"No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk our own paths."

~Buddha~

Shards Of Time

An Ocarina of Time FanFiction

Chapter 4: Agasajar

"Ciren! Ciren, come on, get up!" Not Nisah again... I groan and roll over, determined to let my body go back to bed. I smirk a little as I am shaken again, understanding that Nisah is growing more and more annoyed the longer that I don't wake up. "Come on, Ciren! We've only got a few hours to get ready!" My whole body aches in pain, and my eyes feel so heavy that I can't even muster the strength to open them. It's almost like I have been going all across the Desert last night.

Then I realise: I have.

I blink open my eyes and twist back around, locking onto Izia, not Nisah, attempting to wake me up. "What's going on?" I wonder groggily, rubbing life back into my face successfully. When I suddenly conclude what must have gone on, I almost whack my head off of the top bunk of the bed for a second time in two days. "Have I missed my duties?" She shakes her head, a grin forming on her features as she shakes me back and forth, making sure that I am fully awake before explaining.

"Have you not heard? The whole Fortress is talking about it!" She notices my blank look and rolls her eyes. "I wouldn't have expected anything more than you, Ciren. The King is having a Agasajar with the entire Fortress today at sundown. Everyone gets out of their duties to do it, so it doesn't matter if you were going to miss duties anyway, because they don't matter today."

A Feast, known more so in our culture as an Agasajar, was something that the modern day Gerudo had bought into existence. I had heard my Sisters disussing such a prospect yesterday, but after the King had been caught in the Spirit Temple, I wouldn't have been surprised if it had been stopped. Our sort of Agasajars are incredibly different to the other sort of Feasts that, say, the Zoras have. The Hylians have very formal Feasts, mainly with family, as do the Gorons, though theirs are apparently less formal, and the Zoras are completely formal without much of the family aspect.

But the Gerudo Agasajars are different.

We usually hold it in the Horseback Archery Range, as there is more room there, building a massive bonfire on the far end and pushing back all of the targets for extra space. We usually have dances around the bonfire at the far end, and roast numerous types of meat on another fire on the opposite end. Incense is burnt a lot of the time too, depending on whether it is the rainy season or not, and we just care more about bonding between each other over the actual food that we have.

This is the best aspect of the Gerudo lifestyle, in my opinion, as we're mainly one big family and this is the largest symbol of this other than our decleration to care for our Sisters. No matter what arguements and fights that could break out then, we still care for each other; much like the Gorons. Through my daze of thought, Izia has me on my feet and carries on with her excitement, only to halt when she sees something on me. I break free from the daze to watch her with a raised brow. "What's wrong?"

"You're still in your uniform." My eyes widen as I lower my eyes. Crap. Thankfully, she doesn't seem to want to question me about it. "You'll have to come and clean it with the rest of the Gerudo in the pools at the top of the Valley." She grabs a brush from the top of my bedside table and throws it at me. I barely catch it. "Just wake up Nisah and brush your hair. You look like you've gone through the Wasteland or something..." On this, she simply skips out of the room, leaving me alone one more without questioning anything.

And yet, I can't think about why she didn't ask me, because all I can think is: What's he planning? I run my fingers idily through my hair, feeling that it must have come undone in the night, yet is incredibly messy. Dragging the brush unceremoniously through my hair, I clamber up onto the second bunk and stick my face night in front of Nisah's sleeping one. She seems incredibly calm and peaceful, though tired after all that we had done last night. Feeling a little bad for waking her up, I take one deep breath before shouting: "It's time to wake up, sunshine!"

Her eyes snap open and she screeches, almost falling off of the bed at the sight of me right in her face. I grab onto her arm before she can do that, though, laughing uncontrallably and thankful that everyone else is all. I'm not all evil, I suppose, but I deserve some payback after how Nisah has treated me when it comes to waking up too late in the morning. Her yellow embers flare into fire, and she narrows her eyes at me as she removes my hand from her arm. "Ciren, what the Hell was that for?!"

"Nothing much, well..." I add before she can retort anything. "Izia told me to wake you up, as our duties have been cut short today. Even if he was caught, the King is still hosting the Agasajar tonight for the entire Fortress, and I have a bad feeling that he's hiding something. After what the Witches had said, and all." Her anger fades a little, and she sits upright as she rubs the sleep from her eyes, and she remembers everything that had happened last night. After a pregnant silence, she points in my face.

