Chapter 17: Desert of Illusions

Link and the Strawhat Pirates left Lake Hylia in the morning, much to Luffy's dismay due to the early start.

Franky refilled himself with cola, Usopp gathered as much pop green as he could put in his bag.

Sanji carried a bag of food and water. "This should last us, that is if any bandit tricks a certain moron." He was referring to Luffy, who heard him, but not his words, looking at him in question. "Huh?"

"Figures, he doesn't remember that..." Nami sighed.

"Anyway, let's go, we might get close to finding Zelda," Link said.

"Easy bro, your girlfriend is safe, remember what Impa said," Franky said reminding the fairy boy with a grin.

Link's face went red on the first sentence that came from the cyborg's mouth. "Girlfriend, Zelda isn't my-

"Alright, that's enough, " Zoro said. "Can we also cut on the lovey-dovey crap too?"

"Gee, someone needs a hug... not," Navi mumbled.

After verging through the Hyrule Fields, they arrived at Gerudo Valley.

"The valley is huge," Usopp said.

"Yes, the ravine is deep, look at that waterfall," Robin said looking at the waterfall.

Nami observed the river below. "That river must go all the way to Lake Hylia."

Chopper was amazed. "Gee, we're so high up."

"Quite a view," Link said admiring the scenery. "I admit this is nice, sightseeing, it takes off the stress."

"It does..." Robin stood by him. "Link, you don't have to push yourself so hard, also, remember to hope, if you lose that, there won't be any for people of Hyrule."

The fairy boy smiled at the black-haired woman. "Thank you, Robin, you're wise."

Robin giggled as she looked at him fondly, Link noticed this and was feeling a bit awkward, then she spoke again. "I admit you're cute when you smile."

That made Link's face go bright red. "Uhh... thank you...I-I-I guess..."

Sanji appeared behind the two, startling only Link. "Are you flirting with my dear Robin!?" The cook's body was engulfed in flames. "I'll kick your ass, you bastard!"

Brook appeared out of nowhere and unsheathing his Sword. "You little brat, how dare you, flirting with a lovely woman like our Robin!" He snarled in jealousy.

Link began to run away from the two womanizers screaming comically. "Hey, it's not like that, we were just talking!"

"Like hell, I'll be going believe that, you little brat!" Sanji roared as he attempted to kick the fairy boy.

"Come back here, you punk!" Brook demanded comically.

"Ha, ha, ha, they're really funny!" Luffy laughed out loud, not knowing what was going on.

"Morons," Zoro grumbled placing his hand on his face.

Franky laughed. "Link is popular with the ladies!"

Usopp smirked. "That's for sure." Recalling the events that involved some women like Saria, Malon, Zelda, and Ruto.

"Quite the flirt you did, Robin," Nami giggled.

"I'm just teasing him, but I admit, Link is cute," The Archaeologist said returning a giggle too.

A short time later

The group arrived in a village, but, before they went further, they disguised themselves, while some wore hoodies to cover their faces.

Link approached a small shop.

"I'll take some water in canteens, then salt and jerky,"

"Aw, need more meat," Luffy groaned.

"Relax, for now, we still have our supplies of food," Usopp assured his captain.

"Yeah, but, don't let bandits trick a certain moron," Sanji reminded, still remembering how stupid Luffy was when he fell for desert birds' fake hunger act.

Luffy just tilted his head in confusion. "Huh?"

"Anyway, what is next?" Nami asked.

"Our next destination is the Gerudo Tribe's Territory, which is across from the Haunted Wasteland," Navi answered.

"Haunted..." Nami began to say.

"Waste..." Chopper added while shivering.

"Land..." Usopp finished the phase.

"A haunted desert sounds interesting," Zoro smirked.

"Sounds like something that can make my skin crawl," Brook said in a shaken tone. "Oh wait, I don't have any skin, Yo-ohohohoh!"

"Either way, we'll have to be careful, surely the Gerudo has their hideout guarded," Sanji said in a serious tone, but then, his face turn perverted. "I hope to see some Gerudo ladies in flashy outfits!"

Bonk

"Stop being perverted for once!" Nami snapped comically.

"Excuse me," An old woman spoke.

