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Maria
Topic Started: Aug 21 2009, 10:37:20 PM (143 Views)
Bx
Notorious
[ * ]
Cast of Characters

Maria Aurilia (Age: 7) - A young girl living in Mabe Village on Koholint Island with her parents, Emile and Tesla Aurilia. She spends most of her time playing with her friends on the island.

Emile Aurilia (Age: 37) - Maria's father. A magistrate in Mabe Village. A devoted husband and father, he cherishes his family and loves spending time with Maria, teaching her valuable life lessons. Hailed as something of a "hero," and a minor celebrity on the island, he once served as a security officer for Koholint's Rupee Reserve and thwarted an attempted robbery.

Tesla Aurilia (Age: 34) - Maria's mother. She lives as a primarily as a housewife and watches over Maria while her husband works. She does her best to keep Maria out of trouble. Originally from Hyrule.

Kali Silas (Age: 7) - Maria's best friend. She lives three houses to the left of Maria but spends most of her free time with Maria. She has an older brother named Hector.

Hector Silas (Age: 11)
- Kali's older brother. Sometimes mischievous, during his free time he'll either practice swordplay or play pranks on others. While he generally hangs out with kids around his age, he'll often hang with Maria and the others. Maria has a crush on him...

Evan Foxx (Age: 8) - Maria's next door neighbor. He hates his first name and prefers to go by "Foxx." Hangs out with Kali and Maria, whom he has a slight crush on...

Aramis Huntington (Age: 23)
- A young man who arrives on Koholint by ship from the land of Leto. He wields a sword and has a curious interest in the Face Shrine...

As always, there will be several more characters who are vital to the storyline.

Note: This is a prequel to the Legacy of Z. It focuses primarily on Maria and her life prior to the events of the Legacy of Z. Some elements that were only touched upon in that story will be further explored and explained. The story very loosely follows that of Ocarina of Time.
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Bx
Notorious
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Prelude: Dads

(Thump. Thump. Thump. The throb of ten fast-beating hearts, each pumping with their ship's wavy propulsion against the current. Their destination, Koholint Island, only a hundred miles ahead. Ten men aboard, nine on deck. One stood with his lanky scaled arms hooked over the ship's railing to gaze out at the midnight blue sea. He paralleled his eyes with the murky water, but saw no definite reflection, only his distorted spectre muddled by rippling waves. In the distance, the ocean was parted by a reflection of the shimmering fully rounded moon, its striking glare unfazed by a thin passing blanket of clouds. An unsettled tension had spelled over the team, but each dealt with it in a means suited for their personalities, some sat quiet while others chattered, but no matter their reprieve, they were all linked by one common thought: The Mission.)

(In the lower holds, the Captain sat hunched with his elbows rested on his thighs, his hands clasped together, and his heels raised. The knuckle of his left index finger pressed against his forehead, rounding a small indentation, while both thumbs touched the hook of his nose. He held his lids shut and his breath muffled. An untrained eye would have mistaken this as prayer, but he did no such thing. He was thinking, reflecting on what led to this point, to this mission...)

King of Hyrule: Captain Eagles! Excellent. And not a second late. Ha, ha. Punctuality is the first sign of a "Good Man," a sign of great discipline, great...respect, if you will.

R. Eagles: If I may, you have my thanks, Your Highness.

King of Hyrule: Thanks? No, no. You needn't thank me for a compliment, especially one so deserved. I should thank you. But before I can do that, I suppose I should tell you why I've summoned you to begin with. And relax yourself, there's no need for any added tension my good man.

R. Eagles: Yes, Your Highness.

King of Hyrule: Alright then. Captain Eagles, I don't believe I need to tell you that your twenty-two years of distinguished naval service are a fine showcase of military excellence. And even that's an understatement, the work you've put in, the sacrifices you've made, don't believe for a second that it's gone unnoticed. You're a man of great character, one deserving of praise for generations. A pillar, not just in the Navy's foundation, but all of Hyrule. You sir, are everything that we search for in new recruits, I hope you realize that.

R. Eagles: Thank you, Your Highness.

King of Hyrule: Ha, ha. Don't be afraid to smile my good man, I do not speak hyperbole, this is deserved flattery. ...Yes, that's it. Ha, ha. But getting on to business, I have summoned you to my chambers because I am offering you the chance of a lifetime. The chance to truly do your country, Hyrule, a great service.

