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Lost In Termina ch5

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Chapter 5
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DAWN OF THE SECOND DAY
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A Day To Train.
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Skits laid on his back with his wings sprawled peacefully asleep, though in such an odd way for a bird… Iris rested next to him with her hands behind her head, also asleep. They were napping on the beach up near the zora's pool. Everyone was gone however, and most likely returned to their ocean home. The quiet breeze curled and played above the water, as it teased at the waves lightly. A shadow drew over the deku girl. The figure used their hand and dipped it in the small pool of water, and sprinkled it over her face, causing her to blink herself awake. Her eyes cracked open to glare at the figure who stood in front of the sun.
"Hey, get up!" The figure called. She squinted her eyes tiredly as her vision woke.

"What?" She asked with a tired tone.
The little black bird next to her growled grumpily and stood up.
"The whole day's going to be gone by the time we get going if you keep sleeping." The figure moved out of the sun as the thick shadow died to reveal the blond-leaved deku boy, Jace.
Iris sat up, a tired yawn sounded through her snout. "You got your sleep yesterday, I think it's fair that I get mine."
"Yes, but it's getting later and later, and we have to return to the swamp." Jace added as he threw his rucksack over his shoulder.
Iris stood up and stretched. "Why?"
Jace responded, "Well, for one, I lost both my knives in the fortress. And two! Chances are that the Great Fairy that was kidnapped from the swamp is still somewhere at the swamp as well."
"Ah." Iris finished. She looked out at the ocean and took a deep breath. "I can't wait to get home... Where there's no dragalfos."

"I can't wait to kick their scaly tails for ruining my home." Jace growled, sighed, then gazed at Iris. "Well, let's get going."
Iris rubbed her eyes. "Wait… Where's Lulu?"
"Zora Hall. She wanted me to tell you she said goodbye and that she wishes you luck. She wanted to tell you herself, but you were asleep." Jace replied.
Iris looked out at the ocean again, and smiled lightly. "Well, if we ever see her again sometime before this is all over, I need to be sure to give her my thanks for helping us."
A smile creased Skits' beak as he looked up to Iris. She then reached down and picked up Skits and she held him close. She turned her attention to Jace. "Anyway, I'm ready."
Jace dipped his head and waited for Iris to catch up with him before walking off.

They eventually reached the sandy pathway that lead back to Termina Field. Iris took in a final breath, taking in that pure ocean air. Something she'd never known before. They walked between the rock walls that cased in the sandy pathway. After quite a trip, Iris and Jace eventually stepped foot in Termina field again. They walked across the huge sandy part of the field until reaching a large stairway that lead up toward Clocktown. Iris examined the huge painted walls as they walked around the outer boundaries of town. "What is that anyway?" She asked.
Jace turned, giving relaxed look as he walked with his hands behind his head. "Oh, that's Clocktown. Nice place, it's got some awesome sights. From shops to game corners too! You just gotta watch out for pets. Some of the folks have dogs, and you know how they are."
"Tell me about it." Iris scoffed.
Iris looked out after a long walk around the town, and spotted the large forest far out. Per norm, the walk to the swamp dragged. Though Iris was actually much happier to be in a place she knew a little better.

It was the same routine. Ride a lily pad across the water and just follow the water, however this time taking the long way across. Jace eventually stopped the lily pad at a dock in front of the deku palace walls. Jace jumped up on the dock, before helping Iris up after. Skits remained on Iris as he gazed around.
Jace's face fell upon looking around swamp plant life. It was much worse now. A lot of the plants here were now dying off near the Palace. Their deadened and crippled appearance disheartened him a bit. "It's spreading quick." He spoke. "I gotta hurry before it reaches the village."
Jace walked through the palace walls door whilst Iris quietly followed. It looked the same as yesterday in the palace grounds. The guards were still there, everything was green still, and the water certainly hadn't changed. Iris and Jace took a running start as they hopped across the water in the direction of the palace shrine, which was also the tunnel to the deku village. De-ja-vu hit Iris when she stepped into tunnel way. Quite a time passed by the time they reached the deku village. And though quiet, Jace was currently in need of rest. They walked on through the village, the boy now walking slow and looking to the ground. Jace soon stopped and sat on the stump bench that sat in front of the village's huge centering tree. It was quite a bustling place the town was right now, and the noise was irritating Jace.

