FayeleneFyre
The local treehugger
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2011
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Lost In Termina is a fanfiction written by FayeleneFyre. I do not own TLoZ or any canon LoZ characters.
The Legend of Zelda © Nintendo.
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Back in 2011, I had posted my first fan fiction, Lost In Termina. Since then, it has been refurbished and some plot has even been changed for the ongoing plot of my entire series, Tales of Termina (Tales of Termina is the name of the series that holds each individual story. Lost In Termina is the first in the series [not including the prologue story, The Quest of Seven. This one can be found on my DeviantART as a three-chapter story, explaining how the events of Lost In Termina began. Lost In Termina can still be followed without reading The Quest of Seven, but here it is if interested~. http://fayelenefyre.deviantart.com/gallery/33960999/LIT-Prologue-The-Quest-Of-Seven ])
Without further ado, here's chapter 1. I hope you all enjoy~!
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Chapter 1
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Chapter 1
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DAWN OF THE FIRST DAY
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A Rose With Thorns.
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A Rose With Thorns.
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Early morning began as the sun had hardly even peeked over the trees yet. We take our beginning to the swamp where the palace of the deku kingdom itself stands. Beyond the palace where no human has ventured, is the secretive forest of the deku scrubs; the deku village. Within flowers, huts, and even hollowed trees, dekus made their homes. Here, everyone knew each other if you were a deku and lived among these woods. Though, there was one who resided away from others, and proved as unique compared to most of the common village scrubs. Loved by many, and also disliked by other many. This deku scrub didn't live in a hut or tree, but in the open woods in an underground grotto.
A little yellow leaf popped out of the grotto hole in the dark of the early morning. The deku scrub had thick blond leaves that became thin and hair-like as it got longer. The long "hair" was kept in an orange worn-out ponytail. His thicker leaves covered his eyes mostly as they fell over his face.
He a tan animal pelt vest, and a green-dyed animal fur loin cloth- which he'd sewn together at the sides and wore on his pants, as odd a fashion it was. His pants were also pelts and were burnt red, and their pant-legs split and covered the left and right sides of his feet and dragged the ground slightly. He wore tan shoes, which were scuffed and tattered to some degree from his constant travels. He climbed out of his home, bringing an old light tan worn one-strap rucksack with him, and swung it around his back. He gave a gaze at the forest around him... It seemed everything was starting to wilt. With his sights seen and his grotto hidden again beneath a dead log, of which he moved over it, he then set out.
His bright glowing orbs set ahead toward the palace and through the socially active part of the forest, of which many deku scrubs seemed to be active at right now. He never stopped once in the village, and he walked straight through. His path lead through a forest, then many caves, before he exited a good twenty minutes later out of a cave near the deku palace.
When he approached the palace gates after crossing the swamp in front of it, he stopped to look around.
"There he is.", called a girl's voice. The blond deku looked toward the giggling voices. Three deku scrub girls waved him over, of which he just chuckled.
"Sorry, I'm goin' on another trip girls. Can't talk right now." He said, feeling a little flattered and rather big-headed. "I'm sure some other guy will be willing to talk. Maybe not one like yours truly, though, someone." He replied, pointing his hand to himself.
They looked a bit freaked that he was even talking to them. "Ah, can you believe it!? Jace..."
One of the palace guards just rolled his eyes at Jace. He looked to the other guard next to him. "Ugh, even when he's not living here, Jacon's very presence causes a nuisance."
"He's a teenager, just ignore him..." the other replied.
"Be safe~!" One girl called out shyly.
Jace laughed. "You know me, nothing can get me!"
"Tell me about it..." The eldest girl added.
"Huh… I notice you've changed your leafdo, Gewl. Looks better than the old one." Jace said casually as he walked out on a lily pad, in no way meaning for her to take it as flirting. He was mostly just making a simple comment...
The girl known as Gewl simply leaned on one of the other girls giggling. "He still loves me and you know it~!"
Jace turned and used a stick to push the lily pad across the water. "Heh, cute... That wasn't mean to be a flirt, ugh..." he said to himself. He seemed really irritated, for personal past reasons.
The sun finally began peeking across the sky after a few hours of floating across the swamp water while Jace had pushed himself as far as he could go, he then reached land. Once up off the lily pad, he gazed up at the trees again. "They're much worse here. The trees look awful... I wonder what's going on?". He then turned his gaze at the grass ahead of himself. "Everything is dying."
He walked on, surveying the plants. The forest grew thinner and thinner, then before long, he found himself in the ever so wide Termina field. There were miles of nothing but beautiful grass and trees out on the field ahead of him, with mountains of the North in the distance. He looked back to his forest Swamp home. "It's only the swamp that's dying...?"
He watched the sky, then looked ahead once more. "It looks like I've got some asking around to do. Maybe someone in Clocktown will know what's going on here?"
In the center of the wide, wide field, was the capitol of Termina; Clocktown. It was a long straight walk there which took a good hour or so. It appeared the South entrance to the town was blocked off for reconstruction, seeing as the annual Carnival of Time was growing near.
He walked along the large path way around the town walls, hoping the other entrances were open. The West entrance was luckily open. He walked through the large doorway to face the market place of Clocktown, and it was bustling. Everyone was getting ready for the upcoming carnival. Some were wearing their carnival masks around, and some were out looking for dressy things to wear to the festivities. Usually, you didn't see many different races in Clocktown at once, but during this time of year, zoras, gorons, and even deku scrubs came to Clocktown. An expression of joy captivated Jace's face. "I love this time of year."