Link and the others turned to the voice. "Yeah, you kids, do you have someone you're looking for?"

Zoro was cautious, knowing the voices sounded raspy, but, also like how elder woman sounds like in a hag tone. "So, what we are looking for someone?"

"Cautious aren't we," The other spoke. "Anyway, our fortunetelling has never failed."

Robin turned her head away. "Do you think we would fall for that kind of nonsense?"

"A non-believer, the young lady?" The first old woman questioned. "You don't have to take our words for it, but, just remember, the person that you and your friends seek is at the Temple of Spirit."

Link realized what the two old women were talking about. "Thanks, let's go guys."

The others followed and when they were further away, Sheik appeared, but, was facing away from the two old ladies, who turned out to be Kotake and Koume.

"Sheik, it's your turn,"

"Why me though?"

The two witches giggled.

"Oh, you can't do it, well, then, is the rumor that you've been lending your power to the Hero of Time and his pirate friends?"

It was obvious that the two witches were seemingly onto the Sheikah survivor, Sheik sensed this too, but, knew he had to make sure that that witches didn't notice any suspiciousness.

"You say you're of the Sheikah Tribe, but I wonder, what is your true form, under that disguise," Kotake wondered seemingly intrigued.

"Don't be ridiculous," Sheik talked back quietly.

"Then, go, if you truly vow your loyalty to the great Ganondorf!" Kotake suggested in a demanding tone.

After the Sheikah survivor left, a Gerudo woman appeared, but in a different get-up.

"Nabooru, you two use your strength to capture the Hero and his pirate friends, also, keep an eye on Sheik to see if he betrays us or not," Koume ordered.

"Very well, misstresses Twinrova!" Nabooru saluted. "As I am Ganondorf's servant!"

The group arrived at the entrance to the Haunted Wasteland

The sandstorm was strong.

"Damn, the sand is blowing like crazy!" Usopp yelled covering his face.

"Yeah, at this rate, it could take us weeks for us to get through," Nami added. "Though, I admit, this sandstorm is stronger than the one back in the desert where the Alabasta Kingdom is."

"That's right, the storm didn't last long, though it was strong, this one is stronger," Sanji said covering his face using his arm.

"Let's just hope that we're the only ones here," Chopper said.

"I'm not sure about that, for what we know, Ganon's minions might be hiding the sand, waiting to grab us," Robin said with a blank expression.

"Don't say that so casually!" Usopp, Nami, and Chopper exclaimed comically.

Then the sandstorm blew harder, making the group stop in their tracks.

"Oh crap, at this rate, the sand will engulf us!" Zoro shouted.

"Stay strong, we need to get across!" Link proclaimed though he could barely walk due to his feet being stuck deeper into the sand.

Nami had an idea, she took out her clima-tact rod and started to create some rain clouds. "Today's weather will change, with a rainstorm.

The sandstorm began to fade, Kotake was in awe. "What the hell?!" The sandstorm that she created was starting to disappear and a rainstorm was created.

"Good idea!" Robin praised.

Just then Sheik came out of nowhere, he gazed at Link before he spoke. "Reckless as ever I see, then again, I can say the same thing about Luffy."

The Strawhat captain didn't hear what the Sheikah survivor said, but, he was glad to see the Sheikah. "Hey, Sheik, long time no see!"

"Follow me!" Sheik demanded.

The group did so and eventually managed to escape the desert.

Link was getting a little curious about Sheik's sudden appearance. "Sheik, why is it that you're always ahead of us?"

"Link has a point, I mean, you were always ahead of us during our missions," Franky agreed.

Zoro had to agree, so did Sanji, as well as the others.

Sheik knew he wasn't going to talk his way out of this, though, he had to keep some things to himself. "I suppose you can say that we have the same destination."

Link guessed that response. "Ganondorf, you mean?"

The Sheikah survivor turned his head and looked beyond the desert ahead. "Over yonder is the Haunted Wasteland, a place where death resides."

"Death resides!?" Usopp and Chopper yelled.

"That sounds scary!" Nami said shivering in fear.

Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji smirked, however.

Franky was a little intrigued. "Wonder if we'll meet any zombies."

