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[Husse]

Like I said before, I love/hate this chapter. Like the story, don't like the end.

On a totally unrelated note, for the end battle, should Ganon's retch be red or green? I like the idea of green "Gerudo" blood, but red WAS the original before the cube transfer.

12
A Tragic Victory
Link

 
?Well done, Link!? I heard the booming voice as I crawled from a hole in the ground, emerging into the meadow.  
 
I gasped and sucked in the fresh air of the forest, gazing upward at the Tree. He was smiling sweetly, but soberly, like he wanted to tell me something. I smiled at him and cleared my throat.  

?It is all finished, now, Great Tree. You will no longer be in pain,? I sighed.

?Yes, I know,? he said, frowning, ?I knew that thou wouldst be able to carry out my wishes. You are a brave lad, and strong in heart. Now I have yet more to tell ye. These are important matters. Whilst thou listen??

?Of course,? I replied, sitting down on the grass.

?If you will close your eyes,? the Tree whispered, ?I may show ye these things as well. I am much better at showing stories than telling them.?

I smiled. When I was very young, the Tree was always showing me stories, just before I went to sleep. I don?t know how he did it, but as soon as I closed my eyes, visions would float through my mind as he spoke. It was very pleasant.

?All right,? I replied, closing my eyes, ?Tell me.?

?Now listen carefully,? he groaned, ?A wicked man of the desert cast this dreadful curse upon me. It was he who planted the evil seed of an enchanted Gohm in my roots, a Gohm unlike any other, large, vile, and powerful. This man was angry. He came to me for something that I would not give him. And so he wreaked his evil vengeance on me. But, never mind that. I must show ye??

I was staring at a black horror. It was night, pitch dark, and a fire was spreading across an unknown land. I thought the Hylian field in my dream was barren, but it was nothing like this. The landscape was sand, pure sand, whipped up by the wind in great torrents, stinging the faces of all the frightened people in their small, stone, homes. There was a ring of fire surrounding the land, burning rock itself and eating up anything in its path. Then, over the clamor, I heard a familiar tramp of hooves. It was the black rider, laughing.

?This evil man ceaselessly uses his vile, sorcerous, powers in his search for the Sacred Realm that is connected to Hyrule,? the Tree sighed, ?Yes, the curse placed on me was physical, but that Gohm, that vile Gohm, there is no other creature like it in all the world. This man had used black magic. This fire is not natural, either.  
Look at how it burns through stone.?

?Sacred Realm?? I interrupted, ?You mentioned a Sacred Realm. What is that?  
Why does he want to get there so badly? Why were you involved??

?Let me explain,? he replied, ?It is in that Sacred Realm that one may find the divine relic, the Triforce.?

?The Triforce?? I whispered. I knew that the Triforce was the world?s greatest treasure, but I knew absolutely nothing else about it.

?I must tell ye the legend,? he nodded, ?This legend is very old, the oldest of all, and few feel it to be true. But the evidence within this legend stands. This story shall explain how the Triforce came into being.?

Suddenly, the images of chaos were gone. In their place was blank, white nothingness. Everywhere there was nothing, only white emptiness. I was about to ask where I was when I heard a high, ringing note peal through the air. A note like it followed, only higher, and then a deeper one after that pierced the emptiness. The blank, white, environs faded to bluish gray, and shooting starlets, pinpoints of light, flew all around me.

?Before time began,? the Tree explained, ?Before spirits and life existed??

I saw something like a red comet shoot by me in the air with a low hum, followed by a blue, high hum, and a green, neutral tone. I found myself floating after them, now looking at them closely.

?Three golden goddesses descended upon the chaos that was Hyrule.?

I stopped him, ?Wait! So this is how Hyrule was created? I thought I was going to hear about the Triforce. And many people don?t believe there were gods!?

?I had told you earlier,? the Tree scolded gently, ?That many people do not believe this tale. I am simply illustrating it for ye. The Triforce will come later! Now, listen!?
I relaxed. All this new information was making me very hyper.

I floated in next to the red comet, and as I peered close, I could see that it was a girl, shining like gold, with a deep red aura surrounding her. She was fierce and determined, humming and singing in a low tone.

?Din, the goddess of Power,? I heard him say.

I drifted back and laid eye on the blue one, much like her friend, but smiling happily, like she was very excited about something, and not as strong as the first. She sang high and crisp, her eyes shining.

?Nayru, the goddess of Wisdom.?

I flew to the side and glanced at the final girl, bathed in green. She looked bold, and yet compassionate, plummeting head forth through the air. She was singing the note in the middle.

?Farore, the goddess of Courage.?

Suddenly, I was held back, and the goddesses shot ahead of me. A small point of light, like a little red flame, emitted from the red one, and exploded, shaking the very space around us. There was land now, large hunks of rock that floated randomly around, crashing into each other and settling slowly, as magnetic charges and lightning bolts flashed from the sudden change.

?Din??

She flew around, gathering all the rock and soil in one swoop, smashing together in an explosion, a valley, a canyon, and a mountain. But she didn?t stop there.

?With her strong, flaming arms, she cultivated the land and created the red earth.?

I sank, slowly, to the bottom of the new canyon, and looked around. A high-pitched voice sang in the space far above me, and I looked up.

?Nayru??

She zipped quickly through the white space above me, leaving little ripples of blue behind her. The blue ripples echoed further out and transformed into atmosphere. I breathed in air, and felt gravity beneath me. Clouds swirled around the sun, and a breeze whistled through the canyon. A stream of water trickled beneath my feet, wafting its way through the canyon.

?Poured her wisdom onto the earth and gave the spirit of law to the world.?

I walked out of the canyon and into the valley. There was a high rise, a hill of red earth, above me. I saw the green goddess come plummeting down toward it.

?Farore??

She hit the ground, and an earthquake started, as she tunneled deeper through the earth. There was a brilliant flash of light, and when my vision cleared, I saw bright, green, grass rising beneath my feet. Little flickering lights went off in the grass, and fireflies emerged. From a small grove in the grasses, fairies peered out, wondering. And a tree sapling rose slowly, in the meadow across from me, flowers surrounding it. A tree I felt I knew very well.  

?With her rich soul, produced all life forms who would uphold the law.?

I was plucked abruptly from my spot in the meadow, and shot into space with the goddesses. They smiled at each other and at their creation, and flew together, holding hands, to form a small point in space. They vanished, and the pinpoint of light expanded slowly to form three golden triangles, intersecting at their points to form one large triangle, with an upside down triangular space in the middle. It stood in space, twirling slowly, ringing out the chord of all three girls together, a symbol of their union.

?The three great goddesses, their labors completed, departed for the heavens. And golden sacred triangles remained at the point where the goddesses left the world. Since then, the sacred triangles have been the basis of our world?s providence. And the resting place of the triangles has become the Sacred Realm.?

I opened my eyes. The story was over.

?The treasure the girls left behind,? I murmured, ?What does it do??

?It keeps the peace of the land,? replied the Tree, ?It is an emblem of the world?s creation, I believe. Those that do not believe in gods are still puzzled about its existence, for it is a fact that it exists. It is not to be disturbed. It is kept safe, in the dimension known as the Sacred Realm, the entrance of which is thought to be in Hyrule.?

?Then?that evil man,? I whispered.

The Tree groaned and nodded. I looked up at him, stunned. He seemed grayer and sicklier than ever, and very different all of a sudden.

?Thou must never allow the desert man in black armor to lay his hands on the Sacred Triforce. Thou must never suffer that man, with his evil heart, to enter the Sacred Realm of Legend.?

?So, that is my task, then,? I nodded, ?The man in my dream?the man you met?the man after the Triforce.?

The Tree groaned, ?That evil man who sent a death curse to my roots, and further corrupted the poor Scrubs. The man who sapped all my power.?

?I will stop him,? I cried, ?Even if it means going to the desert. But you must help me. I still do not know what to do!?

I could tell as I looked into his eyes that he had been holding something back, not telling me something. A lump rose in my throat and tears came to my eyes. I knew what it was, now.

?Because of that curse, my end is nigh, Link,? he sighed.

I broke down and cried. I fell to the grass, staring at the Tree emptily, sniffling and panting, not even caring if Mido heard, what he would think. I didn't care. There are times when a boy should be allowed to cry.

?Though your valiant efforts to break the curse were successful,? he continued, ?I was doomed before you started. Yes, I will pass away very soon, but do not grieve for me. Thou must be brave and go on, carrying out my tasks. I have been able to tell you of these important matters. That is all I needed yet to do in my lifetime. Rise, Link, dry your eyes. This is Hyrule?s final hope.?

I caught my breath and rose shakily to my feet, ?How powerful is this man? What will the Triforce do for him, that this is so important? I need answers, please, I need a guide!?

The Tree smiled solemnly, ?I have no time to explain further. Link, go now to Hyrule Castle. There, thou will surely meet the Princess of Destiny. Thou must seek her out, the daughter of the Hylian King himself. She will explain further. But, this is imperative! Come to the base of my root, here, to the far left! Thou must take this with you.?

I ran, weakly, to the root, and, with a creak, he lifted it from the ground. I saw a green sparkle in the rich dirty soil, and reached for it. I unearthed it and gasped. It was an emerald, shimmering beautifully. It was a perfect circle, rimmed and fashioned with pure gold.

?This is the stone that the man wanted so badly, that he cast the death curse upon me when I refused to give it to him. It is valuable to the entry of the Sacred Realm, something, again, that the Princess will explain soon. It is the Kokiri?s Emerald; carry it carefully. It is the Spiritual Stone of the Forest, and represents the realm of the forest, and of life.?

I nodded, and stepped back, fingering it gingerly. The Tree looked more grave than ever.

