Author's Note: Thank-you to the Guest for reviewing, and to all of the rates that this story has gotten. It really makes me proud of this little story that I have here, so I thank you all from the bottom of my heart!

Extra Note: Oh, and if you want something to do while I am writing the next chapter that it to do with this story, then you can check out Chapter 1 because I have made it lots better than before. I will get the others done in the future, but that is the one that I have done properly right now. I'd love to hear what you think.

"It is in moments of decision that your destiny is shaped."

~Tony Robbins~

Shards of Time

An Ocarina of Time FanFiction

Act II: Seven

Chapter 16: Duty

~Ciren~

"Why do we have to tuck ourselves away so much in Kakariko Village?" Link asks from opposite me, placing his elbows on the table and glancing around the dark room. We could have hidden in places far worse, but we opted to hide away in an underground passageway in Impa's home that Sheik had guided us to, explaining that it was unknown to the villagers and therefore safe for us to use. "I thought that this place was secured well enough." I pull out the chair and sit down.

On the other side of the small room, Sheik continues to light candles with his magic, revealing the numerous drawings and paintings that Impa had set onto the walls that aided her in her research on not only the legends of the Triforce, but everything from the Ocarina of Time to the uses of certain Sheikah items. I can't say that she wasn't prepared, and it is strange to think that her research has taken her far from the village, however she has left all of this for us specifically too.

"Because," I sigh. "I may have gained the trust of most of the Villagers here, but I don't want to bring the trouble here. Not after all that we did to secure it." After I had been found and healed, I was there to retake my scimitars once again and fight to protect the only part of Hyrule that hadn't been plagued with the King's mark: Kakariko Village. Most died here, whether they be Goron, Hylian, or otherwise, leaving us with an empty Village with little supplies to get on with.

To my side, Sheik nods, taking a seat and also placing his elbows on the table, something that he wouldn't do when I had first met him. "Yes, Kakariko Village is only area left that has not been constantly attacked by Ganondorf's minions, as the Sage here has disappeared." A glimmer of sorrow crosses over his eyes, as if he knows something that we don't, a concept that he has kept over the past seven years that I have known him. "In order to keep this Village safe, we must lower all commotion possible."

Navi flutters about over her partners head, her light casting distorted shadows all over the room. "But there must be a way to take back the other parts of Hyrule, right?" She blurts out through the silence, zipping back to rest on the table with renewed hope. "Rauru told us about Sages that need to be awakened, and that will help us to defeat Ganondorf. You told us where they are, so shouldn't we split up and find them?"

A smile tugs at my lips. I guess I had missed that passion from Navi, even if I am the one to make it short lived. "Yeah, you should. Sheik said that he told you where the Sages are, so finding them will not only restore peace to the areas in which they reside in, but also increase the power of the resistance against Ganondorf. The first Sage is known to be in the South Eastern Forests, so you should head there."

With my careful word choice, I know that no one who see the true meaning behind them. However, it seems that seven years has altered Link's ability to read into people, and he notices that something is wrong. "So where will you go then?" He asks calmly, knowingly as he straightens.

I resist rolling my eyes, rising onto my feet and beginning to pace a little. "You are the Hero of Time, right? It's your duty to protect the land of Hyrule, which means going after the Sages in order to defeat whatever tyranny is plaguing this world." I halt, then meet his gaze evenly. "You are the Hero of Time, not me. I have a duty of my own, and that is to bring my Sisters back into the light so that we can then help to dethrone the King from Hyrule."

He raises a brow at me, hands twitching. "So, you waited all of this time just to leave us? Don't you want to come with us?"

"I am still helping you, Link, but I'm doing what is my duty." I frown deeply, shrugging. "After all, you certainly took your damn time, didn't you?"

"Do you think that I wanted to stay away from everything, from you, for seven years?" He immediately retorts. "Do you honestly think that I am happy about this? Yes, I'm the Hero, but that doesn't automatically make me want to dance around because of it. I don't want to do this, but if I have to then I want to do it with people that I care about. Did it not cross your mind that you were my friend?"

I grit my teeth. "Yes. Every day over the past seven years I have been wondering where my friend was, but it isn't about that. I think of you and Navi and friends, yes, but that can't jeopardise the fact that I still need to free my Sisters." I pause for a moment, avoiding their thick gazes for a minute before continuing. "None of you grew up in the Valley, so you don't understand what the Gerudo are like. They are my family, and I can't give up on them."

