sparkler-v

[sparkler-v]

Both the virus and the Rito jumped and turned towards the bed at the sound. Though before either of them could think of moving, the sleeping Hylian's were gone.

"... Oh no."

Jay nodded in agreement, letting out a sigh as he pushed himself off the steps.

"We should get ready for when the Player's finished."

"Nooo!" Sparkler warned, bolting to her feet and grabbing onto his arm, "The Player's gunna be here for hours. There's nothing we can do till then... Look. I'm wired right now, so I'll wake ya up if they leave early. Otherwise, glitch practice in the morning."

"... Alright," Jay relented, taking a breath before stepping away from her towards the only remaining chair in the chamber.

He knew she didn't like it anymore then he did, but all they really could do was wait and hope they'd be alright.

Certainly no one would begrudge him that... But it would be a difficult task, to say the least. Especially when the only one any of them knew with a glitch that was under control was likely far away and oblivious to what was happening to her friends.

If he wanted his glitch under control before this disaster was over, he would have to learn to tame it without any guidance. Without the added knowledge and experience of someone who had lived with the same condition for who knew how long... It would be hard. Extremely hard, without help. But if one person had done it... maybe he could, too.

[sparkler-v]

It was small and hopefully simple. Something he could build off of later once he'd achieved mastery of the skill. With Sparkler’s help in mastering it, well she'd certainly keep the experience interesting.

"Let's do it tomorrow though."

Jay hummed questioningly at the suggestion, earning an eye roll from the virus.

"It's the middle of the night Jay. We've been talkin' for hours! So why don't you take a page out've everyone else's book an' hit the hay. Probably wouldn't be a good idea to work this out in the dark anyway."

... Well, he couldn’t really argue with that, though his brow furrowed regardless with one thought in mind.

"Didn't you want to talk though."

At the reminder, Sparkler’s cheery demeanor slipped, though he noticed it was different this time. More natural as she simply shifted in discomfort and let out a puff.

"Yeah, but... I don't know. It's kinda weird, and I've got this feeling I should wait for Link. Not just because we're buds! I just... got this feeling he was there somehow. But I can't figure it out."

"... That probably won't be for a while."

"I know. But I'm fine with waiting so he can get better."

Certainly no one would begrudge him that... But it would be a difficult task, to say the least. Especially when the only one any of them knew with a glitch that was under control was likely far away and oblivious to what was happening to her friends.

If he wanted his glitch under control before this disaster was over, he would have to learn to tame it without any guidance. Without the added knowledge and experience of someone who had lived with the same condition for who knew how long... It would be hard. Extremely hard, without help. But if one person had done it... maybe he could, too.

[sparkler-v]

He remembered the stories Sparkler had told, of a little girl who'd once struggled with the glitch in her code. Before learning how to turn it as an asset, a super power as Sparkler described where it no longer hindered her. It instead added to her, made her stronger in a way no one believed she could be.

Here he was thinking of the little girl. Of how she'd done it all on her own, and how it felt a little less impossible for him to do it as well. Though how? Where even to start? He understood how difficult this would be, how unlikely it was he would reclaim his freedom in the skies with just a few days of work. This would be a constant in his life, something he'd always be learning from and adapting to. Until hopefully one day it became as second nature as drawing an arrow. He had to believe he could do it, he was more then willing to the work as he had with learning to fly, to use a bow, to perfect his father's recipes, to understand and befriend Irene. He just needed to figure out where to begin.

"Hmm, alright!"

Jay's head jerked at her voice, lifting his head as he looked over.

"What...?"

"You wanna learn how to control your glitch? I'll help you with that."

Breath catching, Jay suddenly perked up as a hopeful smile pulled at the corners of his beak.

"You know how to control a glitch?"

"Oh!" Sparkler’s eyes widened before she shook her head, "Oh no. No no no. I don't have a clue how Vanellope does it. But uh I wouldn't mind helpin' you figure it out. I owe you anyway."

Letting out a sigh, Jay leaned onto his knees again as he clasped his hands together.

"I don't even know where to begin."

"Hm, how 'bout with just holdin' stuff while glitching," she suggested with a shrug, "You wanna fight an' all, but ta do that you've gotta make sure you don't drop your bow."

Jay remained silent for a moment, before chuckling softly and smiling over at her.

