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Spiritual Requiem
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   Procrastinating with every step, drowned in contemplation, you delayed ascending to the dining nook; you, unconscious of time and your mind a whole world or even universe away, suddenly found yourself sitting down at dinner, smiling at Zelda, "listening" to her talking to you, oblivious of anything that was going on up until you caught yourself in the moment...

    "Link...! Are you even paying attention? Do you want me to go over that again?"

    Zelda didn't wait for a response, your blank stare infuriated her and she huffed. "Pay attention this time, Link! It's important for your safety, if you're going to venture into the Temple, to know what you're up against!" Your awareness had fully returned to you and you nodded intently.

    Zelda sighed. "Okay."

    She eyed you suspiciously.

    "The Forest Temple is hidden deep in the Lost Woods and cannot be found without following a very specific path. The trails and pathways are all loopy and reconnect with other places they shouldn't, so it's easy to get lost and turned around." She paused, making sure you were still listening, "When you actually reach the Lost Woods, you'll be in an area that is Hyrule's world, but the Lost Woods itself is, in fact, an entire world of its own... When you step between the worlds connected by the Lost Woods, it is seamless, and you cannot tell when it's happened until you've already stepped through and looked behind you... Just like in the alley-"

    Impa cut in, serving a dessert, "Link has many other obligations, princess. They will use them to buy time for preparing themselves. The temple will still be there." She said calmly.

    "Like what?" Zelda asked, almost shocked, but more like whining. 

    "Like their mother, who called this morning and asked me to have them home this evening."

    Zelda was so caught up with her own agenda that she'd forgotten your own family, and turned her head away slightly, feeling embarrassed and selfish. "That's right..." She said almost soundlessly.

    She internally recoiled, and caught herself not breathing after a moment, then gently inhaled. Slowly she filled her lungs and said, "We've got a few weeks before school starts again." She started.

    "Two months." You corrected her, nonchalantly, spooning yourself some sundae.

    She stared at you, incredulous, and blinked a couple times.

    "Uh, er..." Her breath was caught in her throat, and she huffed, "Yeah, just a little under that." She reminded you.

    "I'm sure we'll get what we need done by then. Just be sure to train every day." She finished, half lecturing you for correcting her, but half sincerely reminding you.

    Impa sat down and urged everyone to enjoy their sundaes finishing with, "Link will be heading home tomorrow morning, I will drop them off. You two have had... plenty of fun... and we needn't worry the child's mother. I've explained to her that you two have taken up self-defense classes together." She then removed what looked like a decorative sword and scabbard from the window behind the nook. "This special training sword and its display rack can go home with you, Link." She said as she handed over the ornamental wooden sword and intricate stand.

    You all sat around the dining nook, the shadowy moonlight pouring through its elegant windows. The house otherwise seemed to have had no electricity at any time, and firelight flickered off the table from the candle at its center. The kitchen floor was gently glowing with faded moonlight shadows, and the room itself was cast with a silvery blue-grey. 

    Everything about it was anything but modern. No electricity meant no technology. No technology meant no internet; this realization put you into deep thought once more, trying to decide if you could trust Impa.

    You were last to finish your ice cream sundae, and everyone said good night to each other, departing to their rooms while you finished your last few bites and rinse your dish. You return to your small room for the last time of this visit, taking in the atmosphere of this passage into another time as you descend the stairs leading to the dungeon.

    Its feel had become very much like a dungeon now; a muskier accent in the air and damp walls of cobblestone made the basement much more imposing.

    Zelda may have been joking about it at the time, or maybe she genuinely knew about it in advance, in spite of her surprise, but you decided it had to be more of a dungeon than a basement; after seeing illusions, as believable as they were, transpire before your eyes the magically materializing chest, still in the middle of the room.

    Though you had no way of knowing it, you were certain you'd be back here soon, finding the secrets this dungeon held.

    But for now, you kept the lights on. 

    You inspect yourself in the mirror briefly, trying to see if you might have a shadowy doppelganger in your reflection, then returned the shield to the closet that you had left lying out after the fight with the Wolfos, and brought the elegant wooden sword and stand with you into the bedroom.

    Maybe really a tomb.

    It was decorated no differently, no less comfortable, not much less modern. The wooden, boxed in, modernized room was identical in all regards expect the style of the wood in the dresser and bed, the nightstand, and hard wood floor... Which now appeared to be more like giant tree stump.

    After putting the rack in your satchel and laying your sword against the bed, you test the electricity.

    The lights turned on and off. You turned on the TV, cartoons came on.

    You ponder for a long while, watching Kirby inhale more than he could chew but save the day anyway. Then reached for the Nintendo and turned it on. You watched The Legend of Zelda opening sequence play over; hunter in the woods, hero vanquished, and then started a new adventure: through a modern-world Hyrule - this sent a chill down your spine, and you shut the game off by the time you were free running to Lake Hylia with digital friends. The uncanny similarity, nay, identical experience, left you uprooted.

    Staring at the idling game as the parkour match ended with you treading water in the lake, you feel as if your own life is not your own. Like maybe somewhere in the unknowable reality beyond your perceptions, someone held the controller that made YOU move...

    Shuddering at the very thought, you quickly shut off the game and TV, then plop on the bed and try to sleep.

    Tossed yourself about, turned around, lay upside down, on your head and neck, feet in the air. 

    You couldn't find comfort so you sat up, against the wall, feet out, and stretched for your toes. Sat up again, and stared on, pondering how all this came to take place... But no thoughts could form and for an unknown time, you sat blankly, unaware of yourself, your breath, reality, or thought.

    Blinking out of it, you feel like an unknowable eternity had just passed. You decide that you would find no answers in thinking about matters, but spent the time anyway. After maybe fifteen minutes, you autonomously curled up, and passed out.

 

    The morning was hurried through cold cereal and juice, then right out the door.

    In the van, you and Zelda were in the back, Impa at the helm, as she drove the back roads en route to your home, well away from the downtown street racers and brawling punk commotion, you and Zelda watched out the windows quietly, intently, taking in the scenery. 

    You left the forest by a different route and instead of turning left, toward downtown, you turned right. 

    You passed the hospital on the way toward another disjointed highway that lead west, traveled over a bridge past a slum, and snaked on until the road curved south and split off into several other roads or carried out into the desert.