"But you won't be giving up on them if you come with us." Navi adds, flying forwards to hover before me. "There is a Sage in the Valley, Ciren. No matter what our duties are, we will all cross through the Valley at some point in order to defeat Ganondorf. Either way, we both have the same overall goal, and we will all go to the Valley at some point."

I take a step away from the Guardian Fairy, shaking my head lightly. I understand what their intentions, yet I know that their intents and mine do not combine at the right points. Yes, we all want to defeat Ganondorf, and we will all arrive in the Valley at some point, but that is not the same. I am not a part of Link's destiny, not Navi's, not even Sheik's, I have my own destiny and there is no one who will stop it.

Through this pregnant silence, it is Sheik who speaks up. He has watched contently as this argument blossoms, and chooses only at this point to knock everything over the edge. "Don't you have a duty to them?" He questions, boring his blood red eyes into mine. "Isn't it your duty to make sure that their destinies are complete, and that they don't die in the process?"

I slam my palm down onto the table, my eyes burning with sheer anger over a situation that none of then understand. I may have been harmed and cast out by my family, but I swore from birth to protect them from harm. My Sisters, not anyone else. "I have a duty to my Sisters, one that stretches far over what your duties are." I growl, fingers curling up into tight fists as I wave them off. "You are my friends, yes, but I can't help you any more than I all ready have."

"The Sisters who still refuse you." Sheik retorts immediately, clearing not understanding about aggravating the Gerudo folk. "The Sisters who nearly killed you. Are they really worth protecting?"

I breathe one, hard, then lunge at the Sheikah, grabbing his uniform and drawing him out of his seat before releasing him. In the reflection of his eyes, I can see my own glittering with irritation. Navi cries out in the background, although neither her nor Link decide to help Sheik when I am like this. They aren't ignorant like the Sheikah is. "They may refuse me, but I'm not an Exile like you, Sheik. Despite what you might say, I am willing to do whatever to protect who I care about."

He doesn't back down either, pushing away from me with bared teeth as he gestures towards the other two in the room. "And that doesn't include Link, the Hero of Time, nor Navi, his Guardian and your friend?" The two of them choose to say nothing, cautiously rising from their seats in order to move towards us.

"It did." I agree thinly, hands curling into tight fists. "But that was until the Goddesses chose them to do what they needed to do, and chose to guide me onto a separate path. I'm not willing to go against those who created me. Are you, Exile?" I spit out the word, my mind reminding me of the other times when Sheik and I have clashed. However, those times didn't end like this time most likely will: in blood. We may have known each other for many years on end, but this time is different. He doesn't bring up my Sisters, and he only is now because he doesn't have a decent argument to use.

There's a lone pause before he answers. "Never." He pauses again, and I notice another glint in his eyes. I don't know why I am getting so worked up over what Sheik is saying, because he is merely pushing what Link and Navi have been saying for the past few minutes. And yet, it isn't long before I realise why he is pushing this so much: because he has not had the courage to say it before. "But I'm not the only one whose an Exile, am I?"

I leap at him.

My battle cry isn't recognised before I have decreased the gap between Sheik and I, thrusting my fist across his jaw without hesitation. He recoils from the shock, grabbing onto me and sending us both down onto the ground. On the outset of the fight, the Sheikah does all that he can to protect himself from the many wild punches that I throw at him, though it doesn't take him long before he chooses to fight back. Grasping my wrists tightly, he rolls over so that my back hits the wooden floor hard, leaning in close to me.

"You're scared." He hisses as I thrash about, wishing that I hadn't left my weapons on the other side of the room like I have done. My eyes widen at such an accusation, causing me to fight just as hard as usual. We roll again, and one of us hits the table, the force of such an action knocking the furniture so much that one of the books on there goes flying, a few metal mugs crashing to the ground just as loudly. I am on top of him again, pinning his legs down.

"Scared?" I scoff harshly, although he manages to hit me once in the stomach so that he can prevail for a moment. I add my arguments as we continue to fight. "You are the one who has refused to go into the proper battles with me, who has refused to go out into the open for too long for unknown reasons. At least I am willing to follow my destiny, not fight it!"

"At least I use the brain that I have to plan out what future attacks will go ahead instead of going alone. That's why you don't want to go with them, not because of your blasted "duties" and damn "destiny", but because you want to take what victory you can for yourself. You are an arrogant, ignorant fool who doesn't know when they may actually need help, or when they should actually be a friend for those who care about them."

