NOTE: I don't own any Zelda characters, yada yada, you read this in the first chapter. Alright, now we're getting somewhere! Keep reading for a surprise, I promise. *wink* CAUTION: Explicit scenes! =O Cover your eyes, kiddies. It's gonna get a little graphic.

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Greeted by the Gerudo banner flapping above in the breeze, Link and his companions were very quiet. A tune floated in the air, faintly. The clink and rattle of guards nearby was somewhat disturbing.

"You! What is your name?" A guard bearing a yari yelled from atop the trench down to them.

"I am Link! We come to seek answers!"

"Link, huh? Thought I'd never see you again, boy! Hm, you've gotten quite large!" She jumped down and shook hands with him. "Who's the girl?"

"Her name i-"

"Link! That can't be you! Link, it's me, Nabooru!" A familiar woman came running towards them. The guard saluted and Nabooru signaled her to resume her post. "Oh Link, tell me you remember me! You saved me in the Spirit Temple! We sealed Ganondorf in the Sacred Realm, remember?"

Link was surprised at her arrival, but remembered. "Of course I do! How could I forget why I'm a hero?"

"Not just a hero. A Hero of Time!"

Link smiled. She was always a kind woman, even if she had been a thief.

"Link, what is she talking about?"

"Ah nothing, just something I did a while ago..."

"Oh, who's the girl, Link?"

"Her name is Nagarishi."

"Nagarishi? Where from?" Nabooru had grabbed the reins of Epona and began to walk them into the fortress.

"We don't know. We came here to try and figure that out."

"I see." She tied Epona's reins to a post and asked them to come in.

Link put his arms out and helped Nagarishi descend. (Although she could have done it herself, she wanted him to.) He was always behind her as they walked. She thought he might not trust her still. He had good reason not to, she thought.

Nabooru had cast a wonderful feast and all the Gerudo were happy Link returned to visit. Unfortunately, no one knew where Nagarishi had come from or if anyone was related to her. It was disappointing but the feast diluted the sadness.

When night shadowed the world, Link sat upon the roof. Nagarishi was asleep inside. He could see her escape from his vantage point if he wanted. He stared up at the stars. The moon was bright. He was grateful he had saved Clock Town from the moon's suicide attempt in Termina years ago... But he was much older now. He wondered how the time had flown by so quickly. He thought about how he saw Zelda grow up into a beautiful princess. He frowned. A princess that would not commit to marrying him.

Why? Was it because he was a common boy? But he was a Hero! Why not? It would have been socially correct.... Maybe she was going to get married to some prince somewhere because her dad was making her. But... No! If he were a just King, he would see that they would be perfect for each other and allow them to marry! It all seemed to complicated.

Link sighed. She wouldn't, and that's all he needed to know. He gazed at the moon with emptiness in his eyes. Damn her.

"Link...."

The whisper next to his ear caught him slightly off-guard. He turned towards Nagarishi. She was but a foot away from him, on all fours. He smiled coolly and turned back towards the moon.

"What are you doing up? Looking at the moon?" She sat beside him on the edge.

"Something like that." He looked down at golden gauntlets.

"I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd look for you. Running away again wouldn't be very good right now. I have no place to go, anyways...."

"Anymore, neither do I." He looked over at her understanding face.

"Why is that?"

He stared up at the moon again. "I was a Hyrulean at birth, but taken in by Kokiri. I don't know what I am now, but my house still stands in Kokiri Village. My home.has not been found."

She looked at his face with pity. She knew how he felt. She looked over at the guards patrolling below as she thought of the day she didn't know whom she was. Her eyes glanced about the stonewalls. She leaned back as an image... a memory came to her. Her eyes stared blankly at something that seemed to constantly pass before her eyes. She didn't hear Link's question at all.

"Nagarishi? What is it?" Link grabbed her arm.

Her eyes seemed glazed over. "Not like this..." She said. "Water..."

She nearly fell back, but Link caught her. He looked her over for a moment as he tried to say something else. She was totally unresponsive. He scooped her up in his arms and began carrying her to her room.

"There was water...." She said as he entered the corridor. He passed by Nabooru and a few others still up and talking.

Nabooru cast one glance at his face and summoned for water and a doctor. The regular doctor was out and only her apprentice still in training was there. That would have to do.

Nabooru was stunned when she heard her mumble something....

"Metal... There was.... water...."

Link laid her down in her bed. Nabooru followed him with the apprentice.

"What happened?" The girl asked.

"I... I was just talking to her... she jerked back.... I looked at her eyes.... and they looked like that.... she almost fell over but I caught her..." Link was stunned and felt like he couldn't do anything for her. Nabooru placed a hand on his shoulder.