He walked on down the street as he passed many shops selling many unique things. He suddenly stopped at a weapon dealer. He leaned on the counter as he called to get attention, "Hey."
The man looked down, than crossed his arms. "Here to take another piece of merchandise, thief?"
"Such a harsh word. I call it Take-Now-Pay-Later citizen." Jace joked. "But no... I wanted to know if I could find some answers. The swamp's plant-life is dying off... It's really starting to worry me. Know anything about it...?"
The man began to think, then leaned on the table into the plant-boy's face. "You want something to look into...? Look into the rumors about the odd weather near the goron settlement in the Northern Mountains. I heard there was a blizzard one moment, then it was gone just like that."
"Blizzard? At their settlement? But blizzards don't normally happen there… Nor do they just… Stop." Jace replied.
The man nodded. "I find it strange that the blizzard occurs, then you come to me with the news of the sudden dying swamp. Ask some goron, they may know what happened."
"Ah, thanks." Jace pulled his rucksack in front of him, and pulled out some rupees. "Here, to pay for the stolen merchandise. Just needed to get the money."
Jace walked off, hoping to find a goron to ask. Luckily finding one in South Clocktown. "Hey, excuse me? Down here." He called.
The goron turned, then gazed down at the deku boy. "Hm?"
"Um, do you know about any strange things happening in Termina lately? I heard there's been a blizzard up at the goron village." Jace asked.
"Brother Jace! Yeah, I left the day it stopped." The goron responded.
Jace blinked. "It stopped?"
The goron gave a slow nod. "I was a little confused. Our leader and many of our tribe's warriors headed out into the wildlands. They came back after the blizzard stopped. Non of us were told of what happened up there, but something serious I believe."
"Oh my." Jace replied. "Well, thanks for the info."
He turned around, and began pacing off. "Todays going to be a long one... I'm taking a trip up the mountains to the goron village I guess. I honestly think something's wrong here, and no one else seems to really be as concerned... If the swamp dies, then so will the inhabitants there." Jace held deep concern in his tone as he turned and took a step back to the many markets. Something shining had caught his eye, however. "What's this now?"
Set up above all the other gems and rare items across this certain table, was one Moon's Tear; A shining sapphire stone shaped like a large tear. One of these were first seen fifty years ago, and are very rare. He approached it, vaguely forgetting the task at hand. After a disaster that befell Termina fifty years ago involving the moon, it was said giving someone a Moons Tear were to bring both the giver and the taker goodluck. This belief came to be, since those who seemed to own one were least effected by the disasters during that time. Jace found himself wanting to buy it, but it's price wasn't exactly low. "My goodness, I'd make a pretty rupee off something like this."
He turned, looking around to see if anyone was watching the table. Everyone was too busy doing their own thing. And the woman at the table had her back turned.
Despite the oncoming guilt, he slowly reached up to grab the Moon's Tear 'I know I told myself not to do this again, but I really need the money… Giant's forgive me...'
"BARK! BARK! BARK!!"
Jace nearly jumped out of his vest, and he turned to face the dog barking and growling at him. "Not now you mutt, you're going to get me in tr-!"
"Oh, hello there." The merchant said as she turned to face Jace with a sweet tone in her voice.
Jace put his hands behind his back. "Oh, uh, hey." The dog continued growling.
"Were you looking for something?" She asked.
Jace gazed up to the Moon's Tear. "Well, I've had my eye on that Moon's Tear up there." He answered truthfully.
She looked to the gem on her table "Ah yes, it certainly can catch a few eyes, huh?"
Jace leaned on the table. "It's quite expensive though."
"They're very rare to come across, might as well make some good money off it. My shop is usually very dead, then I saw this beauty fall out of the sky, and knew it'd be an answer to my prayers, perhaps help me save my shop." The woman replied.
Jace felt even more guilty for letting himself become tempted to steal from someone with such poor business. 'Shoot…' Jace reached into his rucksack. "Tell ya' what ma'am." he began. He pulled out two silver rupees, worth two hundred rupees... Apparently, all the big money he had on him... "I'll buy it!"
A smile creased her face, and Jace handed her the rupees. "Thank you so much!"
She handed him the Moon's Tear. "It's yours now. Do what you wish with it." The woman added.
"Heh, thanks." Jace gently slipped it into his rucksack, then left the table. He grumbled to himself, realizing he'd be without some money for a while. "Well, atleast I got it… Kind of a lost cause at this point, though… If I sell it, I'll just end up with the same amount I had before." As he walked away, he shooed the dog that followed him, and it eventually left him alone.
Jace began toward the entrance he came into Clocktown through upon remembering his task. He had a long day ahead of him, he figured he better get going and stop fooling around town.
"Ugh..." He stopped just outside town… He groaned as he held his head. He laid his hand over his eye and muttered to himself, leaning against the town wall slightly. His head began to hurt a little. It felt like he just got smacked with a sack of bricks. "A headache, now...?" He lowered his hand again, and continued through the exit trying to ignore the headache.
