Author's Note(s): Probably the second-longest chapter in the whole story. The delay in getting this up was caused by the lack of a computer, not the lack of inspiration. Actually, I'm already on Chapter 36, and at the end of it, no less.

Notes about the previous chapter...

I didn't want to detail this before due to how long that chapter was. I'll look into some of the things in the previous chapter and explain them.

"Excuuuuse me, Princess!"

If Link's line in Chapter 32 about "fall to the power of the Master Sword!" doesn't kill me, then this WILL. Most people reading the story probably got the pun, but for those who didn't, its a horrible, horrible line that Link frequently speaks in the old Legend of Zelda cartoon series. He always says that to Zelda. Mickaw just fits for saying something like that. XD

Sheila's Freeze Bomb

A little mary sue-ish? I don't know. I invented the idea of Sheila being of greater intelligence when working on the game version, and having the 'Chemist' class. Originally it was going to be game-exclusive, but I put it in here. Essentially, the 'Puff' Weed acts as a super-coolant. She also used another plant that enhances its effects. Mixed together, in creates a blue steam-like substance that freezing anything it touches instantly. She then used a Fish Bomb from the water to cause the steam to spread in a wide range. The explosion blew it out in all directions. That's just how I explain it. This may pop up again later, too...

Saria's Magic

Saria has elemental magic relating to the forest, primarily Earth, but also Wind. In some cases you see her manipulating the wind, and in others, plants and even a little bit of actual dust and dirt. Being a sage, she should have some powers related to that, so its reflected upon in such a way.

That's it for this commentary. ^^

The Legend of Zelda: Scepter of Darkness

Chapter 34: Desert Armada

Her eyes slowly opened… Water flowed past her fingers. Her hair was soaked and her clothes damp. She was slightly leery; her eyes blurred…

However, things began to come back together. The world became clearer around her. She saw a sandy shore with grass beyond. A bridge was off to the right, and mountains were around. A waterfall billowed a little ways behind her. Beyond the bridge was more grass and a cliffside path leading to a building along the edge, with another series of bridges coming back this way and heading to an island in the middle of the large lake.

She was still out of it, though, and could not make out the extra details. She heard a voice calling out to her. A hand was on the ground, and a face, blurred, but visible, was in the air. The lips moved, but she couldn't quite make it out.

"Navi… Navi!"

Navi shook her head and her vision finally cleared up. She glanced around and saw Relm standing above her to her right, and Sheila to the left. No one else was around. "Huh…? Where are we…"

Relm crossed her arms. "Hm… That kraken, or octo, or whatever you want to call it, sure did some work on you. You've been out for hours! When the boat went over the waterfall, Sheila and I dug for you in the water, trying to pull you back up."

"We're at Lake Hylia, I think…" Sheila remarked. "I don't know what happened to everyone else."

The fairy looked down at the ground. "I've been out for… hours?"

Sheila nodded. "Mmhmm… It took us a while to get rid of that octo. I finally was able to create a freeze bomb with a few supplies I found around in order to stop it, and a bunch of zoras and some soldiers came in and finished off the creature. You were out ever since Saria's magic barrier was broken…"

"That's it!" Navi called out, standing up. "The power overflowed and collapsed… I was unable to hold it back. I've… never had that happen before. It is strange."

Relm shrugged her soldiers. "Have you ever done that with Link before?"

Navi shook her head. "No… Most of my spells I learned much later."

"In that case," the red-haired on remarked, "you probably never had tried to protect someone from such a powerful creature. That would explain why it didn't work the way you planned."

The fairy girl sighed. "I guess… Yeah, you must be right… I guess I was just being too overconfident in my own abilities. Even I can't protect myself, or anyone else, from such strength."

"Well," Sheila stated, "what next?"

Navi nodded. "Right. How long have we been here?"

Relm looked to the sky. "I'd say about an hour… Most of the time you were out was on the boat. After we went over, it took us a while to find you and get you to shore, and then we spent the rest of the time trying to wake you up."

"Very well, then, we should continue on."

Navi led Relm and Sheila toward the bridge, talking along the way. "I do remember this place. It has changed a little, but most is at I remember. It does seem that erosion and sediment build-up around has caused some structural changes, causing the lake to be lower, but otherwise, everything is about the same. We just have to head across this bridge to reach the Laboratory, and then follow the bridges back over to the Temple."

Suddenly, though, Navi stopped before the bridge, turning back to Relm. "There is one more thing I want to talk about, though…" she remarked, eyebrow raised.

