“You got us lost again, didn’t you?” Kyro groaned. He, Callista, and Michael had been traveling through Hyrule Field for several days now looking for a city, town, or any other civilized area. So far, their search has been in vain.
“We’re not lost!” the kokiri said to the red fairy. “We just don’t know where we are.”
Kyro glanced down at Callista. “What’s the difference?”
“You wouldn’t understand,” the kokiri replied.
The red fairy smirked. “You don’t know.”
Michael sighed and shook his head. “Will you two knock it off?”
“Hmph!” Callista and Kyro turned away from each other.
The gold fairy sighed. “You two…”
“His fault,” the kokiri replied.
“You wish,” the red fairy retorted.
Michael shook his head.
Callista stopped suddenly, almost causing the fairies to crash into the back of her head. “Ha! Told you we’d find a town eventually.”
The fairies looked ahead of where they were hovering. A few rooftops could be seen over the hill the group had been climbing. Behind the rooftops was a large castle with a tower at each of its four corners.
“Hyrule Castle Town,” Michael said to no one in particular.
“Hmmm?” The kokiri glanced at the gold fairy questioningly.
“The town up ahead,” Michael answered. “Well, actually it’s more like a center of trade. Few people other than the families of the knights of Hyrule actually live there.”
Callista nodded and ran at full speed toward the town. Her fairies followed close behind.
Hyrule Castle Town was every bit as busy as the first city the kokiri had visited. Most of the streets were too narrow for horses and carts to travel through, so the people had to carry their goods in bags or baskets to their stores. A few stands were set up along the streets. These stands had everything from food to weapons on display and were nearly hidden by the massive amounts of people that had gathered near them in hopes of buying the merchandise. Occasionally, a salesperson could be seen sitting on a mat by the street.
Callista walked through the town’s streets, glancing around at the people and buildings as she did so. Kyro and Michael hovered around her.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many salespeople,” the kokiri said as she walked.
Michael nodded. “Like I said, this place is more like a huge shopping center than a town.”
Callista stopped at a building and looked inside. Several people, mostly males, were sitting at tables or the counter by the far wall, talking, drinking, and laughing. “What’s this?”
“It’s a tavern,” the gold fairy answered. “Not a good place for young-looking ladies to be, so let’s just move on and forget we saw it.”
Kyro smirked. “Since when is Callista a lady?”
“You be quiet!” the kokiri yelled at the red fairy.
“I’ll be quiet when I want to be,” Kyro replied.
Callista swatted at the red fairy. “Pest.”
Kyro flew out of the kokiri’s reach. “Moody madwoman.”
“You’re asking for it!” Callista shouted at the red fairy.
Kyro laughed. “What are you going to do? You can’t get me here!”
The kokiri smirked. “Your wings have to get tired SOMETIME.”
“Not before your patience will wear out,” the red fairy replied.
Callista crossed her arms. “You watch!”
The door to the tavern opened and a tall, husky man that looked to be in his mid twenties staggered out. The man had short black hair, brown eyes, semi-dark skin, and wore a white shirt, blue pants, and leather boots. The man grinned slightly when he saw Callista. “Yer a fine lookin’ woman. How much fer one night?”
“I’m not for sale!” The kokiri shouted at the man, wrinkling her nose in disgust. ‘Ugh, his breath smells horrid!’
The man’s grin grew wider as he took a step closer, reaching toward Callista. “Come on, I know you wanna.”
The kokiri jumped back and drew her sword. “Come any closer and you lose your limbs!”
“There won’t be any need for that.” A tall young hylian man with blue eyes and long blonde hair walked up to Callista. He wore armor similar to what the guard at Kakariko had worn and had a sword strapped to his belt.
Callista stared at the newcomer. ‘Who is he?’
The man stepped between the kokiri and the drunk. “I think you’d better be getting home now, Corin.”
The drunk looked up at the man. “Sorry, Gabe. Didn’t know she was with you.” He began to walk unsteadily away.
The newcomer looked down at Callista. “I hope you can forgive my friend. I’m afraid he has a tendency of getting himself into trouble.”
The kokiri sheathed her sword. “As long as he doesn’t pull that stunt again…”
The man chuckled. “I’ll see that he doesn’t. Oh, I don’t believe we’ve been properly introduced.” He bowed to Callista. “My name is Sir Gabriel, Knight of Hyrule.”
Kyro rolled his eyes. “We’re so impressed…”
“Callista.” Callista held out her hand.
Gabriel took the hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed it. “A lovely name for a lovely lady.”
Kyro rolled his eyes. “Oh PLEASE…”
The kokiri glared at the red fairy. “What’s YOUR problem?”
