Okay this is the second part of the Gerudo chapter I'm fond of. After this I'll probably speed up the story a bit but not too much. I think they need to be older. I guess I'm just weird. I sort of feel Dmitri deserves some recognition in this chapter. Well I cant think of any more to say so I'll let you read. There shouldnt be any typos but some actually are intentional. If it seems like something that would be said then its probably just slang and I purposely did it. Okay, I'm done. Enjoy.

--Saira--

--Rewards--

Dmitri pulled out the thing I'd given him from his dad. He unrolled it and it looked like a self-made lock picking kit. He set to work grunting for tools now and then I handed to him still curious about it but knew he wouldn't tell him while he was working.

"I still don't get how a bunch of pins and weird looking things can unlock a door" Link said staring at Dmitri hard at work fiddling with one of the 'weird looking things.'

"What you're doing is making it think you have a key by applying the correct pressure to certain focal points" Dmitri answered

"Where'd you learn all this?" Link continued.

"Would you believe I read it in a book?"

"No" Link and I both said

"Alright, well truthfully me dad taught me" he said somehow still concentrating. I don't have the attention span for that and I never thought Dmitri could either.

"What?"

"Yeah, you remember when my mum left the village for a few months to visit some relatives?"

"Yeah"

"Dad and me bonded quite a bit"

"Where'd he learn?" Link asked

"Never said but apparently it was his best friend who'd gone traveling everywhere and learned just about every technique there is to learn. Passed on the knowledge"

Click!

"Bravo Dmitri" I said. "And thanks to your dad and his friend."

"Yep, home made lock picking kit. You'll never find another one like it in all the world" he said proudly.

"Oh, this is just greeaaat" Link said as we now stood outside on the temple's hand. We were a good 50 feet, probably more above the ground. We ducked behind a chest as Nyssa walked out of the temple with Nabooru not far behind moments later.

"They don't have the skill to get through the temple. Even if they found the keys, one match against an Iron Knuckle and they're dead," Nyssa said though her tone was higher at the end of that statement almost hopeful.

"Don't be so sure. Together those kids can accomplish anything. And Link has faced Iron Knuckles before when he was younger than he is now" Nabooru said calmly

"You're too trusting anymore Nabooru. The years have made you soft"

Nabooru obviously didn't like that because she pushed Nyssa against the stone and held her scimitar to Nyssa's neck.

"I should kill you for that insolent comment... but it would be dishonorable"

"You lost your honor when you let them desecrate our lands by their very presence"

"They have more honor than you ever will"

Crack! Why me? Please tell me why me? Why is it always me who finds the weak spot on things? The thumb of the statue broke off and here I go. Oh! I know Link wouldn't let me drop but I'd screamed loud enough to where Nabooru and Nyssa heard.

"I told you" Nabooru said sheathing her scimitar and running underneath me. "Drop her!"

"WHAT?! No, don't drop me! What if you miss?!" I shrieked but I could tell Link was losing his grip.

"I promise I wont miss!" Nabooru shouted back but I was happy when she gave Nyssa a look to say, 'you do one thing and I'll kill you here and now.' She even stabbed her scimitar in the ground next to her to have it handy.

"Saira, you're slipping—oh shi—"

"Liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiink!!!" I screamed all the way down into Nabooru's arms. I felt like fainting but Nabooru unsurprisingly slapped my face and put me down. I got my bearings and looked up at how far I fell. Link and Dmitri were leaning over waving. I crossed my arms and scowled even though I knew it wasn't their fault.

"Saira?! You alright?!"

"Yeah!" I yelled back.

"Okay, there's not point in sneaking around anymore so we'll head back down!"

Uh oh. Please tell me its not doing what I think it's doing. Yeah it is. The ancient hand began cracking at the wrist. Chest and boys came hurtling down to the ground. Oh goddess, what to do? They screamed like little girls as they went faster and faster. Mustering up all my energy I raised my hands and said a spell in my head. I remember them slowing down but everything went black and the next thing I know Nabooru is looking down at me slapping my face again.

I blocked my face to keep her from slapping me as I came to. She helped me sit up and then I saw Link and Dmitri. They were a bit bloody but only from scratches.

