genessia | (video)

"Good," she said, kissing the top of his head. "Because that's not how we roll around here." Except River. But hush. "Just be careful is all I am saying. Even the best people can go too far without meaning to or realizing they are. My best friend is one of the best people I know. Two hearts, can find the good in anyone. And even he's slipped once or twice. Friends are for watching out for each other."

I only kill monsters.

[Link sincerely hoped that was reassuring.]

"How do you define monsters?" she asked, seeming actually curious rather than judgemental.

[Link tilted his head for a second.]

Don't you know a monster when you see one?

They kill people. Sometime's they're little things like keese and Stalchildren. Other times, they're big and breathe fire like a dodongo. There's noting good about 'em. They're not misunderstood, or just trying to live like wolves or bears and stuff. They're different.

The bigger ones in my world were put there by someone, to kill people or to make sure they couldn't get to food and stuff. A giant cursed bug ate the Great Deku Tree from the inside. I killed it, but, it wasn't enough to save him.

[There was a reason Link was edgy about people wanting to defend monsters.]

She shrugged at his question, but listened and nodded. "If we're defining monsters based on killing people without doing it for survival, I know quite a few people who fit into that category as well," she said, dryly. One of them was her daughter, who was emphatically not a monster. "Can't speak to if there is anything good or not aboth most of them." There was more good than not to River, at least. "Personally, I'd say it sounds like the one who sent the monsters is the real threat. But then, that's my opinion."

Well, yeah, people can be monsters. [Link was a little surprised that was even an issue.] People can also change. Monster-monsters can't.

[Nod.]

He is.

But, that doesn't mean the monsters won't kill you before you can get to him, if you let them. Or the people you care about.

"The problem comes in with figuring out which monsters are also people. And thus can change. Face it kid, life gets more complex as you get older." She grinned a bit.

"Gotta be a way, probably. If not, my daughter has a gun and isn't shy about making a path."

S'not hard. It's in the eyes.

[Link tilted his head.]

I'm not gonna get older. I'm a Kokiri.

"Might mean you're not going to get bigger, but you're getting older as we speak. We all are."

Everyone stays the same.

[Link frowned. It was one the reasons he was such a freak in the first place. He was finally catching up size-wise with the other Kokiri. That meant, he'd be done changing, and he'd be normal like all of the other kids.]

Kokiri don't change, everyone stays as a kid. We don't have grown-ups. Or moms or dads or nothing.

"Physically, maybe. But you're learning all the time. A week ago, you didn't know my name. Now you do."

[Link was a little flustered. How could he even hope to explain being a Kokiri?]

It doesn't mean we're stupid or nothing, it just means...we don't grow up. And not just staying small, I mean, everyone's...just still a kid.

"Alright. Some days I kind of wish that could have happened to my daughter, but it didn't. We're all different, lots of different races, each grows its own way. Nothing wrong with that. But it doesn't mean you ever stop learning. Or getting older."

I dunno what you mean about learning. When I get back to the forest, everything'll...

[Well. It couldn't go back to completely normal, could it? The Great Deku Tree was still dead. But, it wasn't as if he could live on his own with the Hylians either. And, as much as he liked them he couldn't live with the Gorons. And he certainly didn't want to live with Ruto.]

Everything'll be back to almost normal. Life'll go back to the way it's supposed to be. I'll be normal, like everyone else. I'll be the right size, and I'll finally have my fairy, and no one will hate me anymore.

She laughed a bit. "You think that's what happens after adventuring? Returning to real life and everything being normal again?" She smiled warmly, but amused.

Well...I hope so? I have my house, and my best friend Saria to go back to. I'll visit Zelda lots, now that I know I can leave the forest without dying, but...why wouldn't things go back to normal?

"Alright kid, here's the thing. Rory and I have been traveling, doing the adventuring thing for a long while now. And every so often we find ourselves back home, in our own cute little house, with our jobs and Rory's car and we try. We make a go at real life. And we say that for sure, this time... this time real life will begin."

"And then, without fail, adventure comes back to us. Always. And when it calls... we look at each other, and without fail, we tell each other it's just one more trip, just one more adventure. But adventure... it's like... like chocolate cake. Before you ever have any it's something you see other people have, and it looks good, and you think you'll like it... or maybe it'll taste like mud. And then you try it. And it's amazing. Best thing ever. So you have more, and more, and more. Then you're sugar crashing with a stomach ache and you're sure you've had enough of chocolate cake to last your life time. And then... someone offers you more chocolate cake, and before you know it, you're halfway through a fat slice without a cup of milk."

Aw, c'mon, no one's gonna want me to go on another adventure after this! Once we save everything from the bad guy, everyone will be safe and happy and that'll be the end of that.

[He was just a little kid. Who would want him to do more than one adventure?]

She started coughing, trying hard not to laugh at him. Oh that was just adorable. One bad guy. One threat per world per lifetime. and everyone safe and happy after it. That was sweet. Completely deluded. but sweet.

[Oh, Amy. If you but knew.]

...are you okay?

"Yeah. Sorry. You're cute, kid. I like ya."

Oh.

[Link ducked his head slightly. It was pretty clear he wasn't sure what to do with compliments.]

Thanks?

"Sure. You know what? bet I've got something sweet in the kitchen. Maybe we should go see?"

[Amy found one of his weaknesses. Food. Dinner time in the forest usually consisted of nuts, berries, roots, and the odd fish if they were lucky.]

Okay!

She chuckled and headed into the kitchen. "You like custard?"

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