Post-apocalyptic Disney nation cont.

Nickoli Karloff stood looking out of the window of his high rise apartment. The city below him buzzed with life. The sleek hover cars flew by like clockwork. If only everything worked as well as the hover cars. Always on time and never late. A spot near his ear vibrated. Nickoli looked up as he touched the spot.
"You better have good news." He said coldly.
"I'm sorry sir," the woman's voice on the other end apologized. "Things have become complicated."
"What kind of complicated?" Nickoli raised an eyebrow.
"He jumped time before he had set coordinates," she said. "And he may have taken someone important with him. I didn't see who it was."
"Tasha, do I have to remind you what will happen to me and, by default, to you, if you don't sort this out?" His voice became frosty and sharp.
"Don't worry, sir, I'll sort this." Tasha said.
"You better." Nickoli said, ending the call.

Jack wasn't sure how long he'd been out. The cave he found himself in was dark and patched with radioactive multi colored mold. For a brief moment, he wished the assassin had caught him. Then again, he'd be dead. At least while he was alive he could plot. Jack reached for his cane and found air. Ice gripped his stomach as he realized the cane had been left with Walt.
At that time, the discolored humanoid that had kidnapped him entered the cave. The creature was clad in primitive looking scraps of plastic material somewhat like a Kevlar bullet proof vest. At the point of his spear was a shard of rusted metal that looked like it used to belong to a car. At least that is what he guessed from the ripples in the metal.
"Immortal." The creature pointed his spear at him. "You come."
"Why?" Jack asked suspiciously.
"Come and you see," he growled.
He went to protest and the creature put the tip of his spear under his chin. Avoiding the rusty edge, Jack slowly stood. The creature then began prodding him down the radioactive passage.

Walt could hardly believe half the things that little boat did as they sailed across the sands. It didn't appear to run on any kind of fuel and while there was no wind, the boat still sailed like a speeding bullet. He was equally amazed as the princes kept up with the speedy craft. Suddenly the screen in front of the helm sprang to life. The face of the young boy they called imp was once again displayed.
"The great gulf is coming up," he said excitedly. "Can I pick the song?"
"My ship. My choice." The princess replied.
"Yes, but since I am forbidden to go out, I try to live through others." The imp replied.
"What song would you pick?" Walt called from his seat in the center of the boat.
There was a crackle as a screen appeared on the mast near Walt.
"And who is this?" The imp asked, appearing there.
"We picked him up in the waste." Princess called. "He calls himself Wat."
"Walt." The man corrected. "You sir, have fantastic eyes."
The imp turned his head bashfully at the compliment. His eyes were quite a sight to see. They were a deep purple with microscopic spirals of gold.
"I like you already!" He smiled.
"Imp if you're going to pick a song, pick a song!" The princess interrupted. "The gulf is really close."
"Aww yeah!" The imp shouted.
There was a burst of drums and an electric guitar.
"Can't stand it, I know ya planed it!" A voice shouted.
Then Walt saw something that made his heart drop. The horizon was approaching fast. The only reason it would be approaching that fast was that a cliff was there. A big cliff.  In his peripheral vision, he saw the princes pulling out their swords. Soon all five princes were running at the cliff with a sword in each hand.
"...I'm tellin Y'all this is sabotage!!"
The ground disappeared, the princes jumped, and Walt nearly lost his lunch.

"Welcome to games!" The creature on the stand roared.
Jack looked up nervously, already guessing why he was here. The walls of the pit rose around him, strongly reminding him of the roman colosseum.
"You fight!" The creature pointed into the pit. "We watch!"
Instinctively, Jack looked around. He was the only one in the pit but he could see barred entrances.
'Please don't be lions! Anything but lions!' He thought desperately. Two of the primitive creatures grabbed ropes attached to one of the gates. With creaking groans, they pulled the gate up. There were deep thumps in the sand as what ever stood behind the gate came into view. Jack stepped back nervously as an eight foot tall man stepped into the arena. For a brief moment, he wished for lions.

