"Link!" shouted Chea, "Get up!" She shook her head as she muttered, "Lazy brat," with a light chuckle. Soon, she heard the footsteps of her teenage son. He had long, thick red hair, which was pulled up into a high ponytail. He was, very much so, a Gerudo. Though there was one thing besides gender, that set him apart from the rest of his tribe. His gaze was piercing blue, like the sky just before evening. Chea often joked that 'his father must have been the god of blue eyes.'
He yawned as Chea sat a plate at the table for him. "I made your favorite, a Zora omelet. Made with real cucoo eggs and fish only found in Lake Hylia." She turned around, making her own plate as she continued, "Today is an important day, my little king, so you need a lot of energy. Though I want you to savor the meal, fish is rare..." she stopped speaking as she turned around. His omelet was hald gone already. Link slowly took his fork out of his mouth, and chewed once, very carefully. Chea sighed, "You really shouldn't eat so fast, you know. You'll make yourself sick."
"Sorry," he whispered after swallowing his bite, embarrased. "Today is the day I finally get a real weapon, right?"
Chea sighed again, "Yes, but more importantly, today is the day you are officially crowned king. Then, you get your sword. I heard you drove the Smithing Sisters mad, asking for such an unusual sword. Where'd you even get the idea for such a blade?"
"When Aunt Nadia came back from one of her trips to Hyrule, escorted by that kind soldier. He kept to either Nadia's home or the practice yard mostly," Link explained, "Sometimes, when Aunt Nadia came and got him, he left really quick and left his equipment behind. I got curious, and started practicing with his sword. It just... fit me better than the Gerudo practice swords." Link thought for a moment, "Though one day, he caught me with his sword. He was nice about it though, and he taught me this really cool move!"
Chea smiled, her son always got so excited when it came to fighting. "Oh?" She asked, "Well, maybe you'll get to see that kind soldier again, and he can show you a few more tricks."
"Hmm?" Link questioned.
"Oh, I hadn't told you? Right after you're corronated, we're going to Hyrule, to meet their king," Chea said casually, taking a bite of her own omelet as she watched Link's face light up. "I'm sure they have plenty of swordsmen there that you can learn from," she said kindly, before continuing in a casual tone, "though if you take their weapons, I'll use it to tan your backside, got it?" She was, obviously, miffed, that her own son had been playing with weapons that weren't his. Link nodded stiffly out of fear, nearly choking on the last of his omelet. "Good, now go get your sword from Aunt Danah, then head to the temple. You don't want to be late to your own coronation, do you?" She asked.
Link nodded, rushing out of his home, and down the street. He waved hello to his fellow Gerudo, and the occasional Hylian man who'd been convinced to come visit the Gerudo for a bit. He quickly found his way to the Smithing Sister's establishment, one of the best forges of the modern age, rival to that of the Gorons of Death Mountain. He entered, calling out, "Hello, Aunt Danah, it's me, Link!"
"Ah, Link" an older Gerudo woman answered. "Has the soon to be king come for his sword?" Link nodded, smiling, and the elderly lady returned the smile, before she set her face to stone. "80 rupees, please and thank you," she said, much to Link's utter shock.
As soon as she grinned, Link saw through her charade. "Oh, it's you Aunt Ganah," he said with an amused gasp of relief, "Where's Aunt Danah?"
"She's in the back room, putting on the final touches. She'll be out in a minute. But before she does, I'd like to give you a special gift," she revealed. She walked to a chest, rummaging about before pulling out something. "Close your eyes, Link, it's a surprise," she said.
"The last time you told me that, it took three weeks for my eyebrows to grow back," Link responded, shutting his eyes anyway.
Ganah chuckled, "It was quite the sight to see you run away from a Fiery Keese, considering you could of just doused it with water from the spring. Anyway, this won't hurt you. Probably."
She laid something that was somewhat weighty in his palms. He opened his eyes, and his eyes widened at the sight of a shield. "Ganah, I didn't know you made shields!" he exclaimed. Shields were a rare sight to the Gerudo, who relied on their agility in fights.
