Sorry about the lack of updates. I've been busy with work and also playing online games. Nervously Smiles Also, chapter 11 had been done for a while, I just haven't edited yet until now. More nervous smiles Anyways, I have part of chapter 12 done if not a majority of it so I'll be posting that very soon. Now on going on to add more with the Zelda Arc!
Chapter 11: Harvest Festival Opening
Link laid about his room tired and wiped out. He had already eaten dinner at the small restaurant which was expanding to outside picnic tables to prepare for the rush of people. He turned and grabbed Midna's cloak that was on his nightstand near his bed. Covering himself in the dark shroud, he laid comfortably until he felt a heavy weight seem to come upon him. There Midna laid on his chest with him under the cloak, her hair all down and flowing. She wore the necklace of shattered rupees upon her head like a tiara. Link gasped blushing as her hair brushed his face and shirtless chest. All he wore was his sash and pants and felt bad since he was unclean. But Midna too looked uneasy. Her pale skin seemed duller than usual and the rune marks on her body didn't glow. Then he looked again, she was wearing a whole entirely different outfit. The top part had looked the same as always of her chest being rounded very well by the cloth as it connected to her arms. But she wore a large purple sash with white cog looking symbols on it as a thin but strong string kept that sash together and a long skirt that covered her legs more than her usual skirt. Also he noticed that one arm had a long sleeve tied to her upper arm as it too had wonderful designs of white petals.
"Midna?" Link asked a bit shyly holding her arms.
"Mmm… Sorry for the sudden intrusion," Midna said tired.
"What's wrong?" Link asked.
"The Moon Festival in the Twilight Realm was a hit though it's still going on. I told my people I need a quick rest as the matches still went on," Midna said breathing heavily, "During our Moon Festival it is customary for our people to go against each other in magic duals. My last match I almost got knocked out of the ring. It's simple shock blasts and small spells that we use but you have to implement combat as well. I didn't block a hit in the stomach after blocking a magic spell which was close to my face."
She began to grumble on seem to nod off. He held her close playing with her hair not sure how to feel or what would happen if somebody walked in. But both were exhausted and dozed off.
Link awoke as the shroud of a black cloak was on him. The sun shined brightly and he shielded his face as he could hear people. He reached the cloak to put it on his face but he looked down and gasped. Midna was still in the light realm.
"Midna!" Link exclaimed holding her shoulders.
"Mmm?" She murmured her answer to just turn her head in another direction away from him.
"Midna, it's passed twilight morning here!" Link said.
Her eyes opened quickly and she sat up as her hair gracefully fell into place as she twisted her head to look outside his window. Her hair had grown longer down to the mid of her back from what he could see.
"Oh no," She whispered.
"What're we going to do?" Link asked worried for the princess and her duties.
"Well luckily in my realm my next turn isn't until a bit when the moon sets when it is twilight evening here. I can go back just hopefully my people don't find it odd that I'm gone," Midna said tapping her cheek. She looked at him as she knelt on his bed and he sat with her. "Is today your world's festival?" Midna asked curiously.
"Yeah," Link bluntly responded. It seemed to become a now reoccurring trait in his honesty where he'd be just blunt about everything.
"Let me hide as your shadow and every now and then let me come out and try some of the strange treats that your world has to offer," Midna said with a sly smile, "I promise I won't cause problems."
Link gave a sigh nervously knowing he'd have to take care of her as it would be a futile attempt to keep her just inside the house all day. He nodded at her and she pinched his cheek.
"Now don't look so glum, what could be the worse that would happen today, whoop, I already hear somebody coming!" She said as she melted into a very reflection of him cast on the ground.
"Don't get stepped on too badly," He whispered.
"Oh please I feel nothing in this form," A shadowed Midna responded as her eyes were the only thing that showed as she stood next to him, "and to everybody else they see your shadow on the ground even as I stand like this, they have no idea."
"LINK!" Colin said rushing in.
"Yes?" Link said looking over.
"The Princess Zelda is here and she's upset with you!" Colin said.
Link's eyes dilated and he dashed off as Midna faded into his shadow. Link grabbed a shirt he left hanging on the second floor as he was met with an angry Zelda who climbed up wearing her dark cloak looking at him.
"Link!" She said upset.
"Zelda!" Link said surprised as he finished getting his shirt on.
This is getting good but I better keep my powers down, Midna thought to herself.
"Link, I had sent you a letter asking you to come to the castle. I was asking if you practice to be my escort for the opening when I royally come in and am announced," Zelda told Link.
Link bit his lip realizing he had never opened the letter.
