Disclaimer: I don't own the Gerudos, Gerudo Fortress, Ganondorf, or anything from The Legend Of Zelda…I do however own any OC's that appear, mainly Nalissa/Nali, Kali, and Katara/Kat.

A/N: Enjoy!! =]

Chapter 6

"No way! He's actually going to take you to his tower in Hyrule?" my friend Belina gapes at me. I smile and nod proudly as I aim my arrow at the giant target in the archery range. I have two best friends, Belina and Andalee, and we always attend our practices together. We all have the same mentor, Miss Melani, along with a few other girls. In each class, each girl has her own clique, and mine consists of Belina, Andalee, and me. We rarely talk to the other girls.

I groan in annoyance as my arrow barely misses the bull's eye.

"Nice try, Princess Nali!" Miss Melani encourages me. I frown at her. I don't like when people call me a princess. I understand my father is the king and all, but I don't think I'm qualified to be considered a "princess"…yes, my family is the richest in the whole desert, but considering how poor the desert is, that's not much to brag about. It also makes me feel weird to be referred to as a princess in front of the other girls, because then they stare and whisper. In my eyes, I'm a regular Gerudo just like them. I just happened to be born to the king.

"Here, Andalee." I tell my other friend, handing her the bow. For archery lessons, we all stand in a line and shoot arrows. Then we go to the back of the line and repeat multiple times. When we're eight and ranked, we're allowed to do it on horseback. We start practicing like this, however, at six.

Andalee misses the target completely, which causes a girl I dislike named Nadhiyah to laugh. Andalee frowns.

"Nice try, Andalee. You're just holding the bow wrong. Let me show you how to hold it properly." Says Miss Melani. She demonstrates the proper way to hold the bow then has Andalee try again. This time, the arrow hits the target (although quite far from the bull's-eye), but Andalee cries out in pain. The arrow had grazed her hand when she let it fly.

This sends Nadhiyah into a fit of laughter. I turn to glare in her direction.

"Shut up, Nadhiyah!" Belina shouts in Andalee's defense.

"Yeah, seriously! You have no right to laugh at her! She's trying her hardest!" I shout. Nadhiyah smirks.

"She will never be an Elite at the rate she's going!" Nadhiyah laughs. I glare. Oh, how I'd love to punch that girl a few times.

"Nadhiyah, there's no need to be so mean. Come try it yourself." Miss Melani says. Nadhiyah shrugs and prances over. She yanks the bow roughly out of Andalee's hands, aims, and shoots a perfect bulls-eye. Everyone, including me, gasps. Even Miss Melani is impressed.

"Excellent job, Nadhiyah!" she shouts, causing the whole class (except for my friends and I, obviously), to applaud. I just roll my eyes in disgust. This is really going to make that girl get a big head…and her head's already big enough!

She turns to Andalee and smirks.

"And that is how you shoot." She says, purposefully flicking her long red ponytail in Andalee's face and walking away. Andalee glares and before anyone realizes what's happening, she leaps at Nadhiyah, grabs her ponytail, yanks her to the floor, and begins punching her. We all gasp.

"Andalee, no!" I shout, running over to pull her off. Andalee shoves me away and continues punching. Nadhiyah attempts to block her face and begins crying. "Andalee! You're going to get punished!" I warn her, trying to yank her off. Miss Melani pulls Andalee off and inspects the damage. Nadhiyah has a bloody lip and marks on her face and she's crying in pain. I look over at Andalee, amazed. Nadhiyah has been giving my trio trouble since we first got put in training classes, but Andalee has always been so shy. No one would have ever expected her to stick up for herself like this. I guess she'd been pushed to her limits.

"Princess Nali, take Andalee to the medical ward to have her hand looked at. Tell them what happened so they know to arrange a punishment as soon as possible." Miss Melani says. I stare in surprise at Andalee's hand. After everything that's happened, I completely forgot that the arrow she shot had grazed her hand. It's bleeding quite a bit, but it doesn't look too deep…it's not nearly as deep as the gash I had in my leg from the Dodongo two weeks ago. Andalee glares.