    Impa pulled south on one of the smaller roads, speeding up and checking her mirrors. Zelda wasn't used to her driving this fast and began to ask what she was going so fast for, but looked out the front windshield and saw nothing on the road ahead but empty, mildly worn pavement. 

    She said nothing and admired the country side. Some patchy forestry in places, mostly farmland or empty grassland, after passing through a patch of desert; she'd never been this far out of town before and felt an unfamiliar sense of peace, sighing contentedly to herself.

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    You were scared at first, coming onto the unfamiliar highway, but quickly content to observe the scenery and take in this side of Hyrule which you have not yet seen. The forest park was across from the fringe edges of the downtown heart, and petered off into a slum under the highway as it bridged over a set of fenced off rails, dirty streets, and worn asphalt alleys. The lush green atmosphere was not only contrasted by the concrete gray across from it, but faded into a dusty brown and tan as the desert of the west dried everything out on the borders of the slums. A fairly quick transition that seemed to be punctuated by the slum, which seemed even familiar somehow, but you mentally shrug it off.

    The drive was half-barren half-concrete for a moment, before the desert seemed to come in like a tsunami wave and swallow the landscape as you drove on, west. Curving south, more fertile land could be seen down the way and in moments, everything was green again. 

    Impa pulled you down the country road and things began looking more familiar. As you rode on, the farms and patchy forests could be seen and a familiar neighborhood far down the road awaited you.

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    You heard Zelda sigh and turned to look. She seemed really happy right now, and comfortably gazed out her window. You watched her observe everything around her, almost as though she were fascinated by everything, maybe even absorbed by it all. Her hair seemed to be pure gold in the sunlight that reflected in from his window, across to her. A moment of fright crossed your heart, and you looked away, uncertain; returning your gaze to the now-familiar township south of Hyruletropolis.

    It was a back road that lead down the opposite end of your neighborhood's street, and you sigh a subconscious breath of relief when you recognized the turn. 

    Zelda looked toward you and saw a relieved friend, and smiled to herself, turning away before she allowed the smile to reach her lips. The car stopped, and Impa parked by the curb.

    "This is the house I was given directions for..." Impa said, hesitantly. "I thought you'd have pointed it out for me, to be honest..." You didn't catch her drift and she ignored it without further thought, opening her door. 

    You all got out. 

    Your mother appeared in the threshold of the front door, waiting. Zelda stood in front of you, trying to decide what to say. You stood in front of her, as if listening anyways, intent on her next words regardless. 

    "I... had fun, actually... Link." She stole your breath with a gentle 'ha' as you smiled, and you both smiled wide, and with your eyes; Zelda giggled, blushing. 

    Impa cut into your parting awkwardness, "We'll be leaving now, go on home and I will send you a message when I feel you'll do well to check in with us if you haven't already..." 

    "Stay in touch..." She added the last three words, hesitantly.

    Everyone waved goodbye as Impa and Zelda returned to the front seats of the van, as you and your mom stood at the front door. You waved, Impa drove down the road, and the day was over. The door was closed behind both of you, securely.

    She'd been worried ever since you ran off with your friends without so much as a text from the mother of a friend she'd had to call. She wanted more than anything to run up and hug you the moment you'd stepped out of the van, and silently wrung her hands to the bone in her mind while waiting calmly on the outside, just waiting for you to walk back home to her, and finally, when inside, she wanted to smother you but knew she shouldn't. 

    She couldn't smother you.

    She knelt down and seized you fiercely anyways.

    "Oh Link... I don't know what I would ever do... if I'd lost you..." She cried out. She did not sob, did not cry out further, but cried, still, quietly on the inside, but remained calm and dry-cheeked. 

    Gentle tears forming stubbornly in her eyes never the less. 

    You protested sarcastically "Mom..." and she gasped gently but sharply, smiling. "You're right-" she stopped abruptly, and stood up, clearing her throat and wiping her unfallen tears. "You should have texted me more often!" she scolded, suddenly firm and cross, but still gentle enough somehow. Her eyes showing only joy and relief.

    You open your mouth to apologize, but were interrupted as she continued on, saying "Because your friend Krystal came over asking about you and seemed very cross when I told her you were staying at another girl's house..." She said coyly as she poked playfully, shifting from concerned mother, to lecturing parent, and finally playful friend, attempting to pull at your heart strings. 

    "I woulda told you that if you'd texted me, ya know..." and winked. 

    You groan and run upstairs as fast as you could to get away from the awkwardness.

    You remembered something Impa had said over dessert about this practice sword and set up the small wooden pedestal in your room on top of the low dresser, beside your consoles, to display it. You placed the training sword there and admired it for a moment, proud of how much you had accomplished in just three short days.

    Since there wasn't any more training going on today, you decided you needed to text Krystal.

    >back home, was training with sword & sheild< and sent.

    Moments later a six note forest tune piped up.

    <WAT R U DOIN AT A GIRLS HOUSE?!?1> You stared at the message a moment, fairly shocked, incredulous even, and entirely uncertain how to respond.

    You were unfamiliar with how these things worked and almost thought your friend was an idiot for a moment, but double checked her name and, sure enough, a picture of her too. Her song played again. <swords, sure. why dont you come visit me now that you're free?> She might be jealous.

    >when can i come over?< you sent back. It didnt take long and you heard the song again <whenever you want> 

    She is clearly jealous, you thought.

    >i will ask if i c->  

    You were half way through this message when your mom called up, "What's this about spending the night at another friend's house? You're sleeping with a lot of girls this summer, Link!" She teased. You got up and, trying not to slam it outright, closed the door loudly. 

    Apparently Krystal had already planned something out behind your back.

    You exchange a few texts with Krystal and look out your window for a moment, thinking of how to ask with minimum embarrassment. You open your door and head downstairs. As you reached the last step before the bottom landing, your mom came around the corner on her way up; you nearly bumped into each other.

    "Ho!" she said just before colliding, "I suppose you want to go to your friend's house now, dontcha?" She asked, concealing her concern. "It's fine by me, as long as you stay safe... I'll call Saria and let her know that you have my permission." You step off the last step and your mom 'caught' you and gave you a hug.

