Author's Note: Ah, just decided to put up the two chapters I had while I was at it. Hope you've enjoyed it so far! Feedback is highly appreciated.

"Maxas."

"Present."

"Tibby."

"Present." Roll call.

"Reah."

"Present." The air was stale for the previous night. Though they did not show it, every single girl I called off was drowning with sympathy.

"Nakalah."

"Present." With keen ears like mine, you could hear the slight tremble in their voices. Every single one of them had watched. They all related to the event. All had gone through that labyrinth, knowing that when they surfaced from the dark passages, they'd already been damned to hell. These girls? They were the damned. And they all identified with that. But they would not show mercy or unnecessary kindness to her, with the treacherous souls they all housed.

"Nesse." Silence. I stared at the name on the list. That was her. The newest addition to hell. I waited, not looking up.

"… P-pres… ent…" Of course she was scared. She didn't know what to expect, after the horrors she had to encounter the night before.

I finished calling out the names of my apprentices, my students, my girls.

"Trials are coming up, ladies," I spoke, gazing at the lined up girls. They looked back at me intently, all except Nesse. "The travel and tests to make it to the Spirit Temple are hard. It will test your might for all you are worth. Get busy, you know what to do!" They closed their eyes and bowed respectfully, almost in perfect unison. As they hurried off to train, I made a move toward Nesse. Her body was twitching in short spasms, her eyes darting here, there, everywhere. She didn't even seem to be aware that I was standing in front of her.

I hadn't expected her to have recovered by today. Last night she had stayed with me, in my quarters. I had given up my bed to her, though I don't think it did her much good. I watched her all through the night, I think she only shut her eyes for a total of forty-five minutes. She had been in hysterics the whole time. Nothing could calm her, as much as I tried. Most girls didn't react in such an extreme way. Those who did didn't tend to live very long. They were either driven to suicide by the mental pressure or they started having eating problems. And it is not wise to stop eating and drinking in the desert. Personally, I think it'd be more painful to let yourself waste away than keep living. Then again, I didn't know that much about it.

"Nesse?" I said softly. She jumped, her arms flew over her stomach protectively. She looked up at me with bloodshot eyes.

"D-don't make me…" She whispered hoarsely. "Don't make me go!" She clutched onto my left arm, squeezing it for reassurance.

"Go where? Where would I make you go, Nesse?" I asked her calmly. She huddled closer to me, pressing her face into my chest. I didn't see a sixteen year old girl, no, in my eyes… she was an abandoned four year old. Fidgeting about for acceptance, but cowering away from everyone's touch. I heard her mumbled something, but couldn't make out her words. "What?"

"To the desert… to that man… back to those girls…" She didn't want to live here anymore. Wanted her whole existence here to be erased. "Don't make me!" Her knees suddenly gave way, and she fell forward. I backed out of her way. She retched. I looked away, letting her get it out of her system. The other girls were practicing as if this part of life wasn't even going on. Like it had never happened to them.

After so long, I only heard dry heaves from where Nesse was. She was crouched on the ground, coughing and wiping at her mouth. She was so pale. There was no way this girl could work today. I wasn't even going to try to make her.

"Reah!" I called to the nearest girl. She looked up from what she had been doing, alert. "Nesse isn't doing so well. Take her to the infirmary." Reah hurried over, pulling Nesse up by her arms and supported her.

"Yes, ma'am." She walked steadily away, dragging the limp Nesse at her side. The sound of her heaves echoed in my brain, it made me remember how sick I had been after that night five years ago.

I ground my fingers into my eyes, my temples, my forehead. Anything to soothe this unbearable throbbing! I could sense the curious eyes of my other students, the noisy silence of pity. Yet the air of mercy was missing. Humanity was missing in this wasteland. Had long since been dried up by the ruthless sun. Been buried in the burning sands. I spun around, but only to find all the girls busy with their practices. For once, just once, I wanted to catch them in the act. In the act of staring, for feeling empathy but responding to the tragic matters with apathy. I wanted to catch them, to grab hold their wrists and scream. Scream at them for all I was worth. Make them wake up, make them do something. But what was the point? These girls were dolls. Empty shells. They could never wake up from their state of apathy. The only thing that excited them was the opportunity to steal, kill, fight.

