Zelda no Densetsu: Kaze no Takuto

Disclaimer: Here we go. Carrying on like nothing happened. Whee!

A/N: Whee indeed! I'm glad to pick up this project again. Read on!

Chapter Ten: Search For The Sages Nabooru, Sagess of Spirit
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"So we're going to find the next Sagess… Her name's Nabooru, right?" asked Chikara as they sailed along to Windfall Island.

"That's right," said Emily. "Nabooru is the queen of the Gerudoes. They're a band of all-female, human thieves."

"Eh?!" cried Chikara in surprise. "A Sage of Hyrule is a human AND a thief?!"

"The Gerudoes were a part of Hyrule's history," said Red Lions. "And Ganondorf is their king. The Gerudo are all female…but once every 100 years, one male is born into the race, and he is to be their king."

"Oh…Then, Ganondorf is the Gerudo King?" asked Chikara.

"Nabooru, when we first met her, said she would never accept Ganondorf as their king." Sarah looked up to the night sky. "Having rule over the Gerudo Valley wasn't enough. He wanted Hyrule, too. I'm sure you've figured it out on your own."

"Mm…" Chikara looked down. "Chikara-chan has figured it out." he frowned. "Any man as evil as that has to be stopped. But what can we do?"

"We continue with our current plan, of course!" said Red Lions proudly. "We repower the Master Sword, strike down Ganondorf, and save Hyrule!"

"You make it sound so easy!" said Chikara, looking amazed.

Emily laughed. "He always does. And it ever is."

Meanwhile, somewhere on Windfall Island…

A human woman stood at the edge of the cliff, narrowing her eyes as she thought about her predicament. To think, we washed up here all of a sudden…on a strange new world called "the Great Sea"…

"Nabooru," said a voice of another Gerudo. "I've managed to calm all the girls down, but they still are confused. Have you figured out an explanation for why we're here, Nabooru?"

"No…but I have a feeling that we won't be here for long," said Nabooru, pricking up suddenly. "Hmm…" she turned around. "Try to find a place to stay on this island. I'll make a quick run around this island."

"Yes, Nabooru," said the Gerudo elite, and hurried off.

Nabooru walked along the island, looking left and right. Maybe I should look for an elfin as to train for a Gerudo, thought Nabooru to herself. She turned a corner, and saw a blonde-haired girl looking around. She smiled to herself. Fresh meat. This girl hasn't the first clue on how to be a thief…

Back with Chikara, Emily, and Sarah…

"We're back," said Emily, hopping off Red Lions.

"Well, it wouldn't be that hard to find a band of female human thieves," said Chikara cheerfully. "All we'd have to do is go search around for them!"

"Eh, it wouldn't be so easy, Chikara-chan," said Sarah. "You know these aren't just common thieves."

"What does that mean?"

"Thieves don't make themselves easily seen," said Sarah.

"Especially at night," added Emily. "So we have to look extra hard." she nodded. "We need to split up."

"Split up? Again?" asked Chikara. "We split up last time, and the ending result of that nearly became a fiasco!"

"That's because we weren't prepared," said Emily, crossing her arms confidently. "This time, we are. And we're not facing an evil king and his minions. These thieves could kill ya if your not careful."

"Wow…that sound's tough," remarked Chikara meekly.

"Don't worry, I'm sure they won't hurt us when they see us," said Sarah, putting a hand on Chikara's shoulder. "After all, the Hero of Time's descendant, Lee's descendant is here. Here to guide them back to Hyrule."

Chikara flashed Sarah a grateful smile. "Yeah…you're right."

Sarah smiled and looked up. "I guess…I'll go explore around those buildings inside."

"All right," agreed Emily. "Then I'll explore those buildings."

"Does that mean Chikara-chan is stuck searching the outside?" asked Chikara.

"You are," agreed Emily. "I'm glad you catch on quickly." With that, Emily zoomed off into shadows.

"Well, good luck, Chikara-chan," said Sarah, and she too hurried off to go search for the Gerudoes.

"Well…! Chikara-chan's off to find Nabooru and the Gerudoes!" said Chikara with a clap of his hands. He walked around and looked up and down. Hmm… Chikara-chan wonder's how a whole band of human thieves can make themselves unseen so well…they must be good! Chikara walked up the path and crashed into someone.