    "Try calling or at least texting me a bit more this time, huh? Mothers worry about their children, even when they're coming along as upright adults..." You hugged her back but rolled your eyes and groaned softly when she said that; prompting her to let go, reluctantly.

    "I'll call now, you can go ahead and pack some things... Take clean underwear this time!" You hurry upstairs and throw a few things together into your satchel, including the wooden sword, which proved too big. Hesitantly, you return it to the display rack, but paused. 

    You feel strangely vulnerable without it, and remember your mom did ask to be safe, so you grabbed it off the rack and carried it in your hands on your way out.

    Carrying the satchel strapped around your shoulder and the sword in your left hand, you descended the stairs again, and again almost ran into your mother at the bottom. She was just closing her GameBoy and announced that you had permission, "Saria says you should go to the shop at the mall to meet up. You can wait with Krystal until she closes up and accompany her home from there. Sound good?" She finished.

    You nodd an exaggerated 'yes' with your head.

    "I can drop you off, if you'd like, but first-" she said coolly, but then with extra exaggeration, "Yer gonna have lunch with mah-me!" and smiled. You roll your eyes, but smile genuinely.

    She drove you downtown in relative silence, found a small deli and decided lunch would be quick enough - sandwiches, and a chit-chat about your training. You entered together and waited in line behind a tall, young, tan girl dressed in black, with long red hair. She got her sandwich and sat in the corner booth in the back of the small dining area.

    "What'll it be, kiddo?" Your mom asked. You look at the displayed sandwich ingredients behind a sneeze guard and asked for roast beef, with cheddar cheese, cucumber, tomato, and banana peppers, on focaccia bread, and your mom ordered a Swiss-cheese and mushroom club sandwich. 

    She ordered two sodas and followed you to a seat.

    The girl in the corner seemed to be watching you, but you try to ignore her as you sit down facing away from her, several booths away. 

    As she sat down across from you, your mom engaged before sitting all the way down, "So! I bet you don't even remember Impa and Zelda do you? After almost all your life, I'm shocked that you've run into that girl again. It seems like a lifetime ago we were all celebrating at the ranch...!" She stopped abruptly, expression suddenly ashen, and took a bite of her sandwich and chewed it up before regaining composure. 

    You shrug.

    After swallowing, she pestered you some, "What do you mean? If you remembered them, I know I'd be surprised but nevermind that...! I want to know all about your training! I see you brought along your training sword... you must really enjoy it. I bet you're eager to show off to your girlfriends aren’t you?" 

    You choked and gagged a little on your sandwich, embarrassed and frustrated.

    You coughed, she told you to chew your food better, as if she wasn't teasing at all.

    "So spill the beans already, kiddo! What have you been doing with Impa's training? I'm shocked she'd even elect to train you at all!" She said, unable to veil either her elation for your experience or her concern for what the implications could be. 

    "well..." You started, feeling for your sword for reassurance.

    The girl in the corner got up and made a move for the restroom. Passing right by you on the way, she seemed to deliberately bump into you, but acted like nothing happened or she didn't notice. How rude, you thought. 

    You pulled your hand away from the hilt laying against the booth and continued, "She keeps the training equipment in a closet with a mirrored door, on a wall full of mirrors..." You said, thinking more about the Shadow Wolfos than the training Impa imparted on you. 

    You didn't realize you'd trailed off and started focusing on your thoughts, absentmindedly.

    "Mirrors. That's interesting," Your mom broke your daze several seconds later, "probably to better assist you with coordination, huh?" You try to stay focused on the conversation, but "Yeah." was all you could accomplish. 

    Your mother smiled at you generously.

    "Impa showed me how to hold and swing the sword without hurting my hand..." You explained without enthusiasm. Your mom held up a hand, wiping her mouth with a napkin, "Hold that thought, I'll be in and out of the ladies' room in no time." 

   

    You were somewhat glad for the interruption, as she'd just given you a chance to plan your words better. 

    As she got up, you quietly sighed with relief for the pause, reaching down for the hilt again.

    As she entered the restroom, the teenage girl exited. You watch the doors while thinking about the fight with the Shadow Wolfos and what NOT to say about it. You planned your conversation around that, since it was the most exciting, but mentally edited the details to make it sound less supernatural and more like a sparring match with Impa.

    The redhead walked casually past the tables toward you, staring at you. You feel unnerved, but let it go. She stares, as you try not to notice, directly into your eyes and seemed to trip and stumble as she passes your booth, then got up and ran out the deli.

    As promised, her bathroom break was swift and brief, but you watched the girl run out, through the deli window, and notice she is holding... Some kind of... Wooden... Sword?! 

    You feel for your hilt and find it missing, jump out of your seat, and chase after her! 

    "Link what's going on???" Your mom called out, but you were fretting the loss of your weapon - perhaps more than you needed to, not thinking you'd get it easily replaced from Impa's collection. 

    Somehow, you felt for sure, this one was a special sword.

    "Link!!!" But it was too late; you were on the street, tailing the long haired tan girl who nabbed your sword. She ran fast, but you seemed to be able to keep up with her, so you just followed, a quarter of a block behind her at all times. She turned right at the corner; you followed before she was halfway to the next block. She turned left at the next, you tailed her.

    You maintained this pace of pursuit for five or six erratic blocks before she made a left and ran straight past 3 blocks. She was heading straight for the skate park. 

    Maybe this is that ninja I'd seen before? You silently wondered to yourself, as you try to pick up the pace. But even as you did, she seemed to have the same idea, and picked up her speed and began outrunning you, now half a block ahead and gaining distance!

    You were both across from the park, running parallel to it, and she cut across the sparse traffic, into the park. Goron Link was on the opposite end and seemed to instinctively notice everything, right now, as his attention shifted to this chase. He saw you tailing a well-known thief but remained nonchalant, and continued his patrol. 

    You try to wave him down, but he didn't seem to notice you at all. The girl curved back a little and ran toward the bridge, you shouted 'hey!' and 'aah!' as well as other wordless protests, and Goron Link's attention finally came into your plight. 

    Goron Link turned around and rolled, amazingly fast, right to her, beside her, in front of her, blocking her path.

    Too far from them, yet, to hear; you can see they exchanged words and faced off a moment, and then she became increasingly loud and indignant as you got closer. 

    "Hey! What’s your problem, Link?!" as you were finally closing in on her. You were shocked to hear your name, forgetting the Goron had the same. 

