Two days had passed by and the three didn't interact with each other.
You could say romance can be a life saver for one. And you could also say romance can destory one's life. Zelda wasn't sure which one she was.
She was fine with listening to the handsome poet's poems. He'd constantly shower her with compliments, fit her in great poems and she might have even let him feel her up a bit a couple months ago, but she could safely say that he didn't attract her like that.
As good looking as the poet was, he was awfully rude to lower class people. He strongly believed that they weren't equal and that they shouldn't be able to sit at the same table as those who are royalty. He was also very rude to Link as he himself wasn't royal blood, and that he shouldn't be the chosen one for the blade that seals the darkness. It seemed like everyone felt that way about him...
It wasn't until he had a taste of his own medicine when Everett walked into the library merely passing by. He didn't acknowledge the poet nor Princess. He had an annoyed expression on his face, she had heard the King had set consequences for him because he had been disobedient towards her father. His look did him well, because people moved out of his way as he quietly walked through the library hoping to get to the exit. Bilo didn't let this go by as he stood up with a smug look.
"Well, well." Bilo, the court poet called out. "If it isn't the esteemed, strongest man in the all of the lands." She saw the annoyed gaze that Everett wore on his expression as he stopped in front of the poet. "I heard you and Master Revali got into it a few days ago."
Everett said nothing but gave him a glare. The cut on his eye from Revali's talon had been almost healed, and he had turned his attention back to the library exit.
He went to walk away but Bilo stood in front of him, blocking his path. She had seen Everett's brow furrow and her heart immediately pumped harder due to the anxiety. Everett always had that look when he was ready to slam his fist into someone's skull.
Bilo wasn't a small man, in fact he had quite a bit of lean muscle. The gray hair that had been beautifully wrapped in a bun made it obvious he was shiekah, and he had mentioned being trained in such arts and mastering them. He had a muscle mass like Link but taller, but it was nothing compared to the man who makes gorons look like fodders in physical strength. She blushed, she had compared him to Link and she had only ever seen Link with his shirt off once. Everett had been silent again, she had seen his features contort into further annoyance. He looked like he was in the worst of moods today, and the court poet egging him on didn't help.
"It's quite interesting," Bilo pried. Everett's stony faced didn't waver, and his body posture shown clear sign of anger and discomfort. Bilo chuckled. "Someone like you, climbing the ranks to be able to be able to be in the same room as us, the Princess no less. It's...preposterous."
Bilo hadn't gave Everett the chance to speak when he went to rant again. "It's preposterous, that someone like you, who hails from a stable no less is currently in a room full of royalty. I mean, do you currently have one drop of royal blood?" Bilo challenged.
"Get out of the way." Everett quietly warned. He had sidestepped him before Bilo pressed a hand on his chest rather roughly stopping him in his tracks. Oh no...
With a hint of angry, Everett looked at the poets hand that was placed on his chest.
"Now," Bilo started. "The real question is, how does the blood of a peasant get to meddle with royalty?"
She seen Everett sigh, then as if he was faster than what her eye can see, he gripped a handful of Bilo's shirt and roughly slammed him into a shelf of books, which a few of them had collapsed due to the sheer impact. Zelda couldn't keep the gasp within her hidden as the impact of Bilo being slammed into the bookshelf had rung across the entire library.
Bilo had gripped his arm frantically but Everett's strong arm didn't budge at all when the poet had began to beat on his bicep with his hands.
"I said stay out of my way," The words that came from Everett's mouth was filled with deadly anger and annoyance. Multiple guards had wrapped themselves practically around Everett's arm to free the bard. Bilo had began to pound his fist on his arm again but to no avail, the poet was still stuck in the strongman's grip.
"Someone get this brute off of me!" Bilo had growled out.
It was a few seconds later before Everett let go of Bilo's shirt and began to walk away now with guards behind him in case he wanted to go back for more. He hadn't acknowledged her the entire time, which wasn't surprising.
She knew that the strongest man in the world held disdain for her. After they're last argument when he claimed Revali attacked him, he had told her that he'd rather be executed than let her help him. But then again she didn't blame him for thinking of her like that. She hadn't been the kindest to him nor Link.
But if he was cold towards her then she had no choice but to return the mutual feeling.