"What? Punishment? Nadhiyah should get punished, too! She's been messing with me since day one and no one's even bothered to do anything about it!" she shrieks.

She has a point.

Miss Melani's never done anything to stop the teasing Nadhiyah gives Andalee, or anyone else for that matter. Nadhiyah's said at least one bad thing to everyone in the class except for twin sister, Nadhirrah. They're the best of friends, but Nadhirrah is much nicer than Nadhiyah.

"She has never laid her hands on you, and I said at the start of this class one year ago that any violence is unacceptable! Go now!" Miss Melani shouts at us. Andalee groans. I grab her gently and lead her to the medical ward.

***

"I hate Nadhiyah! Why does she always get away with everything? She could get away with murder in that class!" Andalee shouts on the way to the medical ward. I sigh and nod.

"It's true…I heard a rumor that Nadhirrah and Nadhiyah are Miss Melani's sister's daughters, so that would make her their aunt, but I'm not sure if it's true or not. It could be. She seems really lenient with them as far as enforcing rules and such." I say. Andalee sighs.

"I shouldn't have attacked her," she says. "I don't want to get punished…Nali, what do they do for a punishment like this? They don't…" Andalee gulps. "They don't whip you, do they?" I shrug.

"I honestly have no idea. I've never been in trouble in class before."

"Well what if I told them…" Andalee gasps and clams up, bowing suddenly. "Your majesty." She greets. I look over and see my dad surrounded by four Elites. He smiles.

"Hello Andalee, Nali…" he frowns. "What are you two doing out of class?"

"Andalee grazed her hand in archery lessons." I say, holding up her hand for him. "Miss Melani asked me to escort her to the medical ward."

"I see," he says. He stares at her hand. "Why are your knuckles all bruised?"

"I got in a fight," she admits, lowering her eyes.

"Why?"

"This stupid girl named Nadhiyah has been treating her badly since day one and Miss Melani's never done anything about it! She just got fed up today and attacked her!" I say, taking Andalee's defense. "This girl has been trouble since the start of the class. She's been rude to every girl in the class, myself included." My father raises his eyebrow at this.

"Really?" he asks. Andalee and I nod simultaneously.

"Your majesty, may I speak?" says an Elite.

"Sure, Pinar." My father says. Pinar nods and turns her attention to Andalee and me. I nearly gasp in surprise upon the realization that Pinar is the woman who I caught my father in bed with a few weeks ago.

"I believe that Nadhirrah and Nadhiyah are the nieces of Miss Melani, which would explain why she doesn't do anything about Nadhiyah being rude to others." My father smiles at this.

"Ah, so she is biased…" he says.

"I heard that, too. And that's what I thought, because she demands that Andalee gets disciplined for her actions, but I think that Nadhiyah should be punished too because she's been so rude to everyone." I say.

"She's rude to you too, you say, Nali?" my father asks me with a raised eyebrow. I nod. I wonder what he's planning.

"Yes." I say. "Especially me! She whispers and makes subtle comments every once in awhile, and ever since I became friends with Belina and Andalee, she started picking on them, too!" my father nods.

"Sounds like jealousy because of the fact you're the princess…and now she's taking it out on your friends too." He says. I cringe at the word 'princess'. "Pinar, will you escort Andalee here to the medical ward? And Janina, remind me that I need to have a little word with Melani…" he says. Pinar nods.

"Yes Sire." She says, leading Andalee away.

"So Daddy, you're going to speak with Miss Melani?" I ask.

"Yes, I'm going to tell her to pardon Andalee's punishment because I know she's your friend and I think that I should discuss with her the fact that she needs to be fair with all her students if she wants to keep her job as a mentor. Besides, I will not tolerate any dumb kid being rude to my little girl and her friends and getting away with it." He says, patting my head. All the Elites smile in approval. I wonder if he really means that or if he's just saying that to look like a 'family guy' in front of the Elites. Either way, I think it's really cool that he's doing Andalee this favor because she's my friend, and I'm also glad he's finally going to tell Miss Melani to treat Nadhiyah like the rest of us.