"Ow!" said the girl he crashed into. It was Mila!

"Oh! Sorry, Mila!" said Chikara, rubbing his bum. When he looked up at Mila, he gasped in shock. "M-Mila! You're…uh…"

"Dirt poor, I know," said Mila, dusting herself off. "What do you think you're doing, sneaking around at night?"

"Huh…? Well, Chikara-chan--"

"Oh, shut up, I don't care," said Mila, waving her hand with a scoff. Obviously, her personality hasn't changed. "Go on, get lost!" she snapped.

Chikara blinked. Mila's up to something suspicious…Maybe Chikara-chan ought to follow her…just in case. "Hai, Chikara-chan will leave," said Chikara, turning around and leaving.

Mila gave a proud nod, and proceeded to her destination, the safe Zunari kept. She knelt down to the safe combo, trying to open it.

Chikara poked his head around the corner and gasped again. Mila is trying to open Zunari's safe… She's trying to steal from him! he frowned determinedly. Chikara-chan never thought that Zunari was a nice guy…but he DID give Emily and Chikara-chan the sail for free! Chikara-chan has to repay that somehow!

So Chikara walks up to Mila and taps her on the shoulder. "…! What…?" Mila turned around slowly and backed up against the safe. "Y-you!" she stammered angrily. "Just who do you think you are?!"

"Chikara-chan, Ally of Justice," answered Chikara. Oh, why did Chikara-chan say that!?

But Mila seemed to know what an "Ally of Justice" was. She clasped her hands together. "O Ally, please, don't think poorly of me! I have a perfectly good reason to be doing something like this! Please, I beseech you, PLEASE listen to my tale!"

"Please do," said Chikara, intrigued in spite of himself, completely forgetting that he was supposed to be searching for Nabooru.

"Very well." Mila took a deep breath. "My tale begins back when I was a blessed baby born into the world. I was destined for great things, I tell you…"

30 minutes later…

"…and then, before you know it, I'm dirt poor, like any other scum off the street," said Mila, crossing her arms. "And that complete PUG Maggie! She becomes the richest little debutante in town! And that was MY position, too! And…" she trailed off. "Hmm? Are you awake?"

Chikara's eyes were closed; Chikara was sleeping right where he was standing! He rocked a little, sleeping while standing must be hard.

Mila sighed. "That took care of that…Now, to the task at hand…" Mila turned around and began to work on the safe's dial again. "Oh, come on, work for me, you stupid little--"

CLICK

"…! It opened!" gasped Mila. She opened the safe door.

SQUEEAAAAK

The door made a loud squeak when it was opened. Chikara jumped and blinked awake. "Chikara-chan was listening, he didn't fall asleep," he mumbled, rubbing one eye.

Mila stopped in shock. Oh, no! I've been caught by an Ally of Justice!

Chikara noticed. "Ah! You can't steal from people!"

"And why not?" asked Mila angrily, turning around. "Do I deserve to be poor like this? No! I need the money to support my ailing father! He needs me to support him! Where can I get money from?"

"There are more honest ways to earn money," said Chikara brightly. "More honest than stealing. If you work hard, and make a living on your own, instead of stealing it, you'll feel so much better for yourself! Don't you agree?"

"Earn…my keep, you mean?" asked Mila slowly, as if she never understood the concept of "earn".

"That's right," agreed Chikara.

"Hmm…You're right!" said Mila happily. "Oh, what was I thinking?! To allow that petty human thief try and change ME! But now I see, Ally of Justice!"

Chikara missed a breath in surprise. Human thief? he repeated silently to himself. Oh, no! Wasn't Chikara supposed to be searching for a human thief… "Nabooru!" he gasped out loud.

"Yeah! That was her name!" said Mila, not getting the shock on Chikara's face. "She introduced herself as Nabooru, Queen of the Gerudo Thieves. But you can never trust a human, however rare and unusual they are! Right?"

"Right," agreed Chikara quietly.

"I am so glad I have talked with you, Ally!" said Mila, bowing. "I shall consider what you have told me, and make an honest living from now on!" with that, Mila cheerfully made her way back to inside the café.