I had been watching them for too long, unblinking. The dry winds of the desert caught up to me, my eyes watering. I shut them hastily and tilted my head back, allowing my salty tears to relieve the discomfort.

"Nabooru?" I jumped with a start. What pathetic security I had. But perhaps I had just been caught up in the moment. I needed a vacation. It was one of my girls, of course. What had I expected? But I couldn't help but let out a small, almost undetectable sigh. Letting out a bit of anxiety with it.

"Maxas?" She studied me for a moment.

"I… I saw you last night. With Nesse." My heart skipped a beat. So what? Yet, for some reason, I was nervous. I was intimidated. By a girl that was just about to turn seventeen. Well, I suppose she wasn't that much younger than I. I could've been her older sister, basically.

"And?"

"You know very much what I'm trying to get across. Stop acting ignorant."

"Are you attempting to threaten me, missy?"

"No! It's nothing like that. But…" She stopped short, pondering her statement further. "Please. What if you are caught? You could be thrown in prison. You could be outlawed from our territory! Rethink your position, please!" I laughed. It came out cold, high-pitched. She drew back.

"'You could be outlawed from our territory'? So what? I'd like to see them try! Besides, life in Hyrule would be so much more promising than what I've built in this pitiful slum!" I half yelled, half sniggered. "In any case, what are you trying to say? That you are actually fond of me? What a joke! So, you heartless Gerudos have something deeper behind those sadistic masks, eh? What a discovery!" I was almost hysterical. I half expected Ganondorf to swoop upon at that exact moment and 'have me' as he had so kindly stated the night before. Unless that had been an illusion, a hallucination? These lunatics where driving me psychotic.

"You are crazy, crazy!" Maxas exclaimed, she seemed to be shivering. Yet, everything seemed to be shaking, wavering in the heat of the desert sun.

"No, Maxas, I believe I'm the only sane one here," I replied calmly, trying to beat the mirages out of my head. Someone slapped me. They must have, because I snapped to attention, a burning sensation left on my cheek. My vision came into focus, the haunts of the mirage gone. Though doubtful, I knew what I had been through was real.

"Nabooru." A woman was standing in front of me, decked out in her purple guard uniform, it hugged her curvy body perfectly. It was almost as if she had appeared in front of me from nowhere. A savior. Or some bullshit like that.

"What?" I noticed Maxas was no longer by me, she was yards away, practicing her footing skills on the timed log jump. Maybe I had fallen asleep. It wasn't impossible, for the warming rays from above never failed to make me drowsy. I pushed back a few strands of crimson hair that had come loose from my ponytail.

The woman standing in front of me looked so professional compared to my sad state. It must have been obvious that the virtue of sleep had not been there for me the past few nights. She watched me, with what? Disgust? Probably. Whatever it was, I was hoping she'd decide to open her full, pouting lips before I had the urge to punch her.

She cleared her throat slowly and deliberately. What a piece of work.

"The King demands you to report for post at once. You are to go to his quarters and will be given further instruction in his presence. Meanwhile, I am to take over your current position. I'm assuming that these-," She quirked an eyebrow, looking pointedly at the girls, "are your… students?"

"Who wants to know?" My voice came out hard and raspy. Sweet Nayru, I needed a drink. Her lips became tight, clearly exasperated.

"I am the new trainer for these girls and will be taking on your position from now on, as ordered from King Ganondorf directly," She said in a bragging tone. "And who are you to ignore and defy the King's direct orders?"

"I never defied anything. If you want my damn girls, take them. But I am not reporting to that bastard." If I had to go, I wasn't going without a fight. I didn't like this woman. And I definitely didn't like him, to put it quite lightly. She suddenly smirked at me.

"Oh, you'll be reporting to him. For it seems you don't have the luxury of choice. I'm sure you know what will happen if you don't go. Something… tragic, no doubt." I had to admit, she had a point. Though I was putting up a rough exterior to this woman, I was cowardly within. I knew I couldn't run and hide from that monster of a man.

I simply stared back at her. I wasn't going to challenge her, I was exhausted, and it wasn't worth the effort. She was likely to be slaughtered in the castle raid, anyway, if she was truly taking on my full position as commanding officer to that unit. She'd be gone in a week's time. Sure, she was a bitch, but bitches only bitched. They don't always have that backup bite needed to survive.

