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Shadow: One last update before the new year and all that good stuff.

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Chapter 33: Competition

She breathed in deep, stealing her nerves. Daylight was falling; the moon could be seen now if she stood in Hyrule Field. But she wasn't anywhere near there. She was home, and that meant being alienated once more. A long time ago she had garnered respect through her fighting prowess. Being at such a young age and being how strong she was had earned respect. That hard earned respect was now gone. Only the elder Gerudos remembered who she was, the younger Gerudos just know her as someone from the past.

Apparently, returning from a seven year hiatus makes a dent in one's reputation.

Nadai calmed herself off to the side. Except for a pair of guards, she was largely ignored. The youngest Gerudos stared at her from a safe distance, treating her as a spectacle. She didn't return their stare, her eyes hazily staring ahead. This place brought back to her those many long hours of being alone.

"But I'm not alone." She whispered. She glanced at the caged platform to the side. The prizes would be placed there soon. The carpenters and Link and whatever else they had gathered for the winner. Link and Navi would be here for her, in fact, Navi was hovering protected by Link right now.

"Look at her, who is she?" Her ears caught the words of the young ones staring at her.

"She's a Gerudo, duh."

"I heard that mama say something that she wasn't a Gerudo."

"She looks like a Gerudo."

"She's too light skinned."

"She's a Gerudo. Who cares if she is light skinned or not."

"Prove it."

"I heard that Darma knew her name that and all that."

"That's not good enough proof."

"Yeah, I heard that Darma even knew the name of the man that had invaded too."

"So? That man there is going to usurp our great Lord Gannondorf's rightful throne."

"Yeah, it makes sense that his name was known."

"What about her then?"

"Well, I'm pretty sure she isn't a Gerudo, that's for sure."

"Then how did she get in so easily? Only another Gerudo could have infiltrated here."

"Whatever. I don't believe that she is a Gerudo."

The children dispersed. Nadai sighed in relief. She wasn't in the mood to sort out anything other than the current problem. Saving Link right now was the big problem for her. Saving those carpenters was a secondary objective now.

As far as she remembered, there would be two main tournament brackets. The children's bracket would happen first. This generally was an all-out battle with wooden weapons, a free-for-all that resulted with a winner. The adult bracket was a lot more organized. With a one on one battle all the way to the top. In order to progress it resulted in one of three ways. One of the combatants forfeited, or they were forced out of the ring. Death was the last option. Too often Nadai would see someone enter and not walk away.

Of course, any weapon was fair game for the adult bracket, meaning many would walk away seriously injured.

"You."

Nadai glanced down at the young girl in front of her. It was the same kid who had insisted that she was a Gerudo before. If anything, that kid was on her side, even if it was because she was purely speculative. "You referring to me?" She whispered.

"Yeah."

"Well, then, what do you want?"

"Are you a Gerudo?"

"That's a complicated question."

"What's so complicated about it? It's either a yes or a no."

"Sometimes it isn't so easy."

"How do you mean?"

"Being me doesn't mean that I am a Gerudo or I am not a Gerudo."

"You can't be both a Gerudo and not a Gerudo."

"Says who?"

"Says anyone!"

"Well, I'm not anyone." She crouched lower, to look the kid in the eyes. "My name is Nadai."

"Pani."

"W-What did you just call yourself?"

"Pani."

"Do you know the significance of that name?"

"No."

"She was once a brilliant fighter." Tears started to well up in her eyes. "She was also my good friend before she died."

"Friend? She was a Gerudo?"

"She won the tournament herself. She was around your age. She was seven."

"She won?"

"Then she was murdered before my eyes."

"What!"

"Yes." A few tears dropped down her cheeks. Normally she would wipe them away, but she chose not to.

"I would say you are a Gerudo, but you cry."

"Crying isn't a sign of weakness."

"Our trainers say they are."

"Well then, maybe they are wrong."

"They can't be wrong."

"Tell me, do you dwell on the past?"

"I am a Gerudo, and Gerudos do not dwell upon the past."