He walked on outside the town and through the beautiful grassy fields, as he raised his arms and stretched. His headache began fading away. "Sure didn't last very long this time, wonder what that was about?" He rubbed his head again. He'd just passed one of the fountains outside the West gate exit. He looked beyond his path, seeing in the far distance the snowy mountains of the North, which miles and miles away from the grassy paradise, was a frozen wonderland between those mountains. After much time, he reached the bridge that lead to the Northern mountains. Sometimes he wished he had a horse-drawn carriage or something, it would make trips so much faster. The area beneath the bridge was a tiny canyon-like gap with speckles of snow in it. It lead into the mountains as well, but would be quite a hike to reach the main North path from down there. Thus, the bridge was a better choice.
"Haven't been up at the goron village in a long time. Wonder how Darmorn's holding up?" Jace walked across the bridge and continued his trek upwards and into the mountain hills. "This'll be another one of those four-hour walks, not really looking forward to it... Gah, my head..." His head began hurting again. "C'mon now... What's wrong with me today...?" He complained painfully. He rubbed his head lightly as he looked down at the ground, still walking on.
"I don't understand this place!" Argued a voice up the mountain trail. Jace was too busy complaining about his head to really take concern to the other voice. Though, he vaguely noticed it. Hard not to, the voice was loud and echoing.
"It seems everywhere I turn, it's one surprise after the other... Once, just ONCE I'd like to find someone who'd give me a straight answer as to where I need to go next, not just take the trail." The voice continued. "Well, it was nice of Darmorn to let me spend the night in the village at least." The voice soon came to a silence. Jace released his head, noticing it ease up a bit. "That's better, I wish there was some warning before it does that." He raised his head, and looked up the swerving trail. A shadow on the wall of the rocks around the trail made his head perk up a little as his leaves twitched some. "Who's that?"
He came to a slow stop, nearly dropping his rucksack. Luckily, he held onto it well enough to keep from doing so.
It was like a slap to the face for Jace. Up from behind the wall of the trail came a deku scrub girl. Her autumn leaves were so long that they nearly touched the ground. She was dressed in a light blue four-petal shawl over a purple tank top made of unknown materials. They appeared to be petals, but he wasn't sure. She wore a grass skirt that reached her shoes, which her shoes were scuffed and ripped. Three larger leaves hung off her forehead, almost reminiscent to a cucco's comb. Each one of her leaves were tipped with light blond, the rest of her leaves being a darker tone. The thing that really caught his attention aside form her long attracting leaves, were her fiery eyes that he could see even from where he was standing, as they shined ever so brightly under the shadow of her bangs. Accompanying her was a small black bird hopping behind.
"Whoa..." Jace mused. He laid his eyes on her, and his heart just sped up. His little heart was practically running a marathon at this point... His mind raced to look for the words he needed to describe her. He sighed, and he knew he had to meet her. He felt a bit shaky though, and he was drawing a blank for words to say. He gripped the rucksack strap nervously and remained in place, unaware of himself twisting his left foot back and forth on the snowy-muddy ground shyly.
She caught sight of the deku boy ahead. And as soon as their eyes locked, Jace's leaves bristled and he shivered, which he hoped she hadn't noticed. She seemed to perk up slightly, hoping for a useful point in the right direction. She honestly hadn't even taken to mind his physical nervousness. But he soon kicked himself to walk up to her.
"Uhh." he began, not knowing how to start. He recovered and cleared his throat shortly... He sticks his chest out, stands tall, hands on hips and raises an eye brow, and speaks, "I couldn't help but- uh... Notice you walking down.". He was pretty much speaking faster than his thoughts could stop at this point.
She gazed down at the bird next to her, then looked Jace in the face again, looking a little confused with his actions.
"I saw you, and I had to ask myself: Is it spring already? Because you're bloomin' beautiful…". His thoughts finally stopped him, after realizing how lame that sounded. He soon added on smoothly... "Are you new around here? I've never seen you before."
She scoffed, an ice-cold glare piercing through him. "I don't have time for your little games..." She paused. "If you're going to just flirt, then get lost..." She ended with a tone of sheer-cold.
Jace found himself instantly heart broken. She walked passed him without saying another word, and she even slapped him accidentally in the face with her leaves… Her bird companion glared at him as they passed Jace.
'Jace, why did you…?' He scolded himself. 'Aw geez, I was little heavy and blunt there... What's wrong with you, Jace? That was cheesy… Giants, she's getting away… Um… Let's try that again...' He said in thought. He looked at her as she walked off, and he looked a little shocked. 'Wait, what was shedoing up in the Northern mountains?'
He walked up to her again. "Um, I uh..."
She suddenly stopped. "What now, Romeo...? I'm in a hurry." She tapped her foot, glaring irritably at the deku boy.
"I was uh, wondering if you might know what happened up there in the goron village?" Jace recovered lamely.
She stared for a moment. "I don't even know you. And what happened is none of your business."
"If it means saving my home, then it is." Jace replied truthfully.
The girl gazed at him again, showing slight more interest in the discussion. "Save?"
"Yeah... All the plant life is dying out there. Don't you live at the swamp? You're a deku after all." Jace replied.
"Uh, no, I'm not from here... Anyway, I don't know what to tell you. I-I don't have time to help you, I've got my own home to worry about." She responded coldly yet again.
Jace followed her once she started walking again, which she gave audible frustration towards. "What happened to your home?" He sounded concerned.
"If you must know- Nothing. I was taken from my home. I don't feel like talking about what happened after that. All I know, is this Termina place is awful..."
Jace paused "...Are you kidding? Termina's wonderful."