"Old dogs can learn new tricks, Link. You're looking at the one and only Gerudo shield. With a sword like yours, you'll need a shield," Ganah responded.
A moment later, another elderly Gerudo came into the door, "Ah, Link," she said, "I remember when you were a little, tiny child, crying in your mother's arms. And now here you are, getting your very first weapon from me. It makes me feel older than I am. A sixty year old shouldn't feel like she's eighty, so you better leave before you make me feel a hundred," she chuckled.
"Sister," Link heard from Ganah as he left, "we are eighty." He chuckled, imagining Danah's response, 'You might be.' He turned at the nearest corner, heading towards the center of the village, where the temple lay. He stood outside the towering structure for a moment, staring up at it.
"Hurry up and go inside!" Someone shouted from his side.
He turned to his side, and smiled, "Leah! Why are you here?" He asked.
"It's mandatory," she responded, "that there's at least one witness for your annointment."
"Uh, oh, yeah, that's right annointment," Link said, pretending to understand.
"I'm here to make sure the goddesses bless you as king," she explained. When he still looked confused, she elaborated further, "I'm here to make sure you don't fuck up." As she said this, Link made a small noise of understanding. He then smiled, and walked into the temple. "It's dark," Leah observed as the door shut behind her.
Link nodded, "It's a test, probably," he spoke, then began walking forward. As he stepped on a certain spot, a stream of fire flew up in front of his face, illuminating the area for a brief moment, before he jumped back. Then, he heard a scuttling noise. "We're not alone, are we?"
"Oh relax," she said, "it's only a few skulltulas probably." To prove her wrong, something flapped its wings rather loudly, to which she responded, "And Keese, skulltulas and keese."
Link sighed, "I need to kill them, don't I?"
"And," Leah nodded, "you should probably avoid lighting the keese on fire. The king should probably be coronated with eyebrows."
"One time!" Link exclaimed, suddenly whacking something with his new blade. The skulltula let out a surprised cry, and Link struck again. After a moment, he heard a strange popping noise, and tried to whack at the skulltula again, only to hit another pressure plate, letting out a jet of fire just in time to ignite a keese. "Of course," he groaned, to Leah's delighted giggling. He quickly smacked it away, and managed to hit a skulltula with it, killing both of them.
"Having fun?" Leah questioned, as Link was bitten in the leg by a skulltula. He let out a pained grunt, to which Leah responded, "Yep, sounds like fun."
As he shook the skulltula off his leg, he asked, "Why is it none of them are attaking you?" He slashed at the skulltula returning to bite him, and raised his shield with his other hand to block a keese.
"Magic," she answered, watching him bash a skulltula with his shield as he batted a keese out of the air with his sword. He growled, as multiple keese flocked to him. He decided to try the technique he had learned from the kind soldier. He swung his blade out to the side, pivoted on his lead foot, and swung back around with all the force he could muster, managing to spin around, knocking all the keese far away, killing each of them. Suddenly, as the last keese poofed into smoke, a green light shone down upon him from the other side of the room. "That's the symbol of the goddess of wind and courage, she gives you her blessing," Leah informed him, "You may enter the next room."
"Those keese were annoying," Link commented as he steeped through to the next room, this one brightly lit. This room held three switches, all equally plain, set in a triangle. Between them set three boxes of different size. Link simply stared, before getting an idea. He stepped on one pressure plate, and it sunk completely into the ground, he checked the other switches, one moving about halfway, the other one not budging at all. "It's a weight puzzle," he said simply.
Leah clapped slowly, "Congratulations," she mock praised him.
He rolled his eyes, " Obviously, the small one will weigh the least, and goes on the most easily pushed switch," he inferred. He walked over to it, and tried to lift it. He grunted with the effort, moving it an inch before giving up. "Well, obviously this is the heaviest, meaning the large is actually the lightest," he inferred, before pushing against the largest box. It moved somewhat quicker than the other box, and he had it on the switch, when an idea struck, "What if the medium box is the lightest?" Leah sighed, stepping back and pulling out a nail file.
