the afternoon.
Tucked away in the darkness of the kind Deku boys hat, Tatl sat idly, her mind working against her.
She could remember attacking the Salesman, could picture his indignant face of absolute fury as Skullkid, Tael, and her self had run off as quickly as possible. Skullkid had seen the mask from afar, his breath catching in his throat. Tatl saw how his had eyes widened, his pupils dilated, and thought nothing of it. Skullkid had always been a bit of a kleptomaniac, after all. But the way he'd brutally knocked out the man, with an animosity neither she or her brother had ever witnessed before, Tatl began to wonder.
Just who was Skullkid anyway? Why had he been all alone that day in the rain, his clothes soaked through to his skin and his hat dripping with raindrops?
Nevertheless.
The mask had fit perfectly.
Almost as if it was made for him.
He stood in the darkness of the clocktower, hands wringing over one another in a violent urge to grab something and rip it to pieces. The sound of hard labor and cheery laughter met his ears, and he turned away.
Three days. Just three days.
"This is the perfect spot to watch the moon, don't you think?"
"I suppose it is. But I think it'd be easy to see the moon from just about anywhere. I mean, just look at it! It's so close! … say, you think Tatl is okay?"
The area Zio led him to was very quiet, and at first glance Link thought it was just an empty field. But upon closer observation, he realized that it was just a closed off part of the town. One, he assumed, was rarely tracked through. The only inhabitants here were a few other children dressed much like Zio himself was, and as they passed by, the children waved cheerily.
"Listen Link, I've got something I want to check out, I'll see you in a bit." Dark trotted at his side, his attention otherwise elsewhere, and then winked at him. "Have fun entertaining the children. Call if you need me." With that he turned and darted off for a small bank fenced off by crumbling wooden planks. As he passed, one of his tails caressed Links face, and if he had known how to blush in this form, he probably would have.
When the fox disappeared into the tall grass behind the fence, Link returned his attention to the area, and found himself staring up at an oddly shaped balloon. It was decorated with a symbol he thought he was familiar with, but it was hard to tell from this angle. Zio led him to the center of the area, stopping in front of a boy with a red bandana. The child had a hollowed out reed in one hand, a bag of something or another in his other. When Zio stopped and saluted, the boy inclined his head once, and then turned his narrow eyes to Link.
It was then that he noticed that all the other children were gathering around him, and as he counted -One, two, three, four, five... six- he found himself surrounded, and a twitch of panic nipped at his heart.
They were just children, but they greatly outnumbered him. And besides, his only weapon was a sword he could barely keep aloft.
But Zio was smiling, and it was touching his eyes in a look of benevolence, and Link realized that he was being an idiot. They were children, and most certainly not his enemies.
"Welcome, Link. My name is Jim. I'm the leader of The Bombers Secret Society of Justice. Nice to meet you." Jim, whose tone was high-pitched and very much a child's, still managed to be commanding and authoritative. Link was amused, but he stayed quiet. "Zio tells me you want to be a part of The Bombers?"
Link nodded.
"Hm... well, you're definitely interesting, but I'm afraid you can't join."
Zio, looking taken aback, gaped at his Boss. "Why not? What happened while I was away?"
Jim sighed, rubbed his temple in a very mature, adult-like way, and said, "You remember that imp guy we let into the group this morning? Well, he went around playing pranks on people and stealing things. That's definitely not in the code. So I had to cut him loose. But then he got all weird, and started saying some pretty creepy things..." Humming, Jim shook his head. "Anyway, I just don't think we can trust anyone whose not from Clocktown. There's no telling what the creatures from other parts of Termina are really up to." He turned his attention to Link, eyes cold and hard. "What are you doing here anyway? Don't Deku's have their own festival to be attending to out in the swamp?"
Link, feeling caught in a lie he hadn't even woven, ran through all the excuses he could come up with in his head. What could he tell these children?
"I just needed to get away, that's all." There. That was about as truthful as he could get. When Jim cocked an eyebrow at him, though, he feared it was the wrong answer.
"Away from what?"
Considering the consequence of running, Link decided it was best to just wing it and hope that these children bought it. He had no excuse, though, and no idea what he should say. Luckily, Zio stepped in and saved him.
"Jim, Link seems like a really nice Deku Scrub. I don't think he'd go around breaking The Bomber rules! Just give him a chance, maybe even give him the alternate test. You know, the harder one that you've been thinking up. You said the other day that you wanted to try it, but hadn't had the right candidate, yet. Here's your chance, Boss!"
A chorus of eager voices rose among the boys, and Jim, who seemed more worried about keeping his henchman happy than anything else, smiled and shook his head.
"Alright, alright, I give. But he's not allowed to be a full-time member." While he seemed harsh, Jim looked a bit sad. "Sorry Link. I'm just keeping the towns best interest in mind."