?The future depends on thee, Link. Keep this in your heart: Thou art courageous. Remember that. Now, you must have a guide, I understand. Navi!? he called weakly.

I had completely forgotten about Navi. She vibrated, hovering at attention.

?Navi the Fairy, help Link to carry out my will. Act as a guide. Do as I would,? he commanded in raspy whispers. He was fading, I knew. The time had come.

?Yes, sir,? she blubbered. She had been crying too, tearlessly.

?I?entreat ye?Navi?? he gasped and straightened up with a look of sheer grief on his face, ?Good?goodbye. Goodbye.?

There was a horrible silence as he closed his eyes. From the top of his boughs, something floated, like a leaf, to the ground, a dandelion puff-shaped pod, swaying gently in the morbid breeze. I tried to see what it was, but I was distracted by the incident that followed. There was a thundering creak, like quiet thunder rolling in, and the Deku Tree slowly, from his roots to his boughs, petrified, turned to stone. It was in that quiet moment that the whole forest felt apart, alone, separated, I can?t really explain it.

Navi paused, frozen, and then heaved a breath weakly, ?Let?s go to Hyrule Castle, Link. We should move on. Like the Great Tree wanted.?

I wiped my eyes and nodded, trudging slowly, oh so slowly, from the meadow to the path. I gazed back at the forlorn meadow and froze, paying silent regards to the dead caretaker of our forest.

?Goodbye?Great Deku Tree,? Navi whispered.

And we ran from the meadow, leaving tears and love behind.

But Navi strayed, for a moment. This was harder for her, I realized, we should wait. But then she shook it off and gazed at me with an unreadable expression, her brilliant light dimmed in a terrible way.

[Husse]

I'm fourteen, and I love to write.

I'll answer your questions with a few of my own!

Okay, blood be red, I'll think about it, but I'm still leaning for green, most Zelda monster blood was green to begin with.

You're reading the not-as-updated version, and I've already changed a lot of Link's "proper" talking. It's a common complaint, don't know what I was thinking when I wrote it.

Saria beneath him? Never thought of it that way, but since I've changed him so much, out the window that sentence goes!

I don't think anyone truly respects Mido, but if he wants to crown himself, that's fine, everyone does what he tells them to do regardless, he seems to have some intimidating power. I wanted to give Mido some semblance of power simply b/c of his personality. If you don't imagine him the fighting type, then you'll hate the next chapter! Mido unceremoniously beats Link to a bloody pulp.

[Kwicky Koala]

That's good, 'cause it makes him seem more powerful and antagonistic. The Mido/Saria/Link triangle parodies the Ganon/Zelda/Link relationship in my opinion.

[Husse]

Really? Hm. Then I guess it's a good thing I stuck that quote in Chapter 10 about the strengths and weaknesses of them all, eh?

[Husse]

Maybe. It's not that different, I just changed most of Link's phrases.

In later chapters, let's say after, mmm, he meets Zelda? his speech is nigh identical to that which I've changed it to on the OTHER computer, (now you know why I can't show it to you.)

Next Chapter! I likes this one! CHANGE OF NARRATION!!! WOO!

I really like this one. It's one of my best chapters, IMO, by way of character development. We get a glimpse of Saria's feelings for Link, just a titch, (NO, there's no romance, but we do learn that she wanted one,) and I like the direction it leads the audience, the suspense within a drama.

Must be a writer's thing. You might not like it.

13
The Last Gift
Saria

I was picking flowers when it happened. It was getting late, and dusk was approaching, but I had to get these plucked before tomorrow, or I?d never remember to do it. So, anyway, I had been planning to make a bouquet, you know, to freshen up my home, when I felt this brooding sensation. I just?froze, froze still as a stick. I felt like?like I had been yanked backward by my heart, like it was impossible to breathe and?it?s hard to explain. Then in two seconds the feeling was over. I was OK, just a little shaken, but still?this nagging worry in my mind just wouldn?t go away. Was it Link? Had something happened to him? Oh, please, no! I sighed. It was probably nothing.

Probably.

I jumped to my feet and ran for the entrance to the meadow, panting and gasping.

?Link!? I called, ?Link! Are you OK??

I stumbled upon Mido, struggling for breath, not knowing why I was so worried all of a sudden. Mido looked at me with a dark expression on his face, like he was feeling the same thing. This empty sort of disease was spreading.

?Mido!? I yelled, ?Have you seen Link??

Mido was biting his nails nervously, cross-legged on the grass. He turned to the path and pointed. There was someone coming toward us; someone with blonde hair and a fairy.

?Link!? I shouted, ?Are you OK? I was getting worried!?

Mido rudely held me back and huffed, ?I?ll handle this, Saria, you stay here. I think something serious has happened.?

He strode quickly towards Link. As he came further into view, I could see his tear-stained cheeks, and a stunned look in his eyes. I turned the corner, sidling the wall of the grove trying to listen to their conversation, but Link was too quiet. All I could hear was Mido yelling.

?Hey, Link! What did you do? There?s something odd happening around here, and you obviously have something to do with it, so what happened, Mr. ?Hero of the????

There was a pause.

?Wait,? Mido snapped, ?The Great Deku Tree?you were talking about?did he?no!?what are you talking about??did he?die??

That pause, that moment where my heart stopped and time itself came to a standstill, was the longest I had ever endured. I breathed in and out slowly, my heart in my throat.

?How could you do a thing like that? It?s all your fault! You lousy murderer! You crazy killer! I  
hate you! Don?t you realize what just happened! Crying doesn?t help, you stupid?!?  

I sat down. I sat down very hard. My eyes couldn?t focus. My head was spinning. What had happened? What had happened? It couldn?t be! There was no way! Link didn?t do anything!

I practically gave him that sword, I thought, I gave him that sword.

Was I a murderer?

No! I was making too many assumptions. Link must have been defending him, our guardian. He must have been protecting him! He just failed, that?s all!

Protecting him from what? What else could destroy the Great Tree but a Kokiri, who knew just where to slice if he was trusted?  

I burst into tears and ran for home. Dunston stopped me, shouting, ?Calm down! What?s wrong! Slow down! What has happened! Mido is very upset, too. Did something happen to him??

I pushed him away and kept running. I fell exhausted, on the ground, and bawled until I thought my lungs would burst. I don?t know how long I laid there. I don?t know how long my mind pulsed, beating the word ?murderer? through my skull until it was even with my heartbeat. I don?t know how long I cried, thinking, maybe, just maybe, that Link had wanted it all along. Not to be a hero. Not to be a champion amongst Kokiri. To take vengeance. To wring out all the hatred he had sponged from Mido and his goons since his birth.  

And I?m not sure when it occurred to me that, even in this dark time, this moment of sudden change, a murderer doesn?t help his enemies, that a killer doesn?t return kindness for indifference, that an assassin doesn?t cry over vengeance.  

I can?t remember any other details of that trauma. But I know what happened when I got up. It was in that silence that comes after there?s nothing more to cry about, and all you can do is stare at the ground. I was awakened from my trance by the sounds of gasping, jeering, and a familiar yelp.

I got up slowly and followed the noises to the pond, where the shop was. I gasped in horror. There were many Kokiri, standing in a circle, staring and cringing at something in their midst. I pushed my way through and stared as Mido punched Link again and again, Link yelping every once in a while, Mido sneering in his face. Navi, Link?s fairy, was buzzing back and forth, trying desperately to save him, but to no avail. Link?s sword, (I shuddered as I saw it, dirtied with some oddly colored blood,) and shield were cast off to one side, probably by Mido.

?Slug me!? Mido laughed, ?Slug me hard, you thieving murderer! I bet you stole that sword, didn?t you? Didn?t you??

An enthusiastic giggle went up from Mido?s female friend, an unpleasant, long-faced girl with bunchy green-blonde hair. Her name was Meshka, I think. I glared at her.  

?Yes,? she screamed at him, ?What have you done to the Great Deku Tree? What did you do? Hit him again, Mido!?

Link wheezed and finally spoke up, ?I didn?t do anything. Please. I don?t want to fight you. Let me go. I have to leave the forest. Please.?

?Leave the forest, then! Rot and die in the Hylian fields! But first,? he hissed, ?Give me one more good excuse to pound you into the ground.?

?Stop!? I screamed, pushing through the throng, ?Just stop it! Whatever did Link do to you? What crime has he committed that you should beat him senselessly??

?He was perfect,? Mido shouted back, ?The grubby little weirdo was perfect, OK? Something?s wrong with him. He?s not like me! He?s not like you! But he was still perfect! But he?s not anymore! He killed the Deku Tree! And he?s going to leave and rot as soon as I?m finished with him!?

?No, he didn?t! He couldn?t have! And he?s not leaving!? I cried.

Link stared at me solemnly and shook his head. He wanted me to go. This wasn?t my fight. So I did.

I ran off to the one place I knew I would see him soon. I ran straight for the bridge that leads to Hyrule. There was a hollowed out fallen tree that served as a pathway from the forest to the fields. There was a bridge connecting two severed ends of the log. The bridge overlooked the Lost Woods below, an overly wooded area where Kokiris were advised to keep out of. The bridge was pleasant. The mysterious area below it was not. If you were to cross that bridge and enter the rest of the hollowed log, you would emerge into the unprotected plains of Hyrule, and all other domains it encompasses.

As I approached the entrance, carrying my leather handbag with me, I heard Dunstar, the lazy, youngest Know-it-All brother cry out. It was his duty to guard the exit today, to ensure that no Kokiri would be lost. It didn?t matter. We were all lost now, anyway.

?Saria? Why are you here? You know we Kokiri will die if we leave the forest. You aren?t going to try and leave the forest, are you? You wouldn?t.?

