Fan Fiction Friday: The Man Behind the Masks – Part 28b

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Bongo Bongo had been sealed. At least he was for seventeen years. Impressive, considering the majority of the Sheikah clan died in the Civil War. But then, that’s another sad story…

“Are you still with us? For Farore’s sake, speak, Mask Salesman.”

I felt my reluctant body being dragged to standing. No more, I thought. No more, please. I need a lie down.    

My right arm looped around a bony shoulder. A man with a thin beard grinned back at me.

“No need to worry about this one, General. He’s always been a bit of a wuss,” his familiar voice sneered. “Had his wallet stolen within five minutes of stepping into Castle Town. I mean, can you believe that?”

Stole my wallet? My brain swam through a foggy memory. Chasing someone through the market square and running from a brood of cuccos. “Guru-Guru?”

“You remembered! Wasn’t sure yer would, thought the wacky wachow might have fried yer brain.” I blinked at him. He didn’t wear a green scarf anymore; chubbier in the face with no dark circles under his eyes. Guru-Guru continued, “So, the whole magic thing worked out? Gotta say, wouldn’t get on the wrong side of you now.”

“Would you mind if we sat down? All the wachow takes it out of me.”

He snorted. “I suppose you can come back to my place. What with helping to save the village and all.”

I wanted nothing more. Since being sent for by King Hyrule, my senses had been battered by one thing after another. It was a strange feeling, like my courage meter in life was being drained faster than I could replace it.

As we trudged towards the windmill, I could see some Sheikah sifting through the mess of crumbled bricks and dust. With a jolt, I recalled why the house further up the hill had fallen down. “The Song of Healing, maybe I could help,” I said.

Impa shook her head. “It’s too late.”

“No wait, I could try –”

“Robbie’s neck snapped in two,” she barked. Her words echoed through the village. The Sheikah paused. Impa’s voice grew softer. “There’s nothing more you can do. The worst of us took the best of us. It is the will of the Goddesses.”

“It isn’t right,” I bit out.

“It may seem that way,” Impa conceded. “We give our lives in service to the Royal Family. Every Sheikah accepts this, for that is the way of Shadow folk.” She bowed slightly. “After the burials, I will present your mask as promised. Now rest.”

“But-”

“Okane, leave it.” We were practically nose to nose. “I’m not hauling your stubborn ass home because you’ve passed out again. You get me?”

“Alright, you don’t have to shout,” I grumbled.

Inside, I admired the door – a tessellation of purple, green and yellow stained glass. Ropes hung from the thick wooden beams. The creaking and cranking of turning machinery loud to my ears.

Guru-Guru removed his boots and flung them underneath a bench. He hopped barefoot onto a rotating platform that carried him to the other side of the mill. Upon tapping my foot against the floor, they met with stone slabs. Surely, they would be cold? I thought, but this didn’t appear to bother him in the least. He reached the bookcase, pulled out a blue box and rummaged through the contents.

I kept away from the central spinning platform and hugged the edges of the water mill. The grey brick walls had been painted, rather crudely, with orange paint draped like a hanging curtain. Three small circles completed the pattern at the top of each peak. A collection of wicker baskets and overstuffed sacks were strewn about the place. I headed towards a barrel and two crates that seemed to be the only suggestion of table and chairs.

He shook a little glass bottle of red potion. “Right, get some of this down yer. It’ll stop the dizzy spells.”

The bitter taste made me cough. Granny’s medicines were effective, but hardly appetizing. I tried to distract myself by studying the large diagram of the windmill. The labels made reference to scoop wheels, brake ropes, shafts and winches.

“Do you really understand how all this works?” I asked.

Guru-Guru crossed his arms. “Course I do, Robbie made it his personal mission. Taught me everything, right down to replacing broken parts and fixing the sails. Long as no one tries to mess with it, the well will last a long time. I’ll make sure of it too,” he added, “now the old coot is gone.”

“I’m sorry,” I said. “Was he a good friend?”

Guru-Guru shrugged. “Took me under his wing. It wasn’t great when Akisin just dropped us like that. I’d sure like to ring her neck.”

“Erm, yes, I’ve been worried about her too.” I toyed with the bottle until placing it down. “Actually, I heard some news from Elrora.”

“Elrora?”

“Oh, Chieftess of the Watarara.” As his eyebrows rose, I gave a dismissive wave. “Bird tribe, dragon fight, long story… Anyway, she did say that Akisin is alive. Not sure where, but she pops up now and again.”

“Right.” Guru-Guru picked up a small music box from the shelf. As he turned the handle, the man hummed quietly to himself. We stayed like this until the tinkling tune played out. His lips curled into a smile that put me on edge. “I’m gonna write a song about this windmill. I like the way it keeps going round and round and round.”

“I see. Well, if it makes you happy.”

“What about you, Okane? Any plans?”

“Well, if King Hyrule has finished condemning me, we were due to visit Kokiri Forest. Although, I might make a brief detour to see the Gorons first.”

My friend huffed out a breath. “I’m not even going to ask about the King. But Death Mountain? That isn’t an easy trek.”

“I know, but I’d like to pick up a stone from them. Maybe a small ruby.”

“What the chuff do you need that for? Hylians don’t eat rocks.”

My face blushed. “No, no, I’m going to make a ring.”

If the whole sorry plight of Bongo Bongo had taught me anything, it was to appreciate what I had in life. So far, I had been ‘lucky’ in my misadventures. But thinking about the future was terrifying. I had to grasp happiness whilst I had the chance.

Before fate could intervene.

Featured Image: Alison Patten

Alison Otwl continues her fan fiction at Zelda Dungeon. She likes reading manga and collecting Japanese wind chimes. Her favorite Zelda game is Ocarina of Time. Check out more of her fanfiction over at: Otwl.