As Lion stood on the bridge connecting the two portions of Gerudo Valley above the river, he tried not to look down. He knew that a person, if diving properly, could survive the fall. But he didn't want to take the chance.
There was a metal gate blocking the way to the opposite side of the chasm, but there was no Gerudo guarding it. After being sure that there was no inherent danger, he thrust his sword into the lock, and shattered the locking mechanisms. He threw open the gate, and stepped forth. To his right was a rather large tent. He headed towards it, and saw that there was no one in it. He smashed the pots in the corner, and filled his pouch with deku seeds, and his wallet with another five rupees.
As he headed again towards the fortress he'd heard travelers speak of, the sun was setting. Suddenly tired, Lion huddled under a ledge of the red rock, and slept.
The call of a cucco awoke him, and the sun was already hot in the desert region of Hyrule. Lion stood, and brushed the sand from his clothes. When he arrived at the Gerudo Fortress, he was impressed by what little of the actual structure he saw. The only thing bigger that he'd ever seen was Hyrule Castle itself.
He climbed the stairs and saw three Gerudo guards -- all women -- walking their patrols. He reached the top of the stairs, when a Gerudo guard startled him.
"Hey, you!" she shouted. "You, kid! Halt! Stay where you are!" She rushed at him, with her halberd weapon pointed at his heart. He raised his arms in surrender, but the Gerudo guards made no effort to treat him humanely. They dragged him inside the Thieves' Hideout, and threw him in a cage built directly into the wall.
"Stupid kid!" the lead guard said mockingly. "Get in there and keep quiet!" She left with another of her companions, both laughing. Lion was confused by this, and even more confused by the fact that they had not bothered to take away his sword. Why had they imprisoned him was a mystery to him.
As he watched the passing Gerudo thieves, he noticed that they were *all* women. He had not seen a single Gerudo male since he had arrived. Were they all off hunting or something? It was then that he remembered the story that he'd heard a traveler tell about the Gerudos. The Gerudo race was entirely women, and only a single male was born ever hundred years, and that otherwise they generally hated men.
The sun was getting higher outside, and the passing of the Gerudo thieves had become less frequent. He saw this as an opportunity to escape and find this Nabooru person.
He drew his sword, and thrust it through the locking mechanism from behind the actual keyhole. The metal plate covering the lock split, and Lion peeled it away. He unlocked the door, and swung it open. When he ventured out of the cell, he noticed that there was a small alcove located just above the cieling, totally out of view from anyone in the cell. And by the time Lion noticed the alcove, he had just enough time to guard against the slash from a Gerudo swordswoman, completely veiled in red.
The Gerudo guard was very muscular, and wielded two scimitar-style weapons like they were made of wood. She was very good, and slashed constantly. It was during her onslaught that Lion wished he'd brought a shield. But he could handle this swordswoman.
When she dropped back in a crouch, Lion knew she was about to perform a powerful attack. He used this break in the action to lunge forth and slash. He landed a direct cut to her left shoulder, but she remained strong. She did a backflip and dropped into her stance again. Lion prepared for a big attack . . . and got one. When she sprung up, and swung twice in the air, and slashed her swords precisely. Had he not prepared himself to backflip away, he would have been cut down. When she landed, she landed gracefully, not stumbling like any other warrior would have. She immediately regained her composure, and began another onslaught against Lion. When she had slashed again, Lion lunged forth, and scored another hit to her left hip. She stumbled, but only slightly. She again dropped into her stance, and, knowing he was running out of energy, decided that he should take the opportunity to strike. Lion jumped and lunged, scoring a slash across her upper torso. She tumbled backwards and landed on her rear, looking angrily at Lion.
"Next time, boy," she muttered through clenched teeth. In a move unexpected by Lion, she leapt into the air and back into the alcove from which she'd emerged. Lion pulled the vial of Lon Lon Milk from his belt, and swallowed a small mouthful, instantly revitalizing him. He still had half of a vial left, enough in case he had to fight another of these vicious guards.
He turned around, and scraped his shoe against the ground. He looked at the ground when he heard a metal object skitter across the floor. He bent down to pick up a small key. He tucked the key into a pocket of his vest when he heard voices from outside of the doorway. He dashed back into the cell and closed the door, knowing that the broken lock would not be visible from outside.
When the two Gerudo women stopped outside of his cell, he noticed that one was dressed like the guards outside, and the other was dressed in a small top and pink trousers that ballooned out at the ankles. A small necklace with an amber and ruby pendant connected to her top, and a matching jeweled circlet on her head signifyed that she was someone of importance.
