Chapter 17 is here, enjoy!
"...we've spent our days since then in these damn wastes... and the girls decided to make our gang the Sandstorm Vipers." Reirousa sighed, finishing up her story to Link, "I don't have the guts to show myself over at the new town... I'd probably just get tossed out on my ass..."
Needless to say, Link was shocked at the story Reirousa told, and what she had gone through. He was especially disgusted with the way the Hylian knights treated Reirousa, the torture both physically and mentally, but at the same time was appalled by Commander Imono drafting young girls like them into the war. It definitely made him see both sides of the war in many different ways...
"Reirousa.." Link muttered, "I can't believe all that happened to you. It's no wonder you're in so much pain."
"So you get it now?" Reirousa said, "I can never get over what happened... and everyone that I lost that day... All I can do right now is look after the Vipers, they're all I got left..."
Link just paused, and took a deep breathe, "I get it more then you know..."
"Huh? What're you talking about?"
Link slowly walked up to the plaque and placed his hand on it, his fingers trailing over one of the names on it.
"Because, I played a part in that war too..." he said.
With those words, he explained what he had done to get Ganondorf captured, which lead to the tragic war. Reirousa was at a loss of what to say to him, but continued to listen
"Nabooru told me not to blame myself for what happened, but it still bothers me sometimes. I don't think I can ever really forgive myself for what happened to your people, even if it was best for Hyrule as a whole." Link explained. "There's a saying, 'The needs of many outweigh the needs of the few', but it doesn't make those few lives any less important..."
"So... how do you deal with it...?" Reirousa asked, "You know, so it doesn't just eat you completely up inside?"
"Almost immediately after I told Nabooru everything, she comforted me, she assured me I wouldn't be alone anymore. I've made a lot of great friends in Gerudo Town, Aviel, Nemisa, Togau, Dr. Sarami, the mystic twins... and of course Nabooru herself." Link said, "They've become the strength I needed to help me move forward."
"To move forward, huh...?" Reirousa asked.
"You seem to have found something yourself though..." Link turned to Reirousa, "...with Sovan and the other Vipers." Link explained, "Even after all you suffered, you took them in as your family."
"I-I... only did that cause they had nowhere else to go..." Reirousa muttered, "What else was I supposed to do...?! I couldn't let em die..."
"Personally, I think from remorse can come great strength and resolve. It was from the tragedy you suffered that made you compassionate enough to help the others." Link said.
Reirousa's eyes lit up from hearing those words. The pointy-eared man looked up to her, then came forward and wrapped his arms around the muscular woman.
"H-Hey, what're you doin'?!" she asked, slightly embarrassed from feeling him against her.
"Reirousa, I don't expect you to just get over your loss, I understand that s much as anyone... All I can tell you is just take it one step at a time." Link said, "And if you just can't deal with the pain... then I'll help you through it."
"You... you will?" Reiroua asked, small tears forming in her eyes.
"I promise I will." Link said, "And if neither of us can let go of the past, then we'll just comfort each other until the rest of our days."
Reirousa couldn't say anything at the moment, but then wrapped her arms around Link, holding him closely. Link could feel tears dripping down on him from Reirousa's eyes, and despite how strong her arms were, she was holding Link gently. It was a very comforting moment for the both of them, even in that harsh situation they were in.
"T-Thanks... Link..." Reirousa said crying.
"Thank you too Reirousa..." Link said, with tears of his own going down his cheeks.
The two of them just stood there for the longest time, in front of the plaque that commemorated the lost, but not forgotten lives of their past...
Link and Reirousa eventually left out the mausoleum. The weather was clear, and no storms seemed to be coming. For a brief time, the two of them could feel at peace.
That peace was broken though, when they heard a loud voice shout out.
"I see them! They're just ahead at the entrance!"
They turned to see Aviel flying ahead of Nemisa and the Vipers. Aviel quickly dive-bombed and crashlanded onto Link, hugging him tightly, while the Vipers all pulled Reirousa in a big group hug.
"Thank Aifet you're okay Link!" shouted Aviel, holding him tightly. Nemisa had ran up, looking like she was almost about to hug Link as well, but ended up slowing down and kept her distance.
