Then captain Viscen aproaches Zax:
I want to personally thank you for your suport. Even tough you're no longer part of the Guard, you still hear the call to serve the people. If you wish, after this battle I can make sure you're admited in our ranks again.
"I do not know how to operate your machines but I can fly and drop some explosives upon their ship."
She looked at it suspiciously, wondering out loud.
"Rabbit? You look more like a fish."
That seemed to amuse her somewhat. Hands on her belly she giggled for a second, then snorted.
"I'm the Great Fairy of Ice."
It was usually enough considering people rarely visited her for more than a few minutes, never to be seen again.
Now that she was out of the cave, though, it would likely get on her nerve pretty soon and she didn't want to be annoyed by her own title.
She played a finger in one of her frills.
"But ya can just call me Pha Eris."
When it mentioned the other warrior and the youngling, Pha looked around for a glance at all the would-be warriors, unsure of whom it might be referring to. None had really stood out, in her opinion. The young one, though, she knew.
"Oh, the young hero. That's Jay. He's right over there." she pointed in his general direction.
Then went to laze about, feeling a little bored. The pirates sure took their sweet time.
... Everything Jeremy said...
Disgruntled, he finally pointed to the ship still out, and shouted over the explosion to Rabbit. "Attack?"
"I'm Pha Eris ...Who are you again?"
"Rabbit? Rabbit is very good. Do you taste like rabbit?"
Then Kurt seems to shake himself out of his hunger
"No, no. Don't eat smart or talky things. Eating smart or talky things is bad. Swallow and spit only, not eat."
"I would like to de-render this armor and clean up prior to any further activity if that is acceptable?" he looked around, "I understand your hygenics use... actual water?" He almost sounded hopeful.
He strolled back up to the town, trying to find anyone who looked official. The healer and the Captain were busy, but the group was healing up and conversing still. "Can any of you read auras?"
"I'm not interested in the Army. I think I could enjoy the sailing life... what do you think?""I tried to sail once, but I couldn't hold my breath for long enough for the sail to carry me very far."
"I'm Zax. I, uh... good fighting, everyone. That guy was tough, huh? So... we fight well together. And we just got a ship."
Zax is clearly not used to speaking with others. He looks around uncertainly, then notices the captain taking charge and his mood sours. "I'm not interested in the Army. I think I could enjoy the sailing life... what do you think?"
"I understand if my ways are different from yours. We are cultures, literally, worlds apart."
Zax examines the chain shirt curiously. "Does, uh, anyone know what this stuff is?""Shiny"
A belt with a fist. It was hard for Kong to pass the idea up. He had a belt, and it was very useful to him; had he not worn it, he might not have survived the battle. But this was a new place; these could be new and useful tools. "Rabbit, you say you can analyze things once your tools are set. These too?"
Nodding sideways, she flew closer to Rabbit.
"Like a monstrous fish?" Although no offense was meant, it made her smile. "I've seen uglier humans. I don't really mind but I'd stay in the ship too."
"I'm on some sort of a pilgrimage to meet my sisters across the land. With the pirates raiding about the temples now I'm also worried they might be in trouble. There is temple by the forests nearby, The fairy fountain should be there, or around the area."
She joined her hands behind her back, balancing forward. Looking at the group in general.
"Wanna come along? Tomorrow?"
"Well... back in the camp of King Dedede, two of my kind would alternate their breath to fill the sail of a small boat, while a third steered the boat. They never let me steer though."
"I'll go to this 'Temple' place with you."
Jeremy watches Rabbit's suit unform. "Hey, neat! Anyways, you don't look any more scary than some Pokémon."
He then turns to look at Kurt. "That reminds me, did you know that you're a Pokémon? I could catch you in one of these and train you!" He holds up one of the orbs that his creatures come out of. "Don't worry though, I wouldn't do that to you unless you wanted me to because you're my friend." He then grins up at Kong. "You are too by the way!"
Rabbit had a question, then he stopped, then he had a question, then he stopped, then..."I'ma Kirby! I know blue is a pretty rare colour for Kirbies, but that's what'I'm."
"For my logs, does your kind have a name for themselves?" he asked. Protoplasmic Lifeform got tiring to continuously enter.