He didn?t sound too terribly serious about it. I had gone to the bridge many times just to relax and I was the oldest and most revered Kokiri.

?Just resting at the bridge,? I replied, ?I?ll be fine.?

I sighed and stared out over the bridge. All Kokiri will die. That meant Link. Unless?I shrugged it off. It was mere suspicion, nothing important. Why was he leaving, anyway? Why? It made sense; it had been coming for a time, but why? Dunstar would let him through, of course. He was practically banishing himself, saving Mido the trouble.

I waited there, staring into the mist of the Lost Woods, feeling the cool night breeze on my face. He would be coming soon. I reached into my leather satchel. I was going to give him this for his birthday. But that would never come. I stroked the wood, feeling the polished curves. I?d never gotten to finish it, but?

I heard the frantic thumping of footsteps approach the bridge, and I hurriedly shoved the object into my satchel. Link emerged came through the passage of the hollow log, not even noticing me, just running past. He had a black eye and bruised shins.

?You?re just going to leave then, aren?t you?? I feebly tried to smile.

Link stopped and turned to face me, biting his lip. He came towards me, Navi with him. At least he wouldn?t be alone. Not like me.

?I?? Link shrugged, not knowing what to say, ?I didn?t??

?I know you didn?t kill him. I thought it, but I didn?t believe it. What happened??

He shook his head, like he couldn?t explain, ?Too much. Too much to tell you now. The Deku Tree told me to leave the forest. I?m on a mission, I guess. I tried to save him, but?? he broke off, staring at the mist with me.

?It?s funny,? I half chuckled, ?I knew that you would leave the forest someday, Link.?

?Why?? he asked.

?Just because,? I mumbled, dangling my feet off the bridge, ?Because you are different from me and my other friends. There?s this?thing about you. It?s unexplainable.?

Link nodded, like he had known it for years. And he had. That?s what his dreams were for, weren?t they? That?s why the Tree wanted him, in his last hour.

?But that?s okay,? I laughed, breaking the tension, ?Because we?ll be friends forever, won?t we??

?Yeah,? Link replied.

?Kind of a hackneyed phrase, isn?t it? I?m sorry, I shouldn?t have said it.?

?No, it?s fine.?

?Oh.?

A pause in the conversation. A firefly flittered between us. A frog chirped.

?I really do have to go,? Link murmured, ?I don?t want to, but I must. I can?t stay longer. It seems I?m obligated to protect the Triforce.?

?The Triforce?? I gasped incredulously, ?Oh, my! You have to tell me about it! Please!?

?I can?t,? he sighed, ?I?ll come back, I promise! I?ll tell you then!?
He rose to his feet. I got up with him. He started to walk away.
 
?Before you go, I have something for you!? I almost yelled.
 
He turned back to face me, smiling.

?I get more than enough presents from you, Saria,? he smiled.
 
?Yeah, well, this one?s different,? I replied.
 
I reached in my satchel and fingered the little entity one last time. It was my best work.
 
?I-I want you to have this ocarina,? I stuttered, ?It?s a musical instrument, you know. It?s like the ones played in the Hylian castle. It?s called a Fairy Ocarina, because there are fairies all over it. But I guess that?s obvious. Please take good care of it; I spent months carving it. See? I?m not even done. The fairy isn?t carved in all the way. See? The bottom wings are missing.?
 
I was blubbering like a dummy now.
 
?It?s?it?s really beautiful, Saria,? he mumbled, stroking it gently.
 
?It?s silly, really,? I sniffled, ?I hoped, in the last few minutes, maybe, when you played my ocarina, you would think of me and come back to the forest to visit. But you don?t know how to play it. And I don?t know much about music either?yet. I?m trying to learn. I have my own. It?s pretty easy, really. But I?m not good enough to teach you, anyway.?
 
?It?s alright,? he grinned, ?It?s nice just to look at, anyway.?
 
I thought a minute. I shouldn?t have said it, but?it just slipped out. ?Or maybe, when you reach the castle, someone there can teach you how to play it. Hylians love music. The ocarina is one of their royal symbols. Maybe someone there can teach you?like the princess.?
 
Link?s smile vanished. He looked at the ocarina, looked at me, and backed away slowly, step by step. We stared at each other for a short while, and then he turned away and broke into a run, disappearing into the hollowed tree that led to Hyrule.  
 
He was gone.
 
And, as I leaned against the bridge suspension rope, listening to the hoot of owls and the chirp of crickets, I could only hope he wasn?t dead, too.

WELL? Did you like it? DIDJADIDJADIDJA? *is slapped* Okay, whatever...

[Husse]

You try that. I've tried THOUSANDS of times, and it hasn't worked yet.

So I unleash my vengeance on the pirate guards in MM, heh heh. Seriously, I nearly had a heart attack when I realized they were characters you could kill with your sword!

[Vazor]

I just saw and read this topic today for the first time. Holy crap. You've got to have a lot of patience do do something like this, and I've got to say you did an awesome job on a difficult task. I know this is gonna get me crucified or something, but I just love the character of Mido. Rutheless, completely evil...I never thought of him that way, I just saw him as the annoying little punk who wouldn't let me through, but this is just...different. Good different, but you're deviating a bit from the game. Just remember not to deviate too much and I'd say you have a pretty awesome story here!

When's the next chapter comin' out?

[Husse]

Next chapter in a few hours.

And Mido, though a bully, is not evil in any sense of the word. Later, he has a little talk with the "stranger" and shows true remorse for what he did, like Joseph and his despicable brothers, I drew from that.

[Husse]

PS Since you obviously know what you're doing with this story, I'm looking for some advice. My OOT comic is just like the first 2 pages of the manga (the mom fleeing to the forest with baby link) and then the Deku Tree. After that, I got the opening with the "In the vast deep forest of Hyrule" and stuff. Then after the "...boy who does not have a fairy" I'm wondering whether I should include the dream or not... I hope I've given enough info... what do you think?

Just IMO? I think, if you're having the mother show up with Link, (which I would not do, b/c I'd like it to be a surprise when Link is revealed to be a Hylian/human being/ not an elf, but whatever floats your boat,) then I would hold off on the dream until a very frighteneing, critical point in the story, (Gohma battle,) or if he falls asleep again somewhere before the dream comes true. You see, after that dramatic mother sequence, I don't think you should reveal too much about Link too quick, now that we already know he's Hylian. Leave the mysteries to unravel slowly. Just IMO, of course, I'm not a comic artist, maybe you NEED more excitement in the beginning.

As for when I started? Hm. Day after Valentine's day, last year, then I quit in March, after becoming very depressed over losing the Spelling Bee, (long story,) I rebegan in September, typed whenever I felt like it, and I'm more avid now, gained 20 pages in a month. Savvy?

NEXT CHAPTER!!!

This is a transition chapter. Nothing too special. Just a transition. However, I was thinking of "Thriller" when I wrote the Stalchild scene. We're introduced to Kaepora Gaebora, who plays a less than pivotal role in the story, but I can't leave him out either, so I added to his character, by...well, hm, you'll find out soon enough. If you see that much of it. BlackHawk won't like what I did with it.

14
Wide Open Spaces
Link

 
Well, I wasn?t dead yet. I emerged into a brambly clearing, with one or two scraggly old trees blocking my path, and brambly bushes blocking the way. I immediately began hacking away with my sword. We weren?t in the field yet, either.
 
?Well,? Navi sighed, ?We have officially left the forest. No one out on the plains but you, me, and that hefty looking saddlebag you?ve got. How are you supposed to do any fighting with that sack turning you into a pack mule??
 
?It?s not heavy,? I replied, patting my shoulder bag, ?It?s just got a slingshot, a compass, and some nuts and sticks. The shield?s fine, here on my back, and I?ll obviously need that for combat. The sword sheath goes right behind it. All in all, I think I?ve organized rather well. And I?d hardly call this ?the plains of Hyrule.? It?s nothing but a messy bunch of tangled twigs and??
 
I froze.
 
So that was Hyrule field.
 
It was longer and vaster than the Forest, Lost Woods, and Deku Meadow combined. There wasn?t a landmark in sight, no sign nor house marred the never ending expanse of treeless field. It was incredible. The sky?s very edges could be seen from the ground below. Few trees and large bushes stood as signs of position in the infinitum of wheat and grass. And, as I squinted, yes! There was a path to follow, faded and dirty, but a path nonetheless.
 
?Maybe the road won?t be as long as we think,? I shrugged, ?Not when I?m with you, Navi. I?m glad you?re here. I don?t think I?d know much about Hylians myself. How far do you suppose it is? And in what direction? Will the path lead us there??
 
?We won?t know until we actually set foot on the path, now will we?? Navi chided.
 
There was a pause.
 
?Navi,? I cleared my throat, ?If a Kokiri leaves the forest, he is out of the Deku Tree?s protection. Furthermore, he will die. If I set foot on that field, I will be very much out of the forest.?
 
Navi moaned, ?I know. But the Deku Tree is protecting no one now. And the Kokiri within the forest are not dead.?
 
?You don?t know that,? I interrupted.
 
?Just step out on the path, Link. I know you?ll be fine.?
 
?Alright,? I grumbled, ?On the count of three. One,?
 
I raised my foot.
 
?Two,?  
 
I lowered it down.
 
?Hoo hoot! Link!? A happy voice hooted.
 
I fell backwards and whirled around, searching for the voice that had scared me half to death. No one. Who had called me? Navi shrugged innocently.
 
?Look up here!? it hooted out again.
 
I looked up to see a very large owl smiling in a human-like way. He was at least 3 times my size and wise looking, with long, feathery eyebrows characteristic of a Great Horned Owl. This, of course, was a very Great Horned Owl.
 