"Is that so?" Nadai smiled. "I'm pretty sure that I do."

"Then you aren't a Gerudo then."

"But I was raised here."

"Then you are a Gerudo. But you're not." Pani stopped herself. "Stop confusing me!"

"I'm doing no such thing." Nadai stood up and stretched. She glanced at the guards close by, but they paid no attention to her. At least, they didn't pay obvious attention to her. "You should go. I need to stretch out properly."

"You're in the tournament?"

"Yeah."

"Why? Only Gerudos can be in the tournament."

"Are you saying I'm not a Gerudo now?" She laughed as she saw Pani blush in anger. "I'm here for a simple reason." She looked to the cage where already there was a pile of weapons and treasures from across the lands. "I'm here for a prize."

"What prize?"

"You'll see him."

"Him?"

"The man in green. He is my-"

"Link! He's the one after our Lord Gannondorf!"

"Yes, yes he is."

"And you're with him?"

"Yes."

"And Darma doesn't know?"

"Oh, she knows."

"She does?"

Nadai nodded. "She knows. She is the one who wants me to fight in the tournament."

"Why!?"

"Because I will win." Nadai smiled.

"Is that even possible? Darma is the strongest here."

"And Nabooru? Isn't she the one in charge?"

"She isn't around." Pani shrugged. "Darma is the leader while she is away. She is stronger than you."

"We'll see about that."

Finally there was silence. Nadai bent over backwards, holding her hands to the ground and going into handstand. She held herself like that carefully, maintaining her balance.

"Are you really that strong?"

She looked at the child before her. "I'm the strongest here, save maybe Link."

"How can a man be stronger than a Gerudo?"

"It's because we are the strongest." She pushed off and flipped to her feet. "Nothing can stop the two of us when we put our mind to it."

"Even Gannondorf?"

"Well, that depends." She fingered her daggers. "Is he coming tonight?"

"He should be, but I heard that he won't be able to make it."

"Let's hope he doesn't then." Nadai pointed to a door a ways away. "Look."

Out of the darkness came Link. Behind him, were the four carpenters, chained to each other with a long, thick chain. Link scanned the crowd for her, and flashed a smile. She smiled back, her heart fluttering. He entered the cage and relaxed against a mound of treasure.

"Is that him?"

"Yes."

"Why do you fight for him then?"

"I love him." She glanced down at the young girl who made a face. "Don't give me that. You said yourself that I'm not a Gerudo."

"But you are!"

"Am I?"

"Um, maybe?"

"Maybe then." Nadai looked at the ring. "Maybe is good enough." Other young contestants were already entering the ring. "You better hurry up, or you'll be left out."

Pani left her. Nadai smiled. What an unusual conversation. She glanced at the guards around her. She stretched out one leg after another. She normally didn't have the luxury of stretching out. It would be different this time.

A small gong was hit, causing silence in the valley. She composed herself, standing at attention like she always had. She gnawed at her lip then took a relaxed stance against the wall. She wasn't a Gerudo at heart anymore. She wouldn't have to follow their rules. She watched as Darma stood in the middle of the crowd of youngsters. She spoke quietly, only talking to them. Nadai knew the routine. She had done it for five years without end.

Darma stepped out of the ring, and rang the gong again. Immediately the ring became a dust devil movement. Nadai glanced at it in half-amusement as each and every child in there sought to win. As normal, the elder youngsters would have the best chances to win. The younger ones were driven off, and maybe only one or two of the stronger young ones remained. This included Pani.

From then on Nadai did watch on with earnest. To her, it was reliving the old days when she was young as well as seeing all of the new things that had changed. The fight lasted for a few more minutes, leaving one of the older kids in the center of the ring. Whoever this kid was, she certainly was beat up, and tired. Nadai coughed. She had won by pure luck, it had nothing to do with skill. If her opponent hadn't stepped backwards and tripped on a fallen weapon, that winner would have lost.

Nadai smiled. It was good to know that some things never changed.