"Thank you, Daddy." I say. He nods and waves.

"Get back to class, Nali." He says, leaving with his three Elites.

***

"You can come with me to my tower tomorrow." I shriek in excitement.

"Tomorrow?!" I shout. He nods.

He has been coming to my room every night to talk to me and tuck me in. I love it! It's like he's finally starting to get what a loving father does for his daughter.

"I'm so excited! Can I bring Comet?" I ask, referring to my little white pony. Daddy bought me Comet as a gift for me when he travelled to a country adjacent to Hyrule six months ago. He runs really fast and he is white so he reminded me of a comet. So that's what I ended up calling him. Daddy nods.

"Yes, we are travelling on horseback. Besides, that pony has been cooped up in the fortress for quite a while now. It's about time he gets to stretch his legs." I shriek excitedly and Daddy smiles and tucks me in.

"Thank you!" I squeal. Daddy kisses my forehead.

"Goodnight, Nalissa." He says, blowing my candle out.

"Goodnight, Daddy!" I shout excitedly. Daddy smiles and shakes his head.

"You'd best be sure to get some sleep! We're waking up at dawn and I don't want you all sleepy for the trip just because you were too excited to rest!" he says, laughing.

"Whether I get any rest or not, I'll be excited to get up." I assure him. He laughs and closes the door.

Okay, maybe he's right.

I'm too excited to sleep! So I stare up at my ceiling for a while, imagining what the trip will be like.

"Hello, Ganon." Says a voice that clearly isn't my mom's. I frown.

"Melani." My father greets someone. I gasp. Miss Melani's here?

I quietly tiptoe to my door and listen.

"I need to speak with you about certain matters, and then we can go make some love." He says. I gasp.

I didn't realize he's been cheating on Mom with someone else other than Pinar! This is horrible…I thought he was changing.

Well he did say he and Mom aren't in love anymore. I suppose just because he's still disrespecting my mom doesn't mean he's still disrespecting me, which he's obviously not. At least he hasn't hit my mom in a while…

"I understand that Nadhiyah is your niece, but I was told by my daughter and her friend Andalee that you favor Nadhiyah and don't discipline her when she's rude to the other girls in the class."

"Ganon, Andalee attacked my niece. Of course I'm going to be angry…" she says.

"Okay, and it has been brought to my attention that Nadhiyah has been making rude comments to my daughter and her friends, which of course makes me angry. So I suggest that if you'd like to keep your job as a mentor, you start treating each of your students fairly. Now please pardon Andalee's punishment and from now on, when that niece of yours makes a comment to anyone, especially my daughter, you are to take proper disciplinary actions. I'd better not hear of something like this again, do you understand me?"

"Yes, Ganon." Miss Melani says.

"Good. Now come with me to the bedroom, my love." He says. I quickly run and hop back into my bed. I hear the two go into the bedroom and shut the door. This time I'm smart enough not to exit my room.

I have mixed emotions. I think it's really cool that my dad stuck up for Andalee and all, but I don't approve of him cheating on Mom.

Oh well, there's nothing I can do about it…it's his decision, and like he said, they're not in love anymore. Maybe they could be breaking up and they just haven't told me yet. I don't understand why he'd stay married to someone and cheat with two other women on her. Why'd he even bother getting married in the first place?

I close my eyes and slowly drift off into sleep.

***

"This is it?" I ask. My dad, his Elites, and I all left our horses tied to a tree outside the castle walls. The drawbridge was all broken, but I didn't question about it. I also saw in the distance that Death Mountain's smoke ring had turned into a ring of fire, but I didn't question that, either.

Once we got to the castle walls, Daddy had said we should teleport to the tower, because it's impossible to get to on foot because of certain barriers that he didn't tell me about.

