It's time for chapter 47, Link has prepared himself for a big announcement, but what could it be, and what could happen as a result of it...?
"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Nabooru asked Link as he stood in front of a mirror, straightening out his red tunic and green pants, and fixing up his hair. Aviel, Nemisa and Halei were also there, Halei having been given permission to attend what was about to transpire.
"Yep, with everything going down with the rebels, I've waited long enough, it's time I finally do what's necessary, so we can start coming together as a town and take action against them." Link said.
"...very well." Nabooru nodded.
"I'm really worried about this," Saria sighed, "But I'll follow you with whatever choice you make Link."
"Yeah, don't worry Link, we got your back!" Aviel nodded.
"Good luck my love." Nemisa said.
Halei said nothing, but just looked down nervously.
With that, Link took a deep breath and started walking out of the palace, towards the front entrance, and stood out on the porch that overlooked the front of the town. He looked down to see all the Gerudo in town were there, having been called over for an announcement by Nabooru's word. Shortly after he arrived in Gerudo Town he would had been intimidated by the many Gerudo before him, but now after having spent so long in town, bonding with the people, he felt a sense of confidence in himself to say what needed to be said.
Nabooru stepped up and cleared her throat, and she spoke out an introduction to their meeting, speaking about various things that had been going on as of late, until she finally decided to get to the subject that Link wanted to address.
"...and now to conclude this announcement, your future king Link has something he'd like to say to you all!" Nabooru said, as she allowed Link to step up.
As Link did, the cheers and squeals and applause of many of the Gerudo women broke out in enthusiasm for the man they had accepted as their king-to-be. He could hear some whistling, as well as some marriage proposals, or even just some asking for him to give them a child to bear. It filled Link in that moment with a sense of pride and warmth, and he felt more ready then ever to speak.
"Citizens of Gerudo Town!" Link started, "It's been a year since the day I first came here, and while I think I got off on the wrong foot with you, time has allowed me to get to know and understand you all, and with the aide of Lady Nabooru I've learned a lot about you and your lives. In this time we're strengthened and grown from those dark times you once faced thanks to the banishment, and we will soon reach a great and prosperous future!"
He gulped and cleared his voice a little, "As such, I feel it's time I make my official announcement; In the time I've spent here, I feel I've grown to love and care about this place, and it's people, and I understand what must be done so that we can reach that prosperous time. So as of today, I would like to officially say..."
He stood tall and spoke out the words everyone had been waiting for.
"I'm ready to accept my role as the new King of the Gerudo."
With that, the crowd cheered out wildly, Nabooru smiled and nodded, while Aviel was dancing around Nemisa and Saria waving her bird wings happily. Halei just stayed in the back silently.
"...however!" Link shouted, raising out his hand, silencing the crowd, "There is another thing that I need to speak about. I may not have much experience in royalty, but I feel one of the most important things about being a ruler is trust with the people, and so I think there's something you all need to know about who I am and what I have done."
As the crowd murmured to themselves about what Link was talking about.
It was then Halei's rabbit hood ears twitched as she spoke out to Link in a panic, "Wait, King Link! Please, you don't need to say tha-"
"It's okay..." Link whispered, "Before they can accept me as their king, I need to set things straight with them."
"Don't worry Halei." Nabooru whispered as well, "He's got this."
Halei looked worried, but nodded, her bunny ears flopping up and down as she did.
Link took another deep breath, then spoke out, "The truth is, eight years ago when I was ten, I came to learn about the previous Gerudo King Ganondorf's plan to launch an attack on Hyrule Castle, and steal the sacred power protected by the royal family. I couldn't allow that to happen, and I reported it to the royals so that Ganondorf could be stopped."
The crowd gasped out, talking wildly among each other, but Link continued and their talking was quickly silenced.
"After that, I had gone on a seven year journey to find something important to me... and after that I came back here to Hyrule to see to a promise made between me and Lady Nabooru, and it was then I came to learn of the terrible tragedy that happened to your people..." he paused, "...because of what I had done."