"I-It's good to see you're okay, your highness." Nemisa said awkwardly, but with a great amount of relief.
"Boss! We were worried about you!" one of the Vipers sobbed.
"We were afraid you got eaten by the Molderm!" exclaimed another.
"I-I'm fine!" shouted Reirousa, "Now let go before I kick you all in the ass!"
The girls simply ignored her threat and refused to let go of her, causing Reirousa to roll her eyes and sigh.
"So what happened with that annoying woman and her Molderm?" Link asked Nemisa.
"We managed to evade them, but I'm not sure for how long." Nemisa said, "We need to get the Sand Rod and return back to town as soon as possible."
"Ah ha! Not so fast ya bastards!" shouted a familiar voice.
"Oh no." Link groaned.
The group turned to see Big G Jousak again, along with her team of rebels.
"You... thought you could... get away from... us in that sandstorm?" Jousak exclaimed, panting like crazy, "We're the all-powerful... rebels of... the... Ebony..."
Jousak slouched over panting as her team tried to comfort her and give her some water.
"She didn't try to track us down during that sandstorm, did she?" Sovan asked.
"Is she going to be alright?" Aviel asked sweatdropping.
Big G Jousak took a deep breath, before pulling out her ocarina . Her team started making those spitting and shrieking noises again, and Jousak started singing into her ocarina.
"Thought you got away, but now yer gonna pay
My posse and I are gonna make your blood spray!
The false king tried to make us the fool, but he's nothin' but a tool,
Soon it'll be the Mother that's the one to rule!
Ebony Sisterhood represent, clash and battle and don't relent,
Now go all-out til their lives are nothin' but spent!
And she ended it with her pointed her thumbs down with a cocky grin.
With that, the rebels all unsheathed their weapons and charged in to battle Link, Reirousa and the others.
"Everyone, to arms!" shouted Nemisa, as the two sides ran in and clashed.
Link charged in and used his shield to block two rebels trying to hit him at the same time with their swords, he backed them off with his own sword. Some more tried to surround him, but he delivered a spin attack to send them falling to the ground.
"You were a fool to come here with no weapon!" shouted a rebel to Nemisa, who swung her sword at her, but she brought up her wrist and blocked the sword with her steel bands, before kicking the rebel in the side and slamming her in the back with her elbow.
Aviel aimed and firing arrows which deflected the weapons of every rebel that ran at her, the before smacking them to the ground with the crossbow itself. Another rebel tried getting the drop on her from behind, but she turned her arms into wings and shot into the air, before coming down and bashing the rebel on the head.
A rebel thrust her spear at Reirousa, who stepped out of the way, grabbed the spear, and swung it, hurling the rebel through the air, before swinging her warhammer into another rebel coming at her from behind, while Sovan and the Vipers rode in on their Spinners and quickly made short work of the remaining rebels.
"Y-You gotta be shttin' me..." Jousak muttered, taking a step back, "We're all too exhausted from the search to fight back..."
"Yeah, not your best plan boss..." muttered one of the rebels before she fell out cold
"Alright, time for hit the beat!" With that, she pulled out her ocarina and started singing into it.
"My posse's about to lose, so wake up from your snooze,
Molderm it's time to wreck those who break our rules,
Show em you-
It was then at that moment that Link slashed through Jousak's ocarina with his sword, breaking it in half, before then swinging his sword into a spin attack, slashing across Jousak and sending her flying.
"YEOOOW YEOOW Yeoow yeoow...!" screamed out Jousak with an echoed voice, flailing backwards to the ground with her eyes whited out, falling unconscious.
"None of that anymore, thanks." Link said, spinning his sword in his hand. He was about sheath it, until everyone could feel the ground rumbling.
"Uh oh..." Sovan muttered.
And with that, the Molderm burst out of the sand, screeching out. It looked around and saw Link and Reirousa. Recalling how the two of them caused it so much trouble before, including blinding one of it's eyes, it roared out and came right at them.
"It's time to fight!" Link said, brandishing his sword, and the group charged in.