R. Eagles: Yes, Your Highness. And if I may, what is the task?

King of Hyrule: That's what I like to hear. Eagerness, the passion of a good solider, of a good man! But yes, the job is quite simple, especially for an outstanding soldier like yourself. Though I am prepared for you to object to the means by which I ask...

R. Eagles: Hmm...

King of Hyrule: Well... I believe I should tell you a story first before I go any further with this. You remember Ganondorf's conquest of Hyrule fourteen years ago, right?

R. Eagles: Of course, Your Highness.

King of Hyrule: Yes... Well, during my seven years in captivity, I... I was held in a solitary confinement, fed one measly meal of gruel every three days, I grew thin and weary... I believed I would die in that prison... Never to see my daughter again. I counted the days I stayed in captivity, the numbers are still engraved in the walls of the dungeon... But on the 838th day, something miraculous happened... I heard a voice. Three, actually. Three wonderful female voices... They spoke to me. They told me that I would be free and live to see my daughter again, live to rule over my kingdom again. But they also told me that it would take some time before the great day came... But I was patient, yes, I was a very patient man. Ha, ha. My confinement became easy after that. I had...friends, I conversed with these women, these three beautiful women day after day ceaselessly... We made special promises and they even showed me the future. In a dream. Yes they did, they showed me Hyrule atop the entire globe, sitting as the world's greatest power!

R. Eagles: Eh...

King of Hyrule: They were even kind enough to show me the blueprint of how to achieve the "future." And they gave me another gift, one very special gift... They gave me their "Voice." Ha, ha. That's right, they have allowed me to speak as they do... I... I even hear them now, instructing my speech. And do you know who they are? I'll tell you. The Gods. I possess the Voice of the Gods. Is that hard to believe?

R. Eagles: Ah... N-no, Your High-ness.

King of Hyrule: I didn't think so. You see, the Gods have chosen Hyrule to lead the future of the world and they've given me the ability to speak the divine word. My word is their word. They have been telling me... No, pressuring me to fulfill the destiny that they have created. It is a divine decree that all the world's power flow through Hyrule. Link's defeat of Ganondorf was the first step, this is the next. ...The colonization of the globe.

R. Eagles: Your Highness... The "colonization" of the globe? Um...

King of Hyrule: Captain. I understand your concerns. This is all new to you, but at the same time, you do not speak as the Gods do. You do not hear the voices that I hear... Trust my instinct, the instinct of your King. How do you think I survived seven years in solitary confinement? How do you think Link, a mere teenager at the time, defeated Ganondorf? It is written, my good man. You can choose to either flow with fate or get trampled by it... The Gods wait for no man, and neither will I.

R. Eagles: Well...Your Highness, what exactly is it that you are asking of me?

King of Hyrule: Koholint Island. Do you know the place?

R. Eagles: Yes.

King of Hyrule: A nice little island and quite wealthy too. I suppose it's because they have such a tiny army. They're pacifists, you know, never willing to ruffle any feathers. Ha, ha. But yes... The Gods have told me that Koholint is to be the next stepping stone in their plan. They are ripe for the taking and will make a perfect colony for us to establish a true military presence. The island is only 400 miles northeast of Johan and their leader, Carrogen disturbs me... He has... What, eh... What is the word? "Ambition," yes that's it. He's an ambitious fellow. We need to keep a close eye on his activities...

R. Eagles: So, what is it that you're suggesting, Your Highness?

King of Hyrule: Ha. There's that eagerness again. I knew you were the perfect man to call. But back to our discussion. I don't foresee Koholint simply giving in to colonization simply by my word alone, despite it being the word of the Gods. They do not understand such things... The Gods told me this, that is why our action must be subtle yet forceful. So what we, the Gods and I, that is, what we've devised is a plan to create Koholint's "dependency," if you will, on us. The idea is that we will come to their aid when they need us most.

R. Eagles: And how wil...?

King of Hyrule: By draining their rupee reserve.

R. Eagles: Uh, Your Highn...?

King of Hyrule: This is where you and your team come in. I want you to sail to Koholint, rob their reserve in Mabe Village, and bring the rupees back to me. It will be easy. They possess no true army and your team is the best in the Navy. Once the job is done and they discover their missing fortune, they will announce it to the world, and that is when our "aid" will come in.