"What an absolute brute," She heard the poet say under his breath as he fixed himself. It had been refreshing to see Bilo get a taste of his medicine, how he treated those who were considered below them. It was many of the reasons she wasn't interested in the shiekah poet.
All the Princess could do is sigh.
"Stupid fuckin' poets..." Everett muttered. Of course he'd get into another incident before he faced the King for his consequences.
He didn't acknowledge Princess Zelda the entire time that fiasco went on, and he was glad she said nothing to him. He was glad in that regard. He didn't talk to the Princess or Link in two days, and he frankly hadn't been at the castle those two days. Just lying around at the inn wondering what would happened if he were to die in this battle against the calamity.
Would he wake up in the hospital bed? Next to his brother, as if everything was a dream? Would he cease to exist and finally die off? Or would he wake up in another video game that would torture him?
He walked down the what seemed like an endless hall in the castle. Today was supposedly duel day for the castle. Where participants take part in a big duel match. A select few of swordsman all around Hyrule were apparently participating. And no other than Everett himself, whom the King registered himself when he saw the list for himself. It also had Link's name printed a few names under his.
He didn't care really, he wanted to get this over with and be down with it. Maybe go back to the field a couple miles away from here and lay there until his body decays.
He turned sharply down the hall and had almost bumped into a smaller frame of a woman. She had roughly collided with him dropping her papers, cursing herself.
The white haired woman looked awfully familiar. "I'm sorry about that, ma'am."
"No, no I wasn't paying attention-" They had both spoke at the same time before he looked at her face and instantly recognized her as the woman who was trapped under that tree, Purah.
"Well, didn't expect to run into you." Purah said, picking up her papers and folders. Everett had picked up a folder that fell out of her tiny hands before reaching over and handing it back to her. She took it gracefully with a grateful nod. "It seems you've made quite the reputation for someone who is a "nobody.""
Everett flinched slightly. "I guess winning a strength competition does wonders, huh?"
Purah caught on to the sarcasm before she had brushed a strand of white hair behind her ear. "So, I heard you're being punished."
"Well, me and the King had a disagreement. I got a little snippy with him. I'm meeting with him today to face my consequences." He explained.
The smaller woman's face turned into an unreadable one before she looked him up and down with a puzzled look. "Well whatever it is, let's hope it doesn't hurt you too much. I've heard some great things about you."
Everett raised his eyebrow. "You...have?"
Purah nodded. "I've heard many interesting things about you. How did that whole you and Revali thing play out?"
Everett grimaced. Is that going the new story around here? He sighed before looking away. "He attacked me. I was defending myself."
"I knew Revali disliked Link, didn't think he'd have a problem with you though. The Princess described it as if you were going to crush him with a large boulder."
Guilt had ran through Everett's blood. He didn't mean to take it that far, he wasn't even half way near him when he came to his senses and was going to drop the boulder, before that voice had rung through his ears. He sighed, of course the Princess would tell someone.
Purah chuckled. "I'm one of the Princesses close friends, she tells me everything."
"Figures." He said.
"Hey, at least you stood you're ground. Everyone knows how ridiculous Revali can be."
He scoffed. "Ridiculous is an understatement, the dude shot bombs at me." Purah nervously chuckled before he fixed the papers and folders in her grasp. She had brushed another stand of loose hair out of her face. She did indeed have a beautiful face. He shook his thoughts and straightened his posture. "Well, I have to get going before I face another confrontation about being late to the King's meetings."
He nodded curtly not giving her the chance to answer before he walked away, he quite a distance from her when she had called his name again. "And, Everett?"
"Yeah?" He had looked over his shoulder.
"About the Princess..." Purah began. Oh lord. "I ask that you have patience. She is a good person, and she will come around to appreciating you and Link. She's...very misunderstood."
Misunderstood? Everett wanted to laugh, but he didn't. He had shrugged his shoulders before he had turned his head and kept walking. It had taken him a couple minutes to navigate his way back to the sanctum where the King was present. He was a little tired of this, meeting with the King what seemed like every hour of his waking existence here.
He had finally made it to the sanctum where none other than King Rhoam had been sitting, with his chin resting on his curled fist. His gaze had stared right into Everett's soul who kept the same fiery gaze. Everett slowly walked towards the center of the room before he bowed.
It was quiet for a couple of moments before the King spoke. He didn't sound happy nor angry, like he was neutral.