I inclined my head stiffly in farewell, backing off. To start my journey to Ganondorf, as slowly as possible. As I moved toward the hill that led back to the fortress, that devil of a woman gave me another smile. That fake, plastered on shit you get from people that give you mockery compassion. Like you are some naïve little kid that'll never understand anything. I sensed her triumph and restrained myself from turning back around to rip her throat out. Generally I was a calm person. But people like that just ripped at my nerves and drove me over the edge. Maybe it was the Gerudo blood showing through me. Belligerent. Feisty. Scornful. That's how I was supposed to be. That's how our women were classified.

I passed Reah. She gave me a questioning look, but only briefly. She must have put the pieces together. Maybe she was ashamed, embarrassed. Whatever it was, it made her glance back ahead of her, away from me, as if I hadn't been walking by in the first place.

Ganondorf housed himself at the top of the fortress, in the King's quarters. Naturally. As I headed onward, I felt the stares of the other women. Their vulture eyes drilling into my back, into my skull, my face. Everyone must have known. They knew where I was going. No one had ever received a private invitation from Ganondorf. No one was ever ordered to see him straight up, alone. Of course there were questions, whispers of scandal. I hated the world with every fiber of my being at that moment. No one had my back, and I was being thrown to the dogs. Like cold cut, fresh meat. But that's what I was, I suppose. Fresh meat.

I gulped air as I approached the throne room doors, panicking. I wondered if I should knock, or simply enter. I didn't know what to expect. I decided to knock since, well, I didn't want to walk in on anything… disturbing. Or something of that sort. As I raised my right fist, knuckles ready to pound into the rusting metal, the doors swung open. I was greeted by giggles and vibrant colors. Wait… what?

Two girls, in their late teens, I guess, grasped onto my arms and tugged me into the room. The doors flew back shut again with an unpleasant 'pang.' Before I could fully understand my predicament, the girls were flying about me with small strips, wrapping the strips around me several times, then pulling them back off again. I stared at them blankly, then realized they were measuring me. There was something different about these girls. One had caramel tinted hair, while the other had raven black locks falling past her waist. They both had different hues of blue coloring in their eyes. I also noticed the pointy little pieces of flesh that poked out of their hair. Elvin ears. These people were of Hylian blood.

They were working frantically, fitting the measuring tape around me, scribbling down notes of my figure. I cocked an eyebrow and gazed at my surroundings. The sandstone walls were decorated with elaborate tapestries, the floor was covered by a royal blue carpet, leading across the room, up raised steps, to the throne. Columns were on either side of the carpet, supporting the high ceiling. And scattered across the vast floor were what appeared to be silk cushions. I was astounded. To have never known about such a place within my own kingdom was actually quite pathetic.

Before I knew it, the girls were done and were having a small side conversation. They then pivoted and the caramel haired girl spoke in a richly Hylian accent, "Our seamstress will have these outfits done within a fortnight. We will return in approximately that long of time, your Lordship." The two bowed their way out of the room. Who the fuck was she talking to? Quite swiftly, a shadow moved out from behind a column. Ah, that's who. Ganondorf was leaning against a column, eyeing me with his yellow stained irises, like he had the night before. He seemed quite satisfied with my startled reaction to all my surrounding glory.

"… Who were they?" I asked distantly. He smirked at this question and moved closer to me, his feet padding across the plush blue carpet.

"Why, they are your outfitters. They will be making you some more suitable clothing for your little stay with me," He paused. "Why… are you jealous? To have such luscious competition? Don't worry, Hylian filth does not interest me…" He stopped in front of me, reanalyzing me. I was about to reply with something along the lines of, 'Competition? Tch, what an I? Your show dog? Your bitch?' But the look in his eye, in zapped the very thought from my head. And maybe I was a bit afraid of what his answer might be. But, I would reply, however.

"What's wrong with the clothes I already own?" He gave me an amused look.

"Those are military garbs. And you are no longer performing any more military duties, now are you?"

"What?!" I almost screamed. He was taking away my life, my position… everything I had ever worked for.

"That's right… from now on you are stripped of any duties or posts you were performing. And that, my dear, is an order," He spoke in a deadly whisper. "Besides… I believe your clothes are too simple, and far too heavy for desert wear. You must get warm and very uncomfortable in what you currently possess…"

"Yes, but that's the point. To push myself to my limits, it's just another part of my self training. I'm a soldier, sir, the word 'comfortable' shouldn't even be in my vocabulary."

