Even with the dry air and fires burning, it took the ocarina into what they considered was morning to fully dry out. Link picked the small instrument up, and blew into it again. Literal music to his ears, the note came out crisp and non-tainted by water. "It's working."
"Good, just get this over with."
Link pressed the mouthpiece back to his lips, and started to play. It wasn't a long song. Which is good because he only had one hand to play with. The small instrument started to glow with a faint green light. "Here, hold this." He held it out to Knil, who wasn't too sure at the fact that it was glowing brighter. Nevertheless, Knil took it without question. The green light started to spill from the spout, as Link grabbed Knil's other hand. The light started to swirl around the two swordsmen, until it had completely enveloped their bodies.
All either of them could see was that bright green flooding their vision. When it finally passed, spinning back into the ocarina, they weren't in the desert. The crisp smell of wet grass, and foliage reached their senses. There was no sand whipping over-head, or heat from the desert.
Knil looked around in disbelief. "Are we in a forest?" There was a tree hanging over their heads, and a broken staircase leading through a stone archway. His eyes landed on a stump that seemed to pull at the back of his memory. He couldn't fully explain it, but the sight of it made him sad. "Is this an illusion?"
"No. We're really here." Link slipped the ocarina back in his pouch. "Come on. It's not too far. There's just a few obstacles, but nothing you can't handle."
Knil followed, letting his eyes linger on the stump a few seconds longer. "How'd we get here?"
"It's a warp song. Sheik taught it to me."
"Sheik?"
"Well, I guess, Zelda." He shrugged. "Same difference. It's just a faster way to get around. Though I prefer to use Epona."
Knil didn't understand all he'd just said, and doubted he even wanted to. "So, what kinds of obstacles are there?"
"That for instance." Link stopped at the bottom of the staircase, pointing to a large bokoblin with a club, glaring at them from the other end of the corridor. "They're strong, but not very smart. Think you can take him out?" He drew his sword, holding it out to him. "After all, I'm in no condition."
"Heh." Knil smirked, pushing the sword away. "I won't need that."
"You sure?"
"Oh yea." Knil squatted, testing the strength of his legs. (He should have enough for this.) Straightening up, he took off towards him. The bokoblin raised its club at the sight of Knil coming at him, and slammed it hard on the ground.
"Watch out for the shock-wave." Link called after him.
Sure enough, a wave of debris flew up, traveling a b-line for him. Knil dodged to the right, then jumped up to avoid the club swinging at his head. He flipped over the bokoblin's head, kicking him square in the back of his skull. The bokoblin fell forward with enough force to shake the ground even back to Link.
However, that little maneuver seemed to sap the strength from Knil's legs, dropping him to his knees when he landed.
The tip of Link's sword hit the ground from his grip going lax. He whistled slowly, impressed, as he started down the corridor towards Knil. "You gotta teach me how to do that."
Knil managed to push himself back to his feet, when Link reached him.
"You alright?"
"Yea, I'm fine." He dusted his pants off, looking back down at the unconscious bokoblin. "I don't ever remember these things being here."
Link shrugged. "I think they came around to protect the Forest Temple. As for where they came from, I have no clue. I've probably taken out hundreds of these things, but they always seem to come back." Knil had headed up to check around the next corner, when something clicked in his brain. "Wait, did you just say 'remember'?"
"So, where can we get healed around here?"
"There's a Faerie Fountain up that ladder."
"Alright." Knil checked back down the corridor, to see that the coast was clear, and headed out to start up the ladder. "'I'll head on up, then help you up."
"Ok." Link peered down the corridor and headed out, ready to follow him.
A nearby growl caught Knil's attention. He looked down the corridor where another bokoblin had just rounded the corner. It's eyes reddened on him, as he lowered his spear and charged. Knil jumped down from the ladder, shoving Link back into the adjacent path. Link hit the ground hard, trying to save the force from hitting his arm. "KNIL!"
It was a lot faster than Knil was expecting it to be, and before he knew it, the tip of the spear lodged itself into his ribs. He screamed, from the pain, at least until he realized it was going to fling him off the end of its weapon and into the pool of water at the other end.