I move for a retort, easily managing to finally keep him down, realising that not only is his nose bleeding and swollen, but a cut from a swing to my cheek is bleeding onto his face. It doesn't matter, however, because I am dragged to my feet and held by my arms before I can knock some of his teeth out to match his broken nose. Navi flies onto Sheik's shoulder, whispering something about blinding him with her light if he goes at me again, but is checking his injuries too.

I try and fight whoever hold me, yet it doesn't take long before Link throws me against the wall to make sure that I don't wrestle out of his grasp. He stares me down for a long time until the adrenaline starts to seep out of my system, causing my movements to weaken. As soon as he is sure that I won't attack the Sheikah again, he releases his grip on me. "I—" He waves me off before I can even finish saying the first word, turning away and grabbing his weapons that once rested against the table leg, now such holy weapons knocked to the ground.

He dumps everything on the table, then moves towards the door. "I'll go and find... Potions." He mutters the last part, pulling the door to as he leaves. I know that he wants air, or to just be alone, because he hasn't taken any money to pay for said Potions. I stare intently at the slightly ajar door, shoulders slumping forwards as a wave of guilt falls over me. And yet, before I can turn around to say something to Sheik, Navi rises into the air, her glow flaltering.

"I hope that you two are happy." She growls, and I can't help but feel surprised at her tone. I haven't heard it on her before, and it honestly doesn't fit such a happy go lucky sprite. "The only one who should be acting like a child here is Link, and that's because he is a child in an adult's body. But it seems that he is the only one who is acting anything like an adult here." She huffs loudly, though there is another emotion locked behind her words.

Sheik gets to his feet, eyes soft. "Navi..."

"Don't." She all but hisses in reply. "You've had each other and the people of Hyrule for the past seven years, even if you haven't always got alone. He was alone, and the first time that he actually has people around they're going at each other's throats over petty words." She floats in the direction of the door, and I reach out to stop her, yet my hand twitches and freezes in place as her light is engulfed by the late afternoon light. I sigh, letting my skull fall against the wall.

Sheik shuffles towards the exit too, however he stops in front of me, watching me for a while. When I ask him why he is still here, his response is simple. "I'm not apologising, but I am willing to withstand everything until Ganondorf is defeated. What say you?" I stay silent, casting my eyes to the ceiling instead of towards him. He sighs deeply, tying his throwing knives back onto his side now that he isn't sitting down. He goes to say something, then walks out, unable to muster the will to say it.

As soon as the door shuts, I whirl around and punch the wall hard, sagging against the cracked wall with pent up anger. My head thuds against the wall as my knuckles burn in pain, but it doesn't even register. "He was alone, and the first time that he actually has people around they're going at each other's throats over petty words." I hit the wall again, this time imprinting my blood into the plaster, breathing hard. Before I can help to demolish the building entirely, I grab my scimitar and surge outside in the direction of Hyrule Field for something to kill.


Long after the sun has set, I return to the Village and conduct my usual rounds of watch across the Village before taking my leave, planting myself on the same swing that I had perched on before we had set off in search of the Spiritual Stone of Fire. Despite the flurries of commotion and large battle not long after Ganondorf had entered the Sacred Realm, it has still managed to stay attached to the swing. Granted, it has been battered and broken, and it has fallen off many times, though I am the one to return it.

"So, it went perfectly as planned, huh?" With a raised eyebrow, and twist my body to meet the oncoming figure, exhaling deeply and twisting my body so that my back rests against the frayed rope holding me in place. Kaei rests against the tree, crossing his arms and watching me intently. No one speaks for a long time, the birds serenading their young to sleep lulling me a little, mostly because I have nearly forgotten what the Valley sounds like any more. "You wanna talk about it?"

Ever since Ganondorf had taken over Hyrule and I had set up shelter here with those like Sheik, Kaei has grown to live with my presence and come to terms with the fact that I am attempting to take down my own King. He has helped me when I wanted to give up on whatever I had, and I would try my hardest to return the favour in kind. Why I would be quick to question why he had done all of this for me, I immediately recall the day that I almost walked to my death.

"I wish that you hadn't saved me." I mutter, crossing my arms too and bowing my head. It was Kaei who saw my battle with Ganondorf, and something in him saw that I was telling the truth all along, and then compelled him to help me. I don't understand his sudden change in heart, and his responses to it are always cryptic, but I took whatever company I could for those seven isolated years. We aren't the best of friends, but we aren't going at each other's necks like Sheik and I had done.

He's the only one who I haven't hurt, yet.

