Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda. Nintendo does. Your surprised?
Author's Note: I really have nothing to say this time.
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Ocarina of Time: Rebirth
Chapter Eighteen: Escape From Gerudo Fortress
It was now late in the day at the Gerudo Fortress and the entire race was still shocked by the defeat of their best young warrior. Still Garen had earned a great amount of respect from the Gerudos which was going to be shown by something he was about to receive. Garen stood before Strife in the apparent meeting room of the fortress, the Gerudos had been kind enough to patch him up before he had to meet with Strife who had been put in charge by the man he was trying to foil, Gannondorf.
Garen had a few bandages over the bruises of his face and had one eye squinted in pain, his abdomen and lower body hurt from Nabooru's recovery blows but he would be fine, he had been through worse. But not much worse. Strife chuckled at the young man "I must admit that you impress me boy. Nabooru is after all our best at her age level. Yet you defeated her easily." Garen shook his head "Well I don't know how it looked to you but she was alot worse than any opponents I've fought before." he chuckled.
Strife smiled at this as the slid a small piece of leather across the table, Garen looked at it "A Gerudo membership card. Outsiders who can impress us as you have receive one to come and go as they please around here." Garen reached for it but suddenly Strife hurled the very dagger he had used against Nabooru, he moved his hand just in time as it struck into the table "Not so fast. You however were captured and the battle was a request so technically you can't receive it." Garen rolled his eyes as he picked the knife back up and slipped it into his belt.
Garen crossed his arms "Hilarious. My ribs are aching." he scoffed sarcastically. Shrife stood up handing him a small notice with the date on it that would give him access to the fortress for now "Not like it would do you much good. I doubt you are of legal age to enter a training center that one could possibly die in. That is the only real use of it." Garen gulped as he rolled his neck around popping it "Well after all I've been through I'm gonna be sleeping for the next week." he said as he started out. "I'm leaving" he announced.
Suddenly Arena one of Nabooru's sisters that had already introduced herself stopped him "Hold on. Somebody came to the fortress apparently looking for you. She just made it up to the arena before she was caught." Garen sighed deeply as he placed one hand on his forehead "Damn it Malon. She can be even more foolish than me at times." he groans. Arena chuckled slightly motioning him to come "You'd better follow me if you know them then." she walked down the hall.
Back at the prison where Garen had been held earlier a young girl sat with her back to the bars trying to find out how she ended up in this kind of mess. She was only twelve and today she had gone to a place where most men and women far above her age fear to even step foot in. But she had come here to get Garen out of trouble but was captured before she even had the chance to find him. She had already heard of it, Garen was to fight Nabooru of all people for his freedom. Garen was a gifted fighter but chances of winning didn't really seem good, against somebody of her skill.
She listened as the sound of boots against stone came down the hall indicating every step of a small group of people. They got closer and Malon was just hoping they would pass her by and leave her be instead she heard them enter the chamber. Her back was to them and she somehow knew they were ready to dispose of her most likely by dropping her over the waterfall and letting her drift to Lake Hylia. She crossed her arms as she heard them all stop "I don't want to hear you say a thing. Just leave me alone!" she shouted.
She heard a familiar chuckle from behind her "Heh. Then I guess you want me to just leave you to rot in this place. Just like the outsiders we both are. I don't think so." she gasped and quickly turned grabbing the bars as she saw Garen bruised and battered but otherwise okay. He smiled "Hey beautiful. What's somebody like you doing around a place like this." the Gerudos behind Garen looked at one another as if he had contradicted himself as it was obvious from their point of view that Malon was matched if not beaten in beauty by the Gerudos. In fact to them she seemed right at home in the area. Garen didn't know it, but Malon's mother was infact a Gerudo which gave Malon some of the Gerudo traits.
Malon rushed to the bars looking at him "Garen your alright. What happened to you though. You look like you were trampled by cattle in mating season!" she gasped. Garen smiled as she looked over his wounds which didn't really stick out as he had done a slightly effective job of patching them all up. Malon asked how he was feeling and he just smiled "I'll be just fine but first lets get you out of there." he said as Arena brought out a ring full of keys.
She took her time unlocking the cell with the correct key. As the door opened Malon rushed out of the cell and into Garen's arms where they embraced each other out of relief. Malon soon stepped back and looked up at Garen, shortly before slapping him hard across the face sending him to the side. Arena chuckled as this happened. Malon then glared at him "Garen Sheikan! I told you to be careful! How do you go about getting yourself into this kind of crap?!" she shouted at him.
