Backdated to the night of the 12th/ morning of the13th

[notagiraffe]

Characters: Taiki and open
Setting: Floor thirty five, lakeside
Format: Starting in prose, will switch if you want
Summary: After a particularly bad nightmare Taiki breaks out the water colours from his trunk and begins to paint.
Warnings: Nightmares, description of killing/death, sad Kirin

Taiki plunged a knife into a young boy's throat, there couldn't be that many people left in Tai. Tears streamed down his face as he moved to the next person. He didn't want to, he screamed and cried but his feet moved by themselves, his hand moved the knife without his permission, with him screaming at himself to stop.

The next citizen went down, and the next. Wide eyed children, angry women shielding babies all fell by his hand. Blood, blood was everywhere, the smell of it choaked him and yet unconciousness wouldn't come.

People fell around him until finally he stood in front of Gyousou. "Nononononononononono." Whatever force that making him move, making him kill had him walk up to Gyousou. It didn't care that he was the King.

His knife plunged into his King's heart blood mingling with tears. Taiki woke with a scream.

He called Sanshi but she didn't come, he couldn't feel her at all. Jumping out of bed he tried to change into beast form but he remained human. As if he were not a Kirin at all.

He told himself it was those that had brought them here, that they had stolen his powers and given him the dream. But it had felt so real, like he had been there. He still thought he could smell the blood.

But it was the tower, there was always blood. He went to his trunk and pulled out Gyousou's cloak, wrapping himself tightly in it. Reaching further into his trunk he pulled out the paints. He had never used them, he had always liked painting at school but never had done it before.

He wanted to now though, he ran from the room and made his way down the tower. He stopped at the lakeside. It was outside the tower even if he wasn't truly free of it. Sitting at the edge of the lake tears still streaming down his face Taiki began to paint. His first efforts were clumsy and childish but he kept at it for hours. The same image, he wanted it to be perfect. He wanted to remember. A silver haired man. So many nightmares about killing him, about failing him. About failing Tai, about Gyousou being dead.

It couldn't be true, none of it could be true. He painted like it could make things right.

Comments

[notagiraffe]

Taiki blinked at the somber expression and then nodded, "Yes please..." He wondered what Fado wanted to tell him.

[lookmanostrings]

"It has been a long time since I have been home to the Forest; the place of my birth. Even before my death, I left the Forest to serve the gods and the Royal Family, an act that only two before me had been able to achieve, and my duties prevented me from maintaining permanent residence outside of the temple."

His smile was a sad one now, and he moved the paper to show Taiki the picture; an image of a forest, with trees and huts, a stream, what seemed to be balls of light floating through the air, and a large tree with what seemed to be a face in the middle.

"I do not remember what it looks like anymore. When I was born, I could have told you how many trees ran along which side, how each home was settled, and the way the water and light cycled through the ground and the air. I could tell you how the trees and leaves swayed, how the sunlight filtered through, how the grass grew on the path to the Great Deku Tree, and how the wind whistled as it blew through. But it has been so long since I have seen it, I do not remember." He pointed at the large tree in the middle, "even the Great Deku Tree, our guardian, father and protector, I know did not sit in the middle of our forest, but I cannot recall the depths in which he was situated. I cannot recall the layout of any of my brethren's dwellings, nor how wide the stream was, nor the precise image of his face.

"And though it saddens me deeply to not recall its hum, that does not make it any less my home." He was still smiling sadly, but he turned his attention back to Taiki, and his expression lightened a tad. "I remember how happy it made me to climb the trees and speak with my kinsmen, and the celebrations we had together, even if I cannot remember the exact notes the music played. I remember the warm glow from my fairy, though I cannot recall his face, and the safety I felt with the Great Deku Tree, though I no longer know his home. It is not exact details one needs to preserve; memories naturally fade with time. But so long as you remember their essence-- the feelings a recollection fills you with, the unique spirit from each person-- then the important things shall never be gone from your heart."

[notagiraffe]

Taiki looked at the picture and smiled, it looked so beautiful and he tried to imagine Fado's world, what Fado told him was so sad. That he couldn't remember all the details, couldn't remember what people looked like or how things had been. It was exactly what Taiki was scared of, that he would forget Gyousou, forget Tai.

But Fado was right, it was the feelings that were important. The feeling of finally being somewhere he belonged, the happiness he felt when near Gyousou, the awe, the fear and the warmth. "You're right Fado... I can still remember how happy I was even if I feel sad now... I wont forget..."

Of course he wouldn't forget. Gyousou was his king. Taiki had sworn to serve him forever and as such he would never truly forget him. Taiki couldn't even imagine doing so. He smiled, and then remembered what Fado had described again, he had heard that before. He didn't like remembering those long hours hiding in the cupboard, trying to stay hidden from the bears but he remembered talking to the man, who had described his home and the Great Deku tree.

"Do you come from the same place as Link?" There was more than one Link he knew, Taiki had met a couple of them, "Erm... sorry... the one with the princess..."

[lookmanostrings]

"Though grief is lamentable, and we should not allow ourselves to dwell, sadness is not always so disheartening. That sadness means they are still close to your heart, unable to be lost." Fado's smile returned in full. It had been many years since he had been able to talk with the people of Hyrule he once knew, and it filled him with joy to see that his words had been able to help.