Relm sighed, crossing her arms. "She told you, didn't she?" she asked, gesturing to Sheila.

Navi nodded. "What gave you such an impression, anyway? And why—"

"Listen, I don't need a lecture, okay? Besides, after Sheila's performance earlier, I can't help but marvel… She actually is quite useful. She's smart for a young one. She may even be smarter than some of the castle physicians and magicians."

Sheila looked to the ground, twiddling her thumbs. "You… you really think that?"

Relm shrugged. "I'll have to admit, Sheila… I was wrong. Zelda was right all along; I shouldn't have doubted our comrades."

Sheila giggled a bit. "Hehe… That's something I've been stunned about ever since I saw her, earlier, too… Zelda was 'Sheik' all along. I just don't believe it…"

"Have you heard of the Sheikah?" Navi asked. "Sheik is simply a small adjustment from that title. The guise of 'Sheik' was first used by the current Queen a while back, though only few know about it due to certain circumstances."

Relm raised an eyebrow. "Huh…? You mean, mother…?"

"Yes," Navi's eyes turned to Relm, "Zelda used the Sheik identity to hide from Ganondorf, and to assist Link throughout his journey to save Hyrule, the first time. Impa was the one who created the identity, and she passed it on to you…"

"And I passed in on to the princess, who also, ironically, happens to be my sister," Relm added.

"Correct."

Sheila held her hand against her head. "Ouch… My brain hurts…"

Relm laughed. "You'd think that one of your intelligence could take it all in easy enough."

"Anyway, we really should be—"

"Get them!" voices called out from behind.

Navi spun around, surprised. "What?!"

A tall, dark-skinned woman with deep, red hair stood a few feet away, with two more behind. All of them held out long, thin scimitars in their hands and wore purple clothes. They stood at the center of the bridge and were looking directly at the three young girls at the other end.

Relm pulled out her daggers, staring down at the woman. "Hmph! I'm glad I found these…"

Sheila removed her bow, as well, while Navi just stood at the center. "Gerudo…? What are Gerudo doing here?" the fairy girl asked, bewildered.

The lead woman crossed her arms, the blade still in her hand. "We are here on orders of our king. All sages must die. You three are in the aide of a sage, and of our enemy, Link, the so-called 'Hero.'"

"Ganondorf…" Relm muttered. "So he IS a member of the Gerudo Tribe!"

Navi stared ahead in disbelief. "I thought the Gerudo leader was Nabooru… I thought the Gerudo hated Ganondorf!"

"Um… Is it just me," Sheila remarked, "or are their eyes glowing?"

Sure enough, the eyes of the three Gerudo woman were glowing red. Relm chuckled a bit. "Heh… That explains it… they're possessed by Ganon's power!"

The Gerudo removed their swords once more, one in each hand. Clearly they were planning on a fight. Navi figured it'd be best that they be given one.

"Back away, guys! If we're going to fight, we can't let it happen on the bridge. Sheila," she turned to the white-hair girl, "you stand a great distance away and snipe them out with your bow. Relm—"

"I know," she replied, standing firm, blades out. "I'm ready!"

Navi held her palm out in front of her, facing upwards. A small wand materialized in her hand and she grasped it firmly, swinging it back. "We can't let them beat us!"

The lead Gerudo rushed forward, signaling out a battle cry. The others followed behind. Navi stepped back and threw her left hand forward, creating a small barrier. The blade of the first crashed into it, but the magic held the sword back. The Gerudo pulled back and swung again, this time horizontally, but the fairy ducked and kicked the legs out from under the woman.

The second Gerudo ran to help her leader, but Relm jumped in front and threw her daggers up, locking the blades up to the large scimitars that were nearly three times the size of the younger one's daggers. The red-haired girl pushed forward, following swiftly with a backflip that knockled her assailant down, only for another strike to come from the third Gerudo. She leaned back and dodged it, following up by placing her hands on the ground and pushing forward with her feet, knocking the woman off of her feet.

Yells from behind startled the three girls. More Gerudo came up from the other side, down through the rocky gorge that ran alongside the waterfall. Navi backed away, startled. "Um… I don't remember that path there before…"

Relm, looked, too. Unfortunately, this proved to be her downfall. While she was distracted by the incoming Gerudo, she forgot about the ones behind her. The first jumped on her back, wrapped her arms tightly around Relm's neck. The young one was surprised by the move, for she had anticipated her throat to be cut before being choked to death.

While Relm struggled against the larger, much stronger woman, Navi was caught in the middle of a large group. Arrows came and hit one of the Gerudo's in the arm, though, and another in the side. Sheila pulled back and let another one loose; striking the right leg of the Gerudo that had jumped Relm.