"That's because you live here, you were raised around it. I find it confusing, chaotic and messed up. I want to return to the forests of Hyrule, where I'm safe at home..."
"I'm afraid I've never heard of such a place." Jace replied.
She looked him over. "Who are you anyway?"
"OH! Uh, I'm Jace, Jacon Verin Leavance. Might I ask of your name?" Jace replied with a question.
She hesitated. But replied. The mention of his whole name threw her off guard, not a lot of dekus she'd met had full names like that in Lost Woods. "It's.. Iris… Erm, just Iris, I think... And this is Skits."
Skits' feathers ruffled as he glared at Jace with a hiss. The hissing soon threw Jace off guard...
"Heh-heh... Nice to meet you, uh, Skits..." Jace said weakly. He gazed up at Iris again. "Iris is a really beautiful name, not a common one arou-"
"I gotta go..." Iris cut him off, not in any way flattered by his coming compliment.
Jace seemed a bit taken aback, he wasn't trying to flirt, he was simply complementing her name, as it really was uncommon. "So, Is everything okay up there in the mountains...? I was headed up there to see if anyone knew anything about the strange happenings in the swamp and mountains, but I'm guessing you were up there through the blizzard?"
"Yes, and everything's fine. Thanks to a group of crazy dragalfos, the blizzard was kicked up. If they had anything to do with your home's dying, then it should've stopped by now, because the dragalfos were defeated. So no, I don't think it has anything to do with the blizzard." Iris replied once more.
Hearing so worried Jace. Especially the mention of the dragalfos. In his travels, he'd heard tales about them; they weren't a good bunch to be around. "I wish I could find out what's happening..."
"Well, I wish I could go home, but that ain't happening anytime soon, either… And wishing ain't gonna do anything for either of us." Iris added.
Just then, Jace looked to Iris. "Say, If I help you find a way home, could you maybe help me find out what's happening to mine?"
Iris froze. "Huh? No... You don't understand here, I can't just go home, I need one of the Great Fairies, It's a long story."
"You're in luck then, at the forest swamp I live in, there's a fountain for one of the Great Fairies!" Jace replied.
"You're kidding…? You just don't give up, do you lover-boy?" Iris groaned, cutting her eyes at him. "Okay, fine!"
Jace just about leaped for joy, but he simply thanked her. "Thank's, that means a lot..." He thanked truthfully.
"Whatever..." She said. "Lead the way..."
Skits glared up at her as if she was crazy.
Jace walked by, "Gladly!"
Iris grudgingly followed, as Skits flew above her head.
"So, how long have you been in Termina? Don't see many foreigners." Jace asked, gazing back at Iris.
Iris had her arms crossed as she gazed at the ground. "A day now. Quite honestly, it's felt like two or three days..."
Jace slowed down some to walk at side-by-side with Iris. "Well, I'd be glad to help you out, Iris. I've been everywhere in Termina, I'm a bit of a traveler, so I'd be more than happy to tell you about it all. I've studied so much, you could probably ask me just about anything on the main regions of Termina."
"Oh, good! Is there an answer as to why you're head is so huge in that mental encyclopedia of yours, as well…?" She asked with sarcasm. "I don't even know how you're walking without falling head-first at this point."
Jace turned, burned by her cold tone and words. He then turned his head back to the trail ahead, and fell silent. 'This rose has thorns, that's for sure…' He cleared his throat to recover.
It took another few hours to get through the field straight from the mountains to the swamp entrance, the whole way was silent and peaceful, yet still… Tense. Iris then stopped before the entrance of the swamp. "Wait."
Jace looked back. "huh?"
"Are there... Wolfos here...?" Iris asked, her tone dropping to a level of fear.
Jace gazed for a moment. "Well, yeah, usually only at night, though. More toward the wildlands though. I hardly ever see any."
A chill went up Iris' back. "I-I don't know about this."
"It'll be okay, you live in a forest, don't you?" Jace asked.
Iris nodded.
"Well, it shouldn't be any worse." He tried comforting her. "And it's mostly water the whole way, so I don't think anything will get-"
Iris stood up straight and gasped. "Water!?"
Jace blinked. "It is a swamp."
"Nu-uh! Deep water is dangerous to deku scrubs." Iris took a step back.
Jace soon realized she wasn't as stone-willed as she lets off. "I'm alive, aren't I?" He asked with a pause. "Stick with me, and you'll be fine."
Iris stared for a while, before covering her fear with an expression of stone again. "I-I'll be fine... Just hurry."
Jace chuckled at her sudden act, then continued into the trees, with Iris and Skits following.
Iris looked around at the tall dead trees. They were now on a trail that lead two ways. One way lead through oddly shaped trees that were fat-rounded at the bottom and thin at the top. The other way was actually very clear. In the center of the crossway stood one lone tree, of which was infested with sleeping keese... Skits glanced in fear. "So, which way now?" Iris asked.
"Just follow me." Jace responded.
"Well that sure tells me a lot." Iris muttered to herself.
She did so, and eventually found them approaching the swamp. The center of the area had a few human tourist sights, including boat tours and shops. High above all the trees and beyond the swamp, was a dark mountain that resembled Death Mountain back in Hyrule. Iris' face lit up. But she soon realized it was very different in color.
"A lot of the Terminians visit here. It's been dead here lately, though." Jace spoke up. He walked to the water soon after.
"What're you doing?!" Iris asked.
Jace looked back. "What do you mean?"