He looked back at his own picture curiously, before looking at Taiki again and nodding. "The Hero of Time, correct? He hails from at least a generation before my own."

Then next part he spoke more quietly, but there was still a hint of pride and excitement to his voice in what followed. "He was raised by my tribe, and is a brother of my kinsmen; as a Sage I should not put emphasis on the distinction, but it would be false to say I am not proud to call him one of my own."

[notagiraffe]

"Yes... I think so..." He smiled at the fact Fado knew Link, that they were from the same world, even if from different times. "He is really kind... Is he really a hero..."

Heroes often hurt others, but they also helped. They were kind and though, like Kings, they might have to fight in order to help they only did it for the good of others.

[lookmanostrings]

"He is!" Fado chimed excitedly. He took the brush again and began painting something else on the sheet with the Forest, though it merely seemed to be a story-telling aid, as he drew an old-fashioned picture of a boy in a green tunic, holding up a sowrd and surrounded by darkness.

"In my time, there was a dark king that attacked the Royal Family, and threatened to destroy our Kingdom. Link was a child chosen by the Goddess of Courage to stand and fight against him, and through his travels he rescued the Sages of our land and became stronger than anyone would have expected from one so young. With the aid of the Princess, he defeated the King of Evil and freed Hyrule from its despair."

He spoke with a variety of up and down intonations, as if he were reading a child bedtime story-- true enough, after so many years, telling the stories of the past was still one of his favorite duties.

[notagiraffe]

Taiki had abandoned his own painting now, turning and looking at Fado's and listening to the story. He loved stories, he had loved living on Mount Hou and learning parts of the history and stories of the 12 Kingdoms.

"That King sounds awful," he said when Fado was finished, "I am glad that Link saved everyone, and brought hope back."

[lookmanostrings]

"He was--" His voice took on a comically grave tone at this. "He snuck his way into royal court, endearing himself to the Royal Family, acting as but a kindly advisor. No one suspected him of any malicious intentions, except the young Princess-- a child so wise and pure, that she was able to detect the evil within his heart. However, the evil King soon betrayed their trust and slaughtered the good King of our Kingdom. He drove the Princess out of the castle, and she took with her the treasure that would play a key in his defeat; an heirloom of the Royal Family.

"She bestowed the heirloom upon the young Hero, and for a time, she and the Hero both seemed to disappear from the Kingdom. But years later, they would return, the Princess in secret and the Hero in triumph, to undo the wrong the evil King had done."

[notagiraffe]

Taiki sat listening, this was the kind of story that could never happen in the Twelve Kingdoms because the kings were chosen by the Kirin on behalf of the gods, no evil king could take over because they would not have the support of the gods and would be struck down.

So it was an awful story but one with a good ending, if the Princess and the Hero would return and defeat the evil king. "Then the princes... she became the queen right? And there was peace? What about the hero... did he stay?"

[lookmanostrings]

He nodded, smiling, and his tone lightened. "She did-- and a remarkable Queen she was. She governed her people with wisdom, courage, and benevolence. The Kingdom saw many years of peace during her reign.

"However, the Hero did not stay. His task was finished, and the Princess returned him to his normal life, one he rightfully deserved. After some time, he left in pursuit of another friend, and another land that needed his aid."

[notagiraffe]

Taiki smiled, it was a happy ending that the Kingdom had many years of peace and benevolence. It was also nice that the hero got to go back to his normal life, though Taiki had thought he would have missed the Queen. Then again heroes weren't like kirin, they didn't belong to one ruler but went to wherever they were needed. In stories at least, "I guess... a hero needs to be where help is needed, or they can't be a hero."

DERF LATE HERP DERP

[lookmanostrings]

"That they do-- the stories talk about him as a very generous and helpful boy. Even in his quest, he would take the time to help those that were in need. And most important, he chose to continue offering his aid to those in need."

Fado sat back on his feet, looking out at the lake. "It is a burden that not everyone can handle. And sometimes I wonder if he understood just how important he was to everyone. It is just a shame he could not see the extent of his influence."

[notagiraffe]

"Why couldn't he..." Taiki blinked, wanting to know more of the story. He sounded like a great hero, a proper hero who helped people and didn't just kill enemies.

[lookmanostrings]

"It is hard for any one person to be able to see the entire scope of their influence-- particularly if they are but one person that changed a Kingdom. The stories tell of a modest Hero, not one that would boast his triumph. And as I said, he left to go help others after his deeds here were done. I hold no doubt that there were many that wished to thank him, but were unable to meet him again after he became a Legend."

[notagiraffe]

Taiki nodded as he listened, he really did sound like a great person. "True heroes don't need people to thank them... because they are just happy helping others... Link is a true hero I think..."

[lookmanostrings]

"Precisely." And his smile widened into a grin.

"Even if they don't need thanks, I anticipate it'd at least be nice to hear," He added with a small chuckle. "A simple confirmation that you are making people happy can carry you a long way."

[notagiraffe]

Taiki nodded, he thought that Link should be told how much of a hero he was, and how much he had helped people. Even if he didn't need it he should know.