"How...how do swords turn into wings?" Walt asked.
The five princes glided next to the boat on silver wings that had sprouted from the edge of the swords. The far away desolate ground stretched on for miles. Shattered ships, skeletons of what looked like great beasts, and the ruins of a few cities covered almost every inch of the desert floor.
"It's morphiuim," A pirate explained. "It's a bit unstable and slightly radioactive. Haven't you heard of it? It's pretty common."
"No. I seem to be out of my depth and far from a place I recognize." Walt replied. "It's fantastic! Could I have some to experiment with?"
"I don't think that's the best plan," the pirate said. "You have to have all sorts of shots to work with it. It puts some people to sleep and, in some cases, they don't wake up."
"You mean it kills some people?" He asked, alarmed.
"No. They simply sleep forever." The pirate shrugged.
"Wall HO!" The princess shouted. "Prepare for docking!"
Walt looked up. A Great Wall stretched up miles high and across the horizon. Near the top of the wall were large round windows spaced about a football field apart. The magnificent little craft alighted towards one of these windows. As they neared the window, Walt could see a rather victorian London looking chap standing at the glass. A regular Charles Dickens character.
Receiving a signal from the princess, the artful dodger pulled a series of levers causing the big glass porthole to open outwards. The boat sailed through the open glass and gracefully landed in the landing frame.
"An thas ow its done, boys!" The man's accent fit him perfectly.
After the princes had flown in, he worked the levers to pull the window closed. Walt, still a little stiff, disembarked from the boat with the pirates. Bursting with 1000 questions, his attention was drawn to the other side of the wall.
"Wow!" He said as he leaned against the railing.
This side of the wall contrasted sharply with the desert. A great forest stretched as far as the eye could see, lush and green and full of trees. The forest started about a half a mile from the wall. In the distance he thought he could see the faint outlines of a castle tower sticking out of the trees.
"What's that out there?" Walt asked pointing towards the tower.
"Tha' would be Villainia." The man pointed in a different direction. "They willa be taken ye to headquarters. Tha' direction."
"Hmm. Can you tell me what happened to make that desert out there and this paradise in here?" He asked.
"Tha be a long story, sir..."
"Walt, or what ever your name is," the princess called. "The train to Main Street is coming! We need to catch it to get back to headquarters!"
'Villainia and Main Street?' Walt thought as they made their way to the station. 'What kind of place is this?'

Post-apocalyptic Disney nation K

"Who's Mr. Crowley?" Zarina asked.
"No one really knows. We just know he has a free pass to anything Disney any time he wants." Shahid replied with his Indian accent. "It's one of those company mysteries."
"Or he could have hacked the system." She replied.
"Yes, but that's much less mysterious and magical." He returned to his computer terminal. "Also, no one has ever been able to prove he shouldn't have free passes. Just throwing that out there."
"Hmmm. You know, I once worked for a private investigator as his client screener." Zarina implied.
"Ooooh! A woman after my own heart!" The man pulled up a file on his computer. "I have been cross checking all the regulars and the cameras when this Mr. Crowley appears in the system."
Shahid pulled up several pictures.
"I am beginning to think he might be a woman..."
"Doesn't his account have a picture?" She asked, scrolling through his web of possibilities.
"No. And the computers are programmed to delete his picture. At least the ones at the entrance." He indicated his files. "Which is why I have been checking all other cameras."
"Well, I certainly know what I'm doing with my spare time," Zarina smiled.

60 years ago..

