A/N: Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
A Pair of Time
Chapter 52- Amongst the Thieves of Sand, Part 4
Thieves' Hideout; Day
"We got an intruder in our mist! Three of our captives are missing!"
"Alarm, alarm! Sound the alarm!" A clamor of rusted metal crashing against metal pounds through the hideout in an almost quake.
"Shut down the whole fortress! Post guards at every viable exit!"
"Yes, madam!"
"You there! Halt! Stay where you are!"
Malon whimpers in a subdued manner at the rush of things and the command at the same time. She slowly turns to meet another guard, donned in a red top, a trimmed white jacket, and airy pants with Gerudo patterns. Like any other watch, she carries another of those fear-striking pole arms.
"You! What is your purpose?"
"Uh-buh-buh-uh…" Malon stumbles on words, then quickly claws for the key ring hooked on the back of her belt. "I'm a… I'm the j-jail keeper, s-see? Just n-new here."
"Jail keeper? Where were you when these breaks happen?"
"Um… uh…" She decides to tear a page from the true keeper's book. "L-Late arrival! Got to the training ground late!"
"Late!" The Gerudo grumbles for a while under her breath, muttering "Rookie" and "Uncompensated mistake."
"Wh-What's going on?" Malon decides to divert unneeded reprimanded castigation.
"Because of your foolish errors, a trespasser had freed three of the prisoners we recently captured!"
"Oh, uh… I… I apologize… um, madam."
"Enough of your skimping! Equip yourself with a weapon and block the nearest exit!"
"Yes, madam!"
Hastily, the Gerudo departs for the nearest hall, leaving Malon by herself. Her motives have been discovered, but her identity remains undisclosed. If she could wait out the security of the area, then she could resume finding the last carpenter, though it might be more difficult with the possibility of more guards being posted near the cell.
Malon, just find him now! Navi advises through her thoughts. All the Gerudos will be occupied with the outside. Just find him and see what you could do!
The farm girl wrestles with the suggestion, but in the end, she agrees with the bonded fairy. Giving a safe survey for any Gerudos still hanging about, she scampers through the many halls and rooms before halting into a large chamber with the only cell she could find amongst her search. Again, she keeps her steps quiet in case of nearby watches. When she spots none, she rushes up to the cell door. The man, already knowing who the disguised person is with the alertness going on, stands by the door and waits as Malon flips through each key of the ring and uses each speedily. Finally, the lock clicks, budging under the instrument. Malon smirks, but she becomes affrighted when the carpenter's face did not share her joy.
He is first to react. "Woo! Watch out!" Malon's instinct goes into drive by first pushing her into a duck. A clean whir cuts the air above her head. She spins around to find a Gerudo guard staring down at her from a distance. And in each of her hands are large, wicked scimitars that provoke more terror in Malon than the pole arms.
The nimble woman laughs softly. "I knew it. You're the trespasser." For a second Malon is relatively clueless as to how this person knows. Then, a cold shock jolts her into realization that this is the same Gerudo that had suspicions about her just before liberating Jiro. One mistake on her part and here's the consequence for Malon's error. "Time to die, Hylian." The Gerudo charges forward, carelessly however to Malon's abilities. The Hylian uses this to her advantage and swings her foot along the ground, catching the guard off and sending both swords flying out of her hand. Malon sprints towards one of them, snatching the hilt up and posing a defensive stand. The guard swipes up the other and glowers at her underestimated opponent. "Not bad for a Hylian girl… It's certainly pleasant that I have a challenging opponent to kill in a long while!" she said as she begins strafing.
Panic rises in Malon as she steps in opposite direction to avoid being pinned to a corner. Give me a hand, Navi!
On this? Navi voices. What do you need help on this for? It's just a Gerudo Thief!
That's the point, Navi! Thieves, agile, sneaky, cunning, ring any bell?
Just block with that scimitar until you can catch an opening!
Malon grunts, unsatisfied with the inadequate assistance. To her, an opening from the Gerudo only appears for a second before closing up. She pauses, weapon held up to parry blows. For the next few moments, she staggers under assailment from the Gerudo. With each resounding clang, her breathing intensifies abnormally. Unless Malon could make a breakthrough and score on the offensive, the Gerudo will wear her down sooner or later.
