Legend of Zelda: Curse of the Zonai - Chapter 9

 

Chapter 9

“If I could just find roots that thirst for darkness to change it into something new, the way leaves thirst for light and turn it into nourishment.” -Mie’s Study Journal, Hyrule Castle Botanical Lab. 

 

Mie woke to the sight of her sister. She thought she must be delirious. Maybe she was really at home, in her bed. Maybe she’d never left Hateno, made the trip to Castle Town, or been knocked off a cliff. Maybe she’d never met the princess, or Cade, or Luro? Was he there in her dream as well? She thought she could see both her sister and Luro. 

“Had no idea the person you were looking for in Tabantha was your sister.”

“I had no idea that you knew my sister. Thank you for telling the stable and helping look for her.”

Mie blinked and tried to turn her head. Her sister noticed and ran over. 

“Mie! You’re awake! You’re okay!” 

“Gave us all a scare here.” Luro shook his head. Mie looked at her surroundings. She was in an open room made of carved beams. The sky was everywhere. Earth-toned blankets covered the walls and padded the mat she lay on. There were Rito as well and for the briefest moment she felt the whole room sway in the breeze. She thought that last observation may have been due to her muddy head. 

“Medda?” Mie’s voice was weak and dry. A Rito brought over a water pitcher and poured her a drink.

“I’m here. I went to Castle Town, but they said you’d left for Tabantha. You’re lucky my new friends here saw your horse. Medda gestured to Luro. She was still trying to piece together why both Medda and Luro were with her together and how she’d gotten wherever she was.

“We saw your horse and told the Rito. They found you passed out down by the lake and we brought you here.” He paused to let things sink in.

“We’re at Rito Village?” She looked around the room. “What about the others?” 

“Others? They never found anyone else.” Medda said solemnly. Mie had hoped that was not the case, but she’d seen the attack herself. All of a sudden it sunk in that Medda was all the way out here. Medda, who never left her mother’s side.

“What about mom?”

Medda’s soft expression melted into a distant cold gaze. “She’s gone, Mie.”

“What?” Mie tried to process the information, but it didn’t feel real. 

“She passed away.” Despite how she tried, Medda’s words still betrayed the bitterness she felt. Her sister was angry that Mie left Hateno. “Get some rest, we’ll talk later.” She managed before promptly leaving the room. Another man struggled to stand and hobble out of the room after Medda, but Luro stayed. 

            “How you feelin’?” Luro wasn’t even sure if he should talk. Mie had just learned of the death of her travel companions and her mother. 

            “I don’t know.” Her whisper was barely audible over the breeze rustling the hanging room. By now Mie had realized that the swaying feeling was coming from the Rito homes that hung from the rock, stabilized by large cords.

            He moved over next to her. “You can sleep. I’ll be here.”

            “Thank you.” Mie finally felt the tears coming as she began to feel the weight of consequence on her heart and mind. 

            “I should have never left Hateno.”

            “You’re right. You could be there now, no different than you ever were before, learning nothing about the world.”

            “But then Rem and Cade would still be alive.”

            “Maybe. Maybe not. They’re soldiers, not the safest job.”

            “My mother…”

            “Would never have had a daughter who tried her best to make a better life for her.”

            “What do I do now?”

            “Well, I could use some help.” It was the voice of the Luro she knew, half-joking and laid-back. 

            “What?”

“Keep going, Mie. Don’t look back.” He tried to sound encouraging. “I found out about my pendant. The Rito have found the place that I need to go, but…” He cracked a half-smile “I need a brave travel companion.” 

            Mie would have slugged him if she had any strength. Still, she was happy that he’d finally learned about the carvings. 

            “So what does it mean?”

            He hesitated, pulling out the pendant from beneath his shirt. His smiled broadened. “It means I’m a great warrior.” He plastered satisfaction on his face just to see her reaction. Mie, who thought she might never laugh again, almost smiled. 

            “You? No way.” 

            “I’ll tell you the rest later. Get some sleep.”

 

Danue watched the fire as Medda dished him up a bowl of fish soup. 

“It’s from the lake below the village.” She explained. Medda’s experience with caring for her mother had naturally shifted to helping Danue. His foot was healing better than before, but he still couldn’t walk without help. A small gust of wind swept her hair back and a blue-feathered Rito landed on the platform high on the wall. He hopped down to the floor of the room. 

“We’ve got something.” He breathed harshly. They must have flown all night to be back so early.

“What?” Danue set his bowl down in alarm.

“What’s all this?” Medda asked.

“Oh, sorry. He’s Jehba, a friend who’s been looking into something for me. Him and some others left to scout out an area before you arrived.”

“Is it about the Zonai stuff you’re researching?” 

Danue nodded. “And she’s Medda, another friend we met along the way.”

“Honored.” Jebha held out a wing which Medda attempted to shake. He turned his attention back to Danue, explaining everything he and the others of the scout party saw. 

 

When Mie woke again, she noticed the others moving around the room, gathering and moving things. Luro was there.

“Leaving?”

“Something’s happened.” His usual relaxed tone was completely gone. “I need to tell you somethings before…” He cut off and restarted. “Would you like something to eat first?”

With a bowl of fish and vegetables, Mie sat cross-legged on a mat in one of the unique Rito houses. It apparently belonged to a friend whom Luro met in Castle Town. After eating, Luro introduced her to Danue and Jehba, both of which went on to continue their preparations for what seemed like a long journey.

“Mie, I am going to a place called Thyphlo. Danue has deciphered Zonai texts that prove there was some great darkness there. The Rito have seen it.”

“It sounds dangerous.” 

“It may be.” He considered telling her the part about the warrior being a sacrifice, but after what she’d just been through, he couldn’t. He’d wait a day or two into their trip before revealing such a thing.

“I can’t do this.” She murmured. 

He took a deep breath. “I know you’ve had a rough few days but, I need you with me. I don’t know what I’ll find, it could be anything. I think I could handle it better if you were there.” He suddenly felt very alone. What if he were to die? He didn’t want to be without her. He didn’t want to die alone. It was selfish, making a girl who’d just witnessed tragedy, fall head on into another. Then again, there was a chance that Danue’s interpretation was missing some parts. Maybe he’d put it together wrong somehow. Luro wasn’t sure if he was marching towards his death or some great act of heroism that would change his people at Lurelin for good. Maybe it was both. He needed Mie with him.

“Luro.” Her eyes were full of tears. “I can’t.” She hugged herself, shaking. “I can’t do it. I thought I wanted to be an adventurer. I wanted to travel and explore, but I got two people killed because of that.  I won’t be responsible for another’s death.”

“You couldn’t kill me if you tried. Although, death at your hands wouldn’t be so bad.”

“Luro!” Mie shot back. She knew he was trying to lighten the mood, but she couldn’t take his death jokes at the moment.

“Mie, I need your strength. You’re the bravest person I know. You can’t let this defeat you.” His voice was low and serious, more so than she’d ever heard.

“I knew the wild was dangerous. That doesn’t make it easier.” She shivered as the memories came back to her. Luro wrapped his arms around her until she settled down.

“Okay.” Her voice was barely audible. “I’ll go.”