    "We had a deal! You leave me alone as long as I bring you rupees! Once I pawn this sword off, I'll have everything you want! Get out of my way!!" 

    Goron Link grumbled, "I don't think I like you stealing from my friends, though." 

    Her eyes and nostrils flared, "THEM?!" Then she turned to you, "You little punk!" And charged, prepared to strike you with your own sword!

    You flinch. 

    She lunged. Leaping high overhead and flipping acrobatically behind you, you hear her land and take off again before unflinching. Goron Link grumbled in a shout, even as his hand came down heavy on your shoulder, "Go get her, Kid!", suggesting you don't respond to his words.

    The thief appeared to dash ahead faster at Goron Link's 'encouragement', while the Goron explained this situation in eloquence. "Don't worry, kid." he said.

    "She only has a couple hiding places, I'll help you get yer sword back. Nabooru won't try hocking your sword if she thinks you might catch her in the act, so let ol' Link help you out." You listen and nod. 

    "So! If you show up at one of her hidey holes and she's there, she's sure to catch you and take off. She's quick, kid, tricky and stealthy too! She can get in and out of her safe houses without making a sound or ever being seen. But I know her tricks." He winked, "It’s part of our deal, I don’t mess with her, I let her steal things, and generally leave her alone, as long as she keeps me informed of the workings of her clan, and how she pulls it all off... AND rupees. That's the important thing, in my case. ... But this time, it seems you benefit from the info I can give you. I DO pride myself in keeping current with all the info. I've sold her some news for rupees before too, kid. It goes both ways"

    Goron Link explains that this thief girl, Nabooru, has 3 spots near downtown that she would be right now. He says you only had a day, two if you're lucky, before she'd come out and find the nearest shop to pawn off the sword. 

    "But how does she get the rupees?" You asked, knowing that no shops exchanged anything but paper money. 

    Goron Link laughed heartily.

    "Those yellow tuxedos are cunning types, they are." Goron Link explained, "They'll sell rupees to the right buyers, and that Nabooru girl sure knows how to milk 'em! If they knew she was feeding them to me, however, they'd probably take her head to a pike!"

    He laughed some more.

    The first spot, the closest hideout to the grassy skate park, was just across the river. Goron Link claimed she wouldn’t be there on account of the fact he saw her take off in the other direction, but encouraged you to check it out anyways, if you thought you could get across town before the day's end. 

    The best bet, Goron Link claimed, was that she'd be in the slums northwest of here. It was a bit longer of a walk, but still much closer than the one Goron Link said was all the way up in the north end of town, outside the upper class apartments and condos where the Yellow Tuxedo Mafia operated.

    You turned to take off on your retrieval mission when you were suddenly scared that you'd have no chance of getting the sword back without a weapon. You took no more than 2 steps and froze. 

    Goron Link sensed this uneasiness and stepped up beside you. 

    "Kid...” heavy with gravel to his voice “Don't sweat it. Ya can't go alone, I guess I'm an old softie, or too hungry to think straight, but there's also somethin' about you that compels me to help ya out..." He then smiled, followed by, "If that's alright with you?"

    You smile and nod, "Yeah." Quietly answering. Goron Link smiled wider and introduced his potential, "Well then! You ought to know what I can do! I've got more strength than any Hylian around, and can lift up very heavy objects for you if it ever comes in handy that I do so. In a pinch, I can throw a heavy punch as well! As far as speed is concerned, however, unless I'm rolling around, I'll have to keep up with you somehow - I just ask that you don't go taking off on me and leaving me in your dust... Even though I'm sure I can roll faster than you can run... heh..." He laughs quietly at the thought. "I'm not too partial to any weapons, but I know how to use Bombflowers and bombs, and any generally heavy weaponry like Biggoron's knife or the Legendary Goron Hero's Hammer. Otherwise, if you can't help me to anything else, my fists will do just fine. I don't generally carry much, so don't expect me to haul your gear either! If I had a backpack, I wouldn't complain, but my people have disappeared some time ago - I don't know where you'd find me one anyways, but now I'm rambling...! You need to catch up with Nabooru! Let me take the lead, and I'll show you straight there... and..." He started off without regard. "I apologize, I lied, I know she's in the mafia territory safe house – it’s her safest hideout, and she probably thinks I'm out to get her now... She deliberately headed toward the slums because she can zig zag the streets better than I can dodge traffic. To be honest, I just wanted you to get familiar with her hangouts, for your own sake. This will save you... Will save us time, if we just go straight to her."

    You give him a sarcastic look but nod and allow him to lead the way, following him uptown past the library and beyond some high class condominiums. The walk was incredibly slow. He could probably run as fast as you crawl! The day was bleeding out faster than your travel time, and while you worried she might take off with your gear, you were confident that Goron Link was correct and she would wait till tomorrow.

    Around the corner, hanging a right, and walking ever slowly down the curvy street, you both encounter a much-less urbanized neighborhood, tucked away in Hyrule's northeastern corner.

    More forestry, less buildings, and a man-made river parallel to the street on the right, the sun nearly starting to come into contact with the horizon. The two of you pass the last house on the end of a curved neighborhood before forestry hillside made construction too expensive, and the man-made river left no room on the opposite side of the street for structures. The road felt isolated and secluded as it would around the hill for a quarter mile before winding the other direction.

    At a dirt-clearing in the wooded scenery on your left, at about the apex of the last curve before transitioning to the next, Goron Link sits down and curls up like a rock. You approach and hear his deep and muffled voice, but barely make out 'I'm tired' out of some 6 more words than that. So you lean against him and take rest as well, but not a moment after you settle down do you spy an outcropping of large rocks. 

    You try to lift one but fail to do more than roll it aside. So you go ahead and roll it right up to your companion and reach down to tap his barely-exposed shoulder.

    He sounded weary, but friendly never the less. "I said I need a rest from that long walk, kid... I haven't been eating right, you know? What do you need?" He says, poking his head out enough to be better heard.

