And we finally come to the conclusion of the Nemisa arc, and something that she and Link have been long overdue for...
The next day after the Gerudo's successful raid on the Wyvern Keeper's hideout, everyone was up and out of bed. Nabooru herself groggily stood up in the middle of the tavern with a massive hangover, yet apparently ready to make an announcement.
"Alright everyone, stop talking, I have something to say..." Nabooru paused, "I said... hey, quiet... I... I'm trying to tell you guys... HEY, I SAID SHUT UP!" she suddenly shouted to everyone.
"Uh, no one was talking just now Nabooru." Link pointed out.
"...oh." Nabooru said, coughing out and clearing her throat, before placing a light blue chu jelly capsule into a glass of water. The jelly capsule melted away and caused the water to fizzle before she downed the glass in one gulp, which miraculously perked herself right back up.
"Hello and good morning everyone!"
'What the hell kind of chu capsule did she take just now...?' Link thought to himself sweatdropping, wondering what limits there were to Sarami's chu jelly research.
"Anyway, I wanted to thank you all again for the success in our mission the other day! The bodies of the bastard slavers have been thrown out to the desert beasts, and the survivors have long fled. It seems their leader Master Rassan had also survived and fled at some point last night, but he left a note saying he wasn't coming back." she said.
Link couldn't help but feel a bit of relief hearing those words. While Rassan had done some truly terrible things, he had some sort of odd respect for him after their talk, and wondered if the two would ever meet again.
"Anyway, as for you Remo." Nabooru said, turning to the boy, who as being held tightly by Usaulu, "As far as I'm concerned, you've earned your freedom as of today. You and Usaulu have my blessing to live your lives together and happily."
"T-Thank you Lady Nabooru!" Remo said, putting his hands to the table he was at and bowing his head, "I promise I'll make Usaulu a good husband!"
The whole tavern was met with collective awws and cheers at Remo's words, even from the former prisoners.
"There... is one last thing I want to ask you though." Remo said with a nervous gulp, "If it would please you... I'd... I'd like to work on reopening and running the Dark Salamander tavern myself!"
"Woah, seriously?!" Togau exclaimed.
"Yeah... I'm going to run this place legitimately, and serve to travelers and Gerudo alike." Remo said.
"Yes, it might even be an ideal place for Gerudo to meet with men if you catch my drift." Usaulu added with a grin.
Nemisa had to laugh a little in that moment at the irony that the place owned by the man who she hoped to have as a husband, only to be sold into slavery, would now be used for Gerudo to meet men. She felt so much lighter and happier after everything was over, and she found herself looking back on all the pain she went through like it meant so little to her now.
Nemisa sighed happily, feeling in that moment that she had finally made peace with herself.
"Well, I have no problem with it." Nabooru nodded, "But can the two of you really keep a big place like this going by just yourselves?"
"Well..." Remo muttered, uncertain of Nabooru's question.
"I'll help them!" a Gerudo said, raising her arm.
"So will I!" said another.
"I used to work for an inn. Are you looking for someone to handle keeping the suite rooms clean?" asked a former Hylian captive.
"Well gosh, if you wouldn't mind the help, I'd like to volunteer to handle the maintenance around here." the Goron prisoner said.
Remo looked around to see not just the Gerudo, but some of the people who were going to be slaves before, all in support of him, and his eyes started to tear up.
"Thanks everyone..." he sobbed as Usaulu gave him a comforting hug.
"Well then, with that resolved, why don't we start getting our new friends here back to their homes in Hyrule?" Nabooru proposed.
"W-What's gong on here...?" asked the Hylian knight and border guard Lieutenant Ernoldus, as he saw before him was a large group of Gerudo, along with some Hylian and Zora civilians at the border between Gerudo Valley and Hyrule Field, "What are you all here for?"
"As leader of the Gerudo, I'm here to announce that as of yesterday the Wyvern Keepers have been eradicated." Nabooru said, handing him the note Rassan had wrote telling them the slavers were officially disbanded.
Link meanwhile stayed in the back with Aviel and Nemisa, back to wearing his Gerudo woman disguise, to ensure the knights didn't ask any awkward questions about who he was. The Hylians, Zoras and Goron had all promised to not tell anyone in Hyrule about him being the king as well, understanding what risk it could pose on the Gerudo at this point.