?Do I know you?? I asked, thinking I had seen this peculiar bird before.
 
?I don?t know,? he chuckled, ?Only you would be able to answer that question! But, I?ll give you a hint. Do you remember a very long name? It rhymes!?
 
It came to me in an instant, ?Kaepora!? I shouted.
 
?That?s right,? he smiled, ?I am Kaepora Gaebora. Fine memory you?ve got!?
 
I had only met the owl when I was four, but a creature like that is hard to forget. I had been relaxing with The Great Deku Tree in the meadow, as all Kokiri did at that age, when a large shadow passed over me. It startled me at first, but the Tree calmed me and told me that it was an old friend of his. Kaepora was evidently a messenger. He carried news between the royals of each race of Hyrule, telling stories and important tidbits before laughing and leaving in a flurry of feathers.
 
?It appears that the time has finally come for you to start your adventure!? he grinned at me, ?The Deku Tree has been telling me of it recently, that you are the foretold protector of the Triforce! Is it true??
 
?Yes,? I replied, ?Though I don't know much about it, yet. I?ve just started off for the castle, to see the Princess.?
 
?Aye!? he nodded, ?With a fairy to boot! You are ready for anything, I gander! The Princess will be of much help to you, I know. But, I must warn you, you will encounter many hardships ahead, if what has been told to me is true. That is your fate, you know, if you believe in that sort of thing. You shouldn?t feel discouraged, even in the toughest times! Be strong, and all that! Oh, listen to me prattle! I really must get going! So, how is the old Deku Tree? Has he gotten better? I was on my way to see him, and??
 
I stared down at the ground, gravely.  
 
The owl drooped and turned to preen his feathers nonchalantly. He sniffed a little and hung his head.
 
?Well,? he groaned, ?He was a wonderful father to the Kokiri and I am sure they will never forget him. I shall have to see that he has a predecessor. There hasn?t been a new Deku Tree in a good eight hundred years. He was my dear friend.?
 
?Eight hundred years?? I asked.
 
?Oh, well,? the owl blushed, ?My age is nothing to be ashamed of. I?m bound to keep on ticking for a couple more centuries! But you?d better get going! You should get to Hyrule Castle before the sun goes down! It?s just dawn, I know, but you have a long travel. The drawbridge will go up, you know. You?ll be locked out! The Princess will be there, and she?ll explain everything else you need to know!?
 
?Wait!? I yelled, ?I?m not sure which way to go! Can you tell me where it is??
 
?That all depends,? he replied, ?Do you have a compass? I?m not one for roads, I go as the crow flies, you know.?
 
I pulled my blue compass out from my bag and held it up.
 
?I trust,? he grinned, ?You know how to use it??
 
?The needle always points North; use it as a guide,? I nodded.
 
?Good. Now remember this: Hyrule Castle lies to the North, Death Mountain and its small village to the Northeast, The Great Ranch to the Northwest, The River to the East, The desert to the West, the Great Lake to the South, and this forest,? he finished with a flourish, ?Is in the Southeast. Did you get all that? Is that good enough??
 
?It?s absolutely perfect,? I replied, ?I?ll remember!?
 
?All right then!? he shouted, ?I?ll see you around! Hoot hoot hoot ho, and all that! I?m going to go perch; I?ve had a long night!?
 
And he spread his broad wings and flew off.
 
?Goodbye, Kaepora!? Navi shouted.
 
I looked out at the field once again. Navi joined me and I took a deep breath.
 
?All right!? I cried, ?No hesitations! I?m going to step out on this field, and if a thundercloud should strike me dead, it?s not like I wasn?t warned!?
 
Well, I planted my foot out onto that field, and I am happy to say that I was not stricken dead. Navi and I traveled across the expanse of fresh grass, dirt path, and blue sky for miles.

And miles.
 
And miles.
 
And miles.
 
We were just reaching the top of a hill, plenty tired, but forced to race against the now-setting sun. Panting and huffing, we took in the unusual beauty around us for the thousandth time and collapsed, scanning the horizon for a castle. It was Navi who spotted it, a gray spot, like a deformed mountain, lit up by the red sky. As I squinted to make out the form, I could see a big, wooden, door, the drawbridge, flat down upon the ground, and a soldier lighting torches outside the castle, beacons for our travel.
 
Navi and I let out a happy cry and ran like madmen for the castle. The sky was darkening. The sun?s faint fingertips were leaving the broad sky. We ran faster. The moon began to rise. A wolf howled in the distance. We ran faster. Navi flew in front of my face, leading me on, telling me to step lively.
 
We were no more than fifty feet from the drawbridge when a crow squawked out, and the drawbridge began to lift, slowly, from the ground. Great, big, chains lifted the humongous plank and pulled it out of reach.
 
?No, wait!? I shouted, ?Wait a moment! Let us in!?
 
Kaepora had been right to warn us. The trip across the field was too long to take leisurely, and now there was nothing to get us across the moat. We would have to spend the night in the cold, open, plains.
 
?Well,? I sighed, matter-of-factly, ?What?s done is done. The bridge will lower at dawn. We?ll just have to sleep out here, in the grass. I just hope there aren?t any carnivores nearby. The situation can?t get much worse.?
 
The clouds of irony thundered overhead. I had spoken too soon.
 
Navi yawned as it began to pour, ?There aren?t any wolves nearby, if that?s what you mean. Spring, of course, does harbor more?interesting?foes. I don?t think there are any of those arou??
 
She froze in mid-sentence as a noise like someone gargling gravel rose from within the ground. She had spoken too soon, also.
 
I crawled underneath a nearby willow tree as the rain grew heavier. The ground cracked in pores only a few yards from us. But it wasn?t the rain doing it.
 
?What?kind of foes, Navi?? I whispered.
 
Something white and sharp purged the surface of the ground, then retreated quickly with a growl.  
 
?Navi?? I repeated, ?Navi??
 
The something jumped out of the ground with startling suddenness, a something with a pugly hollowed nose like orifice sniffing for prey. It turned to look at me with red and black beady eyes. It smiled, but it was not a nice smile.
 
?A Stalchild!? she shouted, and the hunchbacked skeleton of a dog waddled toward us. The carcass-like creature hobbled on two legs, like a person, but hunched and snarled with a skin-spotted doggish skull.
 
Another rose, and another. They were thin, obviously, but didn?t intend to eat me. (As if they could.) They just wanted to have a little ?fun.?
 
?My light!? Navi hissed, ?It will keep them away! You stay back here!?
 
And so, as the night dragged on endlessly, with the rain pouring down and the Stalchilds snarling at Navi, who flitted back and forth, glimmering in their beady eyes, and as the chill of the wind, and the clamminess of the rain made me shiver in the darkened night, my mind echoed one sentiment.
 
So, I thought, so this is heroism.

Little character development at the end, too.

[Vazor]

T'was good. Just one thing:

?He was a wonderful father to the Kokiri and I am sure they will never forget him. I shall have to see that he has a predecessor.

It would be "successor", not "predecessor." Predecessor comes before, successor comes after. Sorry, I just obsess over those sorts of things. >_<

Otherwise, cool chapter.

[Husse]

Vazor, you're right. Duh, me.

PS. is there some way i could contact you (the message thing isnt working) (i wanna discuss something with you (to do with my comic actually))

Um, you can check if I'm on IM. The private message thing should work. My AIM thing is under my name.

the game is always so... unfeeling, like nobody ever really cares about anything...

I disagree. Were it that way, I never would have benn compelled to write about it. I truly felt something from this story, even if the 64 bits left no emotion blatant.

I'll uh, comment further in a minute, gotta go, yipe!

[Husse]

The only part that kinda irks me is that the first paragraph (or so) kinda makes Saria seem...ditsy...

Actually, at the beginning, she is a little hyper and ditsy, and even when she's serious, we see she's a bit naiive. Regardless, if there's anywhere I put the ditz in her, it's in Chapter 2. The first paragraph? Aw, c'mon! They're Kokiri! They love nature, and girls like things to look nice. What's ditzy about gathering flowers?

all of the Kokiri still act like little kids... maybe it's just natural for them.

Remember the Village? "Innocence is what we're protecting here!" LOL. But seriously, I've never seen a Kokiri in OoT act wise, with the exception of Saria. Every other sentence a girl says is punctuated with giggles, in fact, like they'd cloned Malon. They're children, that's how they act.

Though you were right about one thing, the whole Kaepora Gaebora thing is... *shudders*

OH! That's, uh, not what I was talking about at all...you see, Kaepora has a major role here, but not b/c he's a goofball that pops in and out. Yeah, I made him goofy, but he kinda is, always talking to you with his head upside down and laughing. You se, er, I thought you would despise the rather, shall we say, questionable theory I plan to incorporate later. Really, the theory makes perfect sense, you've seen it before, but no hard core serious fan likes it. I think it's true.

What theory, do you ask, am I screwing Kaepora over with?

regardless of the fact that it puts Kaepora in the position of a mere messenger and gossip-monger.

No, no! He's still an Ancient Sage. A very familiar Ancient Sage with the same bushy brows, the same eyes, and the many alludes in the context of the game that suggest that Rauru is none other than...yep, that's the theory. Now you can yell at me.

[Husse]

i dunno what you mean by AIM and everytime the thing opens to send you a message it says "this page cannot be displayed"

It should work. I guess your comp's just screwed up. AIM is AOL Instant Messenger. But apparently you don't have it. Well, uh, if you can RECIEVE Private Messages, I'll send you my e-mail, just don't give it to anyone else.

it can't be coincedence that they look so similar (unless it is...)