The hylian glanced at the fairies as if seeing them for the first time. “Friends of yours?”
Callista shook her head. “Not really, no. I’m just stuck with them. The gold one’s Michael and the annoying red one’s Kyro.”
“Well, I feel loved now!” Michael spoke up.
“Love and Callista don’t mix,” Kyro said to the gold fairy.
“Sure they do,” the kokiri replied. “Just not with annoying little glowballs.”
“Hmph!” Both fairies turned away from Callista.
Gabriel laughed.
The kokiri started to walk away from the hylian.
Gabriel started after Callista. “Where are you off to?”
The kokiri shrugged. “Wherever.”
“Ever been here before?” the hylian asked.
Callista shook her head. “Not before today.”
Gabriel grinned. “Perhaps you’d like me to show you around, then?”
The kokiri nodded. “Sure.”
“Okay then.” The hylian smiled and held out his hand. Callista grabbed the hand and the two walked down the street.
Kyro rolled his eyes. “Who does he think he is? Prince Charming?”
Michael shrugged. “Apparently.”
The red fairy shook his head. “And Callista’s buying into his act…”
The gold fairy looked at Kyro questioningly. “What makes you think he’s acting?”
“Who acts like that normally?” the red fairy replied. “It’s sickening!”
Michael shrugged. “I’m going to go make sure Callista doesn’t get herself into any more trouble. You can come with me or stay here.” He flew off after the hylian and the kokiri.
“May as well go…” The red fairy sighed. “I don’t like that man…” He flew after his companion.
Meanwhile, Gabriel was leading Callista through the streets of the town, pointing out the different buildings and what was inside them. Michael and Kyro followed close behind the two.
The couple stopped at a large stone building with no windows.
“What’s this?” The kokiri asked as she stared at the building.
“That’s the knights’ training area,” the hylian answered.
“Training area?” Callista looked up at Gabriel questioningly.
The hylian smirked. “Its where we train. You know, build up skills so we’ll be ready for any real disaster that may come.”
The kokiri shoved Gabriel semi-playfully. “I know what training means! Wouldn’t it be better to train outside, though?”
The hylian shook his head. “You can’t always find monsters easily outside.”
Callista nodded. “Good point…” She looked up at Gabriel. “Can I get a look inside?”
“Certainly.” Gabriel opened the door to the training area. “Ladies first.”
“Thanks.” The kokiri walked inside the building and looked around. There was only one room and it was bare save for the weapon racks lining the walls and a short old man sitting behind the counter to the kokiri’s left.
Gabriel walked in after Callista. “What do you think?”
The kokiri shrugged. “I don’t know yet.”
“Not the most pleasant of sights,” Kyro responded as he and Michael flew into the room.
Callista glared at the red fairy. “He didn’t ask you!”
Kyro stuck his tongue out at the kokiri. “So?”
“Gabriel! I haven’t seen you in here in awhile.” The old man smiled at the hylian. He looked at Callista. “Who’s this, a new recruit?”
Gabriel shook his head. “This is Callista. She just got here.”
The red fairy coughed, trying to get the knight’s attention.
Gabriel nodded briefly to the fairies. “And these are her companions.”
“Nice to see he remembered our names,” Kyro responded sarcastically.
The kokiri giggled.
The old man nodded. “I see.” He smiled at the kokiri woman. “So, are you liking it here?”
Callista shrugged. “Its about like any other city I’ve been in, except they didn’t have a castle nearby.”
The old man chuckled. “So, are you here to stay or just passing through?”
“Passing through,” the kokiri replied. “I can’t stay in one place for very long.”
“Pity,” Gabriel spoke up. “The lovely ones never stay for long.”
Callista blushed.
“Lovely?” Kyro spoke up. “Homely’s more like it.”
The kokiri growled at the red fairy. “You’re not too much of a looker yourself!”
Kyro stuck his tongue out at Callista. “How do you know? You’ve never seen me!”
“I happen to think she’s beautiful,” Gabriel spoke up.
The kokiri woman smiled at the knight. “Maybe I can stay for a short while… As long as I’m not feeling caged in and no one outside the town needs my help.”
“Of course.” The knight smiled at the kokiri.
“So… How do you guys train in here?” Callista asked. “I don’t see any targets or anything…”
“There are some that pop out of the floor,” Gabriel answered. “We usually train against each other though.”
The kokiri looked up at the knight. “You have the rookies fight each other?”
Gabriel nodded. “Sometimes, yes.”
“One of my ex-friends back where I used to live almost got himself killed that way,” Callista stated.
The knight shrugged. “Well, they don’t start with real weapons.”
The kokiri smirked. “What do they start with? Wooden swords and shields?”