"…oh, dear," said Chikara, putting a hand to his chin. "How could Chikara-chan forget who he was supposed to be looking for? Ooh, Chikara-chan, you're too honest sometimes!" he scolded himself, waving his arms frantically.

"Well, that girl certainly wasn't friendly when she met me," scoffed a voice. "It doesn't surprise me that she's not friendly upon leaving me."

"Wah!" Chikara whirled around and saw Nabooru there.

Nabooru was impressive. She stood tall and proud, with a toned muscular body, tightly-tied back red hair, skin darkened by the sun, and clothing that akin to desert people. She put one arm akimbo and looked Chikara up and down. "I can see you're the new descendant."

"Uh…Yes, Chikara-chan is the descendant," stammered Chikara, turning to face Nabooru fully. For some reason, Chikara-chan thinks of Sarah when he sees Nabooru. Maybe it's because Sarah strangely enough looks a lot like Nabooru? Do all Gerudo look like this?

"What's your name, boy?" asked Nabooru, tilting her head lazily to one side, though her eyes gave away a veiled threat, as if she was warning Chikara not to make a wrong move.

"Chikara-chan. Chikara-chan just said it," said Chikara.

"Chikara, is it?" asked Nabooru. "Hmm… Don't you know that 'Chikara' means 'Power'? Why are you called power?"

"Chikara-chan doesn't know, Chikara-chan's father named him," said Chikara sadly, looking down. "And Chikara-chan doesn't call himself 'power'. Just 'Chikara'."

"Then why not begin with using just 'Chikara' alone?" asked Nabooru.

"Just…Chikara?" asked Chikara.

"If you want to speak in the third person, go ahead," shrugged Nabooru. "It's not the reason why you're here, looking for me, is it?"

Chikara jumped. Ooh! That's right! Chikara, you're losing focus once again! He has to stop that! He looked up at Nabooru. "And where are the rest of the Gerudoes? Sarah and Emily went to look for them."

"Emily? Sarah? They're with you?" asked Nabooru, looking surprised. She looked around. "Strange…Are Zelda, Lee, and Link with you as well?"

"No, just those two," said Chikara. "Why?"

"Hmm…Nothing," said Nabooru. "I'm sure Sarah will tell you herself in due time. But for now, you're right. We have no time to waste. The evil king regains more power, so we have to regain power just as quick."

"You're right!" Chikara turned around, and there stood a whole bunch of Gerudoes, Emily and Sarah at the head. "Oh…"

"It looks like we're in a bit of a fine pickle," said Sarah. "All these Gerudoes. Red Lions cannot possibly fit them all."

"Maybe we can make another boat," suggested Emily.

"We're ahead of you, girls," said Nabooru. "We have a boat waiting already. It can fit all of us Gerudo. So all you have to do, Chikara, is lead the way."

Chikara nodded. "Chikara can definitely do that! We have to repower the Master Sword; there is no time to lose!" With that, Chikara hurried on over to Red Lions.

Sarah and Emily exchanged surprised glances. "Well…Chikara certainly looks more positive and optimistic," remarked Emily as she and Sarah followed. "I wonder what put Chikara in such a good mood?"

"I don't know, but it makes me happy to see him happy," said Sarah, smiling. "If he's feeling more confident, despite knowing what awaits him, then…I don't have to worry about him. I can…be okay."

"Heh. If you say so," said Emily. She and Sarah hopped inside Red Lions. "We're ready to sail, Kingy."

"First of all, don't call me 'Kingy'," said Red Lions testily. "Second of all, how are we going to get Nabooru and the Gerudoes over to Hyrule?"

"They said they have a boat ready for them," said Chikara. "Nabooru told Chikara to lead the way. So lead the way he shall! Let's get going, Red Lions?"

"Well…?" Red Lions looked confused as well, but shrugged it off. "Very well, then. We sail off back to Hyrule!"

So they sail back to Hyrule…

"And where is my fiancé?" asked Nabooru, looking around for Lee when she and Chikara came downstairs.

"Nabooru!" said Lee happily.