"I-I'm sorry you highness," Link said bowing low.
"Well not to worry, we can fix things… It's a simple task but I hope that your legs will not lock on you," Zelda said hiding her face as Colin watched on. "Young Colin, can you relay a message to my guards waiting outside that I'll be coming back soon and not to worry and to not attract attention?" Zelda asked him kindly.
He gave a proud salute excited that the princess herself asked him to do something. "Yes your highness!" He exclaimed surprised and ran off.
"Now, where were we," Zelda said pulling back her hood. She took out from her cloak a royal blue tunic with blue Hylian runes on the sleeves. "You must get dressed into this after you clean yourself and wait for my dressers who will come and help you into the formal armor. You will just be riding with me in a carriage that several Hylian Guards will be carrying…"
Zelda stammered on as Link gasped realizing how much he had missed in her time of needing him, which made him guilty that she rushed just to have him close to her since she felt most comfortable with him after their travels.
"Yes My Princess," he said taking bowing on one knee as he dashed off to the bath house.
He bathed quietly by himself with the door closed. Sitting in a large tub filled with warm water he sat cleansing himself of sweat, dirt, and other muck as well as using bath oils and soaps to rinse his hair and body to make himself look clean. Midna appeared had her back turned in to him in her shadowed form.
"I intend to take my cloak back today," she chanted looking out the only window of the bath house.
"Only if you can get it away from me," Link muttered splashing water on his face.
"I will," Midna said turning putting a hand on her hip.
She paused to see Link turn to look at her as water dripped from him. His hair began to look blonder since it was clean. Trying to avert her eyes away from him she grabbed a towel and threw it at his face. Link let it hit as he held it to dry his face off.
"Toss me another," He asked.
She threw another one at him as he caught it and wrapped it around his waist. The steam of the room still rose high as he dried himself off. Then changing into the formal tunic and boots he looked at it as he patted the hat and placed it on his hair.
"Done?" Midna asked.
"Yeah, just about," Link responded nodding at her as the steamed cleared to show him looking as handsome as he's known for.
"Good, let's go," she said dissolving into his shadow. "Oh, and I think you better give her this," Midna said taking out a necklace tossing it up.
He caught it realizing it was one of the necklaces he was supposed to give. Luckily it was shaped differently than the one he had given Ilia.
"Hey, Link," Midna said reappearing as his hand was on the door, he looked over his shoulder at her as she leaned against it, "Is Zelda really your princess?"
Link blinked confused. "Of course, she's the princess here in Hyrule, I have to serve her," he said.
Midna had an expression as to feeling unsure whether he was really that dumb or blunt. He gave her his natural hero smile and she shook her head fading back into his shadow. Link ran back to his house climbing up to open it surprised. There stood two well groomed gentleman and three women. All grabbed him as a beautiful red chair made of marble awaited and tossed him in. He shifted trying to get away but it was no use. The women began by taking off his hat, combing his hair, and tying what long parts were left in a fine ribbon of dark blue as the other lady shaved any off hairs on his face that he didn't when shaving. Afterwards, a light brush up of make up to make his face smoother than it had appeared. He coughed bothered once the ladies were done in fixing him up and the two men grabbed him by the arms making him stand. One was shorter than him as the other way tall with a snooty long nose. The ladies pushed a large treasure chest where it was opened. Link was about to jump over and run away but the men grabbed him making him stay. They took out a long white cape with golden runes and the symbol of the Triforce that had the traditional bird wings and claw symbol. They clipped it on as shoulder pads of gold and silver that had the royal symbol on it as well were placed on his shoulders and both men grabbed his arms placing over the dark brown gauntlets he wore, gauntlets of the very same metals. Then to his feet they clasped on the boots matching armor with designs of their goddess's gift and placed a belt that held a shining sword. It was almost a replica of the Master Sword but set in silver with gold instead of the strange mystical blue metal it was really made of. Link felt like he couldn't move, it was almost as bad as the rupee draining armor with out rupees. Stiffly he was escorted out where stairs were suddenly brought up to the edge of his house. He walked down as Colin and Talo passed by with candied flower petals. Both saw him and couldn't help but to gawk. Colin snickered as Talo was impressed. The children bickered as to how it looked as he stiffly walked off with the ladies and the two gentlemen. In the spring area, he saw it all and her. Zelda stood there in a pure white dress with the golden symbols. She smiled kindly at him and motioned for him as twenty guards were lined up.
"Ahhh…," Link stammered holding the necklace in his hand. He was beginning to get nervous as he knew she expected him to be with her. She tilted her head as he held his hand out to her going down and kneeled down on bent knee. "This is for you," he said nervously.
