Distractions
Link yawned, stretching. The pooches also awoke, yawning and stretching, too. Link's eyes fluttered open, Navi hovering before his face. He paused mid-stretch, mouth open as the dogs happily bounced off.
"Sleep well?" Navi asked, the sun behind her in the sky.
"I...guess so." Link finished his stretch, letting off a little squeak. He looked around then froze. "M—Malon...?" Eyebrows up, he blushed deeply.
Navi chuckled. "I bet she went to the castle. Shouldn't we get going?"
Link felt his pocket, soon feeling the ocarina his previous girlfriend had dropped. He nodded at Navi and jumped to his feet. He looked side to side. "Umm...which way to go?"
Navi leaned over. "Link, you need to learn."
"Oh." He walked onward. Soon, there was a guy in green pants and pink shirt, sidled around a corner. He looked suspicious, as if waiting to ambush someone, though did nothing.
The strange fellow noticed Link. "Heyyy, what...? What's wrong with loitering around all day? Huh, kid?"
Link blinked once, twice. What a weird guy.
Link moved on, going around an alley corner. Over yonder stood a few bottles by the wall, then a tree and a guy wearing lime shirt and white pants.
The man turned his head as Link walked. "It seems strange that packs of dogs roam our streets at night... Doesn't that seem weird to you?"
Link shrugged. I guess so, but they like me. He walked on.
Navi flew close to Link's ear. "I'm surprised they don't find me weird."
Farther down the alley, they met an old man, bald and bearded, wearing a brown robe. "Hey, sonny, I'll tell you something helpful... I heard there is a mysterious fountain somewhere near the castle..."
Link's ears twitched. Right, gotta find the castle...
Navi wings fluttered as murmuring echoed. "Sounds like people are getting busy for the day."
The fairy child emerged into the market. The girl in a yellow dress and white cap was chasing the chicken as usual, Link's eyes following her as she ran on and on.
She stopped nearby, slowly flapping her arms. "I can't catch that Cucco!" Off she went.
Something about her reminded him of Malon. Link ran alongside her.
She looked at him. "You wanna catch the Cucco, too?"
"Yeah! This'll be easy!"
Navi flew close to Link, "Another girlfriend?"
He blushed. "No!" Shaking away his bashfulness, Link outran the girl but, every time the Cucco was within reach, it always evaded his fingers. Energized by the difficulty, Link tried harder, swerving amid the bustling environment, people carrying goods by hand or cart sometimes nearly dropping their merchandise.
Navi flew along behind Link. Uhhh... What are we doing this time... How can Hyrule's destiny depend on such an impulsive boy?
Link and the girl maneuvered through traffic and pedestrians, sometimes jumping over things that fell amid the commotion, though the chicken remained uncaught.
Link frowned. "I will catch him!" They ran faster, sometimes matching the Cucco's speed, though neither able to grab it.
Navi easily flew into the Cucco, but... "I'm too small to grab hold of him!"
The twins by the tree saw what happened, red one laughing at everything while his blue twin tried to make sense of things.
The Cucco scuttled down the street, pursued by two overeager children...
Up ahead, a fat baker frowned when he noticed Link. "Oh, no! It's that kid again!" Grunting, he and the other businessmen Link encountered yesterday checked their wares carefully—they were all gone, a Cucco lounging in a basket.
Their jaws dropped. "HOW DID A CUCCO INSTANTLY EAT EVERYTHING?!"
The chicken cocked his head and burped. "Bagawwk?"
The cluster of customers swarming the busy merchant didn't move away from the chicken, even when he jumped on the stall, talons clicking about Rupees and merchandise. Link leapt upon the counter; the Cucco hopped on the spot, as if mocking Link.
"Huh? What? Shoo, kid! Shoo!"
The girl in yellow jumped atop the stall herself, she and Link running over everything, kicking Rupees and things about, people screaming. The children jumped after their Cucco, the girl flapping her arms as she descended. The annoying Cucco flew a short distance away, leaving behind a trail of feathers and panicking citizens, before plopping upon Richard. The Cucco and pooch sat up, wondering what happened.