"Well, you didn't have to scream in my face, for the love of Nayru."

My grin doesn't fade as she slips off of the bed and gets changed. "Still, we've been called to the pools at the edge of the Valley. Izia said that most of the Gerudo were there, and I don't want to be the one who doesn't go now that we were almost caught last night. We didn't see Nabooru or Xallia, and I don't want us to feel the repercussions of it. She nods as she rips off her uniform and swaps it out for a cleaner one. Noting her hair, I stuff the brush into her hands and leap off of the bed and move a few chests around from underneath my bed to find a small wooden chest under a pile of unused clothes.

I grab the key from in the pile of clothes and open up the chest while Nisah clatters about trying to find some clothes more decent than the ones from last night for the Agasajar, ones which are not torn and filled with dust. I rummage past my old Hierba uniform and pull out another Purpura uniform made for special occasions, when there are any. The uniform is embroidered with gold around the edges of the cloth, moving around the material in tiny swirls and other designs.

Even though it has been in the chest for Din knows how long, I might as well clean it, just in case. "You all done in there?" I hear Nisah call from the other side of my bed. I lift my thumb up into the air and am about to lock the chest when I notice something. Mixed in with the bundle of clothes within the chest is a small, bronze locket. I drop my uniform and pick it out of the chest, the Gerudo symbol carved into the outside of the locket and a couple of beads threaded off of the bottom of it; the beads green, purple, red and white for each of the levels in our society.

My Mother, who I know nothing of, apparently wore this a lot. Nabooru kept it when my Mother died to pass onto me, but I don't know any other part of my family history; not even who my father is. That's how our tribe grows, though, with little care for who our parents were as we are all Sisters. "I'm coming, Nisah." With a deep sigh, I tie the locket around my neck for the first time in forever and get onto my feet. "We better head over to the pools before they all get filled up." With a silent nod, Nisah watches the locket around my neck as we go; holding her uniform decorated with silver thread.

Clutching the necklace tightly, I can't help but think to myself: I wish I knew you, Mother...


~Interlude~

Link pushed myself up from the floor, swearing an oath as he held my head tightly. It wasn't even that bad of a nightmare, honestly, and yet he had thrown himself out of his bed in his sleep and was shaking all over. It wasn't the fact that the dream had scared him, but the dream had been repeating itself over and over like a bad omen. As Link sat himself up, he did not notice as a sphere of light shot into his room until it was right in his face. "Hey, snap out of it! The Deku Tree's in trouble!"

Link struggled to his feet as the light zipped away in a hurry, searching around for the random voice. Who, in their right mind, would walk straight into a person's house just to wake them up? Link, irritated, crossed his arms with a huff. "Mido... for the love of Nayru. If this is you again, then I've all ready had enough!" He stepped forwards, only to leap backwards in fright when the bright light suddenly jumped in front of his face again; startling the living daylights out of him.

He crashed loudly into my bed, sending random things into the air without any warning. Numerous wooden objects and pieces of paper fell around him, and he rested the back of my head against the messed up bed sheets as he swore yet another oath into the air. "Goddesses. I never knew the Kokiri were scared so easily..." He snapped his head up, eyes widening at what he found. A twinkling ball of light hovered in the air, the figure through the light watching him intently.

"What the...?"

The Fairy, it seemed, stuck her tiny hand out towards Link, smiling happily. "I'm Navi, your Guardian Fairy. Like a "Navi"-gator." "She giggled at her own joke. "You need to come with me before the Great Deku Tree can't pass on his message to you." He cautiously held my finger out towards her, poking her entire torso instead of shaking her hand that was the size of an eyelash. He was struggling to comprehend was was going on. "From what I can sense, your name is Link. Right?"