"T-The Wyvern Keepers?! We've been trying to deal with those guys for months..." said one knight to another.
"And the Gerudo took them down just like that?" asked another knight.
"And just who are these folks?" Lieutenant Ernoldus demanded, referring to the Hylian people beside Nabooru and the Gerudo
"These are former prisoners who were captured by the Wyvern Keepers to sell into slavery, and we simply wish to have them returned back to their homes." Nabooru explained.
"They can't be serious... how do we know the Gerudo didn't kidnap them all themselves?!" one knight asked Lieutenant Ernoldus, who seemed skeptic himself.
"We can assure you that wasn't the case." a Zora said with his arms folded, "We were all captives of those fiends."
"That's right, the Gerudo saved us all!" a Hylian spoke up.
"This... can't be happening..." said another knight.
"There's also the matter of this while we're at it." Nabooru added, pulling out a list and handing it to Lieutenant Ernoldus.
"W-What is this...?" Ernoldus asked, staring at the list's contents.
"These are the clients the Keepers sold slaves off to, originally written by their boss Rassan. I'm certain if you track down these people they should either still have the slaves or at least proof of their ownership." Nabooru said.
Lieutenant Ernoldus stared at the note, with a cold sweat running out from his helmet.
He paused and gulped a bit, before speaking to Nabooru, "T-Thank you for this... and thank you for your services to the land of Hyrule. The king will be happy to hear this news."
Nabooru smirked a little and nodded, "You're most welcome." she then turned to the former captives and spoke out, "Go on, the knights will keep you safe, and take care!"
"Thank you again, so much, Lady Nabooru, all of you..." a Hylian woman said bowing, along with the others.
"We'll be fine to make it back to Zora's Domain ourselves, farewell!" one of the Zoras stated, as the four jumped into the river and swam off.
With that Lieutenant Ernoldus escorted the Hylians off with a handful of his men back to Hyrule Castle Town, and the Gerudo all waving goodbye to their new friends as they did.
"Aw, they were fun to be around." Aviel sighed, "I wish they could have stayed with us longer."
"I know, but they have their lives to get back to, as do us." Nemisa said sternly.
"Yeah, you're right..." Aviel said with a sad smile, "I do want to see them all again some day..."
Link paused, reflecting on Aviel's words, as they group went off on their way back to Gerudo Town.
"Hey sir, what should we do with this...?"
As the Hylian knights escorted the former prisoners back to Hyrule Market Town, Lieutenant Ernoldus just looked down at the list. Many of the names on the list consisted of rich nobleman, aristocrats and politicians, some even having connections to the Hylian Parliament itself.
"There's only one thing we should do with this." Lieutenant Ernoldus said. He made sure the former captives weren't watching, and he crumbled the paper up into a ball, stuffing it into the mouth of a nearby knight, and pushing on his cheeks to make him chew it up and swallow it.
"What?! But Lieutenant, slaves are being held captive by the people that were on that list!" protested a knight.
"And the ones keeping those slaves are very important people." Lieutenant Ernoldus said, "If word got out about this kind of thing, it could cause massive unrest with the citizens. Best to keep it hush-hush, got it?!"
"Y-Yes sir..." the knight said reluctantly.
"Speaking of keeping things hush-hush..." Lieutenant Ernoldus said, he turned around and spoke up to the civilians they were escorting, "Everyone, may I have you attention. We'll be approaching Hyrule Castle Town soon, and you'll all soon be relocated back with your loved ones!"
There was many cheers from the group, including some from the knights themselves. Ernoldus motioned his hand to make them all quiet down.
"However, there is a matter that we need to discuss before we arrive. You all stated that the Gerudo were responsible for your rescue, however, I feel it's within your best interests if the people of Hyrule aren't made aware of this."
"What?!" exclaimed a Hylian, "But why not? They're heroes!"
"Can they do that...?"
"Hmph, I don't exactly approve of this..." muttered Professor Bradson.
"Settle down, as you all know, there is a great amount of justified animosity towards the Gerudo after the war, and attempting to claim they had an involvement in your rescue could lead to the people doubting you and soiling your reputation in town, as well as causing unrest with the people in general. Therefore, when we arrive at the town, you will tell your loved ones that it was we Hylian knights who rescued you from the Wyvern Keepers and brought you all home!"
