"Taro? Where are you?"
"In the barn, feeding the cows," came the gruff answer.
The cute young farm-girl came into the barn and saw how the young, muscular man used all of his impressive strength to care for the animals.
"You're always so good with cows," little Malon said.
Taro had to smirk. "Well, you could say I can figure how they feel..."
Malon smiled. Ever since the wandering martial artist had crashed through the roof of the Cucco shack, he had been staying with them to compensate for the damages he had caused.
Originally, Taro really hadn't planned on staying for a longer time at the Lon Lon Ranch, and he actually didn't care for what kind of damages his arrival had caused. But after seeing the angry father's scared little daughter, he somehow felt... protective. He looked at Malon's cute little face and simply couldn't bear seeing her cry, so he quickly dropped his 'tough guy' image and tried very hard making her smile again. And if taking care of those animals she obviously loved so much would do the trick... Well, then he would just do that.
At first Malon had been intimidated by the brash manners of the rough boy, but after realizing how much he cared about her and seeing how much effort he put into tending the animals (especially the cows), she could not help but feel a certain... kinship to him.
"Daddy and I are going on a delivery, Taro!" Malon told him cheerfully. "We have to bring some milk to the castle. Will you and Ingo do fine by yourselves for a while?"
He smiled back at her. "Don't worry... Ol' Bellyacher and I will be okay..."
She giggled. "Well then, see you later!"
She ran outside, to help her father Talon load the milk crates on their cart. Taro always managed to cheer her up, somehow... Mr. Ingo didn't like the young man, but what did he know?
Although there was still something about Taro she didn't understand: Why does he break out in tears each time she asks for his full name?
----
"You don't understand, Kodachi... this is serious!"
"Oh, spare me your spooky stories, sister dear..." Kodachi said in her snobbish voice. "Those dirty desert bandits won't dare attacking our glorious kingdom... Whatever gave you the idea that their barbarian leader would be an evil sorcerer?"
Zelda, crown princess of Hyrule, sighed. "I don't know... It's just that those dreams I had... Those dark, scary clouds... I fear something terrible is going to happen, Kodachi."
Princess Kodachi laughed. "Please, sister... Do you expect me to believe that your silly dreams are prophetic? Now, would you please go bother someone else? I have important business to take care of..."
And after her blonde, older sister was gone, she continued staring adoringly at the uniformed figure of the captain of the royal guard.
"Oh, Captain Mikado..." she gushed. "How I long for the touch of your strong, powerful arms... to look into your handsome eyes..."
Meanwhile, Zelda entered the private chambers of her father.
"Father? We have to talk!"
The king turned around with a smile upon hearing the voice of his little daughter. "Ah, Zelda... I'm terribly sorry, dear, but I haven't much time... The delegate of the Gerudo tribe will arrive this afternoon, and I have to prepare myself for that meeting. The chancellor informed me that Ganondorf is their leader... We don't want our new allies to get the wrong impression, do we?"
The chancellor... It was a mystery to the young princess how her father could put his trusts in that extremely irritating man... "But father," she protested. "That man... he won't do our kingdom any good! I saw him in my dreams. And Impa... she once met him, in the Gerudo Valley. She told me she could feel the aura of evil that surrounded him."
"Zelda, listen," the king sighed. "I know Impa is your nursemaid and bodyguard, and her three daughters are your best friends, but... Surely you would put more trust in the negotiating skills of your old father than in the superstitious tales of the Sheikah, right?"
Zelda shook her head. It just was no use...
"Father, don't you understand... I'm worried about you!"
"I know," he said. "And I'm really, really grateful for that." He stepped closer to his daughter and gave her a quick hug. "But trust me in this one: After this meeting, there won't be any more squabbles between our people and the Gerudo. Ganondorf promised the only thing he wished for was peace." He looked down at her. "Isn't that worth a risk?"
"I wish it was, father..." Zelad mumbled and left. "I wish it was..."
And she left the chamber.
The king sighed and sat down in his chair. Sometimes, it was very hard making the right decisions as a king...
Someone knocked. "Hello? King?"
The king chuckled. That voice could only belong to one man...
"Come in, chancellor!"
The door opened, and the wide grin of the chancellor of Hyrule Castle appeared.
"I presume everything is ready for the big meeting?" the king asked.
"O'course it is," Chancellor Kuno grinned. "Da big Kahuna has everything unda control! Dis meeting is gonna be a blast!"
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(Posted Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:56)
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