"Y-You're my Guardian Fairy..." He breathed out softly, lost in a daze of shock and excitement. "I actually have a Guardian Fairy!" In a daze of joy, he pushed himself up from the floor, happiness bubbling within him as he completely forget what Navi had told me; racing outside. "Oh, wait until Mido hears—"

Just before he reached the door, however, his new Guardian Fairy was in his face again, looking rather irritated. "Look, I know this may be something amazing for you, especially since you have me of all Fairies, but didn't you hear what I just said?" He stared blankly at her, forgetting, and she smacked his nose lightly. "The Great Deku Tree is dying, and you're the only one who can help him!" As the news finally sunk in, Link's mouth dropped in sheer shock, realisation dawning on him.

"W-What's happened?!"

"The plants are withering!" Came a screech from outside.

Navi turns to the voice, then back to me. "Here's the thing." She explained softly. "A parasite has made its way into the Great Deku Tree and poisoned him. He doesn't have much time left, and—hey, listen, wait!" But Link was all ready gone, racing across the greenery of the Forest, the grass withering completely with every step that he took. Navi, who he still couldn't believe was at his side, flew beside him in a blue streak of light; panicking.

He could hear the footsteps of the other Kokiri behind him as Link finally broke into the Great Deku Tree's Glade, catching himself when he tripped over a small tree root sticking out of the ground. He collided with the massive Tree harshly, tears already threatening to fall. "Great Deku Tree!" He cried out. "Please talk to me! What's happened to you?!"

"Evil gains strength over this land once more, child, and many are affected by it." Link looked up as his eyes slid open, Navi resting on his shoulder as she tried her hardest to quell her own tears. "Thy slumber has been restless, and thou has been infected with the evil aroused by numerous desires. Thy courage needs to be tested... I need you to break the curse from inside of myself with your wisdom and courage."

He shuffled back a few steps, feeling almost frozen with fear. "I-I'll do anything, Great Deku Tree, but... how do I break the curse?"

A single tear slipped from his eye as two green orbs appear in front of him, slightly larger than Navi herself, and transformed into a wooden shield, the symbol of the Kokiri painted in red across the front of it, and the legendary Kokiri Sword. Link took them both into his hands, the items feeling alien in his palm, although comfortable too. The Great Deku Tree's mouth suddenly dropped open with a blood-chilling creak, the cries of the Kokiri behind Link growing louder by the minute. "Then enter, brave Link. And thou too Navi to aid Link in his quest. I believe in you, Link..."

The Tree's eyes slipped shut once more, and Link couldn't fight back the urge to cry; not even a little. His hands shook violently as he forced his stiff limbs forwards, Navi not bothering to stop her crying either. "Hey!" He spun around, almost sending Navi off of his shoulder with a cry, watching as Mido unceremoniously shoved his friends out of the way to get to Link. "How the Hell did you get those?! I, the great Mido, will not stand for a cry baby like you to try and be better than your Superior!"

"I... I need to go, Mido." Link clarified softly as he began to back-pedal. "The Great Deku Tree is cursed, and he wants me to save him."

He whirled around and bolted, Navi clutching onto his tunic before she fells off, only for Mido to soon fall in step with him. "Then I'm not letting you take all of the glory in saving the day like the Hero you aren't!" He shoved Link brutally, almost forcing him onto the ground, and attempted to grab the Kokiri Sword. Link barely managed to fight him off as they entered the darkness of the Tree, Navi being their only source of light along with the outside world.

"Be careful!" Is the last thing they heard from someone before the Great Deku Tree's mouth suddenly closed, Navi now truly being our only true source of light. Link took a deep breath and tighten his hold on the small blade, Navi bravely flying outwards to light the way deeper into the great Tree. The Great Deku Tree is withering like all of the plants, and I will do what it takes to save him and show Mido that I'm better than what he'll ever be!


~Ciren~

I laugh as Nisah spins me around again, sending me completely dizzy and almost into the fire they created a few hours ago. She, herself, stumbles from the dizziness too, narrowly avoiding colliding with a Coraje. I drag her away from the bonfire and sit down with her, trying to get rid of the stupid light-headedness so we can get back up and dance until our feet burst. "Oh Din, I've missed this." I breathe out with a laugh, both of us laughing louder when a drunk Hierba begins flirting with a crate. "Especially drunk people..."

"We totally have to try some of it!" Nisah exclaims happily without hesitation, pointing at the Hierba and clutching her stomach from her fit of giggles. A broad smiles fills my complexion as Nisah rises onto her feet. "Come on, let's go and find some!"