Link ran out, stabbing the bokoblin in the back. When it had fallen to its knees, from the pain, he whipped his sword around, slicing the bokoblin's head clean off. Some of the blood sprayed on his face, but he didn't want to worry about that right now. Link dropped his sword, running down the corridor, and dived into the water after Knil. He dug through the cloud of bloody water, trying his best to swim down one handed. Knil came into view a ways down, one hand holding the wound on his side, the other clawing at the water. His legs kicked violently, but it wasn't doing much good. Link grasped his arm, causing those panicked red eyes to snap up at him. He pulled him close, making his way back up to the surface. Link broke air first, pulling Knil out to lean against the shore. He gasped for air, coughing up spouts of blood with each breathe. "Why… why is… this shit…. every-where?" He wheezed between coughs.
"Don't talk." Link pulled himself from the water, grabbing Knil's arm to pull him out too. He slung the arm around his shoulder, helping Knil to his feet. Knil slumped heavily, the blood loss draining the rest of his strength. "I'm sorry, I should have warned you sooner. I knew there was another one around here, but I hardly ever run into it." Link adjusted his grip, making his way around the ogre, and on towards the ladder. "Do you think you can hold on to me?"
"I can try." Knil coughed again, grip tightening around his neck. Link pulled his arm from the sling, throwing it around Knil's body, using his other arm to try and stabilize him. It wasn't a very strong hold, but it should hold for long enough. Link made his way up the ladder, slowly, for the most part just hoping that his hand wouldn't slip under the weight. When he finally made it to the top, he put Knil over first. The dark-haired Hylian had passed out, laying limp against the grass. His dusty skin tone had paled with the blood-loss. Link slumped on the ground, trying to catch his breath. One look at his counter-part, and he forced himself up, pulling him to his feet again. "Just hang in there, Knil. You'll be alright."
Seeing as the opening wasn't big enough to compensate both of them, Link dropped Knil through the hole first, before following himself. The spell around the entrance cushioned the fall. Link breathed in deep, before pulling Knil up again, and made his way to the fountain. The little pink faeries flitted excitedly when they saw him approach. They always seemed happy to assist the young Hylian any way that they could. Link knelt in the middle of the small pool, letting the faeries do their job. He flexed his hand, feeling the strength return to his arm. Knil coughed again, moaning slightly, before his eyes opened. He scowled at the water lapping at his knees, but at least it was shallow. "This shit really is everywhere." He groaned again, pulling his arm from around Link's neck. The movement caused him to lose balance and fall to the side. His other hand went out to catch him, and the resulting splash sent a chill through his arm. He hid it well, though.
"You doing alright?"
Knil glanced over at Link, feeling through the hole in his tunic. The wound had completely healed up. There wasn't even a scar, or any resulting pain. "Yea, I'm fine." His eyes shifted up to the little faeries gossiping overhead. From the looks they were shooting him, it was a safe bet to say it was about him. Was he really that strange? "I'd say their healing ability was more potent than Ivan's but there are more of them." He laughed mockingly. "Guess it's the only way they can compensate for their inadequacy."
Yup, they were as temperamental as Navi. They started yelling at him all at once. All he heard were small snippets of, "We just healed you." and, "You ungrateful jerk."
Link waved a hand at the fuming faeries. "He's just kidding, girls. Don't waste your energy being mad at him. Believe me, he thrives on it." They were still huffy, but seemed to calm down.
"Who are you anyway?" One finally piped up again.
Knil just looked into the gaggle of faeries, and started to stand. "No one of real consequence." He wiped the water from his clothes in disgust heading back down the pathway. "Just a stray soul from the darkness."
Link just smiled, shaking his head as he stood, preparing to follow.
"Where's Navi?" One asked, flittering around his head.
"We got separated a little while ago. She's probably with the Gerudo." He started after Knil. "Sorry I can't stay too long, but I have to get back. Navi probably thinks I'm dead."
"Oh yes. That is bad."
"Good-bye, Link."
"Come back soon."
"We love it when you come and visit."
"Good-luck in your journey."
Knil rolled his eyes. They seemed more like a bunch of giggling fan girls than healers. Then again, I guess there's no law saying you can't be both. He looked at the rainbow portal on the ground, then stepped on it. A strong force lifted him back up and out of the hole. He landed on the grass, soon followed by Link. "They seem silly."
Link just shrugged, trying not to smile. "You'd be surprised how many people like me. Let's go." He climbed out of the indention.
Knil followed, rolling his eyes. "Somehow, I really don't doubt it. You're nothing but a Gary Stu."
"What was that?"
"Don't worry about it. How do we get out of here?"