"It's alright, she'll be ok...." She said to comfort him, although they were idle words.

The girl examined her a moment and looked up at Nabooru. "There doesn't appear to be anything physically wrong with her, but... I can't tell..." She stood up slowly. "I'm sorry, I can't do much..."

"It's alright Bara, that's ok. You may wait outside if you want, the both of you. I'll have someone send for the doctor right away..."

She clapped her hands and a woman in red entered. Nabooru whispered something in her ear and she left.

"Link... Link..." She shook him to get his attention. "Link, you can leave if you want. I will make sure someone will always be in here with her."

Link shook his head. "No. I will stay, Nabooru."

"Metal. not stone. Water. all around."

She sighed and left to her own bed. "Goodnight Link. I'm sorry I can't do anything for her either..."

Link stared at the door after she left. What was he going to do with her? He brought a chair over to the side of the bed and grasped her hand.

"Boats.... in the water... Metal, not stone.... " She kept saying that for hours.

Link grew tired but kept by her side. He watched her eyes close and her words become inarticulate. The last thing she said was, "Blue hair.... he had red eyes...." The next word sounded like a name but it was too unclear for Link to understand it. It sounded something like 'coffee.'

As his eyelids drooped and closed themselves, he could see her image, burned into his retina.

Deep sleep yet again.

~Link~ ~Link~ A voice in the dream spoke so clearly. ~Do you remember Termina, Link?~

"Yes." He answered, his voice echoing.

An image of a horse galloping across sand in a long, vast desert appeared from the darkness. He watched the horse enter into a canyon where the dead sleep. It galloped past a large town down to a beach. The horse swam to a large fortress. A hand fed the horse. The image disappeared.

"A boy.... blue hair...."

Nagarishi's speaking awoke him. He looked around and saw Nabooru on the opposite side of the bed from him. A woman sat next to her, her gaze intense.

"My apprentice's assumption was correct. This is not physical... although... it is causing her to be this way. The best thing to do would be to try to interpret what she is saying.... Oh, I'm sorry, did I wake you, Link?"

"No... no.... I... I know what she's saying. She's talking about Termina."

"Termina? Where is that?"

"Across the desert, past the canyon.... where the dead sleep...." He found himself remembering his adventures there.

"How do you know this?"

"I... had a dream... And I've been to Termina before... I stopped the moon from falling onto Clock Town... killing everyone... I had to do it all in three days... to return Majora's Mask..."

"Link? You're not making much sense. What are you talking about?"

He smiled. "We have to go across the desert, Nabooru. That's all you need to concern yourself with."

She looked at him in puzzlement. "Alright, we'll get you there. Anything for a hero." She smiled.

"Women... Metal..." Nagarishi kept going. Link looked at her lying there and sighed. "I'll pack our things. Can you give us provisions, Nabooru?"

"Certainly. I'll see to it personally. Sabavu, take care of her for a little while."

Link hauled Nagarishi onto Epona's back and sat behind her. Behind him were their travel rations. Epona strode forward and Link waved goodbye to Nabooru. "YA!"

Nagarishi was asleep now. He looked down at her and did his best to keep her upright.

They surged forward, past the desert colossus and the phantom guide. The usual sand storm was not blowing today, so Link had no trouble keeping a straight path.

They rode for hours. Epona trotted along, her strength almost gone. Link kept encouraging her to keep going; they'd find the canyon and its river soon.

He took out some dried meat from the pack and chewed on it until he heard Nagarishi stir.

"L... Link..."

At first he thought he had imagined this. "Nagarishi? You're...."

"Hungry. Where are we?"

Link felt like crying. She was back!

"In the desert. We're going to Termina."

"Termina? I remember Termina.... It has a town... With a clock.... and... Ka...."

Link heard her crying after a moment. He placed a hand on her chin and turned her head towards him. Sure enough, tears streamed down and fell to her hands. "Nagarishi..."

She turned towards him and cried, her head pressed against his chest. He put his arm around her body; wrapped in a cloak Nabooru had given her. "I remember now.... I remember a lot of things.... But I don't remember where I belong.... I... I knew... him..."

"Who?" He asked gently.

"Did... did you ever know... Kafei?"

"Yes, I helped him get back his wedding mask..."

Nagarishi's eyes shut tight as another flood of tears came on. Her hand grasped his tunic tighter.

"I see...." He whispered.