Gabriel laughed. “Actually, you’re pretty close.”
Callista looked up at the knight. “How skilled would you say you are in combat?”
The knight shrugged. “Pretty good, I guess. Why do you ask?”
The kokiri drew her sword. “Good enough to take me on?”
“Well, I usually don’t fight ladies…” Gabriel replied.
“Why not?” Callista asked. “Scared you’ll get beaten?”
Kyro smirked. “He’d probably enjoy being beaten by a woman.”
The kokiri woman shot a glance at the red fairy. “You hush!”
Kyro stuck his tongue out at Callista. “You’re not the boss of me.”
“I can still beat you up,” the quester responded.
The red fairy rolled his eyes. “Whatever.”
The knight shook his head at Callista’s question. “No, I’m not afraid of being beaten.”
The kokiri grinned. “Then come on!”
The old man behind the counter laughed. “Go on, Gabriel.”
“Okay…” Gabriel walked to the center of the room.
Callista followed the knight. “Don’t even think about going easy on me!”
Gabriel drew his sword. “Same to you.”
The kokiri laughed. “Ready?”
The knight nodded. “Whenever you are.”
“This should be interesting…” Kyro said more to himself than anyone else as the battle began.
Callista swung her sword at Gabriel.
The knight blocked the kokiri’s swing with his sword. “You’ll have to do better than THAT.” He back-flipped away from Callista, and then charged at her.
The kokiri dropped to the ground and rolled into her opponent’s feet, tripping him. She stood up and smirked. “Like that?”
Gabriel jumped to his feet and faced Callista. “Not bad.”
“Not very good, but not bad,” Kyro spoke up.
The kokiri ignored the red fairy and watched the knight closely, waiting for his next move.
Gabriel thrust his sword out at Callista. The kokiri jumped straight up, landing on the blade. The knight swung his sword quickly, knocking Callista to the ground.
Kyro smirked. “This is the part where we throw our heads back and laugh, right?”
“Shut up, fairy!” The kokiri jumped to her feet.
Gabriel laughed. “Had enough?”
“Not quite,” Callista charged at the knight.
“Sorry, that move won’t work on me.” Gabriel ducked and flipped the kokiri over him as she approached.
Callista spun around quickly and kicked the knight’s legs out from under him. She smirked as her opponent hit the ground. “That one did. Man, I hope you do better when fighting monsters than you do when fighting people.”
Gabriel climbed to his feet and swung his sword at the kokiri. “Monsters don’t pull tricks like that that I know of.”
Callista blocked the knight’s sword with her own. “So what are you going to do if you ever have to fight an army of hylians? Or zoras, or gorons?”
“Gorons and zoras wouldn’t attack the castle.” The knight pushed against the kokiri’s sword. “Neither would other hylians that I know of. It’s the gerudo we’d have to worry about.”
The kokiri looked at Gabriel questioningly. “Gerudo?”
The knight put his sword away. “Never heard of them? They’re a race of dark-skinned women from the desert to the west. It’s said that only one male is born to them every one hundred years. That’s the only male of any race they’ll respect.”
“Doesn’t sound like a very friendly bunch, does it?” Kyro responded.
Callista smirked. “I dunno... A group of women that don’t respect men? Seems like a smart race to me.”
Gabriel glanced at the kokiri. “Heeeeeeey…”
Callista just laughed.
The knight smiled at the kokiri. “Guess the match is over.”
Callista nodded and sheathed her sword. “Yeah…”
Gabriel thought for a moment. “So… Are you hungry?”
“Now that you mention it, yeah,” the kokiri answered. “What brought that question up?”
The knight smiled. “I know this place just a short walk from here that makes the best roast cucco. Would you like to go there with me?”
Callista nodded. “Sure.”
Gabriel grinned and took the kokiri’s hand. The two walked out of the training room.
Kyro flew out of the training room, then in the opposite direction Callista and the knight had gone.
Michael watched the hybrid fairy fly off. ‘What’s his problem?’ He darted after Kyro.
“Wow, I’ve never been in a place like this before…” Callista stated as she and Gabriel entered a medium-sized building. The building was mostly one room and had several tables set up in various places. Each table had two to six chairs beside it. Windows lined all the walls, allowing a good amount of sunlight to enter the building. In the far right corner of the building was a small room the kokiri guessed was the kitchen. A young woman stood behind a counter to Callista’s left.
Gabriel laughed at the kokiri. “You never visit restaurants during your adventures?”
Callista shook her head.
“You don’t know what you’re missing,” the knight replied.
The kokiri shrugged. “I will in a moment, won’t I?”
“Yep.” Gabriel walked up to the counter. Callista followed.