The crowd continued to speak among each other about this news, and some of it didn't go unheard by Link.
"So it was the king who arrested King Ganondorf...?"
"It can't be..."
"What does this mean?"
"Did King Link capture King Ganondorf to steal his power?"
"Could he be in cahoots with the royal family?!"
"That bastard!"
"So wait, King Ganondorf was trying to do something like that...?"
"Could that be what he was talking about before...?"
"Yeah, King Link saved Hyrule by capturing him!"
"Who's Falcondorf, mommy?"
"But still, my sister died because of..."
"I'll never forgive that man!"
"Please everyone, settle down!" Nemisa called out, quieting down the people, "Go on Link."
Link nodded and continued to speak, "While I may not have been here to find out what happened, I can't deny that I had an involvement in the war between the Gerudo and Hyrule. I don't know if I could ever forgive myself for what has happened to all of you, but I do know I intend to continue to do what's needed to set things right."
Saria herself just looked on in awe of how mature Link had become in this time, as he spoke out to the Gerudo, admitting to what he had inadvertently done.
"As your king, I intend to put an end to the Ebony Sisterhood's rebellion, but rather then just punish them, I also want to allow them the opportunity to join us in our society. I also plan to seek an audience with the parliament of Hyrule Castle, so we can abolish the Gerudo Banishment Law, and allow all of you the chance to live freely as I feel you all have earned the right to do, through your hard work and reform from the old ways of the Gerudo."
He spoke a little more nervously in that moment.
"H-However, I also know many of you may hold a grudge against me for what I've done to you by causing the war to happen. Even if it wasn't deliberate, I can't deny my involvement, and if you all feel that I have no right to the throne and should be punished for what I've done, then I'll accept whatever you feel I deserve..." he then bowed at the waist to all of the women before him, "However, if you give me this chance to help you continue to fix things, I will not hesitate to do so. I say that not as the future king, but as a person who just wants to do the right thing, and make you all happy!"
Link then stood upright and took a breath, "That's all, thank you for your time."
There was a stunned silence among the crowd, aside from a small number who still clapped and cheered, though that same awkwardness Link felt back when he arrived and spoke out to them all seemed to come right back to haunt him. He turned and walked into the palace, trying to ignore the growing chattering of the people as he left, not sure of what they would think of him...
Halei looked worriedly at Link, but before she could say anything, a guard took her away and led her back to her prison cell so she could wait for the judgment of her crime of the book theft.
"It's okay Link, you did well." Nabooru said patting his back, "I don't think that was something anyone could just say without it feeling difficult and awkward, but you got through it. I'm proud of you."
"Thanks..." Link muttered with a light smile.
"Link, are you going to be okay...?" Aviel asked worriedly, putting a hand on his other arm.
"Y-Yeah..." Link said, "I admit as painful as it was to say, it kinda feels good having gotten the truth out..."
Saria took those words into account and looked down, thinking about something that had been on her mind for a while herself, as she took a look over to Nemisa moving closer to Link.
"I suppose so, but it seems dangerous to do something like this, my love..." Nemisa said with concern after giving him a gentle kiss on the cheek, "What if the citizens were to retaliate against you for this?"
Link just gulped a bit at that thought. It wasn't that he didn't expect a possibility like that, but it still bothered him. "I... just need to be prepared I guess."
"Not to worry, I'll be sure the guards step up their patrol if anyone ties anything." Nabooru said.
"...but what if a guard themself feels the same way...?" Saria asked worriedly.
"... ...perhaps we should all stay with Link tonight then." Nemisa nodded in a quiet tone.
"Thanks girls." Link said, "I don't like feeling unsafe here, but I admit I did it to myself."
"Well don't you worry." Nabooru said, "We're all here to support you."
"Of course! We're your protectors!" Aviel said with a salute.
"It'd still be nice if there were more to help though..." Saria muttered.