Iris plopped down next to him as she sighed. "Ahhhhookay, we're stopping? We're nearly there, aren't we?"
Jace held his head again, not really hearing what Iris said. He was drowning out village noise, therefore her as well on accident. As Iris finished speaking, she then glanced at him upon his lack of answer, and added, "headache?"
Jace looked at her as passer-bys walked around them. He nodded, "Yep."
"Okay, answer me this-" She began, "Why do you get all these headaches? I noticed you get them. A LOT."
Jace paused, his face falling to a slightly disgruntled one toward the ground. "Nothing much, just a sensitive head. Too much noise and whatnot, plus I haven't had water in a while."
Iris cut her eyes, "That's a bunch of bull."
The deku boy rolled his eyes slightly and groaned. "How would you know? You've only known me for a day and a half."
"I can just see it." Iris answered, as if she'd hit the nail-on-the-head.

He glanced back at her for a second through the corner of his eyes and beneath his leaves, the light of his eyes flashing in her direction vaguely. Jace looked down again with his palm on his forehead. Something about what she said made the gears of his mind churn a bit. "If you say so. Why're you so concerned all of a sudden?"
"Well..." She paused at his tone- which sounded monotone. "I was Just wondering, that's not normal."
Skits had a determined look on his face as he hopped around on the ground looking for food, paying no mind to the conversation.

Jace shut his eyes tightly, pain shot through his head like a bullet and a tear welled in his right eye. Though his face was covered so Iris wouldn't see, all she saw was him flinch and all she heard was him make a nearly inaudible groan. After remaining quiet to allow the pain to subside a little, he did finally speak. His tone had a hint of soft sincerity. "I apologize for my attitude. Recently, they've been getting awful."
"You should have that checked out." Iris mused.
Jace shook his head. "Yeah, well… I've already had it checked out, it can't be helped… I guess all that action yesterday didn't help, though."
"Be more careful then." Iris finished.
Jace just looked in another direction and he rubbed his hand under the leaves that hung over his face. He then looked back at Iris. As he waited for his headache to go away, his eyes looked her over. His squinted gaze became one of admiration. She scanned out at the village quietly, blinking from time-to-time. She looked bored as she leaned back on her hands, her feet sprawled out and kicking slowly. He couldn't help but stare at the she-scrub. Her succulent leaves made him question what kind of deku she was...

'She's a strange one.' he said in his mind. And not to mention that quick temper of hers. Yet, she was so scared of so many things even if she wouldn't admit it straight out- It was obvious. But he felt deep down, there was some courage in there; a curiosity for the world and all it holds. And he had a curiosity for her heart as a whole. He wanted to get to know her more. But she was a clam, always shut tight. He sighed, continuing his gaze. 'Something about her seems to make me feel better, or hopeful. Despite my headaches being worse, they don't seem to last as long when I'm around her.' He then chuckled out loud.
Iris looked at him. "What's so funny?"
Jace released his head, "I think I know why I get these headaches worse now."
"Why?" Iris asked.
Jace paused, then proceeded to answer. "Maybe it's because you're always hitting me upside the head?" He laughed lowly- seeing as he still had a small headache.
"Oh, so now I'm the cause?" Iris chuckled back.
The blond boy added "Perhaps." in a tone that let her know he was joking.

Skits just looked up at the two of the notice of them laughing, then went back to pecking the ground.
"Well, it's easing up now, so what do you say we continue on so we can get this whole thing over with?" Jace asked.
Iris responded, "Sounds like a plan to me."
Skits looked to his deku scrub sister and flew to her, landing on her head. The two then went on their way. The deku girl threw her gaze around. Never had she seen deku scrubs come together in a village like this, it was still a surprise to her. She then remembered that one girl, Gewl, and her band of snobs from yesterday. This was when she glanced forward again, hoping she wouldn't run into them. She honestly didn't feel like dealing with her. It was quite possible that Iris would wind up knocking her lights out if she got up in Iris' face again. It'd be funny in Iris' case, but more chaos is the last thing she needed right now.