    You point to the rock you rolled up beside him, and his expression became much more joyous. "There's rocks out here?? HAH! I shoulda known Nabooru'd have had a stash somewhere! Her hideout is just down a concealed path 'round here after all... Was this all, or...?" He looked around and spotted the outcropping of six other rocks and a boulder. Rapidly uncurling and bounding forward he celebrated. "Yee-haw!! Nevermind rest! I'll get all the energy I need from that one boulder!!" He immediately approached and punched it into smaller bite-sized fragments and began eating them, sending fragments of pebbles out, and a couple rupees, in all directions.

    No more than a few to five minutes later and he was pumping his arms and squatting happily. "That'll do, kid. Go ahead and keep those crumbs! Go ahead and take the candy! Hah!" He was enthusiastic "I get so much more energy from the stone than I ever could from even those golden rupees! Let's go. But I'll have to warn you, she has traps lain out near her hideout. It's inside a huge and hollowed out tree stump. She's dug under it and made a cozy home for herself here and my bet is the sword will be down there, even if she's not. But if she's around, we won’t see that sword if she sees us first. That means: Don't set off any traps! It also means I can’t lead you the whole way."

You nod and follow the Goron past a couple trees on a well-trod path, and then lose sight of him almost instantly, as he takes a step off the beaten path and through some loosely hanging vines. "This way." He says, as he steps through. You follow to the same spot and find the vines easily enough.

   As you step through, he starts up again, "There are definitely some tripwires around here. I only know that she's dug some pits and set up a few ankle traps; but she's crafty, there could be anything. I can't possibly step over all of them, I'm much too cumbersome and I'll probably just hinder your progress or give you away all together. I'll wait here at the entrance to her trail. If you set off any traps, she will have to run past me to get out. I'll try to stop her, but I've never been able to catch her before, so don't get your hopes up. All I've got is the element of surprise, but I expect she'd expect me to be here too if she finds that you are." He hunkered back down. "Just try not to set off traps. If we have to follow her to her next hideout, it will take all day and night to walk there, and I don't think you could keep up with my rolling."

    He points down the path and you follow the way, keeping your eyes peeled for anything out of the ordinary.

    You don't make it far before you spot something suspicious along the path. You make extra precautions to step over the vine-fashioned trip wire, and stop just past it when you see that the path is littered with them.

    You stop and build up courage, this looks like an obstacle course of trip-vines, but knowing Goron Link's warning, you wouldn't dare treat it as such a course; for fear of opening up a pit, catching an upside down ride into a tree by ankle, or triggering any sort of spike or projectile mechanism!

    The urge to run through passes quickly and you begin gently tip-toeing over and around the vines for the best part of a quarter mile into the forest. At several points, the path split off one direction or another, and there were several small, and one large, tempting, clearings to explore, but you remain focused on the paths riddled with traps. At the end of the trap-littered path, you come to a suspicious clearing which doesn't inspire the relief you were expecting. The trip wires are all gone, but a strange statue stands solitary beside a huge and tall tree trunk.

    This device, as it turns out, is made of a strange combination of wood and tarnished metal, with the vague appearance of an armored soldier. It appears to be made of metal bones and wooden armor, but leaves you uncertain of approach with the gentle white glow around its eyes.

    You decide it best to find another way past. Its back is to the tree stump and there is enough room to get around, but a frontal approach, your gut tells you, will trigger some kind of defense. You can only assume the worst, and look for any other side paths leading into this clearing. You can see on the opposite end, behind the stump and wooden warrior, two other openings that show trails into the woods beyond, and hope to find your way to them by backtracking.

    After clearing the tripwire-vines again, you find your way back to the large tempting clearing and find that it is riddled with side paths as well. None of these appear to be trapped upon your first glance, but after you walk a few paces into each, you find the last one, in fact, is marked with the tripwire vines. You decide this is the certain path to lead around to the back of the stump, and follow it.

    It's a long and enduring path with at least three times as many vine tripwires, and to your genuine relief: the few you did trip over were nothing more than naturally occurring vines. But finally, after the better part of the evening, you make your way behind the tree stump. The solitary wood and metal machination appears to have moved to the opposite side of the stump, but otherwise remains facing the same way away from you.

    Your nerves surge for a moment.

    You take a deep breath and silently tiptoe toward the statue. Standing right behind it, you slink around it and the tree stump and make your way in. The wooden warrior does not move. Relieved, you descend a flight of stairs into darkness.

    As you make your way down you see a faint, dim, glow ahead, around a corner at the end of this pitch black narrow corridor, and hasten to it. Snoring alerts you to a presence as you round the corner, and you freeze. Almost immediately, you can see your sword down this hall and across the room on the opposite wall.

    But resting, between you and it, is the thief girl you've come to recognize as Nabooru.

    You can only see her shoulder and long red hair falling over it, her face turned toward the wall; her bed: in a small corner niche in the small corridor-like room. Her stash, including your training sword, is heaped up against the wall at the far end of the corridor.

    You take a slow, and quiet, deep breath, tip toe up to the entrance of the room; and get a clear view of her bed, directly on your right, and a small deeper alcove on the left that sports a kitchenette complete with grill, countertop and cabinet, and mini-fridge. 

    For a fleeting moment, you wonder where she gets her electricity.

    She stirs loudly and violently, and your heart stops a moment while observing her kitchen. All but completely frozen, you peer over your back and see she remains asleep, her head still turned away from you and her kitchen.

    You almost sigh with relief, but immediately consider the noisy consequences, and simply draw a slow and deep breath then, slowly and silently, exhale, relaxing. 

    You notice a barred door between the kitchen and a couch that sections off the room between you and her stash, but pass it without curiosity, focusing only on retrieving your sword.

    She seems to have collected several other weapons, but the elegant wooden training is all you're taking. As you reach down and grab it, you spot something intimately familiar and immediately pat yourself down.

    Your Gameboy was also missing! When did she take that?? How?! You grab it and check the screen, without considering any further answers and turn around after safely returning it to your satchel.

    Nabooru is still lying in bed; she's stirred again and is facing toward the exit now.

    You take another deep and slow breath, and as quickly as you can, tiptoe out. You ponder some more about the electricity source as you pass the humming fridge backed up against the wall beside the corridor's end and near-about have a heart attack when a loud 'secret sound' plays from within your satchel!

    "HUH?! WHAT?!" Nabooru shouts.

    You freeze for a split second then decide to make a getaway and run out as fast as you can. You hear Nabooru behind you mumbling something about a “stupid girl” then start to snore again. You slow down to take a peek.

