Hello everybody! Sorry for the long delay in getting this chapter out. I had to deal with the end of my summer job which involved a lot of work. Then I had to deal with some of my classes giving me a second midterm on top of getting us to start studying for the finals two weeks from now. And on top of that, I ended up getting sick and drugging myself out on cold medicine! Yes, I had quite the crazy past two weeks on my end.
But yeah, all of that except for the finals has come to pass. As such, I was literally able to whip up this chapter within the past three hours in an attempt to catch up on the chapters I'm behind on. That and I did feel bad for having made you guys wait a somewhat long time for no reason. So sorry again for that, and I hope this chapter makes up for it.
Speaking of long waits, the next couple of weeks might show no action from me. As I mentioned earlier, finals is starting in two weeks for me. As such, my time should be concentrated on studying rather than writing new chapters for this story. So just as a heads-up for you all, I might not post any chapters in the next couple of weeks. If I do, then consider it to be a minor miracle on my part!
Now that all of that's out of the way, I'll leave you alone to read the new chapter. Just let me quickly give a shout-out to all of you who reviewed my last chapter. Thanks again for it, and please continue to send me your constructive criticisms to me. Not only are they morale boosters; they also help me to see things that I might've missed but you caught or anything that you might be confused on.
OrangeStreakedStar: Yeah, I figured the dialogue at that part when Link ran into Xagrun was going to be a bit confusing as to who was talking. I will admit that I have a slight hard time making sure all the talking is clear when there are three or more characters in one scene. Writing it out in script form is easier, but that wouldn't look nice in this particular written application. Still, I'm glad you liked the chapter overall despite that. And yes, that masked man is creepy, a trait that I accidentally put in while writing the fight scene that ended up working!
Skittycreamstar: Oh yeah, Ghirahim-like character here to spice things up now! But seriously, I felt it'd be good to show the masked man having that kind of temperament and fighting style like Ghirahim did. It was meant to help show that not only could he be a calm and calculating man but also a rightfully feared fighter. The fact that he's so much more adept at magic than Xagrun was also meant to help show just how much power he really has. And like I mentioned to OrangeStreakedStar, I unintentionally made the man seem more sadistic during the fight scene. I honestly didn't mean for that to happen, but it ended up working out all while I was writing off the top of my head. And about all your assumptions about what's going to happen next, just read on.
etao: Even though it's just two simple words, thanks for the review and your show of support for this story. To be honest, I'd prefer maybe a little bit of criticism or what you feel would make the story better. Still, thanks for your support, and I hope you'll continue reading my future chapters!
Chapter 10: A Collective Reprieve
It had been a couple of days since Xagrun decided to transform Faron Village into the Faron Prison Camp. All of the villagers were now prisoners, young and old alike forced to work on menial tasks from dawn to dusk and during the times they were to sleep. The village gates were now heavily guarded by the king's men, each one heavily armed and prepared to kill any who dared to either sneak in or out. It was meant to be a sign to all other pockets of civilization in Hyrule, and all took it gravely.
Princess Zelda was doing all she could to stop the hemorrhaging of morale because of the grim change. While she did meet the necessary requirements to become the kingdom's queen, she ceded that right much to Xagrun's chagrin. While her ability to help her people would have been easier with the powers of a queen, she was not about to stoop so low as to accept a title that had been bought by her father's blood. As such, the people were still voicing their support for her despite her now understandable lack of adequate action.
Unfortunately, Xagrun had more authority over her and often shot down every chance she took at bettering the lives of those in the prison camp. Every written decree she passed to him was promptly rejected without a second glance. The only thing he could not stop was her willing appearances to the prison camp and making minute changes to ensure the proper treatment of her people. Right now, he was in his royal quarters at his desk where Zelda's latest proposal for better conditions sat staring up at him.
"Did you want to see me, my liege?" the cloaked man's deep voice asked right after entering the room. His mask was now repaired from the fight he had with Link and rested comfortably over his face.