Walt Disney walked around his park, surveying the construction. The park was nearly done. Workers and costumed characters practiced their rounds and their acts. People all around were looking busy and the opening celebrations were starting to look fabulous.
It was at this chaotic time that Walt discovered a young man sleeping inside one of the mad hatter's tea cups. He had dark hair, wore black slacks with a dark red button up shirt and black vest, and appeared to be in his mid twenties. Walt stared at him, wondering what department he should fire him from. Drawing a blank, he decided to wake him up and ask.
"Hey buddy," Walt tapped him on the shoulder.
"Wuzz... I didn't..." The young man mumbled.
Walt tapped him a little harder. The young man jolted awake. He looked around confusedly for a moment before noticing the older man standing next to him.
"Hmmm. Where am I?" He asked sleepily.
"You are in the mad hatter's tea cup ride in the yet to open Disney land." Walt replied. "May I ask what possessed you to fall asleep here?"
"I uh... honestly, it seemed a peaceful place to stop," he said. "Sorry if I've inconvenienced you. I'll be on my way."
"Well wait a minute fella!" Walt put up a hand. "If you don't work here, who are you and what are you doing here?"
"Oh, I'm sorry," a soft accent entered the man's voice. "I'm not from around here and I've been traveling for quite some time."
"You're English yes?"
"Welsh actually." The young man replied.
"And is this cane yours?" Walt asked, picking up the cane in question.
"Yes. Please don't touch it." He tried to grab for it.
"Not until you tell me your name." The older man held it out of reach. "I know you've been avoiding telling me."
"Jack Theodore Crowley." He held out his hand. "Give me my cane."
"Alright, here." Disney handed him the sleek black cane. "So, what's your story, Mr. Crowley?"
"None of your business." The young man said, climbing out of the overlarge tea cup.
"I rather say it is my business." He folded his arms crossly. "My park. My business."
Jack groaned internally. Not only had he made contact with someone, he had chosen someone with influence. He rubbed the round handle of his cane before turning to the man.
"I take it you are none other than Walt Disney?" He asked, not really wanting to hear the answer.
"Yes I am," Walt smiled.
"Well, it was nice to meet you but I've got to go." Jack casually started walking away.
"Wait a dang minute!" He followed after him.
"Please leave me alone."
"No way! You're a crazy mystery and I intend to work you out!" Walt trotted a little to keep up.
Walt wasn't the tallest man and Jack wasn't exactly the shortest. The older man reached the height of 5'10 while the younger man stood at 6'4. Jack glanced at him over his shoulder.
Little did either know, a sharp woman in black combat clothes was watching them. After they passed her, she slowly began following them. She moved like a cat, unseen by the other workers rushing about. The agent had been hunting her target for quite a while now. No need to announce her presence and scare off her prey. After all, she needed to be 100% sure.
"Look, sir." Jack said, rounding on him. "I'm not supposed to be anywhere near here. If I get caught-"
"Caught by who?" Walt inquired.
"By...by dangerous..." He tailed off catching sight of the woman following them. "I have to leave."
"What's wrong?" Walt asked, looking around.
Because his back was turned, he didn't see Jack twist the top of his cane. However, he did see the woman snarl and leap at them. Then something very strange happened. Walt could feel his body try to recoil from the feline woman but he felt frozen. His vision blurs and streaks of lightning tear the fabric of reality apart. Suddenly he tumbles to the ground and everything went black.

Jack woke with a splitting headache. Radiated dust filled his lungs. At least he woke up. Worse things could have happened. Then he turned his head and saw Walt lying a few feet to his right.
"Oh no!" He moaned. "I've killed Walt Disney!"
A strong hand grabbed his shoulder. Jack turned to see a rather ugly face scowling at him. The man's hair was sticking up from the stray electricity in the air and his skin was red and turning purple in places. The few teeth he had were yellowed and his tongue was turning green.
"Immortal." The ugly face growled.
"What?" Jack asked, cringing at the foul breath.
"You are immortal." The face growled again.
"I don't know what you're talking about," he coughed.
"You struck by mighty lightning." The creature insisted. "You are fine. You are immortal!"
With that the creature grabbed him with both hands and began dragging him away.
"No wait! I have to help my friend!" Jack struggled against his iron grip. "Walt! Walter! Wake up Walter!"
Failing to free himself, he grabbed a rock and threw it with all his might. The stone bounced off the older man's back. Much to Jack's relief, the still man stirred and half opened his eyes.
"Wake up Walt!" He roared, quickly being pulled away from ear shot.
Annoyed with all the shouting, the creature thumped Jack on the head. For the second time, he blacked out.