The crowd was in shock of hearing this, and murmured to each other about the Lieutenant's command.
"But Lieutenant, that doesn't seem right..." said a knight.
"If you even one of you tries to claim the Gerudo 'saved' you, then we'll see to it you'll be seen a traitor and punished appropriately. That is all." Lieutenant Ernoldus stated.
"But... that's not right..."
"Lady Nabooru and her people did help us..."
"Yeah, but I don't want to get exiled or..."
"What should we do...?"
"Settle down, all of you or I'll have you detained!" shouted Lieutenant Ernoldus, shutting them up, "Now let's go!"
And with that, the knights and the uneasy civilians continued on...
Sometime after that the people were finally brought to Hyrule Castle Town, and it didn't take long before they were recognized going down the street and soon greeted by many of their family and friends.
"You're home! Thank the goddesses, we thought we lost you!"
"Honey, you're back!"
"Professor! We thought you had been killed!"
"You're both back..."
"Papa!"
One of the former prisoners, specifically the one Aviel spoke to back in the sleeping quarters was being embraced by her mother who asked, "By Nayru's name, where have you been all this time, pudding?"
"I... was kidnapped by the Wyvern Keepers..." the girl said.
"The Wyvern Keepers?! Those bastards?!" shouted a villager.
"I say we go tan their damn hides!" shouted another.
"No, it's fine." the girl said, "The Keepers were defeated, and won't cause trouble anymore."
"Well that's great!" the mother said brightly, looking up to Lieutenant Ernoldus, "And I presume it was these fine young men who went and saved you?"
"Of course." smirked Lieutenant Ernoldus with a bow, "All in a day's work, maam!"
The former prisoners all looked to each other, unsure of what to say, mostly out of fear of their lives.
"They're heroes!" cheered a villager.
"Goddesses bless the Hylian royal knights!"
"I want to join them when I grow up!"
But the girl just hung her head down, before looking up to her mother and speaking out.
"No! It wasn't these knights who did it, they merely escorted us home! The ones who really saved us were-"
"Wait!" exclaimed one of the other former prisoners, putting his hand on her shoulder and whispering, "Don't say it or they'll-"
"I don't care!" the girl said, thinking back what Aviel told her about changing fate, "The truth is we were saved by the Gerudo people and their leader Lady Nabooru!"
"W-What?!" exclaimed her mother.
"Wait, the Gerudo saved her...?"
"That's impossible, they're just lowdown thieves and killers..."
"Uh... hahaha!" laughed Lieutenant Ernoldus, "Clearly she's delirious from everything she went through to make such an absurd claim! Truly she doesn't mean something like-"
"No, I mean every word of it! The Gerudo saved us all, and struck down the Wyvern Keepers so they'll never bother anyone again!" the girl stated.
"Grrr..." Lieutenant Ernoldus muttered, he turned to his men and said, "Detain her befor-"
"She's right!" shouted one of the former captives, "The Gerudo did save us, they were brave and strong and faced them all down!"
"That's correct." Professor Bradson said smiling, mentally thanking the girl for speaking up, "We met them all firsthand and befriended them. They've changed greatly since the war, they're a truly kind tribe of people, and Lady Nabooru has worked to help them all reform into outstanding people of Hyrule."
Soon all the former prisoners of the Wyvern Keepers were telling the stories of their rescues, making sure to leave out the information that Link was to be the new Gerudo King.
"Damnit..." Lieutenant Ernoldus muttered, "We need to make them quiet, arrest them for treason!"
"But sir, we can't really arrest them all..." said one of the knights.
Lieutenant Ernoldus simply gulped and broke into a cold sweat, "The Parliament isn't going to like hearing this..."
Despite the knights effort to silence it, the stories of the Gerudo taking down the Wyvern Keepers and saving the captives was the talk of the town for quite some time, and many people were taking more of an interest in who the Gerudo were now, and the Gerudo Banishment Law...
Meanwhile, in Gerudo Town itself, everyone had gone back to their homes to rest after all that happened with the raid, with Link, Nabooru, Aviel and Nemisa all returning to the palace. Time past by quickly and they eventually ended the night with a light dinner together.
