thehometree | Glimmer, glitter, shine...

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Glimmer, glitter, shine...

One by one, new adventurers now arrive in the Tree. As one gain wings and rises to the second floor, another light brings in the next person. Soon, a steady stream of people from all kinds of worlds, times and realities come to join the others. Whether confused, angry, excited or scared, your arrival is welcomed with nothing but joy as the fireflies and glow worms descend to greet their new friends.

The Tree offers no explanation and no reason, but the truth is undeniable.

As you will soon realize, it isn't easy to be tiny.

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Owain got a better look inside once Link moved, and he sighed in disappointment, shaking his head. Another uninhabited home.

"I fear all the denizens of this realm may have fled before the great calamity that approaches," he said gravely. That had to be the explanation, right? Why else would all these houses be here if there was no one living in them?

And more importantly, how was he supposed to learn what his heroic quest was if there was no one to tell him?

He was about to suggest moving on to the next home, just to make absolutely sure... when out of the corner of his eye he caught a glimpse of movement within the house. A glow worm peeked out from behind a chair, spotted them, and began to wriggle its way towards them.

In a heartbeat Owain had his sword drawn and leveled squarely at the worm. "Halt, foul beast! Come no closer, if you value life and limb!" It halted, looking as puzzled as a glow worm could, while Owain assumed a fighting stance.

"...?"

Link looked thoroughly confused by Owain's dramatic announcement. That was awfully pessimistic, wasn't it? ... But it did make sense, in some strange, fantastical way. If there was a calamity on the horizon, it would explain why the Gods felt it necessary to bring him and all these other people here. He was about to agree with Owain when the glow worm appeared - Link's first thought was immediately about how much Agitha would have loved this wriggler - and the dramatics went up to 11.

The speed at which the Hero put himself between Owain and the worm was commendable really.

"Wait!" he attempted to wave Owain down before he pointed at the harmless worm. "It's unarmed!"

No armor, no pincers, no warning colours of red or purple and no disgusting, bulbous eye spinning about in all directions... It was perfectly benign!

The glow worm drew back a little, apparently uncertain now as to whether these people were new friends or not. Owain stopped short of attacking it when Link stepped in front of him, but he continued to eye the creature with obvious suspicion, his sword gripped tightly in both hands.

"Hmm... I'll grant that it does appear harmless..." and kind of cute, for that matter, "...but it could be a trap! An elaborate ruse to lull us into a false sense of security! And then as soon as we let our guards down... KA-POW! We're rendered paralyzed and helpless by its supercharged lightning breath!"

His eyes narrowed. "Well, the Scion of Heroes will not be taken unawares! Fear not, friend, for I shall defend you unto the bitter end!"

"...Ha?"

The confusion at Owain's continued dramatics were clearly felt by all members of his current audience. The worst part of all was probably the fact that Link had seen these sorts of attack coming from things you'd least expect. Then again, after those intensely disturbing Twilit Bugs, he would be lying if he said he wasn't initially suspicious...

But something else had caught his attention during Owain's (rather rousing, actually) speech.

"Scion of Heroes?" Link echoed before he turned around to extend his right arm out to the glow worm. "I don't think this one has that sort of magic."

He didn't sound like he was trying to accuse Owain of anything. In fact, the sort of dramatic suspicion would probably have helped him out a little bit... He might have been thrown around less, for one thing. Though Midna might have yelled at him more for it.

"Indeed," he responded, "I am none other than Owain, scion of the illustrious Hero-King of old, bearer of the blood of the divine dragon!" Owain raised his sword high above his head as he proclaimed his identity, seeming to abruptly forget all about the glow worm in his zeal for a properly dramatic introduction.

The worm took the opportunity to scoot forward and nuzzle affectionately against his leg.

"GAH!" Owain leapt back, hastily returning his blade to a defensive position across his body. "There, did you see that?!" He looked from Link to the worm and back again in quick succession. "You saw that, right? It tried to attack me! The scent of the mighty blood that flows through my veins has drawn out its predatory instincts, and now it wants a taste!"

Still, Owain held off attacking; truth be told, he really hoped that Link was right about this creature. It would be a terrible shame to have to smite something so cute. He could just imagine how Brady would bawl, if he were here...

... So dramatic! But he got the titles 'Hero-King' (amazing!) and 'divine dragon' (jury's out on that) which seemed like a slight exaggeration but nonetheless legitimate claim. After all, if he was meant to be the Hero Chosen by the Gods then why could this boy not be descended from a man who came to be known as the Hero-King? ... He must have been amazing to have been granted such a title. It still must have been nice to know one's heritage so completely.

While he didn't feel the need to laugh at Owain for the introduction the subsequent reaction to the glow worm's friendly gesture did set him off. There was a bit of laughter before the Ordonian stepped forward to coax the offending worm onto his arm instead. Best to stop any accidental attacks before they happened, right?

"My name is Link," he said as he patted the worm's head then pointed at it with his left hand. "And these types of bugs eat plants. See it's mouth?"

Granted, it wasn't cute at all up close (as bugs... usually were) but it certainly didn't look like it could bite through people's arms either. But if he'd learned anything while searching for bugs for Agitha and fighting off bugs to help Midna it was how to differentiate between friend and foe. Both Link and the worm looked at Owain expectantly, waiting to see how the other boy would take the suggestion.

Though, truth be told, Link kind of wanted to ask about Owain's introduction. One thing at a time!

