A/N: I have forgotten to say this earlier: The picture I have in use is from dA by an artist lychi and the picture's name is just simply Zelda. I'm sorry that I forgot to inform this important piece of information. T.T
Also, another note: I do NOT own the characters or places unless said otherwise. Nintendo has the rights. =P Honestly speaking, all I have is the idea for the story, few monsters, creatures and bit of changing the places. Oh, and couple of OCs here and there. ^^; I'm certain everyone can figure out which belongs to me and which doesn't. =)
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Summary: Link is having slight reminiscing at one late evening in the kitchen of the castle. Dark comes over when he realizes that Link's not in the bed. They have a short chat while sharing a calm moment.
Christmas Calendar: As at last year, the calendar will be only in DeviantArt. I can be found from there by same name as in here. It will be one Journal whcih I will update on daily basis. And the first is already out. If you don't want to comment in dA, you can do it in here or through e-mail. =)
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Enjoy the chapter! ^.^
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SITUATIONS FROM THEIR LIVES
CHAPTER 12: Kokiri Fruit
Link was sitting in the very dimly lit kitchen of the castle of Hyrule. He had his right elbow on the table with his chin in his hand. In his left hand was a mug of hot chocolate. Yet, it wasn't any of normal kind. It was made out of hot water, strawberries and Kokiri Fruit. The Hero hadn't been able to sleep even though the earlier day had been busy and exhausting. His Shadow, though, was sleeping surprisingly calmly which was the reason he had left as silently as he could from their shared room.
The chocolaty fruit in his drink was something that brought memories for Link. It was from his home forest and it also was the first thing that had gotten him into liking chocolates. The specific drink he had was one of the special ones which Saria had done for him. Link sighed bit heavily while keeping his big sorrowful gaze in the floor.
The Kokiri Fruit wasn't known by its true name. Usually people referred to it as "Zora's Delight" or "Goron Rock". This was because both races sold the rare fruit. The fruit wasn't any of easy to get and it cost usually more than one could afford. And it only grew in the forest behind the Deku Tree.
The Kokiris had some trading with the Zoras and Gorons since all three races had a chance to meet in the Lost Woods. There was slight diving area where one could get into the Zora's River. And there was a well decorated cave which led into the Goron City. Sometimes all three met up in the woods for bigger trading but usually it was just between two races.
With Zoras Kokiris traded the fruit for sugar, salt and sometimes fish. Fish was rare case since there were couple of good places the children of Forest could get them. Yet, sugar and salt was something they could not get their hands on. That was the reason the trading with Zoras was so important. The way they handled things was by leaving a note at the shore of the water area. Zoras visited there regularly to check things. For the note they left their own one, a reply of what they wanted in return for the request. It wasn't too often that the young Kokiris would meet with the aquatic Zoras. That was why they used notes. And with fishes the Kokiris left a wooden cage into the water. The size of the holes in there indicated for the size of the fish. Big holes for big fish, small holes for smaller fishes. It fully depended on what sized fish could not get away through the holes.
With Gorons the children of Forest had different approach. Since they could not leave the forest and there for the woods, they could not enter the Goron City. That was the reason they threw rocks into the wall of the cave. It usually didn't take long until one or few of the Gorons came over to check what was going on. Though, in these days they already knew that it was the Kokiris who were calling for them instead of possible monsters or such.
Unlike with Zoras, the Gorons had much more to use in the exchange. They had the chance of using the shiny rocks they found as well as the few handcrafts they created. Yet, the biggest value was on the things they could bring from the Kakariko Village or even from the Market. After all, the village itself was right below the Death Mountain where the Gorons lived at.
Link remembered well the first times he was along in the trading parts. Yet, he never met with the Zoras since he was not allowed to stay in the woods during nights. And by the morning the aquatic race had already visited there. The Gorons were different thing, though. It had been bit scary for him to meet the rock people. Yet, there never was any of introductions so no names were learned or given.
Even though the Kokiri Fruit was the most wanted, it was rarely used for trading. It wasn't only valuable for everyone else in Hyrule but also for the Kokiris themselves. It was like candy and it was used in every fruit and berry foods and drinks. The Kokiri Fruit was bit of like sacred thing.
Link sighed again and traced the brim of the mug. He had a small Kokiri Fruit Tree at his and Dark's shared room. It wasn't older than year and half but he knew he had to plant it out inside a year or it would grow to be too big into their room. The bad thing was that the tree didn't make harvest until it was at least three years old. Usually the better age was four to four and half years. At then it was quite a huge tree already. The Hero knew where he was going to plant it but at the same time he wasn't really eager of thinking about it. The tree gave slightly forest like scent from its leaves which reminded him of Kokiri. That was the reason he really wanted to keep the tree in his and Dark's shared room.
"Link?"
The Hero was quite startled about the quiet call of his name. He sat up straighter while turning to look at the door to see Dark. The darker Hylian looked bit uncertain while coming into the room and sitting down opposite Link. "Are you alright?" The Shadow inquired worriedly.
Link shrugged. "Yeah. Just reminiscing." He replied before getting up. Dark frowned a bit while feeling like he shouldn't have come. Yet, the Hero only changed to the other side of the table and sat down right next to the darker Hylian. The Shadow was bit startled but he didn't say anything nor did he move away either.