"Anyway, I shall guide your way through, is that ok?" Sheik asked.

Link was a little unsure at first, but, he decided it is better to follow the Sheikah than getting lost forever. "Yes, please do."

Sheik leads the Strawhat Pirates and Link further into the desert.

Brook was a little curious about Sheik's disguise. "Excuse me, what do you keep your face hidden like that?"

The Sheikah survivor went silent for a moment at the question, so, Link decided to ask of his own. "What does that eye symbol mean, it is a symbol of the Sheikah Tribe?"

Sheik shook his head without looking at the group. "Before this, it was nothing but an eye." He then gazed at the sky. "Since a long time ago, the Sheikah Tribe were used as "Shadows" to protect the Hyrule Royal Family."

"Sounds like the Sheikah Tribe is important," Robin said quite intrigued.

"Yeah, they're like secret spies to help provide information and being bodyguards to the royal family too," Nami added seemingly sharing the same feeling.

"They could make good pirates," Luffy said.

"Not the right time," Zoro whispered to his captain.

"However..." That got everyone to look at the Sheikah survivor. "There was an instance of betrayal from the royal family, at that time, our tears were added to the line to this seal, though that was a long time ago, and that doesn't involve me."

"Do you bear a grudge even now?" Link pondered in thought.

"I have feeling that he's hiding something," Zoro thought, he wasn't buying some of the sad stories.

A short time later.

The group made camp.

Sanji was cooking up some meat and hot soup with a side of the water and boozes.

Franky was drinking the cola that he brought.

Chopper was chowing on some cotton candy."

"It's been so long since we camp in a desert," Usopp said.

"Yeah, brings back memories with Princess Vivi," Sanji said in a dreamy expression. "Vivi, I hope you're doing alright!"

"Geez, he always thinks of women," Navi mumbled, then again she was curious about this other princess.

Sheik was a little intrigued himself. "Oh, you Strawhat pirate know another princess?"

"Yes, her name is Vivi, her kingdom was falling apart because of a warlord named Crocodile, but..." Luffy paused and then he grinned. "I kicked his ass... That's what he gets for making Vivi cry."

Sheik giggled. "I see, you're quite an honorable young man Monkey D. Luffy."

Robin noticed Link was spacing out, "Something wrong, Link?"

The fairy boy looked up at the Archaeologist. "Oh, I was thinking that I thought was a Kokiri, then the Deku Tree Sprout told me about being a Hylian and that I was to save Hyrule, also, to meet pirates that are from another world, this is something like out of a storybook or something."

"I admit, myself, I thought of seeing another world too," Robin said. "But, seeing new places, people, and history is fun."

"That's right, I see no problem in that," Nami agreed. "Though seeing monsters is scary."

"Yeah, I'm getting scary monster disease now," Usopp said faking his sickness.

"Adventure is fun, not to mention new food that had meat!" Luffy cheered while drooling.

"Geez, wipe your mouth!" Navi protested in disgust.

"Yeah, but, I'm not complaining, a lot of crazy things are happening, besides that, everyone had those "7 years," But, my friends and I didn't."

That was true, the Strawhat lost seven years, that was a shock to them too when they woke up.

"Also, parting with Zelda was but a short time ago, but, for her, seven years passed," Link continued looking a bit troubled. "I can't chase after her forever... She could be on her way to someplace far away... and..." He paused for a moment.

"I'm a bit nervous about meeting her."

Bonk

Link was hit on the head by none other than Luffy. "Ow!" The fairy boy placed his hands on his head. "Luffy, why'd you hit me?"

"Cause I felt like it," Luffy answered.

"I think what he means is that don't feel nervous, you don't meet her, you might regret it, besides, you so eager to see her again, so do we," Usopp said.

"He's right, I mean, we are looking forward to meeting Zelda, not all of us met her as you remember," Nami added.

Link looked at the pirates, showing they were eager to see Zelda again as much as he wanted to, then a smile formed on his face. "Yeah, you guys are right."

"I suppose being the hero is tough?" Sheik questioned.

Link shook his head. "Not at all."

Brook then got his guitar out. "Allow me to play Zelda's Lullaby." He played the song, everyone relaxed at the tune.