"You take pride and loyalty in your post… I'll grant you that much. But, I believe I have allowed the term 'comfortable' to slide into your brain. From now on, you will be treated as a proper woman should. From now on, 'comfortable' will play a very big part in your life." Generally, most working women would love to hear those words. But not by this man. The way he said it added to my anxiety… made me feel like I'd die at any second. Damn, what a creep.

His gaze moved up and down my body, as if he was checking a purchased item for any faults. His arm shot away from his side, on reflex I wanted to duck. But his fingertips found their way to my face. His calloused skin grazed my cheek and traveled down my neck. He was taking much pleasure in touching me, I could tell by the content expression plastered onto his features. I didn't move, not even a flinch. I didn't know what he'd do, or what he was planning… and I would have rather not gotten on his bad side at the moment. He made a movement for my chest, but hesitated, rethought, and let his arms drop back to his side. Maybe he wasn't such a pig… but I couldn't stay certain on such a subject.

"Allow me to show you where you'll be living…" He said in an almost polite manner. Living?

"What do you mean… living? What about my home?"

"Nabooru, Nabooru… did you actually expect to stray so far from me once you were summoned here?" The truth was… no. I guess not. He took my silence in place of an answer. "Right… this way… and I promise you, it's not that horrible."

He led me towards the throne, which, at a closer viewpoint, was studded with gold and parts of stolen jewels and gems. Instead of going up the four steps that led to the throne landing, he took a right, past a few columns. At the edge of a wall was an opening to a new hallway. There was a curtain drawn back to reveal the mouth of the passage, which I supposed was let down at night or for whatever private needs.

As he disappeared into the darkened passage, I forced myself to follow. The hall was lined with black candles that were letting off a bluish glow. The lighting seemed appropriate, with Ganondorf's dark figure looming ahead of me. At the end of the corridor there was a chamber, it almost looked like an apartment, without a door cutting it off from the hall. As I stepped in, I realized the whole space was bigger than my current rented quarters. Much bigger. It was, well, fit for a princess if I did say so myself.

Ganondorf backed off to the side, allowing me to explore. There was a grand bed, it was more than just a straw mattress, I sat on the edge… my butt practically melted into it. "Down feathers from chickens and cotton," Ganondorf explained to my look of delight I obviously had on my face. Down chicken feathers! I'd lived with straw mattresses my whole life. There were silk sheets and boldly dyed blankets folded at the edge of the bed. Wood and glass tables held books, parchment, fine inks, and incense. Paintings, minute statues of our desert goddess, and more tapestries adorned the walls. A wall curtain led to a spacious bath and the other to a pantry. I had missed a wall. On one side of the room, there was a bureau with a rounded mirror situated on top. Pins and brushes were ordered in a line, and there was a display case. I inspected it further, opening the top of the case. I gasped. Inside were dozens upon dozens of magnificently crafted pieces of jewelry were laid inside. Sapphires, rubies, emeralds, diamonds, topaz, jade, opal, even pearls… all accompanied by gold and silver chains and carefully thought out design. I wanted to stroke their beauty, but was afraid of somehow breaking them. I closed the lid somewhat reluctantly. I looked back to Ganondorf, whom was tilted against a far wall, arms folded, a triumphant look on his face. I didn't know what to say. Not really.

We stared at each other for a few moments before any words were exchanged.

"Why are you doing all of this?" I asked. I received no reply. A smile was tugging at the corners of his lips. I took my attention away from him, but scanned the room again, being sure I didn't miss anything else. "Why isn't there a door to this room?" He hesitated, but decided to answer me this time.

"And why would you need a door? A door's primary purpose is to shut people out, to block others from your view. To keep them out. Now, who would you need to shut out in this place?" I shivered at this remark, but didn't say anything. Of course, I wanted to keep his prying, greedy eyes from me. From my view. It was him I wanted to keep out. Surely he knew that?

"Am I… am I permitted to go retrieve my personal belongings from my old quarters?" I needed to get out of here. Maybe I could just make a run for it if he let me out. Run out of the Gerudo Valley, jump over that damn fence, cross the bridge, and make a break for Hyrule Field.