"Yeah. That sounds like a good starting point."

Certainly no one would begrudge him that... But it would be a difficult task, to say the least. Especially when the only one any of them knew with a glitch that was under control was likely far away and oblivious to what was happening to her friends.

If he wanted his glitch under control before this disaster was over, he would have to learn to tame it without any guidance. Without the added knowledge and experience of someone who had lived with the same condition for who knew how long... It would be hard. Extremely hard, without help. But if one person had done it... maybe he could, too.

[sparkler-v]

Unlike the others though, Jay had actually slept earlier in the day before the chaotic events that lead to this moment. Though even then, with the stress and worry from the aforementioned events and with the stars already so high in the sky. He too was beginning to feel the tug of sleep pulling at his limbs.

Though he was able to brush it off for the moment, focused on how to reply to Sparkler's idea until the words tumbled from his beak.

"I need to control it."

Sparkler blinked, her head jerking up with a hum.

"What was that...?"

"I... I need to control it. The glitch," Jay explained, staring down at his hands as though they held the answers to the universe rather then a coding error hidden beneath their surface.

"I can't keep sitting on the sidelines Sparkler. Just look at where we are! Link and Zelda were exhausted by todays events, while you were locked away. And.. and...."

He clamped his beak shut, looking off in thought that just happened to be in the direction furthest from the Sheikah behind them. Unable to say out loud how lost he still felt without her. How much he wished to go back and just... been there rather then off on his own. Feeling sorry for himself over a glitch she'd had no part in giving him, and done all that she could to reverse.

He'd wished he could go back and thank her... but he couldn't. He couldn't do this anymore. He needed to be more involved. To help, but in order to do that.

"Today I... I flew..."

Sparkler, sensing the weight of his words sat up. Shifting closer as he spoke softly, as if to keep his words safe from the rest of the world to hear.

"I flew and... for a moment, I was free. The glitch didn't hold me back, it didn't make me crash like I'd always feared. It... worked with me. It helped. The only reason I got up there so fast was because of it, and... I need to learn how to control it. How to fly with it. How to fight. How to defend my friends! I can't just keep hiding away and cooking all day. I.. I need this..."

Twilight made a soft, slightly disgruntled sound.

Clearly, he didn't have it... and if it wasn't with Link - or even Zelda - it had likely been returned to the Korok Forest. Or... the pedestal in the room they'd restored, leading to the Code Vault...

In any case, he seemed less worried about his physical form and more focused on her. She may not have been trapped for that long, all things considered... but it was good to have her out of danger again. After all, if Lan got ahold of her in such a vulnerable state, and with his access to the security room and its computer...

The end results could have only spelled disaster.

[sparkler-v]

It only seemed to dawn on her now how much could have passed in the seemingly short window of time she was absent. Standing here over Link and Zelda's sleeping bodies, so utterly drained that not even her antics disturbed them. Not even a groan, and it had only been a day! Less then that since she, Zelda, and Twilight had tried to repair the damage done to Gerudo Town and the Korok Woods. Damage they'd thankfully succeeded in reversing, before curiosity got the better of them and everything went wrong.

She fully believed that Link had indeed run himself ragged with worry. Which was unfortunate and something they clearly needed to talk about after he woke up. Clearly more had happened to have drained Zelda so thoroughly as well. She was entirely unaware of it all, but Jay...

"What happened?" she asked, her joking demeanor entirely gone as she turned away from the bed to face Jay, "Tell me everything that happened, cuz clearly more has gone down then just Link running himself ragged."

Jay took a breath through his nostrils.

"We'd wanted to talk anyway," he gestured back to the steps, strolling over before he moved to sit down.

Sparkler didn't hesitated, bolting across the room in a matter of a second before materializing sitting on the step next to him. Leaving the rest of the room to listen behind them, as Sparkler leaned forward and simply said.

"Alright. Let's talk."

So they did...