The Molderm lunged at Link, but he ducked and rolled to the side while Reirousa used a bomb-charged warhammer swing to blast it away, while Link charged in and delivered a slash of his sword across the very place the Molderm was hit by, it screeched and fell to the sand, rolling across the ground.
Aviel aimed her bow and shot off a barrage of arrows, most of them deflected off the Molderm's armored body, but she pulled down her goggles, narrowed her eyes carefully, and fired one arrow straight forward and impact right into the Molderm's injured eye.
Nemisa stood watching it carefully, taking a deep breath and running forward, the Molderm recovered and swung out it's tail at her, but Nemisa leaped up and delivered a flying kick directly into the blinded eye with such force it sent the Molderm crashing into the ground.
The Molderm got up and roared down at Nemisa, but the Vipers came in on their Spinners and started circling around the monster, generating a cloud of sand and camouflaging them. The Molderm looked around frantically trying to get a look at them, but it was then that Reirousa leaped on top of the worm and bashed it with another explosive attack.
Despite all the abuse it took, the Molderm forced itself up and roared out loudly.
"You gotta be kidding me, is this thing invincible?!" exclaimed Nemisa.
The Molderm then looked around and quickly dived down into the sand.
"Did... did it run away...?" Aviel asked.
That question was answered when the Molderm shot out from behind them and slammed it's body down at them, creating a shortwave that repelled everyone back. In it's blind fury, the Molderm then lunged out at anything it could sense, that being one warrior who had stumbled off her Spinner.
"Sovan, look out!" shouted Link.
"Wha-"
Sovan didn't even have a chance to react as the Molderm came right at her with it's mouth open and swallowed her up.
"SOVAN!" shouted Reirousa, her battle-ready face suddenly turned blank in a split second. Her legs suddenly grew weak, and she fell to her knees, her whole body was shaking.
"Oh no..." Aviel said, putting her hands to her mouth in shock.
"Boss, we need to do something!' shouted one of the Vipers.
"No... not her..." trembled Reirousa, flashing back to when Hitaemo was stabbed, "It's... happening again... I was supposed to protect her..."
"Reirousa..." Link muttered, looking to her. He then turned to Molderm and narrowed his eyes. He then charged right at the Molderm, bring up his sword and bashing the monster across it's bad eye. The Molderm screeched out in pain and it's senses turned to Link, who stood ready fight.
Instead however, the Molderm then lunged down with it's mouth open and in that instant, swallowed Link as well.
"LINK!" screamed Aviel, with tears forming in her eyes.
Reirousa's whole trembled, "NO, NO!" she shouted, clutching her head before falling to her hands, "STOP! STOP DYING DAMNIT!"
"YOU MONSTER!" Nemisa shouted, running at the Molderm and started kicking and punching at the it's vulnerable spots, "Release him, release my Link this instant!"
The Molderm, starting to feel too much of the pain of Nemisa's blows more and more, then spun around, knocking her away, and it screeched out, rampaging everywhere. The girls tried to fight back, but it's rampant attacks were getting to be too much, and they were all deflected away.
Reirousa on the other hand, was on her hands and knees trembling, not just from losing Sovan, but Link as well.
"You... you said you'd be here for me..." muttered Reirousa, "You said we'd comfort each other..."
"Boss, look out!" screamed one of the Vipers, and Reirousa looked up to see the Molderm coming right at her.
Reirousa paused, staring up at the beast coming at her. Her eyes narrowed and she snarled, clenching her warhammer, and loading another bomb into it.
"You bastard..." she muttered, looking up at the large worm. She could swear for a second she saw the arrogant face of the late Hylian Captain Gereminus in that moment, "I WON'T LET YOU TAKE ANYONE ELSE FROM ME!"
With that, Reirousa brought back her warhammer and swung it out with every ounce of her incredible strength, smashing it directly into the Molderm's face, sending it flying into the air from the explosive impact, it spiraled through the air before landing down on it's back. The Molderm started to shake and screech out, while everyone watched as they saw a strange motion was going on inside of it.
Suddenly the creature's belly was split open, and leaping out from it was Link, brandishing his sword in one hand, and holding Sovan over his shoulder with the other hand.