C'mon… her instinct exclaims. Remember all those times you watched Link's practices, Malon! He always says predict your opponent's next move to gain the advantage! Keep steady… Keep steady…
An attempt is made at Malon's neck in a quick second, forcing her to burn all of her current energy to dodge the decapitation. Her senses heighten, forcing her awareness of time to lag behind her while she sets her movement. Her head manages to recoil downward enough to escape mortal wounds, but she could feel a small patch of her scarlet hair being cleanly cleaved off. During the Gerudo's recovery of the slice, Malon could feel the air disturbed, easily by both of their maneuvers, and the unsound movement of her descending strands of hair.
Here's your chance now! Go, go, go!
A quick flash of the scimitar and Malon spots her infliction in the form of a gash on the Gerudo's right leg. Stunned, the guard falters, kneeling in a throe as her wound saps her vitality. The woman gives one more blurry glance before receiving Malon's boot to the face, spurning her to unconsciousness with a small yell.
Mess with me, and you'll wake up with my boot print on your face!
Hurry up, Malon! Navi interrupts her gloating. You barely got through with this guard. You want five of them going after you?
How about no?
"I was afraid you were going to forget about me!" the carpenter remarks as Malon unlocks the prison.
"Oh, nah. I'm here to free you, so what's the point of just dealing with a Gerudo for nothin'?"
He chuckles as he jogs out of the metal cell. "Thanks! I'm Shiro the carpenter!" The escapee holds for a moment, then continues, "For rescuing me, I'll tell you something interesting about the desert that I overheard the Gerudos talking about."
"The desert? What about it?"
"The Gerudos said, 'In order to cross the Haunted Wasteland, you'll need the eye of truth. The Colossus is on the far side of the wasteland…'"
"Haunted Wasteland? Colossus? What are you talking about?"
"I have a feeling that you're going to cross the desert, no?"
"Um, yeah…"
"Something tells me you're searching for the Spirit Temple. Is that right, lady?"
"Yes, I am…"
"Well, the Colossus is where the Spirit Temple is located, and the Colossus itself is located across the Haunted Wasteland, the desert."
"Oh… Well, thanks, Mister. You helped me a lot, then."
"Ain't a problem, miss. Now, I better be going back to the tent near Gerudo Valley." Shiro flees as the last word is spoken. "Good luck finding the temple, and don't let the desert overcome you! If you do come back, the bridge in Gerudo Valley may be finished by then! Byeee!"
As Shiro disappears from view, Malon cogitates over the words of how to traverse the desert. For the most part, she wonders how the desert is a wasteland and, more often, why it's haunted. Reasoning it with the fact that maybe many travelers weren't fortunate enough to live past the journey, her heart daunts on the thought. However, Shiro mentioned that in order to cross it, Malon would need the 'eye of truth.'
Easy enough. The Lens of Truth. Maybe I do have a chance to cross the desert after all…
A womanish chuckle startles Malon out of pondering and agitates her grip around the scimitar. Having to pay attention, she almost trips at the sight of a Gerudo in green standing nearby, across from her from the outside of the cell.
How did she get so darn close!
"Hah hah, have nothing to fear, Hylian girl," the Gerudo said. "I've seen your fine work. To get past the guards here, you must have good thieving skills."
"T-Thieving…?"
The Gerudo snaps her fingers. In response, six armed watches hasten into the room, one of them carrying the unconscious body of the true jail keeper. "I never would have suspected the Gerudo's Fortress would be penetrated by a female Hylian in disguise. I am most impressed."
"Wh… Wh-What are you… gonna do to me?"
"Relax, Hylian." She fillips again, signaling a relief of keeping the Gerudos' arms ready. "As I said before, you have nothing to fear. Your abilities to free the prisoners from our fortress have gained my respect for you." The Gerudo laughs again. "I used to think all Hylian, especially men, were useless, even the women… but now that I've seen you, I don't think so anymore! So, Hylian, what's your name?"
Going along with the question, she answers, "M-Malon." She would feel more secure following the Gerudo's orders rather than disobey.
"Malon, eh? Allow me to introduce myself." The Gerudo proceeds with a bow. "I will not reveal my name, but you could call me by my rank. The exalted Nabooru, our leader, put me in charge of this fortress. Nabooru is the second-in-command to the great Ganondorf, King of the Gerudo Thieves. Thus, you can call me third-in-command."
"Yes, um, third-in-command." A slight urge of curiosity skivers Malon, forcing her to ask the question while walking out of the cell, "Who exactly is Nabooru?"
"Ah, Nabooru… She has caused us many troubles…"
"Um, if you don't mind me asking, why?"
