You might all be happy to know that I've almost finished this story. I have a half of one chapter to write and a half of another (I tend to jump around in my stories). Then I have to go back and revise a little, and then I'm done. Rejoice!
Gina, I thought you might want to know this- according to Super Smash Bros. Melee on Gamecube, Zelda does not actually take on another body when she transforms into Sheik, though through her magic she can instantaneously change her eye and skin color.
As always, Zelda belongs to Miyamoto-sama, not me. Review please!
* * *
The Triforce United
* * *
The Calm Before the Storm
Kakariko Village, the quiet little town at the foot of Death Mountain, was originally the site where a long-dead Sheikah clan lived. No one was sure what had happened to the Sheikah, nor how their village was destroyed. Impa, the last living pureblood Sheikah in Hyrule, had built a new town on the site of her ancestors around the time that Zelda was born. Kakariko was a sleepy little village, remote enough so that Ganondorf's evil might never have touched it, if not for the Shadow Temple that lay deep in the earth beneath the graveyard.
Despite this, Kakariko had been the safest haven in Hyrule during Ganondorf's reign. Its people had sworn abject loyalty to Ganondorf while hiding Zelda for months after the Master Sword had been removed from the pedestal. Eventually Ganondorf had grown suspicious and Zelda was forced to flee and take sanctuary in the Temple of Time. But the village managed to stay on Ganondorf's good side, and it was one of the few places in Hyrule that had not been rebuilt after Ganondorf's fall.
Zelda knew from past experience that Kakariko was the first place her kingdom would run to if they ever needed to hide.
It was late afternoon when Link, Naziri, and Zelda in Sheik's disguise crept into the sleepy, quiet village. "Is this it?" Naziri asked in a whisper, peering around curiously.
Zelda touched the wrappings covering her mouth and nose uncertainly. "This is it." She glanced at Link with the red eyes that were a part of her costume. "Think it's safe?"
Link thought Sheik's eyes were very disturbing. They made Zelda look...well, not Zelda. "It's awfully quiet," he said in response, turning his gaze away from hers.
"The calm before a storm," Naziri quipped, keeping a nervous hand on her scimitars.
"Or the calm after," Link added grimly.
Zelda glanced uncertainly at the both of them and seemed about to say something when suddenly the door to the headman's house opened and the headman himself walked out.
"Your Majesty?" he said in a confused voice when he caught sight of them.
Zelda looked very relieved. "Hello, Gunther."
The headman named Gunther stared at her, astounded, then opened the door to his house again and called to his wife. "Gwen! Git out here! Her Majesty's come!"
Within minutes the entire town was assembled before Zelda, Link, and Naziri. Several times during the seven years that Link slept in the Temple of Time, Zelda had traveled back and forth between the temple and the village in Sheikah guise. As a result, everyone in Kakariko knew the true identity behind the disguise, but it was a secret well-kept.
Zelda was elated. As the town assembled, several guards, workers, and inhabitants of the Hylian Palace and Hyrule Castle Town came forward to confer with her. Her surviving kingdom was small, but they were more than none.
Gwen, the headman's wife, greeted Link and Naziri while Zelda spoke to her subjects. She was a plump, warm, hospitable lady who had a tendacy to blush whenever Link was near her. At a happier time he would've played up to it shamelessly, flirting with her until the laughing woman shooed him away.
"Welcome to Kakariko," she said warmly to Link and Naziri. "You've no idea how happy we are t'see you, Master Link."
"Just Link," he said firmly, grasping her hand between both of his. "Gwen, this is my friend Naziri, of Pinnasi. She came north with me after we found Zelda."
Gwen and Naziri quickly exchanged salutations while Gunther got his people to quiet down.
"Shut yer mouths, all of ye! Her Majesty's t'speak with us!"
"Thank you, Gunther," Zelda said wryly. She had discarded her makeshift mask and changed her eyes back to their normal dark blue. She glanced quickly over the crowd of her subjects.
"My friends," she began, then hesitated. Link watched the queen with a steady gaze. He knew her well enough to know that the right words would always come, eventually.
"I suppose I must apologize," Zelda said softly at last. "To everyone, but especially to those who live in the castle. If I'd known what I was leaving you to face, I'd have never left."
"You'd have died if you never left," Link commented in a whisper.
Zelda glared at him momentarily, then turned back to her people. "My decision to leave was guided by the goddesses. In fact, it was ordered by the goddesses."
A murmer went through the crowd. Anyone with half a brain new that what the goddesses were involved in was serious.
"But I'm not here to make excuses," Zelda said firmly, quieting her people. "I'm here to rid Hyrule once and for all of Ganondorf. And I promise you, that no matter how long it takes, Hyrule will be rid of him."
