Izzy: Allo People! Time for the next chapter!
Oni: What took so long?
Roecliff: Yeah! You were posting chapters every other day!
Izzy: I had to look back at old chapters to assure myself that I didn't make any contradicting information in my newer chapters.
Oni: Just get on with it! No one cares about Authoress Reviews!
Izzy: My beta might...SUMMARY! Gometh is defeated-
Oni: YEAH!
Izzy: ...and Gerudo Fortress is saved from the white shadows and monsters!
Everyone: Huzzah!
Izzy: Now, Mystia encounters Natasha who is about to explain what happened. Let's take a look!
Disclaimer: No Zelda here! Only OC ownership.
Together, Mystia and Natasha released all the Gerudo guards and servants. Each guard had the same skin tone, hair and eyes as Natasha. The guards also dressed similarly to Natasha, only that their outfits and the veils in front of their faces were purple. The servants, however, had short red hair and wore white vests over red, bra-like tank tops and white pants.
Mystia introduced her company to Natasha to make sure there was no trouble between her party and the Gerudo females. Then, the commander brought them to one of the houses where tables were set up with refreshments: apples, bread, nuts, cucco, and water. The group ate contently, except Femur, who was a Stalfos which would have no organs, and Natasha filled them in on what happened in the fortress.
"Everything was fine until a man who called himself Ashasti showed up and made a mess of everything" the commander informed. "He brought monsters into the desert and imprisoned all of us into our own cells. He then demanded that all of us join the Dark King or else, but I told him no. We would never serve a man like him. So, he left us in our prisons and commanded the monsters to keep a watch over the fortress. For months, we were trapped in the cells and heard the commotions of people and monsters every once in a while."
The Gerudo female sighed in relief. "If it wasn't for you and your companions' showing up, we would have died for sure. I certainly owe you one."
"Don't worry about it," Mystia said. "We were just traveling through here, anyway. It was the least we can do."
"What was it that brought you here?" Natasha inquired.
"The Stone of the Forest," the deity replied. "The queen mentioned that it might have been brought here a while back."
"The Stone of the Forest," the Gerudo pondered. "I know I've heard it before...Oh, yes! Nabooru spoke of it the last time I saw her. No one knew what happened to it; however, I heard rumor a couple weeks ago that it was taken to the Spirit Temple. Don't know who said it."
"Where is the Spirit Temple?" Scrubs asked.
"It's across the Haunted Wastelands in the Desert Colossus," Natasha answered, "But it's far too dangerous to cross the Wastelands. Not too many survive it."
"Why?" Mystia asked curiously.
"There are two trials in the Haunted Wastelands," the dark-skinned woman informed the deity. "One: The River of Sand. You have to cross a river made of sand and follow the flags. Two: The Phantom Guide. There will be an invisible creature who will take you the rest of the way. You have to pass both trials in order to reach the Desert Colossus. I wouldn't suggest going there unless you want to die."
"I don't like this idea," Scrubs shivered.
"Who does?" Femur spoke. "No one wants to die."
You're one to talk, Caspen commented aloud to Femur's remark.
"We have to get there to find the stone," Mystia told Natasha.
"Are you certain you want to do this?" the commander asked worriedly.
"We have a mission to carry out," Mystia replied boldly. "The queen is depending on us to get that stone. Now, which way to the Wastelands?"
"Very well," the Gerudo sighed. "It's just outside to the right. There's a gate there that we have to open for you."
Right before the travelers reached the gates to the Haunted Wastelands, Natasha had it opened for them so they could enter in. Mystia saw the vast expanse of the desert and how far it stretched out before them.
"From here, you must go by foot," the commander mentioned. "No horse can cross the River of Sand without it drowning." She looked down at Fetch. "Not even a Wolfos can make it without its fate being doomed."
Poor Fetch whined sadly and inched closer to Scrubs.
"Maybe it's a good idea for you to stay here," Mystia told the Wolfos while patting his head. "That way, you'll be safe."
Fetch whimpered again, but sat down in agreement. Scrubs rubbed the Wolfos' back in reassurance.
