The Legend of Zelda: The Desert Heroes

XII

Link had stopped in the middle of the Great Bridge over Lake Hylia. Long ago, it was called the Bridge of Hylia. But it was called the Great Bridge as a nickname before it was used so often that it became the official name. It was actually the Queen of Hyrule's great-great-great grandmother that issued the edict.

It was around 6:30 and Link was pretty tired after walking for nearly thirteen hours straight. He then heard a yell and then a few screams up ahead. He knew of a small hamlet at the end of the bridge that faced the Faron region.

He ran over and pulled out the Courage Scimitar. He looked ahead and saw a bunch of bokoblins attacking the hamlet.

Link ran into the hamlet and started attacking. He swung his scimitar in elegant arcs and gracefully precise swings, just like he was taught to do when he was training at the Knight Academy three years ago.

"Run to the bridge, run to the bridge!" he yelled to the citizens.

They swiftly ran, but one boy stayed behind. He was holding a sword, one that was commonly used and favored by travelers.

This boy was probably around twelve or thirteen years old. He ran into the enemy hoarde and swung his sword at the bokoblins. After a few minutes, they had culled the hoarde.

"Thanks." Link said gratefully.

"No problem. I'm Daylen, from Gateway Town. Named after the soldier in the Legend of the Hyrule Warrior." the boy answered, holding out his hand.

"Link, Gerudo Town. Named after the Hyrule Warrior." he took Daylen's hand and shook it.

Daylen suddenly tilted his head. "Wait. Gerudo Town? What are you doing all the way out this way?"

The older boy sighed. How should I put this? he thought quietly.

"Tell him you are going to look at some ruins in the Faron region. And look for some treasure." the Hyrule Warrior offered with a faint hint of amusement.

"I'm going to look at some ruins in the Faron region. And look for some treasure." he said, using the hero's words.

Daylen raised an eyebrow. "Okay. Ruins in the Faron region. There are only one set of ruins there and that's the Temple of Courage. And the only treasure in the ancient temple is the Master Sword according to the legend." he pointed out, immediately seeing Link's ambitions.

"Oh. Well, have fun with that." the hero said pleasantly.

Wait! No! You're the one who got me into this mess. Argh! he thought frantically.

"Okay, fine. I am going to look for the Master Sword. I have seen... and heard a few things that have made me decide to seek out the blade." Link admitted, explaining his journey to Daylen.

The boy nodded, understanding. "Great! I want to join you." he said.

"What?"

"I want to join you. You know, like on your quest?" the young boy said with a tone of obviousness.

"Yeah, but why?" the older boy asked in disbelief.

"Because. I want to see whether you get the Master Sword or not." he answered with a shrug.

Link rolled his eyes. "Alright. Come on. We don't have much time."

They swiftly walked along the path, quickly leaving the town behind and the citizens cleaning up the mess that the skirmish had left.

And Link began the questions.

"So. Where are your vaqo and vaqa?" Link asked.

"My what?" Daylen said.

"Your vaqo and vaqa. You know, your parents? The people who raised you?" the older boy explained.

"Oh, that's what mother and father mean in the Gerudo dialect. I'm an orphan." he answered casually.

"Then how do you know your name?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, I never said my parents named me. I taught myself to read and write. I was taught how to fight with a sword by some of the guards in the town. And I taught myself the geography and flora and fauna of Hyrule. I explore the Faron Woods and the tropical forests near Lake Floria all the time. I haven't been to Lurelin Town, though." Daylen answered with a slight skip in his step, displaying how unaffected he was by this.

"I'm surprised. Usually any kid without parents doesn't know what to do nor does anyone else around them. They are usually sent to Fort Central near Hyrule Garrison to be drafted into the military." the older boy pointed out, noting the difference Daylen displayed from those people.

"Enough about me. Who are your parents?" Daylen asked curiously.

"Orphaned as well. Abandoned me when I was six, so I haven't any memories of them. I was raised by my friend, Ganon, who was nine at the time and his friend, Ghiraati, who was eleven at the time." Link answered calmly.

"That's very young. Six, nine, and eleven. How do you know how to fight so well?" Daylen continued.

"Went into the Knight Academy when I was fifteen. Graduated when I was seventeen." he answered.

"That's cool. Are you looking for any girls yet?" the younger boy asked suddenly.

Link's speech froze up. He didn't know how to answer that. Would Daylen feel weird if Link liked boys?

"Uh, no. I don't, uh, like... g-girls." he answered.

Daylen nodded understandingly. "That is very fair. So who do you talk to?"

"Uh... boys."

"Oh, that's cool. I hope you find the right man for you then, Link." Daylen answered with an innocent smile.

A/N: Yeah. I wish 12-13 year olds were like that. Instead, they are douchey, grubby, nasty, gross, little crotch goblins.

Link and Daylen continued walking in complete silence. It wasn't an awkward silence, but it was a silence that made them feel like something else should be said.

But there wasn't so they just observed their surroundings.

They finally reached the edge of Faron Woods. The area around them changed from the subtle green of the plains to the slightly darker green of the outer woods. Link once read that the Faron Woods were one of the three oldest locations in Hyrule.

Death Mountain and Gerudo Desert were the other two. They went under different names in the Legend of the Skies. The Faron Woods kept their name but the desert and the volcano were referred to as the Lanayru Desert and Eldin Volcano.

"If I remember correctly, the Temple of Courage is located just a ways down the path. Past Sarjon Bridge, and a little ways forward until you reach the Dracozu River." Daylen said finally. He looked into the forest as a small winterwing butterfly flew past.

Link nodded. He took out his map and found Dracozu River. Then he looked up and realized the sky was darkening. He found a spot in the shade of a big tree and took out a few pieces of wood.

Daylen followed him and took out a piece of flint and a small metal stick.

He struck it over the wood and a fire started.

"Let's get some food and go to sleep so we can get ready for a long trip tomorrow morning." Link suggested.

They each got out two apples and began eating. After they discarded their apple cores, they got out their sleeping bags and went to sleep beside the fire.