If that were the ONLY reason, I wouldn't take the theory seriously at all. One other reason is the Gossip Stone, (game maker's goodies,) says that Kaepora is the reincarnation of an Ancient Sage. You are told as soon as possible that Rauru is an Ancient Sage. Also, 'nother bit of evidence, (the strongest, IMO, what really gave me the idea, that hey, this is a little mystery they never gave away obviously.) is the end credits themselves. We see Kaepora flying away toward Death Mountain. Later, we see five, I repeat FIVE Sages zipping toward where? Death Mountain. Rauru is not among them.

That's just about all the evidence besides the eerie look-alike thing.

Anyway, NEXT CHAPTER!!!!

I hate this one, by the way, it sucks. I'm probably going to rewrite it. What I thought was a good idea of getting all the people's opinions in Castle Town just came off as awkward/annoying. The chapters after this are good, though, to compensate. Tell me how you would like me to rewrite this one, unless you liked the weird way its done.

It's long as crap, too.

15
The World of Hylians
Link

 
It was a long, cold, night we waited through, but at the split second of the rooster crow, the drawbridge lowered and the Stalchilds, who had long since lost interest in us, dug deep into the ground with a snarl. Morning was not their time.  
 
Navi and I had dried off in the wee hours of the morning when the rain stopped. Aching with the consequences of no sleep, we ran toward the bridge shakily, ready to enter the castle, meet the Princess, and leave as soon as possible.
 
?Welcome!? a gruff voice called out, ?Welcome to Hyrule Castle Town! It?s a peaceful, prosperous town. Enjoy your stay!?
 
?Thank you,? I replied sheepishly to the boisterous guard. I didn?t really like Hylians; they aged. And any odd race like that must have done something wrong to cause this problem. Children were fine, of course. They were just like Kokiris.  
 
?Well!? he exclaimed, blocking my path with his spear, ?We don?t get very many fairy children around here, no sir! On behalf of his Majesty, the King, I thank you further for leaving the sheltered environs of the forest to enjoy our hospitality! You?re very lucky to arrive when you did, you know. Saturday is market day! I hope you brought plenty of Rupees!?
 
?Sorry, I?m broke,? I mumbled, a little surprised at being called a ?fairy child.? Hylian term. To be more friendly, I added, ?I would?ve arrived yesterday, anyway, but I couldn?t make it before the bridge went up.?
 
?Well, daytime in the market is a far cry better than nighttime. Thieves and wild dogs, you know,? he smiled, ?Kids aren?t permitted to wander around at nighttime; you?d have had to stay indoors until morning, anyway!?  
 
?Well,? I said, walking carefully around the pointed spear, ?I?m glad this town is peaceful. I could do with some peace after what I?ve been through.?
 
As I walked away, he yelled back, ?I?m actually rather bored with it all. Things would sure be more interesting if there were more?troubles in the world. But that?s just between you and me!?
 
I ran towards the plaza as the big guard laughed behind me. Were all Hylians that friendly? I, oddly enough, hoped they weren't. I?d never been very social, it was hard to with strangers. There was cobblestone beneath my boots, and it made for unpleasant walking. We passed a turret, passed a banner, and finally heard the clamor of a crowd on market day.  
 
?It?s a very nice plaza, isn?t it?? Navi hummed.
 
?I have to agree,? I sighed, ?These Hylians know how to beautify.?
 
There were colorful green, red, and blue banners all over the place, and flowers placed in the center around a fountain. There were even trees planted in the gaps of the cobblestone! There were also chickens, dogs, and Hylians all over the place. There were more humans in this small court than Kokiris in the entire forest! Some were buying, some were talking, but most all of them were moving around, pushing me back and forth.
 
?C?mon! Can?t you make it any cheaper??
 
?Hey! Let go, it?s mine!?
 
?Oh, no, you wretch! I found it first!?
 
?Hey, who bumped me??
 
?Huh? What? Shoo, kid, shoo!?
 
They were all chattering pointlessly. But one little snippet of conversation caught my attention.
 
?Oh, that?s a good one! Hey, have you heard about Princess Zelda? It?s only a rumor, you know, but some people say she claims to see prophetic visions in her dreams! I know, isn?t it a ruse? I mean, what kind of a freak??
 
?Excuse me,? I asked, ?What was that about the Princess??
 
?None of your business!? the young woman shouted at me, ?You little eavesdropper! Get away from me!?
 
I hastily backed away, bumping up against a tree. Well, they weren?t all friendly.
 
?Wha-ha-ha!? I heard another voice laugh, ?I can?t believe you could be so stupid!?
 
?I beg your pardon?? I growled, turning around to see the young man on the other side of the tree.
 
?Oh, no,? he said, ?I wasn?t talking about you! I was talking to my brother here. He?s such a crazy guy! I have to tell you!?
 
I was looking at two young boys, who were at that weird stage where they were ceasing to be children, but were not quite adults. They were gawky, with brown hair and small mustaches, and looked exactly alike. Twins. We had a lot of those in the forest.
 
?Okay, this guy was stupid enough to try to sneak into the castle. Guards surround the place, and yet he tries to sneak into the castle! And all because of him, they?ve tightened security further up there! What an idiot! It?s hard to believe we?re related!?
 
?Wait,? I stopped him, ?So, this isn?t the castle? I thought it was.?
 
?This is Castle Town,? the second one grumbled, ?There?s a difference. And I?m sorry if you think it?s stupid, Bonzi, but I wanted to see Princess Zelda! And you were too chicken to accompany me! There weren?t that many guards either. I snuck past them, swam through the little moat, and I was almost there when they caught me.?
 
?Tell him how you got caught!? the first twin insisted.
 
The other twin rolled his eyes, ?I was in the moat, looking for an entrance, when I saw a small drain hole on the east side of the castle. I thought I could sneak in that way, but they caught me.?
 
?How did they catch you?? ?Bonzi? probed, ?Tell him!?
 
The twin turned red, ?I got stuck, alright! They had to pull me out of the drain hole! Happy? I was screaming bloody murder, and they found me!?
 
?What did I tell you?? his brother laughed, ?Stupid, huh??
 
?Yeah,? I mumbled, ?Stupid.?
 
After we?d snuck away from the laughing boys, Navi groaned, ?Well, getting into that castle isn?t going to be a walk in the park.?
 
?Where is the castle?? I asked, ?If this is Castle Town??
 
?I suggest you get information from the people here,? Navi advised, ?We?ll need to know a lot about Hylians if we?re to communicate successfully with one.? She gestured toward the rude woman.
 
It wasn?t long before I found myself talking to a merchant, bargaining for paper and ink. Since I didn?t have money, I had to barter one of my items for it, and be paid the difference.
 
?Lousy rotter,? I mumbled, ?He took my shield.?
 
?At least you have money, now,? Navi pointed at the Rupees in my hand, ?You can get a better shield.?  
 
?Hm,? I mumbled, ?Taking notes on Hylians. This should be interesting.?
 
As the day?s hours dragged on, I don?t think there was a single person in that whole plaza that I didn?t strike up a conversation with. And out of so many people I talked to, very few gave me any valuable information. The marketplace was clearing as dusk fell, and there really wasn?t anyone else to talk to.  
 
?Let?s see what you have there,? Navi said.
 
I showed her my piece of paper, and she read out loud the following:

1. There is a large building at the northeast part end of town called The Temple of Time where great parties are held for the royalty. Legend has it that it may be somehow connected with the Sacred Realm.
2. The Royal Family of Hylians is protected by Sheikahs. There are very few Sheikahs left in the castle, however, because there has been a long period of peace in Hyrule.

?Well, at least we have some more information about this Sacred Realm,? Navi nodded, ?But what are Sheikahs??

?They are a race of beings like Hylians,? I said, ?Only enhanced. They have sworn an allegiance with the King of Hyrule for acceptance, and, to hold up their part of the deal, they protect his family. They are born with special abilities such as: extreme athleticism, ninja-like stealth and speed, and a very interesting other ability.?

?What?? Navi asked.

?They can tell whether a person is telling the truth or not, as well as reading the minds of animals. They are called the Shadow Folk, because they are like the shadow of the Royal Hylian they protect. Always watching for trouble.?

?That?s certainly interesting,? Navi agreed, continuing to read.

3. Hylians are very interested in money and selling and buying things.
4. Hylians find the practice of dancing humiliating in public.

Navi laughed, ?The third one is obvious; it?s all we?ve seen all day. But I don?t understand the fourth one.?

?Well, I came across a woman who was doing this odd sort of dance. When I tried to compliment her, she yelled at me, saying, ?I?m not dancing, you fool! My back itches!??

?Hm,? Navi replied suspiciously, and kept reading.

5. The Castle is located due north of the town, up a hill. It has fortressed walls, much like Castle Town, and cannot be reached from any other part of Hyrule, as it is surrounded by the continuous wall around town. Also, speaking of town, it is important to stay out of the town?s back alleys; they are dangerous.
6. Hylian men and women are often victims of love, and do not like people butting in on them when they are with each other alone.
7. ?A (Hylian) man is only as good as his beard.?

?At least we know where the castle is,? Navi muttered, ?And I don?t even want to know how you discovered number six. There are quotes around number seven, who said that??

?There was a man with a bald head and a long beard that I talked to. He told me that. Said he was very proud of his.?

8. Hylians despise being late to anywhere, and are often in a rush.

?You can tell that by looking at anyone around here,? I said, ?But one man in particular told me that. He said he was late for an important date.?