All of them collapsed, wounded and bleeding, though still alive. Sheila also collapsed, falling to her knees. She looked to the ground, bewildered, and fearful. 'I can't believe I actually did that…'

At the very least, she didn't kill them. She would never forgive herself had she killed them. However, these were actual people. They weren't monsters, and they weren't wild animals. They were enemies, but she couldn't help but feel depressed.

Elsewhere, with two of the incoming Gerudo down, Navi had a much easier time handling the final two that also came rushing in. The wounded ones were taken away by other Gerudo, but attackers still rushed into the fray, and the fairy was ready. She rushed forward and deflected one attack with a barrier. In her right hand, she charged a ball of energy with her wand and push the Gerudo forward, throwing the ball immediately afterwards to push back her attacker.

However, the other came swiftly and she was immediately put on the defensive, raising a large shield against the power of the tough steel Gerudo desert scimitars. Navi backed away slowly, hearing clashing steel behind her, as well. Suddenly, she stopped, feeling long hair touch her back.

Relm gritted her teeth, bringing her dagger upwards to block the blow from the scimitar. She had managed to wound one of the Gerudo woman, cutting lightly into the side of her stomach and wounding her, but it wasn't enough to stop them. They pressed on and she had to back down… and now she had no place left to go.

"Having a little trouble there?" Navi asked, removing her shield and throwing a quick spell forward. She really didn't have any attack spells; only defensive, and all these energy balls were simple mobile versions of her shields.

Relm gritted her teeth, throwing her feet up and across the Gerudo's arm, knocking away the woman's weapon. The red-haired young, but tough girl was then able to use this to give herself a temporary break. She was an accustomed fighter, but this was getting ridiculous. "Yeah, you could say that…" she finally called back.

"Relm! Navi! Sheila!" a voice echoed across the lake.

Sheila looked up, startled. "Huh?"

Relm raced to the edge of the water, up towards a small, thin piece of rock that stuck high out of the water, bridges attached to it. Zelda stood at the edge, while Gerudo and zoras fought each other behind her. "Sister!" Relm called out.

Navi ran up next to Relm. "Princess…?"

Footsteps came up from behind Relm. She was, once again, distracted by something else. A blade raised, coming down upon her. "DUCK!"

A chain shot overhead just as Relm and Navi listened to the voice, ducking down. Zelda came down above them, kicking away the Gerudo into two more. She reach the edge of the mountain side and pushed herself off, spinning back and knocking the remaining Gerudo down before finally landing on the ground, releasing hold of the claw shot she still had after taking it from Link before, which he actually didn't mind much.

The Gerudo jumped up and raced to Zelda, now, but she spun the claw shot around and let it loosen up a bit. The princess spun in a complete circle a few times, the claw on the shot closed so only the blunt part was out, striking and knocking out the Gerudo one last time.

Relm smiled and raced up to her. "You've improved," she stated once she arrived.

Zelda nodded. "Yes, yes, fine, but hurry! Link, Saria, and Mickaw are up protecting Ruto, now. We have to go help them!"

Sheila and Navi rejoined with Zelda and Relm and the four of them nodded in agreement. "Yes, of course," Navi proclaimed.

The fairy led the other three across the bridge and all the way to the laboratory. An old man peaked out briefly before closing the door and locking it as more Gerudo rushed out into the fray. They were fought back by the four girls, whom then proceeded up along the set of rope bridges that led to the island at the center of the lake.

Link stood at the far end of the second bridge, the Master Sword out in front of him. Gerudo stood in the way, while Mickaw readied his fins. Saria stood behind them both, the Kokiri Sword in her right hand with her left hand out, acting as a last barrier to Queen Ruto of the zoras and her three bodyguards.

Navi raced up to the first rock formation along the path, the one that had a grave in the center. She turned to her left just as the other three arrived behind her. "Link!"

The green-clad boy heard the voices calling to him, but he ignored them. "I order you to stand down, NOW!"

The Gerudo leader snickered. She narrowed her eyes, pulling out her scimitar behind her. "Hmph… I only answer to my King and my God!"

"You fool," Mickaw called out, "Ganondork ain't a God! Where'd ya' get that idea, huh?! I may not've been around at th' time, but I know what Ganon is. He's evil incarnate; he's the heir to the Gerudo tribe. Does that spell 'God' to you?"