Jay began to recount how Link had woken him with a call for help in the woods, and recalled the feeling of wrongness in the air. The chill he'd once hoped to forget, and hadn't been able to control himself upon recognizing. He told her of how the earth shook upon his forced return to Gerudo, and how word spread quick about unwelcome guests entering their world. As well as how the Champions had gone to confront them and Lan, though little had been heard since. He then explained how Link had returned with the VCU, and how, once Link had been put to rest, Zelda had been at a loss for how to release the virus. Until both he and the Princess poured over Irene's journal and miraculously found answers. It was then that he brought out said journal, and held it out for her to read the very entry that lead to her freedom. As he explained their plan to summon the very being who'd sent him into a spiral just hours before. He told her of how Zelda simply vanished from the summoning circle they'd created, before her divine light was spotted from the top of the spring. Glowing like a beacon for all to see.

"... I'm not sure how it happened, but midway through flight I simply... appeared on the spring. I glitched, but somehow it wasn't messy. It was almost controlled in a way."

"Sounds like you channeled it for a moment," Sparkler replied, chin propped up on her hands as she stared into the now darkened sky. Trying to process everything that had somehow occurred while she was gone.

At some point in their conversation, Chase had sat down on Riju's couch and had fallen asleep. Though the Sheikah on the other hand was busy writing away in a little notebook likely found in Irene's bag. Glancing over at them now and a again before she turned back to the page with pencil in hand.

Twilight made a soft, slightly disgruntled sound.

Clearly, he didn't have it... and if it wasn't with Link - or even Zelda - it had likely been returned to the Korok Forest. Or... the pedestal in the room they'd restored, leading to the Code Vault...

In any case, he seemed less worried about his physical form and more focused on her. She may not have been trapped for that long, all things considered... but it was good to have her out of danger again. After all, if Lan got ahold of her in such a vulnerable state, and with his access to the security room and its computer...

The end results could have only spelled disaster.

[sparkler-v]

Thankfully there was someone else who could explain.

"Unfortunately, there isn't an easy way to explain that, my friend."

Blinking, Sparkler turned back towards the open doorway where Jay stood. Offering all of them a comforting, yet pained smile as he stepped into the chamber. The amnesiac Sheikah following behind him, carrying the bag Jay had returned to her as she moved to the side. Then took a seat in one of the carved stone chairs, watching them quietly as her fingers played with a pencil in her hand.

"Link ran himself ragged with worry, trying to find you again," Jay softly explained, standing in front of the virus, "It was only after he realized he'd found you that Zelda was able to convince him to rest."

Twilight made a soft, slightly disgruntled sound.

Clearly, he didn't have it... and if it wasn't with Link - or even Zelda - it had likely been returned to the Korok Forest. Or... the pedestal in the room they'd restored, leading to the Code Vault...

In any case, he seemed less worried about his physical form and more focused on her. She may not have been trapped for that long, all things considered... but it was good to have her out of danger again. After all, if Lan got ahold of her in such a vulnerable state, and with his access to the security room and its computer...

The end results could have only spelled disaster.

[sparkler-v]

Right, after all Sparkler wouldn't have been able to see who this "other guy". Though judging by how unsettled Sparkler looked, biting her lip in discomfort as she turned her head away from him again. She wasn't eager to talk about them either.

"So uh, anyway. How 'bout you guys!"

Sparkler tilted her head to the side, smiling as she changed the subject and stepped around Riju's sitting area to the bed.

"Anything happen while I was-"

Her smile slipped upon at long last seeing the disheveled appearance of Link utterly passed out in the bed. Making him appear at ease in his rest, yet small...

"... What happened...?"

Twilight made a soft, slightly disgruntled sound.

Clearly, he didn't have it... and if it wasn't with Link - or even Zelda - it had likely been returned to the Korok Forest. Or... the pedestal in the room they'd restored, leading to the Code Vault...

In any case, he seemed less worried about his physical form and more focused on her. She may not have been trapped for that long, all things considered... but it was good to have her out of danger again. After all, if Lan got ahold of her in such a vulnerable state, and with his access to the security room and its computer...

The end results could have only spelled disaster.

[sparkler-v]

"Don't worry! It's no where bad," she lifted her arms to assure him, before explaining, "It's just... well, I heard a lot've things after you guys left. Guess at first I wound up some place where a bunch of your Sheikah Monks were. It sounded like they really wanted to speak with you and Zelda, but understood why we all panicked. They just assumed that I was the reason why they'd been cut off from the rest of the world. You know, until we fixed the security back in the vault... Anyway. They sent the Master Sword back to the woods hoping someone would try to come back... After that though, some other guy took me, an'... things kinda got weird after that..."