R. Eagles: ...

King of Hyrule: The Head of my Royal Army, our greatest man, Link, will swoop in to "save" the day. He will deliver the "culprits" to them. A few of our current prisoners', that is. Ha, ha. But yes, he will go to Koholint and deliver them their heads as well as only one-third of the fortune back to them, and say that he has yet to find the rest. It will be just enough to appease them, but not restore their former wealth. They will still be a poor, defenseless little island. One that will become the target of so many others... Unless they have a "big brother" watching over them. That is when we'll "offer" them a chance to become our colony, they'll be forced to accept. And that Captain Eagles, is the Gods' will. They have told me this, repeatedly. I must say, they are very persuasive... I'm compelled to agree! Ha, ha.

R. Eagles: Uh-huh. So let me get this straight, "Your Highness," you want me and my boys to go out there and rob Koholint's reserve?

King of Hyrule: Precisely. As I said before, I fully expected your "objection" to the means. Although I can assure you that the ends will more than justify it. Ha. But does it even matter? It is the Gods' will. It is written! It will happen in some fashion but this is your chance to earn their favor. They like you, Captain, that is why they told me to choose you.

R. Eagles: Do they?

King of Hyrule: Yes, they do.

R. Eagles: Uh-huh. Well let me be frank with you, you're right, I don't agree with this uh... Whatever you want to call it. But I'll do it.

King of Hyrule: Ha, ha. I knew you'd...

R. Eagles: I have one condition, though. Me and my team, we're done after this. This is it. Our last mission. I want to retire with pay. I have two boys and a wife that need me a hell of a lot more than I need you or this country. I've given you enough of my life, I want them to have the rest of it. Do we have an agreement?

King of Hyrule: ...Fine. Yes, yes, we do. You and your men will be allowed to retire with pay so long as you complete the task as I've deemed.

R. Eagles: No problem. When are we supposed to carry this mission out?

King of Hyrule: A week from today.

R. Eagles: Alright, then. Later.

King of Hyrule: Wait a minute. Before you go, I'm curious, was your subservient behavior earlier all a facade?

R. Eagles: You're damn right it was. I always figured you so-called bigwigs liked getting your ego stroked.

King of Hyrule: ...Ah. Yes, of course. Ha, ha. And remember, Captain, "It is written!"


("Yeah, it's written alright... What a crackpot.," he thought, and pulled his clasped hands away from his face. He slumped his shoulders somewhat, thrust his left hand in his pocket, and yanked out an old, slightly wrinkled photo. He flicked his wrist forward, ridding the photo of its lint, and held it in front of his eyes between his thumb, index and middle fingers. It was a family portrait. His two boys, Bobby, 14, and George, 8, stood on opposite sides of their mother. Bobby had an arm curled behind her neck while George had an arm wrapped around her waist. A seemingly happy family, all wore wide beaming smiles. He shifted his pupils across the image, scanning each of their faces, and reciprocated their stilled smiles with his own. "I'll be home soon guys... Just one more stop for Dad, alright?," he told them mentally as if they could hear his words' tenderness, hidden under his voice's natural gruffness.)

R. Eagles: Alright.

(He made a nod and hardened his expression, displaying all of the aged, coarse callouses, etched into his forty-three-year-old face. Decorations of war. They conveyed his years of military service far more accurately than any medal or award he'd received, his accomplishments, his worth, or lack there of, all scribbled carelessly across his face, their meaning long since lost. After stuffing the photo back in his pocket, he stood from the hold's sole bench, extended his long arms like a "Y" to stretch, and yawned. When he brought his arms down, they clapped against the side of his thighs, and he started up the stairs to the deck.)

(At the door leading to the deck, he peered through its circular window, and saw his crew sitting as he had been, preparing themselves mentally for what was ahead. Looking at this, he tortured his lower lip between his teeth, and raised his thin cheekbones as he curved a smile. It represented the ambiguity of his embattled contradicting thoughts, strained yet reposed. He stretched his arm and pushed his fingertips against the door to open it. He stepped out of the door, tilted his head toward the sky, coated a sapphire blue, and noticed the glow of the stars, dimmed only slightly by a pale, ghostly sheet of clouds cast ahead of them.)

R. Eagles: Nice night.

(With his eyes still on the stars, he walked past the now silent men. Their earlier chatter had ended some time ago when the realization of their mission's significance had settled in their minds. They pressed thoughtful stares onto Eagles' movements as he made his way to the ship's triangular-shaped forecastle. He latched both hands onto the railing, and fixed his gaze straight ahead, not giving the ocean below so much as a glance. "Never look at the water beneath the ship unless you want to live in it...," he told himself, reciting one of the superstitions he'd come to believe in over the years. A belief born with the death of four fledgling water-gazing recruits some years ago.)