Again, they approached the tall trees as her, Skits, and Jace stepped into deeper forests again, leaving the bustling deku village behind. "Wow, this whole place is bigger than it looks."
Jace gave a deep breath of the forest air. "Heck yeah it is. There's places here that only few have visited, and even places that only I know of. As far as I know anyway."
With the straight walk- with the exception of a few turns- Jace stopped in front of a dead log that laid across the ground in a thick patch of grass in a forest clearing. Iris glanced at the scenery, spotting a hammock hanging between two trees. Iris blinked before speaking. "You live in the open?"
"No, I live under the log." Jace replied.
Iris laughed, "Sounds uncomfortable!"
He smirked as he approached the log, and moved it aside. "I live down there."
Iris walked up and gaze down into a huge tunnel under the log. The whole forest clearing was the thick roof to a cavern. "Oh, not bad. So you live in a burrow?"

The inside had small mushrooms all over that were giving a faint blue glow, it at least gave anyone who couldn't see their feet some light. Iris wowed silently as she gazed in, it was cool seeing those small mushrooms glowing all over the cavern like that. Jace walked to the side of the room and he flicked on a small lantern. The whole cavern suddenly lit up faintly. Iris' eyes widened, the whole cavern was filled with all sorts of cool things. Weapons lined the walls, rare items and artifacts sat on thick roots that were growing through the walls- which acted nicely as shelves.

"You can come in if you want." Jace said as he dug around in a trunk at a back room.
Iris jumped at his sudden speaking, then walked through. "This is cool..." She said quietly. Skits didn't look all that impressed though.
"Where did you get all this stuff?" Iris asked.
Jace popped out of the trunk. "I collect stuff from around Termina, Mostly weapons, even though I'm too small to actually use some of them. They make for great money when I need it though. However I try to hold onto them if I can. Collecting and studying different weapons is a side-hobby."
Iris chuckled. "Funny really, I can never get my hands on any kind of weapon. I can never get away with taking it, I always get caught."
"I never said I stole all of it. All of it was found laying around. At a lot of historic places in Termina, these kinds of things can be found buried in the ground. But the way you are with holding onto weapons, sounds like how I am with gemstones and such. Can never hang onto 'em. Part of the reason is because I'm always selling them cause I'm always broke, hmm..."
"Pftt, that's the easy stuff!" Iris laughed.

Jace cut his eyes at her in an unimpressed manner. "And you're any better?"
"You're looking at Hyrule's Trickster Deku! I can get my hands on any kind of bauble." Iris laughed.
Jace sat inside the huge trunk and leaned on it. He had little interest in Iris' thieving skills, but poked and prodded anyway. "Okay, so like, you could teach me, oh wise one?" He sounded a bit sarcastic on his last words. And honestly, he wasn't even remotely interested in having a thieving lesson when it's something he's trying to keep himself from doing in the first place.
The deku girl crossed her arms. "You bet I can!"
Skits had a look on his face that said, "Oh great..."
"Firstly, you need-…" Iris stopped herself, "Wait, I didn't come in here to give you a lecture, we need to hurry and find the Great Fairy."
"Oh, you're right. How stupid of me..." Jace replied jokingly… He popped back out of the trunk, rubbing the chin of his snout confusedly. "I thought I had another set of old knives in here… Great, the ones we lost were my last hand-me-down's."

He hopped out of the trunk and walked back to the den. He examined the wall, then pulled down two very well taken care of twin daggers with yellow-green hilts. Both twin daggers were dangerously serrated and well polished. He obviously treated them with the utmost care, and they were kept sharpened to the point that they could easily cut. He was questioning taking them, for they held value to him. Iris looked over them once she approached, and she assumed he was gonna give one to her.

Iris chuckled nervously. "Why don't you hold onto both of them this time? I honestly don't know how to use one anyway."
Jace gave a small sigh of relief and he put them away in his rucksack, safely tucked away into their sheaths. "Haha, sure. Though look's like you're not the one who needs to be giving any lecturing. You mean to tell me that you don't know how to even use a knife?"
Iris shook her head. "I only used a weapon once or twice, and the only reason I was able to protect even myself with it was by dumb luck and swinging it aimlessly in every direction. I'd just end up hurting someone."
"Then why would you go through the trouble of stealing one?" Jace asked.
Iris responded while rubbing her arm. "I could teach myself."
"True." Jace added with a pause. "Or lose a limb trying. But, teaching yourself isn't as accurate as being taught by someone who knows more about it."

Iris nodded, "I guess you're right. But we don't have time for that."
Jace switched off the lantern, and began to walk back to the cavern entrance. "Well, if the dragalfos are still here, I'll bet they're hiding somewhere in the forest."
"Possibly..." Iris replied as she followed him out. Jace then moved the log back over the cavern hole, and walked back toward the deku village. Iris held her arm out for Skits to land and traveled with Jace. All the way through the village and back to the palace grounds.