Link bit his tongue. "Ohhh, now I got you!" He dove forth—the Cucco jumped over Link. The girl leapt next, squealing mid-air; the Cucco spun sideways, evading both children before plopping on a ground.
The Cucco stood smugly, then looked to the side. Growling, the baker swatted at him, his buddies lunging forth. Although full of food, the Cucco evaded with surprising speed, hopping off and scurrying away as the businessmen tripped over each other, their stalls falling, people screaming.
Link and the girl got up, jumped over the oafs, and pursued the Cuccoo. "He's tough to catch!" Link complained.
The girl flapped her arms as she ran. "I know! I've been trying for so long!"
Passersby and pedestrians wondered what the heck was going on, spreading apart as this rotund chicken charged down the road. Not even carriages could stop him; the Cucco scuttled amid wheels and beneath wagons, Link and the girl hot on his heels even between racing carriages.
A loud whistle pierced the air; Link and the girl skidded to a halt, though the Cucco kept going. The guard rushed over, wondering what the heck was going on. He pointed his spear at the Cucco. "Hey you! Stop! You, Cucco, over there!"
The Cucco flipped the bird and just kept going.
Link and the girl watched the group of clumsy guards chase the Cucco. Link looked at her, "I guess we're not in trouble anymore?"
She shrugged. They scurried after the guards to see what happened. The two kids went around a corner of the city block—the guards fled in pure panic, their armors clicking and clacking as they ran away, a horde of Cuccos dangerously squawking.
Link and the girl slowed to a halt.
The guards held onto their helmets as chickens and feathers abounded everywhere, people fleeing in droves.
Navi appeared between the two kids. "I think now's a good time to scram!"
An avalanche of Cuccos rampaged before them.
Link and the girl looked at each other...then ran away, panic spreading around them. The only man who didn't mind was an old bearded guy wearing a turban, sitting in his small cart, calmly smoking his pipe. Nothing happened to him.
A boy wearing a flat cap and baggy pants, who Link saw chasing Richard yesterday, ran in front of the two kids. "C'mon! This way!"
The three children veered off the path, following their guide as unstoppable poultry overflowed behind them, dispersing citizenry and soldiery alike, dogs fleeing while whining. The man staring out the second storey window screamed, slamming it shut, a few Cuccos aggressively pecking the window.
Link and the girl followed the boy to a corner of the market, next to the building with a big picture of a bearded guy. The boy jumped up the stack of crates, his two friends doing likewise, until they landed in a very narrow alley.
The boy sidled, Link and the girl doing the same, the Cucco commotion echoing across the market. The lad raised his flat cap until his eyes showed. "Oh, you're lucky I found you! Those killer Cuccos are a force to be reckoned with!"
Link caught his breath. Farther down the small alley were a few trees, a few two-storey buildings with red tile roofing afterwards. To the left, a large octagonal tower with a rounded top, tipped with a tall narrow spire, behind the temple.
"Where are we?" the girl asked.
"Behind the Bazaar and Potion Shop is the quiet part of town," the boy replied. "I think this is where the priests live. I've never seen any, though."
The area indeed felt peaceful. The kids made their way down the alley, Link's eyes up at the temple.
"Is that the castle?" Link asked.
The boy chuckled. "You're definitely a fairy boy! That's the Temple of Time."
"Oh." Link looked down the temple, where the steeple stood at the back, but said nothing. I wonder what's in that tower?
Soon, a brick wall blocked the path, so the children climbed over. To their right was the temple, to the left, the market. The children stepped downtown...
Link blinked once, twice. "Everything's...back to normal?"
Indeed, the market square was back to normal, as if nothing happened.
The boy titled his flat cop low. "Yup! The market always returns to normal, even when something bad happens. You know how merchants are, they're eagerly greedy. When the market wants to make money, everyone goes on as if nothing happened."
The girl brushed her dress off. "Wow! It would take a lot to really mess things up!"
The boy chuckled. "The world would have to end for the market to stop!"