Later that night everyone went to sleep.

Epona was the first to wake up, sensing something was coming due to her animal instinct.

Link! Link! Link!

The fairy boy woke up and to his surprise, there was the Great Deke Tree.

"How did you get here?"

Luffy! Luffy! Luffy!

The Strawhat captain woke up and to his shock, there was his deceased brother, Ace.

"Ace... I thought you were... " He was on the verge of crying.

Nami found herself looking at her adopted mother. "Nami, you've grown up, I can see that you made some friends."

"Bellimere, is that you?"

Robin was facing her deceased mother, who had a smile on her face. "Robin, you've grown up and found true friends, I'm happy."

The Archaeologist was on the verge of tears. "Mother..."

Haha haha

Franky was approached by his teacher Tom. "Franky, I see that you changed a lot, glad to you see, boy!"

The cyborg was in tears of joy. "Tom, it can't be..."

A young girl resembling Tashigi approached Zoro. "Zoro, you have grown up, and I can tell you improved your Swordsman skills even more."

The green-haired man was stunned, no words coming out of his mouth.

"Chopper, how are you doing?" There was Dr. Hirilku with a huge grin on his face.

Chopper was sniffling at who he was seeing. "Doctor..."

"Brook, it's been so long," A pirate wearing a cowboy-like hat approached the skeleton man along with some familiar faces.

"Brook, you changed a lot!"

"Yeah, still going after girl's panties too!"

"But, your female crew members are hot!"

Brook was in awe and on the verge of tears. "Captain Yorki, everyone from the Rumbar Pirates..."

Usopp was found by his mother. "My little boy..." His mother smiled warmly at her son.

"Mother..." The sniper choked in tears.

Sanji saw his friends looking at people during their childhood. "This is crazy, is this what Sheik meant about the dead residing here?"

Things got even crazier when images of the people from their past died, though, Sanji wasn't affected somehow. "Damn it, wake up everyone, this is just a mirage, you know, the images you see aren't real, just people from your heart!"

Link gritted his teeth. "He's right, let's wake up from this crap!"

The images faded and so did the sandstorm, everyone eventually snapped out of it and came back to reality.

Sheik was standing before the group. 'This is nothing but a desert." The Sheikah survivor was calmly standing as nothing happened, Link noticed that too.

"Wait, he doesn't have illusions!?"

Zoro narrowed his eyes cautiously at the Sheikah man. "How come he did get effect while we did?"

"Something isn't right?" Robin thought.

Dawn arrived, which Link noticed.

"At last, dawn..."

Chopper sniffed something in the distance. "I smell people coming our way, it's faint, but, they're coming!"

"Must be some Gerudo tribes!" Nami stated. "Everyone, be on your guard!"

Just then a magic item was tossed in the center, releasing some green gas.

"What is this?" Nami asked.

"I can't breathe!" Luffy shouted.

"It must be sleeping gas or something!" Zoro exclaimed.

"I can't... keep my eyes..." Link said on the verge of passing out. "Sheik..."

Sheik stood alright by the Gerudo that just arrived on the spot, the group passed out, Brook played along, pretending to be asleep.

The entire group was taking the Gerudo Tribe's hideout.

Link found himself in a room with, Luffy, Zoro, Robin, and Brook.

"Sheik... was a spy of Ganondorf..."

"Psst, Link, I have an idea..." Zoro whispered holding a spare blade.

Shortly after, a suit large armor suited man approached Link. "So, he's the Hero of Time and these kids are the pirates that are working with him, they're just little kids, pity, they could've been useful allies."

The armor-suited knight took a large ax and prepared to execute the prisoners.

Link swiftly unsheathed a Sword he given by Zoro and slashed at the armor ax monster's chest making it flinch in pain. "One Sword Style: Lion Strike!"

Zoro smirked. "Not bad kid..."

"It's my turn!" Brook said as he began to hum and walk slowly past the armor ax wielder. "As a fair warning, this will be cold."

The skeleton sheathed his Sword. "Song of Scratches: Blizzard Slice!" A streak mark appeared from the armor ax's face to his lower body.