"But--no wait, don't--the lightning breath--!" Owain cringed in anticipation of something horrible and painful when Link allowed the worm to crawl onto his arm... but when absolutely nothing adverse happened, he soon switched to gaping in awe.

"You... you've tamed it?!" Owain slowly lowered his sword, although he stopped short of sheathing it. He approached--cautiously--for a closer look at his 'foe'. "Incredible... at your touch, the beast grows as docile as a kitten!" Never mind that it was actually completely docile to start with. Owain stopped just beyond arm's reach of the worm, getting a good look at its mouth (although he had no idea what he should be looking for there) before turning his gaze to Link.

"Do you possess some measure of power over the creatures of the forest?" he asked. "Perhaps you speak their tongue?" Link almost looked like he could be some sort of forest spirit, dressed all in green like that.

With those ears, though, 'Manakete' seemed far more probable.

"... Huh?" came the incredibly composed answer. More seriously though, Link looked thoroughly confused by Owain. Again. This young man was so hard to keep up with, the Ordonian wasn't sure if this was some grand drama or if this was just how the other boy usually was. What a colourful world he must live in...

Link did have to admit that he was usually quite good with animals. Comes from having been raised in a farming village and, following that, spending some time as a wolf he thought. But this little worm was about as docile as the other bugs that were in the tree; had Owain not passed by one previously?

"No... Not like this, anyway," he admitted after a confusing moment.

"None of the bugs here have attacked us thus far," he was including the fireflies in this statement and he hoped Owain could figure as much. He then held out his arm with the worm on it for Owain in a 'would you like to pet it' gesture. For it's part, the worm seemed to be looking equal parts curious and confused at the young prince's reaction.

"Well, no..." It was true that none of the other bugs had been the least bit hostile... yet. Owain still sounded uncertain. "...But I'm almost positive the fireflies are spirit guides sent to us by the powers that summoned us here, to aid and enlighten us on our quest to save this realm from certain doom."

And why would they need two kinds of spirit guides? That was just silly. Still... the glow worm did appear pretty friendly, looking up at him like that. Slowly, not taking his eyes off it lest it try to catch him unawares, Owain sheathed his sword. When the worm still didn't attack, he stepped closer and reached a hand out towards it... but stopped just short of touching it, letting his hand hover above its head.

"...You're absolutely sure it doesn't exude toxic slime?"

That seemed like a fair assessment. Link nodded in agreement when Owain spoke of the fireflies. Considering there was little else here save the fireflies, the glow worms and the runestone down at the entrance... Well, maybe they all needed a bit more imagination when it came to how to deal with their currently place in time. But Owain had sheathed his weapon! This was progress in their attempt to make friends.

After all, it wouldn't do to offend the few creatures here that looked helpful, now would it?

Link simply nodded in affirmation at the question. He tried to be as serious as he could while he did it, but failed because it's kind of cute for how odd it is. Besides, if there was any poisonous fumes or slime that they should be aware of, Link probably would have been incapacitated about five minutes ago.

Wait, was Link actually agreeing with his assessment of the fireflies? That was... unusual. People normally just laughed at him or gave him weird looks whenever he came up with ~~stories~~ ideas like that. Owain regarded him a little uncertainly. "...You think so, too? Heh, you're not just humouring me so I'll shut up for a bit, are you?"

Link sure didn't say much, did he? Ah well, his meaning was clear enough. And he didn't appear to be in any discomfort from holding the glow worm... so, hesitantly, Owain petted it. It leaned into his touch like a contented cat, and soon he was chuckling just a little.

"Okay, that's pretty cute..." ...Oh gods, his resolve was weakening. He drew back abruptly. He had to stay strong! "B-but don't think this means you've won, glowy fiend!" He pointed at the worm. Dramatically. "I've got my eyes on you! One wriggle out of place, and you'll rue the day you toyed with me!"

"...?" Link looked confused at Owain's response. Why would he be humouring him? The Light Spirits would point him in the right direction even if the directions ended up being incredibly vague. And his point of view had been- Well, it has been a little over dramatic thus far, but it wasn't without merit as far as Link knew.

Gonna enjoy this happy friendship moment-- And there it went.

Link and the worm both jumped when Owain suddenly drew back and pointed at them.

"Is that necessary...?" Link lowered his arm and let the worm crawl back onto the ground.

So if Owain was reading him correctly, Link wasn't humouring him? ...Wow. He shook his head in response to Link's apparent confusion, grinning a little sheepishly. "...Never mind." It was strange, being taken seriously... kind of nice, to be honest, but he'd have to be careful not to let his theories get a little too out there. Not if Link was going to actually believe them.

At the question, Owain folded his arms. "A hero must never let his guard down," he stated. "When enemies could lurk around every corner, he must always be prepared for anything!"

The glow work crawled over to him as he spoke, making itself comfortable on his foot. Owain glanced down at it, arms still crossed. "...Stop that."

Owain's dismissal of the issue caused Link to be a little concerned. Had he said something wrong? It wasn't as if Link would believe everything that the other man said; the previous incident with the lightning breath should have made that obvious. But if Owain didn't want to continue then Link would respect that. Maybe they could talk about the merits (or demerit) of instructions from the Gods next time. Or... Come as close to 'talking' as these two could come.

"..."

Link had to hand it to Owain though; he was much more diligent than Link had been. Though it seemed that he was still the same gentle person that the Ordonian was, if the response to the glow worm ruining his rather impressive pose was an indication.

"I think you would make a wonderful Hero," Link started. "But don't forget about one's allies either."

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Glimmer, glitter, shine...

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