    She is sitting on her bed, upright, but her head bowed, evidently still asleep, and you waste no time in taking your leave, tripping on the first step up in the darkness.

    You finally exit the tree stump, and feel like you've moved to another dimension, as the dimming sunlight from the evening twilight extinguished completely to reveal starry darkness, all in the short time you were inside Nabooru's hideout. The stars are bright this far from the city lights, and the distraction proves to cost you. No longer alert on your exit, you failed to notice the patrolling wooden warrior coming straight at you!

    Its eyes are still glowing white, the same as before, until it appears to notice you. It nears you and the eyes turn yellow; and you hear a faint, annoying, buzzing sound coming from deep within the tree stump, clearly much louder in there, sure to have alerted Nabooru. You try to move around the machine, but it precisely follows you, just watching and blocking your path. Shortly into your attempts to sidestep it, the eyes turn red, and it retrieves a large mallet from behind its back. 

    You struggle, but quickly loosen your sword from its scabbard just in time to hear Nabooru from behind calling ironically out at you.

    "Thief! Give me back my stash and I'll call off my Bronze Knuckle!"

    She is clearly still waking up as she stumbles out and rubs her eyes groggily. You try again to make it around the machination; however you are just as foiled as at first, but this time it swings its huge mallet at you, narrowly missing as you roll aside, and strikes the ground with a heavy reverberating thud.

    "You!! How'd you find this place?! That Goron! Link and I are going to have a falling out over this!!!" She leaps up-top her tree stump and seems to fiddle with a device while the Bronze Knuckle pursues you and raises the mallet for another strike.

    You dodge it again, this time rolling around behind it, then make a snap decision between flight or fight and strike with your sword into the back of the mediocre machine, choosing fight. It shakes about and clanks at the strike, but shows no signs of damage. Slowly, it turns around to face you for another strike, this time swinging the mallet horizontally and landing clean on your unprotected back.

    "OWUGH!" You cry out as you roll with the impact back to your feet. You sorely regret not taking the shield with you.

    You have managed to come completely around back to the tree stump. "I'll give you one last chance, you little punk. Nobody steals from Nabooru! No one! You give back that nice and fancy looking wooden sword and I'll let you go back and tell Link that our deal is as good as dead." She calls down from behind you. You turn to look up at her and see that she is still holding what looks like a control pad.

    A swift, cunning idea causes you to nod your head almost unconsciously. She hops down, as if it merely down 3 steps, from atop her story-tall tree stump and approaches you. You jump into action and cut at the remote in her hands, breaking it on the ground.

    "TWERP!" She rages, almost shrieking, and proves that she is not unarmed, producing 2 real sabres from behind. "You don't know what you've done!" She takes a ferocious, guarded stance.

    You brace yourself, prepared for her to attack you.

    The Bronze Knuckle chirps and whines, then sounds 2 incredibly loud alarm blasts, before shedding its wooden armor. "I'll deal with you later. Don’t run; I'll find you even if you do!" She says then rushes at the machine, swords first, frenzied.

    It traded the mallet from both hands to one hand and seems to have gained its own frenzied speed. Nabooru struggles to stay behind it as she blocks and deflects blows from the mallet. You hesitate, but decide it would be best to assist her with deactivating her malfunctioning security machine. You run up beside her and face it off. She looks quizzically at you for a brief moment then ducks around behind the machine as it struggles to pick a target.

    She is almost successful before it decides to follow her, and just as she reaches up for its back it turns and lowers its elbow, catching her arm in a pinch between elbow and torso. You run into action and strike at its backside again. You notice with its armor gone that there is a small lever on its back and try to reach for it as it spins back around, letting go of Nabooru, and crashing into you.

    You bounce off of it, luckily unharmed.

    "There's no way to stop it unless we can flip that switch. That was quick thinking, kid, but even if you do that, don't think I'm about to forgive you!!" She calls out, immediately making her third attempt at it. The machine proves to be a lot better maintained without its armor than you thought it was before, and it spins around incredibly fast; back and forth between you and Nabooru, stepping away from both of you all the while.

    Nabooru moves in first, and you dare not hesitate to fall behind, so you take the machine's “left” side while she assaults it from the “right”. It swings its hammer from her to you, she ducks under, and you jump aside. You've put a little too much distance between you and it, but it doesn't seem to matter as it spins completely around its torso back to Nabooru and you again. She has no choice but to retreat from it, and you are both approximately the same distance from it.

    The Bronze Knuckle again backs from you both and tries to pick a target.

    "Its automation is real buggy, but I know it's good for 2 targets. It always picks the first to move or attack, but there's a catch, it's designed to make every attack an attempt at all available targets, so unless you're fast as lightning, this thing is going to be a pain to shut off alone, even with someone to help."

    You nod, and wait for it to move, but get orders instead, "We need to stay directly across from each other and keep it in the middle. We're not going to make much ground, but we've got to get in close, little by little, until we're so close that it's attacking. It will spin and spin, and that's where it gets hard. If I can jam its torso with a sword, we will be able to get to the switch easily. GOT IT?" You nod again then run around it until Nabooru is directly across from you, and the Bronze Knuckle is in between.

    She steps in, you follow her lead. Every step she takes, you take one too. You both make it 3 paces in before the torso starts twitching back and forth, half way between each of you. Three more steps, and it swings at her then follows through at you: maintaining a constant spin-attack, but you are both just outside of its range. She stops advancing, you stop as well, and the machine keeps attacking and spinning.

    You catch her gaze and she nods at you with intent. Showtime. She rushes in, swords first, as the next attack misses her and follows through toward you. The mallet swings past you and you rush in as well, just as she jabs her sabres into the thighs of the machine.

    But instead of halting it entirely like she expected, she only got one sword in. It was able to cut its mobility in half, but it reverses course and swings back toward you, instead, clocking you in the head and knocking you to the ground. You're slightly dazed but not out of the fight. You're hurt badly, but you get up anyways, huffing and wheezing at the ground.

    "Look out kid!!!" She calls at you.

    The machine raises the mallet high and you barely roll aside in time to dodge the strike. The ground shakes at your back, the mallet mere inches from you, and you slowly hurry up to get away, stumbling and gripping your back with your equipped left hand and your head with your empty right.