"It's fine." Link interjected. His heart was racing in his chest, the relief he felt as cool as ice in his veins. "I'm ready for the test, whenever you'd like to begin."
Jim nodded, all business once again as he stood stock straight. He tucked the bag in his hand into the loop of his shorts, stuck the reed behind his ear, and proclaimed, "Bombers! Line up!"
He had felt it the moment they entered the clearing, the tantalizing tang of magic and s\power.. Someone very powerful was nearby, and something about it seemed quite... familiar. So he'd left Link to play with the children of Clocktown in favor of seeking out this mysterious source of energy. And what he'd found was, well, unsurprising. In fact, he felt a little silly for not figuring it out sooner. Beyond the tall grass and little rocky alcove he'd ascended was a cave, and from his perch, a wooden fence, he could just make out the shimmer of fairies. It was a Fairy Fountain, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the town and it's people. There, the Great Fair could watch over everyone without fear or trouble. But at the same time, Dark wondered if she ever became lonely, hidden in a cave in the middle of no where, how couldn't she?
Leaping from the creaking fence, Dark padded through the grass, his hold on the sword loosening. It seemed like the right thing to do as he set it by the mouth of the cave. With that done, he hurried on inside, the pads of his feet tender against the sudden cold tile beneath him.
As he trotted no, he expected the fairies to come out and greet him. They always had back in the times that shouldn't have been. And even though Link had only ever led him into one or two, he knew that this was a bit unusual.
A low alcove with hanging tapestries as fine as silver and as thin as hair parted before him, ans as he stepped into the fountain, it became crystal clear that something was definitely astray.
The water at his feet lay still and lifeless, and the walls that usually shone with the stars and comets of the night sky appeared cold and silent. The fountain was nearly pitch black save for two very faint balls of light.
Two balls of that that, at his arrival, brightened for the smallest moment, and then disappeared. This dying fountain and its residents had put their last efforts into luring him here, and it had cost them their lives.
"What's going on here? Where are you Great Fairy?"
Maybe it was because he was no Hero, and nothing like Link. Or maybe Fairies were afraid of Keaton's? Distraught, Dark continued to call out, searching in vain for a fairy that no longer lived here. When at last his own ears began to ring with the echo of his cries, Dark went quiet and sat n the edge of the fountain.
"What did I do? What can I do? He asked himself, peering through the darkness and into the reflections of the pool of water at his feet. A face he didn't know, eyes he was not familiar with, stared back at him, and Dark stamped a paw into the water, scattering the image. Sighing with the ripple of the water, Dark watched as the water stilled, and then let out a howl of surprise when a face that was definitely not his own, nor a Keaton's, formed on the water.
Heart pounding, Dark panted, and then padded back to the edge of the fountain. Not that he'd run from it in terror or anything...
The water whispered at him, giving voice to the feminine face on the waters surface, and Dark strained his ears to hear the weak words spoken to him.
'Please... help me... imp... shattered... missing piece... fine... return it to me...'
The cavern shuddered, a rumble that made Dark's fu stand on end. He looked to the water and the golden-haired fairy within, and found it empty. Confused, he shouted, "Wait! Find what missing piece? What am I looking for?"
No answer came to him, only a sultry wind that tugged at him, leading him away from the fountain and it's dying ecosystem. Dark took the hint and ran from the cave, confusion eddying in his mind.
'What now? What now?' Dark knew only one thing for certain, he needed to find this missing thing, something else Skullkid had stolen, apparently, and needed to find it quick.
Gathering his sword in two tails, Dark darted into the tall grass in the direction of town.
Link had to admit that upon hearing about Jim's 'test', he was quite wary. He'd expected a dual, a hard task, or maybe a ritual of sorts to see how strong he was. But in the end, he felt quite terrible for ever thinking such a thing.
'These boys are only children. I should have seen this one coming...'
When Jim had lined The Bombers up, Link had noticed how antsy they were. So he'd watched and waited as Jim raised a plump hand and Zio produced a whistle from his pocket. At the shrill blast, Jim brought his fist quickly down and shouted, "Scatter!" And, to Links horror, all five boys had disappeared, running on short legs as fast as they possible could.
Awkwardly, Link turned to both sides, looking for some kind of hint as to what he was supposed to do. He must have looked pretty pathetic, because a sudden sigh from the trees to his right alerted him to Zio's presence, and when the boy came out shaking his head in good humor, Link knew he'd missed something obvious.
But before he could ask, Zio came to stand at his side and said, with a friendly hand on his shoulder, "You're supposed to find us, Link. You know, like Hide-&-Seek?"
"Oh."
Relief flooded him, and the Deku boy scratched idly at his cheek. The Kokiri had played something similar to that. Link could remember taking part on occasion, but Mido always complained that Link could run faster than everyone else, and that it wasn't fair at all.