Something thumped Walt on the back. He looked up and could see blurry shapes and thought he could hear someone shouting his name. He rubbed his face to clear his eyes. Looking around he saw that he was in some desert wasteland. It reminded him of Bryce Canyon however there was not a speck of plant life to be seen.
Walt tried to get up and was pushed back down by a splitting headache. He must be really hung over if he couldn't remember how he got here and had this bad of a headache. The sun glinted off something shiny about a foot from his right hand. He reached and picked it up slowly. The dark shaft of the cane registered in Walt's mind.
"Mr. Jack Crowley." He muttered.
A sound then reached the man's ears. It sort of sounded like skiing. Like some smooth craft was gliding through the sandy paths of the desert. Walt managed to lift himself up on his elbows to see a very strange sight.
The craft was a small boat, enough room for about five people. However, there was more than five people coming his way. There were five in the boat working the complex sails and guiding the fantastic craft through the rocks. About five more people were running around the craft. Not only were they keeping up with the swiftly moving craft, they were leaping over it, doing flips, and generally looking like a circus parade with one float.
Walt stared at the display in fascination. The five running around were dressed like... Arabian princes or some kind of genie. Billowy, brightly colored pants, bare feet, and open vests. The five in the craft looked almost like Arabian pirates. As far as he could tell nine of the party were male. The curves that graced the tenth figure marked her as female.
The party had noticed Walt lying half raised on the ground. With graceful, dancing movements, the craft turned and the runners moved to circle him. The princes drew swords and pointed them at Walt. The pirates stopped their craft and drew pistols. The only woman in the ten stepped away from the helm and jumped out of the boat. She stopped in front of him.
"Who are you?" She asked.
"I'm Walt." He sighed, still enchanted by the display. "Who are you?"
"Where are you from?" She asked, ignoring the question.
"I could tell you if I knew where I was." Walt said, starting to get a cramp in his arms.
"Don't trust him, princess," a rather buff prince said. "He looks like an Ambler. And you know how they are."
"Oh, you're a princess?" He shifted onto his side.
"You are on thin ice, Ambler." The buff prince put his sword to Walt's neck.
"Down Toko," the Princess warned. "You know Amblers don't give names, real or fake."
Toko, the buff prince, glared at the man and slowly removed his sword.
"Good boy." She looked at Walt closely. "You look old. What's an old man like you doing out here all alone in the wasteland?"
"Wasteland? I wasn't alone..." He said noticing all ten of them looked to be in their twenties. "I don't know what happened to him."
A second prince, this one a bit scrawny, ran around the edge of the alcove. He leapt up on some rocks and looked over the edge.
"A Gresh was here." He called. "It looks like it was dragging something away."
"At least he was telling the truth about that." The princess remarked.
"But why didn't the Gresh take him?" Toko asked.
"I don't know," Walt said. "I don't even know what a Gresh is."
Just then a screen on the side of the ship came to life. A round faced boy appeared on the screen. He whistled to get their attention. The princes and pirates turned.
"Boys," the face said. "My lady."
"What do you want, imp?" The princess asked.
"To tell you, fair lady, that your crew are in danger of a radiation spike headed to your location." The boy said calmly.
"Grab him." The princess pointed at Walt. "We'll finish interrogating him later."

Wholock  cont.

"Sherlock," the voice on the phone sounded tired.
"Lestrade." He replied.
"I've got a man here who fits your description of being witness to our missing murder victim."
"We're on our way-"
"A moment." Lestrade interrupted. "It appears he doesn't speak English."
"That's fine I know a dozen languages." He replied, hailing a cab.
"Or and language we can think of." The police inspector sighed. "He understands English enough though."
"What's wrong?" John asked, seeing his friend's face.
"Nothing... Hopefully." Sherlock said, ending the call.

"So, he's mute?" John said.
Sherlock and Lestrade glanced at the man in the interrogation room. The man had dark, slightly wavy hair which was starting to look as though it needed to be cut. He was wearing a jacket and was wrapped in a thick blanket. Still, he shivered slightly.
"Is he ill?" John asked.
"I dunno... He keeps making motions that he's cold." Lestrade shrugged. "He looks healthy to me."
"I'll go see if I can tell anything." He entered the interrogation room.
Sherlock stared through the window. The police inspector looked at him and looked through the window as well.
"I've never seen you at such a loss for words." Lestrade said looking back at Sherlock. "Are you getting anything off him?"
"Nothing that makes sense yet." Sherlock replied. "You're getting better at this."
"Nah I'm just good at reading you."