The Molderm quivered and convulsed before gasping out and falling over dead.
"L-Link's alive!" shouted Aviel with wide eyes.
"And so is Sovan!" cheered one of the Vipers.
Link landed down to the ground holding Sovan tightly,"You okay there, Sovan?" he asked her.
"Ugh..." Sovan muttered, but with a small smile, "A little slimy, but I guess I'll be fine, thank you so much." she said, giving him a sweet but slimy kiss on the cheek.
It was then that Link's guards and the Vipers all ran around then hugging the two, relieved for their safety.
"By the goddess of the desert, we thought you two were done for!" a Viper shouted with tears down her face.
"Liiiink!" sobbed Aviel hugging him with her bird wings, not even bothered by how slimy he was, "I was so scared for yooou!"
"Your highness..." Nemisa started, "NEVER DO THAT AGAIN!" she then shouted, bashing Link upside the head.
"Heh, sorry Nemisa." grinned Link sheepishly, not even seeming to be phased by her punch anymore
"You... saved her..." Reirousa said, walking up to Link and Sovan, "You let yourself get eaten just to save her?"
"What can I say? I couldn't allow any of you to die." Link grinned.
Reirousa stood there blankly, she then trembled a little, before walking up and knocking everyone out of the way, hugging Link tightly.
"You're an awesome man! You really are!" shouted Reirousa, doing everything she could to hold back her tears, Link meanwhile was trying his hardest not to get crushed between her arms.
"Reirousa, you can let go now!" Link exclaimed.
"No!" shouted Reirousa back, still holding him tightly.
Aviel meanwhile just looked on smiling at the two...
"So how's the food?" asked Sovan. After the battle, the group had soon arrived back at the Viper's hideout and were all gathered around enjoying dinner.
"It's delicious!" said Aviel, "I didn't think you could make food this good in a place like this!"
"It's something I learned from my mother," Sovan explained, "Most of our supplies come from whatever we can salvage, but I can make due with just about anything."
"You certainly can, it's great stuff." Link nodded taking a large mouth full.
"Anything for the man that saved my life." smiled Sovan, taking a moment to wipe some food off of Link's cheek with her finger and tasting it for herself, causing the other Vipers to squeal out.
Reirousa in particular felt the urge to say something, but just took a large mouthful of food to shut herself up.
Eventually the group finished their meals, and Reirousa stretched out.
"Well now that that's done, how about we go get you that Sand Rod so you can get?" she asked.
"What are you talking about?" grinned Aviel, "We were victorious over the rebels and the Molderm, we need to celebrate! Let's get some music playing, right Link?"
"Yeah, sounds good." grinned Link, pulling out his ocarina.
"Oh no, you don't make music like that Jousak woman, do you?!" Sovan asked worried.
"Nothing like that." Link clarified, "But we do need something a little more then just this..."
"I know, Nemisa you perform as well!" Aviel said.
"What?! Me?!" exclaimed Nemisa.
"Can she play music too?" asked one of the Vipers.
"Nah, she dances!" Aviel said smiling.
"Yeah, come on Nemisa, I'll play the music and you dance!" Link said with a big grin.
"I'm not going to put on a show like that!" Nemisa shouted in protest, "It's... not..."
"Come on, let her know we all wanna see!" Aviel told the Vipers, and they responded by cheering out for Nemisa. Reirousa didn't say anything but shrugged and nodded.
"I... um..." Nemisa was stumbling over her words, looking around frantically.
Link smiled and simply put his lips to the ocarina, closed his eyes, and started playing a tune, it was a slow and mellow tune, it's gentle soothing melody flowed through the room, and everyone hearing it could feel their spirits lighten, almost healing them in a way.
Nemisa closed her eyes, feeling the rhythm as it played. She remembered the tune from back when Link played it with Togau during the caravan trip, and as embarrassed as she was about it, her legs starts to move with the flow of the song, her arms rose and fell, and she started to dance. She rocked her hips left and right slowly, her arms moved almost as if she was in water, and her legs shifted slowly while occasionally raising one leg high into the air at a high note.