Garen straightened up rubbing the red imprint on his face "Heh. It is the constant battle between my good and bad luck." he said. Malon crossed her arms "Explain then." she demanded. Garen chuckled "Good luck got me this far, bad luck got be beaten and captured, good luck got me the creativity to escape, bad luck got me into a fight with Nabooru Kennishire and good luck got me victory and your freedom." he explained.
Malon crossed her arms and smiled "Alright Garen I'm convinced. But I could care less about your unstable fortune. Lets just get the hell outta here!" she said walking toward the exit. Garen followed before being stopped by Arena who drew a sword from her back "I'm afraid not Garen. Bad luck now forces you to stay at the fortress for the next day." she announced.
Garen and Malon both looked back at the younger sister of Nabooru shocked "What?" the asked Garen a little annoyed. Arena removed a scroll "I'm sorry, but Shrife had demanded that you stay the night so our king can congratulate you on your defeat of my sister in person. It is a new policy." Garen felt his blood run cold as he heard this. If Gannondorf returned tomorrow to find him on his home ground, somebody would be sending flowers to his parent's graves.
As Arena told him that they would provide a better place to sleep for him and Malon he didn't hear at all as his mind continued to wander on what Gannondorf would do. He already knew that Link had saved Zelda twice and knew that Garen was notable in the battle of Dodongo's Cavern. Seeing Garen had come to the fortress in force would easily convince him that Garen was involved and would most likely order a very painful punishment for the young warrior.
Garen only had a few thoughts left in his mind. He needed to somehow get past the gates with Malon and find Link and Zelda. The spiritual stone had been nowhere to be found and it was obvious that it wasn't on display around here. It wasn't important to him, Malon however, was. But how he would escape was his main question. They would close the gates before they could get anywhere close. There had to be a way though, there just had to be!
Malon was just as scared as Garen but still her presence wouldn't really be considered a threat. She looked to Garen "You'd better find a way out of here." she ordered. Garen sharply nodded before she was escorted to the nearest guest room. Garen Sheikan lost and without answers gathered up his weapons from the armory and went to the roof where he sat with his legs brought to his chest trying to figure out someway to escape. But he was mentally screaming at himself half of that time.
Suddenly there was a soft touch on his left shoulder, he looked up to see battle fresh Nabooru sitting down next to him. It was strange, all this time she had been so distant from Garen and everybody else, but now she didn't seem so intimidating. In fact she seemed as if she was very comfortable in Garen's presence. She sat down and looked at him as he held his arm which ached after all those throws she had given him. Nabooru smiled as he winced "Your still licking your wounds, eh?" she stated.
Garen looked over to her seeing the bruises on her face, her forehead still bore some soot from the Deku Nut he had hit her point blank with. Garen scoffed "Well your not exactly a basket of fruit yourself." Nabooru smiled at this before leaning back slightly showing off "Oh yes I am." she said with a smile. Garen stood up wanting to be alone to think and started to walk toward the doorway.
Nabooru suddenly stood up as Garen started to walk off and grabbed him by the shoulder. Garen looked back at her as she spoke to him "You don't have to walk off Garen. I have something to tell you." she said as he faced her. Garen decided that he would hear her out as she placed her hands on an object that hung from a golden chain around her neck. She took a light breath and spoke "When I was younger, my mother gave me a very special token that had been passed down in my family and was always sought after by others." Garen nodded his head.
Nabooru slowly removed the necklace keeping her hand over the pendant on the chain "After a long while of others trying to gain favor and take it she came to a choice. She passed it on to me when she noticed my natural ability telling me that I can only surrender it to one who was able to defeat me and be professional about it." she looked up with her big yellow eyes which Garen finally recognized as nothing under the term of beautiful. Nabooru smiled "I heard your final words before I passed out. About you being sorry." Garen nodded.
Nabooru placed the chain in her palm looking at the unseen treasure "My pledge says that if I'm beaten I am forced to give this up to the victor of the battle. But I don't feel I should." Garen was about to say that it really wasn't necessary when she placed her index finger on his lips silencing him. This sudden action brough a red glaze to his cheeks. She looked into his eyes and spoke "I feel that you should take it. You have proven yourself to me as nobody really ever has and proven that I am not invincible. It is true everybody has a superior. You've shown me that. Thank you Garen." taking his hand she placed the pendent into his hand.