He then turns to look at Kurt. "That reminds me, did you know that you're a Pokémon? I could catch you in one of these and train you!" He holds up one of the orbs that his creatures come out of. "Don't worry though, I wouldn't do that to you unless you wanted me to because you're my friend." He then grins up at Kong. "You are too by the way!"
That caught Rabbit's attention. "There may be a degree of merit in that. Infiltration missions and such, should the need ever arise. Do you have a spare containment orb that I might study? I will return it immediately if you need it, or once my studies are complete." Hearing that one of the heaviest hitters in this group and one who could consume vast quantities of anything were both able to be transported via these containment spheres started to get the cosmium interlocks oscillating.
"Really?" Jeremy asks as he spins to look at Kurt. "Man, I want a Kirby, you guys sound awesome! What do you evolve into?""Well, I guess I am kinda neat, compared to some of the races around! umm... Evolve? I've only heard that word once before, and it was being used to explain one possible reason that The Great Hero Kybrin was so much more powerful than normal. Maybe that's what you mean?"
"Perhaps... it would be best if I stayed on the ship. To the town, the suited figure is a hero. I... do no wish to cause unrest." he paused, "I know what I must look like to you."
"You have a friend that I haven't met? Do you have a Pokémon too?"
Jeremy being cheered up was the goal, and Rabbit accomplished with ease."You have a friend that I haven't met? Do you have a Pokémon too?"
"I'm not certain if it is a Pokemon, but..." Rabbit looked up, "Hex Six Four. Approach." he called up, and the Rezbit that had been collecting barometric samples per microcycle and comparing them to statistical analysis heuristics descended to the deck level, orange screens occasionally appearing, processing trillions of bits of data in the blink of an eye before closing the orange screen.
"This, is called a Rezbit. They are a race of digital constructs, living data. My people use them as guardians, and to help process massive amounts of information quickly. This one is designated Hex Six Four. Hex Six Four, this is Jeremy." and the Rezbit made a welcoming sound, like a teakettle being crushed by a library book that was on fire. Backwards.
"It said that it is pleased to add you to its list of contacts, and anticipates the exchange of data." a pause, "That means it is happy to meet you."
Rabbit turned towards Kurt, and gave a nod, "Good morning to you, Kurt." a pause, "This morning, I instructed Hex64 to analyze the treasure we found in the chest, and it was able to identify about eighty to ninety percent of the items there in. Once the others awaken, we can being discussing who is best suited to receive what."
"Hex64, he said you are "living data", what does "data" taste like?"
Molida's Island
City's docks
Dawn of the Second Day
________________________
Good morning Molinda saviors! Our captain invites you for a breakfast with the rest of the garrison in our barracks! No, don't worry, we don't eat any of the usual military menu crap in this island, we have fresh fruits and meats from our forest and farms!
Jeremy pipes up. "What you call a cycle we call a day!"
Oh Great Fairy, you bless us with your presence."I know, right?"
As you walk to the city most of the villagers you cross greet you with merry faces, altough some seem to avoid eye contact and change their courses away from you. The elves... The elves look at you with penetrating eyes, and the feeling you get from them could either be the one of a wild animal glaring at a rival or the eyes of a professional admiring another. Maybe both.
Then you spot a figure rising from the side of the captain and aproaching you directly. Its face seems somewhat familiar... One of the sailors released from the pirate's ship yersterday, wearing an Hyrulian Guard tunic. He looks in much better shape than yesterday, a middle-aged man with dark brown eyes, short brown hair and beard, well-built and with some old scars under its healing bruises. Glancing at the table again, you now notice the other sailors siting at the captain's table as well, in fresh green guard tunics as well.
Ah, such good luck to find you here! Name's Gomer, and the captain was kind enough to house me and my mates for the night in this place and gave us some new clothes. Nice guy, but keeps trying to get us to join the military, but we're all sailors at heart, been so most of our lives, and just because we had some bad luck with pirates we aren't gonna change jobs. He also told us that the ship where you rescued us from is now yours, so I was thinking... You're gonna need a crew right? Me and my mates would be more than willing to work for you, if you would take us. This island looks like a nice place and all, but none of us feels like setling down just yet...
He followed, grabbed the fruit while Rabbit went for meat - no judgement, different swipes - and whispered, "Something odd there..."