The woman behind the counter smiled as the two approached. “Good day, sir and ma’am.”
The knight smiled back. “Same to you.”
The woman looked at Gabriel, then Callista. “Is it just the two of you or will others be joining you?”
“Just us,” the knight replied.
The kokiri glanced around briefly. ‘Where did Kyro and Michael run off to?’ She shrugged mentally. ‘I’ll look for them later.’
The woman smiled at Gabriel and Callista and stood up. “This way, please.” She began walking toward the tables in the restaurant.
The knight grinned at the kokiri, who grinned back. The two followed the woman toward an empty table in the corner of the restaurant. Gabriel pulled out a chair for Callista and waited until she was seated before he sat down.
“Can I get you anything to drink while you decide on your meal?” The woman asked once the knight and the kokiri were seated.
Gabriel looked at Callista. “Want anything to drink?”
The kokiri nodded. “Water would be nice.”
The knight looked at the woman serving them. “Two waters, please.”
The woman nodded and walked off.
Callista looked at Gabriel. “You come here often?”
The knight shrugged. “As often as possible, which isn’t very, really.”
The kokiri nodded. “Busy, huh?”
“Yes,” Gabriel answered. “After guarding the palace and fighting off the occasional monster that manages to sneak past the guards at the drawbridge, I haven’t had a lot of free time.”
“What kinds of monsters sneak in?” Callista asked.
The knight thought for a moment. “Keese, skulltulas, leevers, small things like that.”
“Weaklings, then,” the kokiri responded.
Gabriel nodded.
The woman that had led the two to their table reappeared and set two cups of water on the table. “Here you go.”
Callista smiled at the woman. “Thanks.”
“Thank you,” the knight said to the woman.
The woman nodded. “Have you two decided on your order or do you need a couple more minutes?”
Gabriel looked at the kokiri. “Roast cucco fine?”
Callista nodded. “Sounds good to me.”
The knight looked up at the woman. “We’d like the roast cucco.”
The woman nodded and walked away.
“So…” Gabriel looked at the kokiri. “I don’t believe you told me where you were from.”
“Ever hear of Kokiri Forest?” Callista asked.
The knight nodded. “Isn’t that the place where the fairy children are said to live?”
The kokiri nodded back. “That’s the place.”
“You’re from there?” Gabriel thought for a minute. “I should’ve guessed as much.”
Callista chuckled.
The knight studied his companion. “You sure don’t look young enough to be one of them.”
The kokiri looked at Gabriel. “Have you seen any fairy children before me?”
The knight shook his head. “You’re the first.”
Callista smirked. “Then who are you to say I don’t look young enough?”
Gabriel thought for a moment. “Good point…”
“You’re right though,” the kokiri replied. “I didn’t always look this old.”
The knight raised an eyebrow at Callista. “What happened?”
“Long story,” the kokiri answered.
“I’m willing to listen if you’re willing to tell it,” Gabriel replied.
“Hoo boy… Where to start…” Callista wondered.
The knight smiled at the kokiri. “The beginning would be nice.”
“Okay…” Callista took a deep breath and began to tell Gabriel about her life in the forest.
“THERE you are!” Michael exclaimed after spotting Kyro on a tree branch not far from the restaurant Callista and Gabriel had entered. The gold fairy landed next to the red fairy. “What do you think you’re doing flying off like that?! We have to stay by Callista’s side at all times, remember?”
“What’s she need us for?” Kyro snapped. “She’s got that stupid knight with her…”
Michael blinked, and then smirked. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were jealous of Gabriel.”
The red fairy did not respond.
The gold fairy stopped smirking. “You ARE jealous, aren’t you?”
Kyro glanced at Michael. “What do you care?”
“I care a great deal actually,” the gold fairy responded.
“Hmph!” The red fairy turned away from his companion.
Michael sighed. “Come on, Kyro… You can at least talk to me.”
Kyro glanced at the gold fairy. “Why should I? You’ll only make fun of me.”
“No I won’t,” Michael assured his companion.
The red fairy just sighed.
“I promise.” The gold fairy faced Kyro.
The red fairy glanced at Michael. “What would you have me say?”
“You could tell me why you were jealous of her paying attention to someone else,” the gold fairy replied. “I thought you didn’t like her.”
Kyro sighed. “Well, I do… A LOT…”
“Since when?” Michael asked.
“Since her first battle,” the red fairy answered.
“So pretty much since she aged,” the gold fairy replied.
Kyro remained silent.
“Hmmmm…” Michael glanced straight ahead.
“I think we’ve talked enough.” The red fairy flew away from his companion.
“Wait!” Michael flew after Kyro. “Where are you going?”
“Away,” the red fairy responded.
