Chapter 8

Nabooru

A look of pure determination sparkled in Link's eyes, more so than ever before as he passed into the night darkened area of Kakiriko Village. He wouldn't let anything stop him…Well then again you can't avoid the supernatural. A bright light suddenly flashed in front of him, blinding him into stopping. When the light faded, Link was now standing there with something small and blue in his hands…the Ocarina of Time!

I am sure you will need this for your quest, Hero of Time. A voice whispered softly across his mind, a voice that sounded vaguely familiar…the voice of someone he had sadly assumed was probably dead at this point… Impa? Link shrugged and continued walking, the ocarina would definitely come in handy…he just hoped he could still remember the songs…

He hurried along and reentered the inn…at that point realizing he had all of his possessions on him…the money he had had was probably still at the castle…and the problem was, he would need food…although, he knew someone who would more than likely have plenty of it…

He bounded down the hall, up the flight of stairs at the end of the hall, and pounded on the door to the king's room. After a while, he halted his efforts…apparently no one was in…but he needed the money to get food and maybe a few other necessities…an idea came to him…but was he really about to break into the king's room? Well…yeah.

Link stepped back a few feet, not even thinking of the suspicion his action might arouse, then he charged. A jarring pain shot through his shoulder and down his arm as he made contact with the unbelievably sturdy door. He leaned heavily against the door for support as he waited for the pain to subside or numb in the least bit. If only he knew the door was unlocked and could have been open by a simple turn of a knob…but no, he didn't and things were only about to get worse.

Suddenly it gave-way and caved inward, taking a very surprised Link down with it. It hit the ground with a loud crash, leaving him totally stunned for several seconds. Link finally realized the urgency of the situation, if he didn't hurry, then people would find him breaking into the king's room of all things…oh how much trouble he would be in then.

He quickly hopped up and dashed inside, frantically looking around. Link quickly searched through several drawers only to find them empty and him tenser with the eagerness to get out of there. Then he realized what an idiot he was, when the castle had been attacked surely the king wouldn't have taken the time to grab rupees when his life was on the line! Then again… Link thought as he caught something sparkling out of the corner of his eye.

He turned and right there lying out in the open on the dresser was a bag overflowing with rupees. He shouldn't mind if I take a few…

Link only nabbed a red rupee deciding it would be enough, not to mention the fact that he heard footsteps coming his way. He quickly lifted the door, which wasn't the lightest thing in the world to say the least, and set it back up like it was supposed to be…at least so it looked that way. The window he had gotten out earlier was still open, so Link climbed out, just as there was a knock on the door, followed by the concerned voice of Sasha, "Is everything all right, my king?"

Before preparing to climb down from his perch, Link called back in a gruff voice doing quite well at impersonating the king, "Yes, everything is fine. No need to worry, thank you."

This seemed to satisfy Sasha and her footsteps receded away as Link quickly finished climbing down to solid earth. A local food vender was nearby, so he quickly purchased several fruits and other foods that were easy to travel with, as well as a flask of water. He ended up with about three rupees left over once he paid and received a weatherproof bag (as he had asked for) filled with what he ordered. He tucked the feeble amount of rupees away and set off around the corner of the house, where he took out the ocarina of time.

At first he just stood there gazing at it as if it were something of ill omen as it seemed to refresh his memories of such a horrible time of suffrage for him…then with a sigh, he put it to his lips and easily recalled the Requiem of Spirit.

In a swirl of sparkling orange light, he was off…of course being the type of person who often acted before thought, he didn't even bother to think about what anyone would think should they have seen him…but it was too late anyway.

Expecting to land on the warp pad in front of the Spirit Temple, he was shocked to find that he was only in Gerudo Valley…and in the dead center of a multitude of guards…Following his surprised and unexpected appearance were many shouts that rose to a vicious roar, he was so distracted that he didn't even notice 'til it had happened, that there were many of the Gerudo women's spear points aimed directly at him. He gulped visibly…in this timeline, they no longer knew him as a 'friend.'