"One sec." Link looked around for more of those bokoblins, before jumping down to retrieve his sword. He climbed back up the ladder, stopping next to Knil.
"You shouldn't leave something like that laying around."
"Where's your sword?"
…"Shut up."
"This way. If we go over top the maze, we can avoid the rest of the ogres. Then it should be smooth sailing till we get back to Gerudo Valley."
Knil quirked a brow at the statement. "Should be?"
"You should know it's not a good thing to assume something's going to be easy." Link took off running, and jumped onto the next landing. Knil started after him, and before the two knew it, they were racing to the entrance. Knil broke ahead of Link. He jumped off the last ledge and on through the door. "Knil, hold on." Link called, leaping from the last ledge as well. "You're going to get lost. Wait." By the time he made it into the Lost Woods, Knil was nowhere in sight. He sighed in frustration. "Great. What am I going to do with him? Let's hope he can find his way out." He twisted through the woods, following the way he remembered having to go through as a child. "If he doesn't find his way out soon, I'll have to head back in and look for him. Can't have him turning into a Skull-kid now can I?"
But when he made it out of the Lost Woods, he skidded to a halt in near shock. Knil was sitting on the edge of the small cliff, staring down at the children running around in the village. Link tried to catch his breath, looking from him, to the entrance of the Lost Woods.
"You're slow."
"How'd you find your way through there?"
Knil shrugged. "I dunno. I'd say it was luck, but I've never had much of that." He looked back at Link. "This is where you grew up, right?"
Link resolved not to worry too much about it, and moved to stand next to him, leaning over the small railing. "Yea. This is Kokiri Village."
"Seems peaceful."
"It is?" The sigh in his voice made Knil look up at him. There was a nostalgic look in Link's eyes that made him a bit unnerved.
"Do you miss it?"
The sad smile crossed his lips. "A little. At least back then I had a stable home to return to."
"Heh. Figure that princess of your's would give you a place to stay." Knil slid off the ledge, falling to the landing below. He turned back up to Link, his head nearly reaching the edge of the ledge. "It's the least she could do, right?"
"She has more things to worry about than that?"
"Pssht. Like what?"
Link jumped down next to him. "She has this whole kingdom to rule over."
"Then she could just let you stay in the castle." Knil made his way over to the next ledge, and kicked a foot over, letting himself drop.
"I don't want to live in the castle."
"How come?"
Link sat down on the edge. He shrugged. "Too stuffy. Doesn't seem like the kind of place I'd like."
Knil just laughed. "Is that so?"
Link slid down to where he was. "Don't laugh at me. I'm serious. There's too many rules to living in Castle Town. I prefer having my freedom."
Knil's mocking smile faded into the reality that he actually understood something Link said. "Is that so?" It was a strange feeling. Almost a sense of kinship. When Link turned to him, he looked down, kicking at a rock. "It's better than having to worship a tree, though." He sauntered out into the village.
Link rolled the statement around in his brain for a bit. "Hey. I didn't worship a tree." He ran after him. "The Deku tree was the guardian spirit of the forest. He protected us."
"Just admit it. You worshiped a tree." Knil glanced around at the children clambering around the small village. A strange ping hit his stomach again.
"I did not worship a tree. We still worshiped the three Goddesses. The Deku tree was just a medium for them."
"So you worshiped through the tree?"
"Yes. Wait, no. What?"
Knil laughed at him again.
Link's ears started to turn red. "Are you trying to make me angry?"
"A little bit." Two twin girls smiled at them and waved. Link waved back as Knil diverted his eyes to the grass running along the path. "Let's get out of here. This place is starting to cause a conundrum."
"What do you mean?"
Knil didn't answer, he just took off running towards the bridge that lead to Hyrule field. "(I didn't realize you could feel homesick… when you don't even have a home.)"
xXx
Navi was sitting on Epona's saddle, twisting Link's hat in her hands. Some partner she was. She couldn't even stop him from being sucked down the stupid hole. Her mind vaguely started to wonder where Ivan was. Her darker-side had seemed to have gone into seclusion since they'd gotten back, and she had no clue where she disappeared to. Epona was in a pen, grazing with a few of the Gerudo's horses. Navi gripped the hat in her hands, and flew down to her face. "So, what about you? Do you not realize your master is gone, or do you just not care?"