Zax frowns at Kong's suggestion. "Surely there's some magician in this godsforsaken town who can analyze the glaive? I don't like the idea of hitting my friends with it..."The captain replies to this
"Alright, then! Off through the forest we go.""So Pha, you said you had wanted to go to someplace in the woods for something, right? So, then, yes, lets go!"
"..., but it's quite dangerous out there with all the wild monsters roaming.”
"Nobody's speaking. Nervous? Cautious?"
"Kurt! Get behind the ice pillars!"
Kong puts his ax away, holding his bat in his hands again. He did like it. "Child," he called back to the group, "-like non hostile. With a flute?" He was not at all sure how to pursue this. He looked back, confused.
"Maybe he'll be a friend!""Yes, and he could be calling on his flute for food."
"First." Rabbit said, waiting to move in to close the gap once everyone was past him. "The Youngling took the second, and can presumably be baiting us into a trap. He'll be expecting us to follow to sate our curiosity." he paused, "Standard Pirate tactic, honestly."
"Kong. Can you push or drag that rock away? Or smash it?"
Halt! Who goes there? Entry on the forest temple is strictly forbidden!
Jeremy looks around, taking in the view. As they are challenged by the guards he can't help himself and asks, "Is it a fairy temple?"
Rabbit took a step forward, "Explorer 45J-4, personal designation Rabbit, on detatchment from the Galactic Federation. We were sent in this direction by Captain Viscen of the port access village of Molima to the southeast."
Jeremy scowls up at the new fairy. "How do we know you're not another bad fairy?"
"Please do."Right away great sister!-replies the pink faery as she flies just over Pha and starts waving her wand, droping a small shower of pink sparks that fall over the ice faery. Where they touch the body wounds start closing and pain is gradually shooted. The Pink Faery keeps spinning trough the air around Pha and showering her with more sparks until all of her visible wounds and bruises are gone.
Jeremy looks up at the new fairy with big round eyes. "I'd like healing too please."
She puffs up in satisfaction before aproaching near Hex64 that's scanning the leaf and starting to ask it questions:
And who would you be? I didn't saw you during the battle. Can you turn invisible like me and were hiding? Are you that guy's faery companion?
He gave a smile. Maybe this was exactly where he needed to be, for now. "You have my axe."
Though for a moment he could only stare at Rabbit, the massive ape broke into a very large, echoing laugh. Or a roar, but a roar with humor displayed on his actions and face. "Perhaps I should say, he has use of my abilities with my axe under his service and to achieve his goals. A pledge to assist, as a friend." Having said this, he chuckled down the laugh (roars) and let his face settle into the non-amused and serious slit that it usually was. He hoped he hadn't used up his quotient for words spoken out loud.
Her eyes opened a bit wider, looking at the door. "Maybe the door will trap us in. Let us see what happens when they are threatened. With an arrow, mayhaps?""My Air would be better. Not wasting the arrow. ... Pha, was that faerie magic that caused them? I can suck up magic like I do air. Do you think that would work?"
As for herself she also wondered if the plants were not some trick. Imagining the worst, they could be the tip of a bigger monster under the earth. She sent out her voice to the one farthest in front of her.(click to show/hide)
He turns to face the approaching Deku and attempts to communicate with it. "Hello Deku. Are you friends with the fairies that live here?"(click to show/hide)
"Kurt, would you take to the air, and see what is beyond the trees? There may be more to this encounter then we are being led to believe. When the time comes, I can assist in transit. From birth, we are skilled leapers and climbers."
Seeing Zax attack Jeremy looks like he wants to follow suit, but then he realizes that the Deku Baba is fascinated and so he pauses. "What do I do?" He asks.
Pha looks around, feeling a little overcharged with the number of plants under her influence.
"Can someone grab me and carry me in another room? We can get them in a more convenient place before we knock them down to sleep. Then we can come back for the rest of them."
When your sight returns, you can see the light pillar is gone and Jeremy is still there. But not the same Jeremy that had entered with you on this temple.
She waves gently at her, quite relieved that it was indeed one of the great fairy fountains she had been looking for.
"Yeah. Been a while! I just woke up again a few weeks ago. It seems something has been going on with the temples lately so I left the ice fountain to purge the problem. Would you know what happened to Fadore? It angered a few fairies here."