Nadai waited for her name to be called. Around her the other Gerudos were doing last minute check-ups. She heard her name be called, and located her opponent. The other woman narrowed her eyes, flexing her hands on her spear. Nadai shot her a smile.

They entered the ring, and took spots on opposite sides. O the platform, by the prizes, stood an old Gerudo. She would be the presiding judge, much like she had been for the past several decades. She hit the gong, and the fight was on.

Nadai dodged a spear thrust, dipping to the side. She shot Link a glance who watched her carefully. She took out her daggers and spun them, catching another spear thrust. She knocked it up high, and rolled in. She planted a kick on her chest, and pushed back. She planted her foot and blocked a swipe or two from the spear. She rushed in, spinning and cutting with ferocity. But with every cut she landed, she only scratched the surface.

She swore to herself that there would be no more killing.

She landed behind her opponent, the crowd gasping. She smiled again, tripped up her opponent, and flashed her blade down to her throat.

"Surrender?"

There was a long pause, but she did get a response.

"I surrender."

She let up instantly, and walked out of the ring. The crowd, which normally would be ecstatic, was deathly quit. They hadn't thought that she could do it. She was given a wide berth, and she sat down against the wall, waiting the next fight. From the side she caught Pani's eyes, whom had emerged from being bandaged to see the end of the fight. She was wide-eyed, and her mouth stood gaping.

"What?"

The kid had come over, leaving Nadai with her small companion once more.

"What what?"

"You beat her."

"So?"

"But you couldn't have."

"But I did."

"How?"

"I acted."

"How?"

"I just did."

"But that's impossible."

"You keep on saying that everything has to be in absolutes. Learn to broaden your horizons."

"So you really are that strong?"

"You decide that yourself."

Nadai watched as other Gerudos entered the ring. No one beat their first opponent as quickly as her, nor had they escaped unharmed either. She smiled, and twirled her daggers dangerously. The two guards around her tensed uneasily, and she had to bark out in laughter.

"Why are you laughing?"

"You were taught that no one is stronger than a Gerudo. Let me tell you, it isn't true."

"What!"

"I left this place over seven years ago. I met Link, and he beat me in combat."

"Seven years ago?"

"Yeah. Together, we beat a lot of things and people and monsters."

"Together?"

"We once met others like us. They didn't know team work. The Gerudo fighting style is based off of fighting as a single person, all alone. That's what makes them such good assassins. My fighting style derives from that. Only, I can fight as a group."

"A group?"

"That's why no one here can beat me. They haven't met a fighting style like mine."

"But you haven't faced anyone yet."

"That's right. Well, how about I just beat Darma and call it a night then."

"Beat Darma!?"

"It's possible." Nadai grinned as she walked back to the ring. "Besides, you wouldn't want it to be Link in the ring right now."

"And why's that?"

Nadai crouched as she glanced his way. "Because he's even stronger than I am."

Her enemy before her had a single long sword. She attacked much like Link did. Only, she didn't have any power behind her swings. It was all speed; speed was the one thing that Nadai could keep up with. Less than a minute went by and Nadai forced her opponent out of the ring. Her opponents were getting stronger bit by bit.

But she could still win without bloodshed.

A few rounds passed, leaving her in the semifinals. Her opponent was good, forcing Nadai to be more serious than before. She had gotten nicked once already, a long mark on her arm. It would surely leave a mark if she didn't at least wash it out soon. On top of that, it was getting colder and colder out, making her shiver uncontrollably.

Her opponent wielded two long swords, both of them flashing dangerously in the torchlight. Nadai grinned through the sweat and the weariness.

"What is so funny?"

"I'll win in two moves."

"What-"

Instantly Nadai flashed forward, blocking both blades with her own and ramming her knee into the woman's gut. While her opponent was out of breath, she went on the full offensive, cutting wildly at the air around her opponent. She reflexively retreated backwards, for which Nadai was ready. She spun about low, tripping her opponent and sending her falling backwards. Unconsciously, she followed through with the roll and came up on her feet. But it had worked; she was out of the ring.