She turned back around and wiped the tears from her eyes. "I loved him so much... All he wanted to do was be friends with me... He barely knew Anju then... I can't understand why he didn't see it... Why he didn't love me...." She looked back at Link. "Why?" She exhaled.

He held her tighter as she cried into his tunic. He didn't bother to tell her they were entering the canyon.

He took out some meat and held it out for her. "Here. You need to eat."

She took it and held it for a while. Eventually she nibbled at it, slowly consuming it all. He was happy to see her eating, to see her being herself again.

Suddenly she shifted herself in the saddle so she had both feet on one side, then she lifted her right leg and put it on the opposite side. She was completely backwards, but facing Link like she wanted. She laid her head on his chest and rode like that for a long time. They had finally past Clock Town after about an hour. By then the horse had rested and drank from the canyon river.

"Do you remember what you were doing out in Hyrule Field?" Link asked after awhile.

Half asleep, Nagarishi answered, "I was looking for the sword..."

"What sword? Your sword? By the way, I have that here with me if you want it."

"Nah, not that one.... The Master Sword...."

"But I have that one with me too."

"Nah, the real one."

"What? What are you talking about? There's only one Master sword!"

"No, the one that can take you back in time anyplace, not just in the Temple of Time..."

Epona stopped, the seawater flooding over her hooves on the sandy beach. Link smiled and dismounted, helping Nagarishi down yet again. "Should we eat before we go?"

"Go where? There's nothing here!"

"Yes there is. Look over that way. You'll find a fortress of pirates, very close relation to the Gerudos."

"Pirates? No.... no, no! No, I don't want to go here... I don't want to! No!" Nagarishi grabbed her head as she shook it, almost screaming.

Link held her arms down and brought her face to his. "Nagarishi! Stop that! Get a hold of yourself! Why are you so afraid of them?"

She stopped and looked at him strangely. "But they hate me! My mother hates! They beat me because I wouldn't kill the boy! I didn't want to! I couldn't.... It... He was Kafei!"

Link's eyes widened with understanding. He let her go and stared angrily at the water lapping at his boots. "Well then, where are we supposed to take you? You still don't remember all of your life and going there would be the best place. Certainly you don't want to go back to Kafei and his happy family with Anju."

Tears studded her eyes. "Fine. We'll go."

Link realized he had hurt her in some way and grasped her in his arms. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way. I didn't mean to do that." He leaned his head down and touched her hair with his lips. It smelled so wonderful... like the blooms of forest trees mixed with the rain. He closed his eyes.

Nagarishi let a tear grace his arm and stepped out of his embrace. She looked towards the setting sun sparkling on the endless plateau of water. Without saying a word, she grabbed the leather sack on Epona's back and started stripping off her clothes. She placed them inside and looked over at a stunned Link. "Are you coming?"

The image came back to haunt him. Another was soon placed into his mind as she started undressing him when he didn't move.

He tried hard not to look down at her. After she had undone his shirt, he stripped off the tunic by himself and was rewarded by sort of a shy smile by Nagarishi.

"All finished?"

Link stood completely naked in front of her. His blushing was creeping upon his face, as his concentrated stare was broken. **Cold water.... cold water.... cold, cold water.....** He kept thinking.

"This is ridiculous.... We could have swam with our clothes on..." Link muttered under his breath.

Nagarishi giggled and ran into the crystal waters carrying the sack that held their clothes.

Staring at her lithe movements, he ran after her, slowed by the water.

As they swam silently alone, she suddenly dipped under the water without a word. Link looked around for her, but the dim light didn't help him.

He heard water slap water and couldn't turn around in time to see Nagarishi. She had placed her arms about his neck, smiling slyly.

He stood completely still as he felt her breasts press against his back. He surprised himself by turning around and kissing her. She leaned into it as they slowly sank under the water. Still swimming towards their destination, they barely noticed they were now on the beach leading into the fortress.

She lay him in the sand, on all fours over him. Tossing the bag aside carelessly, she leaned down into a kiss, Link's hand on her cheek. She stopped and looked into his calm eyes.

"I saw you." Link whispered.

"You're seeing me right now."

"No, when you were undressing that night."

She cocked an eyebrow. "No wonder you jumped into that cold stream." She laughed slightly and kissed him again, a hand slowly creeping down his warm chest.

**Zelda would never do this.** He thought as they locked into a perfect embrace.

The metal band fit snuggly around her waist as usual. She tied her wet hair up in a hasty manner and looked over at Link. She smiled and handed him his tunic. He smiled back shyly and shoved his feet into his boots.