"You are to report to the coliseum by noon. There is where you're punishment take place. You will also fight in the dual today, so don't think you'll be taking a rest after you're punishment."
Everett fought the urge to grit his teeth. "May I ask, what my punishment is?"
The King didn't answer for a moment, making it seem like he wasn't going to budge, but he opened his mouth to speak. "You will fight a monster, a monster of my choosing. Barehanded. No weapons, no anything. You will be thrown in a life or death situation."
So great, another life or death situation. Because he's had almost none of those the last few weeks of being here. He sighed mentally before nodding towards the King, and bowing. He went to turn around on a heel, but not before the King had stopped him.
"And Sir Everett?" He asked, making the younger man turn his head to face him. "I'd be prepared if I were you. This will be no easy task to prevail over."
Everett simply nodded before turning around. Well...how bad could it be?
The coliseum had been filled to the very last seat, and it was variety of races. From white hylians, to black hylians, to gorons and rito, to zora and gerudo. Of course, he was reminded this was basically the equivalent to a sports event in his world. Where all the fans would gather to watch whatever sport was being played. Boxing, football, soccer, etc.
The dual had been going on already, and he had yet to participate. Link had been in already, eliminating quite a bit of few swordsmen. Everett had just been standing in the little tunnel that led to the middle of the coliseum.
He felt irritated, he had been sitting here for almost an hour watching other people fight. At least let him join in, he looked at the King who had a solemn look on his face as he watched two random swordsman go at it.
The much taller one was getting the upper hand, before he ultimately knocked the shorter competitors sword out of his hands and pointed it towards his neck. He had submitted, before another roar from the crowd erupted.
"Sir Everett," King Rhoam had called out. Everett looked at the King. "You're next."
Everett's heart pumped. The monster he had to fight barehanded couldn't of been that bad right? Bokoblin? Lizalfos? Moblins? He had already bested them in hand to hand combat basically tossing them around. He walked out of the tunnel to a roaring crowd, they must've remembered him from last time. The coliseum floor had been empty of nothing, unlike how it was filled with heavy lifting material last time he was present him. Only thing that he saw in sight, was another dark tunnel that now faced him on the opposite side of the coliseum.
It was stony silence when Everett had made it to the middle of the stadium, he was now full on facing the dark tunnel that had been opposite of the tunnel he came out.
He heard...a growl? Then a sudden boom had came from the dark tunnel before he spotted red eyes. No...he wasn't dealing with an average Lizalfos or Bokoblin. He heard a couple of strong footsteps before what stepped out had made him almost shit his pants.
A Minotaur like figure came out do the tunnel, it's muscles literally popped out of it's arm. It heavily breathed, bloodlusted. He seen the many men try and keep it controlled with the chains wrapped around his neck. Barely able to restrain it.
"Sir Everett...this is you're major test of strength. Kill the Lynel...or it kills you." He heard King Rhoam say. Everett had been too busy trying to keep his composure. The Princess, Impa and Purah had even attended. How the hell was he going to make it out of this one?
The chains clicked, and the "lynel" had broken free. He had back handed the row of soldiers away before roaring and running full speed at Everett. Everett had braced hisself and closed his eyes, only to be met with force which felt like a mountain.
He was tossed back into the lynel's grasp and roughly thrown into the wall. It had roughly grabbed his shirt throwing him to the ground before it had gripped him back up. It had casually slammed him into a pillar, breaking it entirely. He felt his body strain as the lynel merely picked him and tossed him across the dirt coliseum.
He landed flat on his face before he quaked. He felt a strong hand roughly grab the back of his shirt before being flung into a wooden wagon that had been sitting in a nearby corner, he crashed into it decimating the wagon into pieces that collapsed on him. He felt his anger surge very quickly, almost to the point where he couldn't control it anymore. He felt himself wheeze, and then he quaked violently. He heard more footsteps overlap each other that sounded like thunder and a roar before he had bursted from underneath the rumble with a cry of his own.
The lynel had charged at him with it's horns ready to dig in Everett, but it was met with a now equal force. Everett had roughly grabbed its horns, digging his feet to the ground he turned himself with force, before he slammed its head into the ground. He then tightened his grip, before tossing the entire lynel to the side. He watched it angrily recover before roaring at him. Everett felt his animalistic instinct kick in, and he instantly roared back.