Iris looked to one of the tourist boats. "Why not just take a boat?"
"Better to use a free lily pad than to get in trouble for stealing a boat, and I don't have the rupees to pay for one." Jace responded, mentally blaming himself for that… Thanks to the Moon's Tear. He took a running start, then hopped across the water to the lily pad that had blown out into deeper water, much to Iris' bewilderment. He used his old stick to push it back to Iris. "Hop on." He said kindly.
"How'd you do that?" Iris pondered.
"Do what?" The deku boy asked.
Iris continued, "That hopping thing!"
"You can't do that?" Jace asked.
Iris shook her head "No, I've never seen a deku do that before!"
"It's easy, every deku is born with that ability. With the help of some deku magic and our light-weight, we can hop on the water. Not for long, though, so it's best to just jump as fast as you can. I prefer using a lily pad over hopping from pad to pad like most of the scrubs here."
Iris looked amazed. "I didn't know we could do that!"
Skits even seemed impressed with that. He looked at Iris, then back at Jace.
"You coming or what?" Jace added.
Iris examined the lily pad for concerns of safety. "Um, okay." She awkwardly walked into the low water, and climbed on. She then sat down, nearly pushing Jace out of his spot while trying to stay away from the high waters around the lily pad.
Jace wanted to say "calm down", but figured it'd just irritate her. He pushed the lily pad away from land and down the swamp. Again, Iris was keeping away from the edges.
"Hyrule must be different." Jace commented.
Iris gazed out at the water. "What's it to ya?"
Jace continued. "I'm just saying- You're very... Jumpy, er, easily scared. Are all the deku like that where you come from?"
Iris glared at Jace with a growl. "No, I'm not scared, I'm just... careful"
"Call it what you want." Jace replied, turning his head back to the front of the lily pad. "Our stop's coming up ahead." He pointed out forward toward a dock. "This is a short cut to the woods. Less water, too."
"Good!" Iris replied.
Jace stopped the lily pad at the dock, and waited for Iris to get up there then followed after. He pulled the lily pad up on the dock so it wouldn't blow away this time. Ahead, the trees got thick again, as a single trail swerved deep around them.
"Uh, stay close." Jace said.
Iris was too distracted by the new surroundings to really care of what he said. "... This place- GAH!" She jumped back, bumping into Jace. A deku baba shot out at her and tried snapping it's jaws on her. It was restrained by it's stem and wasn't able to reach her. The bulbous carnivorous and mindless plant growled and snarled, trying to reach her.
"I said stay close." Jace repeated with a chuckle. "Don't get off the trail, deku babas are everywhere."
Iris held onto Skits tightly "I-I can see that!"
Jace gave a smug expression, a bit of a deku grin. "I'm here to protect you, okay? You can hold onto me if you get scared."
"Wow." Iris began in a fake surprised tone as she pushed herself away from Jace. "Of course, how stupid of me. I forgot I'm with a warrior in shining armor- OH! Wait, no, he's just a cocky weed who probably can't even fend for himself..."
"Iris...?" Jace said with a tone of warning.
Iris continued blabbering on. "You probably never even wielded a weapon before."
Jace reached into his rucksack and pulled a knife out of a holding case, shoved Iris out of the way, and threw the knife, killing a loose deku baba with a straight shot at the bulb-like head.
Iris simply gazed wide eyed, unaware of the deku baba even being there.
"What was that last thing you said?" Jace mocked. "Keep your eyes open, some of them can get loose from the stem."
He walked to the dead deku baba, and picked up his knife, and put it back in the case. Iris still stared at the deku baba, before turning back to Jace hastily, "Lead the way!"
Jace put the knife back in his rucksack and nodded. They began forward on the trail, until they reached a clearing.
"Whoa." Iris looked up. In the center of the clearing, an elevated house stood. It was multi-colored and shaped like a jar. The only way one would be able to enter would be to climb the ladders leading up to the door. It looked like there were parts to the house recently added on.
Jace began, "That's the Hag's Potion Shop. Nice place actually… Well, somewhat. You'd find any kind of potion in there."
"You don't say?" Iris responded, legitimately interested.
"I hear they're even working on a Love Potion." Jace added jokingly.
It didn't take long for Iris to catch on, and she grabbed the closest thing- being a deku stick, and whacked him upside the head. "Don't even go there."
"OW! I was just kidding. Geez!" Jace laughed, as he rubbed his head. "We should keep moving, our destination is just beyond the Woods of Mystery."
Iris kept the deku stick, figuring it could be useful. "Maybe this'll knock some sense into him." Iris joked. Skits gave a cawing laugh to Iris remark.
Jace walked ahead and began approaching more thick woods. His attitude went back to a serious nature. "This way. Be careful, stay close, and don't lose sight of me. You'll end up lost if you take a wrong turn."
"Sounds like Lost Woods." Iris gazed down at Skits. "Let's go."
Skits nodded, and landed on his deku sister's arm.
They walked in, as everything grew dark from the thick dying trees.
"Say uh, Jace, ever heard of Lost Woods?" Iris asked.
Jace took a moment to search his memory, the the location was lost on him. "Uhh... I'm afraid not."
"Oh." Iris simply shrugged, with an 'Oh well' expression.
"Why do you ask, beautiful?" Jace responded with a question.
Iris rolled her eyes at the 'beautiful' part, then replied "This Woods Of Mystery resembles a place I know, that's all."
Jace turned back to the path ahead. "Ah."