Link moved to push the medium box, only to discover that yes, it was the lightest. He sighed, pushing the large box to the half way switchm and pushing the medium box onto the easily depressed switch. "How are you going to move the small one?" Leah asked, much to Link's despair. He studied it, before trying to flip it onto its end, with moderate success. However, he woudn't be able to do to many more times, so that wasnt a good option. He tried lifting it up with his shield, and manged to slide it a ways, certainly making the distance closer. His final attempt was to get on the ground and push it, which moved it to just off the switch. He sighed in relief,managing to flip it onto the switch.
The door alit with 3 circles, with crescents turned away from the center. "That," began Leah, "Is the symbol for the goddess of water and wisdom. She has blessed you, surprisingly." Link grumbled as Leah snickered. "Anyway, on to room three."
Link rolled his eyes, opening the door and walking through to the next room. The room was slightly darker than the previous room, though still much brighter than the first. "This is where I obtain the blessing from the sand goddess, right?" Link asked, hearing a sound of affirmation from Leah. He looked around the room, seeing nothing that hinted at his challenge. Regardless, he held his sword and shield at the ready. He took a step forward into the plan room, only to hear a loud noise, somewhat between a roar and a screech. He turned to his side, just in time to block a charging beast, which knocked him back. He got off the ground, staring at the creature. It was lizard like, but happened to be bipedial. He blocked it's clawed slash, retaliating with a sword swing.
"Link, that's a lizalfos," Leah informed as she watched Link duck behind his shield for cover, "They're actually very intelligent creatures, so don't let it get a hold of your sword." Link grunted, though wether it was because he understood her or because he was pushed back by the creature she couldn't say. The creature reared its head back, before spewing forth a jet of flame which Link barely managed to dodged. "Oh, yeah, they spit fire too."
"You could have mentioned that earlier, you know," Link grumbled, rolling forward to avoid getting clawed in the side. Leah laughed, presumably at him, and Link growled slighly, to show disapproval. He was very close to the lizalfos, and used this proximity to slice upwards across the creature's torso, before jumping away. The creature gave another one of its calls, rushing forward to slice at Link. Link blocked this attack by bashing at the creature with his shield, who jumped back in time to avoid getting smashed.
The creature reared it's head back, preparing another jet of flame, but Link intended to spoil his plans. Link rushed at the creature, managing to slice off a few scales from the creature's upper chest. After that, he knocked the creature down and stood above it, sword in both hands. He plunged the blade through the opening, and the creature gave a snarl, filled with grief at its own demise. The body evaporated into shadows, quickly dispersing as the red light from the symbol on the door alit. "The symbol of the goddess of sand, and power. Good job, Link. All three accept you as the true king of the Gerudo."
"Why do the monsters disappear when they die?" Link asked, staring at the air that had once been a hissing Lizalfos.
"I don't know," was Leah's answer, "It's best not to dwell on such trivial things anyway, my king." Link turned to look at her, an unamused look on his face. "You really shouldn't look at people that way, my king," she answered, and then grinned as Link grimaced at the term 'my king.' "Oh," she teased, "you don't like to be called 'my king?' How about Lord Link? No?" She noticed his frown, and continued, "Well what about 'my liege?'" Again, Link looked at her frowning, yet she persisted, "I know! I bet you want me to call you 'Master?' That seems like something you'd want." Link wore an embarrased, as well as shocked, face. Leah grinned, before approaching him.
"Master Link," he heard her whisper as his blush intensified, "Master Link, I want you to do something for me," she informed, twisting his pony tail around her finger. Link was thankful for the light of the sand goddess's symbol, which hid his now radiant blush, as Leah leaned into his ear and spoke gently. "Master Link, I want you," she paused for a moment, gripping his ponytail tightly and pulling his head back harshly, before talking loudly, "to get your mind out of the gutter and walk through the damn door!"
She let him go, and Link stood up straight, looking away from her in embarrasment. "You're a tease," he chided before walking towards the door, "You know that?"
Leah rolled her eyes, sticking her tongue out and replieing, "I know." She grinned, pushing Link through the door. A simple pool awaited them on the other side, and Link walked towards it. As he bent down to touch the water, he heard something happen. Or rather, he didn't hear anything. He looked back at Leah, and she was still, like a statue. He poked her, but his finger didn't cause any depression in her skin.
