Fan Fiction ❯ The Legend of Zelda: The Ballad of Fallen Angels ❯ Romani Ranch ( Chapter 6 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Chapter 6: “Romani Ranch”

After a restless night's sleep, Saetoushei and Tael quietly left the hotel early the next morning. Several people, either unable to afford accommodations or too late to get a room, were camped out in the quad at the center of East Clock Town. This was the casino district: all sorts of gaming establishments and booths were set up, from the Archery Range and other games of skill, to the old Labyrinth; the giant maze with treasure awaiting those lucky enough to reach the finish.

Ironically enough, it was also the location of Clock Town's government. At the high north end sat the Mayor's Residence and office building, the Parliament house, and the Senate chamber. Saetoushei still found it odd that the two districts functioned well so close together.

Quickly descending the stairway into South Clock Town, Saetoushei approached the exit gate. Constantly guarded by Clock Town regulars, the gate was one of four identical gates, one in each section of Clock Town, leading out into the open country. Saetoushei had but to show the guard his own sword and shield, proof that he was an armed adult that could take care of himself in the wilderness, and he and Tael left Clock Town.

Termina Field stretched for miles from Clock Town's defense wall nearly to the horizon in ever direction. To the south lay the Southern Swamp, where the small, plant-like race of Dekus, ruled by their ruling family, made their home. The Northern Mountains, home of the rock-eating Gorons, lay in the opposite direction from where Saetoushei was standing. To Saetoushei's right, the vast Western Ocean stretched on for as far as the eye could see. It was there where Saetoushei, Gabriel, and Tael's sister Tatl had joined the aquatic Zoras in their war against the renegade Pirates. And to his left…

Saetoushei shook his head. That was were the trouble was apparently coming from. The Eastern Canyon region consisted of the lands that had once been controlled by the people that had founded the Kingdom of Ikama: Ikama Canyon, Ikama City, and the Stone Tower. The last ruler had been Ikaylimu Igus de Ikama, who's disturbed ghost had been defeated by Saetoushei seven years ago.

Saetoushei marched forward, walking quickly down the hill that Clock Town stood on. When he reached the bottom, he veered to the right and headed across the field to the side path that took him through a brief stint of woodland onto Milk Road.

Milk Road was just that; a single, long roadway that veered sharply to the left twice; one way lead to the old horse track, the other to the Horse Training Camp run by the grizzly old Grumman Brothers. Saetoushei and Tael kept walking straight forward along the broad path.

As they walked, Saetoushei questioned Tael. “Why didn't you tell me what happened to the Bombers?”

The little fairy bobbed up and down in a fairy's equivalent of a shrug. “It never crossed my mind. There was so much going on since me and Skull Kid found you and then brought you back here. I really didn't think about it. Sorry.”

“Don't worry about it,” Saetoushei said. “I wonder, will T.K. ever find Jasper?”

Tael replied. “I don't know. T.K.'s life is in his own hands. He'll do whatever he feels is right.”

It was a little while later when, heading up to the end of Milk Road, Tael said, “Hey Saetoushei, I forgot to mention, the Grummans are dead.”

Saetoushei stopped and turned to the fairy. “Are you serious?”

Tael nodded. “Absolutely! About two or three years ago, both of them at the same time. Mr. Johans' latest milk shipment was late five days. He sent a runner to see what the problem was. Both of them apparently died in their sleep.”

At the far end of Milk Road lay the entrance to Romani Ranch. Saetoushei took one glance through the gateway and immediately know something was wrong. The lush green fields and beautiful flowers that had once covered the majority of the ranch's property were overgrown with weeds, the flowers long dead, the grasses turned brown and desolate.

Saetoushei and Tael hurried through the dead field towards the farmhouse and barn area. The buildings looked the same as they always did; the barn building stood tall and strong, the ranch house smaller and more homely looking. Further down the way the doors to the Cuckoo Shack and the Doggy Racetrack stood, the torches above them darkened and unlit.

Tentatively, Saetoushei walked to the house's door and knocked. An arrow shot out of nowhere to embed itself in the door's frame, about an inch from Saetoushei's head. Tael shrieked as Saetoushei spun, drawing his sword with his left hand while threading his right arm through the shield's holders. He pressed himself against the door, eyes searching the broad field for sniping positions.

“Parley! I come in peace!” Saetoushei shouted to the seemingly-abandoned field. “Where are you and why are you shooting at me?”

A strong female voice roared back at him from a tree directly across from him. “No parleys here! Go away, you'll get nothing more from us.”

That voice sounded so familiar to Saetoushei that he straightened up and sheaved his sword, though he left his shield out. Walking towards the tree, he called, “Cremina, why are you shooting at me?”

Another arrow whizzed out of the tree near it's top branches. Saetoushei easily deflected it with his shield. “We have no more money and nearly no food. We have nothing more for you!”

Saetoushei shouted, “Cremina, I'm not here for anything but to talk. I've put away my blade, stop shooting at me and come down.”