"Would anyone in the royal family know anything about it?" Iris pondered.
Jace shrugged, "I doubt it."
Iris looked down at the water, before hopping across to a nearby lily pad. She continued this till she reached the walkway of the palace that led outside the walls. Jace soon followed in action.

When they stepped out to face the open swamp on the other side of the walls, Jace scratched his head. "So, how about we check the Woods of Mystery first? Seeing as most people would usually get lost going and looking for something in a place like that."
"Maybe, but they themselves would get lost, wouldn't they?" Iris asked.
Jace paused. "...I wouldn't think so. And if they did, they could just fly out."
"Oh yeah..." Iris looked out upon the water. "Shoot, you're the expert here, you live here. Are there secret places here that no one goes too?"
Jace nodded. "Of course there are. We're talking about the Woods of Mystery here."
"Then let's go look." Iris finished.

With that, Jace ran down the dock and onto the water to reach a loose lily pad floating away. Iris hopped over after him, sloppily stopping on the swaying lily pad.
Jace used a stick to push it through the water. After a while, they eventually reached the dock that lead through the deku baba infested pathway.
Iris got up on the dock and looked onward, and Jace pulled the lily pad up on the dock again, wondering where his old one from yesterday went. "I thought I pulled an extra lily pad up here yesterday...?". He soon shrugged it off and walked on through the pathway passed Iris. When they reached the clearing again with the potion shop, Jace stopped to stare at the it... It was as if he just remembered something important! "Hey Iris?"
"What is it, Jace?" Iris asked.
Jace began, "Would you mind if I paid the potion shop a visit? I've got something I need to check on."
"I don't have the rupees, and I know you don't." Iris answered, then added, "But if you want, then sure..."
Jace smirked slightly. "Cool, but I'm probably not going to buy anything. We'll only be a sec."
Iris watched him climb the ladder. Jace was acting rather odd now... When he reached the top, he poked his head down off the porch. "You coming or what?" Jace asked.

"Oh, yeah!" Iris replied.
Jace waited for her at the top. As soon as Iris was up, Jace faced the old door and walked in. The whole store was filled with colorful bottles and a few tourist items, such as small wooden figures and trinkets that were up on the counter.
Iris curiously approached a bottle. She couldn't read it though, it was written in Terminian. She saw the picture of a frog on it, which had to mean something.
Movement out of the corner of her eye made her jump, and she noticed an old lady move behind the counter. She sighed in relief, and went back to browsing.

"Whoa!" Iris exclaimed loudly, nearly dropping a potion bottle.
"Hey! You break it, you buy it!" The old lady shouted. Skits jumped off Iris' head, and hid behind her after the old lady yelled.
Iris flinched, then looked back. "Heheh... Sorry." She gently put it back. Jace just just froze, before sighing...
The old lady continued, "Don't handle the merchandise unless you plan on buying it, sheesh! You should know that, scrub!"
"Sorry, she's not really from around here." Jace spoke, earning a glare from Iris.
The old lady looked back at Jace. "Been a while since I'd seen you, Jace. I began to think that you croaked during another one of your trips through Termina."

Jace simply ignored her last comment. "She's with me, so don't worry about her."
"She should see on the sign at the front Not to Handle Anything!" The lady added.
Iris scratched her head. "I, uh, can't read anything here..."
"I said before, she's not from around here." Jace repeated.
The hag blinked. "Well, then be careful next time." She turned her back to them. "She does seem smarter than that Gewl girl who you were with a while back however. What you saw in Gewl, I don't know..."
Iris looked back at Jace and raised an eyebrow, with a clearly aggravated expression. Jace felt this stare and looked back to her sheepishly. "Hey, things didn't get serious, okay? We dated for a week before I dumped her. That chick is possessive and mean..."
Iris rolled her eyes, and returned her attention at the shelves as she mumbled something to herself. She was suddenly concerned as to why the Jace and Gewl thought upset her, though...