She kept her eyes closed, soaking in the music Link was playing, it was comforting, almost like a soft hug from a loved one, one person in particular went through her mind; a woman in a dark and lonely place, hugging Nemisa as she cried...
But then she found herself thinking of someone else with her, a strong but compassionate person, holding her against his bare chest, and she took comfort in that warm embrace. She would look up and see his compassionate eyes, and soft blond hair tickling her head, as he leaned forward to press his lips against hers...
Meanwhile back in reality, everyone was frankly in awe of the way Nemisa was dancing at that moment, showing off so much passion and grace in her movement, even the normally rowdy and rough Sandstorm Vipers watched the dance intently. Link in particular kept one eye open, watching Nemisa dance as he played, as he was just as captivated by it as everyone else.
Reirousa herself was taken in by the melody Link was playing in particular, as she thought about her mother, and her team from the war, the days her mother would dote over her and smile sweetly no matter how frustrated Reirousa would be with her, and the fond times she spent with her team during their training. Her thoughts were tempted to dwell on the day she found out about her mother's death, and the day her team were all killed, as usual for her guilty conscious to do, but as she listened to the melody, she kept shifting back to the good times, it seemed like all she could think of at that moment was the happiness she felt from those who cared about her.
Her thoughts then drifted to all the times she spent with the Sandstorm Vipers, how they all relayed on her and fought for her, and lastly, her thoughts then went to Link himself, and the promise he made to help her cope with her loss, and the comfort the two of them could have in each other...
"Boss...?" brought up Sovan, "Are... you crying?"
"M-Me...?" Reirousa said with a scoff, "Hell no, I'm not crying... my... eyes are just a little dry is all!"
The others didn't say a word back to her, but smiled as the song and dance continued through the night...
"Well there it is," Reirousa said, having lead the group to the Shrine of Aifet, where the Sand Rod was, "There's that treasure you were after."
In the center of the shrine was a small pedestal with the shape of the Desert Goddess modeled into it, and the arms of the goddess seemed to be holding up the Sand Rod. Link nodded and took a step up to the pedestal and took the rod, holding it firmly.
"Looks just like Nabooru described." Link said.
"Think we outta try it out?" Aviel asked.
"I wouldn't do that," Nemisa said, "We should conserve it's power, since Lady Nabooru has intentions for what to do with it, and like the Vipers we don't even know how it works anyway."
"We would have tired to use it ourselves but we could never figure out how it works." Sovan said.
"Okay, let's concentrate on getting it back safe and sound." Link nodded, taking a moment to wrap the rod up in a cloth to preserve it.
As the others started to leave, Reirousa stood and looked up at the shrine. Her thoughts wandered, and she reached up to her helmet, removing it and placing it on the ground in front of the shrine. She got down on her knee and put her hands together.
"Hira... rest in peace." Reirousa said, and with that she stood up and left.
"Reirousa... you removed your helmet?!" exclaimed one of the Vipers.
"Uh, yeah... I was getting tired of the helmet hair." she fibbed, rubbing the back of her head. With out covering her facial features, they got a hood look at her golden eyes and mellow expression.
"Wow, without that helmet you look... a lot less scary now." Aviel said smiling.
"What'd you say, squirt?" asked Reirousa, glaring down at her.
"Nothing!" squeaked out Aviel hiding behind Link. The Hylian himself smiled and looked up to her.
"It was a good choice," Link nodded, "I think you look better without it."
"Erm... that.. I... ...shut up." muttered Reirousa, turning her head to the side. The Vipers couldn't help but giggle to themselves at their boss' awkwardness around Link.
"Alright then, we better start heading back to Gerudo Town." Nemisa said.
"So, I guess this is goodbye then?" Reirousa asked, rubbing the back of her head, "Um, if you guys... ever want to come back and visit us... I'm sure the girls would like to see you."
"What are you talking about?" Link asked, "You're all coming with us."
It was at that moment that Reirousa did a double take and her eyes widened, "W-What?! You can't be serious!" she exclaimed.
"We get to go to Gerudo Town?!" asked one of the Vipers, "Really?!"
"Sure." Link said, "We won't turn our backs on you guys. Besides, you all more then proved your worth today."