Zelda glared between Lee and Nabooru and hugged Lee's arm. "How about actually doing what you came here for, instead of getting distracted? We have a job to do, remember?"

"You know each other?" asked Chikara curiously.

"Oh, yes, Lee and I know each other," said Nabooru with a wink. "MORE than know each other, in fact…"

Chikara tilted his head, blinking cute innocent dark eyes.

"Before you continue any further, Nabooru, please resume your duty," said Saria. "We cannot allow any distractions."

Nabooru sighed. "If I must. Come on, Chikara. We have my power and your life to add."

"Oh! Hai!" said Chikara hurriedly, coming to the center of the room with Nabooru. He unsheathed the Master Sword and looked the glorious sword up and down. Chikara has to take whatever he gets.

"Very well, then," said Nabooru. She held up the Master Sword with Chikara, adding power and life to it.

A more powerful and agonizing jolt spread through Chikara; he winced a little, but was determined not to let it show all the way. Just be stronger…be just a little stronger, Chikara…

"There you go," said Nabooru, releasing the sword. "My power, and Chikara's life. Great job."

Chikara nodded, feeling exhausted. "Y-Yeah…"

"Now, to find the next Sagess…Impa…" Nabooru turned to the stained glass painting of Impa and closed her eyes. So, Impa, where're you now…? She opened her eyes and turned around. "Impa is on a island called the Forsaken Fortress."

"…!? T-The Forsaken Fortress?!" cried Chikara. "But…that's where Ganondorf is! Oh, we have to hurry!"

"Ganondorf is there?" asked Nabooru. She whistled. "That'll cause some right problems, I'll tell you…"

"If Ganondorf realizes that Impa is there…" Ruto trailed off, biting a lip fretfully.

"Impa is a strong Shiekah warrior," said Saria. "And she has been watching over Zelda for so many years, has she not? We can't worry, worry changes nothing."

"Saria is right," said Darunia. "We know we can count on Impa."

"So we have to go right now!" said Chikara, looking at every sage in turn. "The sooner we can get Impa, the sooner we can…"

Zelda stepped forward. "Maybe you and Emily and Sarah should get a little rest. Especially you, Chikara. You're needed at full strength."

"But Chikara can't rest now…" Chikara's protest trailed off as he gave in to a yawn. He smiled sleepily and rubbed one eye. "Okay…maybe Chikara DOES need a little rest…"

"That's good," said Zelda. "Come with me, I'll show you to your rooms, and you two stay away from each other!" she added over her shoulder to Lee and Nabooru as she led Chikara upstairs.

"Does Chikara get his own room?" asked Chikara curiously, looking amazed and humbled. "Chikara has never stayed inside a castle before!" he looked up at the high beautiful ceilings. "Never once has Chikara imagined…" he stopped suddenly.

"Hmm…?" Zelda looked back. "What's wrong, Chikara?"

Chikara looked at his hands for a second, then looked up at Zelda. "Chikara… is a prince."

Zelda gave a soft gasp, then nodded. "Yes, you are, just like your cousin Tetra. You and her are royalty, prince and princess of Hyrule."

"Oh…that's cool…Chikara…is a prince…" And without warning, Chikara thumped on the floor.

"Oh!" Zelda ran over to Chikara. "Chikara? Chikara!" but Chikara just fell asleep; he was fine. "Oh…I was worried for a moment…" Zelda smiled and shook her head. "Let me help you to your room…" With that, Zelda lifts Chikara up and takes him to a room that isn't occupied. "Yes…this will be your room…" she set Chikara down on the bed and tucked him in. "Good night, Chikara…"

Chikara smiled and rolled over in his sleep, hugging a corner of the blanket. "Oka-san…" he sighed, snuggling in the pillow some more.

"Oka-san…? Mother?" repeated Zelda. "Oh no, silly, I'm not your mother…" Zelda fixed some of Chikara's hair. You remind me of Link…and of Lee. At the same time. I can see Lee's bravery and cheerfulness, and at the same time, I can sense Link's loneliness and attraction to darkness… she looked out the window at the pale moon.

Where will your heart take you…Hero of Winds…?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ah. A great place to end off…if you're still reading. -sigh- If you DO read this, don't forget to review now, okay? Okay! See you later!