Nadai breathed in the deep cold air, and walked to her usual spot by the wall. Her nerves were shaking, and when she arrived, she sat down and closed her eyes. She was getting tired with all of the fighting.

"Why don't you hit them?"

"Hm?"

"Why don't you hit them?"

"You asked me this like, ten minutes ago."

"You never gave me an answer."

"I wanted you to figure it out."

"Well, I didn't."

"You're smarter than that."

"Maybe I'm not."

"Maybe you put down on yourself too much."

"Are you gonna tell me or not?"

"I know all of these people here."

"What?"

"I grew up with them. I was raised here for ten years. I know everyone here who is over eight years old. They know me, at least the older ones do. They know who I am, they know what I am. They know that I am stronger than any one of them. And yet, they were mean to me. I was discriminated against because of who I was. Who I was born to."

"So why don't you cut them?"

"Because despite all of that I learned something while I was away."

"What was that?"

"That I can learn to forgive the past."

"Forgive the past?"

"I don't need to forget the past. I can remember it and forgive it too."

"That's weird."

"I'm a weird person I guess."

"You guess?"

"Well, what defines weird?"

"Um-"

"You can't. Weird is a variation of normal. The question truly is at that point what is normal. And, well, I don't go by normal definitions."

Darma was staying in the ring, she was swinging her single blade with ease.

"And it is my time to go in."

"What is then your normal definition?"

"Pani, I was born in Hyrule from a prostitute, orphaned here as a Gerudo, and spent half of my childhood fighting and training to take down Gannondorf. I am anything but normal."

She entered the ring and swung her daggers at her sides.

"You actually made it to the finals."

"I told you that I would beat you."

"So you say." Darma pointed her sword at Nadai. "But there is only one way you may win."

"And how is that?"

"I know the dimensions of the ring by heart, I won't fall out as easily as someone else."

"Is that so?"

"I won't surrender either. I can only lose if I die." Darma's eyes grew wicked. "And I won't die."

"So you say."

"I am working for Lord Gannondorf. I cannot lose."

"You aren't the first person who said that."

"And I know your true weakness, Nadai."

"And what is that?"

"You aren't willing to kill."

Malon's face flashed over her vision, and her knees buckled. "Malon…"

"Yes, I know all about her."

"How?"

"Simple. My Lord told me."

"You are right. I will not kill anyone." Nadai felt her anger rising.

"In which case, you will die!"

Darma led with a wicked slice from her sword, swinging it faster than Nadai had to face before. It wasn't wrong of the other Gerudos to name Darma the strongest right now in the camp. Out of all the Gerudos there she was by far the strongest. Not only that, but her techniques were down pat. She would be the most skillful out of all the opponents Nadai would have had to face before now.

And she knew that. She could only dodge and parry for now. While Darma's one sword style was reminiscent of the pervious Gerudos, her strength was far superior. Nadai was soon hard pressed to keep away from that stinging blade.

She got cut once, along her cheek. A second mark scored along her side. Nadai's grunted in pain. Darma had this wicked look in her eyes. Something was familiar to her about that look. Something that made her stomach queasy.

In the cage, Navi came out of Link's hat to look at the battle going on. She knew what it was immediately.

"It's Gannondorf."

Link glanced up from the fight. "What?"

"Can't you feel that aura?"

Link looked at Darma carefully. "I see it now."

"It's the same aura as Ingo."

"Gannondorf's power?"

"He must have infused Darma with his energy."

Link watched as Nadai scored a fourth injury, this one a shallow stab in her stomach. "She can't last much longer if she only defends." Link turned to Navi. "Help her."

"How?"

"Tell her what's up."

Navi shrugged, but kept silent. She flew through the bars of the cage unnoticed, and landed on Nadai's shoulder.

"What are you doing here?"

"Nadai, you have to fight seriously now."

"I'm not going to kill her."

"No one said that you had to. Just look at her."

Nadai dodged backward, away from a slice that would have decapitated her if she were any slower. "I see something. What is it?"

"The same power that was in Ingo."