Garen opened his hand to see the pendent blaze into several rays of rich orange light which blinded him. As the light faded he looked at his hand to see that it was no mere trinket, it was what he came for in the first place. The Spiritual Stone of Spirit, the Gerudo Topez. Garen looked up at her for a second as he held this in his hand.
Nabooru smiled lightly placing a soft hand on his shoulder "Your cute when your impressed you know that? Don't get too attached to it, because if we ever fight again and I win you will be giving it back to me. But in the mean time you'd better keep it safe, otherwise I'll show you a whole new kind of anger." Garen blushed slightly which couldn't be seen thanks to the light of the gem. Nabooru shrugged calming down "Personally I'm glad you beat me. The only other one who wants it is my teacher and ruler, Gannondorf Dragmire." she said it growling. It was a snarl of pure unedited hatred.
Garen looked up as Nabooru obviously didn't care for her own king "He is planning something." she said under her breath "I don't know what, but it will not be good for you or your people. And from what I've seen, your not exactly on the best terms with him." Garen was shocked as Nabooru lifted a small poster that was supposed to have gone to Shrife. It was a poster bearing the faces of both Link and himself, clearly it was ment to be for an assassin to run off of.
Nabooru looked at him as he took a slow breath clearly worried about what she would do. She smiled lightly at him "Don't worry I'm not going to turn you in. He deserves whatever he gets." she said. Garen suddenly looked up to the desert girl "Nabooru." she looked up. Garen looked at her with seriousness "You want me to prevent whatever Gannondorf is planning, I have a small favor to ask of you." she nodded saying that whatever it was would be her pleasure. Garen then pointed to the guard tower at the entrance of the fortress and explained that it was the only way that he and Malon were going to get out. Nabooru nodded her head and told him to leave it to her.
-
Later that night when the night shift began several of the guards noticed that Nabooru and Garen were missing from the fortress. Some of the Gerudos just assumed that the fight might have made them close, close enough to close themselves off somewhere.
Malon meanwhile was in her room sleeping when suddenly the door opened. She looked up to see Garen standing there in his cloak looking very serious "Get up Malon. We're leaving." he announced. Malon looked up at him as if he was crazy "But their security, its not possible." she informed him. Garen looked at her "Trust me." he said clearly confident. That was enough and Malon jumped from her sheets and followed him.
As Garen and Malon dashed from the second floor balcony onto the trail leading down into the courtyard. The guards quickly took notice "Halt! Your not permitted to leave! Halt!" they shouted as Garen ran for the gates. They quickly dropped the gates which slammed stabbing into the ground. Malon held Garen's hand as they ran "Garen! It's closed off!" Garen didn't listen as he ran for the gate.
Garen released Malon and he reached down to his belt and grabbed out three bombs, twisting the rough ends of the bomb fuses they lit up and he hurled them at the thick wooden gate. One feel between two of the thick wooden pikes that stabbed into the ground and exploded sending wood everywhere, the two of them moved through and towards the valley. The Gerudo's stationed on the top of the tower raised their bows which held arrows and pulled back ready to take the down in their own tracks. But as each of them drew back their lines snapped rendering the bows useless. Nabooru, a good ways away would be smiling at the news of a horrible jinx upon the tribe.
They soon found themselves at the Gerudo Valley the bridge that went over the canyon just ahead. Malon laughed with glee as she saw it "Come on were almost there!" she shouted. Just as she set foot on the bridge an arrow flew through the air just missing her foot but stopped her dead in her tracks. Garen turned to see several Gerudos standing there including the Captain "Sorry boy. But I can't let you leave so soon." Garen glared at them as Malon hid behind him.
Garen narrowed his eyes as he passed her both the Gerudo Topez and the Deku Moonstone. She quickly hid the two stones in the pockets of her dress, then Garen was holding out his boomerang for her to take "Go home. I'll keep them busy." he demanded. Malon looked at him as the Gerudos armed themselves with their own swords and spears "Garen." she said nervously. Garen looked at her "I can handle this. Just go!" he ordered. He took his staff from his back extending it to six feet.
Malon Moonstar looked at him for a final time as she prepared to run "You have to make it. Don't die on me!" she said full of emotion before running across the bridge where Shen waited for her. She quickly jumped on and with a swift kick they were off. Garen looked back and then at the Gerudos that were ready to go. Garen glared as he got ready. The Captain narrowed her eyes "Attack." she said simply and the others rushed Garen in ernest.
Garen prepared his staff which he flipped in his fingers before concentrating "Lightning!" he shouted. The staff crackled to life, violent electricity circling the powerful weapon. The Gerudos attacked and in one swift movement Garen swung slapping several of them out of his way. Quickly he went for his sword and stood in defiance before the well trained squad. But this wouldn't get him out of it.