"So," she said, her voice cruel, yet, somehow, different from the others'. "This is the fearless intruder that defeated Julerine." She looked him up and down, sizing him. "Interesting."
She approached the bars of the cell and looked in at Lion. "Hmm," she murmured. She threw open the gate, as if she had known that the lock was broken the whole time. "That will be all, Tressin," she said, and the other Gerudo bowed and left. "Well, boy," she continued. "Fine work on beating my toughest swordswoman."
Lion raised an eyebrow, not in surprise, but only to get her to say more. She beckond him out of the cell. "Julerine was arrogant, but very skilled . . . Indeed my finest pupil." The Gerudo chief looked at Lion, expecting him to say something.
"Who are you," Lion demanded.
"I am Nabooru, the chief of the Gerudo Thieves." Nabooru! This was the woman that Kaepora Gaebora had sent him to. "Who are you, and why did you come to my fortress?"
Lion steadied himself. "I was sent here by a . . ." he stuttered, trying to find a way to describe Kaepora Gaebora. " . . . A wiseman's spirit. He told me that a torrent of evil wells up in the Desert Colossus, and that you would assist me in getting there."
Nabooru cocked an eyebrow. "In the Desert Colossus, he said, eh?" She turned her back to him and walked a few paces. "Sure, kid. I can show you how to get there. But first, tell me *who* sent you. If it is who I think it is, then I really have no choice."
"He is a great spirit -- a giant owl. Kaepora Gaebora."
Nabooru smiled, and her dark eyes twinkled. "The owl has returned," she said.
"On the contrary. He never left. He has been in hiding at the peak of Death Mountain."
"Really? Anyway, I suppose that I must show you how to get to the Desert Colossus."
******6
When he'd crossed the Haunted Wasteland with the help of Nabooru, he found himself standing before an immense structure of a Gerudo goddess, sitting cross-legged and with her hands out, palms facing up. She faced the east, her eyes expressionless, but her face seemingly filled with confidence and strength.
Lion turned to ask Nabooru a question, but found her suddenly gone. And when he felt a peculiar tugging at his feet, he looked down to see them already gone in the quicksand beneath him. With a startled cry and groans as he pulled himself free, he cursed himself for being so stupid. Link surely never would have stood gawking at the Desert Colossus for a few minutes. He would have gone forth immediately into the Colossus.
He treaded sure-footedly towards the Colossus, when he spotted a number of cracks in the rock face between two trees. He pulled a bomb from his belt and bit off the tip, igniting it. He hurled the bomb at the wall, and it exploded a moment later. The wall opened up and revealed another cave opening. Confidently, he entered, and found himself standing in a larghe chamber with glittering walls and a wide pool with shallow water. On a small stand at the edge of the pool was the Seal of the Royal family embedded in the rock. He stood atop the stand to see what would happen.
After a moment of nothingness, the medallion on his neck began to glow. And from out of nowhere came almost maniacal laughter, followed by the emanation of a large and angelic fairy. She floating in the air before him, lounging on an invisible couch.
"Welcome, brave lad," she said, her voice high-pitched and melodious. "Take this!" She sat up in midair and mimed blowing a kiss at him. A wide beam of light glowed from her outstretched hands, and fell upon Lion. On his back, his sword began to grow warm, and he was forced to move it to his hip to stop the burning sensation. "I have ignited the hidden power within your sword. Its might is now far greater than you had imagined." She seemed to grow smaller while adding, "When battle has made you weary, please come back to see me!" With a spin and more maniacal laughter, she vanished into the pool.
To see if she had actually done something to his sword, Lion drew it and saw that its once silvery white blade was now a gleaming golden color. And engraved above the ivory guard was the maxim, "Trelne metatte." He knew as much that the saying was in old Hylian text, but as to what it meant was still a mystery. He would have to ask Kaepora Gaebora about it later. Now, though, his goal was in the Desert Colossus.
As he left the cave, he was met with a reception of spinning Leevers. He drew his sword and began to cut his way through the melee of enemies. Before he knew it, he was standing on the base of the Desert Colossus. He swallowed his fear, and entered the shrine.
Inside was a massive chamber with two Armos at the top of a staircase. The room was musty, but smelled rather like spice. But the appearance of the chamber was not what concerned Lion. What he saw at the top of the stairs did.
Link was there, wearing his green tunic and hat, and holding a shiny shield and sword. He stood poised to strike the two apparitions before him. The two apparitions were riding brooms and flying around Link, mocking him. Link stood his ground. One of them had hair of white, while the other had hair of red. But underneath his left eye was a rather nasty-looking scar.