"Howdy yall, you up fer a sleepover?!" spoke up a new voice just then.
The group turned to see standing there was a surprising sight; Togau, Dr. Sarami, Reirousa, Kesuta and Korume were all there, having been escorted in by a guard.
"Sorry Lady Nabooru, King Link, but they were all insistent they meet with you." the guard said.
"What are you all doing here?" Nemisa asked.
"What else? We all saw how heavy Link was takin' his confession, so we thought we'd come here ta support him!" Togau said, "He's got a lot of burden on his shoulders, and I'm willin' ta help it off him!"
"Really...?" Link asked, "You'd do that, even after what I had done?"
"Yes, we're all here for you Link-sweetie. You saved all of Hyrule by putting away that horrible king of ours, and I couldn't be more proud of you for it." Sarami said with a soft smile.
"You've beaten yourself up enough over what happened with the war, I can't let the other girls do the same thing." Reirousa said, pounding her fist into her palm "If anyone tries anything to pound you, then they're the ones that're gonna get pounded!"
"Don't worry my husband, we'll see to it you're kept safe and secure." Kesuta said doing a fiery twirl.
"We'll all protect you to the end, your heart that's both valorous and pure." Korume rhymed with a icy and slow bow.
Link was in stunned silence as Nabooru came up and held him, along with Nemisa, Saria and Aviel.
"You hear that Link?" Nabooru said with a smile, as she held Link, and the rest of the group soon joined along with her in a large group hug. "You're not alone, we're all here for you."
In that moment, Link stood there, in the embrace of his friends and fiances, his eyes started to tear up, and he broke down crying at seeing all the girls in support of him, only prompting everyone to hold him closer.
"Thanks everyone..." Link said, as tears ran down his cheeks.
"This cucco meat is good.. but it needs more zest to it..."
"Korume, don't even think about putting that damn hot sauce you made on it!"
"Kukuku..."
"Someone stop her before she ruins it!"
Sometime later that night; Link, Nabooru, Saria, Aviel, Nemisa, Togau, Sarami, Reirousa, Kesuta and Korume had all gathered at the dining room for dinner. There were various cucco and beef hot pots, and the girls were having a field day with it. Reirousa and Aviel in particular were stuffing their mouths, while Kesuta was trying her hardest to hold back Korume from putting her own patented extra spicy sauce into the cucco meat dish.
Despite being such a glutton normally, Link found himself picking at his food, dwelling on what he had spoke about to the town just a while ago. He glanced up to see the others, who despite the situation seemed to be enjoying things just fine.
"You doing alright, Link?" Saria asked, putting a hand on Link's.
"Yeah, guess so." nodded Link, "I'm just wondering what the people are going to think about me now that they know the truth."
"I'm not sure if it was such a great idea for you to confess to that... though I guess I understand why." Korume said, "You're a very honest and assertive person Link, perhaps to a fault."
"Eh. Way I see it, better that Link just got the truth out there now then later." Reirousa shrugged, "He told me about what he had done back when we first met, and I could tell it was hurting him a lot to keep it in like that."
"Yes, I can understand what that's like..." Nemisa said, glancing down at her scar, which was indeed much lighter then before, before looking to Reirousa with a pleasant smile, "I'm surprised you were able to read him so well Reirousa, you never seemed like the observant type."
"What's that supposed ta mean?! Ya tryin' ta pick a fight?" Reirousa asked with an angry scowl.
"Never mind." Nemisa sighed, rolling her eyes.
"Hey comeon, how about we stop fightin' and dwelling on the what-ifs and just have some fun tonight?!" Togau asked, "We outta be celebratin' that Link finally decided to become our king!"
"Yeah! No mater what happens tomorrow, we'll just have all kinds of fun tonight!" Kesuta shouted, "Link, you still gotta try these potatoes we brought!"
"Well I-" Link was about to speak, but Kesuta shoved the food on her fork right into his mouth, it was indeed really good, and he felt his spirits lift more and more from the girls' encouragement.