(He then raised his hands from the railing, twisted around toward the team, and leaned back against the railing with his arms crossed. His look jerked from one soldier to the next as he scouted their dull toneless expressions, and read the thoughts concealed behind them. "Eagerness, anxiety, fear, and calmness...," he noted as he lifted and dropped his eyebrows. Each of his men felt some form of the four, and none hid it particularly well. His lips belted a repressed smile just above his jawline. Their sentiments were no different from his own, this was a complex mission, no, that was a convenient fabrication. The mission was simple, the complexity was of their own moral construction. Ruin the livelihood of thousands for the benefit of one? That was the toll the soldier had to pay and its bell thundered restlessly through each of their minds. Flexing his back against the guardrail to give himself another glance at the creamy evening sky, Eagles, his eyes still stationed above, said...)

R. Eagles: Guys. We've still got a few hours before we're within swimming distance of the shore, but I want to go over the plan one more time, alright?

(They all nodded, and although he did not notice, he knew they had. He straightened the bend the railing had curved in his back, surveyed each face one more time before he made his focus the door leading to the holds.)

R. Eagles: Okay. And listen, I know everyone's a little tense, I am too. We have every right to be... This is... "different," I guess is the word, from what we're used to, but it's also the last time we're gonna have to do anything for anyone other than ourselves. No more politics, no more beckoning to the calls of every bloated egomaniac that's "better" than us. After this, we're men. Free men. Sounds good, right? I know it does. But first we've gotta do this job, and yeah, it's a grimy one but we've gotta be meticulous, our trail has to be absolutely spotless. One screw-up and...that's it. Might sound harsh or bleak or whatever word you prefer, but that's the reality of it. No sugar-coating, no bullshit, we all know we've been fed enough of that anyway, and if you haven't, don't worry you'll be choking on it soon. Believe me...

(He twisted his upper body to the right, and peered out at the waters ahead, not below, then he wrenched himself back around and looked at the men to continue...)

R. Eagles: But yeah, back to the plan. Okay, so when we're about five miles outside of Koholint's shores, we're gonna anchor the ship. Then Falcon, Aiden, Baron, and myself are all gonna jump ship and swim the rest of the way to shore. It'll take maybe an hour for us to get to the reserve from there, but during that time, you guys will creep the ship closer to shore, slowly. We're talking little increments, just enough so that you're not touching the coastline before we get back. We'll of course be taking care of our end and when we make our way back to the beach, you guys have to bring the ship in and then get down to help us load it up. Then we make a break for home. Is that clear?

(All nodded, except one. Ernest Falcon. Eagles' best friend and second-in-command. He was as many years past thirty as Eagles' was forty, though his face held none of the roughness or weight that the Captain's had. He still looked quite boyish, his eyes, a deep blue, had a glinting shine to them, lacquered with unbroken idealism. He seemed to possess the finer, more desirable qualities that his best friend had lost much earlier in his military career. Falcon had an open palm raised, ready to ask his question. Eagles directed his forefinger at him, giving him the floor.)

Falcon: Rick. You still haven't told us what we should do in case something goes wrong. I mean...

(Eagles cracked his lips with a grin, though it was devoid of humor, and appeared to be more of a sarcastic nervous tick. With the ship's wooden floor reflected in his solid black pupils, he said...)

R. Eagles: I was waiting for that one. The answer's real simple, though. A hell of a lot more "simple" than this mission, that's for sure. There is no "Plan B," because if something goes wrong...

(He lifted his stare and locked it on Falcon's eyes.)

R. Eagles: Do I have to finish?

(Falcon shook his head. Eagles nodded approvingly and said...)

R. Eagles: All I can say is... aim for perfection. Whatever the hell that is... It won't be easy but we're already in this mess, what else are we supposed to do? If you're religious, I guess you can pray but I wouldn't bet my life on "divine" intervention. ...To each his own, though.

