Forest Origin

Chapter 18

Honestly, Lapis didn't know what was happening as she was walking through the hallway. One minute, everything is fine and then the next she sees Blythe running off. She paused just a moment, looking over her shoulder in confusion, wondering what just happened.

Just a few seconds later, Blue ran past her as well, calling out the nickname Hyrule had come up for Blythe. The sight made Lapis even more confused than ever. Not knowing what else to do, she followed the two.

They had somehow managed to make their way to the training grounds. Blue called out the nickname once more and Blythe stopped.

"I don't know what I'm doing wrong!" Lapis heard her old friend cry. "I mean I really am trying here! Trying to explain everything and listen to these stories but... but..."

Blue cut her off. "You're not doing anything wrong. You're not the one mentioning someone's dead parents."

Dead parents? Was he referring to the late king and queen? What did they have to do with what was going on now?

Lapis noticed that the Hylian had his fists clenched, almost trembling with rage.

Blythe then sighed before looking at Blue. "I'm sorry for running off like that."

It was only then that Blue's fists unclenched. "I'm sure some of us would've done something worse." he paused for a moment, scanning their surroundings before retrieving two wooden swords, tossing one to Blythe. "Let's spar. Maybe that will help you let out some steam."

As Blythe caught the sword, she stared at the boy for a few moments before slowly nodding. It was then that Lapis began to approach.

"Hey... what are you two doing out here?" she asked.

Any remnants of gentleness quickly died away in the Hylian as he stood in front of Blythe. "That's none of you business."

Lapis frowned. "You know I care about Blythe too." she pointed out. "I have every right to see her just as much as you do."

"Then how come all you people have done so far is try and force her to just revert back to how she used to be?" Blue questioned.

"Not everyone knows she lost her memory."

"And that excuses everything?"

Lapis frown turned into a glare. 'Just what is he getting at?'

Blue then glanced over his shoulder at Blythe. "Why don't you go back inside with the others?" he suggested. "I'll handle this."

Blythe looked at him worriedly. "What are you going to do?"

"Let this one off on a warning. I don't want you getting dragged into this."

Blythe seemed to have hesitated a little before nodding and walking off. As soon as Lapis tried to reach out for her, Blue knocked her back with a hard shove.

"I said I don't want her involved in this."

Lapis was barely able to keep herself from falling. Stumbling a bit before she regained her balance. "You know... you've been pretty rude ever since we met." she grumbled.

"If the roles were switched, then you'd say your annoyance is justified while I'm being unreasonable." Blue retaliated. "You just don't like the fact that Wolf keeps coming towards us for comfort rather than you."

At that, Lapis clenched her fist. "You wanna settle this? Fine! One match. I win and you and your brother back off."

"And if I win, you and your friends back off." Blue replied, replacing the wooden sword with his Four Sword and getting into his fighting stance.

Lapis summoned a trident to her hand. Water droplets surrounding her hand. She didn't waste any time charging forward and swinging her weapon. Blue easily blocked the first blow.

Their match continued on. Both able to block and dodge the other's attack. Each time their weapons clashed, droplets of water fluttered around them. Though they seemed to be nothing more than a side effect as they did nothing to cause any damage to Blue.

The two then paused when each had the tip of the other's weapon pointed at their necks.

"...It's a draw." Lapis sighed before lowering her trident. "What do we do?"

Blue lowered his sword. "Rather than getting jealous that you're not the preferred one, just watch and see how Wolf interacts with us."

Lapis blinked in confusion. "What?"

"You want Wolf to understand where she came from. Well show her the same courtesy and understand what she's been doing all this time." Blue explained. "You may ask a few questions here and there but you've never actually taken the time to get to know Hyrule."

He then walked off, leaving Lapis on her own in the training grounds. Lapis sighed as her trident vanished from sight. Should she do what he said? It's not like he won their fight. But then again it's not like she was able to win either. Maybe what he offered was the only thing that they could have it both ways.

But as her thoughts wandered, Lapis came to the unpleasant realization that maybe the short tempered knight had a point. Aside from him being the grouchiest one of the group, Lapis couldn't say anything else about him, or his brothers. There had to be something good about them if Blythe was so close to them.

With a sigh Lapis went back inside to find the group of Hylians. Eventually she did find them, having dinner on their own with Blythe.

The difference between how her old friend was with the Hylians and how she was now with Nirin was as clear as night and day. The relaxed posture as she leaned against the knight in green, the way smiles seemed to form easily on her face. How they all laughed together.

It reminded Lapis of the times when Blythe was still here. When they were all children just running and playing around without a care in the world. The only difference seemed to be the slight blush on Blythe's face whenever the knight in red was near her.

Perhaps Hyrule really wasn't that bad afterall. They got Blythe to be the carefree and friendly girl that Lapis knew all those years ago afterall.

It was then that Lapis wondered if there was a way for Blythe to still be here while keeping her ties with the ones that she grew attached to.