"To the dungeons with him, we must keep him there until Lady Nabooru decides his punishment for trespassing on our lands!" he heard a voice say, sticking distinctly out high above the crowd.

The odds were totally against him but Link's rebellious nature would not allow him to go down without a fight. In one swift invisible movement he had mastered through the years he had of training, he drew his sword out and slashed away the Gerudo guard's weapons. …Of course once they were out of commission, a new rank stepped up and it was his turn to have his sword knocked out of his hand. "Sure you can take me down when there's a whole group of ya, but if the odds were fair, I bet you wouldn't stand a chance you filthy cowards!"

An awkward silence immediately filtered throughout the area and the ranks parted, Link immediately took the opportunity and snatched up his sword and stood ready in a favored battled stance of his, danger flashing like a warning sign in his eyes. Their strange behavior wasn't a good sign…

Through the parting of the crowd, a single Gerudo woman walked, unlike the others, her outfit consisted of a rosy hue of pink with trimmings of gold and silver, two scimitars hung loosely from her belt at each side as if waiting to be drawn out and used for battle, a pink mask hid half of her face. Just as Link's eyes radiated, her own intense brown eyes sparkled with the glint of a promising fight. She would teach this impudent boy to call the Gerudos cowards…she would make him regret the very day he was born.

Once she entered the 'arena,' the gap was filled again as the Gerudo guards and other high ranking members of the Gerudo clan filtered into form a circle, anticipating the one they had sent in to wipe the floor with him. Their confidence at their victory overwhelmed Link, oh how he would show them he was better than their top notch warrior. Thoughts of Zen and Zelda slipped from his mind as he focused on this abrupt and very unexpected upcoming battle. There was no escape with all these people crowded around…but then again, he wasn't planning on escaping just yet.

Neither Link, his opponent, nor any of the others gathered around spoke or uttered a sound as it was time for the battle to begin. Link's opponent drew out her scimitars and spread out her arms before twirling her scimitars and then charging at Link.

Link sidestepped easily enough, but the girl moved with him and slashed him across his chest drawing a thin rivulet of blood to bleed through his clothes. Link retaliated by lashing out with his own sword, but she brought her scimitars together as a shield and blocked his assault. Metal clanging on metal rang out like a metallic boom. She twisted away from him and the two circled the other watching for the other to let their guard down so they could attack.

Link smirked as a thought came to him and he hopped sideways before shoving off the ground and performing a front flip over her head. He landed directly behind her and hit her in the back, she refused to cry out in agony and swung around to face him. She put her arms close to her before doing her own trick by doing a spin attack and allowing the full force of the blow to be taken by him. Link bit his lip but did not fall down…if he fell down then the battle might be declared over with him as the loser…

Back and forth went their attacks, each giving back as good as they got. The enclosed circle around them had spread out to give them more fighting space…or could it have been that people were getting scared that they might get hit? Link thought up a plan to end this battle once and for all…surely this pathetic Gerudo warrior would fall for his trick…surely…

Link knelt on the ground as though exhausted and listened through the silence to the quiet footsteps rapidly ascending upon him. "You got guts kid, comin' in here and facin' me like this, but a kid like you ain't got no chance against someone like me.

Link suddenly drew in a sharp breath, Kid? She had called him kid…that meant… "You show that boy who he's messin' with, Lady Nabooru!" someone called out encouragement from the crowd.

That confirmed it right there, his thoughts drifted for a second, but he was brought back to the battle at hand when a sharp jolt of pain suddenly shot through him. Hopping up, he quickly dived out of weapon range and swung around to face her. Now that he knew who it was, he had no will to hurt her any longer…he just hoped she would feel the same towards him…"Nabooru! It's me, Link! Do you not remember, Sage of Spirit?"

She had been bracing herself to make another powerful spin attack but froze, remembrance dawning in those sparkling brown eyes of hers. "Link? I…I do remember…I thought those funky green clothes looked familiar. She ripped off her face mask, only on her real features there was a grim expression of concern, "I am so sorry…If only I had known…" she trailed off as she realized all the people gathered around. "Be off with all of you now and go about your own business!" she snapped agitatedly that they had just stood there taking all of what had just passed in.