(Everyone sat tight-lipped, silent. The only sound heard was the ruffling of a few officers pants against the wooden bench as they wiggled around to prevent numbness from settling in their rear ends. Eagles shut his eyes, tipped his frame back against the forecastle's railing. His lips had bent a carefree smile and he thought, "...Almost home. I guess..." Within minutes a swift wind wafted through, its thick yet gentle flow had a quilting effect and tempered some of the apprehension emitting from the men, though only for a few moments, as their time of arrival drew near.)
Edited by Bx, Aug 25 2009, 10:28:55 AM.
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Bx
Notorious
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(10:15 p.m., that was the time. In Mabe Village's sole undersized cafe sat two youths, hidden in the dim candlelit "private" area that housed only a single table, one designated for couples, particularly those who cared to avoid the unwanted attention, or more appropriately, nosiness, that small towns often seemed to breed. Though it had never been officially stated, or even documented for that matter, this was where fresh romance often sparked, and tonight was no different.)

(Emile Aurilia was a twenty-one year old man, though his jovial, frolic-loving personality often disguised this, even more so than his adolescent face, free of any blemishes or unwelcoming irregularities. His dark auburn hair, while thick and full, was kept short to better tame its natural coarseness. His eyes, the most mature aspect of his face, were of a light brown almost copper shade. While no less amiable than his other features, they had a distinct discerning quality to them very much like a detective, and to those who saw them (especially women), it seemed that he was making mental sketches of their habits, likes, dislikes, and so on, cultivating them before his approach. Sitting across from him, sipping some water from her full glass, was Tesla Iver.)

(Tesla, an eighteen year old student still living at home with her parents, possessed a more inhibited personality than that of her carefree date. She was not uptight, quite the opposite actually, she enjoyed a good time as much as anyone, but she preferred a more subdued public appearance. She had lengthy, long-flowing black hair that rested gently against her back, its silkiness retained a shine that illuminated her suntanned face and dark chocolate-colored pupils. Her facial features were petite, complementing the rest of her thin frame.)

(They had been sitting at their secluded table for a few hours, chatting at length about her life, in particular. Emile hated discussing himself or his own ambitions, and purposely leveled her with a series of personal, though not improper, questions that would keep her story dominant in their conversation. The other reason for this, although somewhat peculiar yet no less benign, was that he derived enjoyment from watching her lips move. Even when he lifted his mug of coffee to drink, he kept his narrow-eyed gaze with them as if they had entranced his sight. After some three hours of conversation, she finally noticed it, and raised an eyebrow while she asked with some hesitation:)

Tesla: Um... Do I... uh... Do I have something on my lips? Or...

("Oh... Jeez.," he thought in a tone that fit his embarrassment. He raised his stare from her lips, now curled back into her mouth, and looked into her eyes, widened with curiosity. Her face was flush. For the first time that night, he had lost his debonair demeanor, and delayed his answer with a stammer of his own.)

Emile: Ah... N-no. I just...

(He shrugged and shook his head contritely. Her apprehensive expression softened, replaced by a hinted meek smile. She stretched her right palm across the table and landed it on his left hand, which had been laying flat against the wood. She rubbed it gently, pinched the smooth layer of skin a few times, and said...)

Tesla: Don't worry about it. ...To tell you the truth, it's the first time I've seen you..."imperfect."

(His eyes widened.)

Emile: Imperfect?

(She giggled and removed her hand from atop his.)

Tesla: Yes, that's right. "Imperfect." This entire night you've been saying and doing all the right things, and there's nothing wrong with that but... Hmm...

(She paused, and clenched her chin between her index finger and thumb, thinking of the right words. She tilted her head back a little to glance at the ceiling, hoping the perfect sentence would appear in her mind. He watched her silently, focusing on the twinkle of her eyes. They shifted from an almost black coloring to their natural medium brown with the candle's twitching flame. When she brought her fingers from her chin, she finished...)

Tesla: Okay... What I'm trying to say is that I already like you, Emile. Now I want to get to know you. I know the heartbreaker, now I wanna get to know Emile, the person. ...And I'm pretty sure you're not as perfect as you'd like to make yourself seem.

("Ha, ha. Now this girl might be something special.," he told himself with restored confidence, then closed his lids, and lifted them slowly so that his lips would display a broad smile when his eyes opened fully. With strength returned in his speech, he replied...)

Emile: You're right. I'm not. But... that doesn't mean we can't pretend, right?

(He chuckled. She rolled her eyes, though not from annoyance.)

Tesla: Whatever. So really, I'm curious... Why were you staring at my lips?

(He lifted his coffee mug, took a swig, and rested it back on the table.)

Emile: Well, to be honest with you... I just like the way words flow off of your tongue. You have a beautiful voice... When

(
Edited by Bx, Aug 25 2009, 08:02:52 PM.
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