"Yes, there are a couple of things I wish to discuss with you," the usurper king replied, now abandoning his work and concentrating his attention to his shadow. "First, I want to hear your opinion regarding that farm boy. You told me you let him live and instead let him become a prisoner. I understand I only asked you to take care of him, but letting him live was not what I had in mind. How sure are you that it is a good idea?"
"The boy hardly has any skills worth mentioning over," the hooded man stated. He had subconsciously brought a hand over to his right forearm. "He might've managed to get a hit on me, but that was merely dumb luck. His fighting style is shoddy and crude, so he doesn't have any chance to fight out of the heavy security you placed around Faron Village. And without the refinement of his skills from a professional, there's no way he'll ever be able to fight his way out. I wouldn't be worrying too much over him."
"But what about his supposed mark of the Triforce? You said that I needed to find all three pieces in order to obtain ultimate power. If he really has the Triforce of Courage, then why aren't we proceeding with the ceremony this very moment?"
"Because we still require one more important relic before the ritual can commence. The Triforce of Power you have is nothing more than proof of your lineage at best. The one who had the original, Ganondorf, is still very much alive. He's merely imprisoned within the Realm of Existence and Nothingness and thus still has the original mark on him. Yours is merely a cheap imitation so as to keep it tied to this realm. As such, your presence at the ritual isn't adequate enough for it be completed. We need something that can work as a representation of Ganondorf for it to work. So unless you want to be killed by the ritual itself for being the false bearer of the Triforce, I suggest you exercise patience."
"…You know, you always have a way to keep me from power every time I take one step closer to it," Xagrun replied, suspicions dripping heavily in his voice. "I'm starting to think if you're merely wanting to have it for yourself."
"Believe me when I say I have no want for such power," the hooded man calmly said. "I merely want to bring its presence into our world. Merely having it exist in this land will be enough to incite changes. Its power is so grand; the land around it will morph into a reflection of the hearts of people near it. So what need do I have for its physical power when I can merely stand near it and watch it change the land by itself?"
"The more you say you don't want its power, the less convinced I become. You may not want the power itself, but you just wanting to witness it is more than enough for me. And even if that weren't the problem, your actions have proven suspect to me. You never once introduced to me the entirety of this plan of yours. You only tell me what I need to know when I have to do it. I find that rather distrustful, and I don't like untrustworthy people. As such, your services are no longer required. I no longer require your aid."
"Are you sure you want to do that, my liege? You know that I'm the only one who knows of and is willing to indulge to you the intricacies of this ritual. Like it or not, you will need my help later on."
"Your 'help' is appreciated but no longer needed," the king countered. "I've done my own research in this castle's royal library. I know exactly what it is I need to find for the ritual to work. I've also learned how it should be done so as to summon the Golden Power. I've learned more about the process than you've told me of. That's why I no longer trust you and ask that you leave my presence!"
"…Do you really think that you'll be able to do all this on your own?" the cloaked man asked after a moment of silence. "There have been some points I've mentioned about the ritual which were never mentioned in any book. And need I mention that I helped to steer our plans down the right path whenever it strayed? Whether you trust me or not, know that you still need my help."
"I beg to differ on that. However, I tire of this discussion. Leave and never grace my sights again."
"… … …Very well. If that's what you want, then I'll honor your wishes. However, I'm sure you remember how to contact me should you ever change your mind." The cloaked man then turned around and left Xagrun's chambers.
"…Humph, good riddance with him!" the king grumbled as he returned to working on the papers on his desk. "Now that he's gone, perhaps I'll finally be able to progress with this at the pace I want."
-A Few Hours Later-
Link awoke to a dull pain in both his chest and pain. Wincing as he struggled to sit up, he was momentarily blinded with the sun directly in his eyes. It was only after he adjusted to the light did he figure out he was outside under the protective shade of trees. However, they along with the unusually cool air were not akin to the area around Faron Village.