Nadai almost stopped moving, absolutely frozen by the implications. If Ingo had gone from weakling to a mast fighter from the power he had possessed from Gannondorf, what would that mean for someone who was as skilled a fighter as Darma? Well, she could already see what the results were, and quite frankly it was frightening her. While she had grown stronger since Ingo, even if it was only a few days prior, it had taken all of her strength to just fend off Ingo. Link had to perform he killing blow.

Malon flashed before her again. Nadai shed a solitary tear. How had Link done it? He was so hard and strong and cold, but at the same time he was like a child. And there he was now, depending on her to right the wrongs and get them all free from this mess.

She had to do it; she had to be more like him. She had to do it. Her eyes narrowed, and the tears fell freely.

"Why do you cry?"

"Because, Darma. I'm going all out. And you're not going to survive this."

"Try it." She attacked, but Nadai was suddenly on the other side of the ring. Nadai twirled her blades in the air, and spun about, blocking a swipe from Darma. Instead of fully countering the attack, she diverted the force to go a different direction. She leapt over the blade with something that resembled a cartwheel and kicked Darma in the face. While she was stunned with the bloody nose, she struck out against her. instead of striking the air, this time her blades met flesh. Dozens of little cuts appeared along Darma's body, before Nadai retreated out of the way.

"Why you little bitch."

"I told you I wouldn't hold back."

Darma snarled, her face slowly twisting into a hideous mask of evil. Nadai rushed in and the battle truly went on from there. Those who witnessed it would swear that it was truly the most spectacular finale of all finales in the history of the tournament. Nadai and Darma formed one fluid dance, their movements countering each other perfectly. Darma may have been the stronger, and her reach was certainly longer. But Nadai had the rare twin-dagger techniques down pat, and she was faster and could strike in two different directions. While her dagger style wasn't that unknown to Darma, it was this particular variant that made this style truly Nadai's.

She fought as if she had another person next to her, as if Link was fighting with her. She would feint and attack, and leave herself open in the most awkward of places. Darma would try to counter them, but this unpredictability of Nadai's attacks kept Darma on her toes. And so the battle lasted for a long time. Five minutes went by, then ten. After the twenty minute mark the cheers from the crowd died down. At the half-hour mark, both fighters were moving considerably slower than before. At the hour mark nothing much had changed. Nadai had four wounds on her, only one of which was serious enough to really hurt her. Darma had dozens of small cuts along her sides and arms and chest.

In short, neither could gain advantage over the other.

Their breaths hung in the air, the air chill against their skin. They stood a little ways apart, on either end of the ring. Link watched as they eyed each other, each trying to find a weakness in the other. Other Gerudos watched in silence, standing as silent monoliths to the fight. Not ever in the history of their people had a fight gone on this long. And, as Darma and Nadai caught their breath, only they two knew why.

While Nadai had started to go all-out on Darma earlier, her stamina had waned. It wasn't as nearly as strong as Link's. And both of them knew that without Darma's added strength, this battle would have ended a long time ago. The strength that Darma had gained from Gannondorf was something unpredictable to Nadai still. She still, even after all of this time fighting, hadn't found the weakness that would give her an advantage.

"What do you see, Navi?" She whispered.

The fairy had stayed on her shoulder for the duration so far, and had been watching Darma with a keen eye. But she couldn't see a thing. So far she had been able to draw upon past memories for the quest. But, as things kept on going as such with Nadai interfering with the old timeline with her presence, then it would be harder and harder for Navi to be able to help them on their quest. And right here was totally different.

Navi hadn't even heard of Darma before, or seen her fighting prowess until just then. Before Link had simply walked on in, and beaten each and every Gerudo on a rampage to find Gannondorf. When that failed he went to the Desert Goddess, and ended up finding the last sage on pure luck. There wasn't a tournament that Navi was aware of until Nadai had mentioned it.

Alright, to be clear, she had known about Darma's fighting style. She knew about it since she saw similar before. But having that fighting style and speed combined with the freakish strength of Gannondorf was a whole new level that she couldn't comprehend. She didn't even know if it would be possible for Nadai to survive this fight.