The armor on the monster began to fall apart, more pieces fell off one by one, a woman fell on the floor.

"Who is she?" Luffy asked.

"She was probably brainwashed too," Navi said seeing the broken gem on her head.

"Navi, where have you been?" Link asked in surprise.

"You'll see soon!" The fairy replied.

"How do we get out?" Brook asked.

Luffy pulled back his arm. "Gum-Gum Pistol!" He punched the wall and made a big hole in it. "Let's go!"

The Gerudo below heard this.

"What was that?"

"A breakout, alert the troops!"

"The guards and soldiers are all women!" Link thought in surprise.

Nabooru woke up. "Uhh... What happened and where am I?"

"Gum-Gum Gatling!" Luffy created illusion fists that knocked out several Gerudo.

"Three Sword Style: Black Rope Dragon Twister!" Zoro created a black twister that engulfed many Gerudo soldiers.

"Gigantesco Mano!" Robin created two giant limbs. "Stomp!" The giant feet stomped on the Gerudo and crushed them.

The link was amazed by their powers, seeing the new move that Robin used was even more amazing. "That was so cool!" Though he wondered where Master Sword was.

"Don't give up, we can't let them escape the fortress!" A Gerudo stated.

Sheik was approaching Link, behind him was the other Strawhat pirates in cuffs.

Link couldn't believe it, neither did the others.

Sheik then threw Master Sword to Link.

"I suppose this means we fight?" The fairy boy asked though that answer was obvious.

Luffy and the others prepared themselves.

However, to everyone's surprise, Sheik turned around and took a strike at Kotake, making the witch scream in pain.

Koume was angered at this, but, she wasn't too surprised. "I thought this would happen, you traitor!"

"I beg to differ, I was never on your side," Sheik said.

Link, Luffy, Zoro, and Robin smiled in delight.

Sanji smirked. "Robin!" He swooned. "Are you hurt my love?!"

"Save that for later, we need to escape this place!" Nami shouted comically.

"Let's do this!" Chopper declared as he began to change. "Guard Point!"

"We don't have to waste here, let's escape!" Sheik insisted.

The entire group broke their way through, though, Sanji was holding defending himself.

"Even they're enemies, I can't hurt a woman!"

Koume came out of nowhere and unleashed her fire blast. "Die Sheik!"

The Sheikah survivor was engulfed in flames and fall on the ground in pain, covered in burn marks.

"Sheik!" Link screamed.

"You crazy old hags!" Luffy shouted in rage he used his Gum-Gum Balloon, twisting his body around tightly, and blew himself up towards the fire witch. "Gum-Gum Fireworks!"

He began to un-twist and delivered a barrage of powerful punches at the witch.

"Aaahh!" Koume screamed.

Link got down and slightly taping the Sheikah's body. "Sheik, wake up!"

"We need a doctor!" Chopper cried out.

"That's you!" Usopp said dope slapping the reindeer.

"Oh right!"

"Chopper check on Sheik's wounds!" Luffy commanded. "Robin, Zoro, Usopp, Nami, Sanji, let's keep these old hags busy!"

"Right!"

"You pirate brats!" Kotake shouted in anger. "I'll freeze you to your souls!"

"Special Attack: Egg Star!" Usopp fired an egg at the Koume.

The egg splatted on the witch's face. "Eww, this egg is rotten!"

Chopper got out the first aid kit and crouched down next to the Sheikah survivor. "Hey, Link, look at the back of Sheik's hand?"

A glowing crest appeared on the back of Sheik's hand, Link gasped. "This crest..." His eyes widen in realization. "The seal of the Hyrule Royal Family, so, Sheik isn't a Sheikah...?"

After exploring the Haunted Wasteland, the group was suddenly ambushed by the Gerudo and set up by Sheik, while escaping a brainwashed Nabooru, who was in disguise as the Armor Ax knight, Sheik arrives with the other captive pirates, however, he helps them and leads them out of the fortress, but at the very moment, an angry Koume unleashed her fire magic, thus burning Sheik in the process, however, a crest of the Triforce appeared on the Sheikah's hand, who is truly Sheik, find out next time.

Luffy: in the next chapter: Zelda Returns

End of chapter