Spice of Life

Fandom: Legend of Zelda (Four Swords Manga)

Rating: U

Warning: None

A/N: Set after the events of 'To be United' with the relation that Green and Shadow work as trainee knights.

-- -- -- --

Because Green and Shadow worked as trainee knights in Hyrule Castle, they would have a race to work with Green's dad, the General, as a sort of 'work-out'. Today the General won yet again, but he noticed that lately the two boys had been lagging behind, as they had to jog to catch up to him and hunched down to get their breaths back when they finally reached the castle gates. This worried him a little as they had also been slacking off their duties more due to tiredness.

The General sighed as he looked down to the two breathless boys with his fists resting on his hips, "My, my..You two sure have been losing a lot. I can't even remember the last time you won. And I'd expect better competition with the amount of energy you usually have, Green."

"It's not me, Dad! There's no way I'd be losing 'cause of getting slower! It must be you who's getting faster!"

Shadow nodded. "Green's got a point. We get enough sleep, eat a proper breakfast, but yet when we race against you we run out of breath like all our energy's gone."

"Exactly!" Green demanded, "The only way I'll believe to be slower than Dad is when I see monkeys fly!" At that moment it was too bad he couldn't hear the shooting in the sky behind him.

"I'm sorry, Green, but the truth hurts." The General said, "Although I may know the cause of this.."

"Eh?!" Green then pleaded, "What is it? Tell us, please!"

"Well, when I put on my cape and equip my sword in the morning, I feel ready and needed for the work I need to do for the castle. While you two put on those tattered and patchy tunics, which you've done a lot in during your previous journey, haven't you?"

"Yeah, an awful lot!" Shadow agreed.

"It's tiring when you think about it.." Green commented.

"That's what it is!" The General exclaimed, "Because of all you've done in those tunics, you feel tired when you put them on!"

"I get it..So what we wear determines how motivated we are for work?" Shadow worked out.

"Is there a solution to all this?" Green asked.

Right now a plan was sweeping through the General's mind, "Yes..a change of uniform..that's it!" He then began to walk into the castle, "Don't worry, boys! Leave this problem to me!"

The two left stood there pondered on the matter, "So, we're going to get a new uniform?" Shadow asked.

"I hope it'll be less embarrassing than this." Green said, scowling as his 'man-skirt'.

-- --

They were getting knackered already from the work they were doing, and it wasn't even lunchtime yet. So Green and Shadow sneaked outside and sat behind the fountain, "I'm beat. Are you sure there's a good reason why the castle's so big?" Shadow questioned Green.

"Yeah, it'll take more time for them to find us." He replied.

"Ah, I knew I'd find you two out here."

"Huh?!" The two boys looked up to see the General loomed over them, "U-uh, Dad! W-we were-"

"It's OK, son. I've found someone to sort out your uniforms. Here!" The General then stepped aside to reveal Red, in a cardigan secured over his shirt with one button and a skirt down to his knees, with Akira, their pet turtle, over his shoulder, "Hi!"

"Red?! You chose him?" Green questioned his dad.

"Hey! Don't judge me so quickly!" Red argued back, "You know how creative I am!"

The General knelt down and put his hand on Red's shoulder, "I'll leave them to you."

"OK!" Red then marched forward and grabbed Green and Shadow's hands as he led them into the castle where he was going to work his magic, "Follow me, guys!"

They were led into a room filled with different fabrics, materials and retired uniforms. Like a utility closet, it looked like it hadn't been touched in a long time. Appearances aside, Red worked like a pro at what he had, as he proved to Green and Shadow how good he was at this job. He worked hard and thoroughly as he produced a lot of suitable designs and measured them for the final result. He worked the whole of that night on their new uniforms, but he presented them to the General the next morning as if he hadn't lost any sleep at all.

Green and Shadow wore their new clothes as Red explained it all, "Here are the new uniforms which consist of sturdy boots, trousers, belts able to hold a number of items and weapons, tunics made out of scale armour, t-shirts, and fingerless gloves for grip."

"Wow, Red. These are really nice!" Shadow admired.

Green whined as he said, "But it looks like I'm wearing a skirt again!"

"Hey hey! You should be thankful it goes down that low." The General said, "This stuff's bomb proof, fire proof, and it's second best against metal. Don't you want everything to be protected in a fight?"

"Oh.." Green quickly changed his mind, "Thanks a lot, Red!"

Because the General was one among those who were impressed with Red's work, he hired him to make the new uniforms for Hyrule Castle's new recruits and trainee knights. So the first thing Red did was make these uniforms for Vio, Blue, and himself, as there could be times when all five of them needed to be called out.

This refreshed feel to their uniforms meant Green and Shadow began winning their morning races more often. The General was thinking maybe this wasn't such a good idea; he liked the feeling of winning against his own son.

END