    You go hide behind the tree stump and lean against it, confused and in pain.

    "Hey, kid! If you're going to chicken out back there, gimme back that sword!" You hear Nabooru call out. You hear a gruff and familiar voice respond unintelligibly, or maybe your head is more damaged than you thought.

    While you're clearing your head, you hear what sounds like an argument and then you realize Goron Link has entered the clearing. He must have figured you had set off a trap when the Bronze Knuckle sounded off its alarm. There's a loud crashing sound, and you start making out a change in the argument from concern to anger.

    "I was going to just shut that thing off, Link!!! You didn't have to trash it!! You've ruined me tonight! You've ruined me!!! How dare you?! You owe me a bronze knuckle!" Goron Link started to grumble a response, but she cut him off and just kept yelling at him. You round the stump to catch sight of the argument. 

    "… And that punk kid! What the heck?! Why would you even care if I acquired something off them?? What's it matter to you? You would have gotten your rupees, but now, it's off. No deal!! What are you going to do without me now, huh??" She was furious and pulled her sword out from the robot's hip and turned to wave it in Goron Link's face. "What gives you the right to interfere?!"

    "Look, first off: that thing stopped being a bronze knuckle the first time you let its armor fall off, the flimsy Deku armor you put on it was a joke. Second:” he paused, checking her attention; and attitude “You know I won't let you steal from our friends-" he started, but she quickly interrupted him, "OUR?!? I don't even KNOW this kid!!" He gave her a moment, to be sure she was done yelling before replying, "I have only known the little Hylian for a week or so myself, and I would have told you the next time we met up, but you stole their sword before I could say anything. I can make it up to you, you know..."

    Her expression grew more fierce and she scoffed, "HOW?!? All you're good for is protecting the park and eavesdropping!" Goron Link grinned. "Well..." He started, looking over to you, and winking, "You know how you're always wanting new recruits?" She immediately cut in, "Oh, now you just stop right there! I am NOT training some kid I don't even know! They aren't even old enough to join the Thieves Guild anyways! NO! NOT going to happen!!"

    Goron Link's grin only grew, "But I know something about this kid that makes THEM much more valuable than you can guess. If you've ever trusted me before, now is the time to test that trust! Forgive Them and let Them have their sword. Forgive me and I'll let you in on what Impa sees in them."

    The tan, redheaded Nabooru went pale in that moment and her eyes sparkled with excited anticipation, yet she looked as if she had just met her death. "I don't believe you." She said, shakily. Goron Link closed his eyes knowingly, "That's where they got the sword. You'd never steal from Impa, would you? Taking this sword from them is the same as taking it from her. I'll keep quiet about this if you maintain our deal. Impa doesn't have to know."

    She grunted with frustration, groaned and moaned angrily, then looked over at you; her hard gaze softened affectionately, "Maybe if they were a bit older..." She mumbled. Caught herself, she forced herself to be cross again. "UGH! Fine! I can't take the sword knowing it came from her... What's their association with Impa, then?"

    Goron Link shrugged, "Kind of the same as yours, except the little girl is somehow involved too. To be completely honest, that is all I know: She's training the newbie." Nabooru laughed spitefully "Ha! What a trick, Link! I get nothing from this!" She growled and went on, addressing you. "Well kid, if you ever get as good as me, that'll be the day I consider you for the Guild! Until then, I EXPECT you to help me rebuild my Bronze Knuckle." She yanked her other sword out and pointed it at you accusingly. "IN FACT, after what our friend has done to it, I expect you both to help me UPGRADE it to at least an Iron Knuckle or better! Now get out of here you punk!" She turned to Goron Link, "I'll bring you a list of parts for a Steel Knuckle, Link. Now... Tell me the kid's name before I change my mind about forgiving you."

    Goron Link laughed deep and heavily. "Their name is also Link."

    Nabooru looked dizzy and then sat down in the grass. She stared at you, disbelieving, as she spoke to Goron Link, "But they look Hylian..."

    "Yup." Goron Link rumbled joyously.

    She shakes her head and slowly braces herself to stand up, but hesitates.

    As you and Goron Link start to leave, Nabooru grabs your shoulder firmly. Startled, you turn to catch her grinning down at you. "I know more than you would think... You're a really perceptive kid, you know that? You were the only one out of everyone, including the adults, who even saw me stealing Cuccos... But that was probably ten years ago, so I wouldn't expect you to recall... Except, it seems you've only gotten keener since then." She looked to the sky for a moment then continued, slowly returning her eyes upon you as she spoke, "By the way, you should apologize to your girlfriend and explain to her why you're not showing up tonight." She winked, then added, "I'm glad you got that annoying Gameboy back, she wouldn't stop texting you!"

    You flipped it open and checked your messages. 8 from Krystal, one from Impa… And 3 from mom... You're in trouble now!

    "Come on, kid. Let's get back out to the park. It's getting… Really late and ol' Link needs to get some rest. You got anywhere to go?" Goron Link asks you, as he turns to leave the glade. You check your messages from mom and respond to the newest one,

    >on the way home, someone stole my phone and training sword, just got them back<

then turn and nod at Goron Link's back as he's already down the path.

    You take a step as a hand on your shoulder grabs your attention once more, "Go on, kid. I'll find out more about you later, and here, a copy of the list of parts for my upgraded Knuckle unit. I expect you two will get to work at fixing this mess you've both made." Nabooru doesn’t even look at you, just holds the list against your shoulder and watches Goron Link depart. You look up at her and half nod, not sure if she even noticed.

    You notice how much taller she is than you, however.

    Goron Link moves slowly enough that you catch up to him less than a quarter of the way back to the street. You walk silently beside him and he seems to ignore you for the majority of the short path back. As the exit comes into view, he stops and sits beside the remains of his rocks from earlier.

    He grabs a larger stone, but before he bites into it he stares at you.

    "You're a profound Hylian, do you know that?" He says and takes a bite. Muffled, mouth full, he continues, "You're quiet as a stone, but you clearly notice things that most others don't." He swallows loudly, "You're already involved with Impa and you're still a kid! She must be preparing you for something big." And takes another bite, talking again without waiting to swallow, "Just like the girl, you're an important piece of the puzzle she's been sorting out for so many years now. She thinks that I will be an important assistant to this equation as well, but only hinted at my involvement. Says, I'll find my family by helping the lost hero, she says."