"Greetings, young king," a voice said from the pool. Link whirled around to find himself face to face, well, actually, more like face to scantily clad giant chest, with a Great Fairy. He looked away, embarrased for the second time in the past few minutes. "Don't turn away, boy," she commanded, "It's been a while since the Gerudo have had a son. And the last one was a rather bad egg, to boot." She took his face between the tip of her forefinger and thumb, twisting it slowly, examining him. "I think," she concluded, "that you'll make a much better king than your predecessor. In fact, I'll present you with a gift, to prove that I acknowledge you as king."
"Thank you!" Link exclaimed, happy that such a powerful being approved of him. Beside the goddesses, the great fairies were some of the most powerful beings in existence. The great fairy reached beneath the water of her spring, pulling out a small pouch, which appeared to be dry. She dropped it into Link's hand, and he caught it, examining it. "It's finely made," he noted, "but why an empty pouch?"
The Great Fairy sighed, "It's magic. It'll let you carry a lot more than you'd normally be able to." Link nodded, and the Great Fairy added, "There's a trio of stones in there, also very magical. They allow people to talk and watch one another over great distances."
"That could come in handy," he noted, reaching into the bag, where his hand managed to grasp a round, blue stone, set in a necklace. He pulled it out, and put it on. "Thank you, Great Fairy."
"Oh, and one last word of advice, little king. Don't put rupees in there. Rupees radiate a stange magic, and are only properly contained in a wallet,*" she said, before disappearing back into the shallow water. Suddenly, he heard Leah move up behind him.
He turned around, looking at her as she spoke, "Did something just happen? And where'd you get that fancy necklace?" He looked to the spring, and suddenly her eyes lit up as she exclaimed, "You met the Great Fairy, didn't you? And she gave you a gift! Wow, that's rare. I wish I could have seen it happen."
"Two, er actually, four gifts," he bragged, holding up the pouch
"Master Link," she teased him, "that's only one thing. Kings should be able to count, you know. One marriage offer from another country, two marriage offers from other countries, you know."
"You know that's not how Gerudo do things, Leah. And please don't call me that," he insisted.
"You're right, Master Link," she said, completely ignoring his request to cease with the new nickname, "One kidnapped bride, two kidnapped brides." She gigled at her own joke, even if it somewhat mocked her own people. Link sighed, reaching into his new pouch, pulling out the second of the three blue stones, placing it in her hands. "What's this, Master Link?"
"It's a magic stone, it lets people talk over long distances," he responded simply, walking past the spring. She looked at the stone in surprise, then dashed to catch up to Link, who was walking out the doors of the spring, and into the temple's inner sanctum.
Three priestess stood there, waiting for him. Simultaneously, each one stepped forward, surrounding him as he looked around. Leah stepped back, letting the priestesses do their work. A light began glowing above him, and he saw it was the noon sun, directly overhead. The platform began to raise, as the priestesses chanted in unison. Soon, he was staring out across half his home, and the entirety of his people, at least those that could make it in time to his coronation.
The ceremony was surprisingly simple, for the important weight it held. The eldest of his tribe gave a speech, speaking of the the Gerudo's past. She spared no details, admitting the Gerudo had done their fair share of evil, though it was under an evil king. She also spoke of the Gerudo's present, as good people, that do their best to survive. She then spoke of their future, under their new king, Link. She gave promises that as king, Link would do his best to support the Gerudo, to make sure their children, and their children's children, would grow up unthreatened by any force. That he would support his people through all their hardships. That he would be fair and honest with his people. And finally, that he would be a righteous king. Then, the crown of the Gerudo people was placed on Link's head, and he stood tall and proud.
"So, my lord, do you have a first decree?" The lady asked.
Link thought for a moment, then asked, "Well, does lunch count?" Those that heard him laughed, and soon, the entire crowd was roaring with laughter. So, in celebration of King Link's coronation, a feast was held.
*My own theory on as why you can only cary a certain number of rupees, even though they all appear to be the same size. Wallets are built to handle the rupee radiation.