She began to walk through the entrance but stopped when Link wrapped his arms about her and whispered something. She looked back at him in disbelief but smiled and whispered something back. She then proceeded inside where the boats patrolled the waters, almost stunned at what he said. She put her hand to her cheek to feel an unusual warmth as she watched the boats pass by.

Link kneeled down beside her. "How are we supposed to get in?"

"Watch." She whispered back.

Nagarishi stood, throwing a stone at the nearest guard in a boat. It hit her in the head and she fell inside. Luckily, the boat came careening towards them.

"Link, haul her out and get down inside."

He did as was told, Nagarishi taking command of the boat and bringing it around the circular lake to the dock on the opposite side of the door.

She hopped out and signaled Link to stay put when some pirates approached.

"You! Who are you? You're wearing pirate's clothes!" One of the three guards asked, pointing a spear at her face.

"What's all the noise out here, girls? Who is- *gasp* - Nagarishi!"

"Mother!" Nagarishi cried as she embraced her.

Link heard them from the boat and smiled. He peeked over the edge to watch and quickly ducked down as Nagarishi's mother spotted him.

"Daughter, who did you bring with you?" She pointed plaintively at the boat and Link stood slowly.

"Oh, I'm sorry Mother, I had to hide him or the guards might have had some problems with him...."

Link stepped out of the boat and hopped up onto the dock. He looked to Nagarishi, who looked to her mother. "Umm...mother, meet Link. Link, my mom."

They shook hands and Nagarishi's mom smiled. "You picked a good one, Nagarishi. I remember this fellow."

Nagarishi slightly blushed. "Mom..."

She kept going. "Yes, he snuck in here and did all kinds of things under our noses.... Didn't you?"

"Well," Link placed a hand behind his head nervously. "Yeah, I guess I did..."

He looked over at Nagarishi to see her reaction. She still held an anger there as she looked down at her shoes. Her mother didn't notice at all.

"Well, now that my daughter is back.... with a legendary hero, I might add, I think it's time for celebration!" She laughed and led everyone inside to prepare and greet the two.

**I barely remember these dresses.... The purple one is very vivid, though....** Nagarishi thought to herself as she held them in front of her in the mirror. She quickly put on the purple dress and looked at how it still perfectly fit her.

"I danced all night... All night..." She whispered to herself, but then stopped as tears welled up. "with Kafei...."

She let out one sob before she wiped a tear away and thought of her and Link. **I'll just have to forget Kafei now.**

"Nagarishi? I thought I heard crying... you alright?" Link walked in and was stunned by her appearance. "Oh wow, you look great!"

"You think?" She pulled at the sides of the skirt and looked at herself in the mirror again.

"Yeah! In fact, I think you should wear it tonight..."

She nodded. "Alright, if you think so."

Link was looking around at the rest of Nagarishi's old room when he suddenly wrapped his arms around her from behind and asked quietly, "Hey, I was thinking I might take a bath. Care to join me?"

Nagarishi turned her head toward him. "In a minute." She kissed him. "You go start it, I'll be in in a bit."

Link let her go and started to walk towards the bathroom. "Try and hurry."

Filling the large tub would take awhile, he thought. **For pirates, they sure take pride in large bath tubs.** He laughed in his mind as he started undressing.

He stopped and stood stone still as he heard Nagarishi's mother's voice in the other room. "Oh crap..." He whispered, noticing the door wasn't shut.

"Hey Nagarishi, I wanted you to try on some of these necklaces for tonight. Which dress are you wearing?"

"Um... hi Mom... I think I'll be wearing the purple one.... Uh, do you have any silver necklaces?" Nagarishi glanced over at the bathroom door, which was standing open and was trying to stall for time so Link could close it.

"Let's see... We have this one, this one, and.... these two. Let's see which looks best on you." Her mother kept talking as Link slowly slid the heavy door shut. It creaked for a moment and Link stopped. "What was that noise, dear?" She was looking around.

"Umm... It might be a door in another room..." Nagarishi said hastily. "So which necklace do you want me to try on first?"

But her mother wasn't paying attention to what she said and started walked straight towards the bathroom door. "Mom, wait... I..." Nagarishi fumbled for an excuse.

"I think it was from in here..." She flung open the door to find a full bathtub. "Oh... it must have been the faucet stopping. I'll have that looked at later, it shouldn't make that noise."

Nagarishi looked around the bathroom for Link a moment, then shrugged and went back to the necklaces. "Hey mom, it might take me a bit to decide. Why don't you just leave those here and I'll look at them myself?"

"Alright, dear. Call me if you need me for anything. I'll be getting ready myself." She said and smiled as she closed the bedroom door.