"I have something for you too, my love..." Korume said to Link softly, holing up a fork with food covered in scorching red sauce, which disturbed both him and Kesuta, "Say aaaahhh..."
"Keep that away from our husband, you'll murder his taste buds!" Kesuta shouted, but was then silenced by Korume sticking the food into her sister's mouth instead, "YEOOOWW!"
"You talk too much." Korume told her sister coldly.
"Quit, get me that milk!" Kesuta exclaimed, grabbing a cup of milk Togau brought from the ranch and gulping it down, sighed in relief, "Aaahh..."
"Go ahead an drink up Kesuta!" Togau grinnned, "I've been working to make sure the milk the cows produce is as good as the kind at Lon Lon Ranch!"
"You mean Lon Lon Milk?" a servant spoke up as she was setting down some more food plates, "I've heard rumors if you drink enough of that milk it can help your breasts grow bigger..."
Some of the girls sat there motionlessly, until Togau, Kesuta and Saria all started drinking down extra cups of milk in unison.
"Aren't you going to eat something other then veggies, Dr. Sarami?" Aviel asked, looking to the plate the good doctor had put together.
"Umm..." Sarami said, staring longingly at the meat in the beef dish, "I don't really wish to try and eat that... it seems quite high in calorie content... and I'm trying to diet..."
"Oh just have some!" Aviel said brightly, grabbing some meat and putting it on Sarami's plate, "Make this your cheat day!"
"Hey now!" gasped Sarami, using her fork to keep the sauce from the meat off her vegetables, "Don't try to tempt me like that!" she cautiously took a celery stick and bit into it, then realizing some of the juices from the meat had dripped into it. She paused, feeling the taste of the sauce overwhelm her, and she couldn't take it anymore.
"T-Thank you for the meal!" Sarami blurted out as she started eating up the meat Aviel had put on her plate, and the bird girl smiled brightly at Sarami's smile as she ate.
"We really have a weird family, don't we?" Nemisa finally asked Link as the two looked over their group with a sweatdrop gong down her head.
"Yeah, but I wouldn't have it any other way." Link said, sporting a goofy grin to his fiance.
"I suppose so." Nemisa said with a small smile of her own.
Nabooru just watched everyone cheer out and let off a light smile, she was about to leave them to get up to go back to her work, but then in that moment she glanced to Link and saw him smiling brightly as the girls were all gathered around, eating, chatting and quarreling...
Nabooru paused, and found herself lowering back down onto her seat to join them again...
'Maybe for just a bit longer.' he thought as she reached out for some more food to eat, and she started getting into a conversation with Sarami about the sauce flavoring.
That 'bit longer' Nabooru had planned turned out to be for the whole night, and she didn't get around to getting any work done that day.
And yet she found she didn't even mind at all.
The sun rose up the next morning, shining out on Gerudo Town. The sound of a rooster from Togau's ranch crowed out to signal the new day approaching.
Despite their initial fears of what could happen, the night went by without any bad situations arising, and no attacks on Link's life were even attempted. Regardless, the girls decided to spend the whole night with Link to protect him. While some of Link's fiances were tempted to take him into bed for a night of passionate love-making, they decided not too. They came to an agreement that he just needed more comfort then pleasure that night. They all spent the time talking about various things, played a few recreational games, and even went swimming in the pool. They had considered inviting Ruto as well, but knew it would only complicate things.
"Link, Link wake up!" Aviel shouted out, as Link laid back on his pillow bed, being the last of the group to wake up that day as usual.
"Don't wanna..." Link muttered, covering his face with a pillow.
"No seriously Link! You outta go look outside, quick!" Aviel said, pulling on his leg to try and get them to go out. Link was trying to keep himself from moving, but realized after a while that Aviel was starting to drag him off the pillows and across the floor.