The gold fairy flew in front of Kyro, stopping him in his tracks. “You can’t do that!”
The red fairy glared at Michael. “Why the heck not?”
“Like it or not, it’s our duty to protect Callista,” the gold fairy answered. “She needs us, regardless of what she says or thinks.”
“Let the hylian protect her,” Kyro responded. “I can’t stand to be near her while he’s around.”
Michael sighed. “Kyro…”
The red fairy glared at Michael. “What?!”
The gold fairy sighed. “Nothing…”
Kyro flew around Michael and out of sight. The gold fairy watched his companion leave, and then flew in the direction he had seen Callista and Gabriel go.
“The snake swallowed you?” Gabriel looked at his companion in shock. Callista had been telling him of her adventures. She was currently telling about her fight with the snakelike creature in Zora’s Fountain.
The kokiri nodded. “Not the most pleasant experience in the world…”
“How the heck did you manage to survive that?” the knight asked.
“Good question…” Callista replied.
Gabriel chuckled. “You should become a knight.”
The kokiri looked at the hylian. “Wouldn’t that require me to stay in a certain area?”
Gabriel nodded. “Unless you were sent out on a mission, yes.”
Callista shook her head. “I prefer to wander around.”
“It’s too bad,” the hylian replied. “From what I hear of your adventures, you’d make a great knight.”
The kokiri shrugged. “Maybe.”
Just then, the waitress returned with the roast cucco. Gabriel and Callista thanked the woman and began eating.
“What about you?” The kokiri asked her companion as they ate. “Have you had any adventures besides normal knight stuff?”
Gabriel chuckled. “Nothing like what you’ve experienced.”
Callista looked at the knight. “There’s gotta be SOMETHING…”
Gabriel thought for a moment. “Well, there was the dragon…”
The kokiri looked at the knight. “Dragon?”
Gabriel nodded. “A few years back a large green dragon attacked the castle.” He sighed. “It took all the knights to kill it. Several of us didn’t survive…”
Callista turned her gaze to the table. “Sorry.”
The knight looked at the kokiri. “It’s all right. These things happen.”
“They shouldn’t,” Callista replied.
Gabriel nodded. “I agree, but there’s not much you can do about it.”
The kokiri nodded back. “True…”
The two companions finished eating in silence. They then walked to the counter, paid for their meal, and exited the building.
“Where to now?” Callista asked once she and Gabriel were outside.
The hylian shrugged.
Just then, a tall, young-looking knight with green eyes and long brown hair ran up to the two companions.
Gabriel looked at the knight. “What’s got you in such a rush, Lance?”
The knight stopped in front of Gabriel and saluted. “Gabriel, sir! Mission for you, sir!”
Gabriel raised an eyebrow at Lance. “What is it?”
“The city of Saraki has been destroyed by a group of armos statues,” the knight answered. “The queen wants you to go destroy them before they attack any other part of Hyrule.”
Gabriel nodded, then looked at Callista. “Care to join me?”
The kokiri grinned. “I’d go along whether you wanted me to or not. I live for this kinda thing!”
Gabriel smiled. “Let’s go, then!” He ran down the street toward the drawbridge leading to Hyrule field, followed closely by Callista.
Kyro sighed and stared out at Hyrule Field from his perch on a tree near Hyrule Castle Town’s drawbridge. He felt guilty for abandoning Callista and Michael, but he could not return to them just yet. Gabriel was probably still with them anyway.
The red fairy looked back at the town. ‘I haven’t seen them in a while. Maybe I should return…’
Before Kyro could fly back into the town, he saw Gabriel rush out, followed by Callista. Michael followed a great distance behind the kokiri.
‘Where are they off to so fast?’ the red fairy wondered as he watched his companions. He shrugged and flew after the group.
“Well, here we are…” Gabriel stopped in front of the ruins of a large city.
Callista stopped beside the knight. “Wow… What a mess…”
Gabriel nodded.
The kokiri started to walk into the ruins of the city. “These armos things, what do they look like?”
“You’ll know when you see one,” the knight answered.
“Hmmm…” Callista continued to search for the statues.
Gabriel grinned and grabbed the kokiri’s arm, stopping her.
Callista looked at the knight questioningly. “What are you doing?”
“This.” Gabriel leaned down and pressed his lips against the kokiri’s. He continued the kiss for a few seconds, and then released his companion.
Callista blinked in surprise. “That was sudden…”
The knight smiled at the kokiri. “I’ve been waiting to do that since the restaurant.”
Callista looked at Gabriel. “Why?”
The knight looked back at the kokiri. “Well, you’re not too shabby looking, for one thing. And I’ve NEVER seen a woman fight like you did in the training area.”