He shakes his head and gestures to the swing, making me form a space for him to sit on. After another long silence, he speaks up. "Sheik told me what happened." He starts awkwardly as I focus on my feet, not wanting to talk. "He isn't mad at you, nor is the Hero, I don't think so anyway from how it sounded. It's just you who has refused to say anything about it, and that's not like you."

"No, but beating the living Hell out of a bunch of Wolfos is."

He breathes out a laugh. "I suppose that's true." Kaei suddenly turns to me, red eyes boring into mine. "Why aren't you going with them? Surely, after all that you guys did together seven years ago, you wouldn't object to doing so again, especially when you have the chance to defeat your King in the process." I shake my head silently, saying nothing, not wanting him to get to the heart of everything that will end up looking petty in his eyes. Not that I would care, but this isn't the same when you've been alone for your entire life.

"I've all ready said, my duties—"

"To Hell with that." He snaps, surprising me as he grabs my shoulder suddenly. "You know that you aren't speaking the truth when you say that, and we all know it." He stares me down, then adds: "Why?"

I narrow my eyes. "I..." My voices dies in my throat, however, as if my mind is agreeing with him. I glance down at the swaying grass at our feet for a moment, pushing the swing once before breathing deeply. "What we did seven years ago was done because we didn't know any better, but now we do." I reply thinly, not daring to elaborate.

"And?" Kaei presses, not understanding that I don't want to talk.

Something inside me, on the other hand, forces me to speak. "No matter what happens, no one can trust the Gerudo." I say finally. "If Ganondorf is defeated in the end, then the people, even those who actually trust me, will fall back onto opinions of the Great War and push us back to the Valley, and the same will happen if Ganondorf isn't defeated. Link doesn't understand that no matter what happens in this fight, then there's no point in developing a full relationship that will die when the Hylians push us out, or massacre us all because of Ganondorf."

Silence proceeds to whisk my words up and into the air, and neither of us choose to speak. When Kaei begins to chuckle, however, I whirl around with a wild expression. I am about to yell at him for being so insensitive, no matter what I am like myself, yet he replies before I can do anything to him. "Then why don't you spend what time you can with the people that you love, or at least explain why you are so reluctant to follow them." I watch him, not understanding his meaning. "We aren't Gerudo, Ciren, and aren't ones to suck everything up and retaliate with our blades."

"We—!"

"Hey." He smiles gently at me, holding up my slightly bloody hand that I didn't bother to tend to. "If we win this fight and the Gerudo promise that they will try and prevent such a thing happening again, time will prompt forgiveness. There's a slim chance that there will be an exile among Sheikah and Gerudo, and even if there is that on the horizon, then you should spend whatever time you have actually enjoying the life that you have instead of cowering away from it. Do you really want Ganondorf to take over your life in this way?"

I open my mouth to respond straight away, although I tilt my head when my mind goes completely blank. Farore forbid that I may actually agree with Kaei, but I do feel compelled to.

At last I exhale. "Goddesses above, why was I cursed to sound so much like a Hylian?"

He laughs lightly, shoving me a little. "Someone had to stop you before it got too far." His smile drops a little, his tone becoming a little more serious. "But honestly, you have every right to feel how you do. I suppose it's rather admirable for you to try and protect their feelings like that, but aren't Gerudo supposed to be a little selfish?"

I glare at him, though I can't surpress a smile. "Shut up, you stupid Sheikah." I rise onto my feet as the swing sways into a halt, leaving Kaei to shift his weight so that he can sit properly on the swing now. I adjust my scimitars at my sides, then begin to leave. Before I can get too far, I turn back around, noting how Kaei has been watching me all the way. "Kaei?" He raises a brow at me, and I roll my eyes. "Thanks. I suppose Exiles can have heart."

"Then I'll be waiting to see yours." He grins as I playfully draw my scimitars, but I laugh and sheathe them, finally leaving his side.

Maybe the Sheikah have more sense than I had first believed.


I rise with the dawn of the new day, Kaei's words still heavily influencing me. After I had returned last night, there was a quiet exchange during our meal, then we all retired early to our chambers. While I refused to show that I was tiring a little from everything that was going on, I lay in bed for numerous hours, constantly staring at the ceiling without being able to sleep. By the time that I had fallen out of the waking world, my rest was restless and nowhere near peaceful.

Nayru cleansed the skies as I performed my rounds of the Village once more, then proceeding to sharpen my scimitars on one of the balconies until the signs of Link leaving catch my eyes. In all honesty, it takes a minimun of an hour before any signs appear, and there is only so much time that you can dedicate to your weapons before it drags; no matter what you are told.