"Alright! Alright!" Link said, pushing himself up and putting his vest on, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes before Aviel grabbed his arm and starting pulling him forward, "Hey, I know how to walk Aviel!"
"Well walk faster then!"
Link just rolled his eyes and let Aviel direct him.
Link soon arrived at the balcony that Aviel had directed him to, and standing there he saw Nabooru, Saria, Nemisa, Togau, Sarami, Reirousa, Kesuta and Korume. He was happy to see them all still there that morning, but could swear at that moment he heard some shouting from down in the streets of Gerudo Town. However, he was too half asleep to make out exactly what they were saying.
"Morning everyone, what's going on here?" Link asked, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.
"Why not see for yourself?" Nabooru said, gesturing for Link to look out at the town.
Link was a admittingly a bit nervous to see the people of Gerudo Town after his confession the previous day, and wasn't sure what to expect. He took a deep breath, and slowly walked up to the balcony's edge and looked down to see the people. It was then he started to realize what they were all chanting...
"LONG LIVE KING LINK! LONG LIVE KING LINK!"
Link was taken back, the people of the town had all gathered and were cheering out happily for him. Some of the people were even waving banners and flags with the symbol of the Gerudo on them. As he looked out at the crowd he saw many of the girls he had come to meet and care about during the past year he spent there...
He saw Folura, Aviel's archery master, and the students that he and the bird-girl would often practice their bow and arrow skills with in the training grounds. They were all gathered together and holding up a banner of their group's archery team.
There was also the three Gerudo guards who watched over him and Togau during the caravan trade trip in Gerudo Plains, though they keep to have discarded their hoods and veils. Despite how condescending they were to Aviel before, the three of them were brave warriors who stood by their side and fought off General Wallace and his knights without hesitation.
He could see the ranchhands that works for Togau, along with a small group of the barn animals they helped raise over there. He even saw Togau's pet animals Imra the cucco and Oseg the pig were there. Imra herself was standing on Oseg's back waving her wings up and down. Link had to admit in that moment it was weird to see a cucco praising him like that after his past with their kind...
He also saw Maifeki, the new mother he had helped to deliver a child in Sarami's medical clinic and she was holding her baby daughter Selil in her arms. She took the baby's arm and waved it up at Link for her with a bright smile on her face. The mother had done well to raise her daughter for the past year, and the baby giggled to show it's own enthusiasm.
There was also a group of nurses from Sarami's clinic, and among them was a familiar-looking young girl. She was wearing a mask that covered her mouth, but Link could tell it was Ilite, the asthmatic girl he had saved from the thief Dakas. It seemed even with her condition, she had made the effort to come out to see Link, and she was waving up to him happily.
He also spied the two sisters Favisa and Sireim, the latter having been once been captured by the Wyvern Keepers back in the canyon months ago, and the former who had fought back against the slavers to plead for help to Link to save her. He also recognized the other two girls who had been captured along with Sireim, and how well the four of them were all doing.
He then looked to see Sovan and the rest of the Sandstorm Viper gang, once marauders of the Gerudo Wastes, now fine citizens of Gerudo Town. Sovan in particular had become quite famous for her cooking skills at their favorite diner, and the other girls were all doing well themselves with their own lives.
Another Gerudo that stood out was the blue-robe clad mystic Koleima, mother of Kesuta and Korume. While the tragic revelation of why her sister having to die by her hands had hurt her so much, it seemed she had been persevering through it, and her daughters had helped their mother through every bit of it, which wouldn't had been possible if not for Link and the twins putting an end to their bloodline's supposed burden.
He also noticed a certain two had come to visit; Remo the former Wyvern Keepers member, now the bartender of the Dank Salamander tavern. Remo was sitting on the shoulders of his girlfriend and former jail guard Usaulu. The tavern had been doing well with bringing in Gerudo and travelers alike, not just giving the people a place to relax and rest, but to meet and form bonds of friendship and love with.