    As luck should have it, or maybe divine providence willed it so, without any prompting or notification, Goron Link's social network came through this night to save your legs the agony of walking 5 miles home. The moment you stepped onto the street from the woods, a car pulled up beside the trailhead. Stepping out of the driver's door was the beautiful, elegant, self-possessed, graceful, redheaded Marin.

    Evidently, as her candid surprise indicated, it was luck or providence because she did not realize anyone would be here; her shock only tripled by familiar faces.

    "Link?!?" She stared at you as if you were unreal. The passenger door closed, alerting you to the presence of another girl. Goron Link stepped out of the forest as the younger girl rounded the car.

    Marin did a double take, "Link?!?" She said again, this time at the Goron. Goron Link was just as surprised and made low noises, but no words. Marin just stared, unable to speak when the little girl grabbed her hand, training her consciousness back on the moment. "You know them, lady?"

    Marin's jean overalls were well worn and had faded spots where holes wanted to open. One strap was loose and dangled freely, the chest was dark and oily, but the legs were only partially stained with motor oil. Her face looked recently cleaned, but the tips of her red bangs and long hair were blackened with consistent grease exposure. Her hair was long and in a high pony tail, draped over her shoulder.

    She shook her head and laughed quietly. "Yeah, I know them both. The kid is my little sister's friend, and the Goron is supposed to be at the park!" she said to the little girl, but loud enough for all to hear, then directed her words to Goron Link, "Link, what are you doing away from the park anyway? The racers could jump in at any time! Roll back right away, will you?!" Her concern pouring out of her voice suggested something, but you couldn't sense what. Only that it had less to do with the park feed and more to do with the racers. The little girl tugged at her hand again, "does this mean we're not gonna buy anything?"

    Marin smiled softly down at the child, "Nabooru will help us any time. It can wait if it must."

    "So you're here to do business? I wasn't aware you knew Nabooru. What is your involvement here?" Goron Link inquired.

    Before she could answer, the little girl became agitated, "Marin, Marin! can you introduce me?"

    Goron Link initiated the girl's request for her, "Well hello little girl, I'm Link, what's your name?". She grew shy and hid behind Marin.

    She looked to be your age but a little younger, had short blond hair, and luminous green eyes. She wore a dirty white sundress with opaque black, albeit dirt stained, stockings and cute tan sandals. Her cheeks were ever so slightly rouge as her blushing faded.

    Marin took the cue, "It's okay Ilia, you don't need to be shy. These are my friends, the Goron and Hylian are both named Link." She said, comforting the girl, then looked up at Goron Link, "Link, Link; this is Ilia. I just met her this afternoon while closing up the shop. She has lost her parents and does not know where they are."

(❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️)

    Ilia peeked out and looked you in the eye. She smiled and shyly said 'hi' quietly, before hiding her face behind Marin again.  

    "She and her friend have been living outside for a month now. She told me that a crazy homeless scientist with his baby have fed them and cared for them, but he has it rough enough as it is, taking care of that baby. Long story short, I am putting Ilia up tonight... and tomorrow, I am going to find her friend Agatha, and the professor. They're gonna stay in my garage, not a shack on the street!!" She spoke with dignity and authority. She was very much like her sister and mother: Proud, confident, determined; capable.

    "But you need to get out of here Link. Go back to the park and protect it! I can take Link home from here... Just tell me one thing..." Marin pressed, "What is this kid doing with you all the way out here at this hour? They aren't homeless, this isn't a joke. You can't just go off like this, with a kid who has a mother and a place to stay!" She was very stern, but her demeanor was never angry or aggressive, but gentle and relaxed.

    Goron Link shrugged "Kid's sword was stolen. Take a look at it and tell me you don't recognize it."

    Ilia got excited "Sword???" and peeked out. She watched you draw it, and her excitement grew more and more as the wooden blade was revealed. You hold the sword up for Marin to inspect, and she takes a close look at it, turning it over from side to side, inspecting the tip, and then as if it just came to her and she'd merely forgotten, she quickly turned it over and looked at the base of the hilt.

    You hadn't even noticed the Triforce carving there, but she seemed to know what to look for. It was such a subtle indentation and emboss that it would be easily overlooked if you didn’t know it was there.

    She handed you your sword back, "I haven’t seen this thing in over ten years! Impa's training them now, huh? Wait, stolen?! Nabooru might be a thief, but she is not dishonorable!"

    Goron Link shook his head and closed his eyes "Nabooru didn't even know what she had. She wasn't part of that meeting, remember? It wasn't until after she'd reported to me about what she learned there that she got involved. Impa trained her with a different sword though, so she couldn't even have known."

    Marin laughed "’Impa's training’." and shook her head, "Normal people can't handle that. I remember when she tried to train me... I think I hurt myself with that sword more than I ever hurt any targets!" She sighed, "I was headstrong and thought I could help save the world, but I learned to recognize my place quickly. Sometimes the whole world just isn't enough. Sometimes, you gotta do what you feel is right for you, and ignore the rest of the world..."

    Ilia yawned big and long, prompting Marin.

    "Come on, Link, I'll drive you to home..."

    Your GameBoy played the 'secret sound' and you checked it for a message from mom.

    <where r you?? r u ok? COME HOME RIGHT NOW!>

    >Marin's giving me a ride, on my way< You type...

    ... and sent.

    Ilia climbs in the back seat behind Marin, and you approach the passenger's door. "Do you still live down on the outskirts on the way to the Lake?" She asked you. You got in and nodded to her, closing your eyes, suddenly aware of how exhausted you are.

When you opened them again, Marin was opening your door and reaching in to shake you awake. As her hand rested upon you, you turn to look her, by no means deliberately, directly in the eye, "Oh, good, you're awake. We're here. Hope your 10 minute nap was enough to carry yourself in the house! I'd love to stay and chat, but I've got a lot on my plate since this afternoon..."

    Your mom was rushing to the car before Marin was back into the driver's seat. You closed the passenger's door and accepted the rushing worried embrace that your mother was bringing.

    She grasped your wrists fiercely, and sank down to your level, kneeling, moving in, and wrapping her arms around you and holding you tight. "You're grounded." she said with a sob, as Marin's car drove off.