"About time you woke up, Link," a light baritone voice said before he could have a chance to take in his surroundings. "I was starting to get a bit worried."
Startled, he started searching for the person. He soon found him a few feet towards his left, a man sitting next to a pot over a dying fire and cutting his black hair with a dagger. He was dressed in a simple brown tunic over a black long-sleeved shirt and pants. Were it not for the cleanliness and care that was put into maintaining the clothes, he looked like a commoner. That and his sharp blue eyes looked like they were constantly scanning the area.
"Who're you?!" Link demanded as he tried to get up. However, he only ended up hissing at the sharp pain he felt in his stomach.
"I suggest you don't move around too much," the man bluntly explained as he continued to cut his hair. "You were pretty beaten up when I got to you. That man you fought really did a number on you, a couple of broken ribs and some internal bleeding. If I didn't get to you when I did, you'd be in worse shape if not dead."
"…Wait a minute; you're the guy who handed me the princess's letter the day before the village was under siege!" the teen exclaimed as he suddenly realized who the man was. "I'm guessing you don't work for Xagrun then?"
"If I did, then I would've left you and your brother to rot in what's now a prison camp. I swear; it was an effort just to get you out much less your talkative brother."
"Connor's here?" The teen immediately went into protective mode the moment he heard mention of his brother. He started to frantically turn his head in every direction to look for him but saw nobody. "He isn't hurt or anything, is he?"
"He's been busy asking me about a lot of things while you were knocked out. If that's how he usually acts, then he's as fine as he'll ever be. I got him gathering us some firewood right now, but he should be back soon. He wasn't too happy when I had him doing some work, but threatening him with no food changed his mind quick."
"Yeah, he's definitely fine if he's acting like that. I guess that means the both of us owe our lives to you."
"If you want to owe it to someone, then give it to Princess Zelda," the man coolly replied. He then put his dagger into its sheath resting on his hip before brushing a hand over his hair to let any stray strands fall away. "It was because of her foresight on this matter that she had me come to you. I was to escort both you and your brother out of Faron Village."
"She had you help us get out of there?"
"Of course she did. She's not going to let the one whom she knows to be the descendant of the Hero of Time to just die. However, I was expecting more of an easier time in getting you out of there. I last thing I thought of doing was lugging your unconscious body around. Just made things harder, you did. Still, I couldn't believe the beating you took. The story Connor told me about how you saved him makes it sound more unbelievable."
"You're talking about that masked man, aren't you? Who is he? He acts like a regular person but fights like a monster."
"Monster is putting it lightly. Many consider him to be a demon. Nobody knows what his name is, but all have agreed that he should share the namesake as that of a Demon Lord from years past. He's known as Ghirahim."
"Tch, I've heard stories about that demon guy," Link stated. "I used to tell it to Connor when he was little to scare him. If I remember, he's supposed to be some crazy good swordsman who likes to mess with his combatant. I always added in the part that he hides in the trees in wait for that one person who dares to wander from home at night. I guess if you think about it, that masked man does have some similarities with that demon."
"Except that the Demon Lord was said to be just a sadistic monster," the man clarified. "When it comes to the man you fought, he follows a strict code of honor and never breaks it. He always makes a deal with those he feels completely inferior to him for freedom in exchange for harming him just once. His skill with his hands is unparalleled; very few have ever crossed paths with him and lived. The fact that you're here now despite having significantly less skill with a blade than his past opponents is in itself a miracle!"
"But how's he able to not only block my sword with his hands but also catch it? He said his gloves help prevent them from being sliced up, but there's no way he can't feel anything. I mean, I was really swinging at him! Just the speed at which the sword hit him should've been enough to really bruise his hands."