The teleportation spell had made me a little dizzy, but I dismissed the feeling as I stared at the interior of the tower.

"Yes. Do you like it?" Daddy asks me. I stare at the room. It has a really dark feeling to it, but other than that, it looks suitable for a king, which I guess in this case makes sense.

"Yeah, I do like it!" I tell him. I immediately dart over to a large organ in the center of the room. "Look at this, Daddy! A giant organ!" I shout, brushing my fingers along the keys. I wince at how loud the music is. Daddy runs over and slaps my hand away.

"Don't touch it!" he snaps, causing me to back away in shock. He sighs. "Sorry, it's just really expensive."

"I didn't even know you knew how to play! You like music, Daddy?" I ask. He nods.

"Every once in a while when I'm stressed, I like to sit down and play. It makes me calm."

"Won't you teach me how to play, Daddy?" I ask.

"Maybe when you're older. Instruments – especially expensive ones such as this one – need to be treated respectfully. I don't think a seven year-old and an expensive organ are a good mix. Maybe when you're ten I'll consider it."

"Okay, Daddy." I say, sighing.

"Elites," he calls. They immediately straighten up. There are five of them, Pinar included. "I would like to be alone with my daughter for a while. Can you ladies exit?" the five nod and exit. "Okay, Nali. You don't fool me. What's wrong?" I sigh. I hate how he can read me as easily as a book.

"I heard you and Miss Melani last night." I say. My dad looks at me in surprise. "I'm happy you stuck up for Andalee and all, but I just wish you'd stop cheating on Mom. I know you said you two aren't in love anymore, but…DADDY, WATCH OUT!" I shriek upon seeing a Hylian man lunge at my father with a katana. He'd been hiding behind the large organ!

"AGGH!" my father screams in anger. He falls to the floor clutching his now-bleeding arm.

"Ganondorf Dragmire," the man says. "You raided Hyrule six years ago, took over, chased the princess into hiding, and destroyed countless lives! I shall now take your life since you ruined mine by killing my family!" he takes his katana and charges at my wounded dad.

I quickly draw my scimitars and lunge for the man. I protectively step in front of my dad and hold my swords up in a criss-cross to block the man's blow. He comes down with enough force to make my body tingle but not enough to make me break my protective stance.

"Get out of my way, little girl!" he hisses. "Or I will be forced to kill you as well."

"Get away from my father or you will be a dead man within the next few minutes." I threaten. I can't see my father's expression, but I can imagine it as surprised. The man throws his head back and laughs.

"You think you scare me? You're a little girl. There's no way you know how to fight."

"You clearly have never met a Gerudo warrior before." I say, smirking. After this, we become engaged in a sword-fight.

We circle each other for what seems like an eternity. As I focus on the man's eyes, I try to picture the fight as another practice, not a fight for my life. My plan is to keep everything I've ever learned in mind and not try to worry about the stakes.

The man lunges and I sidestep out of the way. I take the chance to swipe at his back. His back arches in pain. His cloth is ripped and I left a good, long, diagonal gash across his back.

I realize now that the man isn't fighting with his head…he is just fighting out of rage, which is a mistake that will cost the man dearly.

The man turns and lunges again. This time I back flip out of the way. I take a jab at the man's leg, causing him to drop his katana and fall to the floor clutching it in pain. I walk forward and kick his sword out of his reach.

"Do it, Nali!" my father says weakly, probably losing blood by the second.

"Please have mercy on me, Miss!" the man pleads.

"Do it, Nali!" my father tells me. "Or I will never be proud of you!" I look down at the Hylian kid.

"Please have mercy on me, Miss!" he says. I shake my head and bring the sword down.

The boy falls lifelessly, a pool of blood spilling from the gash in his neck that I created. My father laughs wickedly and claps his hands.


"Oh, Nali! That was terrific! I am so proud of you! You're the best daughter in the world!" my dad tells me, hugging me and kissing my forehead for the first time in my life. "I'm going to take you to my tower in Hyrule with me tomorrow. You are going to make a fine Gerudo warrior one day, Sweet heart."

