Quest 06

[newmemorywhodis]

i. Everywhere: Why did the chicken cross the road? (And follow the Hylian)

Link’s not sure when it happened. Or how. But somehow, he seems to have gained…a follower.

Because now, wherever Link goes, there’s frequently a small, feathered creature nearby him. A cucco. Or a ‘chicken’, if he had to use the Imperial word. She was speckled, with white and dark brown feathers. And she keeps following him.

A fact that Link doesn’t seem to know what to make of just yet, judging by the way he keeps stopping to look at her, a faint frown on his face.


ii. The Vault: Magic sword laser go!

For those who live on Flotsam, Link’s practice of his sword forms up on the decks of the ships has become a regular sight. But he's also been spending some time in the Vault, in one of the training rooms just off of the Vault. There, he's been helping train some of the local Corsairs - and also putting some of the Armoury's arms and weaponry to the test.

Today, it's an Ether-powered shield that Link is putting through its paces. It's been strapped to a dummy, and Link faces it with the blade that was stolen back from the Empire: The Sword that Seals the Darkness.

It's a weapon that possesses its own Ethereal power: something which is soon demonstrated when Link aims a swing of the blade in the direction of a dummy holding a metal shield, and laser beam shoots out. The beam spins in the air as it hurls towards the dummy, before striking it in a flash of sparks.

The shield isn’t looking so good. Maybe it needs a little more work.


iii. Flotsam: A flower for a Princess

One day, Link brings home to his little cabin on the dorm boat one small, single blue and white flower.. It’s not the only one of these he has in his possession; within the endless bounds of his Korok-enchanted pack are many.

But this one is growing in a small pot, grown from him by Nephenee. It means that when Link brings it out to decorate his small living space, it’s not going to wilt or die. It’ll keep living.

He places it - carefully, with reverence - on the windowsill of the one, single window he has.

This flower, it's clear, is important. This one means something.

Comments

[newmemorywhodis]

She might have to explain the purpose of her gift, considering that Link doesn't have a clue what 'Christmas' is. But then, Link also isn't the habit of questioning why people give him things. Maybe she can get away without the explanation.

Right now, though, Link's still focused on the flower.

"Silent Princess," he says softly, giving her the name.

[lightnovelexperiences]

"Is it from your home?" she asks, knowing Link was taken to this world. "I know you've been growing a lot of - of medical herbs and reagents, but this is the first thing I've seen you grow for beauty."

[newmemorywhodis]

Link nods. Yes, this was from home.

"They are useful," he says. Because Silent Princesses could be made into elixirs just as much as anything else he'd been growing. But...Deedee wasn't really wrong.

He hadn't asked Nephenee to grow these to be useful.

"...They're Zelda's favourite," he says softly.

[lightnovelexperiences]

This is the first time Deedee has ever heard Link mention a name from before he was brought here, and it's significant enough that her ears, quite against her will, have swiveled to capture every last sound that Link is making.

Deedee takes a deep breath, reaching out a hand, an implicit offer to put it on his shoulder in support.

"Tell me about Zelda," she asks.

[newmemorywhodis]

"Princess Zelda of Hyrule," Link says - except this time it's more rote, like a formal announcement he's made many many times over.

And then Link blinks - and the trained formality makes way for furrowed eyebrows and an uncertain posture. Tell her about Zelda? Link...hasn't ever had to do that before. Usually everyone already knows about Zelda.

[lightnovelexperiences]

"Hyrule. Your home?" she says, gently. "Haven't run across it in my travels, but that really shouldn't surprise anyone. You're from nowhere on Mundus - let alone Earth."

She sets down the gift bag, looks for a convenient seat. "If this isn't a good time, or place, I understand, but - this is the first time I've heard you talk much about your home, let alone friends from it."

[newmemorywhodis]

Link nods. Yes, he was from Hyrule.

"Talked to some people," Link says. Like Neph, and Shu. "They're growing things, for me."

Like the pretty blue and white flower, now sitting proudly on Link's windowsill.

[lightnovelexperiences]

"Things that remind you of home, and... people you miss."

Deedee sighs.

"...Did I ever tell you about my Free Company?" she asks, knowing she hasn't.

[newmemorywhodis]

"Not everything," Link says. "Just the Silent Princess flowers."

The rest he'd picked not for sentimental reasons, but because they were useful. Bomb flowers, elemental fruit...that collection of lizards he asked Ilphyll to breed for him. He'd asked for help with him because they had the most practical use.

The Silent Princess was the only exception.

But at the mention of Deedee's Free Company, Link blinks. Shakes his head. No, he hasn't heard her talk about that before.

[lightnovelexperiences]

“They were more than my comrades in arms,” she says, quietly. “They were my friends. Three of them I even know from - home, before Mundus; my roommate Jules, otherwise known as our rogue Sekhmet; Alesha, Holy Knight of the Dawn Goddess, who worked to house the homeless back home; and Hikaru, our mage and engineer, the most brilliant man I’ve ever known.”

She sighs. “I miss them. I wouldn’t wish an Imp’s slave collar on them, but I miss them. Don’t have anything as concrete as a flower named for them to remind me, either.”

[newmemorywhodis]

Link's silent, for a long moment. But it's a silence filled with weight; with a feeling that Link is listening, and paying close attention.

"Sidon." he says, eventually. "Riju. Tulin. Yunobo." Even if he doesn't state it outright, it's clear what Link means; they're his Free Company, and he misses them too. He knows, and he understands. And he can relate.

And then a moment's pause, before he adds - quieter, with more finality - "Mipha. Urbosa. Daruk. Revali."

These names are different. No matter who else the Imperials steal, or how their rebellion against them goes, Link isn't ever seeing any of them again.

[lightnovelexperiences]

“We can swap stories about them, sometime,” Deedee says. “I’ve gathered it’s hard to talk, let alone about them, but… I really think we get strength from their memory.”

She smiles, slightly, and drops the bag of cosmetics in Link’s hands when she can.

“Merry Christmas,” she says. “Or whatever excuse they have around here for presents in winter. This is for you.”

[newmemorywhodis]

Link just...hums. If Deedee hasn't noticed...telling stories, of any kind, isn't really Link's strong suit. She might find Link's attempts somewhat lacking.

The bag of cosmetics, though, gets a blank and faintly puzzled look.

"Merry...Christmas?" Link says. He has clearly never heard of 'Christmas' before.

[lightnovelexperiences]

“They absolutely don’t call it that here, but people have been handing out small gifts for the solstice,” Deedee says. “I thought you’d like these.”

[newmemorywhodis]

Ah. Solstice makes a bit more sense - even if Hyrule doesn't have a gift-giving tradition around it.

It's at this point that Link finally opens the little bag - and makes a pleased noise when he sees what it is. Nail colours!

He picks out one of the gold vials, holding it up so he can admire it better.