When all would be done with, she'd be as quick to leave as she came in.
"Thanks sister. I'll come back and tell you how things are going once we've progressed further. For now we have to reach Fadore."
Rabbit's dismay troubled her, though. She put a hand against his back, trying to ease his mind.
"It's alright. He was reshaped by the will of Courage that some of us can channel. He'll be fine."
a polite nod before heading back among his companions. "Don't worry, Rabbit," he said as he passed the ex-pirate with a pat, ".... I don't get it either."
"One of you got something to light up the ceiling?"
When Pha waves to the chest, Jeremy opens it up to see what is inside!
And she quickly flew up there to see what's up.(click to show/hide)
"Unless you have any low-effort talents that could light it from here, Jeremy, I can handle this." Rabbit said as he leveled his laser pistol at the unlit torch.
... but rather than a name they really only got a seemingly unintelligible series of squeaks. "It's...alright if you can't say it...Just call me whatever you can..."
Pha saw that Rabbit was slowly healing. The ice and the chicken would be them some time but it wouldn't last.
"We've got the key!! Do we wait for them and try to take them out one by one or do we make a break for it and run to the central room?"
Squeaks squeaks up, "Running is always good! Leaving is better!"
Instead he stands next to Rabbit, almost pressing himself against Rabbit's leg.
Hearing Squeaks squeaks makes Jeremy shiver a little. "This is a bad place," he whispers softly.
"Love what you did with your hair."For a moment Fadore's smile warms up and she relaxes:
"So. What's going on here, really? It stinks of evil everywhere around here. 'Had to do some cleaning all over. Creepy stuff got in here and even the fairies are starting to get creepy. I haven't seen a single other kokiri."My sisters and brothers are hiding deeper in the forest. It was no longer safe for them here. The temple was invaded by pirates. Not pirates from the seas. Pirates from the stars above. The humans and elves allied with them. Something about harnessing the resources of the forest to fuel an “industrial revolution”. I saw their pictures of the worlds that had undergone such a treatment. Worlds where nature is confined to a few select areas, where we're nothing but slaves to civilization. Worlds where wildlife is only allowed to exist at the whims of a few mortals and their machinery. I could not allow that to happen. Unsealing Gohma was a desesperate measure, but it worked. The Stalfos multiplied and protected the temple. Nature prevailed that year. The fairies no longer remember, but their memories were never that good hee hee...
"This temple is supposed to be a holy place. Its your job make it so, so what are you waiting for?"This temple is already a holy place, Pha. It teaches the other races to learn how to live in harmony with nature. That even if they come here with more advanced weapons, explosives, or other new unnatural substances, the forest will still devour them if they go too deep, hee hee.
"We and the fairies can help out. Get rid of all the dark stuff so we can begin the purification process right away. Then the kokiri might return and light will shine bright and true on the forest again."I'm sorry, you may've confused for a Sage of Light. The stalfos are a part of the forest. The darkness is a part of the forest. The trees need light to survive, yet project shadows all under them, that allow other kinds of life to thrive.
"Though I cannot attest to the odor of malignancy, there is something terribly wrong with the woodlands in this region. They are infested with the returned dead, and host to rot and arachnids of considerable magnitude."Fadore frowns:
"Also, you do have nice hair." Rule of being a good citizen. Be nice.Fadore smiles warmly again.
"Though, such does not excuse you. If the preservation of this location is your responsibility, then you are lax in your duties."If not for my work, all you would've found in this place would be empty burned ruins, or something even worst, like a factory. You know what a factory is, right?
This temple is already a holy place, Pha. It teaches the other races to learn how to live in harmony with nature. That even if they come here with more advanced weapons, explosives, or other new unnatural substances, the forest will still devour them if they go too deep, hee hee.
If not for my work, all you would've found in this place would be empty burned ruins, or something even worst, like a factory. You know what a factory is, right?That's good, but it would be preferable to have let it burn to shattered ruins than let it become a lair of evil. We're gonna try to fix all the harm done by the evil force across the temples. Help us. We'll all be much more useful in repelling this menace than we'd ever be by turning into stalfos. Get a grip!