"Don't worry, Fetch, old boy," the Deku said in his squeaky voice. "We'll be back! We are warriors! We can overcome anything!"
His confidence is overwhelming, Caspen groaned incredulously.
"Before you go," Natasha spoke to Mystia, "I want to give you something."
The Gerudo handed the deity a metal claw slightly bigger than her hand.
"This was once a grappling hook used to get to out of reach places," the commander told the girl. "We never had a chance to attach a rope, but hopefully it will become useful."
"Thank you, Natasha," Mystia said with a nod. "I'm sure it will come to good use."
Natasha laid a hand on the giant's shoulder.
"Please be careful out there," she cautioned. "The last thing Hyrule needs is another missing hero."
Mystia grinned at the Gerudo.
"We'll be back," the deity told her.
She turned her gaze to the desert and began her journey into the Wastelands.
All around her, billows of sands blew before her and harshly impeded her vision. She could barely see fifteen feet ahead of her.
"Sap!" Scrubs shouted. "Too much sand!"
"It's really blowing!" Femur shouted over the howling winds. "It's like someone really doesn't want us treading through here."
"Looks like whoever it is has to deal with it," Mystia replied. "We're coming whether they like it or not!"
Shielding her eyes with her arm, she pushed through the gusts of wind and sand.
"Miss Deity! Stop!" Femur called out quickly.
She stopped and looked down. Before her feet was liquid, flowing sand. One more step and she would have been in trouble! She sighed with relief.
"Thanks, Femur," she said gratefully.
Scrubs leaned in closer to the flowing sand.
"How do we get across?" he asked aloud.
"I'm up for ideas," Mystia announced.
"Look over there!" Femur alerted them while pointing across the sand river.
Mystia looked and spotted three large crates on the other side with two flags posted on either side of the middle crate.
"That's great, Femur," Mystia said politely, "but how does this help us?"
Might I suggest something? Caspen asked.
Give it to me, Mystia replied.
Perhaps if you had something that could get you across, like a certain tool? The boy suggested.
Mystia thought for a moment, then grinned. She held out her arms to Scrubs.
"Come on, little warrior!" the deity said to him.
Scrubs leaped into the deity's arms and the girl reached her hand out to Femur.
"You too," she said.
"What are you up to, miss?" the Stalfos asked as he took the giant's hand.
Scrubs clung to Mystia's arm as she reached into her magic pouch to retrieve the hookshot.
"We're getting across," she replied.
The deity pulled the hookshot out and fired it at the crates. It grabbed the boxes and pulled the three
companions across the river.
"AAAAHHHH!" both Stalfos and Deku cried as they were swept across the undulating, dry river.
They landed in the sand right before the crates. Scrubs leaped onto the crate in front of them and looked wide-eyed at Mystia.
"I hate it when you do that!" he growled.
"We're across, aren't we?" Mystia said with a smile.
She did her best to look ahead through the thick sandstorm and spied a flag in the distance.
"There's a flag," she shouted. "Come on!"
The deity picked up Scrubs and, with Femur right behind, began to follow the flags one by one. Femur, on occasion, pointed out each flag to Mystia so she could cover her eyes from the whirling sand.
"Up ahead! I see something!" Femur called out.
Mystia lifted up her eyes and saw a large, circular pillar made of stone. In front of them was an opening leading down inside. A slope circled the pillar leading to the top.
"What is it?" she asked the Stalfos.
"To be honest, I don't know. I've actually never been in this desert before."
Now, he tells us! Caspen grumbled rudely.
Mystia climbed to the top of the pillar and saw a sign. She approached it and read:
One with the eye of truth shall be guided to the Spirit Temple by an inviting ghost.
Does it mean the eyes of truth? Mystia thought.
It's worth finding out, Caspen said as he switched her vision.
The girl glanced around. Nothing but sand and flags.
Well, if the 'inviting ghost' is supposed to be here, then where is it? Caspen asked.
"I don't see it!" she said in surprise.
Femur pulled out the lens of truth, held it against his eye and looked around.
"I don't see it, either!" Femur confirmed.
"Maybe it took a vacation?" Scrubs suggested.
Mystia's heart sank.