Navi shuddered. I hope that never happens...
The girl squeaked, pointing. "Ooo! The uncatchable Cucco!" She ran after him, Link freezing.
Yet, nothing bad happened. The Cucco hopped about casually as if nothing happened, uncaught and bouncy.
Confused and surprised, Link looked around for any more Cuccos.
Navi's wings tilted. "That's it?"
"That's it!" the boy replied. "Killer Cuccos quickly lose interest when you leave an area. Everything then returns to normal."
Link's bewilderment stayed. "Hm, OK then... Well, thanks, mister!"
"Yes, thank you!" Navi chirped.
The boy nodded, shaking Link's hands. "A pleasure doing business with you two! See you later, maybe." Off he went.
Link meandered around. He found a guy in green, sitting on his heels, desperately patting his thighs.
"Please...with C...
Please sell me something...
Please...with C..."
Link raised an eyebrow. This guy's weirder than those Cuccos...
He moved on, spotting a bearded old man wearing a blue cap and blue robe.
The blue-robed elder said, "Have you heard the legend of the "Shadow Folk"? They are the Sheikah...the shadows of the Hylians. They say they swore allegiance to the King of Hyrule and guarded the Royal Family."
Link's ears listened attentively.
The old man continued, "But with the long peace, no one has seen a Sheikah around here for a long time. However...
I heard there is one Sheikah woman living in the castle..."
Navi hovered by Link's ear. "Hear that, Link? The castle. We must go to the castle."
Nearby was the lady with a scratchy back. By her stood a man wearing black vest and green pants, his arms crossed.
He noticed Link's hesitancy. "Hey, forest boy! This is the city of Hyrule! Take your time and enjoy the sights! If you came here to see Hyrule Castle, take the street on your right. If you want to see the back alleys of the town, take the street to the left."
Link looked to the left, recalling the back alley. He then looked to the right, seeing a dirt road flanked by buildings.
Navi flew under Link's chin, pushing upward. "Up, Link! Up! Look up!"
The fairy child did so, Hyrule Castle gloriously appearing in the horizon. His eyes widened into saucers. "Whoa! It's bigger than a forest!" Link lowered his chin, blushing deeply. "It was there this whole time..." He felt so stupid for not noticing sooner.
Navi tugged his hat, dropping the tip over his face. "C'mon, Link! Let's get a move on!"
Chin up, Link tilted his hat back and ran forth.
Steep hills flanked the dirt road, which curved to the right. Soon, the path led to a tree...
"Hey, Link! This way!"
Hand on his side, Link noticed his big, feathery friend perched in the tree, head upside-down, eyes shut.
The big owl kept his head upside-down, sometimes shaking it. "The princess is inside the castle just ahead. Be careful not to get caught by the guards! Ho ho ho hoot!"
The owl's eyes opened and his head realigned. He explained how time flowed, which Link did not understand whatsoever. "Well, well, which way are you going to go now? Hoo hoo hoot!" Inverting his head, he closed his eyes. "Do you want to hear what I said again?"
"No."
"Hoooo. You're a smart kid. Good luck, then. Hoo hoo." He began flapping, some feathers fluttering off.
Link watched his big friend fly away. Link headed up the path, widening up and leading to a tall gatehouse blocking the path. A single guard stood to the left, whom Link thoughtlessly approached.
Navi facepalmed. "You're supposed to sneak around the guards..."
Link stood before the guard. "I'm here to see the princess of destiny."
The guard seemed unamused. "So you say you want to see Princess Zelda, eh? You probably heard about her in town and decided you had to meet her... Well..."
Link listened attentively.
"Go home! Get out of here! The Princess would never grant an audience to the likes of you!"
Link frowned, ears tilting down. "Hm. Those bars aren't too close together..." He stuck a leg through the bars and wriggled in—"Oh, whoa!"
Link dangled above the ground, the guard holding him by the back of the shirt.
"Did you not understand me? Get out of here, kid!" He rolled Link away.