"Our second-in-command has an intolerable disobedience to the great Ganondorf. In punishment, our male leader has been terrorizing us with his hordes of minions. In addition, we are to work harder for our king to complete our penalty."
"And y'all just subject under him? Under unfair conditions?"
"Yes. What is wrong?"
"I didn't think all of you were that loyal to Ganondorf…"
"Do you have a difficulty with our fidelity?" The third-in-command questions with a hint of threat.
"No, no… Nothing. So, um, where is this Nabooru if you are in charge here?"
"Currently at her headquarters. They are in the Spirit Temple, which is at the end of the desert." A hesitation occurs, then the third-in-command proceeds, "Unfortunately, we have not seen her in seven years."
"… Seven… Seven years?"
"She had taken leave for her headquarters, but she had never returned since… My patrols have found not a trace of her after her disappearance… Unusual enough, some of my troops have been missing lately, especially those I'd sent out to search for Nabooru."
"Oh… so she's gone forever with the desert…"
"Gone?" The third-in-command scoffs in an offended way. "Goodness, Malon, the exalted Nabooru has not perished. We Gerudos, especially Nabooru, do not just ambulate into the desert and die pathetically. We are extremely adapted to survive in the ocean of sand, our home. The goddess of the desert watches over us, ensuring our safety in the unforgiving desolation. No, our second-in-command is still alive, but is either missing or has been captured by an unknown being."
"So… you believe that she's still alive, still inside the Spirit Temple?"
"There is no doubt. There is no current evidence as to why her spirit has joined with our goddess."
"Say, um…" Malon pauses, fearing the reactions to her query, "I… I'm planning to go to the Spirit Temple… on a… business of some sort. I… I was wondering if… maybe you could let me enter the desert?"
A hush falls over the Gerudos as they take in the question in a weak state of astonishment. Some murmur among themselves, constantly giving a scrutinizing at Malon every now and then. Finally, the third-in-command speaks, "What business do you wish for across the Haunted Wasteland?"
"It's very… very confidential. I have a request to complete from some people, and it requires me to travel to the Spirit Temple."
"Confidential? What is so private that you need not to tell us?"
"It's nothing that would affect all of you. I simply need to reach the Colossus, that's all."
A moment passes as the third-in-command judges the substance of Malon's words and her decision. "If it is important to keep in secrecy, I have no desire to disclose it for my hearing. You have earned my esteem, and I shall honor it. If you are ambitious to traverse the sands of hell, then we will step away for your will to pass."
"Thank you. You don't know how much this means to me."
"I must warn you, and leave you with a choice, however. The desert is not an infant in its mind. It is an ancient world, whose wrath and unrest is as strong as the wisdom of a senile one. If you choose to set your sight across the holy, relentless grounds of the goddess, have thought that you may never see the light of day through the winds of sand again."
"I know," Malon responds instinctively, her valor now beginning to pump through her veins. "But I'm still going to cross the Haunted Wasteland. I have to do something, and I'm not intended on leaving it unfinished."
"… Well, your courage is admirable, I must say." The Gerudo smirks. "Truly a rarity among all the Hylians I have seen. No less I expect from you, Malon, one who had successfully infiltrated the Gerudo's Fortress. If your courage renders you stubborn to cross the desert, then I shall allow it with respected ease. It may prove invaluable in your journey through the fiery sands."
"Thanks." Malon quickly nods. "I just hope I get across and back safely."
"One more thing before you dismiss yourself." The third-in-command gestures at one of the guards. "As I said before, you have gained my respect. For that, I must felicitate you with an oath of your acceptance."
"Acceptance?"
"Of your presence with my people. You are too talented to be treated as a Hylian. The oath is to concrete the Gerudo's approval of you amongst us. You may return to your Hylian land, but we will learn to recognize you and let you walk respectively through our fortress. Also, you are free to come and go as you please through the gate to the desert from this oath from now on."
"Oh, um, thanks, then…"
"From this day forth, you are one of us, despite your blood. A Gerudo you are, despite the spirit of a Hylian living inside your body… Now…" She gestures again, this time the guard coming forth besides the third-in-command, "a token… of my respect, of our oath, of your esprit and agile abilities of an intrepid thief." The guard hands to her an arrow like any other, but Malon could clearly see that similarities stop at the tip, where a blue crystal has taken hold of it. When the arrow is brought a certain distance from her, she could feel the air freezing instantly before the magic of the crystal. "The Ice Arrow, my people's treasure… dedicated to those with your capability. It is yours to rightfully merit."