"That'd be great, I'd love to go there!" squealed one of the Vipers.
"Yeah, come on Boss, let's go!" said another.
"N-Now wait a minute, I didn't say anything about going!" exclaimed Reirousa, "This place is our home!"
"You mean that broken down old basement in the middle of the wasteland?" Nemisa asked with a small grin, "That's not a life for anyone, if the king says it, then you all are most welcome."
"Yeah, come on Reirousa!" Aviel chirped up, "Gerudo Town is a really nice place, and our sisters will be happy to have all of you there!"
Link nodded, "We could use someone like you and the Vipers around. You have a lot of experience in handiwork and battle." he glanced to the side and scratched his cheek, "And of course, we still have that promise we made..."
"Come on Boss," Sovan said, putting a hand on Reirousa's arm, "Swallow that pride of yours and let's go."
"Um... uh... that..." Reirousa stammered, "I..."
"Wait, did you say a promise?!" exclaimed Aviel with a bright smile, "What's this about a promise? Did you select Reirousa as your next fiance, Link?!"
"What?! The king is going to marry the boss?!" shouted the Vipers, they authentically all surrounded Reirousa and patted her on the back, Sovan in particular saying "Congratulations, Boss!"
"HEY, I never said anything like that!" exclaimed Reirousa blushing bright red, "The promise I made... was... uh..." she glared at Link and Aviel, "Damnit ya big mouths, I'm gonna clobber you two!"
Instead of being intimidated though, Link and Aviel both laughed instead. Even Nemisa was trying to her hardest not to giggle herself, feeling somewhat sympathetic at Reirousa and her awkwardness.
Link in particular looked to see Reirousa trying her hardest to talk down her team. She was definitely stronger then she had thought she was, and was an admirable person. A small part of him found himself even taking to the idea of Aviel's assumption of Reirousa becoming one of his future wives.
'Huh, weird.' Link thought to himself, 'It's almost like a second nature for me to think that way...'
He remembered what Nabooru said before about finding women who he shared a firm bond, that he could spend his life together with, and he couldn't deny he had formed a close bond with Reirousa, someone he could find comfort in, while comforting her as well.
"I just want to see the boss in a wedding dress!" squealed out one of the Vipers.
"Ain't gonna happen!" shouted Reirousa.
Link couldn't help but laugh a bit , as his thoughts then to imagining what Reirousa would look like in that kind of dress, while at the same time he felt a warm feeling in his heart...
Meanwhile, in an unknown place...
"I got bad news, Mother Eclipsis." said Big G Jousak, bowing on her knees along with the rest of her troops, "My Molderm was taken out by Reirousa and the false king... and even worse, it looks like she's shackin' up with that guy."
"I see... most unfortunate."
Standing before Big G Jousak was the leader of the Ebony Sisterhood, the mysterious Mother Eclipsis, lounging on a throne, she was draped in a full black robe lined with ancient Gerudo markings decorating it made form gold thread. The robe completely hid their body, save for her face which was instead hidden by a mask. The mask itself was mostly a pearl white in design with a feminine frame to it, it made the woman's expression completely unreadable, and there were gold chains hanging down from the top of it that hugged the mask's shape.
"I swear ta ya, this is all my fault!" shouted Jousak, "Lay the smackdown on me if you want, but please leave my homegirls out of it!"
"No matter, you all did your best, so no punishments will be given." said the rebel leader, "Now go ahead and recuperate from your injuries."
"T-Thanks a bunch lordship, you're the most chill momma!" Big G Jousak said, pointing two fingers to the Mother Eclipsis, "Come on girls, let's kick back a spell." and then she and her team left the room,
Shortly after that a woman came to Mother Eclipseis with a note in her hand.
"Your lordship, a message." she said, handing it to the mysterious masked individual.
"Thank you..." muttered the masked lord, who opened the note and read it over. It was at that point a small chuckle could be heard from her.
"So it won't be long now... we just have to find that one person, and we'll soon have all that we've wanted..."
So that concludes the Reirousa arc, and it seems Link's troubles are only growing, but thankfully his friends are growing as well! Look forward to the next arc coming soon!