Iris stayed close to Jace, quite aware of what the forest can do, seeing as she lived in Lost Woods before. It was like walking into a whole new version of her home sweet home.
Jace began too speak, "Many of the Terminians have tried making it through here, but not one person I know or have seen has been able to fully access this place like us forest folk. The key is knowing-"
"The trees." Both Iris and Jace finished at once. An expression of surprise took hold of Jace's face. "How'd you know?"
"Like I said, it's like a place I know. I lived in a forest like this. Knew every inch of the place, too."
Jace smirked a deku smirk. "I can see I don't have to explain much of this place to you then."
It felt like walking in circles, but to the trained eye, one could tell the differences of each new area.
"Are the trees starting to get greener and fatter here, or is it just me?" Iris asked.
"No, we're just getting closer to the palace, everything hasn't died off here yet." Jace replied.
Iris brought her gaze back to Jace. "Palace?"
"The Deku Palace." Jace added.
"You mean there's a royal deku family here?!" Iris asked in surprise.
Jace respponded with, "Let me guess; Never heard of such a thing, right?"
Iris walked up next to Jace, keeping a distance. "Well, no. The only royal family I know is the king and princess of Hyrule. I actually tried stealing from the castle the day before I got to Termina. Didn't work out so well."
Jace laughed. "What!? You tried stealing from a king!?"
Iris cut her eyes at Jace lowly. "Yeah, and? I got pretty far, too. I made it inside the castle at least." Skits glared with her, as his feather's ruffled. Wasn't something to completely hold highly. Sure, he helped her, but it nearly got them both killed...
Jace stopped himself. "I mean, If there's anything I've learned, it's that you can never get away with stealing treasure, especially from anyone of royalty."
"I beg to differ. I get away with it all the time. I was surprised I had to leave the castle empty handed." Iris added in.
Jace looked a bit deterred. "I can never get away with taking something if it's a type of treasure or gem. Though, I try my best to avoid stealing anyway... But if I have no other options, I will if I need money..." He sounded like he'd felt a little guilty saying that.
Iris and Jace continued their conversation. During this, Skits had an 'Oh great, not another one' look on his face that simply said "Don't encourage Iris too continue it, Jace.". Skits is well aware of the dangers Iris has put them through while just trying to get ahold of something.
"I didn't think you were the stealing type, Iris." Jace commented. "You come off as too cute to be a thief, to me you do anyway."
Iris simply crossed her arms, accepting how he saw her. "Just what I intended. Nobody expects it."
They made it out of the forest to open waters once more. Across from them, stood the tall rock-like palace guarded by tall green and red walls. It looked like the palace had a giant weeping willow growing out of it, making the palace look simply beautiful as the willow leaves draped over the top of it. Iris stared in awe. "Is that it? The palace...?"
Jace gave a simple nod. "Yep."
The Hylian deku was suddenly excited, but Iris noticed that the only way across the water to the front dock of the palace was over the water. She blinked upon watching Jace hop to a lily pad out afar.
"I'm afraid there aren't any loose lily pad's here, we'll have to hop across-" Jace stopped himself when he noticed Iris just staring at the water, he then remembered she was afraid of water. And to make it worse, she didn't know how to hop on it. "Oh..." he threw his gaze all around the swamp trying to look for something that may help, only seeing more of the wide water- Which wasn't really all that deep. It'd still reach to a deku scrub's head however, so walking through wouldn't be a wise option for sure for anyone who couldn't swim.
He scratched his head. "I'm sorry, but it's the only way across, and the only way to reach the Great Fairy is if we enter through those gates over there-" Jace pointed to the gates that lead through the walls to the front of the palace. "It's not too far of a jump. Every scrub can do it. Heck, I was hopping lily pas when I was four"
Iris shook her head 'no', refusing to jump.
'Why's she so afraid of it…?' Jace asked himself. 'Never seen one so afraid of water before.'
Jace looked down at his feet, then back up to Iris.
Iris looked down into the pool of water nervously. It was like awkward silence was slapped onto the moment. She then broke the silence. "Um... Uh, maybe there's another Great Fairy in Termina somewhere...?"
Jace simply shook his head. "Yeah- If you'd rather walk to the ocean or walk into a canyon filled with the living dead, then to just cross a little water, then by all means."
Iris' eyes widened. "All of a sudden, a little swamp doesn't sound so bad..."
"It usually helps to think of something worse when facing a fear." Jace replied. "C'mon then. If something happens, I'll catch you before you fall in."
Iris gazed back into the water and replied sarcastically at the 'If you fall in' part. "Well that's a lovely thought..."
Jace chuckled. "Just jump the minute you touch your feet to the water, that's all it takes. Make your jump to this lily pad."
Iris made a running start, then stopped herself right before she about jumped. She then took a step back.
"Okay... Try again, this time, be calm, you're way too tense." Jace spoke calmly, trying to make things a bit easier for her. "Just one step is all you need in order to make it over here."
Skits flew off Iris and onto the lily pad, as if egging her on.
"Now you're in on this!?" Iris replied. Skits simply stood there.
Iris groaned. "I swear if something happens, and I survive, I'm blaming you."
Iris walked back again, then dashed forward and jumped. When she felt the uneasy water touch her feet, she jumped again. Not because Jace told her to- But out of simply wanting to get back to the safety of land. She felt herself land again. She looked down at the green below her feet as the surface she stood on swayed slightly. "Hey..." She looked back. "I made it..."