My sisters and brothers are hiding deeper in the forest. It was no longer safe for them here. The temple was invaded by pirates. Not pirates from the seas. Pirates from the stars above. The humans and elves allied with them. Something about harnessing the resources of the forest to fuel an “industrial revolution”. I saw their pictures of the worlds that had undergone such a treatment. Worlds where nature is confined to a few select areas, where we're nothing but slaves to civilization. Worlds where wildlife is only allowed to exist at the whims of a few mortals and their machinery. I could not allow that to happen. Unsealing Gohma was a desesperate measure, but it worked. The Stalfos multiplied and protected the temple. Nature prevailed that year. The fairies no longer remember, but their memories were never that good hee hee...
This temple is already a holy place, Pha. It teaches the other races to learn how to live in harmony with nature. That even if they come here with more advanced weapons, explosives, or other new unnatural substances, the forest will still devour them if they go too deep, hee hee.
I'm sorry, you may've confused for a Sage of Light. The stalfos are a part of the forest. The darkness is a part of the forest. The trees need light to survive, yet project shadows all under them, that allow other kinds of life to thrive.
But don't worry, Pha, bright light will shine in this forest and temple soon enough, regardless of anything we do now. You probably won't like it because it'll be quite hot. If you had more time maybe you could've done something about it, but seems like you slept for too long. Soon we'll all be stalfos, hee hee...
Fadore frowns:
See, that's what I'm talking about, a skulltula kills a humans and it's called a monster, a human kills a thousand skulltulas and he's called a hero. People hate decay and decomposition, not realizing it is needed to maintain the cycle of renewal of nature...
Then she starts reciting a poem to Rabbit:
Death blossoms bloom flowers of melancholy,
and scatter the petals of memory.
Fallen flowers, after a long time, return to the earth
and once again bloom flowers.
Also, you seem somewhat familiar to me. You're not from this world, are you?
If not for my work, all you would've found in this place would be empty burned ruins, or something even worst, like a factory. You know what a factory is, right?
That's good, but it would be preferable to have let it burn to shattered ruins than let it become a lair of evil. We're gonna try to fix all the harm done by the evil force across the temples. Help us. We'll all be much more useful in repelling this menace than we'd ever be by turning into stalfos. Get a grip!
It is, but its doesn't feel like one. It still stinks of evil. It doesn't belong. I've seen some nasty dead creatures walk these sacred grounds as if they were still alive. Abominations of nature. And again, it's messing with the fairies. You know I can't allow that, Fadore.Farore frowns:
By helping the corruption spread you're only helping the evil force that is currently trying to corrupt every temple of the Realm!
That's good, but it would be preferable to have let it burn to shattered ruins than let it become a lair of evil. We're gonna try to fix all the harm done by the evil force across the temples. Help us. We'll all be much more useful in repelling this menace than we'd ever be by turning into stalfos. Get a grip!Fadore grins:
"No, I am not." he answered. "I come from the stars.." Rabbit idly wondered if the light from the star of his true home world had even reached this planet's night sky. Checking meant looking, though, and it seemed that trouble had invited itself. "And if you have encountered the pirates from the stars that I fear you have, then you have met my people. My previous people. I live in exile, a survivor of a suicide mission, captured and imprisoned, then released by the terms of the law."Fadore seems curious:
"Whatever drew their attention here, it is not just some simple forest." a pause, finding himself in the company of two fairy folk. "No offense intended. They would mine the resources of this world. There has to be something more then that. Unless they truly intend to just industrialize this entire planet." he paused, "A feat they are quite capable of performing. Everywhere the... MY people have gone, we have destroyed."Fadore seems angry:
Rabbit gave a nod. "I do. My true home is a dead world orbiting a dying star, industrial to just a few hundred meters above the core." A pause, perhaps he had used a term or two they did not know. "That entire world is a factory. Our very way of life was advancement and conquest." a pause, "I can assure you, if people from this world have allied with them, then they are tools and pawns in the grand scheme."Fadore seems serious:
"If my people did this, if they are the cause, then I'm beyond obligated to stop them."Fadore seems intrigued:
"Help us stop them, or we all b... wait. Unnatural substances, you said." Oh this was potentially terrible. "Did you get a good look at those substances?"Fadore looks sorrowful:
Fadore seems curious:
Other worlds, other laws... But how do I know you speak the truth? Who says you haven't been messing with Pha's head to get to this temple's core that your brethern couldn't? Perhaps you did get exiled, but if you got a great fairy to help you conquer this temple, then surely that would bring you enough glory to have your people accept you back in their fold.
