Legends of the Tri-Force
Awakening
I gasped and my eyes shot open. I was having trouble breathing and my throat hurt on the inside. My stomach was in knots but I was alive. I started to calm down, I sat up and bent one knee. I sighed, another nightmare. They didn't scare me, not anymore. They used to when I was very young, then again anything could at that age. I was still young now after all I was just a kid. I was still panting a little and shaking just a bit. I guess you could say I was shell shocked.
I wasn't scared, I was upset. I was angry and the whole encounter had made me feel weak. Weak as in tired but also powerless, like I could never defend myself and that I was a liability to those around me. I felt sad at first, then I was filled with hope. That Lady whoever she was had said "you are meant for so much more". I noticed Saria standing on the stairs with a short night gown on. How long had she been standing there? She seemed worried so she had probably been there since shortly after I woke up.
She walked towards me kneeled down and then held me tight. "It's okay" she whispered and stroked my head. "Did you have a bad dream again?" she asked sweetly. I nodded hugging her back. She let go then looked me over, she gave me a concerned look. She most have noticed my throat, it felt swollen. My stomach was calm now and I felt at peace, I got lost in her pretty green eyes. She was pretty girl looked to be about sixteen or seventeen, all Kokiri people where. They had this eternal youth thing going on that I didn't understand yet, that's how I thought everyone looked.
Yep I thought every Male was tall, well built and toned, agile and strong. And every girl was agile, coordinated kind and well toned with lean muscle. They all had slender frames (all the girls anyway), the boys were varied in build but all strong in mind and body. Kokiri was essentially a hidden training ground for an elite militia hidden in the depths of Hyrules great forests. The girls were all kind at heart as were the boys but cold assassins when the time was needed. The male female hand to hand Disciplines were drastically different.
I think that the males would be a good place to start. Ferocious, strong, swift and blunt, some of these fighters were cold as they come. They were also acrobatic (not as much as the girls but still better than most every other male) they would leap from 6 or 7 feet away and almost land on top of you. These men favored axes and daggers (the daggers were more for the initial "pounce" during an ambush or just an easier way through defenses only the smaller men used these actively). These men were true berserkers able to stay cool and level headed while in formation while still being able to cut loose at any time. This was the bulk Kikori male population, they also did common jobs like hunting and gathering and forest based scientific research. This fighting Discipline was known simply as the Militia Blitz. And its disciple's occupation was obvious even to the most dimwitted Hyrulian.
The second male martial art discipline was drastically different. As opposed to the general berserk nature of the militia's fighting style this one was more structured and hardened. These men favored swords and shields and sometimes duel sabers, (mostly) these men were true war fighters. They also used "specialized" equipment that was adequate to get out of any trap. Items like the Deku Nut were used for shock and awe tactics. These men went through not only grueling physical training but also meditation and religious ceremony. They were the elite "urban" (dungeon and actual normal buildings) fighting force. They would work alone or in small groups usually three or four men each (and sometimes women it was much more of a male fighting style but there were welcomed exceptions).
These persons favored intellect as opposed to brawn alone, they made up a small bit of the officers core (usually generals or commanders). They were more specialists as opposed to infantry, not to say that they weren't on the front line, these WERE the war heroes (usually). They were also chaplains (some of them anyway) and served to provide morale boosts through acts of bravery that bordered on true insanity. They were usually the heroic captains or the gallant generals who bled with their men.
They were in a few other ways different than the other fighters, as opposed to the almost cookie cutter Militia men, each warrior was a true individual with differentiating styles and equipment. This discipline produced elite task forces, perhaps even the best in the world. What they lacked in numbers they made up for in skill. They spent much more time with actual training than the militia who trained for brute strength. Arms training was prevalent above all else. They were also "educated" things in that most people wouldn't even think to learn. Ancient languages, architectural design, tracking, military tactics, herbology, practical medicine, knots, maritime sciences, philosophy, poetry, political manipulation, and almost every other applied science.
They weren't just warriors either they were the most active members of society, they are the ideal Kokiri. But they didn't exactly act like it. They aren't arrogant either they are simply the most efficient and most productive people. They are the elite, but they are not elitist. The reason that I know so much about them is that I am being considered to join them. It is a true honor among my people but they're duties come with the highest risk . . . . and the lowest fatality rate. Their emotional persona in combat is that of a cold rage, there is much fire and much passion but much more control than the militia. They make up the very small elite of our society, the few there are have much power of influence and combat prowess, each individual an army of one. This is the "oh shit" part of the Kokiri Military they are the best, and have never failed. This martial arts discipline is known as The Heroes Wrath, the artists are known as The Disciples of Wrath.