Jace nodded, "Not that hard, huh? Now, next stop; the Great Fairy."
Iris nodded. She felt proud of herself, feeling like she just achieved something amazing. However, it was a trait all deku had from the moment that learn how to run… Jace wasn't gonna spoil that for her, though. Jace continued jumping from lily pad to lily pad. Iris hesitatingly followed until they reached the dock that lead into the front of the palace yard. Jace walked through, and Iris looked to Skits, then followed.
On the other side of the wall, stood the tall palace, of which Iris found herself wanting to explore, but kept hold of the task at hand and continued on with following the blond-leaved deku boy. Jace began jumping over the water again until he reached a small bit of land next to the rock wall with a deku flower in the center of it. Iris never thought she'd find herself willingly jumping into (or onto) water, but it was the only way.
Jace dove in the flower, and then shot up hovering with two flowers in hand till he reached up to a hole in the wall. He waited at the top for Iris. This was something she knew, she dove in and repeated his actions, then made it to the top.
"Doing good, just a little further ahead." Jace replied.
Iris looked out. "We're back where we started." they stood over the large body of water that Iris first hopped across. They stood on top of a red surface.
"Using this way allows us to go higher and reach Woodfall Temple, where you'll find the Great Fairy." Jace replied. He hopped into a deku flower ahead of himself, which rested in the center of a huge red flower, of which looked more like a tree with one single flower on the top. Iris soon came to realize that these large 'flowers' were all over the swamp here. "C'mon then." Called a voice, that pulled Iris out of her curious gaze when she noticed Jace was already ahead two-flowers over. "Don't want to leave you behind." He shouted.
"Oh! Coming! Skits, go wait for me." Iris said pointing in Jace's direction. Skits flew up off of Iris, and over to Jace. He seemed to keep his distance from the boy.
Iris hovered over until the petals on her hovering flowers gave out, and caused her to drop in front of Jace. "What are you waiting for? Go on." Iris ordered Jace.
Jace nodded, being the least bit effected by her rushing tone. They continuously hovered from flower to flower over the Swamp.
On the final flower, Jace hovered over to a stone covered in vines and moss on a rock ledge at the edge of the waterfall that crashed over the sides of Woodfall. Iris grew interested in this oddly shaped stone, and came flying over, landing in front it. "What's this?"
Before Jace dove into the final flower, he took his gaze and laid it on the stone. "Don't know. Been here longer than I have, that's for sure." Jace dove in, then flew over in front of the waterfall and onto a ledge on the opposite side of the waterfall. "Alright." He called, "The Temple is right through this door way."
Iris hovered over and walked through with him. She gazed out at the other side of the doorway, only to face a wide-open body of water. Platforms lead all around the place, but there was no Temple. "What Temple...?"
Jace answered. "The Temple is hidden. Only the royal family can get in. You have to know some kinda' song. When played, the Temple rises from the center of the water. I've only been able to see it once. But enough of that, let's go pay the fairy a visit, shall we? Who knows, she may even know what's happening to the swamp... Honestly, I never even thought of asking her." Jace gave a nervous chuckle and scratched the back of his head. Iris simply followed, anxious to get home. Jace added, "You may have already helped me out by needing to go to her in the first place. Though, it'll be a shame seeing you go."
Iris and Jace walked up one of the platforms, as Skits was flying over the water looking around.
Iris laughed, "It would be a shame having to stay. This place is already driving me to near-insanity, It's one thing after another."
Jace looked down. "What is uh... Hyrule like?"
"A lot safer than here, that's for sure." Iris replied, as she walked ahead. Something about her tone made her reply sound weird to Jace...
Jace looked up and saw Skits fly in and land on Iris. Jace caught up with the autumn-leaved deku. "So what's the story behind you and bird-brains? You two seem close, is he like your pet?"
Skits glared, almost growled, at Jace. That also ruffled Iris' leaves, rubbing her the wrong way.
"No, he's not my pet!" Iris replied with acid. "He's like my little brother. Known each other for a long time, I raised him when he was a hatchling. His mother died, and I was the only one who could take him in. So there you go." Iris finished as she rubbed her hand down Skits' back.
Skits simply glared at Jace with his cold yellow eyes.
Jace leaned back, and gave a small "Erm…" before replying. "Sorry, didn't mean to offend you." Jace apologized, she couldn't have been anymore blunt about it having irritated them both. Iris had her face turned to the path ahead of her, all-the-more eager to go.
Jace remained silent, before spotting a cave in the wall. "OH! There's her Fountain, just in- Wait..."
Iris looked him over. "What's wrong?"
Jace walked closer. A gap stood between him and the entrance. One would have to use a deku flower to get in. "It's gone...?"
"What's gone?" Iris looked into the entrance.
Jace replied "There's supposed to be a bridge here…" Jace looked down, the now ripped up and broken bridge lay at the bottom of the water below their platform. A flower remained however, so he dove in and used it to get across.
"Hold up, wait for me!" Iris jumped in after, and hovered across. She spoke as she ran in with him. "What's the rush?"
Jace gazed wide eyed. The inside of the fountain was torn apart and the only thing left was the small foot-deep pool. "Hello...?" He called.
"What happened here...?" Iris asked quietly.
Jace called again "Great Fairy?"
All was quiet. Iris suddenly felt a bit deterred at the sight before her and the lack of the Fairy's presence. It quickly brought back memories of the Snowhead fortress...