9. Hylians love pets, and dogs are especially important to them. Ex: A woman I met was very proud of her terrier, Little Richard, and said every other dog was a mutt compared to it.
10. The animals with the hooves in my dream are called horses, and they have counterparts called cows, both of which, I assume, are for riding and milking. They are bred with chickens in a place called a ranch that can be found just west of town, across the field.
11. Chickens have recently been cross-bred to produce a super-chicken called a Cucco, which is twice the size of a normal chicken and lays more eggs. It is also a much more accurate morning alarm.
 
?So many animals,? Navi whispered, ?Not very many intelligent plants. These people should really diversify their kingdoms.?
 
?How many animal species are in the forest, Navi??
 
She didn?t answer that one. As the sun sunk into the hills behind us, I could hear someone singing. I ignored it for the moment.

12. Hylians, like Kokiri and Sheikah, have large ears, unlike the Gerudo, Zoras, and Gorons. Some think that this is because these races are humanoid, but?so are the Gerudo.
13. ?The back alleys of town are very dangerous, what with gambling businesses and packs of dogs, but may provide interesting information about your enemies?-Tip for a warrior

?Warrior?? Navi asked.

?Well, he asked why I had a sword, I didn?t answer him, so he assumed I was undercover or something like that. He said he was a warrior, too, but?I think he was just??

?Crazy??

?Yes! That?s the word I was looking for. He was staring at a brick wall the whole time I was talking to him. Said he was loitering around, as part of his job.?

?Some people are odd,? Navi sighed.

?And a lot of the odd ones are hanging around here,? I replied.

What was that singing? I could still hear it, and it was very pretty, but who was it?

14. Packs of dogs roam the streets at night. They are not tame, and often aggressive. Thus, there has been a recent rule prohibiting children from being on the streets at night.
15. Near the castle is a fairy fountain, accessible by a tunnel. Such fountains are rare, and it is a privilege to ever enter one.

?Oh!? Navi cried, ?I love fountains! It?s so nice to congregate with other fairies and talk, bathe and relax at the fountain! That?s where fairies are born, you know. It?s very fun to go there and meet the new arrivals! I was born in the Sacred Forest Meadow?s fountain, of course. I remember first meeting the Great Deku??

?Sacred Forest Meadow?? I asked, ?I?ve never heard of that. Where is that??

Navi froze in mid-jabber.

?So,? she hummed, ?Is that everything on the list??

?That?s it,? I sighed, ?It?s getting dark.?

?It most certainly is!? sneered a gangly, old guard, ?Children should not be out on the street!?

I jumped in surprise. I didn?t think anyone had been listening to us.

?Especially,? he continued, ?Leetle ?Fairy Children!? Blasted Kokiris! You don?t care a bit about us, never coming to veesit, so why should we care a bit about you??

?Sorry,? I mumbled, ?But I don?t live here. I don?t have a place to??

?That goes for you, too, young lady!? he turned, forgetting me for the moment, ?I don?t want to have to clean up your cadaver when the dogs crawl out of the gutters and??

The girl he was referring to wasn?t listening. She stared at him coldly and whipped her hair out of her eyes in a ?Who cares?? gesture. She turned around and resumed singing. So that?s who it had been. She was very cute, very sweet, and the way she had looked at the guard...

?Could she be...? Navi whispered.

?Maybe,? I hissed, and slid casually past the yelling guard, pulling my cap down. I might not have to go to the castle after all.

I slipped past the screaming guard, and tapped the girl on the shoulder, ?Excuse me. Pardon my intrusion, but?are you?the Princess??

She stared at me awkwardly like I had chickens growing in my hair, ?Noooo. Of course not. You?re not from around here, are you??

?How could you tell?? I asked. The guard was just giving up on shouting at us, and began to walk back to his post.

?For one thing,? she hummed, pacing slowly around me, looking me over, ?The ridiculous question you just asked me. And for another, your clothes.?

?What about them?? I shot back, slightly insulted. I liked my clothes. Every Kokiri wore green. And I loved my hat. My floppy, green, never-changing stocking hat.

?They?re, um,? she bit her lip, thinking, ?Different. Yeah, that?s the word.?

She continued looking me over, peering at my sword, investigating my belt, prodding my shoulder bag, not knowing what to think of me. I didn?t move; I was too befuddled. I wasn?t really used to having girls this close to me, besides Saria, of course. By this time, Navi had had enough. She flew out from behind me and hovered a few inches in front of the girl, tsking.

?Haven?t you ever heard of personal space?? she asked, ?Link here is an outsider, but he is not an exhibit.?

?Oh, I?m sorry,? she muttered, ?I was just trying to remember where I had seen this kind of person before, but I remember now! You?re a fairy boy from the forest, aren?t you? We don?t see many of your kind around here, not at all!?

?That?s okay,? I sighed, ?I?m used to being thought of as peculiar. So, if you?re not the Princess, who are you, and why are you staying out so late??

?Well, you see, my dad went to the castle, up there,? she gestured towards the hill beyond us, ?To deliver some milk, and he hasn?t come back yet. My dad owns Lon Lon Ranch, you know, and he comes to sell milk every Saturday. Mom was Malon, and Dad is Talon, so I suppose that?s where the ranch?s name came from. I can?t exactly go home by myself, so?I just sung a tune to pass the time. Do you like to sing??

?I like it,? I shrugged, ?But I?m not very good at it.?

The girl laughed. It was a bubbly, pleasant, sound. It reminded me of Saria. ?Why are you out so late, then, fairy boy??

?Well,? I explained,  ?I was going to go to the castle to see Princess?oh, what was it? There was a young man that mentioned her name, but I can?t??

?Zelda?? she guessed.

?Yes, that was it. I was just going to see Princess Zelda, but I stayed behind to take some notes on Hylians. I figured, if I waited for cover of darkness, maybe the guards wouldn?t catch me.?

?Notes on Hylians,? she snorted skeptically, ?Let me see.?

?So, what?s your name?? I asked, handing her the list.

?You know,? she smiled, reading, ?Some of the stuff on here is perfectly ridiculous. I mean, I?m only nine, but even I know that??

?What?s your name?? I prodded.

?Malon,? she replied, not even looking up from her reading, ?After my mother.?

?Does she sing as well as you do?? I asked, ?You two would make a great duo.?

?No,? she spoke softly, handing back my paper, ?She?s dead. But Daddy says she had the voice of an angel.?

I shifted uneasily. I shouldn?t have said anything.

?Of course,? she smiled, ?He didn?t have to tell me. I can still remember her, vaguely. That song I was singing, for example. It was one of her favorites.?

I sighed and looked back at the hill. I was losing time.

?I, er, I have to go, Malon. It was nice meeting you. Goodbye.?

I walked off up the path, leaving Malon humming in the cold, stone streets.  

?You like her, don?t you?? Navi giggled.

?Oh, plug it,? I muttered back.

No, I'm not really setting up a ROMANCE between him and Malon, but there are a couple alludes to how they think of each other. A lot of people don't realize that he and Zelda don't fit together at all. She's too outlandish and brash, he's too humble and quiet. Also, unlike ALL the other girls in Hyrule, there's never even a suggestion that she loves him. Saria and he can't be together, Ruto and he can't either. Nabooru's already a pedophile, that leaves Malon. It's possible. The two personalities click like a puzzle, and the Gossip Stone said she longs for a knight to sweep her away...

But in the end, of course, Link remains alone, and lives in the castle till his next adventure. But when he returns after MM? No one knows. That's why I give little Malon alludes. To set it up and give a mybe-mabenot approach to the whole thing.

[Husse]

It's called boredom/fascination all rolled into one. It works wonders.

[Husse]

NEXT CHAPTER! (Two in one day? I'm cruisin'! )

This one is VERY brief, and contains only a smidgen of events. The reason I broke chapter here, is because the next one is fairly long, and I wanted to keep them seperate. And no, I don't think it's too much fanfic to have Malon meet Kaepora, in the game she does follow him, and they seperate at the wall, as they do here. Adding the owl adds the flavor.

We're getting very close to the Zelda chapter, one of my favorites. I hope you'll agree with how I chose to portray her.

Oh yeah, like the title? It'll make sense at the end. I thought the whole egg thing was a little off, too biologically inaccurate. After thinking on that, I changed my thoughts on how the whole egg carrying would work.

16
With a Chicken in my Arms
Link

 
I stared at the castle sitting proudly on the hill in the distance. It seemed so durable and unmoving, like a thousand armies with cannons, siege towers, and battering rams couldn?t budge a pebble of it.

?It?s very beautiful, isn?t it?? Navi beamed.

I walked along the dirt road, eyes fixated on my long-awaited destination ahead of me. Within that armored palace lay the Princess, and I couldn?t wait to meet her! The sound of soft moccasins came padding up behind me. I knew who it was, too.

?Lonely?? I asked, without turning around.

?Yeah,? Malon replied, ?Not to mention the nasty little terriers sniffing around the place. I wouldn?t want one of those twelve-inch terrors to rip me to shreds.?

I laughed. Maybe wild dogs really were a problem at night, but I?d had a suspicion for a while that it was only an exaggeration used to motivate children not to stay out late. Malon came up to my side, smiling cheerfully. She was holding a chicken, (or maybe a Cucco), that was beating its wings wildly, and squawking. Navi?s wings went into a little disgusted spasm, and she turned away. I was confused. What was wrong with being friendly to a nine-year old human being?

?Your name?s Link, right??

?Yes, why??  

?I forgot,? she grinned, ?I?m bad with names. Can I call you Lefty??

?No,? I bristled.

?Why not? You are a lefty.?

?Because, um?have you ever been to the castle?? I asked hopefully, changing the subject. Being left-handed was yet another awkward difference I possessed.  

?No,? she replied, ?Daddy makes all the trips by himself. He doesn?t usually stay this late, though, and that?s why I followed you??

