Chapter 19: Hylian District
The cable-car that took Zelda, Link, Professor Phosile, and Tera out of the Kokiri District arrived in the Hylian District by the time the sun went down. There, the Professor and his wife invited Zelda and Link to stay with them for the evening which they graciously accepted. On the way, Link saw a sign-post with a purple butterfly symbol that was the same as the one on the letter Agnes left. Immediately, Link went up to the door below the sign-post and knocked.
"What are you doing?" Professor Phosile asked.
"Delivering something I promised to a friend," Link answered. "I won't be long."
"If you insist, Link," Tera said. "My husband and I will go ahead and start preparing dinner. I'll leave instructions to our house with Zelda."
"All right," Zelda nodded. "Are you sure you don't need my help?"
"We've got it covered, dear, but thanks for asking," Tera responded.
While Professor Phosile took out a piece of paper and wrote instructions on it in pen, the door below the sign-post opened and Link stepped in. Inside, Link found himself in a room with shelves filled with Potions and a small tree in the center that had bugs flying in and around it. There was also a small staircase that led to an upper-floor that was partially hidden, but what drew Link's attention more was seeing Agnes standing by the door wearing the same clothes she wore at the grove.
"Grasshopper!" Agnes exclaimed joyfully. "I was just about to close up. Have you found my Golden Bugs?"
"A few of them," Link said and took out a handful of eight insects had collected at the various places he had been to including the Goddess Statue, the Woods of Wonder, the Kokiri Village, and the Ancient Grove.
With each insect Link presented her, Agnes recited different verses about each one. "Li'l snail, li'l snail, just once I'd like to take a bath in that slime...Li'l stag beetle, li'l stag beetle, your spiky pinchers are so sharp! They must feel so good...Li'l grasshopper, li'l grasshopper, I'd love to tickle your belly all day long...Li'l mantis, li'l mantis, if I had sickles like that, I could slice onions better…"
"What are those verses from?" Link asked as Agnes took the insects to the tree.
"My mother taught me them, which she learned from her mother before that, and so on," Agnes said, smiling as the insects ran around the tree shimmering in the fading light. "I like to think of them as prayers. You wish upon the insect, and the insect is blessed in turn."
"I see," Link turned to the door and said. "Well, I should get going. I'll be back with the rest of the Golden Bugs soon."
"Take care, Grasshopper!" Agnes said, and gave Link a new leather wallet filled with Rupees. "This is part of the reward I promised you. You'll get more once you have the rest of the bugs."
"Okay, thanks," Link said and walked out the door.
Outside, Zelda had her arms folded and was looking concerned.
"What's wrong?" Link said, noticing.
Zelda looked both ways and then she ushered Link to walk with her. "I want to show you something. These were posted earlier today."
From the fold of her sash, Zelda produced two posters. One depicted Zelda while the other depicted Link. Below each poster was the word 'Wanted' and a huge sum of Rupees listed.
"We can't stay here, Link," Zelda said. "And going to Professor Phosile's place is out of the question now."
Link's eyes widened. "But shouldn't we at least explain to them what's going on? I'm sure they'll understand."
"And risk endangering their lives too?" Zelda snapped, stopping in her tracks.
"Well, no, but if we take the Fused Shadow fragment with us they'll think we stole it and report to the authorities. By sticking with them, they could help us not get caught and we'll be helping them find the Fused Shadow fragments."
"Haven't you forgotten why we're here in the first place?" Zelda exclaimed. "Midna send us to collect the Fused Shadow fragments in exchange for helping us escape Skyloft."
"Do you really think she'll keep to her word?" Link responded cautiously. "How do we know she's on our side when she might just be using us to distract Ganon from whatever the Twilight Wolves are planning and then toss us aside when we're no longer useful to her?"
"I understand your concern, Link, and I've thought the same thing myself but I'm willing to take that chance if it'll get us off Skyloft. So for now, let's just concentrate on the task at hand and get out of the Hylian District before a Clockwork Policeman spots us."
Just as they were about to run down an adjacent alley, Link and Zelda noticed the same triangle-shaped symbols that appeared on their hands back in the Twili District appear once more. They glowed very brightly, and with that came a sense of dread.
"It's him," Zelda muttered and took Link's hand. "We have to go!"