"What happened?" I asked

"You did some cool magic thing and kept us from almost certain death from smacking into a stone slab at full speed." Link said

"It was cool. We saw this huge ball of light come from you and then it was like everything was in slow motion. It was trippy" Dmitri added

"Magic is certainly a talent" Nabooru said "But you bite off more than you can chew"

"Shouldn't you be really mad at us right now?" I asked hoping she wasn't just acting out.

"Usually I would be if you were Gerudo, but I haven't made you Gerudos yet."

You could see all of us sigh and very relieved but confused because outsiders weren't usually allowed either. I guess our colorful history gave us some leeway.

Nyssa was off to the side staring at the temple as if hoping something else would fall down and rid us of her. She then looked over at us.

"How can you let them by so easy?" she burst out. "The temple is reserved only for Gerudo and one of the highest ranked at that. They are neither"

"You question me?" Nabooru said eerily calm. If she was angry, she hid it well.

"Yes I do"

"So, you feel I am ruling inadequately"

"That I do. King Ganondorf is my ruler. Never you and nor would he have ever let their kind onto our land."

"Actually, he did" I chimed in.

Nabooru glared at me to keep quiet. Passion burned in her eyes I hadn't seen yet. "Ganondorf brainwashed you. He ruled with fist and fear and you know very well we cannot live like that"

I was about to cut in again with more comments but I got really dizzy and a vision ensued. Nabooru was in a sudden fight with Nyssa. Link and Dmitri were in the background unsure of what to do and I was looking back and forth. Nyssa was defeated.

'Do not return to the Gerudo Fortress until you learn your place' Nabooru spat leading us toward the Haunted Wasteland. The last thing I saw was Nyssa throw a dagger at Nabooru's back. There was a bright light and I found myself back in the real world where Nabooru and Nyssa were already fighting. Just like my vision. I had to wait for the right moment but I wouldn't let Nabooru get stabbed in the back.... literally.

"Dmitri?!" I whispered.

"What?"

"Keep an eye on Nyssa"

"What? Why?"

But I didn't get a chance to explain because Nabooru knocked the scimitar from Nyssa's grasp. "Do not return to the Gerudo Fortress until you learn your place"

I went towards Link but Dmitri had a strange look on his face and stayed a little behind watching Nyssa out of the corner of his eye. And just like my vision Nyssa threw the dagger.

"No!" I yelled

But Dmitri jumped in the way and knocked the dagger away with the Kokiri sword. Wait a minute; Link was just carrying that. Link noticed too because he grabbed his back then went at Dmitri.

"You little—"

"Shh!" I hissed as Nabooru approached Nyssa. Nyssa unsheathed her scimitar but then Nabooru's real skill came out because in the midst of running in attack she grabbed Nyssa's dagger and deflected her attack with one quick motion and then tackled her to the ground. When the dust lifted, Nyssa was holding her arms up in mercy and Nabooru held the dagger close to her neck.

"I am in charge of the Gerudos, Nyssa, and you best learn that"

"I'd rather die than serve you," Nyssa spat.

"Death is too good for the likes of you" Nabooru said. "On your feet"

We marched Nyssa back to the desert in the midst of the never-ending storm. We reached the Fortress and Nyssa was immediately imprisoned. Nabooru had her stripped of her honorable Red colors and put into colors of the sand to show she was accused of a crime and no better than the sand on which they walked.

Amidst all the confusion we decided we should leave because there were many loyal to Nyssa and Ganondorf who would gladly have our throats and could no doubt take them. This time we decided to walk though. We were just about out of the Fortress when Nabooru called us back.

"Wait, I promised you rewards for doing what I asked," she said.

"It was nothing." I said

"We played errand boys," Dmitri said

"Girl too" I added.

He rolled his eyes at me.

"Link, these are for you and the main reason I was at the Spirit Temple this time. They belonged to you" Nabooru said handing Link a pair of silver gauntlets. "They might be a bit big yet but you'll grow into them, I promise. That is your symbol of membership as well."

"Wow, thank you" he said gratefully. He put them on right away and as Nabooru said they were a bit big but he was smiling too much to even care.

"You're lucky I didn't keep them. I went through the trouble of getting them but then again you did the first time so its only fair since you had them first" she added insincerely.

"Thank you" he said again.