Callista laughed.
Gabriel grinned at the kokiri. “So, how about it? I think we’d be great together.”
Callista thought for a moment. “You’d have to deal with me being gone for long periods of time…”
The knight shook his head. “I’ll go with you on your journeys.”
The kokiri looked at the knight. “I thought you said the knights had to stay in a certain area most of the time.”
“I’ll get somebody to take my place as a knight,” Gabriel replied.
“Sure you wanna do that?” Callista asked.
The knight nodded. “Positive.”
The kokiri hugged the hylian. “Heh… I don’t think Kyro and Michael are going to be too happy about this…”
“They’ll live.” Gabriel kissed Callista a second time. This time, the kokiri returned the kiss.
Just then, the two companions heard a low rumbling noise a short distance away.
Callista drew her sword. “Was that what I think it was?”
Gabriel nodded and drew his sword. “Probably.”
The kokiri started running toward the source of the voice. “Let’s check it out.”
The knight followed his companion a short distance further into the city’s ruins. Several giant statues faced the fighters.
Callista stared at the statues. “Are these what caused this mess?”
Gabriel nodded.
The kokiri watched the statues for a moment. “You’d think they’d be a little more active…”
“They are,” the knight responded. “As soon as anything living comes near an armos statue, they become active and go on a rampage.”
Callista nodded. “Ah…”
“Let’s get this over with…” Gabriel approached the statues. The ones closest to the two came to life and immediately began attacking the knight.
The kokiri immediately jumped in front of the knight and used her sword to block the statues’ attacks.
Gabriel stood beside Callista and chuckled as he helped her fight the armos. “Afraid I can’t defend myself, are we?”
The kokiri smirked as she slashed at the armos in front of her. “Would you feel offended if I said yes?”
“Yes,” the hylian responded.
“Then yes, I am afraid you can’t defend yourself,” Callista replied.
“Hey!” Gabriel shot the kokiri an angry look after shattering one of the statues with his shield.
Callista giggled and sliced an armos in half. “You asked for it!”
Just then, several more armos statues approached the two fighters from behind.
Gabriel looked back at the new enemies. “This could be a problem…”
The kokiri sliced another armos in half and blocked a third armos’ attack with her shield. “Just keep fighting. We’ll get ‘em.”
“Right…” The knight backed up a few steps and blocked the statues’ attacks with his sword and shield.
Just then, one of the statues slashed Callista across her back. The kokiri yelled in pain and spun around, barely getting her shield above her head before the armos’ sword found its way to her neck.
Gabriel sliced the armos statue he was fighting in half and used his shield to drive Callista’s attacker back. He turned to look at his companion. “You okay?”
“I’m fine.” Callista noticed another armos sneaking up behind the knight. “Look out!” She charged at the armos, running it through with her sword.
Gabriel smirked. “We’re both going to have to watch each others’ backs here…”
The kokiri nodded as she blocked another armos’ attack. “No kidding…”
The knight chuckled and sliced the head off a nearby armos.
One of the armos near Callista stabbed at the kokiri’s stomach. Callista blocked the attack with her shield, only to have another armos slice her across her left side. A third charged into her, knocking her to the ground.
“Callista!” Gabriel started toward the kokiri, but a group of armos stood between him and his companion. He hesitated for a moment, and then took off running toward Hyrule Castle.
Callista watched in horror as Gabriel left. She tried to stand, but the loss of blood made her too weak to move. She could only lay helpless as the army of armos attacked.
“Callista!” Michael flew in the direction he had seen his protectee and the knight run. He continued until he reached the ruins of a city.
Just then, Gabriel ran past the gold fairy.
‘Gabriel?’ Michael watched as the hylian ran off, and then looked around. ‘Where’s Callista?’ He frowned. ‘I have a bad feeling about this…’ “Callista!” He flew into the city, eventually spotting a group of armos knights surrounding a bloodied form. The gold fairy’s eyes grew wide. “CALLISTA!!!”
A red fairy flew up to Michael. “Go get help!”
The gold fairy stared at the newcomer. “Kyro?”
“GO!!” the red fairy snapped. “Hurry! There isn’t much time!” He flew toward Callista and attempted to heal her. “…Right…” Michael flew off toward Death Mountain. He flew halfway up the mountain, and then entered Goron City.
The goron near the entrance groaned, sat up, and stared at the fairy. “Hello. Where did you come from?”
Michael shook his head. “We don’t have much time. Callista needs help, fast!”
The goron gave the fairy a confused look. “Callista?”
At the mention of the kokiri, Dero rolled up to the two. “What happened to Callista?!”
“She’s being attacked by an army of living statues,” Michael answered.