Three Gerudo in particular were whistling and cheering out loudly, and Link recognized them as Nemisa's childhood friends; Sumof, Otuko and Ifemi. There had been distance between Nemisa and the three after everything that had happened with her slavery and the harsh truth about Jayde, but after Nemisa finally made peace with herself the four of them had truly reunited as friends and became closer then ever as a result.
He also saw standing out there was Togau's mother Tusimu, standing alongside her caretaker. She was using a cane to hold herself up, and while the caretaker was trying to help keep her steady, Tusimu seemed to be doing her best to stay standing herself, and was just looking up at Link and Togau, sporting that beautiful smile that Togau had wanted so much to see her whole life.
Them along with so much of the town, were all continuously cheering out for Link's new place as their king, all of them in support of him.
"Everyone..." Link whispered, as small traces of tears started to form in his eye-ducts.
""I wasn't so sure what to think about the Gerudo before, and I never thought I'd find myself living with them..." Saria brought up, "But I love being here with all of you now, and I have you and Lady Nabooru to thank for it!"
"I thought I could only do so little for everyone as a lookout guard." Aviel said, "But cause of you Link I've become a king's bodyguard, I've been doing so much more now, and everyone's treating me better then ever! I couldn't be happier that you came into our lives Link!"
"Yes, you're the one who helped me finally break out of the shell I had trapped myself in Link." Nemisa said, "I'm no longer afraid to be the person I always wanted to be, and you helped me understand what I needed to do to get to this point."
"Na ha ha, I never thought I'd find myself gettin' married my whole life," Togau laughed, "And after I got turned into a Lynel I thought I couldn't get any lower, but you accepted me despite everything Link, and you even helped settle things with me and Ma! And with the way you're working to get rid of the banishment law, I hope someday I can meet Malon and Talon-bro to show them how I've grown!"
"Before I became a doctor, for the longest time I thought I was useless to my people," Sarami said softly, "And I was so determined to do everything I could I underestimated my limits. You showed me how important it was to not shoulder the burden of everything on my shoulders, and thanks to that I've made time to relax and strengthen myself so I can do more for everyone when it counts!"
"Ya know I could never bring myself to let go of my regrets in life." Reirousa muttered, rubbing the back of head, "And I still can't. But the way you worked so hard to fix all the crap you put on yourself, I guess you've become kind of an inspiration for me... or uh, you know... somethin' like that... It's been a lot easier for me to move forward thanks to you... so uh, yeah, thanks."
"Before we met you Link, me and Korume thought we had to carry a terrible burden to protect the town by having to sacrifice one or the other, and I didn't think I could go through with that unless I forced myself to hate my dear sister." Kesuta said, "But you stormed into the Spirit Temple without even being asked, and helped me remember how important she is to me, and I never want to separate from her, or you!"
"Kukuku..." Korume giggled, "I knew there was something special about you the day we both met you all that time ago... I just never thought you'd be the one who end the curse on our family, and I'm proud to be able to marry you alongside my sister, so that we indeed never have to be apart again. "
Link stared out at everyone before him, his friends, and his people, and Nabooru nodded.
"They're all accepted you, Link." Nabooru said smiling. "Despite what pain you feel you brought to them, we all fought through that pain and you've worked hard for their sake. The things you've done for them all over the past year have made a significant impact on their lives, and we've all come closer together because of it. They've accepted you..."
"...and we all couldn't be happier to call you our king, Link." she then added.
Link paused and hung his head down. Taking a deep breath, he walked up to the edge of the balcony, looking down at everyone and shouted out three words to the town before him, as well as his friends and fiances.
"Thank you, everyone!"
One year ago, after Link had learned the truth about what his actions in getting Ganondorf arrested had brought to the Gerudo tribe, and he only blamed himself for it all, and because of that he couldn't believe that he could ever have the right to call himself the new king. However, in that time he had persevered and worked to better the lives of everyone, and in the process he had learned many new things, and made many new friends. He had also come to experience true love with many of the girls he had bonded with; Nemisa, Togau, Kesuta, Korume, even Princess Ruto, and if not for the life he had come to embrace, he would had never gotten this chance.