The people of Kakariko and the castle inhabitants alike roared a fierce, enthusiastic cheer.
* * *
As the day drew to a close, Naziri explored Kakariko Village. She was amazed at the change Zelda's rally had produced in her people. The villagers went around their end-of-the-day work humming war songs and exchanging fierce grins, as though the battle for Hyrule was already won. The refugees from the castle were bustling about setting up tents, cooking meals, sharpening weapons and speaking with their queen.
For an entire hour a group of boys and even one or two girls had occupied Naziri with showing them scimitar exercises. Link finally saved her by nonchalantly practicing archery right next to them, which attracted the warriors-to-be immediately.
Grateful to him, Naziri had instantly taken off before any of the children could decide they liked the scimitars better. She was now wandering around in the graveyard, under which the Shadow Temple lay.
Ever since Naziri had seen the Spirit Temple, she wanted terribly to see them all. After Ganondorf is taken care of, Naziri thought firmly, after that, then I'll go and see the rest of the temples.
She had no idea where the others were, besides the Shadow Temple. She supposed that she'd have to ask Link.
For a moment, Naziri thought wistfully of her golden-haired friend. Then she shook her head, surprised at herself. What was this that she was feeling?
Confused, Naziri turned her eyes toward the enormous, foreboding Death Mountain and saw something that made all other thoughts fly out of her mind.
The peak of Death Mountain was glowing. Faintly but steadily, it burned with a reddish-orange light.
* * *
Naziri was panting when she found Link in a corner of the village, cleaning his weapons.
"What is that?" she demanded by way of greeting, pointing toward the glowing peak of Death Mountain.
Link stared at her for a moment, then turned his eyes to the mountain top. "That? That's just the crater."
Naziri stared blankly.
"The volcano crater," Link offered.
Naziri stared blankly.
Link sighed. "It's lava. Um...liquid fire. It builds up deep inside the mountain and every now and then it..." He trailed off.
Naziri stared blankly.
"Uh...we can go see it tomorrow. Then you'll understand. Okay?" Link watched her with an odd gaze.
"Okay," Naziri said reluctantly. For some reason that she could not explain, she was deeply disappointed.
"Are you all right?" Link was still watching her. His blue eyes seemed very bright.
Without thinking, Naziri reached up and brushed a few strands of golden hair away from his eyes.
"I'm fine," she muttered, and darted away.
* * *
Night fell over Kakariko. Link, Zelda, and Naziri were offered Gunther and Gwen's house as their sleeping arrangements, but declined. Instead they set up a couple of tents in the middle of the town and agreed to each take a watch during the night. Zelda's guards were already posted all over the perimeter of the town, but Link, Zelda, and Naziri all thought there could never be too many sentries.
Naziri had the first watch. As the stars lit one by one in the sky and the moon slowly rose, she settled back against a tree trunk, preparing herself for a battle with the overwhelming desire to sleep.
It was difficult just to keep her eyes open. At first she occupied herself by cleaning her scimitars. Then she took a walk around the town. After she'd done this, she was already out of ideas to keep herself awake, and was fighting a losing battle.
There was one thing, at least, that helped keep her eyes open. Again and again, Naziri found her eyes drawn to the red glow on Death Mountain. The crater, or whatever Link called it.
But even that could not keep her from drowning in fatigue. Naziri was just drifting away when suddenly, something called out to her.
She jerked awake immediately, her eyes wide in the darkness. Something had just called her, she was sure of it. But not in any spoken language. It had been more like a song...like a bit of slow, deep music that reminded her very much of heat, and red, and ancient things.
She heard it again, and turned her eyes to Death Mountain.
Who are you? she asked in her mind, as if the voice-song could hear her.
It gave no answer to her question. Instead it simply called again in that ancient, irresistable voice, and she knew that must go to it.
Suddenly guarding the village and her friends didn't seem like much to Naziri. There were sentries all over the town; what did they need her around for?
Her mind was made up. Naziri stood and walked away from the tree where she'd been keeping watch, leaving her scimitars lying on the ground.
She was headed for the Death Mountain trail.
* * *
When Link awoke, it was hours past the time when Naziri was supposed to wake him to guard. He frowned as he climbed out of his tent. Had the Gerudo fallen asleep? If so, he'd never expected it. After all, she spent her entire life guarding the Gerudo fortress before coming north to Hyrule.
He stood up and looked around, blue eyes scanning the darkness intently. Naziri was nowhere in sight. That worried him.
She probably took a walk to help her stay awake.
That thought made sense, so Link sat down next to a large tree, preparing to wait for his friend to return.