Jace walked around the torn apart fountain. "...She's gone."
Iris was afraid he was going to say that. Iris was about to begin talking, before hearing a very faint sound. She turned and examined the torn-down fountain pillars, and noticed a small pink glow. She approached it slowly. "Jace, over here."
Jace walked over next to her and gasped.
Hidden behind the rubble was a small pink fairy.
"Are you okay little fairy?" Iris asked.
It looked up to the two scrubs before her. "Oh dear young ones, it's dangerous here."
"Why?" Jace asked.
The fairy replied. "They'll come back for what they left of me! If they see you-"
"They?" Jace cut off. "Where's the Great Fairy?"
"I am the Great Fairy, I separated into this form along with many others, in hopes of escaping. They found the other pieces of me. If they find the final one that is me, my form will be complete again, they mustn't find me!"
"Who!?" Iris asked with a hunch... Hoping she was wrong.
The fairy hesitated. "The scaled ones."
Iris froze. "Dragalfos...?"
"Yes."
Jace looked to Iris. "How do you know it was them th-?"
"Please miss! Please tell me you still possess the power to return me home!? One of your sisters were captured by the dragalfos, and they used her power to pull me and many others from our homes in Hyrule! Your sister sent the others home, but I was left stranded! Please tell me you can return me home!?" Iris asked frantically. Her tone sounded desperate, and her hands shook horribly in fear.
The fairy grew silent. "I know of the capturing of my sisters."
Jace spoke up. "Sisters? They captured more than one?"
"I am sorry deku scrub. I only possess the power to do so in my full form. I must have my full body back, but if I return to my missing pieces, the dragalfos will have me as a slave as my other sisters. And even if I were to get my body back, one of my sisters seems to be resting and in hiding. We must all have a connection with one another to be able to fulfill such a task with our magic." She then stopped, then began again. "Their purpose for our capture is unknown to me, but I do know this; With us gone out of our fountains, our homes will die as well. Storms will rise, and life will wilt."
Jace gasped. "Is your absence the reason for the swamp dying...?"
The fairy nodded. "I'm afraid so. The piece of me here cannot save the plant life."
"But... Without the plant-life, the deku scrubs won't be able to go from place to place with deku flowers. We'd be stuck in one place. And not to mention many of the animals that live here would starve... And infant deku flowers couldn't grow, and deku families would lose their children before they're even born..."
"It seems the only way of turning back these disasters is to regain mine and my sisters power from the dragalfos."
The fairy seemed to stop and stare at Iris, as if seeing her from somewhere, then looked to the blond boy next to her. A look of awe took to her face, like suddenly, a ray of light had shone. "I, however, cannot do anything about this in this weak state. I must find a way to avoid the clutches of the dragalfos... But I feel you two bear fearless souls."
Iris gazed over at Jace, then back at the fairy like she was crazy. "Where are you going with this...?"
"I have put my faith in you. Will you both please, for the sake of the swamp and my sisters, and maybe even all of Termina- Please, help save my sisters from the dragalfos? That is the only way we can help either of you."
Iris stared frozen. Jace as well, had no words. It was a huge task to ask of them.
"Are you crazy!?" Iris shouted, "I hardly even escaped them last time! And I had six others with me! The only reason I'm still alive is dumb luck, heck, I owe it all to those who got thrown into this mess with me that I'm still in one piece!! You honestly think I'll survive trying to regain your missing pieces with this... This, weed over here!?"
Jace winced at her harsh tone. "Hey, cool your tone, you're in the presence of a Great Fairy."
The fairy simply gazed. "You underestimate yourself."
Iris began again, "Underestimate? You seem to overestimate me! I'm a deku scrub, not a strong goron, or a tall fast zora, not some hylian warrior, a small, weak little plant, and you want me to face who-knows how many fire breathing brutes!? With only another deku scrub to help me?"
"Chill out, Iris." Jace tried to calm her. He placed his hand on her shoulder, only for her to slap his hand away.
Iris simply put her hand to her head after. "I don't know how much more of this I can take."
"Listen, young Iris." The fairy began, "There's so much you don't know yet. If you wish to go home, this is your only way. And maybe along the way, you'll learn another few important thing's that can aid you."
Iris sighed and mumbled... "Okay... I'm only doing this because I want to go home again, though." When Iris lifted her head, the Fairy was gone. "Great... Gee thanks! I appreciate you telling me where I need to go next!"
Jace looked around, not even noticing her vanish. He then looked to Iris. "Well, it looks like we'll be stuck together longer."
"To my disdain…" Iris added. Skits look disappointed, and laid his wings out tiredly.
Iris sat down on a pillar piece... "How...? How in the name of Din am I going to get out of this mess, Skits?"
Skits shrugged.
Jace walked up, hoping to maybe help her feel better. Even he felt a bit overwhelmed with this task, but he wouldn't voice it. "Maybe she's right? You underestimate yourself. I mean, look at me, I'm still alive after living sixteen years in Termina, aren't I?"
"Don't get a big head there, chief, you may meet your death during this whole thing." Iris replied.
Jace's face fell slightly as he laid his hand over his eye. "Yeah, maybe... But... I'd rather die knowing I was fighting to help you than to- N-never mind." He spoke quietly as he cut himself off.
Iris gazed up to him, then looked forward again. "Well... Where to now...?"
To Be Continued....