"You are. But you get two hours. If you aren't back in this room by then, trust me, I will be sending people for you. And I'm quite sure you'd rather return here on your own free will. It would save you a lot of pain and grief." Shit. He had seen through my plan. But I guess it had been pretty obvious. The man wasn't a moron, at least.

I nodded and rushed past him, through the eerie corridor, out the creaky throne room doors, back out into the day's heat. It had been so much cooler inside. Surprisingly. This time I took a different route. I traveled by rooftop, because I didn't feel like having those piercing stares be directed at me again. Since our roofs were flat, it was easy.

Apparently that new woman that had taken over my job had let the apprentices go for the day. I saw a few of the girls sitting on a fence below, probably sucking on some ice.

I snuck into the building with my quarters (or old quarters, I should say) were. As I approached, I saw a strange mound of things outside my door. I stopped in front of it and realized that this mound was of my own possessions, carelessly thrown aside. I hadn't known that someone had already taken over my apartment. Actually, no one was supposed to have taken over my apartment until I'd gotten everything out. Curious, I leaned against the door, trying to avoid making any noise. There was definitely movement, and I swear I heard someone whimper.

I tested the doorknob, the room was locked. I slipped my hand into my pants pocket, groping for my key. Once I found it, I gripped onto it and slid it into the keyhole. After I heard a small 'click' from turned it, I shoved it back in my pocket and pushed the door open.

I froze. On the old bare bed that I used to call my own, was that woman. She wasn't alone, either. Evidently she had intercepted the Hylian girls going back to their town. She had the caramel haired girl stripped and was pinning her down to the bed. The other girl was tied up, propped against a wall. It made me want to retch.

The woman glanced behind her, at me, to see what had caused the interruption. The color in her face drain and she sprang off the bed, toward me. Before she got to me, I ducked down and I rammed my elbow up into her throat. She gasped and fell backwards, but she was persistent. She came at me again, fists pulled back to swing. I dipped down again, but this time swiped my right leg under her feet, tripping her. As she began to fall, I took up my knee and rammed it into her gut. I took advantage of her immobility and threw the caramel haired girls discarded clothes in her direction. I then took out my dagger and cut the ropes off the other girl. I grabbed the two and hurried them over to the door.

"Next time, bring a fucking guard with you!" I growled and slammed the door. This left me and this woman alone. She was sprawled on the floor, grasping her gut with her arms and gulping for air. "Why the hell are you in my apartment?" I shrieked. Nothing had been this screwed up before, nothing. And it was all taking its toll on my brain.

"Your apartment?! I… was given this place… along… with my new post…" She was struggling to even speak, her voice coming out raspy and irregular.

"And my post… now I know why you were assigned. You asked for it, didn't you? Pleaded for it! You sick bitch. Will that be my girls, now? If I hear that you lay even one hand on them-,"

"Calm down! You don't have to worry about that! It's those Hylian girls I like… I wouldn't do anything to my own kind. That is what is truly sick. I saw an opportunity, and I took it, dammit. Don't fucking judge me. You're the one that is Ganondorf's new whore, aren't you? So… don't… you dare judge me." She continued to breath heavily, her voiced dying off from the damage I inflicted upon her. What she said made me stop. Ganondorf's new whore. Fuck. So that's what I was. She laughed bitterly at the look I had on my face. "Didn't think about it… did you? Well learn to deal, because that's what you are. And it means he's chosen you to bear the next Gerudo male. The next Gerudo king. I hope you're well practiced, because you are up to some tough shit pretty soon… What happened to you five years ago will seem like paradise…" She coughed violently.

"And… and how the hell do you know?" I said angrily, kicking her in the side mercilessly. "On second thought, don't answer. I'm just here for my stuff…" I turned around to leave. I was so dizzy, my heart was still pounding from the fight. She grabbed onto my ankle, squeezing it tightly.

"If I catch wind that you said one word about this to Lord Ganondorf, I'll assassinate you with my own two hands," She said, seething. She let go of my ankle. I didn't say a word to her, just opened the door, grabbed my pile of things, and left.

I hope you rot in the abyss of the Underworld, the three Golden Goddesses shunning you with disgust. I found myself cursing her with those words. The same words my own father had cursed me with… so long ago.