Malon hesitates, marveling the ice magic streaming like blood throughout the arrow. One touch and she would be able to concentrate the magic of the element into any arrow she wants. She already has the element of fire burning brightly in her, so ice should be no problem. "I… I, well, I gratefully will accept it." She waits in a moment's time, then grasps the enchanted item, feeling painless cold seep through the wood into her body. For a moment, she stands frozen, spiritually incased in ice itself. Soon, Malon takes control, leaving the ice to recede into herself. She gasps for air, breathing hard to warm up the chill. A shake of her head clears her thoughts, then she comments, "Whoa… tingly…" Malon then stands straight, heeding attention to her Gerudo comrades. "Um, I… really don't know what to say."
"No need for words," the third-in-command answers. "Now, we must have you prepared to cross the desert. As competent as you are, you won't survive long under the fearless sun if you are not ready."
--
Gerudo Valley
"Good, good!" the poacher boss exclaims. "I win again!" Satisfied, he takes his won money and exits, leaving the five men to themselves.
"I can't believe we lost at something as bad as checkers," Ichiro groans, tossing aside the checkered board.
"At least it wasn't as bad as chess," Sabooro reminds. "His pawns never seem to disappear."
"Or craps," the marathon man includes. "Fixed dice, no doubt."
"And yet, we're still letting him win," sallies Jiro.
"Luckily, I stopped while he was ahead," Link said. "Is everybody really bored here?"
"Yes, boy. Look, let's just do something else other than gamble."
"Like what?" Sabooro asks.
"Man talk."
"Psh. Like any of us got anything to talk about that. All we do is saw wood and build houses and stuff."
"You, running man?"
"All run, no social life."
"Boy?"
"Uh…" Link sputters. "Um… I… kill things. Does that count?"
"Kill things? What, boy, you a knight?"
"Knight? Well… I don't know if I am a knight. I'm not bonded to the former King of Hyrule."
"Wandering swordsman? Mercenary, perhaps?"
"I might be more described as… the first choice."
"And why do you wander around?"
"That's… a private business I would like to keep it to myself."
"Hah, we never do have any swordsman that wanders around the land of Hyrule, much less one that has private reasons or no business. Now that Ganondorf's all high and mighty, there ain't any more of you swordsmen around…" Ichiro gestures aimlessly. "So, tell me, is it marvelous that you travel the country and kill anything that stands in your way?"
"Not really… Though, it's more like a mixture of excitement from the adventure and a sense of inevitable duty on your shoulders, whether personal or not. But I think it would be marvelous in some ways."
"Ah… I would rather take up the sword than stick around doing my job…" Jiro remarks. "Too dull around here. Really would be a memorable adventure if I ever went on one. Seeing things, killing things, doing things, that's the stuff. Just traveling…" His head jolts up suddenly, a spark of interest being expressed. "By the way, you really don't travel alone, do you?"
"No, sir. My best friend travels with me."
"That lady, right? The one who broke us out of jail?"
"The same one I'm assuming if it's really her."
"Whoo, buddy, let me tell ya." Jiro wrings an arm around Link's neck. "You're one lucky guy to have her around. And I'm not talking just about her saving our butts."
"W-What…?" The swordsman doesn't like where this conversation is going.
"You say she's your best friend?"
"Y-Y-Yeah…"
"C'mon now!" Jiro drops his voice to a whisper, still audibly loud enough for everybody to hear. "You can tell us… Is she really a best friend? Or you're just using that as a cover up?"
Link knows that the best friend thing was bound to be questioned like this ever since seven years ago, and now here's more proof to add to his list. "No, sir, she really is," he answers.
"Are you sure?" Ichiro queries. "You mean, you two never… did it or anything?"
The word "did" strikes an alarming reflex in Link's mouth. "No! We never did it!"
"Really? Even though she's a nice one? Even though looking at her doesn't give you any… thoughts?"
The fear of the book allows him to shout, "No! Goddess, no!"
"Whoa, boy!" Jiro yells. "Calm down! If you never did it with her, just say so calmly! No need to act so aggressive."
"I'm sorry. Sorry…" Link sighs. "It's just… whenever she and I pass by some people, they usually get thoughts, and then occasionally when we're having a conversation with one of them, a question concerning our relationship comes up and it always becomes awkward."
"Hah hah! Having a tough time maintaining this friendship of yours in public, eh?
"Yeah. It's always a constant bother."
"Well, not to provoke you or anything, but since you never gotten close to her in that way, what about a relationship of a close sort between you two? You know, platonic love?"