"And that's why they named him Ghirahim. He's definitely a human, but yet he's able to fight in exactly the same manner as the Demon Lord! I can only guess that he trained vigorously in the ways of the Sheikah as their fighting style is of both fists and sword. Still, the technique of catching an opponent's sword is extremely difficult to master. All who attempted to learn it have failed to acquire the hand endurance needed to withstand a heavy strike."
"Who're the Sheikah?" Link asked with a raised eyebrow. Amazingly enough, he found himself comprehending to some degree most of what was being thrust into his head. "I've never heard of them before."
"I'm not surprised you don't know. Only members of the Royal Family and their close affiliates would have knowledge of them. I suggest you listen carefully, because I'm only going to say this once.
"The Sheikah are a group of people that came to exist a generation or two after Hyrule officially rose as a kingdom," he explained. "Because the realm was so young, times were very rocky. Neighboring kingdoms weren't comfortable about having a new realm so quickly rising in power. Rumors were going about that the entire land was planning to go to war against us. Some went so far as to say that there was an assassination plot against the entire Royal Family. Because of that, the Sheikah Tribe was born.
"The tribe consisted of Hylian soldiers who excelled in both combat and reconnaissance. By establishing their existence, the Royal Family would then create an underground information network. Through it, they would be able to learn which rumors were just that and who within the neighboring kingdoms were a threat. Because of it, the king at the time was able to appease most of his neighbors' unrest through treaties that was of mutual benefit. Of course, he only knew of how to best appease them through the Sheikah Tribe's network.
"Over time, the group has changed from simple reconnaissance to also protecting the Royal Family from a distance. They are always informed of when they are to leave the castle, and the Sheikah take care to guard them from harm without being seen. They've produced their own fighting style that they still use to this day. Their sense of duty is just as strong as the day the tribe was first created!
"After the events of the Hero of Time, they've been told the story regarding the Triforce," the man said as he now looked at Link. "Because of their excellent ability to gather information, they would easily know who has the Triforce of Courage as that brand is the most elusive to find. In so doing, the Royal Family would then do their best to protect this individual in case the time arises that he must fulfill his role as legend dictates. They would offer him a position in the Royal Army while the Sheikah provides him with all the training necessary to make him into a fine warrior. All of it was for both his protection and preparation for a battle that only he could win.
"After Ganondorf's defeat many years ago, there hasn't been a moment when the Hero of Time's descendant's aid was needed. But now that Xagrun has become king of Hyrule, it seems as though Princess Zelda's premonitions were correct. Everything that has happened thus far has in some way coincided with the legend of the Hero of Time. At this rate, he will surely make his presence known once again! Because of that, it now falls upon my shoulders to train you, the next Hero of Time, and prepare you for what's to come."
"W-wait; you're going to train me on how to fight against a man who nearly took over the kingdom?" Link asked once the explanation was over. He slowly got onto his feet and was met with little pain for his efforts. "I'm still not sure if I believe in the legend! But even if I did, I don't think we have that much time for me to learn. Xagrun's probably already trying to find out how he's going to be summoning Ganondorf from that nothingness realm he was taken to. And what makes you qualified to teach me about fighting, anyway?"
"Oh, did I not mention it already? I'm a member of the Sheikah Tribe." Link's mouth practically fell open in shock when he heard this. "I've grown up learning everything there is to know about Hyrule's legacy. I've mastered all of my training and am considered to be one of the top ranking warriors of the tribe. Because of that, Princess Zelda not only instructed me to get you out of Faron Village but to also train you in the ways of the sword. I think that's more than enough qualification for me to be teaching you."
Instead of answering, the teen merely nodded his head. The shock was slowly leaving his system, and his head was starting to hurt from the information bombshell he was given. He had to sit back down to keep from falling down.
"I think that's enough talking for now." The man then went back to the now dead fire and took a ladle that was in the pot. Taking a bowl resting on a nearby stump, he poured the contents into it before taking it to Link. "Right now, you should be concentrating on getting better. It'll take some time for your wounds to heal, and I'd rather you get better soon so we can start our training."