She opened his hands to reveal that the necklace somehow transformed into a golden necklace with the Triforce symbol and a center of a diamond which began to shift colors. Zelda looked at it and smiled. Somehow she knew what it did but not where he got it from.
"Is this a proposal, my sir? A necklace that tells me how you feel?" she said with a shy smile.
He looked up nervous that she knew. As long as she didn't ask where he got it from things would be fine.
"It's a notion of admiration to you, dear Princess," he said feeling like as if somebody was whispering the words to him.
"Rise," she told him. She placed it back in his hands and turned lifting the back of her long hair up. Today her hair was tied beautifully in a large bun with strands of braids falling down from the back. He carefully placed it around her neck over the other heavy necklaces she wore. It began to shine a bright purple. Zelda smiled and curtsied as he bowed in return.
Their ride was being prepared. Five soldiers each held a leg of the carry bout carriage that's legs struck our horizontally as two large wheels were on the side which made it easy for them to carry but the soldiers had to be in sync with their march and strength or else it will fall off balance and the princess and her escort will fall. Link followed the direction of one of the shorter gentleman to slowly lead the princess to the cart where he was supposed to help her in. In his dense of moment, instead of carefully lifting her in, he put his hands in a motion for her to step on it. She looked at him strangely and did so as the ladies were trying to stop them waving their hands.
"Ah!" She gasped then giggled as she rested herself on his shoulder and her carried her in.
Zelda giggled at his country bumpkin politeness as he sat next to her on the beautiful seats of marble and white cushions. He patted his lap looking left and right and touching things in the open carriage in which people will be able to view them in. He touched the long curtains as out of nowhere the taller of the gentlemen slapped his hand to stop. Then he began to poke at the flowers that were on the edges of the float, one of the ladies smacked his hands. Link frowned getting moody at this. He was getting nervous, he couldn't help but to try to avert his fear with curious attention. Zelda held his hand gently and looked at him. She nodded her head for him to calm down.
"It'll be alright," She told him gently.
He smiled in return and they heard the captain shout, "HUP! READY?! HUP-ONE, HUP-TWO, HUP-ONE, HUP-TWO, HUP-ONE, HUP-TWO! READY?! MARCH!"
The soldiers who carried the cart on their arms marched in step as people were gathering in the main village. There, people watched as the people cheered watching the entrance of their hero and their princess. Flowers rained from left and right as people threw them. Both waved to the crowds as both the villagers and the towns folk got together to watch. Beth and Ilia were on the front of the line on Link's side. Link nervously waved as he saw his fan girl crowd give a loud squeal and sigh with hearts obviously admiring him popping out. He saw Beth and Ilia in the crowd and waved avidly at them happy to see them.
"Sure is looking handsome," Ilia said smiling admiring him dreamily almost as if he were in slow motion passing by her about to reach for her.
She began to reach out dreamily until Beth interjected with, "It's like they're getting married." Beth looked dreamily on as Ilia's dream state crashed and shattered before her.
"Wow… they… they do make a good beautiful couple," Ilia stammered shocked to see how clean and suave he looked and how gorgeous he and Zelda looked.
Both got up to the stage where Link felt the heat now. The gaze of all the people glaring at him as hot as the rays of the sun that glimmered off the sparkling armor. He burned in pain but felt something more burned on his hand. He looked down and the ring on his hand had the gem broken into two halves. He was shocked to see the results. A magenta colored that swirled with dark red on the upper part as the bottom part was the brightest and furious of greens he had ever seen. He was so very wrong as to seeing the green from Ilia as green as it was before, he couldn't explain the burn it singed on him of her infuriating emotions to the scene as Zelda held Links arm close to her and she tried her best to keep her head straight to look while walking but every now and then would stroke his arm with her other hand or lean her head gently into his neck. Trying to make an attempt, he tried to look at Ilia but then turned his head. The gaze that she had given was as hot as the volcanic Goron Mines.
Zelda smiled to everybody as Link turned with her to face the crowd. He felt a faint of breath and felt his knees buckle. But for a brief moment he felt like everything paused. He felt a strange energy go into him as he swallowed what fluid he had in his dry mouth. The boost was invigorating as he tried his best to show how he's the courageous hero that he is. He kept repeating in his head as to how he's a hero, a man, and needs to show it.