Nagarishi ran to the bathroom and found Link gasping for breath in the tub. "Oh, that's where you were..." She closed the door behind her. "I thought she was going to find you and then she would have killed me! You're supposed to be in the next room, after all..."

Link sighed after he caught his breath. "Well, she's gonna find out one way or another. Anyways, you need a nice hot bath right now, so hop in."

"If you say so." She replied and continued to strip.

"Oh dear, you look wonderful tonight! The other Gerudos will be jealous!" Her mother told her as they came out into the courtyard, which was well lit with torches.

All around were decorations and finely dressed Gerudo women. Surprisingly, there were a few men around. Nagarishi guessed a few had brought their boyfriends or something.

Nagarishi said thank you and went over to get a drink of wine. She looked around for Link, but didn't see him. She sighed, dismayed, before she heard the other Gerudos gawking at something... or someone. She turned to find a finely dressed Link surrounded by women. He looked uncomfortable being the object of attention.

Nagarishi walked over to him and said, "Stand back girls, he's mine."

Link smiled at her before she walked over and kissed him. They could hear the sounds of dismay from the girls as they scattered.

For the rest of the night they would be eyed where ever they went, even when dancing. Which wasn't that bad. Link was a fine dancer. She wondered how he'd gotten so good.

They danced in a space by themselves, everyone watching, as the band played a spicy Gerudo song, requiring Nagarishi to show off some of her more inappropriate dance styles. It had been fortunate that the dress had silver jingling things around the stomach area for this dance, which needed a bit of belly dancing. Link looked surprised, but danced passionately with her, ending in a very close pose. Some may have considered this too scandalous, but they both, along with a lot of others, enjoyed it and the fire they gave off when they danced. Even Nagarishi's mother was clapping for them. She pulled Link aside afterward and said, "That was wonderful. You two look perfect together." She giggled and looked over at Nagarishi. "How would you like to marry her?"

Link blushed, along with Nagarishi, who was silent. "Uh... um... I... guess so..." He said after awhile.

Her mother laughed. "I was just joking, silly."

"Mother..." Nagarishi complained.

"Oh, come now," She began as they walked to a quieter corner. "Don't be shy. I can tell you two like each other."

Link looked at the ground, face red. It was one thing to be with her and alone; it was another thing to have her mother say things about them in public.

"Mother, you're making him blush. Stop it." She pleaded.

"Nonsense." She picked up her wine glass. "Well, festivities are almost over, so I suppose you two will want to retire for the night? Or shall you stay up and talk with the people?"

Link shrugged. "I think I'll stay up a while longer. What about you, Nagarishi?"

"I will too.

Her mother sighed and finished her drink. "I suppose I'll go to bed now, then." She kissed her daughter's forehead. "Goodnight, daughter."

Link and Nagarishi stayed up talking to a lot of old friends and many new friends who remembered Link and his deeds throughout the years. They had great laughs after a lot of them had started drinking. Link and Nagarishi seemed the center of attention, and Link was asked to tell of his adventures. Nagarishi was intrigued by his heroic efforts and linked her arm in his. Link had just a bit too much to drink and was soon on the table fighting an imaginary Ganon.

But soon all was winding down and it was time for bed. Those who hadn't gotten so drunk they'd fallen asleep showed themselves or their dates up to their rooms, or took off by boat home.

Link, who hadn't had as much to drink as Nagarishi, escorted her to her room. He thought it best that they sleep in separate rooms tonight for her mother's sake, but as soon as she opened the door, she pulled him inside and quickly shut the door. To somewhat his surprise, she pulled him down to kiss him. He complied, being very gentle. Nagarishi let go and looked up into blue eyes, holding both his hands in hers. "Why don't you sleep here tonight?"

Link thought about this for a moment. "I don't know.... What would your mother think if she saw us?"

Nagarishi smiled. "Nevermind her." She led him to the bed. "C'mon, I'm tired."

Link sighed sarcastically. "If you say so." He laughed a little and began to take off all clothes except pants.

Nagarishi had taken off her dress already and was under the covers. Link cuddled up next to her and wrapped one arm around her body as her head rested on his shoulder.

Soon he had nodded off, barely hearing it. "I love you."

Nagarishi's mother cracked the door opened and peered in at the two. She only smiled, quietly shut the door and left.

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Heehee, trickidy-doo! Anyways, there's still more to come, read on and you'll find out. ^_~ Again, please R+R!!! I love encouraging or criticizing comments. Heck, I'll take both at once. Please, no flames, or Link will come chop off your reproductive organs and make you eat them. Ok? Ok. ^-^ Thank you for reading!!!

-Misora