I don't know too much about the last of the male Martial Art disciplines, then again there isn't much to know. The disciples are huge hulking masses of muscle and power, true brawlers. Unlike most street fighters they are disciplined martial artists. Well experienced in the arts of hand to hand combat they disarm almost any opponent BARE HANDED. They don't use weapons and don't wear armor. They are somewhat slow, lumbering beasts with enough power to desecrate almost any military formation. They roam through the woods on silent feet in packs of twenty, they are true giants usually at least SEVEN feet tall with canons for arms. I know that their method of training involves hardening their knuckles to an almost metallic finish. In terms of fighting style they are really just brawlers, but that's just the style they know what they are doing. With toughened skin and such a massive physique coupled with their disciplined tolerance of pain they truly are a force to be reckoned with. I once saw one of them dent a metal shield, with just his fist. This discipline is known as The Way of the Deku, its disciples are known as Sentinels because like the great Deku tree they are the guardians of the Sacred Forests of Hyrule.
The girls are again assassins, of a different caliber. They can sprint through thick underbrush at speeds that would make a race horse jealous. The trick is that they use the entanglement TO their advantage. They use it as additional leverage, pulling on vines for that extra bit of speed. They actually run faster in the brush then out of it. Yet when they do run through it they do so very low to the ground. Their literally on all fours (hands clawing the ground and pulling on vines), they do this with an almost eerie amount of finesse. They make less of a noise moving through it then the animals that use it as cover. They literally sound like the wind as they sprint about, our enemies fear the bloody whirlwind it brings.
Each girl was blessed with slender body, sound mind, and a cardio vascular system that allows for double the adrenal capacity in most human beings (it's triple in males but the girls more than compensate). Trained from birth in the art of war and the way of the bow that combined with their almost demonic agility they are perhaps the most deadly assassins in all of Hyrule. They can fire three arrows at once hitting a vital point on three different targets, this experience comes from hunting the monster that have infected the land beyond the sacred meadows.
Their hand to hand capabilities have been sharpened to super human levels, capable of feats of extreme courage they truly can look into face of death with unwavering defiance. They carry a small curved blade custom made to their own size, this was society accepting them into their final stage of maturity. This blade is known as a Soul Reaver. I have seen the devastation these blades can cause in a duel. The blade is tailored to the length of her arm so that when it is pointed down it reaches their elbow, they are single edged and provide more than adequate defensive capabilities.
The Soul Reaver is a secondary hand to hand weapon sometimes used with the primary as a parrying dagger. The primary weapons are usually one of two devastating weapons of war. The sabers similar to what the Disciples of Wrath use only more slender and girly, this used in accordance with the Soul Reaver is the favored method of execution by the women of the Kokiri collective of The Brotherhood. The other is a usually girly wooden staff. Saria has one that she uses on occasion, it has a slight curve to it like an S only a bit shorter on the bottom. The top of it curves into a vortex with an emerald that glows in accordance with her power and emotion as the eye of the storm. This is used by the more spiritually gifted women. Custom weapons are not uncommon and often unique. They range from hidden blades to dual Reavers to blades bows (the bow itself is a blade) to hook swords to literal claws and fangs, there are many different styles way to many for me to remember.
In my experience fighting alongside them I have seen the proficiency of their hand to hand combat techniques, they are fast agile and unpredictable, excellent ambushers. I have seen a group of forty kill one hundred and fifty soldiers of the borderlands (the woods outside the sacred ones). I saw the same group kill two hundred raiders in the Hyrule field. Needless to say I was impressed by such prowess from an archer war band, I will go as far as to say that they COULD fight at one third the level of a moderate male soldiers capabilities. In essence the men SPECIALIZE in hand to hand, while the girls simply use it. Nothing wrong with that, all are equal in the brotherhood. What they lack in hand to hand they again MORE than compensate for in archery besides the males WILL be nearby.