Fadore seems angry:
Great to hear you admit it. Since you also carry tools of destruction with you, and have already shown to know how to use them.
Fadore seems serious:
... Then it's more important than ever that I protect this temple at any and all costs, even if it is just for a few more days.
Fadore looks sorrowful:
Some strange glowing light blue crystal. It could change shape on its own. It could grow. Seemed to almost have a life of its own, neither plant or animal. Corrupted or burned everything it touched. Except the stalfos. Stalfos resisted it. Stalfos remained pure. That's why I decided to fill the temple with stalfos, hee hee...
The corruption they tried to inflict upon this temple is nothing compared with the forces we had to deal with the last time you were awake, oh great ice fairy. The living all fell when faced with that terrifying power... Only the stalfos could stop it. You have yet to see this new, terrible corruption.Pha smirked as she flew up toward the center of the room.
You still don't get it, do you Pha? It. Is. Too. Late. The coming menace is already too strong. It has been so for quite some time. Only a few besides me noticed it, but our warnings were dismissed as foolish, unfounded or even insane. Everybody else thinks the pirates are just out for their usual raids and stealing. They are wrong. They will soon realize how wrong they are. The other kokiri will survive. I've taken measures to make sure of that. Perhaps the Great Deku Tree will escape the coming doom, if she listened to the warnings I sent her. Everbody else gets to either be corrupted by the force that came from the stars, or become stalfos. The seeds have already been planted in you the moment you stepped inside my domain. When the star corruption tries to take you, you'll instead becomes stalfos, hee, hee..."I believe you. But there is one critical thing you seem to have forgotten: No matter how perilous things are, a hero rises and vanquishes evil. No matter how dire things get. Always, in the moment of fate. I am tasked to assist the heroes, and so are you, as a Sage. First and foremost, we must put our faith in the hero and assist in his ascension. Perhaps we can get rid of the blue crystal problem. Your stalfos will only delay the inevitable. The blue crystal is not the only thing they can corrupt this temple further with and after you have transformed everything into stalfos you will have nothing left to repel the terrors they will bring to crush their bones. Believe in the hero, as we all should."
"No, no, it doesn't want more corruption. It's already fallen down once, twice is no!" it exclaims in an outburst with fear in it's voice. As the deku continued however, it seemed to end up more talking to itself than anybody else. "Can't ever do that again...the endless darkness. But stalfos are not good, they are also a darkness, lost...can't get lost again."Fadore chuckles:
"To be direct, you don't. All you have is your opinion, my statements and actions, and the voices of others. Which is why I'm not going to try to convince you of my validity any further, save to say that you're under the presumption that I wish to return to my people after being discarded so casually." he started, "I was ordered on a suicide mission. One which, obviously, I failed." he pointed out, "I can never be the pirate I was. I can only be the bounty hunter I am." there was a tone of conviction in his voice.Fadore looks suspicious:
"I admit the truth. My people are destructive. When observed long enough, any race can potentially be summarized as destructive."Fadore smirks:
"What happens in a few days?" Rabbit asks.Fadore looks afraid:
"Is there any of it here, now?" Rabbit turned serious, his previous question seemingly no longer important.I cleansed the temple, but there may be leftovers somewhere on this island.
"Oh, we'll get to it. But first, we'll deal with the terrible corruption here."Fadore pouts.
"I believe you. But there is one critical thing you seem to have forgotten: No matter how perilous things are, a hero rises and vanquishes evil. No matter how dire things get. Always, in the moment of fate. I am tasked to assist the heroes, and so are you, as a Sage. First and foremost, we must put our faith in the hero and assist in his ascension. Perhaps we can get rid of the blue crystal problem. Your stalfos will only delay the inevitable. The blue crystal is not the only thing they can corrupt this temple further with and after you have transformed everything into stalfos you will have nothing left to repel the terrors they will bring to crush their bones. Believe in the hero, as we all should."