I hold my hands up, unable to surpress my grin. "As much as I'd like to see what I could do while drunk, I would rather see you drunk and be conscious by the end of the feast." She mutters something under her breath that I don't hear, though doesn't take the matter further. I soon lose her in the crowd of Gerudo as she sprints off to find herself a drink, and I rest my back against the wall with a sigh. The host of the Agasajar hasn't actually arrived yet, presumably back at the Spirit Temple.

That alone sparks an icy worry in the pit of my stomach.

And yet, a few minutes later, I see Nabooru of the Coraje making her way through the crowd in order to meet me. I freeze up, feeling like I have been caught as she finally stops in front of me, dominating height a little concerning. In the distance, I can hear another running towards me as well. "Hey, Ciren, I found us the drinks. I don't care what you said, you really need to—" She halts immediately when she sees Nabooru staring me down, though carries on as if nothing has happened; acting, of course. "Coraje."

"I require your presence here too, Purpura, without either of you drunk." On instinct, Nisah lowers herself to place the drinks on the ground, uncaring if they fall over now. She stands at my side as Nabooru goes straight to the point. "Now, the both of you were caught last night not only trespassing, but also riding through the Haunted Wasteland and entering the Spirit Temple for unknown reasons underage. This matter will not go any further if you admit whose idea it was, and there will be a punishment before nothing else is done. What say you?"

Nisah, swallowing thickly under the Coraje's eyes, knows what she must do. "Coraje, I—"

"It was all me." I step in with hesitation, catching both of their attention's. Nabooru disapproves, while my fellow Purpura stands there in shock. I haven't planned what I am saying, so I allow my tongue to move in the way that it chooses to. "I was the one who manipulated my Sister into following me out into the Temple. Curiousity had overwhelmed me after being caught by you and Xallia of the Coraje yesterday, and for that I will accept any punishment for betraying my fellow Sisters."

Nabooru pauses for a long time, not expecting for me to admit such a thing, then sighs deeply. "Very well, Purpura. For trespassing after hours, you shall take both day and night duties until further notice. For manipulating and placing your Sister into unnecessary harm, you shall recieve three whip lashes to each wrist at the next dawn. And, finally, for entering the Spirit Temple underage, your—"

"Coraje!" Nisah suddenly breaks in, only for regret to shine in her eyes as she realises that she has cut off her superior. She carries on anyway. "I swear that she is lying. It was I who—"

Nabooru holds up a hand, and dread courses through me as Nisah bows her head, stopping herself before she can place herself in my position too. The Coraje turns back to me, and I try my best to stare back at her sternly. "And, finally, for entering the Spirit Temple underage, your Carmesi Trial shall be postponed by eighteen months when you come of age, and any Trial taken after this shall be reviewed negatively because of this and the concept of manipulating another underage to go with you." She pauses again, clenching her fists. "I suggest that you take your leave from the Agasajar with shame."

The Coraje leaves, spinning around and losing herself in the mass of other drunk Gerudo. There's a long time where neither of us speak, we just stare at the ground with anger and confusion. When someone finally speaks, it's Nisah, and she isn't happy. "Why the Hell did you do that?! You know that it was me who made that plan up! Why, on Din's land, would you take that?" I shrug and shake my head, attempting to leave, however she grabs my arm, making sure that her grip is tight enough.

"I was the one that heard. I was the one that told you. I put you in danger and didn't let you stay. It's my burden to bear; alone." I break free of her grip. "Don't come after me." I don't even bother to glance over my shoulder to see what Nisah's expression is, because I hear her take a large swig of her drink and huff loudly, knowing that she would rather drown her anger than take it out on other people. As I pass through the crowd, many try to dance with me, but I angrily push them away, desiring to be alone more than anything.

I watch as the Agasajar goes on, my lips curving downward into an angry scowl as more people ignore the meat roasting upon the roaring fire and move into the dancing side of the Agasajar. As the white hot sun continues its tour of the dusty skies above us, I storm down the strip leading back into the Fortress, hearing one thing in my head as I think back to Nisah, and then to the King who hasn't returned to the Agasajar yet: "Find the King's secrets."

I did, and look where that got me.