"Platonic?"
"Eh, love without the fancy smancy sex."
"Um… Well, for the part about love…" Link lowers his head. "I would rather not talk about it. It's… more… uncomfortable when it comes to it."
"How so?"
"Well, I… She and I… It just… How can I say this…? It just went wrong."
"What? Well, what happened?"
"Um… she… she told me… No. She confessed… She confessed her feelings for me… and everything like that… And I… I… I… I wasn't ready… for us to commit to each other like that."
"Ain't ready? Why, boy, that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard! Anybody can be ready!"
"Aw, shut up, Jiro," Sabooro scowls. "Always thinking women are like that. Can't you see? This boy here just ain't ready to say those three words to his best friend!"
"Sabooro, that girl told him she loved him! Anybody can clearly see that it's no better time to be ready than right there and now!"
"That's your pace, Jiro! The poor boy here probably got on the love boat a little late, don't you think? He needs more time to understand all this stuff!"
"Well, there's no better time than to teach him now, right?"
"Let him go at his own pace! People have to learn about this thing in their own way! It's the best way I can think of!"
"Since when are you the love doctor of all this?"
"Since I understand this long enough to know more than you!"
"Psh-sah." Jiro gestures in surrender. "Whatever happens, boy, I say take life as it is and get as much as you can as quickly as possible," he said to Link before exiting the tent.
"Uh…" Ichiro glances around for a moment during the quietude. "I think I need some fresh air…" With that, he takes leave, too.
Sabooro leans against the wall nearest the sitting swordsman, "Listen, kid… what's your name?"
"Link."
"Link, don't listen to Jiro, or even Ichiro for that matter on this kind of thing. Jiro sees women in a different way than men originally should see. Ichiro really cares for nothing more than knowing what went on in bed last night."
"Why should I trust you?"
"Because… I know your problem. I had a similar experience with a friend of mine back then. She loved me… but I couldn't bear to say I love her without getting both of us hurt."
"Hurt?" Link remembers he said he was not ready to love, but he never questioned himself why he wasn't ready, other than that he's afraid. But he cannot explain why he's afraid, thus hitting a rock bottom. "From what?"
"From the uncertainty. Commitment in love is normally followed by uncertainty, and that, Link, can be paved painfully no matter how much you try to change it."
"From uncertainty?" Is this what he is afraid of? "Then… how am I supposed to love when, as you said, I end up hurting Malon and myself?"
"Malon is the best friend, right?"
"Yes."
"Well, Link, you still can't change how the future will go, because you don't know what the future is, so I have little doubt something bad will happen if you ever did return her love. We're not masters of time… Even the legendary Heroes of Time themselves cannot truly change the path of Fate in such a delicate way. I mean, sure, they are allowed to change something in history, but only when the Goddess of Time grants them permission and only change what herself and the deities want. Other than that, the heroes really have no power, to change the life of someone, to prevent the death of another, to have a second chance… with things and opportunities… like romance."
He's right… I couldn't change things I wanted for some reason, and this is why… because of the Goddess of Time… The future cannot be changed because of uncertainty… The future… I'm… I'm afraid of what the unknown future will bring… especially if Mal and me were ever really…
"Link, that's the reason why I couldn't tell my friend I loved her… and I never did. By the time I understood the uncertainty… my friend was killed."
"Killed? By who?"
"A what to be more exact. Her body… A traveler found mortal wounds of a Peahat on her…" Sabooro nearly sniffs, trying to keep himself together. His voice stutters in an attempt to keep on telling. "I came to her in her bed. They said she only had a few minutes left of this world… I grabbed her hand… So cold was the hand, it made sure any hope left of her surviving was gone… She… She smiled at me… By then, I still couldn't… I still couldn't tell her… But… she still smiled at me… and whispered that she… that she still loved me… That was all before… before I felt no more pulse running through her hand…" In his despair, a tear loosens from his eye and runs down his cheek.
"… Sorry…" Link breathes. "Sorry it had to be that way for you…"
"I regretted it… even now. I regret my fear of the future… even today… because it caused me to lose my love, her…"
"The uncertainty of the future…"
"Link, don't make the same mistake that I made," Sabooro blurts suddenly. "Don't realize things before it is too late. Don't… Don't ever let the future, no matter how little you know about it, take control of your life. If you do, you will suffer under time… You will slave under its rule, and you will hate it for everything it has done to and taken away from you. I'm not saying go ahead and forget about your fear of your uncertainty of love. No, that will not do anything good, for it is better to deal with it later than forget about it now. You discard it from your memory, and it will swear to come back to haunt you when you mourn about a horrible future. It will come back stronger than ever, and then you may never escape the tyranny of time. You must prepare yourself when time allows you to face the fear of itself, when you promise to yourself that you will uphold responsibility for anything that comes, whether good or bad. Anything that the future presents, you must deal with it responsibly, for that is the only way to conquer your fear of meeting the unknown."
