I really hadn't been suspicious when Link had told me he 'had a plan' to get through the Gerudo fortress; I had thought he knew of some back route or a good way to sneak through the place. So I waited, as he had asked, behind one of the many outcroppings of rock. I watched in mounting horror as he waltzed up to the gates and asked to speak to Naburoo.

In the flick of an eye he was surrounded by slender women, clad in billowing pants and tiny blouses. Link cheerfully declared that he wanted to see Naburoo. I felt panic rise up in my chest.

Link received a cheerful greeting in return. In fact, one of the ladies was so enthused she responded with physical affection. She demonstrated this by smacking him over the head with her scimitar hilt.

Anxiety chewed at me but I waited until nightfall to attempt a rescue. It would do no good for both of us to end up being captured. It wasn't easy to slip past the Gerudo but I managed. Years of trying to avoid notice paid off and made my way through the fortress. Torches gleamed creating warm spots of light amongst the shadows. The place was a maze of interconnecting houses, stables, and other buildings. I took meandering route through the sandstone passages, which lead me onto a flat roof. I saw a tower which was the only structure that did not resemble the other buildings. A hookshot to the tower and a set of bruised fingers later had me at Link's cell.

The idiot was rather battered and had black eye. "I didn't realize they'd throw me in a dungeon." he said.

"So you just thought they'd let you waltz past their headquarters?" I returned. "Link, the Gerudo are called Amazons, for a reason. Not to mention they're allied with Gannon."

"I thought Naburoo would help us." he said quietly.

"Link, Naburoo was captured by Ganon years ago." I watched the hope fade from his face. Link looked down at the stone floor of the cell.

"I met her when I was young. Do you think there is any chance she's still alive?"

I held back my first and most immediate response. Why crush hope without any proof? "She was given to Koume and Kotake as a present." Link looked devastated.

"Maybe we can rescue her" I said, doubting the words even as they tumbled out of my mouth.

"If were going to do that we need to get out of here." I continued. Link nodded.

The hookshot provided the means of our exit. I was about to suggest we just sneak off into the desert when Link whispered. "The Gerudo said something about their being other prisoners. I think they were carpenters, we need to release them."

My patience was wearing thin and it showed in my voice. "Why should go and rescue some fools, who probably came here only because of their own lust? At least we had a reason for coming here. They were just being idiots."

Link responded by looking dejected. "I have to save them Dark because no one else is going to. You don't have to help me, but I have to do it."

"Fine" I huffed. We snuck off toward the closest structure.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

We continued sneaking through the compound. We had let three of the foolish carpenters loose and were searching for the last. We were about to go around the corner of a hall when I saw some movement out of the corner of my eye. I touched Link on the shoulder and pointed. Link stepped quietly behind the guard and hit her over the head. Turn about is fair play, I suppose.

We freed the last man and he thanked Link and ran off just as the rest had. "Finally that's over." I muttered. As if to declare my words a mockery, two guards dropped from the rafters. One of the women dived at Link and the other lunged at me!

I parried her two blades, narrowly avoiding losing my ear. The fight was quickly becoming one-sided, with me having only nicked her. She had scored several hits and I was now bleeding.

Suddenly, the Gerudo woman caught my sword with her two blades! There would be no help forthcoming from Link as he was holding off his own opponent. I swung my foot up and kicked her hard and she fell back.

I swiftly brought my blade to her throat. She glared up at me in anger from the floor. Her companion must have seen, as she dropped her swords and held up her hands to Link.

"We surrender." she declared. Her friend shot a gaze at her that was as withering as the one she had graced me with.

Link's opponent continued "You have defeated our greatest warriors and are now worthy to see Naburoo and ask to join us. However you must cross the desert to find her at the Colossus."

My opponent rejoined her friend and they led us to a large gate. "Follow the flags to reach the temple." she said. "But be careful it's easy to lose one's way in the desert."

I was suspicious of the Gerudos sudden acceptance of Link but he seemed to take it as an earnest sentiment. The guard stepped back and let us into the desert where carrion birds picked the remains of flesh from bleaching bones.

We wandered around following the flags which were nearly lost amongst the blinding flecks of sand. It was painfully hot and we had to stop several times to wipe the grit from our faces.

Link and I eventually reached a small stone hut. We stumbled inside hoping for a brief respite from the sun and the lash of the sand. While we were drinking water I felt a slight disturbance in the air. "There's something off here." I said.

Link pulled out the Lens of Truth and looked at the corner. A poe materialized slowly out of the air, like sand pouring out of a broken hourglass. The ghost spoke with a tone of malicious cheer "I'll be your guide on the way, but coming back I won't play! I'll show you the only way to go, so follow me and don't be slow!"

We followed the will o' the wisp through the desert. The poe seemed rather amused with guiding us and it flew about like a moth enamored with a flame. The sand beat against us, cutting uncovered skin and coating hair and garments.

Finally the storm died down and we could see clearly. We were in a small valley surrounded by cliffs. The fronds from a few sparse palm trees waved about listlessly in the hot breeze. A large cliff loomed before us, grim and disturbingly nondescript. As we got closer I realized there was a stair carved into the cliff leading up to a large door. Two huge statues marked the entrance, holding their hands out in a gesture of offering.

My nerves must have showed on my face because Link reached over and touched my hand. I turned to face him and he wrapped his arms around me. I let him lean against me, feeling the heat of his body, almost unbearably warm from the sun. Much to my surprise he brought his lips to mine in a gentle kiss.

I was surprised perhaps, but pleased. I leaned further into the kiss. As I did I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. I yanked Link's hair to get his attention at approximately the same time Navi started screeching. Link pushed his back against mine, as large cacti tunneled out of the sand.

"Does this always happen when you kiss someone!?" I shouted.

"Of course not." He shouted back, with a slight waver in his voice.

About half an hour later we stood over the vanquished bodies of our enemies. I added to my list of problems that Link undoubtly had some sort of curse on him. I stopped my mental whining to pull several thorns from Link's face. He grimaced briefly, but then smiled at me. We turned around and together entered the stone edifice.