"Well everyone, we made a great accomplishment." Nabooru said proudly, "The Wyvern Keepers are no more, we saved our dear sisters, and even helped ones from the other tribes as well!"
"Plus Remo is going to be reopening the Dank Salamander for us to all go to, and Link and Nemisa are finally a couple!" Aviel said cheerfully.
"Yeah..." Link smiled, "It was rough sometimes, but I'm glad it all worked out in the end."
"There's just one thing that's bothering me..." Nemisa muttered with her arms folded, "Was it necessary to give those Hylian knights the list of the slave owners?"
"Isn't that a good thing?" Aviel asked, "They can just track down all of the slave owners and arrest them, then the slaves will be free!"
"You don't think they would destroy that information to cover for their own? The list had some rather high ranking people on it from what it read, and I'm certain those Hylian royals wouldn't want to have them exposed for who they are!" Nemisa said angerly.
"I don't like thinking the royals being corrupt or anything, but it does kind of bother me I suppose." agreed Link, reflecting on the cruel knights they dealt with in the past, and then his thoughts drifted to Princess Zelda in that moment, wondering how his friend was doing amid all that was going on.
"Well it's a good thing I didn't give them the original list then." smirked Nabooru, holding up the real one that Rassan had made in her hands, "That other one was just a copy I had one of our expert writers forge this morning. She was able to replicate the slaver leader's handwriting down perfectly."
"Oh you sly girl." smirked Nemisa.
"That's the Nabooru we know and love." snickered Link.
"And we still have the master key as well, so I plan to get to work sending spies out to investigate into the slave owners on this list and seeing how many slaves we can rescue from their slimy hands." Nabooru grinned.
"Way to go Nabooru!" Aviel cheered.
"Well in that case, I think I'm going to be heading to the bedroom to kick back for a while, have a good night girls." Link said, getting up from his seat as the servants took his empty plate.
The girls all waved Link off, though Nemisa in particular watched him carefully.
As Link was heading down the hallway to the bedroom to relax, he felt a small tug on the back of his vest.
"Huh?"
He turned to see Nemisa holding the back of his vest tightly, she had her head lowered and a light blush on her cheeks.
"Link..." she whispered, "I'm not tired or sore tonight..."
"Nemisa... are you sure?" Link asked, blushing himself as he quickly caught on to what she was getting at.
"Yes..." she nodded, looking up at him and smiling warmly, "I'm ready."
As Nabooru went down the hall towards her and Link's bedroom, she stopped and saw with surprise that Link was leading Nemisa into their room. She smirked lightly, and walked over to softly close the door behind the two.
Aviel had shown up, wanting to play with Link, but Nabooru put a finger to her lips to tell her he didn't want to be disturbed. Aviel got the hint quickly and grinned widely, and the two went off on their way.
"It's good to be home again." Link said to Nemisa, walking forward and stretching his limbs out, he turned to his bodyguard and fiance, who seemed a little nervous, "Are... you positive you're ready for this?"
"...yes," Nemisa said blushing, "This is something I've wanted for so long..."
"I can't stop thinking about the things you told me before..." Link said sheepishly, scratching the side of his cheek, "This that kind of thing really what you want?"
It was then that Nemisa sported a light smirk, giving him a good shove and knocking him onto the bed of pillows.
"Woah, Nemisa...?" Link asked, turning and sitting up on the pillows, only for her to lean forward and place a finger to his lips to silence him.
"Shhh..." she said, "Sit back, I have a private show for you... and some things I've wanted to say afterword..."
With that, she took some steps back, and started to dance in front of him. Link just laid back against the pillows and stared in awe of her movements, much unlike what he was used to seeing from her, her movements were much more aggressive... and provocative. She put so much effort into each step and movement, it was quite simulating to see, and he was amazed at how bold she was being now. It truly seemed like Nemisa the mighty bodyguard and Madame Scarlet the exotic dancer had become one.
Nemisa then smirked slightly as she slowly and sensually removed the sashes from her arms, she rose her legs and slipped off her shoes, and eventually the rest of her clothes. She then slowly turned around and gazed at Link with desire in her eyes. Link just stared at her beautiful form, as she strolled up and knelt down over him, straddling him around the waist. She slowly moved her hand through his hair and her golden eyes stared deeply into his own blue ones.