While there was still much more to do to fix things with the Gerudo, and Hyrile as a whole, in that moment as he still speaking out the people, he truly felt accomplished.
In one part of Gerudo Town was the jail facility, an underground complex built by Nabooru and the Sand Rod for criminals with extended sentences. While they had little use for it these days, now it was being used to house Maukai and the rebels Link and his freinds had captured. They were all hanging around contemplating their situation. They were overhearing the words of the guards who were talking about Link officially taking his place as the Gerudo King, and they all sighed out.
"Jees, Mother Eclipsis isn't going to be happy to hear this." said one rebel.
"Yeah,, we really went and let her down..." said another sadly.
"Ah don't worry about it, we didn't stand a chance against Link." shrugged Maukai, "He and his friends were just too tough for us..."
"Ugh... we used to be really strong, but we've been so busy trying to salvage resources and fix the damages from our recent losses we haven't had time to properly train like we used to." said a rebel.
Maukai looked around at the rebels, all looking downcast at their failure and capture, and took a sigh.
"Listen, I was thinking..." Maukai said, "I know originally we were going to try and break out of here and escape... but... maybe we should just defect from the rebellion and... I dunno, maybe do what that Link guy said and just stay here in Gerudo Town?"
Some of the other rebels gasped out in shock of what she said.
"But sister Maukai!" shouted one, "Think of what we stand for! We want to save our people from the banishment!"
"But... isn't that what King Link said he's trying to do?" Maukai brought up.
"Huh?!" exclaimed the rebel, who narrowed her eyes angerly, "How dare you call that male the king!"
"But she's right, you heard him before, it seems he just wants what's best for us all." said another rebel.
"Yeah, Mother Eclipsis meanwhile has been treating us like rubbish, you saw what happened to Boss Faurugo!" said one rebel sadly.
"Oh... I guess..." sighed the argumentative rebel, lowering her head, "So... what do you think is going to happen to us Maukai?"
"You don't think we're going to be executed, do you?" asked another.
"... you know, I think we'll be alright..." Maukai said, "You heard Link and Lady Nabooru, they just want to help us fit in with them."
"Yeah, when we got to see the people, they all seem so nice and friendly..." a rebel said smiling, "They aren't anything like how we were told by Mother."
"Then we're going to have to work hard too." another rebel said, "If we're going to earn our place here, we have to prove they can trust us!"
"Yeah..." Maukai sported a small smile with a longing look in her eyes.
"Hey Maukai, what's that look for?" asked a rebel, "You thinking about something?"
"Huh? Oh, nothing." Maukai said.
"I dunno about 'nothing'." a rebel giggled, "I bet you were thinking about King Link!"
"W-What?!" Maukai exclaimed, her hair in that moment standing up on end, "I-It's not like that!"
"Hey, I don't blame you, I think he's cute too!" giggled a rebel, "I wonder if he'd let me join his queen harem, or at least give me a child!"
"T-That's... um..." stammered Maukai, unable to get her hair to stay down, and instead was sticking up on the left and right, "Q-Quit talking about that sorta thing!"
As the guards spoke to each other, they couldn't help but overhear the prisoners all laughing out loud happily.
"Sounds like we might have some new citizens soon." a guard chuckled lightly.
"The king really has an influence on people, huh?" said the other guard to her comrade, who nodded.
That night, in the far back of town, there was a lone jail cell, usually reserved for temporary prisoners. Typically for men who managed to invade the town, and was in fact occupied by Link and Remo at different points. This time however the jail was occupied by a woman, a half-Hylian, half-Gerudo known as Halei, the former employee of the Gerudo Library.
After the reveal that she had been the book thief, she was arrested and brought to prison to await her sentencing. While she had been granted permission to be there for Link's announcement of what he had done in getting Ganondorf captured, she was to spend her time in that prison until Nabooru could decide what to do with her.