...The moon will fall and destroy the surface. It is not simply a giant floating orb in the night sky, it has great dormant powers sealed inside. There's a series of scattered artifacts across this world that would allow to control it. Most of them have fallen under the control of the pirates in their raids. Not enough to fully control the moon... But enough to make it crash on this world. After the surface is devastated and the oceans boil, they'll conquer whatever's left. It's already started. Barely perceptible now, but it'll quickly accelerate over the next days. You'll see it soon enough...
...Don't look at me like I'm crazy! It's the truth!
Geez, stalfos are 100% natural! You never see me complain about the ice golems and freezing spirits patroling your domain, do you?"The what?"
Fadore looks suspicious:
What kind of bounty brings you here, then?
Fadore smirks:
I would agree with that. Humans, gorons, orcs, goblinoids, zora, even the elves, they all end up reverting to destruction. Except the kokiri. You'll never hear how the kokiri started a war or designed some new grandious weapon.
Fadore looks afraid:
...The moon will fall and destroy the surface. It is not simply a giant floating orb in the night sky, it has great dormant powers sealed inside. There's a series of scattered artifacts across this world that would allow to control it. Most of them have fallen under the control of the pirates in their raids. Not enough to fully control the moon... But enough to make it crash on this world. After the surface is devastated and the oceans boil, they'll conquer whatever's left. It's already started. Barely perceptible now, but it'll quickly accelerate over the next days. You'll see it soon enough...
...Don't look at me like I'm crazy! It's the truth!
I cleansed the temple, but there may be leftovers somewhere on this island.
Turning to her companions, she grinned as her fingers clenched firmly, her expression intense.
"This is it!! The Hero's Trial! The most important first step... and a tradition, sort of."
She smiled, now pumped up and obviously excited.
"If this trial isn't met and vanquished, then there is simply no point even trying to do the rest. Call it... a qualification. Sorry I didn't exactly warn you guys about it but in the temple's state I wasn't even sure it was still a thing."
He steps forward out of Rabbit's shadow and scowls up at the mean old fairy lady. "We're all heros you mean old fairy lady!"Fadore frowns:
Jeremy points at Pha, "She's the bravest, prettiest fairy I've ever met!" He then points at Rabbit. "And he's like a knight from a storybook! He then puffs his own chest out. "And I used to be a Pokemaster but then another fairy did a hero transformation on me! Also I died once!"Yeah, I don't doubt that, you made it this far inside my temple... But will it be enough to win this battle, hee hee...
After a pause he remembers that Squeaks is there. "He's brave too," Jeremy says, pointing at the little deku.
"Thanks Fadore! This is great. Let us see if we can carry on his legacy."Fadore looks confident:
He'd find out later. "Then what are the terms of the challenge? To the death?" he looked at the grand risen dead, "... Again?"Fadore looks genuinely happy that you accept her challenge:
"What are you doing? Aren't you friends? We were all friends when the pirates were here!"
"You're going to hurt them if they don't get on the boat? That's awful!"
"The temple has a big ol' mean fairy in it! We got rid a lot of the bad monsters though, but I don't know if it's safe. Our fairy might know..."
Assuming a quick explanation, Pha would shrug.Many elves glare at Pha with a mix of anger and incredulity upon hearing those words. The older one gulps down, then speaks again:
"The temple is indeed currently too dangerous. It is not safe place for the time being. If you need to evacuate, then you should all probably go with your liege."
That made her laugh. "Ha-HA! Order? I don't order none. We beckon, we suggest, invite, inspire and sometimes even insist though we do not order. So, not your liege, you say?"The troops avert their eyes from the great fairy, but the commander looks back at Pha and replies in a calm tone:
Even as a queen, there had never been any point to it.
She turned to the guards, a little vexed. The was warm, sharp tone to her voice.
"Really, if you she has no authority here, why are you all troubling them? 'Starting to sound like another invasion to me."
“Gompa is a servant of the great fairy.”Pha looked stumped.
Pha looked at everyone in turn as they spoke. If the Great Deku Tree had said so, she guessed, it was all right. She still couldn't remember why a big tree had any say on the servitude of a people of non-trees but people were free to follow a plant's wisdom over their own judgement if they wanted.As Pha ponders her thoughts, she hears some of the locals whisper among themselves about the elven rebellion of 391 winters ago, where several high forest lords decided to break away from the great deku tree. Soon enough they disappeared and in the last places where they were seen, young saplings with bark markings eerily similar to the faces of each missing elf were found. Nature mages who tried to communicate with the samplings seemingly heard some variation of “I'm sorry great deku tree, please forgive me!”. The rebellion soon calmed down.