"Twinrova," Link said, his voice strong. Lion noticed that Link's eyes were no longer red, but instead a vibrant blue. "Cease your crusade against Hyrule, and take me to Zagorshida!"
The two witches cackled as they taunted Link. Link raised his sword, and Lion noticed the crescent-shaped guard, and the Triforce symbol engraved on base of the blade. Lion then knew the sword that Link now carried. It was the legendary Master Sword.
With a lunge, Link attacked the red-haired witch, striking a solid blow to her midsection. She yelped, but remained mostly unharmed. The other witch slid off her broom, and a silver light began to glow from it. Link ducked behind his shield, which mysteriously reflected the frosty beam. He directed the beam back at the witch, which stunned her. This continued, and then the witches did something that surprise Lion. They combined into one giant witch.
"Great spirit of Zagorshida," the giant witch Twinrova chanted, the two voices of the witches together giving Twinrova an eerie echo. "Take over the soul of the Hero."
A dark shadow emanated from above Link, and filled him up. Lion saw Link's eyes again fill up with the red fire. Link screamed in agony, and dropped the Master Sword. After a moment, Twinrova vanished in a flash, leaving Link at the top of the stairs, now facing Lion and holding the Master Sword.
"You," Link said, though his voice was no longer the confident and strong one of the Hero of Time. This voice was strained and deep, with a hideous accent in it. "You have trespassed into the domain of I, Zagorshida. You shall die for your intrusion!"
Link leapt from the stairs and tackled Lion, sending him to the floor with an unnatural thud. Lion jumped to his feet and drew his sword, whose blade now glowed with the golden coloration.
"Link, the Hero of Time," Lion said, standing on guard. "Fight Zagorshida! Do not allow him to consume your soul!"
"It's too late, boy!" retorted Link. "The Hero of Time is already dead! And so you shall be!"
Link charged, and cut hard down at Lion's head. Lion blocked, and strained under the immense strength of Link. Lion slipped to the left, forcing Link to stumble forward. Lion slashed at Link's midsection, scoring a hard hit. Link riposted by stabbing Lion in the gut, though his sword caused only superficial wounds. With a grunt, Lion again attacked Link, but his every cut, slash, and stab was blocked by the Master Sword. Link scored another hit to Lion's neck, cutting a small gash in the Wolfos-hide collar. The medallion on his chest began to glow, and the cut in the collar sealed up.
"What?!" demanded Link in his new voice. "That medallion! It can't be!" While Link stared in shock at the glowing medallion, Lion slashed hard, cutting Link from the collarbone to his belt. Link screamed, and his red eyes drained their color, turning purple, then back to blue. An immense shadow flew up from Link's body and disappeared into the ceiling. Link crashed to the floor, groaning.
"Link, here," Lion said urgently, handing Link the vial with the Lon Lon Milk. "Drink this!" Link weakly took the vial and drank. The milk gave link enough strength to stand.
"Thank you," he said to Lion, clapping a gloved hand on Lion's shoulder. Link suddenly seemed shorter than before, about the same height as Lion. Though his strength was still far more than Lion. "You saved my life."
Lion smirked. "It's the least I could do for the Hero of Time."
Link's smile faded, and he looked hard into Lion's eyes. "How did you know that?"
"I," Lion began, "along with Princess Zelda and yourself, remember your quest against Ganondorf. I can't explain it, but I was chosen to follow in your footsteps."
"Really. Well, your sword certainly verifyies your story." Lion's "what-do-you-mean" looked urged him to explain. "That sword is the mystical Holy Sword of the Triforce. The engraving of "Trelne Metatte" means "Triforce" in ancient Hylian. Tell me, Lion. Who gave you that sword?"
"My father left it behind when he and my mother fled to a neighboring kingdom two years ago. And how did you know my name?"
"Rauru, the Sage of Light. He told me of you, and your recent deeds. Now, tell me. Who is your father?"
"His name is Urso, and he was a soldier in the King's army. He fought beside the King in the Unification Wars^. He and my mother never told why they fled. I just woke up one morning and found a note on our table. It told me that they had fled, and he left his sword for me."
"Interesting. I know of Urso. Princess Zelda told me of him and his heroism in the Wars." He looked at Lion. "Come now, Lion. We must head to Hyrule Castle and speak with Princess Zelda. She must know of this at once!"
"Right!"
to be continued . . . . . .
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^ The Unification Wars were the wars in which the King of Hyrule unified the land. These were the times when Link's mother hid him in Kokiri Forest under the care of the Great Deku Tree.