Zonai Descendant : A Zelda BotW Story

Chapter Four

It was night again in the Faron Forest, and clouds drifted across the sky, covering the moon and stars and preventing their light from reaching the land. It was pitch black, except for the fire in Link's cave.

"Check this out," Link said, handing me a large blue mushroom. "It's a chillshroom. It only grows in cold places. I got this one in the Hebra Mountains."

"Cool," I said, examining the mushroom. It was strange to think that it had come from such a different, far away place.

"And here's a Rushroom," Link said, handing me a flat purple mushroom. "They grow on steep cliffs."

"You've been to a lot of places, haven't you?" I asked, looking over the strange plant.

Link nodded. "Whenever I'm not on duty at the Castle, I travel around Hyrule and explore."

I felt a pang of jealousy toward Link. He got to go wherever he wanted, whenever he wanted, and I was stuck here in this forest for my whole life. I wondered if I would ever see beyond the Faron Region.

"I'm planning on going to the peak of Death Mountain next." Link said, putting the mushrooms back in his bag. "Here's some Goron Spice from Goron City." He handed me a bottle of red powder. "Try some. It's delicious."

I looked at him quizzically. "All by itself?" I may not have lived in Goron City, but we used spices here in Faron Forest, and they were always added to other food.

"Oh, for sure," Link said. "It's awesome."

I skeptically opened the bottle and sprinkled some of the spice on my hand and then into my mouth. Immediately, my mouth burned like it was on fire.

"Ah!" I exclaimed, covering my mouth as the pain worsened. "It burns!"

Link laughed at me.

I got up and raced out of the cave and toward Dracozu Lake. I reached it and fell onto the sand, reaching down and scooping water into my mouth. Relief flooded over me as my tongue cooled off.

Link ran over and stood beside me, laughing his head off.

"You idiot!" I exclaimed as he doubled over in laughter. I got an idea, and stood up and walked over to him. I gave him a powerful shove and laughed as he fell into the water with a splash.

He reached up out of the shallow water and grabbed my foot, pulling me into the lake. I resurfaced out of the murky waters and started to laugh my head off, Link following behind.

After we laughed for 5 more minutes, Link stood up. "We should get back to the cave and dry off. It's getting late."

"Sure," I agreed, climbing out of the water. We walked back toward the cave.

About halfway there, Link started laughing again. "You should've seen your face!"

"And yours!" I exclaimed.

"Maya?" I froze when I heard the voice. It was sad and desperate, coming from the undergrowth beyond Dracozu Lake. "Maya, where are you?"
Fear filled my mind. What would happen if they saw me with Link? Although I was sure now that Link would not harm my race, I would be banished from the Zonai forever. I grabbed Link's hand and pulled him into the cave, shushing him as we crouched on the floor.

"Maya?" The voice continued, and I peered from the cave entrance. It was my mother, her eyes red and dry and her face pale and tear-stained. She looked as though she hadn't slept since I left. Sympathy pierced my heart. My poor mother...

I stared in sadness as my mother continued her trek through the woods. When she had disappeared into the forest, Link stepped up next to me.

"Who was that?" He asked.

"My mother..." I felt tears pooling in my eyes.

"Oh..." Link looked down at the ground. "You need to go back to her."

I looked back at Link. "I will." I replied, sitting down on the cave floor.

Link sat next to me. "You'll have to go soon," He said. "I'm leaving tomorrow morning, bright and early."

My heart sunk into my stomach. "Why?"

Link shrugged. "I can't stay here forever. I'm going to Death Mountain, remember?"

I realized what would happen if Link left without me. I would never leave the Faron Region. I would be trapped in this forest for the rest of my life, only seeing the great features of Hyrule from the top of the Takai Tree. I would never meet any new people.

"Take me with you." I looked at Link hopefully. "Please."

"What?" Link looked shocked. "Why?"

"I need to leave." I stated. "I can't stay here forever. I'll go insane. Please, take me with you."

"What about your family?" Link asked.

"If my family knew what was good for me," I replied, never being more certain of anything in my life. "They would let me go."

Link sighed, in deep thought. "I-" He cut off, then sighed again. "Oh, alright."

Happiness surged through me, and I threw my arms around Link. "Thank you!" I exclaimed.

"You're welcome," Link laughed. "Now dry off and go to bed. We leave at dawn tomorrow."