They dispersed guiltily, some hanging around trying to look as if they were doing something important. Nabooru walked over to Link, a hint of amusement danced in her eyes. "I shoulda known it was you…how could anyone else besides the Hero of Time stand against me?"

"Hmph, and I woulda had you beat if I hadn't realized who you were in time." Link smirked.

"What were you thinkin' comin' in here like that and then insulting my people?" Nabooru stared at him as if he were one hundred percent, well…stupid.

"I wouldn't have insulted nobody if they hadn't been swarming at me all at once and second of all, something went wrong when I tried to warp to the Desert Colossus and I just ended up here…"

"You have a point there, but why were you trying to get to the sand goddess' realm?" Nabooru questioned.

"That is not really my destination, I am trying to get to the land past that." Link explained.

Nabooru paled, as tan as she was, she paled very distinctly even in the dark of night, Link saw this clearly. "What is it?"

"I think you had better come inside and tell me of why you would make such a journey and then I will tell you what that land is." she led him into the Thieves Hideout and had water and a bit of food served as she had him relate the tale of Zen coming to Hyrule and what his quest was, oddly enough, he felt as if he had known Nabooru forever and could tell her anything…so he did.

When he finished with 'and here I am now,' she finally spoke, "Such a terrible things lies are…by the look in your eyes each time you mentioned the princess' name, it is easy to tell that you love her…which is why you would want to make such a quest. This Zen person has not touched this land yet but I am sure he will soon…thanks to you, I will be able to get my people ready. Although…where you are seeking to travel to…is a place of suicide even to enter."

"Surely it can't be that bad." Link wanted to laugh at the look of fear that crossed Nabooru's face, but he refrained as right now he wasn't sure he could laugh under the circumstances.

"The land of the dead…the dead keep it and they always will." Nabooru's voice took on a haunting tone.

Link didn't say anything out of shock, but finally found his voice. "Y-you're s-serious?" Link didn't mean to sound timid, he believed he wasn't afraid of anything especially after the ordeal with Ganondorf…but…the land of the dead!

"Do I look like I'm joking?" she snapped irritably. "When I said such a quest would be suicide, I meant it."

"But I have to go, I have to save Zelda…I can't let her die…I have to at least try!" Link exclaimed, a mix of strong emotions backing his words.

"I do realize this…that is why I will accompany you." she said grimly.

"What? You'll accompany me?" Link was clearly surprised. "Why? What about leaving your people when Zen could attack any time now?"

"All I have to do is simply tell them to be ready and they can handle themselves and I can help you get to where you seek…you seek a temple there correct? Within that temple is the horrors of all horrors and when you face her you must be careful. I will have to leave you once you get to the temple, but I can aid you on the way there. Something you must never do is fall asleep in the dead lands, for you will never wake up. That is why before the journey, you must sleep here for a little while at least."

"No, I have to get going, I can't waste anymore time than I already have." Link said fiercely, but slightly puzzled about this odd warning of hers.

"Very well then, if that is your wish then we will leave now, but don't say I didn't warn you. Come along now and follow me." she stood and Link did as he was bidden. She led him out into the cool crisp air of a desert nighttime and after having a word with a few other Gerudo women, she turned to Link. "We will have to make the journey on foot, but I know a shortcut that will cut the journey in half and make things easier on us."

Link heard the grating of a door opening close by and without another word, Nabooru was given a cloak which she draped over her and the two set off on their 'suicidal' journey.

The wind seemed to automatically pick up as they passed under the now opened gateway into the Haunted Wasteland, the dangers only lying just ahead of them…

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Oi…it's been a while…sorry 'bout that, but I've just had absolutely NO inspiration…and I can't guarantee when the next chapter will be up…I'll try to work on it… hopefully very soon…

-blondie91

Disclaimer: Uh…Guess what! I still don't own the Legend of Zelda. : )