"Hello." John said, as he sat down.
The man smiled brightly.
"I'm John. Have you got a name?"
The man moved his hands, showing a detailed scratching on the table.  He moved over to get a good look at it.
"Lestrade's not going to like that." John muttered. "That's a very good dragon. What did you use to scratch it out?"
He then noticed the flames the dragon was spitting had letters in them.
"Ell... Ellio Elliot. You're name is Elliot?"
The man nodded enthusiastically.
"Elliot what?"
With a swift movement, Elliot scratched 'the' on the table with his fingernail. He then drew a line pointing at the dragon. John stared. He carefully took Elliot's hand and inspected his nails. They looked normal.
"So, you're Elliot the dragon?" He asked.
Elliot nodded.
"Ask him about the murder." Sherlock said, sticking his head in.
"Why don't you ask him?" John asked.
"He seems to like you."
Elliot made motions for him to sit. He then turned to the window and motioned for pen and paper. Sherlock came in and warily sat down. Lestrade entered with paper, muttering about a circus.
"So, the murder." John started. "You saw something?"
To John's amazement, the man's expression clearly said; I was there. A second after the expression registered, Elliot bent over a paper and began sketching.
"He was there." The words spilt out of John's mouth.
"How do you know that?" Lestrade asked.
"Tell him Sherlock," he said turning back to their witness.
"Tell him what?" The detective asked, watching his friend with interest.
"You... You didn't see that written all over his face?" John asked confused. "It was as clear as day!"
Elliot grabbed a paper and quickly scribbled something on it. He pushed it at them and went back to sketching. Sherlock picked it up and looked at it curiously.
"What is it?" Lestrade asked.
"It appears to be some sort of symbolic language..."
"Let me see." John snatched the paper from him. "This is ridiculous. You seriously can't read this?"
They both looked at him blankly.
"Ok. Look, this is obviously a heart and with a stretch of imagination, this could be a brain." He pointed at the shapes. "The J by the heart is me and the S by the brain is-"
"Me." Sherlock nodded. "And he means I'm smart and you're nice?"
"Kinda. He means you base everything on intellect and I go off emotions." John said, surprised that actually occurred to him.
Elliot snapped his fingers and pointed at John.
"So, John is perfectly able to read him but you in your ultimate wisdom can't?" Lestrade said in awe. "I never thought I'd see the day! You're not putting me on are you?"
Elliot pushed the finished sketch at them. The murder victim was standing with Elliot and there was a shadowy well dressed figure pointing a gun at them. The details on the murderer were fuzzy except for the ring on his right hand. The design was intricate, but a black spade was clearly visible. While Sherlock and Lestrade examined the picture, Elliot slid a folded piece of paper to John.
"Ok," Lestrade said. "We can work with this. You're free to go Elliot. Just leave your contact information."

"John, what did Elliot give you?" Sherlock asked as they walked back towards 221b.
"Oh I almost forgot." He pulled out the folded paper. "It's another picture."
"Let me see." Sherlock took the paper.
The paper depicted  the murder victim after he had been shot. There was a flat line above the still body. Part of which was circled and a line pointed to a heart line below the body. The beats depicted were small and far apart.
"John, I think I know what this means." He said.
"And that would be?" John prompted.
"Our murder victim is still alive." Sherlock said.
At that moment they looked up. To their surprise, Elliot was standing about a block away, leaning against the tall blue box. For the first time, John noticed that the box was marked police. Sherlock stared at him, trying to understand how he had moved the box from the park. In fact, he was wondering if it was indeed the same box. Elliot smiled and beckoned them over. John walked over, towing a reluctant Sherlock.
"Elliot, what's going on?" John asked, lifting the paper.
"A rescue mission, that's what." A voice behind them said.
All three turned to see the newcomer. A young man with a slightly comical bow tie and a mop of dark hair was standing there.
"Hello. I'm the Doctor."