I think that is enough about our society for now, back to the story at hand. She smiled and ruffled my hair, she must have noticed me staring. "Saria?" I asked I was exhausted and I knew she could tell by my voice. "Yes?" she said with a comforting smile. "What is this symbol for?" I asked pointing at the Tri-Force on the back of my left hand. She looked a bit surprised, it must have been because it was glowing. "It's the seal of the royal family of Hyrule, it is symbolic of the Tri-force" she said calmly smiling all the while. "You have it because you are a special little boy, and you are meant to do great things that will help a lot of people. You'll go on long adventures, see many places far and wide, learn all kinds of new things, and even meet cute little girls your age (she said THAT part in way she knew would embarrass me)" she sat down at the foot of the bed as she said all of that, she had a loving smile and a calm relaxed rather loose posture (it worked by the way I turned a light shade of pink).
I smiled and stared into her eyes again, she was kindest person I knew and she would always look after me. She pulled out a small ocarina, it was a light pink but it wasn't really bright, it was kind of dull actually. She started to play a lullaby that she had always played for as long as I can remember. I went into a trance like state the world around me seemed to be filled with a blend of white and a faded looking light almost translucent yellow, she had her eyes closed and I was enthralled by the swinging of the bangs of her soft green hair. I felt at peace and I started to sway, she opened her eyes. I noticed that they were a brighter green they were even glowing. She smiled and played the last bit then stopped, she gently took my left hand and gently swept her fingers across the back of my hand. I hadn't noticed that it had glowed brighter while she was playing. I felt a weird tingling all through my body, I felt good. It started to grow more intense and was coming from the Tri-Force. Saria smiled and changed the motion to more of something that you would do to tickle someone. It worked very well, I couldn't help but laugh and shift back and forth. She did it a bit faster and it spread from just my hand to the rest of my body. I laughed even harder. I was moving a lot now. This went on for a few minutes and then she finally stopped. I saw a devious smile come across her face and I got worried (I definitely had reason to be).
She started to tickle both of my sides, I laughed and tried to protest but it failed. Her smile broadened and I could tell she was having fun. I tickled her back which made her almost squeal but I knew where she was really ticklish, I kept one hand on her side and the other went to her thigh. This continued for several minutes and we were both happy again. The light rain mixed with joyous and (Saria's) giddy laughter was a sound I loved. I eventually got flipped onto my stomach on the center of the bed she pinned my hands in the center of my back with her left knee as she pinned my legs at the calf with her right leg.
I couldn't help but feel embarrassed after all I was just in the shorts I would sleep in. I didn't really think about how underdressed we both were until just then. I'm sure I was blushing, she started to giggle and my face felt hotter. "Oh Link" she teased drawing out my name, my whole body felt hot. "AWWWWW you're so cute when you blush!!!" she said it in a sort of flirty light hearted way. I was always really shy, I could barely talk to Saria, then again almost every boy in the village was the same way with her. I lived with her so that made it easier but the others girls would always talk to me like I was a little kid. And they were always so sweet so of course I got embarrassed and then I would hide behind Saria, she would of course make me stand in front of her and hold me there. It pretty much all went downhill from there. I didn't mind it though I mean I felt happy and loved I was just . . . embarrassed.
She got off me and then sat to the right of me cross legged with her back against the wall. I was still lying down and I happened to be looking that way and saw up her skirt it was just a bit too short and I only saw a little bit, I turned red again and looked the other way. I heard her giggle, "Link how am I going to take you anywhere if you keep embarrassing me" I knew she was just teasing me so I sat up and sat like she was. She actually was blushing a little, but I knew her well enough to know she was more flattered than actually embarrassed.
"Link I unlocked the Tri-Force within you, and as ambassador to the Royal Family of Hyrule I have to appear with you in court" she said this in an almost light hearted way but serious enough that I would understand the importance. "This is very important Link, it's the start of a new adventure" she was more joyful this time. "But remember Link people in the city are more . . . . sophisticated, SO use the manners I taught you and we should do fine." the way she said this was mocking a teacher the way a child would, she almost sarcastic and very playful. "And remember Link be especially respectful around the King and Queen" she smiled then added "oh yeah they have a cute daughter who is your age" I gave her an embarrassed look and nodded. "So be on your best behavior Link" she gave me a playful look while adjusting her night gown, I turned red and buried myself in the pillow. I got the message.