"Saira, I know you already carry one symbol of the Gerudo," she said winking. I bet she knows about my tattoo. Link was looking over at me curiously but I paid no mind. "But I think you've earned this." Nabooru handed me a genuine Gerudo uniform. Purple mind you but I'm lucky I even get that much. "Wear it proudly. You never know, maybe one day you'll rise in rank."

"I doubt it but thank you so much." I said also thoroughly grateful. I wasn't even expecting to get anything but a piece of parchment so this was awesome

"Now Dmitri, I believe I enjoyed your company more than most of my girls. You're a skilled fighter, amazing for your age, and probably a better lock pick than even myself so that's why it was particularly difficult for me to decide what to give you. In the end though, I chose this"

Nabooru snapped and a cloud of smoke erupted around her hand and when it lifted a long item appeared in her hand. She then unsheathed a scimitar.

"To receive such a weapon from the Gerudo people is a high honor. Usually a huge ceremony is held but I think it's best not to hold on with the turmoil now happening." She held it out for him but he seemed a bit shocked and disbelieving giving her a look that screamed 'I know that when I take this you're just going to yell psyche and take it back.'

"You're serious?" he asked

"Take it Dmitri and use it honorably."

Dmitri slowly reached up and grasped the hilt getting a good grip before he lifted it from her hands. He gave a small laugh in sheer disbelief still even though he was holding a Gerudo made sword in his hands and it was his, not just a training sword he'd always used. Nabooru handed him the sheath and he took it never taking his eyes off the gleaming blade.

"I don't know what to say"

"Say you'll keep training and come back and face me one day," she said granting Dmitri a rare smile.

"Most definitely."

"Remember, keep your left side blocked since you're right handed and never let an opponent use strength against you. Strategy is just as important." She said

I think Dmitri could have cried. He looked like he wanted to jump Nabooru and hug her but I'm betting if he did anything of the sort she'd use that scimitar on him. Instead Dmitri gave a perfect Gerudo-like head bow and sheathed the scimitar putting it on proudly.

"Know you will always be welcome here." Nabooru said

"What will happen of Nyssa?" I asked

"She will be tried as any Gerudo and then punished accordingly." Nabooru said in a sheltering way meaning I don't want to even know what that could mean.

We said one last goodbye to the Gerudos we knew well and then headed out. When we reached the bridge out and Tyra was there again standing guard at her post. She didn't say a word to us as we crossed. She's a bit mad that we tried to sneak around.

"Hey look" Dmitri said stopping us in the middle of the bridge.

"Dmitri, I don't want to look anywhere but straight ahead," I said hating that the bridge went over the gorge. Heights usually aren't a problem for me but these heights were a bit hard to take.

Link took my hand and held it tight to comfort me as we looked over the edge. Sometimes I love him and sometimes I hate him but goddess he's a good brother.

"Oh, I see it" Link said. "See, there's a path Saira. Goes to the bottom of the gorge"

"So what?" I said wanting off the bridge.

"I think we should see what's down there," Dmitri said

"No, I'm getting off this bridge" I protested.

"Nah, I think it'll be fun," Link said tightening his grip on my hand and dragging me back over the bridge towards the miniscule path to the bottom. See, this is when I hate him.

"Fun in whose book?" I said, "I hate both of you" I added as we reached the beginning of the long winding path

"Oh, c'mon Saira. We'll keep you alive" Dmitri said as the first one to go.

"Isn't it usually me keeping you two alive" I pointed out, but it didn't matter what I said at that point because I was on my way down. I had a death grip on Link's hand and by the time we reached the bottom it was purple.

"Damn Saira, it wasn't that bad" Dmitri laughed as Link pumped his numb hand to regain the circulation. I just glared at him as I looked around at what was so great that we needed to venture down here. I didn't see anything.

"Wow, you guys we found a spit of land at the base of a waterfall" I replied tonelessly.

"You thinking what I'm thinking, Link?" Dmitri said

"I ain't jumping it Dmitri. No way. That's too high even for my taste."

"Aw, c'mon. It's not that bad" Dmitri said

"Yes it is" Link and I both said together. I was getting serious déjà vu at this point. Something bad happened here I didn't want to relive.

"Let's stay here for the night." Link said, "We'll continue on in the morning."