She froze in mid-sentence, staring up above, pale and shaky. She screamed and fell back, huddled on the dirt. The rooster in her arms flailed.

I turned and followed her gaze, sword in hand, prepared for the worst, and then I relaxed. Perched high in the tree was a familiar feathered friend.

?Hi, Kaepora,? I sighed, ?Been following me around??

?I was bored,? he replied, stretching his wings, ?Does your friend not like owls??

Malon looked on at this exchange, confused, ?What?s going on?? she said deeply, slowly.

?Oh, sorry,? I smiled, ?I?ve forgotten my manners. Kaepora, meet Malon. Malon, this is Kaepora Gaebora. Despite his looks, he?s really very friendly. Right??

?Pleased to meet your acquaintance,? the owl hooted, turning his head until it was upside down, and grinning like a carving on a totem pole.

?Charmed, then, um, Mr. Gaebora, sir,? Malon replied, barely audible. She was apparently still intimidated by this large, nocturnal, bird of prey. He fluttered down from his tree and she flinched.

?Don?t be afraid, girl. I don?t bite! Unless you?re a muskrat, that is! Hoot ho!? he laughed at his own joke.

Malon giggled nervously and relaxed. Her chicken had been very quiet for a while.

?Hm,? he continued, on a tangent, ?Speaking of which, when was my last meal? Now I?m all hungry! I?ll have to scout out the land for some mink, maybe opossum? No?you eat opossum and two hours later, you?re hungry again! Now, let?s see??

I interrupted him, for even the prospect of raw opossum made me sick, ?What did you want to tell me, Kaepora??

?Ah, well, you see, I wasn?t sure you knew where to find the Princess. You see, she spends a lot of time in the castle, and I just wanted to tell you that you can?t get past the courtyard, if even that far. The area is coated with guards from top to bottom! So, the only way you?ll be able to see her is if you can catch her outside. They are slim chances, but chances nonetheless. Well, then, which way are you going to go now??

?I planned to follow the path until I reached the castle moat, but??

?There is a large stone entryway halfway down the path. If the guard there won?t let you pass, you?ll just have to sneak past across the hills or meadows. And this little lady,? Kaepora gestured toward Malon, ?cannot accompany you. Your meeting with the Princess should be in private. I?m sorry, but she?ll have to stay back. And that?s all I have to tell you!?

?Right, then,? I replied, anxious, ?I?ll see you around!?

?Farewell, Link and friend! Be smart! Be careful!? he called back, struggling for altitude, ?By the way, I?ve decided on beaver! Now, if I could only find one??

Malon sighed and stroked her frightened fowl gently, thinking.

?I?ll, uh, stay back here, then,? she whispered, ?I would probably just slow you down, anyway.?

?I?m sorry, Malon,? I replied.

?But could you do me a favor while you?re up there??

?Of course!?

?Will you find my daddy? I think he may have fallen asleep on his errand. He does that a lot. You?ll know him when you see him.?

I shrugged, ?If I see him, I will.?

?And, could you do me a bigger favor?? she pleaded.

?Anything at all.?

She smiled and held out her Cucco. My eyes widened.

I should have just said no. I felt like a goon and had no experience with animals whatsoever. And here I was, approaching the gateway on the path, with a Cucco in my arms. A feisty male Cucco named Cojiro. A feisty male Cucco that shed a lot, for that matter. I was feather covered by the time I reached the gate.

?Name and business,? the guard at the large stone entry asked.

?Link,? I said, ?I?m delivering a Cucco to Mr. Talon.? It was half true. I couldn?t tell him the other half of the story, after all.

?Last name?? he sneered, reminding me of the night watchman in town.

?Ah,? I replied shakily, ?Kokiri??

?Fairy boy,? he spit, ?Delivering a chicken? I don?t believe a word of it.?

I gulped, ?Well, uh, sir, what would you believe??

?Tempted,? he asked ?To see the Princess Zelda, fairest of all maidens??

?Yes, sir. You?re right. That?s the real reason I came. I apologize.? Honesty is always smiled upon, and I couldn?t hide the truth from this gentleman.

?Well then!? he grinned, ?That changes everything!?

I breathed a sigh of relief.

?Go home!? he shouted, ?Get out of here! The princess would never grant an audience to the likes of you!?

I backed up hastily, as the ?gentleman? pitched his spear at me. He was a very good aim, too. He clipped off some of Cojiro?s tail feathers with the razor breeze from the toss.

Navi spoke up for the first time in a long time, ?We?ll have to take it by stealth, then!?

?Yes,? I replied drolly, ?With a chicken in my arms.?

Recognize the name Cojiro?

[Husse]

On a late note, I realize that Link wouldn't want to talk to all these people at all, and that's another reason to change a few things about that chapter, like you said.

And what is this MGS of which you speak? MGS...hm. Please explain this strange strange pun to me...

Yeah, after much deliberation, I decided I wouldn't include the Biggoron subquest and stuck Cojiro's name in there anyway.

As for Rauru? Well, he'll have a very dry sense of humor. I can't really change his personality from one extreme to the other, that would kind of spoil the spirit of the real story, you know? He's very blunt about things, he makes half-crude jests about stunned Link in his new condition, but the connection becomes clear. The Kaepora you've seen thus far is pretty cheery, but you can tell he's wise and determined on the inside. The humor evaporates a bit to leave the blunt determination later. It's hard to be funny, after all, when the world you protect and cherish comes crashing down around your knees.

NEXT CHAPTER!

This one's pretty blunt, but I added some creative liberties, like the reappearance of the gate guard. I was afraid of going overboard with Talon, so I tried to keep him tied to "formal hick," and I don't know that it went over well. Next time, I'll go all out.

17
Sneaky Does It
Link

I scouted the walls of the hill, out of sight of the guard, for an alternate route. The hill was steep, however, like an earthen wall leading up to the gate. And I certainly couldn?t go in through the gate! Cojiro clucked contentedly while I felt for a handhold of some sort on the mossy incline.

?Pst!? Navi hissed, ?Over there!?

I followed her gaze. A vine, a single vine would be my only transport up the wall. I?d have to rappel backwards, so to speak.

?Think you can climb it?? she asked.

I glanced back around the corner at the preoccupied guard. There was no time to waste. Cojiro had to go first. Navi nudged the Cucco, who fluttered to the top of the hill, and pecked at her, upset. That was easy. Grabbing the vine, I jammed my boot into the wall. My hands slid on the sticky, hairy, barbs of the creeper. I winced at the tickle on my itchy palms and walked hastily upward, feeling ten times heavier sideways. Suddenly, the vine jerked in a spasm. Stupid of me. The little plant wasn?t strong enough to hold my weight. Fortunately, I was close enough to the top to grab the edge before the green rope could snap.

I walked along the hill quietly, looking down at the helmeted head of the guard beneath me. The top of the stone wall with the gate in it lay even with the two hills, like a bridge, so I could walk out on it and look for a way down, out of the guard?s sight. I couldn?t just jump down, or he?d hear me, and then, looking through the bars of the gate, he?d see me.
Besides that, it was a long way down.

I remembered, in the stories I?d heard, that large gates like this often had ladders or stairs near them, so that the guards could keep vigil with a better view. A square hole in the stone, next to an eagle-esque gargoyle, gave me what I was looking for. I looked down inside. I saw a ladder, with a torch beneath and a door leading out to the other side of the gate, just as I?d thought.

I crept down the ladder, balancing Cojiro on my head, and opened the door carefully. The guard was on the other side of the iron entryway, scratching his nose. I breathed a sigh of relief, and leaned back against the door. It slammed shut with a bang. The guard whirled around, peering through the gate like a hawk. I sidled up against the wall, barely out of sight, heart throbbing in my chest. What did Hylians do to intruders? The clinking sound of a spear on the gate reminded me.

Then, Navi, who had been deathly silent, following me this whole time like a beaming shadow, did a most impolite thing. She reared back and hit the Cucco. I stifled a laugh as Cojiro flapped, flustered, onto the path, cock-a-doodle-dooing like a wet rooster, and leaving the guard unimpressed.

He turned back around and mumbled, ?I knew he?d stolen that thing. I hope it spurred him  
before it escaped.?

I ran down the path, grabbing the chicken as I ran, gasping for breath?and nearly swallowed my tongue. Two more guards were heading down the path! Fortunately, the hill was no longer a wall; only a steep incline lowered after the gate. I ran up the hill, stumbling as I went. There were guards coating the hill, too! They couldn?t see me yet, so maybe if I ran fast?

I froze for a minute, forgetting my manic panic, to gaze at the prodigious sight in front of me. The castle of Hyrule, the palace of the King, was looming before me in the distance, in much greater detail than I had seen it on the path. The path wound around my hill, curving quickly in the front, where two turret-like stone markers before stone steps rimmed with guards and soldiers presented the facade of the castle. The building itself was mighty, as tall as The Great Deku Tree, maybe taller, and wide as Castle Town in whole. It was so huge, and I wasn?t even very close to it!

?Incredible! We?re going in there?? Navi whispered, breaking my trance.

?Yes,? I muttered back, ?But we can?t waste time staring. We?ll have to make a run for it if we don?t want the guards to catch us!?

We raced across the flowered hill, past planted trees and awakening butterflies. Dawn would be upon us in an hour or two! Cover of darkness was a failing asset, but we had to make it count for every second! We ran, hiding behind trees and shrubs as we went closer to the castle. At least this meadow shortcut would save us time, quicker than the winding path infested with guards. The stone steps were closer now, but we couldn?t take them. There had to be another way! We had gotten this far.