Homesickness twisted in his stomach, but Link nodded at Zio. "Alright. I can do that. You go hide again and I'll come look for you later."
He turned to leave, but Zio's hand tightened on his shoulder.
"Nah, it's okay, Link. I'll be one less person to find."
"But that's not really fair to the others now is it?"
"Right, right..." Pausing, Zio put a hand to his chin for a moment in thought, and then brightened. "Okay, you let me hold that," He pointed to the sword held tightly in Link's hands. "And we'll call it even. That's fair right?"
While it didn't seem truly good enough, Link couldn't say no to the look on Zio's face. If he did, he knew the child's expression would become the equivalent to that of a kicked puppies. So Link nodded and handed the sword over.
"Thanks Link! This is so cool!"
"Just be careful." Link said sternly. And as he walked away, he wondered if that had been the wisest decision... But at the sound of Zio's delighted laughter, Link knew it had been a worthwhile trade.
An hour and two children later -the little blighters really knew where to hide- Link found himself in the western part of Clocktown. After ambling around for the better half of twenty minutes in what had been the eastern section of the town, constantly lost, Link had finally decided to stop and ask someone for a map, directions, anything. The man, the very same postman who wore red and white that Dark had admired earlier, laughed at him when he'd stopped him.
"It's really quite easy to find your way around here, if you know where you want to be, that is." He'd taken Links shoulders and turned him to face away from the him. Pointing forward, the man said, "In that direction lies Woodfall Swamp. More importantly, that's south. Although, as a Deku Scrub, I would've assumed you knew that... Staring curiously, the man had watched Link so closely that the scrub began to sweat. To change the subject, Link had coughed (or at least tried to, it came out as more of a squeak) and turned to his right. "Then that must be west, right?"
"Correct." Patting his shoulder, the mad had then stepped away and tipped his hat. "If you turn in the complete opposite direction, you'll face the east. That only leaves the north, and I think you can pretty much figure that one out on your own. But really, it's not that difficult. Anyway, my break only lasts another four minutes and I absolutely can't have my schedule being disturbed. So I'll see you around, erm..."
"Link."
"I'm Hayate. Pleasure to meet you little Deku Scrub, Link." With a cheery wave the postman dashed off, and Link could only weakly call out a thank you before he was gone. Amused, Link had turned back to the east, observing the muted yellow talisman that was garnished with blocky white lettering. Link could not read what it said, which was yet another reminder that this place, Termina, was most certainly not his home. Regardless, he knew he had a task to be attending to, and had quickly scurried off in the direction of west Clocktown.
Where he was now, precisely.
There were quite a few buildings here, wrapping around a curved road that probably led back to another part of town. Before he took the road, though, he memorized tha layout and the shops where he was.
A blue talisman much like the one marking the east was perched high over an open gateway. He followed the opening down, the scent of salt carrying towards him on the breeze, and saw that a man garbed in chain mail and armor guarded the entryway.
Link stared openly, but gasped and hurried on when the guard inclined their head. He'd assumed that from this distance the guard couldn't see him... now he just felt like an idiot for staring so dumbly.
Down the road he met a man (woman? It was hard to tell) that offered to store his rupees. That way, he wouldn't have to carry them about.
Link had produced the three measly green pieces he had in his trouser pocket, and the banker laughed as he put them into a sleek black box. And as Link had tried to walk away, the banker reached out and brutally stamped the back of his shoulder, which, Link assumed, would be an annoyance when he got his real body back.
"Gee, thanks." He grumbled, to which the man only giggled.
At the end of the path he found another Bomber boy nestled among some loose honeysuckle vines, and the child had come out of hiding with a very disappointed pout.
"I didn't think it'd be so easy to find me." He said glumly. But, with a sigh, he shrugged. "There will be others. Anyway, your name is Link, right?" The scrub nodded. "Neat. My names Lex, nice meeting you! Good luck!" Link watched him leave, adding the name to his steadily growing list.
There was Zio, Honta, Kaz, and now Lex. As he left the western part of Clocktown behind, his thoughts on The Bombers, Link suddenly stopped, his brain kicking into full gear.
Zio, Honta, Kaz, and Lex. Plus Jim.
There had only been five boys, so that meant he was nearly done! All he had to do was find the boy in the red bandanna, and then he'd be able to join, well, partially, their ranks and utilize their knowledge of the town.
More upbeat than he'd been all day, Link headed east.
I know this chapter was a bit dull, but I'm trying to explore the town and really get a feel for it. So the next chapter, hopefully, will be better. Keep an eye on my profile so you'll know when the next update will be! Because I change the release every other day, haha.
Oh, and, if you find any mistakes or something doesn't add up, could you let me know, please? Thanks in advance!
Reviews Are Love!~