As Iris looked through the items, Jace approached the counter and whispered. "Hey, uh, did you ever make that potion I asked for?"
The old hag sighed. "I tried, but it's all been failures."
Jace looked down. "Oh, I see... Well, if you happen to have any luck, could you find a way to get ahold of me right then? I'm not really sure if time is on my side here anymore..."
Iris' leaves twitched upon hearing the quiet conversation. She turned slightly to eye them both at the counter.
The hag nodded. "I'll try again, just know that I can't give it to you for free."
"I know, I'd be willing to pay anything, anything at all, I don't care anymore. Slap any price on it." Jace whispered back. "I'm running out of options, and I've looked everywhere possible for any other ways, and I've found absolutely nothing."

"Never thought I'd ever hear myself say this, but I'm so desperate, I'll give anything. Even all my sword collection if it meant getting rid of this." His tone seemed to drop to a low-spirited sigh as he leaned on the counter, and laid his face in his palm. "Giving up is the only thing I haven't tried yet... I'm growing tempted." He finished in a hard to hear faint whisper under his breath, obviously trying to hide it from Iris.
The hag turned to sit an empty jug down, then looked back at the apparent sulking Jace. Iris didn't quite understand the situation, but it obviously messed with Jace. She figured she should keep her nose out of it. She walked on further in front of the shelf near the back of the shop.
The hag spoke up, "Eh, that's not the Jace I know. C'mon, don't give up... I mean, you're my best customer."
Jace couldn't help but give a sorry-sounding chuckle. "I guess you're right, Kotake. Of course, what would you do if you're best customer just up and disappeared one day? Oh woe is you without my money."
Iris was in wonder of all the potions, so much so that she hadn't noticed that Skits was gone till now! He was hopping over to the counter, and soon flew up. He looked into a cage nearby that held a another black bird, a female preening her feathers. He cocked his head and she stopped what she was doing to return in action.
Jace looked to Skits before he spoke once more, he then stopped himself at the realization of Skits' interrupting company. He sighed, and stood up all the way and scratched the back of his head.

"Skits!" Iris called. Skits flinched, the female black bird in the cage copying him still. "Get over here, you're not supposed to be over there!"
Skits groaned, and flew off back to Iris. Jace laughed, "Well, I guess I need to go. I've got some stuff I need to do. Not too mention help this beauty get home." He tried cheering his tone up a little more.
The Kotake nodded. "Alright. But don't be such a sad sack next time you come here, it really dulls the atmosphere, okay?"
Jace nodded with a small laugh. "Sure thing."

Jace stood up straight, and began looking around to pass the time waiting for Iris. He then cleared his throat to get her attention. "Hey, are you forgetting something?"
"Hm?" She poked her head out from behind a shelf.
The blond boy added... "Fairy?"
"Um- OH! You're right!" She walked back over to him. "Uh, let's go."
Kotake called out, "Come back later, and bring money next time... Maybe you can buy her something, heheh."
"If she's with me." Jace replied laughing.
"And give her some reading lessons, that might help." The lady added.
Once outside, he sighed with a smile. "Don't mind her, she's got sort of a big mouth. Her and her sister are pretty harsh."

"So I can see. It didn't bother me much." Iris blew it off. "So, why exactly did we go in there?"
Jace hesitated before answering, "Just some private matters, nothing you need to be worried about."
"Hm, well, as long as it wasn't a love potion like you mentioned yesterday." She teased. "You would've had a good bump on the head."
"I wouldn't put it passed you." He replied, waving his hand. "Anyway, I'm done here."
Jace began down the ladder. As she waited, Skits looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Don't look at me like that..." Iris replied. She began down the ladder and after Jace. Skits glided down next to them and they entered the Woods of Mystery.


Jace had lead them deep into the forest, hours on walking it seemed. He surveyed the trees, boulders, and anything peculiar that may seem off... But to no avail, they found nothing out of the ordinary. And as the time passed, they eventually both came to agree that there really wasn't anything weird going on here. They were pretty disappointed, having hoped to end the search soon.