The Gerudo didn't speak. Instead, she just charged forward. Link rolled his eyes. "Yeah… That worked REALLY well…"

Following up, Link raced forward and swung his left hand high into the air, clashing steel against steel. He quickly turned and kneed the Gerudo woman in the stomach and kicked her feet out from under her. She fell hard onto the bridge, and suddenly, the plank where she stood gave way, causing her to fall into the water far, far below.

Link readied his weapon for another strike, but Mickaw threw his right fin forward, hitting the first of the next group of incoming Gerudo in the face. From behind another surprise came. A swift, red figure jumped into the air and onto the shoulders of one of the Gerudo in the center. The Gerudo on bottom swung her sword up, but the figure flipped backwards and kicked the back Gerudo into the front ones, knocking the two of them down.

Saria came and followed by racing to the edge of the central island, throwing her hands forward. A gust of wind picked up and caught hold of the bridge. Link grabbed on tight while Mickaw simply jumped over and into the water. Relm, who stood at the far end of the bridge, simply backed away until she was off of it.

The entire center of the bridge was blown in by the swift forest breeze that flowed through the sky out of nowhere. Saria held her hands up high, her hands glowing a light green. Twisting, writing, the entire rope bridge caved in and all the Gerudo fell into the water. The wind then twisted back around again, though, restoring it to its correct position.

However, all was still not well. Relm, Navi, and Zelda fought off more Gerudo that tried to get to the center, with Sheila aiming from afar. Horns suddenly sounded in the distance and Hylian soldiers rode down the hill, jumped off their horses, and raced on to take out the Gerudo forces.

The four girls rejoined with Link and Saria at the center once more. Queen Ruto stood and bowed before them, before standing once more. She wore a thin, pale blue water-safe dress and a thin tiara of gold around her forehead. Mickaw stood next to her, and she eyed Link. "Alas, Link, but once again our engagement is halted. After you left I never saw you again, and of course I have since married. I never forgot the agreement we made when I gave you my stone, though. Perhaps we shall make another agreement?"

Relm and Zelda both stared in disbelief. "Engagement?!" the two of them called out together.

Sheila raised an eyebrow. "Um… engagement? What's that?"

Navi giggled a bit. "Heh… you don't want to know."

Saria just stared blankly, eyeing Link. "We're all waiting in suspense, Link!" she finally blurted out, clearly not hiding her sarcastic, sadistic tone. "Aren't you going to tell us about this thing that you NEVER BROUGHT UP BEFORE?!"

Link placed a hand on his head, groaning. "Ugh, Saria, it's not—"

Spears lowered all around them. Ruto glanced around, stunned. "What… what is the MEANING of this?!"

Across the bridge behind them, the soldiers split, leading the way for a Hylian soldier. He was tall, with short brown hair and sideburns that wrapped around to a mustache, and further down straight into a beard. He wore grand, golden armor, with a blue cape bearing the Hylian insignia. His head was bare. His ears were long and pointed, like all Hylians.

The commander stepped forward, a snicker on his face. "I'm sorry to bother you, dear queen, but I cannot allow this to go any further."

Mickaw narrowed his eyes. "Gersh, what is the MEANING of this?!"

Link turned back. "Captain… So you have arrived."

Relm quickly jumped in front of Zelda, removing her daggers. "You're NOT taking her!"

Spears lowered again, one in particular touching Relm's neck. Gersh shook his head. "Ah, the renegade… I've heard much about you. Fortunately for you, I can't just have you killed. But I can make it a very, very painful experience."

Zelda pushed Relm aside and rushed forward. "What in the WORLD is your problem, Gersh?! You've gone insane! I've never known you to be so vile. Get some sense back into your head!"

Gersh crossed his arms. "I make perfect sense, don't I? These people are on a dangerous mission and they tricked you into coming along, as well. What would happen to the kingdom if you died? Your mother the queen can't live forever, and neither can your father. It is your responsibility to your kingdom. It is their own foolishness for not sending soldiers at once to retrieve you and make sure you were safe, so I had to come on my own terms…"

"Maybe it's because she needs to learn to fend for herself," Link interjected, forcing his way through to the front to face Gersh.

Navi turned to Link and smiled, stepping up next to him. "Maybe it is because her parents knew that this was her destiny. Only by going through these trials would she know what it is like in the real world; how everything works and how to rule properly."

"She just needs a chance," Sheila added, moving in line next to Navi, now.

Relm closed her eyes and turned to the ground. Finally, she opened them again. "She is stronger than you think, captain. You make her out to be just a little royal brat. However, she has gone beyond that. She was grown and learned. You can't ever learn if you don't try. You can't ever try if you aren't given the chance."