Garen soon found that eight Gerudos surrounded him all of them full trained and armed with spears. Suddenly one came from his left with the spear, he quickly moved back and kicked her in the stomach sending her to the ground. The next came from the front jumping into the air, Garen prepared his sword and sliced the spear in half before delivering a powerful blow to the side of her head with the staff. As Garen brought back his staff he heard a battle cry from behind, he ducked as the spear was swung and rolled forward getting out of the way. He then jumped back kicking the Gerudo in the chest sending her back into the ground.
Suddenly two of them attacked at once both swinging with their staffs. Garen gasped as he retracted his staff back to three feet and blocked both weapons with his sword and staff. He pushed both of the off before returning his sword to his sheath to. He then reached behind to his collar and hurled two of the needles which struck both Gerudo before they had a chance to attack, they fell to the ground in a heap. There were only three left now but they appeared ready to attack.
They all rushed him as he drew his staff again, he was growing increasingly grateful to Impa and Zelda as he didn't want to use his blade against them. He extended it again and narrowed his eyes, planing on taking their feet out from under them. Garen jumped back preparing to use the staff's newest technique which he had acquired by complete chance. He concentrated on the staff's power, a charge going through it to the gem at the top of it "Earth Crusher!" he shouted before stabbing the spear head into the sand.
The charged power of the staff sent a powerful shockwave through the ground knocking all of them to their feet, unfortunately he found that his own energy was being spent by the staff. He retracted it back and quickly dashed to the fallen Gerudo and with a few swift kicks sent them all into unconsciousness. Garen breathed heavily as he flipped his staff back into it's own sheath. He suddenly heard a slight applause coming from behind him. It was the captain of the Gerudo "Very nice work. If your still willing to fight, allow me." she said placing her hand on her sword.
As Garen prepared to attack a deep and very dark voice came from behind "No. Allow me!" Garen gasping turned to see a lone figure rushing him. The armor was there, as was that fiery red hair and a large broad sword strapped to his back. He growled "Gannondorf!" he shouted in anger. But he had no time to react before the brutal King of the Gerudo rushed up with his oversized sword and swatted him with the flatside of all things. Garen flew back over forty feet slamming into the rock wall of the canyon. He quickly used his knife stabbing into the rock and glared at the Gerudo King who laughed.
Gannondorf had arrived early. Far earlier than anybody has expected him too. Garen had been to reliant on his information "I knew that you were more than just a coincidence boy. What did you hope to accomplish by fetching a few stones." Garen narrowed his eyes from his place on the cliffs. Gannondorf chuckled "I'm feeling generous so I'll give you some mercy. You won't live to watch your precious kingdom of Hyrule fall!" he said raising his palm. Garen looked as dark energy began gathering and suddenly launched itself at Garen at amazing speed. "Oh crap." he groan dryly jumping with his knife. The explosion suddenly came sending him hard into the falls below.
Garen's vision blared as he tried to swim but found it very difficult to break the water's surface as he slowly began to pass out. He fell several falls that was his only chance to get air, that was shortly before he found himself sliding with the current smoothly eventually running up on land. He breathed heavily but his entire body ached from the force of that explosion. Garen growled as he looked up seeing somebody looking down at him, a man in his late years.
He looked down "So you were the one causing so much commotion." he said as he took the last bottle of red potion from Garen's backpack and handed it to him. Garen took it with trembling hands and drank it feeling his energy return. His vision returned and he saw it was Professor Gray from the Lake Hylia Laboratory. Turning his head to the left he noticed a horse galloping sound. He looked to see a young girl on a horse. Garen smiled to himself "Thank Din for you Malon." he said before passing out.
Gannondorf lowered his palm and looked back at the Captain angrily looking at her "I hope the army is ready for we attack tomorrow night." the captain nodded at her leader's orders. Gannondorf looked over the falls "And as for that child. Find him and retrieve the spiritual stones. Then bring whatever is left of him to me!" he ordered before jumping back on Endbringer and heading for the fortress. Nabooru meanwhile growled as she watched all of this "I've done all I can Garen. There is no other way I can possibly help you." she breathed out before running back to the fortress not wanting to get caught. -
Next Chapter: Zoras-The Aquatic People
While Garen was going through his ordeals with the Gerudos. Link found himself going up river in the east to find himself in a place called Zora's Domain. Where he learns that yet another race is having some serious problems.