"And I'm guessing what you're giving me is going to help me heal faster?" the blond asked as he accepted the bowl and looked at its contents. In it was a liquid that looked almost broth-like with some herb pieces floating on the top.
"It's a medicinal soup meant for internal injuries. The recipe is from an old Sheikah woman who specializes in medicine. Most of her stuff tastes terrible, but I managed to make this one taste better. Trust me; it tastes fine and works wonders!"
Deciding to take his word for it, Link brought the bowl to his lips and took a tentative sip. When the medicine hit his tongue, he immediately noticed that it tasted almost like a simple soup he sometimes made at home. Realizing that the man was right about it tasting good, he went and took a bigger sip. The effects were quickly taking place, and he could feel his sore ribs dulling down slightly.
"…Oh, I never caught your name!" Link said once he finished the medicine. "I don't think training's going to work well if I don't know what to call you."
"Yes, I suppose a name would be good if we're to be together for a while," the man said as he took the now empty bowl and put it back on the stump. "My name's Gimari."
"Good to meet you, Gimari," the teen greeted with a smile. "And thanks again for helping me and Connor out."
"Alright, Gimari; I got your stinking wood for you!" Connor's familiar whining tone suddenly cut in. "I don't know why you're making me get it every time. Do you know how heavy these logs can get? I almost fell on a rock when I tripped…! Link!!!"
Without any warning, the sound of logs falling to the ground combined with the crashing of a body and loud yelps of pain. Some birds that were some distance away took flight upon the loud combination of noises.
"Link, are you okay? How you feeling? You've been out for a while now, you know?"
"Get off of me, Connor!" Link exclaimed in pain as his little brother was busy hugging and crushing his bruised ribs. "You're hurting me!"
Instead of complying, the young boy merely squeezed tighter and forced out of the blond another yelp of pain. Gimari merely looked at this happy reunion with an amused smile while pouring out another bowl of the medicinal soup. After all this brotherly-induced pain was over, he was sure Link would be begging for another dose to help ease his suffering.
Well, that's it. Is it just me, or is Link asking more questions with every new chapter that comes around? I certainly didn't intend for that to happen, but it's understandable since everything is kind of happening all at once. I'm sure I'd be blowing up with questions if I were in his position. Oh wait, I kind of am since I'm creating this story off the top of my head and have to come up with suitable explanations that make sense!
In regards to the history of the Sheikah, I thought it'd be cool to have my own twist as to how they were formed. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think the game really expanded much on the history of the group apart from saying they were the protectors of the Royal Family and all that. So I just hope that you all liked to some degree my interpretation of their past history.
And I also tried to add a little bit in regards to Wind Waker. For those of you who remember the wonderful soup that heals everything and has two servings, that's how I modeled the medicinal soup that Link was drinking. I figured that he was going to need some medicine to heal his injured ribs and whatever kind of internal injuries he suffered.
And about the new character I just introduced. I'm sorry if his name is too interesting or random. I've been busy playing the HD remake of Final Fantasy X, and there's a character named Kimahri in it. I liked how the name was sounded out, and I figured I would try to put it in for this character. On that note, "Gimari" is pronounced just like "Kimahri" but with a "G" sound instead of the "K". If you don't know how to sound it out, just look for a clip on youtube of Final Fantasy X where Kimahri's name is being said. Being that an audio aid exists, there's no need for me to go sounding it out on here like I did for Xagrun's name.
With all that said, I hope you liked this chapter. This was meant to be informative and a wind down from the crazy action that was packed into the last chapter. Please don't forget to leave a review telling me what you thought of it and what, if anything, I missed or you believe I missed. Also, anything that you feel I could do better is also appreciated. After all, I'm sure there are some of you who don't believe that this is just some amazingly perfect piece of work which it obviously isn't. Until the next review on this or any of my other stories everybody!