Then he saw her scimitars.
They were lying on the ground, discarded without a care. Instantly his eyes narrowed. This was not Naziri. Her scimitars never left her side. Even when she was sleeping, they were always within arm's reach.
Link jumped to his feet and scanned the darkness again, searching with a more intensive purpose. Again, Naziri was nowhere in sight.
Link glanced to his left and saw a sentry patrolling near the foot of the Death Mountain trail. He hurried over to the man.
"Did you see Naziri on her guard?" he demanded instantly.
The man turned to him, surprised, then nodded. "Yeah, I seen her. She was millin' around a bit o'er there." He pointed to the tree. "That is, she was afore she went up the trail."
Link's eyes narrowed sharply. "What do you mean, she went up the trail?"
The guard shrugged and pointed to Death Mountain. "She went up there. Tol' me she was goin' to take a look. At what, I dunno."
He shook his head, amazed. "Why...?"
The guard shrugged again. "Beats me."
Link closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again, gazing at the Death Mountain trail with a purpose. "Thanks. If Zelda wakes up and asks, tell her I'll be back by dawn."
* * *
It was a very long walk up the Death Mountain trail, and Naziri was completely unprepared for it.
Next time I decide to do something like this, I oughta wear some better shoes, she grumbled to herself after her dainty slippers finally fell apart due to the rough terrain of the mountain.
It didn't occur to her to turn and go back to the village. Doggedly she headed on toward an unknown goal on the Death Mountain peak. Even when her bare feet were practically ripped to bloody shreds by the rocky path, she only dimly registered the pain and soon forgot it.
After a few sharp bends, Naziri's path took her along the edge of a high cliff, past an enormous cavern cut into the mountain. She hesitated for only a moment, glancing at the cavern, which seemed to be some sort of city. It was inhabited by strange, big, round fellows who looked like rocks themselves. They watched her curiously as she passed, but she spoke to no one.
About an hour's walk from the mountain city, Naziri found herself in front of an enormous cliff face. She stopped and craned her neck up and up at it, trying to find some way around it. Then she saw the red-orange glow at the top of the cliff, partially obscuring the stars in the night sky. It was then that she realized this cliff led to the top of Death Mountain. She stripped off Nabooru's gloves and tucked them into a pocket, then curled her hands and feet into cracks in the cliff wall and began the long ascent.
Naziri was no climber. Several times she nearly slipped, scraping her knees and elbows raw. The jagged edges in the cliff wall tore bloody gashes in her unprotected hands and feet. Still, Naziri barely noticed. All of her, by this point, was focused completely on getting to the top. Would the ancient, inescapable singer be waiting for her at the mountain's peak? She didn't know. All she knew was that the great voice had called to her, and it was impossible to resist.
At last Naziri dragged herself over the lip of cliff and lay helplessly for a few moments, gasping. When she'd caught her breath, she slowly raised her head and stood up painfully on shredded feet. It was then that Naziri got her first glimpse of the Death Mountain crater.
It was as though a giant scoop of mountain had been cut right out of the peak. It looked exactly like a rock bowl dug deep into Death Mountain and filled with a fiery, reddish-orange substance that bubbled and frothed and radiated an enormous amount of heat.
So that's what lava is, Naziri perceived as she stared down into the giant bowl.
She was aware of the reddish glow all around her, and of great waves of heat washing over her, yet Naziri was not uncomfortable. She was warm, but not unbearably so in the slightest. The heat reminded her of the warm glow of a campfire or hearth.
Naziri approached the edge of the bowl as closely as she dared, gazing down curiously at the liquid fire beneath. It was then that she heard it. The song.
She gasped, glancing about her as if expecting to see the singer right beside her. There was nothing to be seen, yet the immense, deep voice rang all around her, singing its slow, mournful song.
"Who are you?" Naziri whispered.
The singer hesitated, as if thinking of a way to answer her question. The lava below her shifted the way a sleeping cat shifts as it is about to wake.
But before the voice could sound again, Naziri heard another voice behind her.
"Who in the name of all fiery hell are you?"
Naziri whirled around quickly to see the source of the voice hovering in midair behind her. She was a darkly beautiful, striking female clad all in black, her wavy, fire-red hair cascading halfway down her back. She was tall and slender, generously curved and well-preportioned, with smooth, milky shoulders and long, shapely legs. Her eyes, gazing at Naziri with an expression of contempt, were as black as ebony.
Taken by surprise, Naziri moved back a step. "I'm Naziri. Who are you?"
The woman's lips pulled back to display rows of sharp, spindly teeth, and suddenly she was not all that beautiful. "I'm the last sight you're ever going to see."
* * *
To be continued.