Nonetheless, I finally leave my spot from high up when I see Link and Kaei conversing at the entrance to the Village. Tying my blades to either of my sides as I go, I walk casually over towards them, not catching their attentions until I clear my throat loudly. The two boys turn to me, only Link surprised at my presence. I smirk at him, placing one hand on my hip. "Room for one more?" He watches me for a moment, confused, then realises what I have said and smiles.

Navi flies out into the open, smiling a little as she remarks: "I thought that you were sure on staying here."

I shrug. "I realised that I didn't want to miss out on the action." Kaei passes me an expectant look after I finish, causing me to sigh deeply. "And someone made me remember what I had forgotten long after you had been sealed away." Link moves to ask more questions, most likely because the Sheikah's cryptic nature has rubbed up on me, but I pull away some leather ties on my back and hand him an item too. "I have a feeling that you may be needing this too."

He takes the item very much like a peace offering, studying it tenderly. I had known Dampé for a long time after we had secured Kakariko Village, and had left me his "Hookshot" after he passed away. Very few actually talked to him, but it seems that little children and Gerudo women are the only ones who weren't scared of his apperance. It was his most trusted item, and one of the few left. He never had any family to have possessions with or for, though he did slip that his wife had passed away nearly a decade ago. I was one of his only friends.

The arrow shaped hook at the end of the item can be shot out into the distance, and has the ability to lodge into many types of surfaces. As long as you hold onto the handle at the base, it can recoil and carry you to in the direction of the surface with the large chain that it has. I give up on explaining it all to Link, waving off concerns by resolving to show him later.

"Well," Kaei notes when I return with Luz, realising that Epona is not here. "I guess that Kakariko will be a lot quieter without any of you lot here, but it's not like you were going to be rejected, huh, Ciren?" I shake my head, but don't reply in any way. "Hey, Link, didn't you have a horse too?"

Link shrugs himself, holding up the Ocarina of Time, something that I had forgotten he had. "She won't respond, and she always does to her song. I guess I'll have to see Malon again at some point to see where she may be." He turns to me. "Are you sure that you're coming this time?" I swat his arm, but agree nonetheless as I mount Luz, helping him onto my stallion. "We should have all the supplies that we need, enough for a week at the very least."

I silently agree and tug on Luz's reigns, who releases a joyful sound at what is happening. Smiling, we bid Kaei one last farewell before guiding Luz towards the steps. I notice Sheik watching from one of the rooftops, and I salute to him good naturedly, thinking back onto what he had mentioned to me after the fight. He does nothing in response, though Navi snaps my attention onto her when she hovers in front of me. "Ciren..." I raise an eyebrow at her, realising that she is smiling wholeheartedly. "It's good to have you back."

I grin triumphantly in response, breaking out into Hyrule Field. After Navi returns into her hiding spot, the rest of the journey is rather silent. We choose not to stop and rest, wanting to get as close to Kokiri Forest as possible, riding even after the sun has set in order to reach the edge of the Forest. The monster activity has increased over the past seven years, although are still easy to care of from a distance because they are so low level.

Nonetheless, we manage to reach the entrance to Kokiri Forest a few hours after nightfall, releasing Luz back into the wild knowing that he will return to Kakakriko Village and be able to fend off any monsters that attack him on the way. I trust him, only because very few Stalchildren choose to attack animals, and Luz is more than capable of destroying whatever attempts to harm him. Watching his figure disappear over the hoizon, I readjust my bags and draw my scimitars.

"Wait." I turn on Navi when both Link and I try to enter Kokiri Forest, perplexed. "May I just note the fact that I am the only one who is of true Kokiri blood here. We don't know what will happen when the both of you step in there." I immediately start to retort, however I come to terms with the fact that she's right. Link isn't a Kokiri, as we established seven years ago, and I am a Gerudo, the farthest away from the a Kokiri possible. After a pause, I wave off her concerns, the Gerudo blood coming out in me.

"Link was bought up in the Forest, and the force around here will probably recognise him, right? As for me... well, let's just hope that I stay close enough to you two so that this force understands that I'm not here to burn down the Forest." Without hesitation, I march towards the Forest entrance, scimitars gleaming in the glowing sun as the mass of greenery begin to blot out the blood red sunlight. I don't feel the fear as I brush away the large curtain of willow that drapes over the entrance.

What's the worst that could happen?