Dero turned toward the center of the city. “Brothers, listen up! Our sister Callista needs our help! Take as much of the special crop as you can and hurry up!” He turned back to the fairy as several gorons rushed toward the three, most of them carrying bombs. “Lead the way.”
Michael nodded and flew out of the city. Dero and the other gorons followed him back toward the armos.
“Come on, Callista, I know you can pull through…” Kyro whispered more to himself than his protectee as he made yet another attempt at healing the kokiri. He had been trying to heal her while Michael was away, but the armos kept knocking him away before he got very far.
“Kyro!”
The red fairy turned toward the source of the voice. Michael flew toward the red fairy. Behind him were several gorons.
“It’s about time!” Kyro yelled at the gold fairy.
Michael glanced at Callista. “Is she…?”
“She’s alive…” the red fairy answered.
The gold fairy heaved a sigh of relief. “Thank the goddesses…”
Kyro just nodded. The two fairies watched as the gorons disposed of the armos statues.
“Unnnnhhn…” A small groan escaped the kokiri’s mouth as she slowly regained consciousness.
“Callista!” Kyro flew toward his protectee. “It’s about time you woke up.”
Callista glared at the red fairy, then looked around at the armos and gorons. “Dero?”
“We had to ask the gorons for help,” Michael explained. “There was almost no way to get to you…”
The kokiri looked at the gold fairy. “Where’s Gabriel? Did he make it out okay?”
“I saw him running toward Hyrule Castle on my way here,” Michael answered.
Kyro growled. “Not the bravest or most loyal of the knights, is he?”
Callista slowly rose to her feet. “Maybe he went to get help…”
“I doubt it,” the red fairy responded.
By this time, the armos had either been destroyed or driven off by the gorons.
“Callista!” Dero rolled up to the kokiri. “You all right?”
Callista nodded. “I’ll be fine. Thanks, Dero…”
The goron nodded back. “What are sworn brothers and sisters for?”
The kokiri gave Dero a slight smile. “Right.”
The goron smiled back. “Those statues have been taken care of, at least for now. Would you like to come back to Goron City with us?”
Callista shook her head. “Thanks, but I’ve got things I need to do elsewhere.”
“Okay. Be sure to drop by sometime.” Dero and the other gorons rolled off toward Death Mountain.
The kokiri watched the gorons as they rolled away, and then turned toward Hyrule Castle. “Let’s go…”
“Back to the castle town?” Michael asked.
Callista looked at the gold fairy. “Of course. Where else would Gabriel have gone?”
“Exactly,” Kyro stated.
The kokiri started walking back toward the castle. “Well, I’m going to go find him. I’m sure he had a good reason for running off.”
The red fairy flew after his protectee. “Wait, at least let me heal you first!”
Callista shook her head. “Later. First I need to find Gabriel.”
Michael blinked in surprise as he watched the kokiri walk away. “Wow… She didn’t even try to insult you…”
Kyro frowned. “Come on.” He flew after Callista. The gold fairy sighed and followed the red fairy.
Night had already fallen by the time Callista had reentered Hyrule Castle Town. She was not a pretty sight; all her wounds were clearly visible through her torn clothes and blood was still leaking out of a deep gash on her face. Kyro and Michael followed a short distance behind the kokiri.
Callista looked around at the buildings she passed as she walked along the street. ‘He HAS to be around here somewhere…’
Just then, the kokiri heard a familiar voice. She saw a familiar-looking man enter a tavern with an attractive woman.
Gabriel!
The kokiri rushed to the tavern once the two had entered and stared at them through the window.
Kyro flew up to his protectee. “I take it you found him?”
Callista watched as the two hylians sat down at a table and kissed briefly, then entered the tavern.
Michael started to fly after the kokiri. “Callista, wait!”
The red fairy stopped the gold fairy. “Let her go in. This should be good…”
Callista walked through the tavern, ignoring the stares from the customers, and stopped in front of Gabriel.
The knight stared at the kokiri in shock. “C-Callista! How did you…”
Callista glared at Gabriel. “You certainly didn’t help!”
“What would you have had me done?” the knight asked. “I didn’t have any hope of saving you…”
The kokiri laughed bitterly. “I thought you said you were a knight of Hyrule!””
“I am,” Gabriel responded.
Callista grabbed one side of the table the knight and his companion were sitting at and turned it over on them. The female hylian jumped back as the table fell on top of the knight.
The kokiri glared as Gabriel looked up at her in surprise. “I’ll be surprised if Hyrule lasts more than a year with cowards like you protecting it!” She turned to the hylians woman. “Miss, I have no idea who you are but I’m sure you deserve better than that.” She nodded to Gabriel briefly before storming out.