Wholock

Police milled around the crime scene. John and Sherlock climbed out of the taxi. The doctor walked under the caution tape and over to the dead body. Sherlock walked around the scene a few times before running into Lestrade.
"What took you so long?" The policeman asked.
"Oh, the usual," Sherlock replied. "What happened?"
"Oh the usual murder." Lestrade replied. "Howevah, he's got no ID of any kind, his clothes are custom, no ones ever seen him before and no one saw him get shot."
"Indeed." The man breathed, his eyes flicking towards a shorter man trying not to be noticed.
"Well, have you got anything?"
Without answering, Sherlock strode to John and the dead body.
"Sherlock, it's the strangest thing," John started. "He has no pulse and his skin is going cold, but those bullets didn't hit any vital organs."
"So what did he die from?" Lestrade asked.
"With the information I have now, no idea." He replied.
Sherlock's eyes flicked back towards the man trying to remain unseen. To his surprise, the man was gone.
"This case has many intricate complications." He mused. "Lestrade, send the body to the morgue. I have some tests I want to run on it."

"What's wrong?" John asked. "You've been quiet all day."
"Hmmm."
"Whatever." He picked up his book. "By the way you're phone is ringing."
"It's Lestrade. Can you get it for me?" Sherlock said absently.
John dropped his book, annoyed.
"Seriously? It's in your pocket!" He said.
The phone stopped ringing. Then John's phone started ringing. He rolled his eyes and answered it.
"Hello?... Yes sorry Greg... Sherlock has it in his pocket... Yes, he wanted me to answer it..."
"Well, tell him to answer his phone next time!... There's been a development in the case..." Lestrade heard a scuffle on the other end.
"What development?" Sherlock's voice came out of the phone.
"Oh now you want to talk to me?" He said. "No... No you listen!... Fine! Alright!... The body's been stolen... Sherlock?... Sherlock?"
The man stood, frozen as his mind raced. John got up and took the phone from Sherlock's motionless hand. Free from the phone, he fell on the couch, deep in thought.
"Sorry about that... Yes you've sent him off on one."
Suddenly, Sherlock jumped up from the couch. He grabbed his coat and ran from the room.
"What's happening?" Lestrade asked, his voice small over the phone.
"Look, I'll call you back." John ended the call. "Sherlock!"

John found his friend back at the crime scene. He stood still with his hands on his temples. The doctor stood off to the side, waiting for him to say something.
"I've missed something, John," he said as he mentally rewound the day.
"What did you miss?"
"I missed... I missed..."
Unknown cause of death; no. Unknown victim; no. The man that was watching...
"I know what I missed." Sherlock said.
"What?" John asked.
"Our witness."

"What do you mean there's a witness?" Lestrade asked.
"I mean there was a man who saw our stolen body get shot, knows why and knows who stole the body." Sherlock replied.
"Oh yeah? And how exactly are we supposed to find him?"
"I have alerted my network," he said, pulling out a paper. "This is a description of our man. I suggest you alert your network. Between us we should find him."
"Alright." Lestrade sighed. "I guess we can work with that."

The next day, John was walking through the park. Enjoying the mild weather, he almost didn't notice Sherlock fall in beside him. So when he spoke, John jumped.
"It's been ages!"
"Sh-! How long have you been there?" John asked.
"I can find anyone! Why can't I find him?" Sherlock mused.
"Good to see you too." He rolled his eyes. "What do you suppose they're looking at?"
John had noticed a gathering crowd on the green. The detective didn't seem to hear him. So, rolling his eyes again, the doctor began walking over to the crowd. There was a burst of flames over the heads of the crowd.
"It's just a fire-dancer," Sherlock said.
"Yes. However, I would enjoy watching him." John replied, pushing through the crowd. "You should come too. It'll be good for you."
The man rolled his eyes, then was compelled foreword as John grabbed his scarf and pulled. Sherlock was about to protest loudly when he saw the fire-dancer. The man in the middle of the clearing looked to be about 5'6. He dark hair and dark, slightly angular eyes. His naked upper body was marred by three long scars from his right shoulder to his left hip.
"What's wrong?" John asked, hearing the sharp intake of breath.
"That's our man." Sherlock replied.
"So, what do we do? Jump him?"
"No. Lets not make a scene," he replied. "We'll wait till after he's done."
The fire-dancer glanced at them as he spit out a massive fireball. The crowd stepped back, shielding themselves from the heat. When the flames faded, they saw that he was gone.
"No!" Sherlock ran to where the man had been.
By the time John had fought through the crowd, he was already running off in the chase. Sherlock followed the signs only he could see like a bloodhound. As his friend caught up with him, he realized the trail had gone cold. John tried to catch his breath as Sherlock shot back past him. Not wanting to do a Scooby chase, John leaned against a tall wood box and watched as his friend ran back and forth.
"He came this way John!" He called. "His trail disappears around here."
Sherlock looked up, seeing John leaning against the tall blue box.
"What are you looking at me for?" John asked.
"What do you suppose that box is?" He asked quietly.
"Dunno. It says police box." John replied. "Is it important?"
"Our mystery witness is in there." Sherlock said, knocking on the door.
"Is he? What if he doesn't come out?"
"I could pick the lock... Actually I don't think I could..." He stood strait. "We need to leave."
"What? Why?" John asked.
"Because our witness will come to us when he's ready." Sherlock replied, walking away.