Twilight made a soft, slightly disgruntled sound.

Clearly, he didn't have it... and if it wasn't with Link - or even Zelda - it had likely been returned to the Korok Forest. Or... the pedestal in the room they'd restored, leading to the Code Vault...

In any case, he seemed less worried about his physical form and more focused on her. She may not have been trapped for that long, all things considered... but it was good to have her out of danger again. After all, if Lan got ahold of her in such a vulnerable state, and with his access to the security room and its computer...

The end results could have only spelled disaster.

[sparkler-v]

That had added all the more weight to the recovery of the VCU in the time when she'd been trapped within it. After all, it was unknown if Lan's tinkering had been completely removed from the vault. So naturally it was a relief that in the time before Link's discovery of the lantern, no one else had come across the device.

Not that they knew of, though seeing Sparkler now it was clear she'd recovered fully from the effects of the Master Swords aura. With all her limbs regenerated, and an almost excessive about of sparks dancing wildly around her bright blue form. Indicating just how much of a charge she'd managed to generate in her time locked away. In fact, despite her imprisonment, out of everyone in the room she easliy appeared to be the most physically healthy after that ordeal.

Mentally and emotionally on the other hand...

"Hmm, well sorry ta say but, I'm kiiinda glad it's not here," she admitted, turning her head to avoid his gaze, "But, uh, since you guys haven't found it. And, well you probably want it. I know where it's probably at right now."

Twilight made a soft, slightly disgruntled sound.

Clearly, he didn't have it... and if it wasn't with Link - or even Zelda - it had likely been returned to the Korok Forest. Or... the pedestal in the room they'd restored, leading to the Code Vault...

In any case, he seemed less worried about his physical form and more focused on her. She may not have been trapped for that long, all things considered... but it was good to have her out of danger again. After all, if Lan got ahold of her in such a vulnerable state, and with his access to the security room and its computer...

The end results could have only spelled disaster.

[sparkler-v]

Sparkler's eyes brightened at the sight of him, as she lifted her hand and lightly waved.

"Hey Twilight!" she greeted, keeping her voice down to a stage whisper as she entered the room, "Hope you weren't too worried about me... Where's the Master Sword?"

Buliara noticed him quickly enough... though whether that was a good or bad thing was certainly up for interpretation.

"You! Vure! You were seen flying up to our water source after the princess' power shone. What happened?" she demanded.

[sparkler-v]

... No. He preferred that idea best. After all, the fewer who knew matters concerning the Collector, the better for all of Hyrule. Plus, it would allow Twilight to be involved, and it wouldn't do them any good not to inform him.

Though first...

Upon reentering the throne room, Jay slowed until Sparkler was forced to stop and turn back to him. A questioning look in her eye that eased upon seeing the grave look in his own.

"I know we have much discuss, and I believe the best place may be Riju's chambers," Jay explained, gently pulling his wing away, "But first, I don't think any of us should be alone right now. Not until we know exactly what that deal entails."

For a moment Sparkler stared in mild confusion, before her eyes widened as realization dawned.

"You wanna go grab Irene?"

"... Yes. She's vulnerable right now, and the Collector-"

"Say no more," Sparkler interrupted with a hand, before raising a thumb towards the ceiling, "We'll meet'cha up there when you've got 'er."

"Thank you," Jay nodded, a truly gracious look in his eyes before he turned to go. Leaving the siblings alone in the vast and oddly empty throne room.

Sparkler crossed her arms, shifting in place as she arched her head back and looked up at the ceiling.

"So... Link an' Zelda are up there...?"

'Yes,' Chase signed with a nod, 'Sleeping.'

"Ah, so I've gotta be quiet."

'If you can handle it,' Chase shrugged, before starting for the staircase. Biting his lip beneath his helmet at the speechless look she gave him.

"What is this? First Jay, then you? What is it, sassy sprite power hour or somethin'?" she shouted in mock defense, jogging after him up the steps, "I get stuck in a tiny VCU, and this is the welcome back committee I get? Where's Link when I need 'im? He'd treat me right!"

Chase stopped at the top of the first set of stairs. Turning around to face her before he signed.

'Sleeping. Now you, be quiet.'

Sparkler opened her mouth to retort, though paused as Chase put his hands on his hips. Striking that pose he always did when he was asking her to really think about what she was doing. Before she crossed her arms and muttered as she started up the stairs again.