"I… I know… I know this. Sabooro, I know about it," the swordsman replies. "Facing time or else live in woe under it… I know… I never did look into the bleak future with no courage… I always charge headfirst into it. I never fear the future."
"I had a feeling you never did. But, Link, listen, I'm talking more about your relationship with Malon. It is the same as whatever you do. You never return to her your love, and then soon, time will take away your chance, maybe forever. You cannot keep living with fear of time, Link, for it will surely take away what your life's all about. You and Malon can't live forever, so you have to live your hopes and dreams as soon as they are attainable. She followed her hope to love you, and you have to do the same for her, because the Goddess of Time never is merciful on those who don't take opportunities, or even risks. You have to deal with your fear of Malon's future and your future, while you still have time left to take the risk. You don't, and time will take away your best friend. She will either love somebody else, or even… even… No, Link, you have to face your fear of this. It may take time, but it will cause no regrets. I promise you, Link… take on the uncertainty, grab every chance you can get, and it will leave you with no regrets at all… because regrets can decay a person for a long time, even after death."
"Regrets… Uncertainty…" Link tries hard to understand. "I think… I understand… I got to tell Malon… before it's too late… but… at the right time, too. Else, it's fear and regrets forever…"
"Right, Link, right." Sabooro, his grievance having to disappear, nods sympathetically. "Take your time… Have courage… But, do so before time decides to take away your chances and hopes. Do so… Soon, you have to… Tell Malon you love her, too… before you risk losing your best friend…"
"I… Sabooro, I just… can't have the same feelings I had for Mal back then. I locked them away because I'm afraid of what'll happen if something like back then happened again… I don't know if I'll be able to set my feelings free again, despite taking responsibility for the future. She's my best friend… I can't do it… I can't risk it all over again. I don't know if I still will be ready by then. Her confessing her love for me and I… I just become too afraid to love back… I might end up again hurting myself, and mostly her. I just can't bear to hurt Malon like that again. I can't…"
"It'll work out, Link. Trust me, it will… Don't worry… It'll come naturally… at your own pace. You'll find that right time… You'll find that courage… You'll be able to tell her… I'm sure she won't be disappointed. I got confidence in you getting through, kid. I'm very sure it'll work out between you two in the end."
It takes several moments as Link considers and evaluates every single word Sabooro has spoken. He's still shaken by the cogitation of hurting Malon's feelings and his own again, but he assumes a new, firmer perspective to where his path will lead him, especially the intertwinement between his and Malon's. "Sabooro… thanks. Thanks a lot… for this conversation, the advice. I think… I may have a chance with Malon again."
"It's of no problem, Link. I'm glad to help out anybody who has our situation."
"Yo!" Jiro's voice bombards through the tent's entrance. "Boy! Sabooro! Shiro came back! He said that best friend of yours is okay and is going on ahead to the Spirit Temple!"
"Goddess, Mal's going on ahead without me?" Link sighs as he stands up. "She sure is spunky when she wants to be. But I guess I wouldn't be able to go with her since I still have to go past the Gerudos first, and that is by far impossible."
"Shouldn't you be worried about her?" Sabooro asks initially.
"No. She's fine by herself. I know because I've seen her take care of herself easily. And if she could get past all those Gerudo guards, I really don't need to worry."
"You can't say you love her, but you can trust her to free us carpenters and cross a desert?"
"Well, she and I are very close…"
"Sabooro!" the voice of the boss booms into the tent. "Get your tools and get your ass out! It's time to work on the bridge! Boy! Help us get the bridge fixed, too!"
Link groans silently as he sulks on the thought of repairing a boring bridge over the trek of a harsh, adrenaline-pumping sandy wasteland. A trade of positions occurs, pitting him in the desert while Malon takes a hammer and starts pounding on nails.
Well, Mal wouldn't last in my spot for an hour. Boredom gets to her too well. He shrugs, then curiously concocts a scheme out of interest. Maybe I should teach Mal self-restraint by leaving her locked in her room for a day…