Author's Note: I really have nothing to say this time.
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Ocarina of Time: Rebirth
Chapter Eighteen: Escape From Gerudo Fortress
It was now late in the day at the Gerudo Fortress and the entire race was still shocked by the defeat of their best young warrior. Still Garen had earned a great amount of respect from the Gerudos which was going to be shown by something he was about to receive. Garen stood before Strife in the apparent meeting room of the fortress, the Gerudos had been kind enough to patch him up before he had to meet with Strife who had been put in charge by the man he was trying to foil, Gannondorf.
Garen had a few bandages over the bruises of his face and had one eye squinted in pain, his abdomen and lower body hurt from Nabooru's recovery blows but he would be fine, he had been through worse. But not much worse. Strife chuckled at the young man "I must admit that you impress me boy. Nabooru is after all our best at her age level. Yet you defeated her easily." Garen shook his head "Well I don't know how it looked to you but she was alot worse than any opponents I've fought before." he chuckled.
Strife smiled at this as the slid a small piece of leather across the table, Garen looked at it "A Gerudo membership card. Outsiders who can impress us as you have receive one to come and go as they please around here." Garen reached for it but suddenly Strife hurled the very dagger he had used against Nabooru, he moved his hand just in time as it struck into the table "Not so fast. You however were captured and the battle was a request so technically you can't receive it." Garen rolled his eyes as he picked the knife back up and slipped it into his belt.
Garen crossed his arms "Hilarious. My ribs are aching." he scoffed sarcastically. Shrife stood up handing him a small notice with the date on it that would give him access to the fortress for now "Not like it would do you much good. I doubt you are of legal age to enter a training center that one could possibly die in. That is the only real use of it." Garen gulped as he rolled his neck around popping it "Well after all I've been through I'm gonna be sleeping for the next week." he said as he started out. "I'm leaving" he announced.
Suddenly Arena one of Nabooru's sisters that had already introduced herself stopped him "Hold on. Somebody came to the fortress apparently looking for you. She just made it up to the arena before she was caught." Garen sighed deeply as he placed one hand on his forehead "Damn it Malon. She can be even more foolish than me at times." he groans. Arena chuckled slightly motioning him to come "You'd better follow me if you know them then." she walked down the hall.
Back at the prison where Garen had been held earlier a young girl sat with her back to the bars trying to find out how she ended up in this kind of mess. She was only twelve and today she had gone to a place where most men and women far above her age fear to even step foot in. But she had come here to get Garen out of trouble but was captured before she even had the chance to find him. She had already heard of it, Garen was to fight Nabooru of all people for his freedom. Garen was a gifted fighter but chances of winning didn't really seem good, against somebody of her skill.
She listened as the sound of boots against stone came down the hall indicating every step of a small group of people. They got closer and Malon was just hoping they would pass her by and leave her be instead she heard them enter the chamber. Her back was to them and she somehow knew they were ready to dispose of her most likely by dropping her over the waterfall and letting her drift to Lake Hylia. She crossed her arms as she heard them all stop "I don't want to hear you say a thing. Just leave me alone!" she shouted.
She heard a familiar chuckle from behind her "Heh. Then I guess you want me to just leave you to rot in this place. Just like the outsiders we both are. I don't think so." she gasped and quickly turned grabbing the bars as she saw Garen bruised and battered but otherwise okay. He smiled "Hey beautiful. What's somebody like you doing around a place like this." the Gerudos behind Garen looked at one another as if he had contradicted himself as it was obvious from their point of view that Malon was matched if not beaten in beauty by the Gerudos. In fact to them she seemed right at home in the area. Garen didn't know it, but Malon's mother was infact a Gerudo which gave Malon some of the Gerudo traits.
Malon rushed to the bars looking at him "Garen your alright. What happened to you though. You look like you were trampled by cattle in mating season!" she gasped. Garen smiled as she looked over his wounds which didn't really stick out as he had done a slightly effective job of patching them all up. Malon asked how he was feeling and he just smiled "I'll be just fine but first lets get you out of there." he said as Arena brought out a ring full of keys.
She took her time unlocking the cell with the correct key. As the door opened Malon rushed out of the cell and into Garen's arms where they embraced each other out of relief. Malon soon stepped back and looked up at Garen, shortly before slapping him hard across the face sending him to the side. Arena chuckled as this happened. Malon then glared at him "Garen Sheikan! I told you to be careful! How do you go about getting yourself into this kind of crap?!" she shouted at him.