An elf replies:Quote from: Old elf“Gompa is a servant of the great fairy.”Pha looked stumped.
"Her what?"
“The gompa was not part of your group when you exited the town, and then your great icy honor returned with the talking mushroom. Surely the gompa recognized your natural authority as a living embodiment of nature and pledged his services to you, is that not correct, oh great fairy?”Pha had a bit of a trouble linking the state of being a living embodiment of nature as a valid justification for authority over things but she had to admit that the Gompa had a very... shroomy feel to him. Muchrooms were naturey enough but still very far from any aspect of nature she was linked to.
"We still have the forest temple to restore before we may leave the island. Will you be returning to sea after they are evacuated?"Griselda's eyes momentarily shift from the glowing stone on Kong's hands to Pha.
"Your grace please do look at the crystal, I was just hoping that it might be able to help us figure out of the predicament of the moon falling. Kong let her have it" Though the princess seems trustworthy Gompa feels better knowing that his new friends have followed him.The princess solemnly picks the glowing gem and then stares at it closely for what looks like long moments.
The guards did not seem like nice people and that elf hasn't even said anything. He's starting to wonder about that guy.The elf seems to have been carefully observing the situation, seemingly content with letting the others speak first for now. But sensing an opening in the conversation, he starts talking in a tone of superiority:
"Perhaps your grace we should share information the fairy has been to the temple and you must know much about this falling moon."Griselda looks around for a moment , making sure the guards and elf have left and there's nobody else to listen, then her face turns serious.
"The temples in this world are zones of influence and Fate! Heroes can test their mettle there and confirm their destiny and others can give their plea to the world and be chosen as a temple's sage. A sage can use the temple's influence to change the land and accomplish miracles! If we restore the temples, or prevent their corruption, we could restore land and channel our will to it so that it defends itself against the falling moon."
She crossed her arms smugly.
"We can't deny Destiny! A hero will emerge and the land will be restored. That is our sacred mandate!"
After much deliberation, Jeremy picks up the timeless tunic. "Thank you," he says politely.Griselda smiles warmly at Jeremy.
She looked back at the princess.Indeed. May the goddesses bless your path, and allow me to ask you a favor. My crew will need some time for repairs before seting sail again, so if you manage to recovert the artifact swiftly, please bring it to me.
"We really should hurry then!"
"Star power, your grace it may be the only answer with only two days left. Thought it seems more likely that is the cause than strange men from the stars. It is well known that King Bowser and King Marsello have used it in the past this seems like a consequence of their actions." Gompa says pendantically.I've heard stories about the great deeds that star power can achieve. Now I really regret never making time to visit the Mushroom Kingdom. Even if it's not the direct cause, it may help us avert this crisis. I will research that topic carefully whilre you're gone. So many ancient scriptures to learn, so little time...
"Perhaps your grace could spare some of her guard and they could join with the hero and go to the temple." He nods in Jeremy's direction. She seemed to want to support some belief in this old tradition of youths saving things.
Indeed. May the goddesses bless your path, and allow me to ask you a favor. My crew will need some time for repairs before setting sail again, so if you manage to recover the artifact swiftly, please bring it to me."Sure!"
"Thanks friend! Only three more arteefacts!""Ah, yes. About that..." She began, hesitantly.
"Whuh? What do you think YOU'RE doing, chumps? You think you can screw up my plans?!?Pha was immensely glad to see that whatever was down there counted among the chatty types.
Wait, I've seen you walking around town asking for information about the artifacts. Well, now I'm doing the asking, so be good kids and tell us what you know. Right. NOW!”
do you know how to get the bars up, I'm guessing its a puzzle?"Oh, don't worry about that. I can just return to the fairy fountain and open it up for us again. Then we can go for another try against the Hero's Shade."
"None right now though we're going to celebrate BIG after saving the world. Probably in for a feast after we save this region. It is the custom with high heroics."
Spot: 13 & 13
Listen: 6 & 30