One of her dark eyes glanced up at Navi, then diverted back to what she was doing. The horse had acted concerned when they came back without him, but she seemed to be indifferent now. Navi growled at her, holding the hat out in front of her. "Here, sniff this and see if you can find him?"
Epona lifted her head slightly, and nipped at the green fabric. Navi pulled at the hat. "Hey! Stop that. This isn't food you dumb horse." Epona had continued grazing, when her ear twitched. She raised her head, looking out into the distance. Navi noted her actions and flew up by her head. "What is it?"
Epona didn't seem to want to answer. Instead, she turned around and took off running, jumping over the gate surrounding her pen. Navi flew after her. "Hey, hold on! Where are you going?" Epona ran straight out of Gerudo Village and on across the bridge into Hyrule Field.
"Come back here! I'm sorry for the 'dumb horse' comment. Please, come back." Navi cried. "I can't lose you too!"
Epona continued to run, her heart pounding with excitement and urgency. She knew that call, and knew there was only one person who could make it. Sure enough, she spotted Link at the edge of the forest and ran faster towards her master.
Link lowered the ocarina and smiled. "See, I told you. As long as Epona can get to me, she will. She has amazing hearing." He pocketed the ocarina as her pace slowed when she got closer. Epona rubbed her head against Link's shoulder, and he stroked her nose. "That's my girl. Did you miss me?"
"Yea, this is sweet and all, but what? Do you expect me to walk while you ride?"
"Don't be silly, Knil." Link climbed up into the saddle. "It's still a long way, I wouldn't make you walk."
He cocked an eyebrow at him. "Do you really think I'll fit up there?"
"You'll fit."
"So there wasn't one of those warp points closer to the desert?"
"Yea there is. But I figured you wouldn't want to go to that one." Link pulled his foot from the stirrup, holding a hand down to him.
"How come?"
"It's at Lake Hylia."
Knil froze, smacking himself in the head.
"Told ya."
"Shut up." He pulled himself up on the saddle behind Link. "Let's just get out of here."
"Ok." Link was trying not to laugh again as he grasped the reins. He slid his foot back in the stirrup patting Epona on the head, and nudged her in the side to get her to start walking.
Knil looked down at Epona's hooves. "I thought she was faster than this. Why are we going so slow?"
"Have you ever ridden a horse before?"
"No."
"That's why. I don't need you falling off."
Knil glared at the back of his head. "I'm not going to fall off."
Link shrugged. "Plus I kinda figured there was something else you might not want to do."
"Really now. And what might that be?"
"Hya." Epona sped up to a step just below a gallop.
Knil yelped, and threw his arms around Link to avoid falling off the back.
Link laughed. "That."
Knil cursed his lighter-side under his breath. "I hate you."
"I know. Do you want me to slow down again?"
Knil just growled. "It's fine, just hurry up. The sooner we get there, the sooner I can get away from you."
"As you wish. Hold tight." Epona stepped up to a full gallop, cutting across the landscape.
Knil diverted his attention by looking out over the landscape. The land of Hyrule was a lot bigger than he realized. He watched the castle fade into the background, the sun setting behind it. It was actually a breathtaking sight. He could see why Link wanted to protect it. "I have a question."
"What's that?"
Knil's eyes narrowed as if he could see the princess through the stone walls of the castle. "I get why you did what Zelda asked. The whole 'save the world' thing, but what about now?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, why are you helping the Gerudo? It's nothing that'll effect the fate of this world. It's a personal vendetta for them. You finally have a chance to say no, and not have to risk your life for something you don't have to do. I mean, what do they even want with the Spirit Oasis anyway?"
Link sighed. "First of all, I didn't really know how dangerous it would be to find this place. And I've already given my word that I would help."
Knil rolled his eyes at the comment. "Pfft. Circumstances change. They're thieves. They can understand that logic."
"I know, but I kind of have a personal reason for doing this myself now."
"Like what?"
"It's something Luith said to me. He said that I didn't know what I was getting into. Plus I got a weird sense while I was fighting him. He didn't seem to just be fighting over land. It felt different. Like he was trying to protect something."
"Protecting something? Like what?"
"I don't know. But that's what I'm hoping to find out."
AN: yea... srry, that's all i got so far. (wanders off to try and figure out how to end this story) ok, i do have a bit more, but still not too sure how i'm gonna end it... crap. really need to stop doing that. One of these days i'ma have rabbid fans with pitch-forks on my porch