Garen straightened up rubbing the red imprint on his face "Heh. It is the constant battle between my good and bad luck." he said. Malon crossed her arms "Explain then." she demanded. Garen chuckled "Good luck got me this far, bad luck got be beaten and captured, good luck got me the creativity to escape, bad luck got me into a fight with Nabooru Kennishire and good luck got me victory and your freedom." he explained.
Malon crossed her arms and smiled "Alright Garen I'm convinced. But I could care less about your unstable fortune. Lets just get the hell outta here!" she said walking toward the exit. Garen followed before being stopped by Arena who drew a sword from her back "I'm afraid not Garen. Bad luck now forces you to stay at the fortress for the next day." she announced.
Garen and Malon both looked back at the younger sister of Nabooru shocked "What?" the asked Garen a little annoyed. Arena removed a scroll "I'm sorry, but Shrife had demanded that you stay the night so our king can congratulate you on your defeat of my sister in person. It is a new policy." Garen felt his blood run cold as he heard this. If Gannondorf returned tomorrow to find him on his home ground, somebody would be sending flowers to his parent's graves.
As Arena told him that they would provide a better place to sleep for him and Malon he didn't hear at all as his mind continued to wander on what Gannondorf would do. He already knew that Link had saved Zelda twice and knew that Garen was notable in the battle of Dodongo's Cavern. Seeing Garen had come to the fortress in force would easily convince him that Garen was involved and would most likely order a very painful punishment for the young warrior.
Garen only had a few thoughts left in his mind. He needed to somehow get past the gates with Malon and find Link and Zelda. The spiritual stone had been nowhere to be found and it was obvious that it wasn't on display around here. It wasn't important to him, Malon however, was. But how he would escape was his main question. They would close the gates before they could get anywhere close. There had to be a way though, there just had to be!
Malon was just as scared as Garen but still her presence wouldn't really be considered a threat. She looked to Garen "You'd better find a way out of here." she ordered. Garen sharply nodded before she was escorted to the nearest guest room. Garen Sheikan lost and without answers gathered up his weapons from the armory and went to the roof where he sat with his legs brought to his chest trying to figure out someway to escape. But he was mentally screaming at himself half of that time.
Suddenly there was a soft touch on his left shoulder, he looked up to see battle fresh Nabooru sitting down next to him. It was strange, all this time she had been so distant from Garen and everybody else, but now she didn't seem so intimidating. In fact she seemed as if she was very comfortable in Garen's presence. She sat down and looked at him as he held his arm which ached after all those throws she had given him. Nabooru smiled as he winced "Your still licking your wounds, eh?" she stated.
Garen looked over to her seeing the bruises on her face, her forehead still bore some soot from the Deku Nut he had hit her point blank with. Garen scoffed "Well your not exactly a basket of fruit yourself." Nabooru smiled at this before leaning back slightly showing off "Oh yes I am." she said with a smile. Garen stood up wanting to be alone to think and started to walk toward the doorway.
Nabooru suddenly stood up as Garen started to walk off and grabbed him by the shoulder. Garen looked back at her as she spoke to him "You don't have to walk off Garen. I have something to tell you." she said as he faced her. Garen decided that he would hear her out as she placed her hands on an object that hung from a golden chain around her neck. She took a light breath and spoke "When I was younger, my mother gave me a very special token that had been passed down in my family and was always sought after by others." Garen nodded his head.
Nabooru slowly removed the necklace keeping her hand over the pendant on the chain "After a long while of others trying to gain favor and take it she came to a choice. She passed it on to me when she noticed my natural ability telling me that I can only surrender it to one who was able to defeat me and be professional about it." she looked up with her big yellow eyes which Garen finally recognized as nothing under the term of beautiful. Nabooru smiled "I heard your final words before I passed out. About you being sorry." Garen nodded.
Nabooru placed the chain in her palm looking at the unseen treasure "My pledge says that if I'm beaten I am forced to give this up to the victor of the battle. But I don't feel I should." Garen was about to say that it really wasn't necessary when she placed her index finger on his lips silencing him. This sudden action brough a red glaze to his cheeks. She looked into his eyes and spoke "I feel that you should take it. You have proven yourself to me as nobody really ever has and proven that I am not invincible. It is true everybody has a superior. You've shown me that. Thank you Garen." taking his hand she placed the pendent into his hand.
Garen opened his hand to see the pendent blaze into several rays of rich orange light which blinded him. As the light faded he looked at his hand to see that it was no mere trinket, it was what he came for in the first place. The Spiritual Stone of Spirit, the Gerudo Topez. Garen looked up at her for a second as he held this in his hand.