Link tumbled downhill, his head slamming into the tree with such force it shook. Link picked himself up; a Gold Skulltula fell off the shaking tree and landed on him. Link shrieked, throwing the gilded critter off himself then slashing wildly, Navi swerving to evade the blade.
After several haphazard swings, the creature erupted into flames, Link collecting the token left behind.
A voice spoke, "You destroyed a Gold Skulltula. You got a token proving you destroyed it!"
Link looked around, wondering who had spoken.
Malon stood over yonder, near some vines. Chuckling, she waved. Link sheathed his armaments and walked over.
"Are you going to the castle, fairy boy? Would you mind finding my dad? He must have fallen asleep somewhere around the castle. What a thing for an adult to do! Tee hee! Oh yeah, if you'll look for him, I'll give this to you. I've been incubating this egg very carefully... Tee hee!"
Link's eyebrows rose. This whole time, she had an egg with her?
Navi explained, "You got a Weird Egg! Feels like there's something moving inside! Set it and see what happens!"
Link nodded, pocketing the egg with his ocarinas.
Malon happily crossed her arms over her chest and, swaying whimsically, sang her mother's song while Link climbed the vines.
Atop the cliff, Link scurried across. The top of the gatehouse was also a bridge going over the other cliff, though a guard stood at the other side. Beyond that guard, pleasant flowers Link had never seen before grew across a cozy plateau.
At the front of the top of the gateway was a gargoyle-like statue, which said, "The current time is 07:49."
Link's eyebrows went crooked. A statue that tells the time?
The statue nodded. "I indeed tell the time. It's now 07:50."
"Oh, OK."
A square opening in the gatehouse revealed a ladder, which Link descended from. Soon his feet touched the floor, the room quite small, a brazier in the upper corner. Link stepped through the door, shutting it behind him, THUD!
Despite the door closing rather loudly, the gate guard didn't care. Perhaps he thought it was another guard walking his patrol?
Link followed the path ahead, which soon ascended, forking into two directions, the right one very short and leading to a sign in front of a boulder. The sign read:
Dead End
Link scratched his head. "Why bother putting up a sign for something so obvious?"
"Maybe it's a hint there's something more?" Navi suggested.
"I'd bet." Link looked up the left direction of the narrowing path, two guards up there, oblivious to him. "Hmm..." Link walked up the left slope, soon atop the small plateau of pretty flowers. He casually scurried past a guard to his left, some trees, clusters of yellow flowers, and a group of butterflies ahead. There was a small dirt path across the area.
After a short cliff side and fence stood the castle, the immense structure seemingly unhappy to see Link. A stone staircase led up towards the castle drawbridge, though the guard standing by the stairs would clearly see anyone walking up. Fortunately, smooth stones lined up the cliff to the left, as if to say, Come over and try to climb me!
Link did so, soon pulling himself over the ledge. The next section of geology rose after a while. A strange statue, to the left by the cliff, caught Link's attention. He ran over, checking the oddity. The statue was shorter than him, engraved with one large eye under three triangles, the eye above smiling lips.
Staring at the statue felt...strange.
"This statue's one-eyed gaze pierces into your mind..."
Link frowned. "Why do statues talk here?"
Navi snickered behind Link's hat. "The girl from the ranch asked us to find her father...I wonder where he is?"
"Right." Link crept to the ledge, overlooking the moat running across the castle. This was what that guy must have been talking about.
Link jumped down, flanked by a cliff to his right, moat and castle to the left. Up ahead, two guards stood at the pathway leading to the drawbridge.
Link slowed. Will they notice me? Hmm...
He hopped off the ledge, plunging into the moat, Navi diving with him. Cold water pierced his sinuses and skin, feeling the current pushing him. Link kicked off the riverbed and surfaced, taking a breath. He snickered as he swam along. "These guards aren't too bright, hunh, Navi?"
She giggled. "If only they titled their visors up a bit..."
The moat carried Link around a sharp corner, a grill blocking him. He found a Green Rupee clogged between the bars, so snagged it for himself. He swam to the corner, walked up the dirt, and lifted himself out the moat. This area was fenced in, a tree at the fence corner, no guards in sight.