A few tense moments passed before the tree started shaking. A young woman dropped out of the tree. Saetoushei was surprised to see a girl his own age, with fiery red hair whipping uncontrollably around her face. She wore leather boots, course brown pants, and a tan jerkin, with a quiver of arrows slung over her shoulder, her bow still clasped tightly in her hand. She turned her intense and angry-looking emerald-green eyes on him.

“Alright, your name and business.”

Saetoushei spread his arms wide. “I am called Saetoushei, Master Warden of the Gerudo Fortress, and I am here simply to see two old friends.”

The girl's eyes narrowed. “We know no one named Saetoushei, and why do you call me by my sister's name?”

Saetoushei's eyebrows shot up. “You look and sound so much like Cremina that I mistook you for her. My apologies, Romani.”

The girl strode closer to him, looking him over. “You remind me of someone I knew a long time ago.”

The Hylian grinned. “I was once known as `Link', Miss Romani.”

Romani's eyes bulged. “Prove it.”

Saetoushei turned and gestured toward the old barn. “Seven years ago, I helped you fight off invaders that were attempting to steal your cows. In return for this service, you gave me a bottle of milk, you returned my horse to me, and gave me your everlasting friendship.”

Saetoushei was knocked to the ground as Romani hurled herself at him, gripping him in a crushing embrace. “Link!”

An hour later, Saetoushei and Tael sat having dinner with Romani and her sister Cremina. Cremina had been inside the ranch house with a javelin, ready to fight off anyone who got past her sister. Saetoushei was startled to note how Cremina looked. If anything, she was prettier than before, with an air of maturity about her that Romani substituted with her mischievous nature. But faint lines of stress had already begun to etch themselves around Cremina's eyes and mouth.

“What has brought ye back to Termina, Link?” Cremina asked.

“I'm here to see what's been happening since I left.” Saetoushei replied, dipping his spoon into the stew that Cremina had made (apparently, Romani still couldn't cook). It was delicious, but there was so little of it. All they could manage was half a bowl of the stew, half of a loaf of bread, and a little ale. Saetoushei was disturbed to see how much thinner the girls were. Romani at least looked muscular, Cremina was too thin. Knowing her nature, Saetoushei was sure she had been depriving herself of food so her sister could have more to eat.

“Are you an ambassador then, is aid coming from Hyrule?”

Saetoushei shook his head. “Nay, it's just me. The title means nothing, the Gerudo race went extinct years ago. Tael brought me back, said there was great trouble brewing.”

Romani nodded. “Indeed there is. Mayor Doyour stepped up taxes about three years ago. When the Grummans passed on, nearly everyone in town thought we had something to do with it. Orders thinned, then stopped, and we couldn't pay for everything. Old Lady Drunas shut down the Racetrack and left one day; we tried to keep the dogs well, but some ran off and the rest died. Grog vanished from the Shack one day, haven't seen him since. The cuckoos are long dead.”

“This isn't right,” Saetoushei said, pushing his empty bowl away. “What's Doyour thinking, hiking up the taxes?”

“'Twas to pay for the expansions.” Cremina explained. “Clock Town's much larger now than it used to be. Had to pay the workers somehow.”

Saetoushei interjected. “What do you mean? I left town earlier today; the only thing that seemed larger was the inn.”

“You didn't go to North Clock Town then. That's Central Clock Town now. North is the new section being constructed above that.” Romani explained.

Saetoushei shook his head. “I cannot stay here much longer. I really should be leaving before the night comes. I'm off to the swamp to meet with the Dekus.”

“Can't you stay a little longer?” Romani pleaded.

Saetoushei stood up. “I cannot. Thank you both for your kindness. But, now, I must go.”

Saetoushei strode to the gates on the far side of the ranch's dead field. Tael flew beside him.

“Maybe I should have stayed.” Saetoushei muttered angrily to himself.

Tael glanced behind him. “Uh, Saetoushei…”

“Not now Tael.”

“But Saetoushei-“

Saetoushei shouted, “I said not now, be quiet-“

“Saetoushei, duck!” Tael hurled himself into Saetoushei's head, knocking him to the ground. An arrow shot straight through where Saetoushei's head had been an instant before.

Saetoushei picked himself up as Romani and Cremina hurried up towards him. Cremina was reproving her sister and waving her javelin at her, while Romani looked smug, her bow in her hand.

“What in the name of anything sacred was that for?” Saetoushei yelled at Romani.

The young woman laughed. “Needed you to slow down somehow.”

“Slow down for what?”

“We're coming with you.” Cremina said softly. She nodded over her shoulder back towards the ranch. “There's nothing left for us here. We'll travel, start over somewhere else.”

“And don't bother arguing, you can't stop us.” Romani taunted good-naturedly.

Saetoushei opened his mouth to speak, then closed it. “Fine! Fine, well, if you're coming come on then!”

He spun on his heel and strode off down the path to Milk Road with Tael hovering over his shoulder, while the girls followed; Cremina shaking her head at Romani, who was cackling like never before.