Nabooru smiled lightly placing a soft hand on his shoulder "Your cute when your impressed you know that? Don't get too attached to it, because if we ever fight again and I win you will be giving it back to me. But in the mean time you'd better keep it safe, otherwise I'll show you a whole new kind of anger." Garen blushed slightly which couldn't be seen thanks to the light of the gem. Nabooru shrugged calming down "Personally I'm glad you beat me. The only other one who wants it is my teacher and ruler, Gannondorf Dragmire." she said it growling. It was a snarl of pure unedited hatred.
Garen looked up as Nabooru obviously didn't care for her own king "He is planning something." she said under her breath "I don't know what, but it will not be good for you or your people. And from what I've seen, your not exactly on the best terms with him." Garen was shocked as Nabooru lifted a small poster that was supposed to have gone to Shrife. It was a poster bearing the faces of both Link and himself, clearly it was ment to be for an assassin to run off of.
Nabooru looked at him as he took a slow breath clearly worried about what she would do. She smiled lightly at him "Don't worry I'm not going to turn you in. He deserves whatever he gets." she said. Garen suddenly looked up to the desert girl "Nabooru." she looked up. Garen looked at her with seriousness "You want me to prevent whatever Gannondorf is planning, I have a small favor to ask of you." she nodded saying that whatever it was would be her pleasure. Garen then pointed to the guard tower at the entrance of the fortress and explained that it was the only way that he and Malon were going to get out. Nabooru nodded her head and told him to leave it to her.
-
Later that night when the night shift began several of the guards noticed that Nabooru and Garen were missing from the fortress. Some of the Gerudos just assumed that the fight might have made them close, close enough to close themselves off somewhere.
Malon meanwhile was in her room sleeping when suddenly the door opened. She looked up to see Garen standing there in his cloak looking very serious "Get up Malon. We're leaving." he announced. Malon looked up at him as if he was crazy "But their security, its not possible." she informed him. Garen looked at her "Trust me." he said clearly confident. That was enough and Malon jumped from her sheets and followed him.
As Garen and Malon dashed from the second floor balcony onto the trail leading down into the courtyard. The guards quickly took notice "Halt! Your not permitted to leave! Halt!" they shouted as Garen ran for the gates. They quickly dropped the gates which slammed stabbing into the ground. Malon held Garen's hand as they ran "Garen! It's closed off!" Garen didn't listen as he ran for the gate.
Garen released Malon and he reached down to his belt and grabbed out three bombs, twisting the rough ends of the bomb fuses they lit up and he hurled them at the thick wooden gate. One feel between two of the thick wooden pikes that stabbed into the ground and exploded sending wood everywhere, the two of them moved through and towards the valley. The Gerudo's stationed on the top of the tower raised their bows which held arrows and pulled back ready to take the down in their own tracks. But as each of them drew back their lines snapped rendering the bows useless. Nabooru, a good ways away would be smiling at the news of a horrible jinx upon the tribe.
They soon found themselves at the Gerudo Valley the bridge that went over the canyon just ahead. Malon laughed with glee as she saw it "Come on were almost there!" she shouted. Just as she set foot on the bridge an arrow flew through the air just missing her foot but stopped her dead in her tracks. Garen turned to see several Gerudos standing there including the Captain "Sorry boy. But I can't let you leave so soon." Garen glared at them as Malon hid behind him.
Garen narrowed his eyes as he passed her both the Gerudo Topez and the Deku Moonstone. She quickly hid the two stones in the pockets of her dress, then Garen was holding out his boomerang for her to take "Go home. I'll keep them busy." he demanded. Malon looked at him as the Gerudos armed themselves with their own swords and spears "Garen." she said nervously. Garen looked at her "I can handle this. Just go!" he ordered. He took his staff from his back extending it to six feet.
Malon Moonstar looked at him for a final time as she prepared to run "You have to make it. Don't die on me!" she said full of emotion before running across the bridge where Shen waited for her. She quickly jumped on and with a swift kick they were off. Garen looked back and then at the Gerudos that were ready to go. Garen glared as he got ready. The Captain narrowed her eyes "Attack." she said simply and the others rushed Garen in ernest.
Garen prepared his staff which he flipped in his fingers before concentrating "Lightning!" he shouted. The staff crackled to life, violent electricity circling the powerful weapon. The Gerudos attacked and in one swift movement Garen swung slapping several of them out of his way. Quickly he went for his sword and stood in defiance before the well trained squad. But this wouldn't get him out of it.