I put Cojiro down and he preened himself, strutting over to a large rock embedded in a steep incline and flapping his way to the top of it. I stared at the rock. Could I climb it? I grabbed hold of it and pulled. There were lots of little indentions for me to grip, and, once up on top, I could look down on whatever was beyond the steps! I stroked Cojiro and he cooed.

?Looks like you don?t need me anymore!? Navi grinned. It was a joke. I think.

We leaned over the rock, examining the castle?s walls. There were no flaws, and, on top of that, the castle, like Castle Town, was surrounded by a moat. The drawbridge would not open for us. I leaned down further, knocking a pebble from its moorings. I didn?t really notice until I heard the clang it made, to my chagrin, when landing on a soldier?s helmet. A soldier surrounded by other guards on the stairs. Guards that saw me crouching above them.

?Halt!? the soldier cried, ?Or you shall be severely punished!?

They cocked their spears at the ready, arcing their shoulders to throw. My heart started racing again. I clutched Cojiro tight. He pecked at me, clucking in anger, and I fell off balance. We toppled off the rock, slamming against the ground and rolling into the moat. Navi gasped, and I saw her retreat right before my vision clouded over with water. It was over. They had caught me. I cringed in pain, eyes shut, as the welt on my head from the impact throbbed.

Cojiro was gone; he had probably flapped away from me as we fell. As my eyelids opened and shut in spasms, I could feel a sensation of movement. A grate flew by me in the water. Of course! The water in the moat was running, recycled, not lying stagnant. It would ruin the beauty of the castle. Strong, able hands grasped my shoulders, and I fell limp instinctively. Maybe?if they thought I was dead?I let the thought pass. I felt unconscious enough anyway.

?Is he dead, Captain?? a strange voice floated through my popping ears.

?I?m not sure?? the captain returned. His voice seemed very familiar.

I felt dusty earth beneath me, sand sticking to my soggy arms and legs. A twinkle resonated in the air. Navi was nearby.

?I can test him,? another voice volunteered, ?He?ll feel the spear if he isn?t dead.?

I tensed, and waited.

?No,? the captain?s voice came, ?He?s dead. No need to desecrate the body. You men return to your posts, and I?ll dispose of him and report this. And Thiniro! Give me that blasted chicken!?

?I believe it?s a Cucco, sir.?

?Then that makes it more valuable. It belongs to Mr. Talon, you can tell by the blue feather markings near the haunches. Now, give it over!?

There was a long silence, and when I couldn?t hold my breath any longer, I coughed and sputtered. Navi flew under my cap, which was, miraculously, still on my head, and I heard the Captain of the Guard grunt.

?I only did it because I like you, and I don?t want to see you hurt. Don?t make me regret it! I?m sure your intentions in the castle are honorable.?

?Yes, sir,? I wheezed, rubbing my eyes. Just as I thought! The captain was the guard I met at Castle Town?s drawbridge!

He smiled, patting me on the back, ?Old Talon?s over there, sleeping. Return his chicken as a favor to me, alright??

I stumbled over to the far side of the castle, on the east end, far from the prying eyes of guards. I was still on the opposite side of the moat, though. ?Mr. Talon? was snoozing, all right. He was completely bushed, leaning up against one of his large crates of milk he had been delivering. He was dressed simply, dirty and smelly, with a scraggly beard and sparse hair. He had a red shirt, and patched button up pants, or overalls, a disgraceful item to wear. And I had never seen more hair on a man?s arms and back in all my days!

I nudged him gently, placing Cojiro in his lap. No response. I shoved him harder, massaging the bump on my head.

?Welcome,? he mumbled drunkenly, ?Our ranch is so fun. C?mon and look around. Really, we hold eggs with the milk, and leave the fur on the cattle. If you bring a keg of powder in we?ll charge you double price. Add a Rupee, Malon, the rum?s not done.?

The man was not going to wake up anytime soon. I might have sat there forever, had the sun not come creeping over the horizon, making the shadows dance. Cojiro saw the sunrise, too, and did what every male Cucco has been trained to do at dawn. He crowed, just as loud as you please. No one could sleep through that. Not even Mr. Talon.

?Tarnation!? he cried, and sat up immediately, slapping Cojiro to silence him.

?Excuse me?? I asked, trying not to laugh.

?Tarnation!? he repeated, ?It?s something you say when you?re downright surly! Now, what?s the idea of waking me up? Can?t a man get any shut-eye around here??

?Well,? I stuttered, ?I came to bring you your chicken. Are you Mr. Talon??

?Yep, I?m Talon, owner of Lon Lon Ranch! I was just delivering some milk, here, and I guess I fell asleep. It?s one of those off weeks, you know? The weeks where you just have to catch up on your snoozes! And who might you be??

I answered slowly, not sure how to speak to this rather informal individual. ?Link. I?m a ?Fairy Boy,? as you call them. A Kokiri. Your daughter sent me up here because she was waiting and also to return your chicken, so if you excuse me??
 
?What?!? he interrupted, ?Malon was looking for me? Oh no! I messed up bad, falling asleep on the job again! I?m going to catch it from her now! So long!?
 
He ran off yelling, clutching Cojiro, bowling me over, and I could hear the cries of confused guards in the distance. I rolled my eyes. This must happen a lot. Navi shrugged her wings, and then spoke,
 
?I?ve been waiting to tell you that I know a way into the castle,? she said.
 
?Where??
 
She flew over to a small drain hole on the side of the castle, across the moat. It was shielded by a hinged plank of wood with the Triforce mark carved into it. I remembered the twin, now, explaining his adventure. I was in the moat, looking for an entrance, when I saw a small drain hole on the east side of the castle. This must be it. And if that gangly youth had barely gotten stuck, I could surely make it through. That is, if I could reach it. It was too high to reach from the moat?s waters, and too far to reach by jumping from the path. Navi flew inside, to wait for me.
 
If only I were taller, I thought, Or at least higher up, I could jump and grab it! I turned around to look at the milk crate. Height?hm. I shoved it as far as it would go, ?till it was tipping near the moat, and hopped on it, leaping for the grate. My fingers slipped on grimy, eroded, stone, and then grabbed the rotted wood. Perfect. Hauling myself against the mild water current, I crawled through the hole, the water pressure building, furious that I was blocking its exit. It jumped in my face, splashing my eyes. And yet I crawled further, desperate to get inside the castle. There was no light inside; it was pitch black, with the echoes of rushing water closing in around me.
 
Finally, I poked my head out into open air and sighed. Safe. I was in a fountain, lying in a ditch against the wall. Plants were everywhere, freshening the air. I wrung out my cap and looked around, Navi by my side again. It was an open-air courtyard, surrounded by stone walls but roofless, blue sky visible above us. Navi nudged me.
 
?I have some bad news,? she sighed, ?There are guards all over the courtyard. But if you?ll follow me, there is a hedge maze around the corner. Perhaps, by sneaking through there, the guards won?t see us as well.?
 
I nodded. We sneaked around the corner, hiding behind some barrels full of herbs and grimaced. There were three or four soldiers parading around the maze, looking this way and that, alert. The Captain of the Guard hadn?t lied when he said he would ?report this.? These guards were on the lookout for more intruders. We snuck over to the side of the maze, poking our heads through the shrubs. Coast clear. We ran down the path and made a left. Then straight. A right. Another right. Navi was confident we were going the right way. A guard up ahead, she said. We jumped into the bushes.
 
Guards passed us on both sides of the maze. I waited. Slowly, I moved out of the brush. A guard stopped, and I ducked back in. My heart pounded as he walked slowly by. He muttered something to another soldier and then jammed his spear into the bush, waving it around inches from my face. I winced.
 
?Nothing,? he yelled, ?A squirrel probably.?
 
I waited much longer this time, and then dashed out, running down the home stretch of hedges. Almost clear! I could taste the fruits of my labors! But yet another guard rounded the corner and I froze. Fortunately, Navi didn?t. She rammed me like no fairy could, into the bushes. The oblivious soldier walked on past.
 
?I didn?t know you had that kind of force, Navi,? I whispered.
 
?Adrenaline,? she replied drolly, ?Every creature has it.?

When we finally emerged from the maze, we were walking down a stone tunnel, emblazoned on all sides by wings and Triforce marks. At the end of the tunnel, there was a little meadow, a courtyard with a gutter-pond surrounding it. I smiled. It looked like a pleasant place, and I needed a rest. I ran for it. No more guards. No more worries. Only rest.
 
Navi, flying by my side, suddenly stopped and hovered back.
 
?What is it?? I asked.
 
?Listen,? she replied simply. Like that was all I had to do.
 
As I fell quiet, I could hear someone humming. Nothing special, not a very profound tune, but?odd. Almost like?
 
?Aahh!? I yelled, clutching my head. Navi shuddered all over, like she was feeling the same thing. And then?it was gone. How can I describe it? Upon hearing that song, hummed by an unknown person, my head throbbed suddenly, then the ache dissipated into nothing. Like a slap in the face, only it was a slap in the brain. Brief, not especially painful, but a shock with a lasting effect.
 
?Did you?? I mumbled, still confused.
 
?Yes,? Navi answered, ?Some kind of tingle in the head. I?m all right, though.?
 
I shook it off and approached the meadow, staring at the person who had been humming. The wall at the head of the meadow was adorned with elegant carved symbols. The area must be adjacent to the castle, I realized, because there were windows in the wall. And, up a couple steps, near a rather large window, call it a feeling, an instinct, or even common sense, peering through that window and humming gently, I knew, was the Princess Zelda herself!

PLEASE excuse Link's stinky formality, I change it every time I see it, in the actual word document, but it's still pretty evident.
What's with the headache, you may ask? Well, you'll find out later! But if you can come close to guessing what it is, I'll tell you.

OH BOYS! The Zelda chapter!!!! It's almost here! WOO!