What are we going to do now? She thought.
You would think a ghost or something would be here, Caspen spoke. The sign said so. Besides, this desert is called the Haunted Wastelands for a reason!
The word 'ghost' triggered a memory in Mystia's head.
Not a ghost, she thought, but what about a poe?
"MABEL!" she shouted. "MABEL! WHERE ARE YOU?!"
Femur gave the deity girl a wary look.
"What do you want her for?" he inquired in disgust.
"BOO!" shouted a voice.
All three travelers jumped and turned around. There floated Mabel the Poe with her lavender bun hair and long dress, carrying the same lantern.
"Oh, it never gets old!" Mabel cackled.
Femur growled.
"Mabel," Mystia said to the poe. "I need a favor from you."
"Well, it's about time!" the ghostly figure said while crossing her arms in annoyance. "I was wondering why it took you so long!"
"I was wondering," Mystia continued, "if you can get us across this desert to the colossus? The original guide isn't here, so I was hoping you knew—"
"That's it?!" the poe exclaimed. "That's what you called me here for? That's what I've been waiting for this whole time?! I half expected something almost frightening to the bone like to scare something away for you...but THIS?!"
Mable cradled her head with her hands and shook it. "That's it! My dead life is ruined! I once had such a great reputation, but now it boils down to being an anti-murder desert guide that can only scare people!"
"WOMAN!" Femur shouted. "Will you stop your complaining and get us out of this place!?"
"No pity for this dead soul!" Mabel replied, angrily. "How rude!"
"Please, Mabel!" Mystia interjected. "It's the only favor I will ever ask you. Then, you can go back to scaring people to your heart's content."
"Oh, alright," the poe sighed in regret and floated out to the desert. "But it's the only favor you'll get. You have to keep up with me, though."
The travelers followed the poe who took them on different twists and turns through the desert. Femur even questioned the poe's methods.
"She already took us that direction twice!" Femur complained. "I can see the flags right over there!"
"I don't get it, either, but she seems to know what she's doing," Mystia stated.
After several minutes, the poe led them to the two standing flags.
"That's it!" Mabel declared. "Well, I better get going!"
"Thanks for your help," Mystia said gratefully.
"Sure! At least someone appreciates me," the poe scowled as she glared at Femur, who gave her an evil look back. "Well, the next time you see me, I'll be in the graveyard. Ta-ta!"
The poe laughed as she faded away.
"Finally!" Femur heavily sighed. "She's out of our lives!"
"Let's go!" Scrubs said with a leap. "To the temple!"
The group walked past the flags. The wind seemed to blow harder, which only made the sand sting and blind them. Then a bright light shined through the sandy fog and the wind died down. Everyone looked around and beheld the site before them as they walked forward.
Trees and rocks were scattered in the sand, but Mystia's focus was on the colossus of a statue above what she guessed was the entrance to the Spirit Temple. The statue was of a woman who appeared similar to the Gerudo people. She was sitting with her arms resting on her crossed legs and her palms up. Though the hissing snake curled around her head was made of stone, its eyes still looked eerily cold. The face of the woman herself had no expression and looked on toward Gerudo Fortress.
"Femur, do you know what that is?" Mystia asked the Stalfos.
"It is called the Desert Colossus," Femur replied. "The Gerudos also call her the Goddess of the Sand."
"What did she do?" the deity asked.
"Not sure," Femur told her with a shrug of his shoulders. "No one really knows except the Gerudos themselves."
They went under a stone archway and climbed the stairs to the entrance.
Izzy: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaannd we're back again!
Femur: I really don't like Mabel.
Oni: *appearing behind Femur* BOO!
Femur: AAAAAUUUUUUGGGGHHHH!
Oni: Hee hee!
Femur: T_T Grrrrrr...
Izzy: So, now we know for certain that the final stone is in the Spirit Temple, but our dear companions had to cross the dreaded wastelands to get there.
Scrubs: Sand...too much sand...
Izzy: Now, they made it safely and are on their way inside the temple. What will they find there? Will they get the stone? Find out next chapter!
Roecliff: R&R people! Authoress likes the reviews you give her!