Garen soon found that eight Gerudos surrounded him all of them full trained and armed with spears. Suddenly one came from his left with the spear, he quickly moved back and kicked her in the stomach sending her to the ground. The next came from the front jumping into the air, Garen prepared his sword and sliced the spear in half before delivering a powerful blow to the side of her head with the staff. As Garen brought back his staff he heard a battle cry from behind, he ducked as the spear was swung and rolled forward getting out of the way. He then jumped back kicking the Gerudo in the chest sending her back into the ground.
Suddenly two of them attacked at once both swinging with their staffs. Garen gasped as he retracted his staff back to three feet and blocked both weapons with his sword and staff. He pushed both of the off before returning his sword to his sheath to. He then reached behind to his collar and hurled two of the needles which struck both Gerudo before they had a chance to attack, they fell to the ground in a heap. There were only three left now but they appeared ready to attack.
They all rushed him as he drew his staff again, he was growing increasingly grateful to Impa and Zelda as he didn't want to use his blade against them. He extended it again and narrowed his eyes, planing on taking their feet out from under them. Garen jumped back preparing to use the staff's newest technique which he had acquired by complete chance. He concentrated on the staff's power, a charge going through it to the gem at the top of it "Earth Crusher!" he shouted before stabbing the spear head into the sand.
The charged power of the staff sent a powerful shockwave through the ground knocking all of them to their feet, unfortunately he found that his own energy was being spent by the staff. He retracted it back and quickly dashed to the fallen Gerudo and with a few swift kicks sent them all into unconsciousness. Garen breathed heavily as he flipped his staff back into it's own sheath. He suddenly heard a slight applause coming from behind him. It was the captain of the Gerudo "Very nice work. If your still willing to fight, allow me." she said placing her hand on her sword.
As Garen prepared to attack a deep and very dark voice came from behind "No. Allow me!" Garen gasping turned to see a lone figure rushing him. The armor was there, as was that fiery red hair and a large broad sword strapped to his back. He growled "Gannondorf!" he shouted in anger. But he had no time to react before the brutal King of the Gerudo rushed up with his oversized sword and swatted him with the flatside of all things. Garen flew back over forty feet slamming into the rock wall of the canyon. He quickly used his knife stabbing into the rock and glared at the Gerudo King who laughed.
Gannondorf had arrived early. Far earlier than anybody has expected him too. Garen had been to reliant on his information "I knew that you were more than just a coincidence boy. What did you hope to accomplish by fetching a few stones." Garen narrowed his eyes from his place on the cliffs. Gannondorf chuckled "I'm feeling generous so I'll give you some mercy. You won't live to watch your precious kingdom of Hyrule fall!" he said raising his palm. Garen looked as dark energy began gathering and suddenly launched itself at Garen at amazing speed. "Oh crap." he groan dryly jumping with his knife. The explosion suddenly came sending him hard into the falls below.
Garen's vision blared as he tried to swim but found it very difficult to break the water's surface as he slowly began to pass out. He fell several falls that was his only chance to get air, that was shortly before he found himself sliding with the current smoothly eventually running up on land. He breathed heavily but his entire body ached from the force of that explosion. Garen growled as he looked up seeing somebody looking down at him, a man in his late years.
He looked down "So you were the one causing so much commotion." he said as he took the last bottle of red potion from Garen's backpack and handed it to him. Garen took it with trembling hands and drank it feeling his energy return. His vision returned and he saw it was Professor Gray from the Lake Hylia Laboratory. Turning his head to the left he noticed a horse galloping sound. He looked to see a young girl on a horse. Garen smiled to himself "Thank Din for you Malon." he said before passing out.
Gannondorf lowered his palm and looked back at the Captain angrily looking at her "I hope the army is ready for we attack tomorrow night." the captain nodded at her leader's orders. Gannondorf looked over the falls "And as for that child. Find him and retrieve the spiritual stones. Then bring whatever is left of him to me!" he ordered before jumping back on Endbringer and heading for the fortress. Nabooru meanwhile growled as she watched all of this "I've done all I can Garen. There is no other way I can possibly help you." she breathed out before running back to the fortress not wanting to get caught. -
Next Chapter: Zoras-The Aquatic People
While Garen was going through his ordeals with the Gerudos. Link found himself going up river in the east to find himself in a place called Zora's Domain. Where he learns that yet another race is having some serious problems.