Zelda let go of Link's arm as she curtsied to him. Having a delayed reaction he bowed to her quickly to rise at the same time as she did. Zelda came to the podium and began to give her great speeches of wisdom and inspiration. He stood behind her trying his best to keep attention and awake as every now and again he'd bend his knees a bit making sure that they didn't lock. It'd be a horrible sight if the Hero of Hyrule suddenly collapsed on the stage. But Link felt shocked as he thought he heard what she mentioned to the people. Deciphering her words was hard as she used it so vaguely but it sounded like as if she were talking about the Twili.
"There are a many of us here today: Populace from the Hyrule Castle and City, those from over seas, Zoras, and Gorons. We all gather here today in celebration for the Ordona Province's success in fueling our economy and their living with their fine products in produce and goods. But today, I want to further our reaches. Reaches that people have not come to known. Nor in this world or realm will they know! I want us, as beings, to come together. All from different places, origins, and dimensions to come together for one purpose, and that is peace. Through peace and acceptance of each other's differences and cultures will we be able to achieve the unthinkable. Peace with our own beings but of shadows. Soon enough we shall open trade with a foreign place. Let today be a start of trading amongst ourselves in peace and in future preparations to have peace with others who we will consider part of us…"
Zelda, when she finished completely with her speech, curtsied to all as people threw more flower petals as Link held his arm out formally for her and she took it as they walked off the stage. Still feeling the burn of green on his finger, he wondered if that part of his finger will actually turn green at the rate of fierceness it burned.
Zelda smiled as they rode the carriage back to the area in the town. "Link, today is going to be great but I have a special favor to ask," she said looking at him. He looked at her and nodded kindly. "I want to experience common folk celebrations and my advisors agreed to let me have this day as so long as you keep me safe. Will you?"
Link nodded his head with his smile that always guaranteed his word. Clapping gladly, she jumped out of the carriage once it stopped and ran off feeling free. For a moment, watching her, people could've sworn she could just spread wings and fly like the angel she is. Link gave a sigh with a smile as she ran off with her assistants chasing after her and scolding her that she is not a child anymore. Though she argued back that this is one day of freedom from her busy schedule is to inspect how her people and others work. She will inspect them while being under cover to bring an understanding for herself and to her council when it is brought up about the populace. They reluctantly followed her to change her into some the lowly folk clothing, in their eyes as her dressers.
Right then and there Link unclasped all the armor that they had placed on him and left them in the cart. He jumped out and dashed for his house where he decided to change into some comfortable clothing as well. When he got home, Midna appeared from his shadow and walked around in her shadowed form downstairs as he climbed ladders to change. He placed on his Ordon Ranch hand clothing except with out the extra arm as he left on his gauntlets.
"I think you better bring these," Midna said as she floated from out of his basement. She carefully placed the double-clawshot, the spinner, the slingshot, the gale boomerang, and the bow with his quiver on the table.
"You really think?" He asked.
"Seeping from your shadow to wander about a bit, it seems there are the 'fair games', that they call it, here today that would require such instruments. Are these 'fair games' tests of endurance and strength?" Midna asked as she looked at one arrow brushing her fingers against the feathers.
"In a sense some are, but most are just for fun," Link said.
"Fun? I shall see what your people consider 'fun'," She said as she melted back into his shadow.
"Midna? Are you ok? You sound a bit irritated," Link asked.
"… I'm fine…" was all to her response.
He placed all the items into his magical pouches and placed his Ordon sword and Hylain shield on his back. Then he found his bag of rupees and placed them on his side as well. He heard a gentle knocking at his door and opened to see Zelda. The strange thing was that it looked like as she was trying to be a tomboy. She wore baggy vanilla pants that were puffy but tightened around her calves with simple wooden and leather sandals adorning her feet. Then to keep it up, she had a red sash that was tight around her waist. Her top consisted of a tight vanilla halter top covered by a blue vest that only had one long sleeve as the other was cut and a hood. He smiled at the sight as it actually suited her well since her bust wasn't so large. Ilia and Midna definitely had her beat in that area but he didn't dare say he was looking nor comparing. She took out a red scarf and placed it around her neck to hide the necklace that Link gave her as well as part of her face. Her hair was tied in a long pony tail that dragged down and flowed with the long scarf.
"Let's go!" Zelda said excitedly as the golden cuffs on her wrists shined in the light as she grabbed his arm.
"Whoa! Heh, ok," Link said as she pulled him making him stumble a bit.
Both climbed down the ladder and raced off to enjoy the festival.
AN: The outfit she's using is kind of an older version of Tetra's. And later if I feel like it, I'll try to draw out Zelda and Midna to show what they're wearing to better get out what I'm thinking. Sadly since I don't think my description is so effective.
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