The lynel swiped at him with its sharp claws, managing to dig on of them across his chest, ripping his shirt. He gritted angrily, before cocking his fist back and letting it smash into the lynel's face. It had stumbled back, before Everett had roughly grabbed it's mane and slammed it's head into the ground. He had did it a few more times, each time getting harder as the lynel's head snapped back multiple times.
He felt the lynel roughly grab him and toss him into the stone wall of the coliseum. It had cocked it's fist back for a wildly swing that Everett had thankfully dodged.
He punched the monster back with a fist of his own watching it's head snap back violently. He felt what felt like a stone wall smack into his face when the lynel manhandled him into the wall.
He roughly grabbed at the lynel's face desperate to keep it from getting upper hand on it. His fingers landed on it's right eye and he forcefully dug it into the monsters eye. With a painful cry, it had threw him to the side, before grabbing and gripping at its face. It was distracted.
Everett jumped up, before he let his fist collide into the lynel's side. He felt the force of his punch crack a few bones somewhere in the lynel's side, before he had wrapped his arms around it's muscular torso. With great force, Everett swung the monster to his side, slamming it into the wall of the coliseum, cracking it. It's entire horse like body violently cratered in the wall.
He then let an extremely powerful fist connect with the lynel's face again. The monster had been too busy clawing at the now damaged and pushed in eyeball to defend itself. It had wildly swiped at Everett in hopes of it's sharp claws connecting, but it had missed and Everett caught it's arm stopping it in place.
He then used his palm and slammed it up upwards into it's arm essentially snapping it. The monster had let out an even bigger cry and it had essentially backed away from the now stronger opponent.
It had roared angrily before a final attempt an an attack. It had scrapped it's foot against the dirt, before running into the direction of Everett who stood there.
Everett squared his feet, and caught the lynel by the horns again and flipped it over. He had grabbed its head, before basing it into the stone wall once again. He had sent a blow into it's ribs, powerful enough to make it double over. He let his fist swing in an uppercut motion, connecting with the lynel's face which had been doubled over facing the ground. He quickly let another hook land on the lynel's face before he cocked his fist back far and shook, before letting it slam into the lynel's face harshly. He felt the wall behind him crack from the power of the punch. He looked at the broken pillar that had been toppled over when it had thrown him into it. He marched over to it, grabbing it and he pushing it over his head. The lynel recovered, it had growled aggressively but was to slow to react to the baseball bat like swing of the pillar which smacked him in the face.
The lynel was knocked senseless, Everett had tossed the pillar aside and grabbed it by the beard and threw it to the ground. He had roughly grabbed it's head before violently twisting it. He felt sharp claws drag across his forearm forcing him to lose his grip. He grabbed it's mane again, before letting his fist dig into it's face again. He then now grabbed it's head before he twisted it wrongly, trying to snap it. He let out a loud grunt, hearing the lynel moan painfully before he finally felt the snap in his hands.
It had went limp entirely before Everett had let it drop lifelessly to the ground. The crowd erupted in excitement as Everett marched his way towards the King.
He stopped in front of him. "Throw whatever you want at me, King Rhoam!" He exclaimed at the King who had flinched at the harsh tone. "I'll keep coming back. Nothing you throw at me, will stop me. I'll win every time!"
The King smirked devilishly. "Nothing, eh? What about Hyrule's very own hero?"
He heard a slick behind him and it was none other than Link with a sword reading to engage in combat, he had his brows furrowed and his mouth straightened. The face he makes when he's fighting. Link had tossed the sword and it landed at Everett's feet. He looked at the clean blade before he picked it up and examined it. He hadn't gotten into a sword fight...
He looked forward towards Link, who had taken a stance. Everett felt his body almost become auto-pilot like as he made an stance he didn't even remember learning.
Princess Zelda leaned forward. She certainly wasn't expecting this. Two of the most highest esteemed warriors, ready to battle each other. But it had her entire attention. Both of them had looked like them been through hell, cuts, bruises and dirt smudges caked they're body as they both stood opposite.
Strongest Man in all of Hyrule vs The Hero of Hyrule.
Strength vs Courage...
Finally, Link and Everett are going to face off. On a writers note, I've seen a lot of feedback and I'm extremely surprised. I didn't expect a Zelda story with an OC would get this much love. I appreciated it. Until next time.