FanFic- Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Time

S-

Chapter 1

“If I can’t be with him, please let me forget…”

         “Vina….Vina, VINA!!” Yelled a loud gruff voice. Waking up from the noise, a little girl rolled out of her bed quickly and ran to get ready. “You’re going too late!!” Yelled the loud voice once again. Still half asleep the girl put on her blue tunic and then brushed her long white hair with a sheen of blue. She rushed out the door. “Vina wait!! You forgot to do something!” A large man with dark grey hair, beard, and mustache had followed after her outside. They little girl turned around with a smile and ran back to the old man, she looked into his gentle green eyes as he does into her little violet eyes. He knelt to the height of the girl, ”Vina, Have a great day at school and don’t forget, today is your birthday so come right home afterwards. ” She giggled and kissed the man on the cheek.

“Goodbye Uncle Indo” She said with a pure light voice ”I’ll be home before you know it.” She turned and ran.

         Vina is a Hylian who had been living in Holom with a retired Sheikah, Indo, since she could remember. She had been going to the regular school for the past two years but never really made a true friend, she was the smartest one in the class, she would know about a lot of things even if she’d never even seen or studied before and for that she had become an outcast in her class. Overtime she learned to put those feelings aside. Especially for today, Vina will turn 7.

         Vina walked through the school doors, “Happy Birthday.” Said Ms. Lan, the school teacher.

“Thank you.” Vina smiled and then headed to her desk.

“Today class, we will be learning about the Kokiri children, they are the people of the forest who protect the trees and the earth, and they also live along side with fairies. What is even more special about them is that no matter how many years pass by they stay as children. If you saw ever saw one of them, you would think that they should be in school with all of you.”

“I want to be one!” yelled a boy with a terrible runny nose. “Then I could play all day long with the fairies!” He sniffed as he looked off into the distance imagining that sort of life. Some of the other children start doing the same.

“It wouldn’t be all fun and games,” The teacher tapped a book on the little boys head “There are still responsibilities that must be taken care of. For instance, food must be gathered and chores must be done. The Kokiri also believe that they can never leave the forest for it would bring misfortune or death.”

“Never mind, I don’t want to be a Kikori anymore” the boy shuddered.

“It’s Kokiri. Also, it's said that a little over seven years there was an event that took place where a Kokiri boy did decide to leave the forest because a fairy never came to him, even though the others tried to talk him out of it he still left and the Great Deku Tree, the Kokiri’s guardian, master, and father past away and the forest started to die but thankfully a new Deku Tree has since sprouted in its place and the forest is returning back to normal.” A big sigh of relieve filled the class room but for Vina it was different.

After hearing the story the teacher had told Vina felt a nagging feeling inside of her, usually she knows most things but this feeling of forgetfulness was agonizing for her.

         

         During the break, while all of the kids went out to play, Vina stayed in her desk thinking. “Giaaa!!” Her head started hurting. Ms. Lan, who was alarmed by her screaming, ran to Vina’s side.

“Vina, what’s wrong?” she asked. Vina started to feel dizzy. “I’ll go get some water.” The teacher got up and ran to the wash room. Vina vision started to blur, she tried to get up but she collapsed onto the floor, she attempted to open her eyes but the world went black.