Zelda turned away, her eyes tearing up. "Thanks, guys…"

Saria just stood and watched, unsure of what to say. Mickaw, Ruto, and her zora guards also stood by to watch what was about to transpire.

Gersh closed his eyes and turned his smile upside down. "Hm… a heart-warming gesture…" suddenly, he opened them wide, again, raising his spear high into the air. "But you can't keep me from my duties to the king!"

The captain rushed on forward, jumped into the air. Link rushed ahead and threw the Master Sword in front of him. Zelda glanced around as war broke out. The soldiers rushed in and attacked, with the zora guards and the five others defending against the assailants.

The clashing of steel, the echoes of feet across the ground, spells whispered, battle cries yelled out… All the conflicting noises pierced her ears. She wanted to scream out loud, but no words came. Zelda's eyes closed and she fell to her knees. Finally, she found one word, which she cried out as loud as she possibly could high up into the night sky. "STOP!"

Saria was stunned as she saw a spear ready to pierce into her heart… and then everything came to a halt. There was no noise, no wind, no movements whatsoever. Relm was in the middle of the air, flipping back as a sword came beneath her. Sheila was pulling back on her bow, aiming for a soldier that was about to strike Link from behind. Link himself was poised with the Master Sword clashing against Gersh's spear.

Mickaw, too, had stopped. He had just thrown both fits out wide and had already reached for his guitar, probably to try and make some noise in order to stun the soldiers. The zora warriors fought with spears against Hylian warriors. Gerudo down in the water swam back to shore; smoke from the laboratory was billowed up, unmoving.

"She removed herself completely from time," a voice stated from behind.

Saria turned around to see Navi. "What…?" the green-haired girl replied. "Then why aren't we…?!"

"Navi is a fairy, and you are a sage," another voice came back. "We are immune to the effects of such things. Only when a greater power enacts such a thing can we be affected."

Ruto stood a few feet away, also unaffected by the time stop. Saria wasn't worried about that, though. She rushed over to the other side of the island, Navi right behind her. Zelda was on the ground, her head laying across and her hair muddied from the dirt. Saria sat down next to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "What's wrong?"

"I just… I just want it to end…" she cried. "Why does there have to be all this hatred and contempt… Why is there all this misery…? Is this what the world is like?"

Navi smiled, nodding. "Yes… and that's why we want to put a stop to it. We have to stop the darkness from growing. It isn't only creating havoc and deadly creatures… It is creating greater contempt and hatred in the hearts of people. It happened to Lieutenant Trey, and now to Captain Gersh. If we let it consume him, we may never get him back…"

Zelda sat up, looking around. That's when she realized what had happened. She turned back to Navi, and then to Saria. "But… how?"

"You are the heir to the Sage of Time," Ruto proclaimed, stepping forward. "You have this power… You can alter the flow of time, but you must not use it at your own discretion. You have to use it the right way. Your mother, who is the Time Sage, may be able to teach you how to use your powers better, and how to use them the right way."

Zelda looked down at her fingers, closing and shutting her hands. Finally, she clasped them together. "I… I think I know what to do…"

Saria raised an eyebrow. "You're going back…?"

She smiled, nodding. "I want to learn more about this… I never knew about it until now… Maybe, I can be more helpful then. This must be what I needed to learn! Also… I want the old Gersh back. Me being out here has caused this to blind him. I can't let it destroy him. I'll go back with him."

Navi nodded. "Very well, then… but do you know how?"

Zelda had already started to walk towards Gersh, but she stopped. "I…"

"Concentrate," Navi stated. "You have to concentrate hard. Release the flow of time from your hold. Everything will return back to the way it is supposed to be."

The princess nodded back. She turned around and closed her eyes. All sense of hearing, and sight, and touch, faded… She opened her eyes to see darkness all around. She clasped her hands together, looking to the sky.

Gersh slammed his spear down into Link's sword once more, and Link raised his weapon high, poising for attack. "Wait! Stop!"

All action ceased, and all eyes turned to the young princess racing across the threshold. "Wait! Stop this madness… I'll go with you, if I must. I just can't allow this to continue."

Gersh lowered his weapon, smiled. "Very well, then."

"But—" Link started.

A hand touched his shoulder. Green hair flowing out from behind a head peaked around and looked at him. "Let her go…" Saria stated. "It is her choice."

The Gersh called back his soldiers and the fighting ceased. Relm watched, stunned, as Zelda walked behind the captain, simply smiling back at them. The red-haired girl didn't know what to say. Finally, she blurted something out. "What the hell happened just now?!"