Kyro laughed as he watched the scene. “He deserved that one…”
Just then, Callista exited the bar and took off through the streets of Hyrule Castle Town at a dead run.
The red fairy blinked. ‘The heck?!’
“Tears…?”
Kyro turned toward Michael. “Huh?”
The gold fairy looked at the red fairy. “Did you see her eyes? She was crying…”
Kyro shook his head. “I was too busy watching that woman Gabriel was with chew him out…”
Michael sighed and shook his head.
The red fairy looked in the direction Callista had run. “Here goes…” He started to fly after the kokiri.
The gold fairy flew after Kyro.
The red fairy stopped and turned to face Michael. “No.”
The gold fairy gave Kyro a confused look.
“This is something I need to do,” the red fairy answered.
Michael shook his head. “What if she doesn’t want to talk to you? You two rarely get along.”
“The fact that we rarely get along is why I have to talk to her,” Kyro responded. “Anything nice I say to her will mean more than anything nice you say.”
The gold fairy thought for a moment. “Good point… Now’s not the time to confess your love for her, though.”
The red fairy sighed. “Don’t worry, I don’t see that happening ever…” He continued flying in the direction Callista had run.
Michael watched Kyro fly off, and then followed from a distance, being careful to stay out of the red fairy’s sight.
Callista ran as fast as she could through the streets of Hyrule Castle Town, stopping only after she had crossed the drawbridge and entered Hyrule Field. She sat down under the nearest tree, crossed her arms over her legs, buried her face in her arms, and wept. She did not know why she was crying; she had only known Gabriel for a day. But still…
Kyro flew up to the kokiri and landed on the branch above her. “Hey, Cal…”
Callista sighed. “Leave me alone, Kyro. I’m not in the mood to be insulted by you right now…”
“Good, that wasn’t my intent,” the red fairy replied.
The kokiri let out a small chuckle. “That’s a first…”
Kyro just shrugged. “You know he’s not worth it.”
“It’s not Gabriel I’m upset about,” Callista replied. “Well… Not entirely…”
The fairy arched an eyebrow. “Oh? What, then?”
The kokiri sighed. “I’m never gonna find a boy that loves me…”
“I wouldn’t say that,” Kyro responded.
Callista glanced up at the fairy. “Yes you would…”
“Okay… I wouldn’t MEAN it, then,” Kyro corrected himself.
The kokiri stared ahead at the field. “Heh…”
The fairy just sighed.
Callista sighed as well. “It’s for the best, I guess. People seem to want to stay in a certain place all their lives. I don’t think I can do that.”
Kyro shrugged. “I’m sure there’s someone out there that wouldn’t mind traveling.”
The kokiri snorted. “Right…”
The fairy sighed. “Come on, Callista. Cheer up. All this isn’t worth getting depressed over.”
“I guess…” Callista sighed.
“Here…” Kyro landed on Callista’s shoulder, laid his hands on her neck, and concentrated. A faint red glow surrounded the quester as her wounds were healed.
Callista slowly rose to her feet and turned to look at her protector “Kyro?”
Kyro looked back at the kokiri. “Yes?”
Callista gave the fairy a small smile. “Thanks…”
Kyro nodded. “Sure.”
The kokiri looked around. “Where’s Michael.”
The fairy shrugged. “I’m sure he’s around here somewhere.”
“Let’s go find him so we can leave here,” Callista said. “Hyrule’s not gonna explore itself!” She ran back toward Hyrule Castle Town.
Kyro followed his protectee, chuckling to himself. He would not admit it, but he was glad to see the kokiri acting like her old self again.
‘Kyro, I hope you know what you’re doing…’ Michael sighed as he waited near the drawbridge leading into Hyrule Castle Town for Kyro and Callista to return.
Just then, the gold fairy saw the kokiri running toward him, followed closely by her other guardian.
Callista stopped in front of Michael. “Michael, there you are! Come on, we’re leaving.”
The gold fairy shot Kyro a glance that read “That was fast.”
The red fairy just nodded.
The kokiri put her hands on her hips. “Well, come on! I want to get away from this place as soon as possible!”
“Right…” Michael flew toward Callista.
The kokiri turned to her fairies. “Race ya!” She took off running across Hyrule Field.
Michael watched Callista run. “Here we go again...”
“Yep,” Kyro responded.
The gold fairy turned toward the red one. “You seem glad about all this.”
Kyro smiled and shrugged.
Michael stared after the kokiri. “Ready to chase her down?”
The red fairy nodded. The two fairies flew after their protectee.
You are listening to the Hyrule Castle Market theme from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. This MIDI was sequenced by John Kuzma, composed by Koji Kondo, and taken from vgmusic.com.
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