She tickled the back of my neck then flipped me over. She ran her fingers through my hair then said "go to bed soon okay Link" I nodded cuddling up to her, she pulled me in close to her chest and held me there. "Hey Saria" I whispered very calm. "Hmm" she inquired almost humming, I looked up to see her looking down at me with a questioning smile. "Since I am going to work for the Royal Family I have the thing on my hand right?". "uhmhmmm" she said somewhat unsure of where this was going. "We'll I was wondering if you had one too?" my eyes were closed now and we were both on our sides facing each other. I noticed her tense slightly I opened my eyes to see her thinking about something, more debating really.
She sighed "well yes I do Link" she seemed a little embarrassed and I didn't get why. "Oh, well where is it" I asked with a curious innocence (which made her a bit more uncomfortable). "It's on my back Link" she turned red in the face. "oh" I felt a little embarrassed. "Well there are a few things on there with it that I will have to show you anyways, I was gonna wait until we got back from Castle Town but I suppose it would be better to show you know after all it would help what you will hear there make more sense" she sighed again then cleared her throat.
She moved towards the center of the bed and sat back to him, she was sitting upright with her feet next to her hips. I moved the pillow out of the way and sat cross legged at the head of the bed. Her face was red and when she looked over her shoulder she gave me an embarrassed smile. She cleared her throat and then she . . . lifted her night gown. I saw markings like tattoos on her back they were for each alliance of the Royal Family. The night gown was bunched up near the top of her back. So she pulled her head through the tight neck of the gown and kept it on her arms and covered her front with it. She looked over her shoulder to see my blushing face looking at her back (actually looking at the tattoos mind you). I started at the top and looked at each part for every tribe, it was organized like a web that branched from the Royal family at the top down to the alliances and so forth. It was a true work of art a tribute to the kingdom it stood for. Think of a painting of a scene with royalty amongst the people in their capital and that was the representation of each kingdom, it all blended together so that it looked like one people of many races. I kept going until I got to her lower back were the tattoos ended, I noticed then remembered the gown was ALL she was wearing. The tattoos literally ended right at the bottom of her back so I accidentally saw her ass. She turned red all the way down her back and I politely looked away (also red). She cleared her throat and then I heard her slip the night gown back on and tap me on the shoulder. I looked over to see her (still red) looking at me. She sighed then said "Link uhm . . . thanks for not staring, I really appreciate it and it was a very respectable thing to do". She smiled then hugged me "You're still cute when you blush" she said affectionately. I really did enjoy seeing her but I didn't want to be rude or embarrass her so that's why I looked away. I wasn't perverted as much as curious. She laid me back down cuddled up next to me, and hummed softly in my ear until I was almost asleep. She sat on the edge of the bed behind me, I fell asleep to her softly singing that ever so familiar lullaby while she stroked my hair.
AUTHORS NOTES: the part with her adjusting her skirt while saying to be on his best behavior is a reference to him accidentally seeing up it, this is more to embarrass him but also serves to reinforce her intended lesson.
Also the general lay out of the house is similar as it is in the game with a few modifications. The house is a bit larger than it was in the game with more furniture, yes it is still a circle design and the bed is flat against the wall though, it's a weird house huh. Also the stairs lead straight to the wall where they split then go up some more where they stop and form the second story. Which is an indoor wrap around balcony that has its furniture arranged against the wall, two single guest beds, a chess board by a window, a few pantries and book shelves and her master bedroom. It was the biggest part with a double bed with the head board against the wall in front of the biggest window. She has her favorite books and a lantern on the bedside tables on both sides. Her armoire to the left against the wall, she had a desk against the rail in front of her bed that overlooked the rest of the house. Her bed area was right above the front door. The bottom floor served as the main room with a small table in the middle and everything around the edge of the house, the kitchen more bookshelves and pantries another guest bed symmetrical to Links and another chess table. There was some other sophisticated furniture as well as a small chest at the foot of Links bed that served to hold ALL of his stuff. His bed is the most comfortable and soft, she likes a firm mattress while his is a down feather bed. She will sometimes share his bed with him if she wants a softer one. Everything was of course wood and very elegant and fit to entertain guests from high society after all she was an ambassador. All the books were sophisticated as well, Link was raised to be very neat so there was no mess around his area, he had his own bookshelf which had a lot of books about adventure and other such things as well as poetry and music theory. They're well above his ages reading level though. He also keeps his ocarina that is identical to Saria's there, he ALWAYS has it on him so I won't bother retyping that every time he goes somewhere. This is his memento of Saria and is easily one of his most cherished items.