"Thanks, Daddy." I say, hugging back. I enjoy this feeling so much.

I don't feel any remorse for killing the kid. He deserved it anyway because he threatened my father.

Besides, if killing one measly little life has this type of impact on my relationship with my father then it's completely worth it.

"I love you, Nalissa." He tells me. I gape in surprise. This is the first time he's ever told me that!

"I love you too Daddy!" I shout, tears pouring down my face. They're tears of happiness!

"Clean the blood off of your sword, Sweetie." He tells me. I nod and hold the bloody sword up.

I catch my reflection in the blade. Staring back at me is my face but not my greenish/brown eyes…they're my father's golden eyes. I blink and when I stare at my reflection again, it isn't me staring back at all…it's my father staring back at me, grinning psychotically with that same bloodthirsty look in his eyes.

I stop in surprise at the memory of my nightmare. I can't do it.

But wait…this guy is threatening my dad. And if I let him go, he'll probably kill both of us anyway. This is just self-defense.

I crouch into the position of the infamous Gerudo spin-attack, feeling my adrenaline rush. I've never tried this attack out of my training classes, but I'm sure my inner Gerudo will allow me to do it well. Besides, I've never had a real sword-fight outside of class before either, but I'm seemingly doing pretty well so far.

"Never mess with the Dragmire's." I tell the man, letting myself perform the spin-attack.

The man falls limply to the floor – dead. I'm breathing heavily, staring at the gash I created in the man's throat. Remembering my nightmare, I stare at my reflection in the bloody scimitar. Thankfully, my own hazel eyes stare back.

"Nali…wow." My father says, stunned. I drop my scimitars and run over to him.

"Daddy, your arm…" I whisper, hugging him. I tear my sleeve off and wrap it around the wound.

Just in time, the Elites run back in.

"Sire!" they shout, helping him up.

"Look at that…Nali defended me." He brags, pointing at the body of the Hylian man.

"Excellent job, Princess!" Pinar shouts. "You'll make a great Elite one day!"

"I was just defending my dad." I say.

"Sire, are you able to teleport with that wound?" another Elite asks.

"Well I kind of have to, don't I?!" he snaps. "There's no way we'll be able to walk all the way to the entrance and then ride to the desert on horseback. I'll bleed to death!" the Elite looks down, probably ashamed by the stupidity of her question. I pick up and sheath my scimitars. "Remind me…I want to put the tower over a pool of lava and create a magical barrier around the entrance of the tower."

"That's a good idea, Daddy. That way nobody will be able to break in anymore." I say. Daddy nods and brushes my bangs out of my eyes with his good hand.

"Nali, I'm proud of you. Thank you for defending me. That man took me off guard and might have killed me if it weren't for you." He says. I smile and nod.

"You're welcome. Daddy, can we please go back to the fortress now? Thank you for bringing me, despite everything that happened." Daddy nods and teleports us back.

A/N: Okay, so a few things:

Ganondorf is getting Andalee out of trouble at school to get closer to Nalissa because he knows she's her friend. Secondly, this (according to me) is why he puts that barrier that Link needs to break over the tower and also why the tower is over a pool of lava…so people can't break in anymore. And the reason he says there's barriers that they can't get to on foot is because he doesn't want Nali to see the ReDeads and destroyed houses around Castle Town (which if you remember she saw in "Buried In The Desert Sands") and doesn't want her to become disturbed and see all the skeletons outside of the tower.

And I got the names Andalee, Melani, Nadhiyah, Nadhirrah, and Pinar from this website: http:// www. bdancer . com / med-guide /names/ fnames. html…it has Middle Eastern names. I thought Middle Eastern names would be pretty on Gerudos since they're technically like some type of Middle Eastern themselves. The name Belina I just made up.

Remember to drop in and leave a review! =]

~Green Eyed Gerudo