Nemisa then whispered passionately to him, "When I was younger, my mother introduced me to a friend of hers, who was expecting a child a month from then... I was in awe of her; her belly was so round, and she was positively glowing with the aura of motherhood., she described it as such a wonderful experience. I knew even then it was my fantasy to someday meet a man like she did and have a child of my own... so I could feel that same sensation and glow... to feel my belly grow with life just as hers did, to give birth and love that child my whole life..." she paused for a second, "...and continue to feel that sensation as I bless my daughter with many little sisters..."
Link's face was flushed hearing Nemisa talking like that, there was no doubt now she had a true desire to become a mother. He couldn't deny how much he loved the idea of having her for a wife and a mother of his children. He felt that way of Ruto, Kesuta and Korume as well naturally, but Nemisa's desires seemed even deeper then the three of them.
"So how big of a family are we talking about then...?" Link asked raising an eyebrow.
"I don't want a big family..." Nemisa said, pausing for a second, "...I want a huge family, for as long as we're capable, we'll keep our family growing, and I'll love them all with my heart as a mother should."
"...I think I'd like that." Link admitted, "And I intend to love them all as a father."
She smiled at that and ran her hand along his cheek, while her other hand ran across his chest.
"...you know, when I met Jayde, I thought I had found that opportunity to fulfill my fantasy... he had been a kind man who I hoped would make me happy... until I learned of who he truly was,"
It felt awkward for Nemisa to bring up the man she had despised so much in this moment, but felt it was necessary for what she wanted to tell Link.
"Then I came to meet you, at first I thought you were just a scummy male like he was... but then I saw your kindness, your compassion and your heart. I saw how you drew people towards you, and I admit I started to fall for you myself... but I held myself back, out of fear of you betraying me... but you never did. You treated me with utmost kindness and respect, and I can't help but love you for it... and I know you'll be a fine father for my daughters someday."
She ran her hands along his bare chest gently and slowly, causing Link to shutter, as she leaned forward and gave him a deep kiss on the lips.
"Please..." she whispered, "Allow me to live my fantasy with you, my beloved Link."
"... of course Nemisa, I'd be honored to." Link said smiling, and the two kissed again.
Soon their kissing got deeper and more forceful, their hands moved slowly and passionately around their bodies, exploring just about every bit of each other. Link's vest and pants soon went flying off and onto the floor...
And the two of them danced the whole night away...
Meanwhile, outside of the gate to Gerudo Town's entrance, was a lone person, on their knees, shouting out at the top of his lungs in sorrow.
"Liiifeeeaf!" shouted Burao, the former head guard of the Wyvern's Keepers, in hopes of his words reaching out, "Please take me back! I've done what I need so we may bind our two hearts as one!" as he spoke, he spread his arms out and showed that he was wearing a maiden's dress he was clearly too big for, a wig that was sloped to the side, and poorly-applied makeup.
Meanwhile, the two Gerudo guards standing at the gate just looked at the man before them.
"Should we notify Lady Nabooru about this?'" asked one guard.
"Eh, he's not doing any harm." said the other, "Plus it's amusing to watch."
That same night, in the grand kingdom of Hyrule Castle, a strong, full-blooded Shiekah woman walked down a hall. She was known as Impa, an elite guard of Hyrule Castle and the nanny of Princess Zelda. Over the last seven years since Ganondorf's capture, she had changed very little, aside from her growing her hair out and braided it into a ponytail, and a single lock of hair hanging down in front of her face.
She went up a certain door and knocked on it, hearing a bright feminine voice say "Come in, Impa!" and she did so.
"Greetings, my princess." Impa said, getting on a knee and bowing down.
"At ease Impa." giggled the woman, "No need for formalities."
This was Princess Zelda Harkinian Hyrule. She stood as a truly beautiful woman, with sapphire blue eyes and long golden hair. While typically royalty like her would keep her hair straight and down, Zelda in particular wore hers much more freely flowing and wavy. Her eyes had a bright and playful look in them, and her smile lit up anyone who looked at it. At the moment she was wearing a silk light blue nightgown that shined from the moonlight coming into the room, and only added to her beauty.
"As you wish, Zelda." Impa said, standing upright, "I've come to inform you of good news. As of today, the Wyvern Keepers have been taken down, and it seems they'll be doing no more harm to Hyrule. We've also learned the slaves at their main hideout have been freed and brought back to their homes."