Irritated, Jace stopped and leaned on a huge tree. "Gosh, we'll never find her at this rate!"
"Didn't it occur to you that maybe she wasn't taken here?" Iris soon looked down at Skits, before gazing back at the blond deku scrub.
He groaned, "I guess you're right... We've looked as far as I've even ventured in here. And I doubt they would hide near the deku village, we'd have seen them by now. And them hiding in the temple is impossible. I wouldn't think they'd be able to swim underwater, and they need the royal family's song to get in."
"So pretty much, you're saying they're not here?" Iris hummed.
Jace shook his head no, "Not exactly, I'm just saying that by how things are going right now, I doubt we'll find the fairy soon." Jace paused, then continued as he leaned on a tree. "As much as I hate it, we may need to wait for more of the plants to wilt, seeing as how we found the last Great Fairy because of the clean water back at Great Bay, when all the water around the clean area was still filthy. I'd guess when everything dies off, the plants that she's near will stay alive.
"Good thinking! Though, how long will that take?" Iris soon asked.
Jace paused to think. "Hm... I'd say about a day or so." He stood up completely again before moving away. "Maybe we can kill some time here though and do something else? Train a little, perhaps? I mean, your fighting skills are, admit it... Poor..." He laughed, "I know that things will be dangerous, and I can't save your tail all the time."

There he went again...Iris growled offendedly. "I could throw you clear across this clearing, Warrior of the Gold-touch. You think you're some fighting guru, how 'bout you fight me right now?? Fine... I'll humor you and learn to pick up a stupid blade."
The response made him reel around and his eyebrows rose! "Wow! Gettin' eager to prove me wrong, huh?" Jace added in. "I may not be a very good shot at shooting deku nuts, but I can handle a knife and a blade, so you got the right guy." He had a smug look on his face- something Iris grew to know well from Jace.
She sighed. "Well then... We'll see how much you know."
"Alright!" Jace exclaimed. "We'll go back to my place so I can get some of my other equipment. Plus, we might not want to practice here... Don't want to forget where we are and get lost."

Jace, Iris, and Skits eventually made it out of the Woods of Mystery through the shortcut back to the palace that they'd used the day before. And eventually reaching the deku village again.
Iris found that Gewl and her band of snobs were there near the stump benches. Gewl glared at her, only having Iris return the piercing glare, and Skits sticking his tongue out at Gewl behind Iris' back. Iris returned ahead again and ignored them the best she could until they reached the forest that led to Jace's burrow.

Jace jumped into his burrow entrance, and Iris stood impatiently near the log tapping her foot. He climbed back out with a small sword. It almost looked like a huge knife of some kind. And most likely was.
Iris blinked, before raising an eyebrow. "Who's using that?"
"You." He replied, handing it to her.
"Uh..." Iris stared at it before looking to Jace, "Okay, what am I supposed to do with this?"
Jace walked into the clearing. "Hold on a sec, be patient and you'll see."
"Patience is something I don't have, Jace." Iris sighed. "I think we should be looking for the other fairies, don't you think?"
Jace answered, "And take a chance of you getting your butt in trouble again?" He paused. "No, I think it's best you learn how to properly use a weapon first, be it any kind. I can't alway's drop what I'm doing to save your tail."
"Okay, okay, I get it. Fine, I need the training." Iris looked at her reflection in the blade. "Who taught you how to fight?"
Jace was looking around for something in the clearing. "My dad."
"Oh. What's he like?" Iris asked.

Jace smiled. "He was a nice guy, and very wise."
"Was?" Iris looked a bit concerned.
After some silence, Jace finally responded. "Some Family stuff happened. I lost him a long time ago to a uh, disease, I guess you could say..."
Iris scratched her head, feeling bad for her insensitivity. "Sorry..."
"For what?" Jace asked.
"For bringing that up." Iris replied in a sorry-sounding tone.
Jace chuckled, "Ah, it's alright. He's in a much better place. He never did fear death, no matter the situation. He's inspired me to live my life just like he did. He was a traveler just like me! Don't feel bad, I like talking about him! Keeps him close, y'know? Would be harsh of me to not respect his memory."
"He does sound cool." Iris smiled. "Heh, at least you knew yours. I was raised by the Great Deku Tree." Iris laughed. "I always asked him if I was just some Hylian who got lost in the woods and turned into a deku scrub, and that maybe that's why I don't have parents. He'd always tell me no, but he never told me of my parents… I think they ditched me, to be honest..."

Iris' story seemed to sadden Jace a tad. Surely her father and mother wouldn't have ditched her? Then again, not all parents are caring. He soon wondered about this Deku Tree she mentioned. "Great Deku Tree?" Jace pondered.
Iris responded, "He's the longest living tree in the forest, and the guardian of the forest... Well, as far as I know. He was always busy taking care of the forest children. They never liked me much, so I eventually just set off on my own and raised myself. I hate that Mido guy... The jerk..."