"Nothing yet. But I think I might have an idea."

"What is it?"

"Well, you and Link work the best together."

"What about it?"

Navi glanced at Link. "I might be able to give you a hand; I need to talk to Link."

Nadai tensed and un-tensed her muscles, forcing her weary body to move. She darted to the side, as Darma lunged forward. She twirled her daggers, blocking a side swipe from her. Stepping forward, she pushed her backwards.

"Nadai!"

Everyone stopped and looked at the prizes. Link had stood up, cracking out his neck as he did.

"I tire of this. Don't make me come out there and finish this myself."

He took out his sword, which shown in the moonlight. He swung it, and cut through the iron bars in front of him, without any visible effort.

Link smiled. "It's high time we left here, just finish this."

Nadai glanced back to Darma, who was visibly shaken from Link's display of strength. She herself had to wonder how had Link gotten so strong so quickly. Shaking the thought from her head she crouched low, daggers extended out to her sides; she had more important things to do. She sprung forward, and stabbed. Darma reacted instantly, blocking both daggers put stepping back.

Nadai closed her eyes, focusing only on the fight ahead of her. She moved when she detected the rush of the sword, and stepped as though drunk, avoiding blows like the wind. This truly was the next step for her technique. If Link could be related to a solid wall of strength, then Nadai would be the elements around it.

She was like the wind and water, unable to be cut. She was like the fire, sparking out and cutting her opponent. She was like the earth, steadfast as she blocked and diverted blows that would have killed her. The twin-dagger technique she had learned as a child, this was the final level. And while it was powerful, she was more attuned to fighting with Link, side by side. That was her own personal fighting style, not the style that she had originally started out with.

She opened her eyes, attacking and dodging and parrying and deflecting as if she were three people and not one. Darma's face twisted from one of pure evil to desperation. She ouldn't keep up with her onslaught.

"Nadai, don't." Desperation was in her voice. "Please."

Something was suddenly wrong with her opponent. She wasn't as strong as before, the wild fire in her eyes had extinguished completely. A split second later and it was all over. Her daggers plunged into Darma's chest.

Realization drained the blood from her, and from Link and Navi. A tall shadow appeared over on one of the rooftops, and he disappeared with a twirl of his long cape. Darma fell onto her back, the daggers still gripping in Nadai's hands. Tears fell from her face, and she clenched her fists in anger.

Right when her need was greatest, Gannondorf had taken the power he had granted Darma back in an instant, leaving her defensless against a greater opponent.

"I announce that Nadai is the winner of the tournament." The words of the presiding Gerudo judge crept silently to each and every person there. The four carpenters cried out in joy, and the fellow Gerudos around Nadai gulped in fear and realization. Link broke open the cage with his bare hands, and rushed to Nadai's side. He enveloped her in his arms, letting her tears fall onto him.

"It's alright. I know that you-"

"I never meant to kill her." Nadai whispered. "Never in a million years."

"I know."

"Damn it all!"

Her cry echoed out over the valley, to the moon high above. Pani stood in the shadows, watching as the woman who was fully Gerudo break down in a fashion that wasn't in Gerudo fashion.

"Why are you crying? Didn't you win?"

Nadai glanced at the kid, her tears still falling. "I won, but this wasn't a victory."

"What?"

"It isn't right to take another's life!" Nadai shouted out, her voice breaking. "To watch the life fade from their eyes in front of you, it isn't right in any way. Life is sacred! It isn't something to be bartered or bargained or sold. It isn't something that can be thrown away so carelessly,"

She burrowed her head into Link's chest, and she cried for a long time.

Shadow: This thing keeps on getting darker and darker.

Wang: Shadow! Stop reading Stephen King!

Shadow: It's too good. I don't want to stop.

Static: Wang, we did say that we need some tragedy.

Wang: But- runs away crying

Static: Oh dear. Not again. I better see where he ran off to. follows

Time Stop: Please Review!

Shadow: How come you aren't going after him?

Time Stop: I'm not fazed by his actions anymore. It's best that Static deal with it all.