"That's splendid!" Zelda with an enthusiastic tone, putting her hands together, while it was customary for a princess like her to maintain an air of calmness and dignity, Zelda preferred to show off a more energetic side, hoping those mannerisms would catch on in the royal family as a whole, "I'm so happy to hear that. Have they started on searching for the other slaves?"
"Our knights are looking into that as we speak." Impa nodded, "They're detained many slavers after they were defeated who tried to cross the border to Hyrule, and they're currently being interrogated for information."
"Very good." nodded Zelda, "So which knights do we have to thank for striking down the slavers? I'd like to honor them personally for their hard work."
"The official report from the knights says it was Lieutenant Ernoldus and his men of the Hylian border guards..." Impa paused and smirked lightly, "...but according to the freed captives themselves and a few of my sources, it would seem more likely that it was the Gerudo who raided the Keepers' hideout and took them down."
Zelda's eyes lit up in that moment, as she remembered what Impa told her before about what happened at Lake Hylia.
"The Gerudo, huh? I'm glad to hear that, they've come a long way from what they used to be, it sounds like Lady Nabooru has gone through a lot of work to change things for them." she said, tapping her cheek in thought.
"Unfortunately, I do have a bit of bad news, it would seem that one item you asked about before had disappeared from the Wyvern Keepers' hideout, it doesn't seem that the Gerudo are in possession of it, so it's likely it had already been shipped off to it's destination well before the raid." Impa said.
"I see..." Zelda sighed, "I had a bad feeling that would happen. Just keep me posted on that..."
"Of course." nodded Impa, he paused, then smiled lightly, "In an off-the-record note... it would seem a certain blond haired Hylian was sighted with the Gerudo during the raid, according to my sources, and that he was integral to the Gerudo's success at the slaver hideout."
Zelda smiled warmly and knowingly, putting a hand to her heart, Impa could hear her whisper a certain name ever so lightly.
Impa couldn't help but see the happiness radiating from her princess' face in that moment. If she didn't know any better, she'd say Zelda may very well be the ancient goddess Hylia herself, as the princess thought of the young man who helped her save Hyrule from Ganondorf seven years ago.
But then Impa frowned a bit.
"Are... you sure you're ready for what's to come, Zelda?" Impa asked, "It's only going to be a couple months from now... the wedding of you and the Prince of Fargent."
Zelda seemed to pause for a few seconds, then spoke up.
"Yes, of course," Zelda nodded, "I'm excited for it to come. I know you were concerned about me before, as this wedding was originally just supposed to be to establish relations with the land of Fargent, but he turned out to be a truly kind man that I've fallen in love with, and I'm sure he'll make me happy!"
"Of course, my apologizes Zelda." Impa said, "I'll be taking my leave now."
"Alright then," Zelda nodded, "Go on and rest up tonight, you've earned it for your hard work."
"Thank you, Princess Zelda." Impa said, bowing to her. The Shiekah was about to go off on her way when Zelda spoke up again.
"Oh Impa, one last thing, would you be willing to have another training session tomorrow morning?" Zelda asked.
Impa paused, then turned her head to Zelda and smiled, "Of course my princess, I'm glad to see even with your marriage coming up you still want to do that, even if your father disapproves of it."
"I can't help myself. " grinned Zelda in an almost cheeky way, "After all these years it's a habit I don't think I'll ever break."
"Well I'll see you early tomorrow morning then, Princess." Impa said smiling back.
After Impa left, Zelda turned to a dresser beside her bed, and above it, in a glass case was a gleaming rapier sword. The handle was plated in gold and with a shining blade. Chained to the end of the rapier's handle was a small locket that was blue on one side and green on the other, with gold bindings and a lock holding it together, the lock itself was in the shape of an insect cocoon.
Zelda stood, looking at the locket in particular, and smiled warmly to herself.
"I hope we can see each other again soon..."
And that brings this arc to a close. I know some people in the past have given some criticism over the way I depicted Nemisa's character, especially after how I handled her way back in Chapter 2, and I hope this story arc at least alleviated some of it, and she'll continues to grow as a person over time.
Next time, Link goes on a quest to help an old but cherished friend of his...
Leave a like, follow or review if you're liking my story, and thank you all for your continued support!