Jace grabbed a tall dead piece of a tree, and stood it up. It had cuts and scrapes all over it. "It's a shame you never knew your parents… But I bet they loved you, surely. Perhaps something happened to them? That's just my experience. But yeah, my dad was a sweet guy, you'd have liked him. He always told me awesome stories of his travels, and history as well. One was the legend of the Hero of Termina."
Iris looked puzzled. "The Hero of Termina?"
"Eh, It's a long Terminian legend. Very long story, I'll tell ya' later." The deku boy continued to walk around, until he sat up one final dead piece of wood. He dusted off his hands, and walked back to Iris.
"And those are...?" Iris pondered with a pause.
Jace responded, "Your targets." He pointed out to them. "I used to train with these. I guess that's obvious, though."
"Yeah, I'd say so." She said, gazing at the roughed and scratched-up fronts. One had a ginormous gash going through the center. It looked like it would break clean in half with even a flick now.
"They're not moving targets, but it's all I've got." Jace chuckled.
Iris felt a little awkward, now that someone was willingly giving her rights to a weapon. She followed him hesitantly. Skits simply flew up into a tree away from the scene. He mumbled with his crackly bird voice, almost sounding like "Oh boy..."

"Okay, just something basic." Jace said, backing away.
Iris seemed a little confused...
Jace sighed. "Just swing."
The deku girl chuckled nervously, before trying to swing.
"Holy crap!" Jace shouted as he dropped to the grass. The blade went flying off above him, hitting one of the targets in the center... In the wrong direction. He stood up, gazing back at it. He soon turned back to Iris, to find her face- mostly her eyes- hidden behind her now low bangs in an embarrassed manner. He stared at her and blinked, before slightly pushing one of the leaves that hung over his eyes out of the way, just enough to see her better. "Ugh, lift your up your leaves."
"Sorry." She said, her leaves twitched up slightly, her glowing eyes brightly showing through the shadows created by her long leafy bangs. 'How embarrassing... I screw up on the first swing…' She thought. "Um."
"Man, with a swing like that, you'd be dangerous with a mallet or a boomerang or something. I said swing, not swing and let go." He commented shakily.

Iris' leaves lifted to their regular position. "It slipped." She chirped.
"You can't just let it slip. You're going to poke an allies' eye out. Or kill 'em… Or make 'em lose an arm, at the least." He scratched the back of his head. "Maybe I shouldn't have given you the sword as a starter."
She reached down and grabbed a stick off the ground. "Why don't I just use this?"
"If it won't break." Jace replied. "Man, you got a long way to go."
Iris cut her eyes. "You try defending yourself with a natural defense for several years, then all of a sudden try handling a weapon. It's hard, and it makes you nervous."
"All the more of a reason to learn." Jace soon laughed. "Maybe you would be able to focus by imagining you're whacking someone you don't like in the head with that stick?"
"Ah, well then! That won't be hard!" Iris replied and crossed her arms.
"Oh Haha" Jace rolled his eyes, though he found it humorous at the same time. What spunk!
Iris had a smug look on her face before turning to the blade she'd thrown before. Jace looked back at it as well. "I'll use that one. Why don't I show you some things?"
"Okay." Iris simply replied.
Jace ripped the blade out of the wood. He uttered undefined words while looking how deep it cut, and it wasn't even a sharp blade. He turned to face Iris. "Okay, let's try this again- without the danger of someone losing a limb."

The sun sunk lower, the shadows slowly moved across the ground with each hour. Iris really had no idea how long it would take just to train. By now, Jace had moved Iris up to an actual blade again. This one was even less sharp, however. Skits was puffed up and asleep on a branch for the time being.

... CLANG!
The loud clattering made Skits' sensitive ears ring, which woke him from his sleep and caused him to nearly fly off the branch. He gazed down irritably, as Iris stood with a foot back supporting her from falling backwards. She held the blade up while holding off a hard swing that Jace had made towards her. Skits nearly jumped off the branch and dive bombed Jace, before hearing them laugh. He then froze and remembered they were training, which was hours ago. And obviously, still. Iris was wearing her leaves in a pony tail though to keep them from getting in the way. Jace had apparently lent her his, seeing as his feather grass leaves were down.