"Right. Quiet.

Buliara noticed him quickly enough... though whether that was a good or bad thing was certainly up for interpretation.

"You! Vure! You were seen flying up to our water source after the princess' power shone. What happened?" she demanded.

[sparkler-v]

He nodded one last time before visibly relaxing out of his ridged posture and turned. His eyes lighting up at the sight of the virus and the young racer as he strode across the yard towards them. Stopping short however as they came to meet him half way.

"Jay!" Sparkler shouted without a care of anyone around them, "Chase was just tellin' me how you guys got me out, by makin' a deal with some kinda chaotic evil spirit or something?"

Jay hesitated to answer at first, mulling over the title before ultimately nodding along.

"I suppose that does summarize what we did. And before you ask, no. I don't know what the cost was."

"Yeah, I heard," she bluntly stated, setting her hands on her hips, "Ya know, I know there were other ways of openin' the thing. You know, without doin' something that's probably gunna bite us all in the butt later... I wouldn't've minded waiting a bit longer!"

Raising a brow at that, the corner of Jay's beak quirked into a smile.

"That's a pretty obvious lie there, isn't it?"

"Don't call me out on my nonsense."

"I wouldn't dream of it, my friend," Jay preened, chuckling softly as Sparkler rolled her eyes, "Though I have to ask... Are you alright Sparkler?"

That simply question seemed to be all it took to pop Sparkler's cheery façade, as her grin instantly took a strained edge while her form fizzled for a second.

"Ha ha HAAaaaaa! Yeah! Feelin' great! I-"

She froze, glancing at the people around before grabbing Jay by the wing, and dragging him back the way he came with Chase following behind.

"I don't want talk about it out here."

Buliara noticed him quickly enough... though whether that was a good or bad thing was certainly up for interpretation.

"You! Vure! You were seen flying up to our water source after the princess' power shone. What happened?" she demanded.

[sparkler-v]

Jay nodded in return, though didn’t move to leave the conversation. Waiting respectfully for her to either turn away first or dismiss him.

Buliara noticed him quickly enough... though whether that was a good or bad thing was certainly up for interpretation.

"You! Vure! You were seen flying up to our water source after the princess' power shone. What happened?" she demanded.

[sparkler-v]

"... Right," he lowered his hand, trying not to appear put off as he directlyfaced her once again.

"I will try to get clear answers once the Princess wakes."

Buliara noticed him quickly enough... though whether that was a good or bad thing was certainly up for interpretation.

"You! Vure! You were seen flying up to our water source after the princess' power shone. What happened?" she demanded.

[sparkler-v]

"Unfortunately, I don't have an answer for that right now," he replied, a frown threatened to pull at the edges of his beak, "She was far too exhausted to answer any questions. So the fate of the Collector right now is unknown. But!"

Glancing over, Jay gestured towards the newly released Sparkler who was now watching their interaction along with the rest of the crowd.

"She succeeded in her goal to free Sparkler."

Buliara noticed him quickly enough... though whether that was a good or bad thing was certainly up for interpretation.

"You! Vure! You were seen flying up to our water source after the princess' power shone. What happened?" she demanded.

[sparkler-v]

Jay flinched at the booming voice, nearly stumbling before standing tall as he met her eye.

" The Princess is healthy and unhurt. However, she was exhausted by her confrontation with the spirit we had summoned to work with. So, after concluding that she was safe, I carried her down to rest with Link... She's with him now, and is being guarded by Twilight as we speak."

Buliara noticed him quickly enough... though whether that was a good or bad thing was certainly up for interpretation.

"You! Vure! You were seen flying up to our water source after the princess' power shone. What happened?" she demanded.

[sparkler-v]

Arching his head up, Jay blinked at the sight before striding forward down the steps towards the bodyguard.

There could be no denying, Riju would be the best person to pass all this information to. She'd be able to spread the word quickly to anyone else concerned, plus... she would be the most understanding.

Twilight nodded softly, shifting his head off Link's legs just enough to see Zelda, too.

She seemed okay, all things considered... No injuries, no missing limbs... And she knew enough to trust Jay, so she likely hadn't lost her memory either.

Whatever she had offered in trade, it seemed she had likely been spared.