         “Listen to my words, the words of the Deku Tree... Dost thou sense it? The climate of evil descending upon this realm... Malevolent forces even now are mustering to attack our land of Hyrule... For so long, the Kokiri Forest, the source of life, has stood as a barrier, deterring outsiders and maintaining the order of the world... But...before this tremendous evil power, even my power is as nothing. It seems the time has come for the boy without a fairy to begin his journey... The youth whose destiny it is to lead Hyrule to the path of justice and truth...

...go now! Find our young friend and guide him to me... I do not have much time left. Fly, fly! The fate of the forest, nay, the world, depends upon thee!”

         “Nooo!!” Vina sat up, tears streaming from her eyes. Ms. Lan holding a damp cloth jumped from the sudden surprise. Indo was there too, holding onto Vina’s hand. “What happened?” Vina asked.

“You passed out on the floor.” Ms. Lan started to explain. “While you were out, you kept saying ‘Don’t die’ and ‘Deku Tree’”. Vina looked over at Indo who had an extreme look of worry on his face. But she could tell that it wasn't the passing out that is making him worry, it was what she said while she was out. She still has that empty feeling inside of her but instead of thinking that it’s something she can’t remember. It’s something that is being hidden from her and she wanted to find out what it is.

         Ms. Lan decided that it would be better if Vina just went on home with Indo. On the way home Vina thought about the words that she heard while she was out. She had never been to Hyrule but she did know that it was a neighboring country. She didn't know how long it would take to get there.

“I must go to Hyrule, I must warn the ruler, and I have to find the Kokiri boy without a fairy” she whispered to herself.

“What did you say?” Indo asked

“Nothing, just thinking out loud” She looked up and smiled. Indo smiled back but he still had the worry look on his face.

         Once back, Indo started on dinner for the special night while Vina on the other hand started a run-away bag. She had decided that this night she would leave on her journey to Hyrule no matter what the cost was. When dinner was ready they both acted as if nothing happened that day, Indo made a great meal to celebrate her birthday, He was cheerful as ever but then all of a sudden his tone changed and looked over to Vina.

“Your thinking about today aren't you?” Indo asked

“What?! No, no! Why would you think that?” Replying with a very unconvincing grin, startled by the sudden question.

“Look Vina, I know what you said on the way home, and you have a very straight-forward mind, even for your age.” He got up and headed over to a small chest. He pulled out something wrapped in a purple cloth. “I hoped I would never have to give you this but it was to be given to you only if strange events were to start happening. I fear that they have just begun.” He then handed the item over to Vina. She looks at him with a confused look and then looked back down and started unwrapping it. She then beholds a dagger, with the unique colors of purple and green.

“What is it? Where did you get this?” She asked with a more confused look on her face.

“It’s a special dagger that was blessed for you from a couple of special women. They said that you would know what to do with it when the time comes. Oh if you could only see how beauty they are.” Indo scratched his head, blushing, looking off in the distance. It only lasted a few seconds until he was serious again. “I know your planning on running away tonight. I peeked into your room and saw you packing your things.” Vina was scared, but took a deep breath and looked back at him with a stern face.

“I have to go, I know it is my destiny. I have never felt so strongly about anything before.”

“I know you do, I know you are only seven but you are different, special beyond belief, I know you can handle the journey yourself.”

“Other uncles would think you’re insane”

“Other uncles don’t know what you’re capable of” he smirked back. “But to give comfort to your old uncle’s heart, take the dagger on your journey.”

“I will” She giggled.

          After that Indo helped her pack and made a small sheath for her dagger. “Goodbye uncle” She said while giving him a big hug.

“Vina, I know you are capable of a lot of things but please be careful.” He hugged her back with tears running down his eyes. He rubbed his eyes and cleared his throat “The next city is a quite a ways to the west but it borders the land of Hyrule, someone there could help you find your way.”

“Thank you!!” Vina waved goodbye and then turned and started walking. Tears flowing down her cheek.

         

         “You have cared for her well, Indo” A deep woman voice said, Indo turned around

“Impa” He said tears down his cheeks looked at her angry “I thought she was going to stay with me for a bit longer… Why now!?”

“I’m not sure myself but maybe it is because of time”

“Time? He said confused”

“Yes, time. Perhaps time is in trouble once again.” She answered back.