"I was worried there for a minute!" Iris chuckled.
Jace replied, "It was a little sloppy, and you almost fell over! But it was still good." Jace stepped back. "I'd never actually hit you with anything, but other poeple will. You need to be calm, that's something you seem to have trouble with. With being alert and staying calm, you can focus on the things around you and also have a better chance of holding off a fatal attack. You're much too shaky and jumpy."
"It's hard not to be jumpy and scared though, I didn't even know where you were. If you wouldn't have kicked that rock, I would've never known where you were coming from..."

"Be ready!" Jace spoke.
He drew back and thrusted the blade forward, having Iris merely fall backwards to dodge it. She stood back up and shook it off. He once again began throwing in straight swings and slashes- of which he kept from actually touching her, and only kept them in her blade's reach. Iris missed blocking most of them, but the occasional clangs and clatters were proof that she was at least able to block some of them.
"Agh!" He sent one final swing downward. Another piercing clang sounded from the metals colliding. Iris trembled, but she managed to hold her own blade up to stop Jace's heavy hit. He hardly pushed, knocking her off her shaky feet. She dropped to the ground as her blade went sliding off next to her.
"Heheh, sorry." He reached down and helped her up.
She rubbed her arm. "I suck big time at this."
"You're not going to become an expert over night, it takes a lot of practice." Jace stated. "But you scared the living daylights out of me before when it slipped out of your hand." He laughed. "You're dangerous!"
"And you're not?" Iris threw in jokingly.
Jace pointed. "Ah, but I've been playing around with this kind of stuff since I was a little, little, kid. I know how to control a swing or a throw."
"So I've seen. You throw knives like darts. I don't think I've seen anyone do that before." Iris commented.
Jace sighed after popping his back. "So how about a break? You look beat."

Iris nearly fell over. "Oh, gosh, thank you!"
Jace laughed at her response, and Iris continued, "My arms and legs are hurting like heck!"
"You think that's bad?" Jace stabbed his blade into the ground, parking it right there. "I trained twenty-four/seven! You'd have thought I got trampled by a horse by how much I complained."
Iris plopped down next to the tree Skits sat in and sighed. Jace sat down next to her- well, as close as he could, seeing as Skits dropped down in between them just before he sat down. Skits looked up at Jace and growled lowly, his feathers all ruffled. Jace just looked off at the clearing. The old targets from hours ago were laying down. He brought his attention to Iris, who was just sitting with her eyes closed. The deku boy took a deep breath, before closing his eyes. "The weather's perfect, huh?"
"Uh-huh." She responded wearily. "Now I know why you always wear a ponytail, it feels a lot cooler."
Jace chuckled, "You look rather cute in it."
"Don't start." She rolled her eyes. Skits followed in actions. "I'm too tired for it."
"Just a complement." He shrugged with a smile.
Iris added, "So, what now?"
Jace began to think, pondering for an answer. "Well, I didn't realize how much time we'd spent training, so I think we should probably go and search for the fairy again. I'm sure we'll see a sign eventually."
Iris nodded in agreement with her eyes shut once more, and her leaves began to droop tiredly.
The blond deku boy replied, "And if we don't find her then, we should move onto Clocktown or Ikana Canyon. What do you say, Iris?" Jace opened his eyes. "Iris?" He looked over. She was fast asleep, her arms lazily crossed over her chest as she leaned slightly.
"Wow, must've been tired." He whispered. He smiled lightly, then leaned back on the tree and closed his eyes. "Well, maybe a nap won't hurt."




To Be Continued...
Updated! :la:

A chapter giving you a glimpse of Jace's life and learning a little more about Iris' a well. And also learning how bad Iris truly is with a weapon. XD Poor Jace! I'm surprised that he gave her a blade again.

Cover/ Select Chapter: [link]

Chapter 6: [link]

Chapter 4: [link]

Whilst Iris has her troubles still, she learns that Jace does in fact have his own. How bad these troubles are is still unknown, but she feel's it's best to leave it alone.


Iris, Skits, Jace, other non-official Zelda chara's in story, all belong to me.

The Hag, All thing's LoZ (c) Nintendo
© 2011 - 2024 FayeleneFyre
Comments2
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tinyblonde11's avatar
This chapter was very nicely written. I especially liked the way you described the way the wind was "playing" with the waterfall. Nice Work! :iconthumbsupplz:

I noticed a small error that gave me a little chuckle: "...a large stair way that lead up toward ClackTown" Oops >w<

Also, a little note for the future; when referring to someone from Hyrule, they're known as Hylians, like Lake Hylia (total Zelda dorkdom kicking in )