"Reminiscing about what?" Dark inquired with slight frown. Link grinned very slightly.
"The past." The Hero replied. The darker Hylian scowled slightly which only got Link to chuckle a bit. "Sorry. Bit too obvious answer, wasn't it?" He inquired before sighing again and carefully leaning against Dark while bit fearing to freak him out.
The darker Hylian was quite startled but he bit hesitantly gave one armed hug to Link. The Hero sighed again but somehow Dark could say it was more of relief and happiness than sorrow. "Why are you up at this time of the night, Link?" Dark inquired as calmly as he could.
The Hero shrugged. "Why are you up, Dark?" He countered while keeping his gaze in the table.
Dark shrugged and sighed a bit. "Woke up to find that you weren't there. Couldn't find you from the bathroom nor was there any of notes." He started before shrugging slightly. "I kinda got worried." The dark Hylian confessed before bit grinning. "Though, I left you a note in case you came back before me. Now... Your turn."
Link nodded but shrugged soon. "Couldn't sleep." He told bit sorrowfully. Dark frowned and waited for a while but the Hero didn't continue.
"Anything I can do to help?" The dark Hylian inquired while feeling bit hopeful.
Link sighed and moved his empty mug in front of Dark. "Do me another one." He requested with slight grin. Dark was bit startled but nodded.
"You gotta tell me how, though." He told while bit reluctantly letting go of Link and getting up. The Hero nodded and finally turned his gaze into Dark.
"Hot water, strawberries and Kokiri Fruit. All mixed up into a smooth drink." Link explained very simply. Dark turned around with a frown at the last ingredient.
"Kokiri Fruit?" He inquired quite confused. The dark Hylian had never heard that name before. "I assume it's growing only in Kokiri by the name of it." Dark continued bit worriedly.
Link nodded before shrugging. "Kokiri Fruit, Goron Rock, Zora's Delight. All means one and the same." He explained but noticed that the realization hit the darker Hylian by the second given name for the fruit. The Hero smiled slightly before dropping his gaze down again. "The fruit's my first introduction into the world of chocolates." He confessed quietly while knowing that Dark still heard him very easily.
Dark nodded at the information without really knowing how to reply. Yet, as he came back, he had two mugs of hot chocolate along. "Thought to give it a shot since it sounds so good." The dark Hylian explained with a slight smile. Once he had sat down next to Link, he already hugged him again. "So, um... I take it you need more of the company than of talking, right?" Dark inquired bit uncertainly.
The Hero nodded while fully leaning on the darker Hylian. He turned a bit so his back was against Dark's side while having the darker Hylian's arm over his chest. "Something like that." Link replied quietly while pulling his legs up to the long bench they were sitting on.
They were silent for a long while. The Hero held the mug by both of his hands while Dark held it only in his left since his right arm was around Link. "Dark..." The Hero started calmly to get the darker Hylian's notion before already continuing: "Thank You."
The Shadow was quite startled but he smiled a bit at the words. "No problem. Though, um... For what?" He replied before already looking quite sheepish and uncertain.
Link chuckled a bit and smiled slightly. "For the drink as of starters..." He told with slight grin before sighing and letting the grin vanish. "But, honestly speaking... For everything." The Hero continued very soon.
Dark was even more surprised of the words. "Um... I-I think it should be me thanking you." He half whispered while turning his gaze off. "You've done so much for me, Link. I don't know if I can ever truly repay you for all you've—" The dark Hylian started but couldn't go further as Link raised his fingers over Dark's mouth.
The Hero let his hand fall back down once the Shadow had stopped talking before already shaking his head. "No. The truth is that you've done more for me than I have done for you. And don't start to argue. I feel like this topic is something we could go on forever and I'm not up for that. The thing is that your company, acceptance, kindness and happiness have been something I've been missing. You're a true friend and amazing person. With you I can be fully at peace and show myself. You don't judge me nor wait for me to be the Hero whole time. Thank You, Dark. Thank you for accepting me for who I am." Link told surprisingly calmly with a small smile on his face.
Dark was silent for a long while as he was both speechless as well as blushing very brightly. He wanted to counter and tell what he felt but he didn't want to turn things into an argument or anything of such. Yet, soon he grinned slightly as he came up with one simple answer: "Likewise, Link. Likewise."
Link chuckled, nearly laughed, at the reply. He hadn't waited for the dark Hylian to find a way to answer but he was more than happy that he had. Dark smiled widely as he heard the Hero laugh a bit. It was all the reassuring he needed to know that Link was going to be okay.
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The Kokiri Fruit is same as a real fruit called Black Sapote. Never have tasted it but out of search in Internet it's said to taste like chocolate.
Also, I would LOVE to get a picture of the duo in the kitchen with Link leaning against Dark and Dark giving one armed hug to Link and both having the mug of hot chocolate-strawberry. ^.^
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A/N: So, review, please! =D Even anonymous ones are accepted but if you got a account in here or at DeviantArt, inform of the penname so I can leave a review reply! Otherwise the review reply will be on my profile page or in the next chapter! Thank You!
Still in working:
1) Do a drawing from one of my stories and I'll write you a story OR I can give bit of preview from upcoming chapters or next stories. =)
2) Send questions to Dark and/or Link! Also, other characters will be answering if you want to send a question for them! =)