The path continued leftwards, some crates and a castle tower at the end. Link ran over, seeing something. His skin crawled. I see someone there, but...will he notice me? I can't get caught after all this work!
Heart beating a bit faster, Link quietly strode along. Eventually, visibility cleared up—a chubby guy was lying on the stone flooring leading to the tower, carelessly lying beside the ledge of the moat, lazily snoring away.
Link noticed the man was bald, wore a short-sleeved red shirt and blue coveralls, had a big nose and full beard... "Oh, it's him again... The guy who let me ride his wagon to town." Link looked around. "I wonder where his horse and wagon are?"
"Probably stabled somewhere. Looks like he's meant to carry these crates up the tower, but decided to take a nap instead."
Link walked up to the lazy man.
"ZZZZZ...
Mumble mumble...
Welcome...our ranch is so fun...
C'mon and look around..."
Link nudged his foot into the man, but he remained sound asleep. "Hello, mister! Wake up! Your daughter is looking for you."
Snoring...
Link leaned over. "Hey! You awake, mister?!"
More snoring.
Link waved his hat up and down, trying to wake the man. "Hey! C'mon! Can Malon really depend on such a lazy dad?"
No matter what Link did, the burly fellow remained asleep.
Putting his hat back on, Link grumpily sat down, crossing his arms. He looked at Navi. "Not even you could wake him up."
Navi crossed her arms. "Now you know how I felt trying to wake you up..."
They had a staring contest for a few seconds.
Link grunted, looking around. "Now what do we do?" He walked past the snoring man and the crates, trying to open the tower door. "Another door that doesn't open? People here sure are strange."
The boy looked around some more, though found nothing. He disappointingly sighed, sitting against a crate. "Looks like we reached the next dead end, Navi."
She looked around. "Wait... Hmm..." Navi flew around the tower. "Link! Look! Behind this tower, there's vines growing up the wall!"
Link jumped to his feet and squeezed through the fence railings. He sidled around the tower and, sure enough, found a section of wall where vines hung the entire length.
Link smiled, face beaming. "Nice one, Navi! I'm so glad you're with me!"
Navi jingled from happiness. "It's a long ways up, though," she cautioned.
Link grasped the vines, walking up the wall while pulling himself up. "I did way more climbing inside the Greta Deku Tree, this'll be easy!"
With every pull, Link ascended the wall.
G
R
U
N
T
G
R
O
A
N
"Umph!"
Legs bicycling, Link heaved himself over the battlements. He sat against the crenelations, catching his breath, hands pulsating with hot pain. After a little rest, Link scouted the walls. Unsurprisingly, guards patrolled the walls, one already heading his way!
Link flipped over the battlements, grasping the vines. Once the guard's footfall and clinking armor faded, Link reappeared, sneaking along the walls. Whenever a guard neared, he hung by the ledge or battlements, gradually making his way. Although Navi put little effort hiding herself, the guards never seemed to notice her.
Link snickered. "The guards are so dumb..."
Navi flew to his ear. "I think grown ups can't see fairy folk easily. Unless they're really, really close."
"Good thing I'm extra sneaky..."
Indeed he was. Of course, Navi often flew ahead and about, scouting areas and informing Link of guards' whereabouts.
Soon, Link found a stairwell and descended. He froze, heart skipping a beat; footfall and clinking armor echoed from below. Link slipped through an arrow-slit, hanging outside at the end of his hand. Once the guard past, Link pulled himself back in and scurried down. He meandered across the castle grounds, keeping his distance from guards, who never saw Link even when he was in plain sight.
Link sidled against a wall, looking around the corner. Another spearman walked by, this one larger than the others. He wore more armor than the other guards, his helmet having a pivoting visor and short plume, his greaves including sabatons, whilst gauntlets and vambraces covered his arms.
The heavy spearman went his way, Link keeping his back to the wall as he went around the corner. The castle grounds were confusing, having multiple pathways and buildings. As he explored, his ears twitched. Back to a wall, Link listened carefully...