Before Link could question her, Zelda dragged Link into the adjacent alley, down the street on the other side, and into the Hylian Park which was the only acre of green land in the entire District. There they took refuge by a hillside and hoped they were't being followed. Unfortunately, someone else was there too.
"Skull Kid!" Link exclaimed, drawing the Master Sword out once he's spotted the scarecrow boy leaning against a tree near the top of the hill. "What are you doing here?"
"I was just passing through, Link," Skull Kid said casually. Then he noticed Zelda and a creepy smile crept across his face. "Well, if it isn't the Heir to Ganon herself. She's a lot prettier than I imagined."
Zelda gave Skull Kid a disgusted look and frowned. "I'm no Heir to Ganon, and never will be. Now are you a friend or a foe?"
"Neither, dear lady," Skull Kid said bowing. "I am Skull Kid, troublemaker to all except myself and my two friends."
"Hi, Link!" cried Tatl as she appeared from under Skull Kid's hat.
"It's been a while," replied Tael. "We thought you would've left Skyloft by now."
"I thought so too, but we've been duped into helping the Twilight Wolves," Proxi admitted.
"Proxi!" Zelda shouted causing the Fairy to lower slightly.
"How interesting," Skull Kid said rubbing his chin. "Did Midna convince you or did you join of your own free will?"
"She said she'd get us out of here if we helped her," Zelda answered briefly.
"With what, exactly? She has plenty of allies outside the Twili District who are willing to help unless…it has something to do with the Fused Shadow fragments?"
Neither Link or Zelda said anything.
"So I'm right," Skull Kid said smiling mischievously. "Do you have one with you?"
"Why should you care?" Zelda said, tightening the strap on her satchel.
"I'm just curious," Skull Kid answered. "If you'd like, I could collect the Fused Shadow fragments for you so that you could present them to Midna sooner and get out of Skyloft quicker. What do you say?"
"Is there a price?" Zelda asked.
"None," Skull Kid replied.
Zelda thought about it for some time as the street lamps glimmered. Then finally, she said, "We appreciate your offer, Skull Kid, but we'll be fine on our own."
Link looked from Zelda to Skull Kid who merely shrugged his shoulders.
"Suit yourself," Skull Kid said as he walked down the hillside opposite from Link and Zelda. "I was just trying to lighten your burden, though your friends will probably suffer for your actions."
Realizing what he meant, Link and Zelda exited the park. They soon came to the house where Professor Phosile said he lived only to find Clockwork Policemen dragging him and his wife outside by force while a tall man in a black suit and cape stood nearby.
"Did you find anyone else?" asked the tall man in a menacing voice that made Zelda shiver.
"Is that Ganon?" Link asked.
While Zelda nodded, the Clockwork Policeman shook its head.
Next, the tall man parted his cape slightly revealing a sinister face with dark skin and hints of fiery red hair underneath the black top-hat he wore. He approached Professor Phosile and picked him up by the collar of his shirt. "Where are they?"
"I…don't know who you're talking about," Professor Phosile said firmly.
"Don't lie to me, Professor!" Ganon snapped, gripping Phosile's shirt-collar tighter. "A citizen reported seeing you with the False Hero and my Heir on a cable-car back from the Kokiri District. What were you doing there?"
"Just sightseeing," Professor Phosile replied. "Is that a crime?"
"Sightseeing?" Ganon said mockingly. "You don't strike me as a man who typically goes 'sightseeing' unless there's something valuable to be uncovered. I know you are up to something, Professor, and I intend to find out what it is. Take them away!"
Once Ganon let go of Professor Phosile's shirt-collar, the Clockwork Policemen dragged him and his wife to a horse-driven wagon with a barred cage at the back of it.
"We've got to do something," Link muttered reaching for the Master Sword. "He won't get away with this!"
"Link, don't," Zelda said, staying Link's hand. "If you attack Ganon now, he'll overpower you in an instant. We'll find a way to rescue the Professor and his wife, but first we need to find the Fused Shadow fragments for Midna."
Link gritted his teeth, but then he reluctantly let his hand fall. Following Zelda out of the alley they were hiding in, the two took a series of side-streets while avoiding Clockwork Policemen. Eventually, they came to a dead-end where the Skyloft Rails were partially lit above them. Using their Talon Clasps, they hooked themselves onto the rails and went flying out of the Hylian District in the dead of night.
To be continued…