Halei sighed out, reaching up and rubbing at her head. She had her bunny hood taken during the time of her arrest, and her head felt naked without it. Her thoughts lingered on the day her father gave her the hood so enthusiastically, since she couldn't own a rabbit of her own due to her mother's allergies. She wondered if she'd ever see the hood, or her own father ever again.
Her thoughts then went to the future king Link. She was lost on how exactly she felt about him, especially after finding out he was the one who had Ganondorf captured, which resulted in the war and her banishment from Hyrule. During the time she and the others were separated from Link and Nabooru she had to admit she felt some resentment towards him, but after Reirousa talked with her and the rebels about how guilty Link himself was about what had happened and what he was working towards to fix it, she found herself conflicted.
Then when she saw Link accept Maukai and the rebels into their society, she saw just how determined he was to make things right, and she realized he was just as much of a victim of circumstance as she was...
"Oh, your highness!" spoke up the guard watching her cell, making her look up, "What brings you here?"
"I'm just here to talk to the prisoner." she heard Link said. Halei watched as Link walked over to the bars and knelt down to her sitting level, "Hey there Halei, you doing okay here?"
"What do you want, your highness...?" Halei asked, somewhat nervously.
"Ha ha, enough with that highness stuff, I told you to just call me Link." he said, "Listen, I know how it can be in here, so I picked up something to make things a little better for you."
With that he slipped a bag through the bars to give to Halei. She opened up the bag and found a box lunch from the local diner.
"I had Sovan make it up for you." Link said, "And there's another surprise in there too."
With that, Link stood himself up, "Don't worry, I'll talk with Lady Nabooru about your situation. Maybe we can come to an agreement. Have a good night."
"Yes... thank you..." Halei said softly as she watched Link leave. She opened the box lunch and saw it to be a fine meat and potato dish. She took a bite and savored the flavor, she had gone so long without a decent meal due to how much money she had to give the rebels, and it was nice to eat good food like that once again.
It was then she saw the other thing packed in with the box lunch, a fiction book by one of her favorite authors. She then noticed the book seemed to have something between the pages and opened it up, seeing that he had slipped something else in it as well.
It was her bunny hood, cleaned and pressed, like it was mint condition.
Tears started to form in her eyes as she remembered once again about the day her father gave her the bunny hood, and the story he told her about a young lad working for the mask shop that sold it to him. She brought up the hood and put it back onto her head, just as it was meant to be. She reached up and rubbed the hood's fuzzy ears and smiled, as she went to reading the book while slowly eating her meal.
'He truly is a kind king-' she paused in that thought, 'No... ...a kind person.'
Meanwhile, far off from Gerudo Town, in the depths of the stronghold known as Gerudo Fortress...
"Mother Eclipsis... I have information to speak to you about."
"Please, do tell."
A woman clad in a black cloak and wearing a porcelain mask sat leaning on a throne. She was Mother Eclipsis, the leader of the Ebony Sisterhood rebellion. She sat nonchalantly as a rebel had come in and bowed down with a look of nervousness in her eyes.
"I... I'm sorry, but this news isn't good. It seems the excavation team we sent to the Hall of Knowledge has failed in their mission... the items you requested them to find are now in the hands of the false king and Lady Nabooru... the sisters we sent there have been arrested by them..." she gulped, "And... well... you see..." she seemed to stall.
"Continue." Mother Eclipsis simply said.
"I'm... afraid that according to my sources, the leader of the team; Boss Faurugo has fallen, her life seems to have been taken by the false king." the rebel said.
Mother Eclipsis just sat there, without speaking a word for what seemed like the longest time. The rebel was in a cold sweat as she looked up at the leader of the rebellion, the mask making it impossible to have any idea what she was thinking or feeling in that moment.
"I see... very well." Mother Eclipsis said calmly, "She was a strong and loyal warrior who fought bravely to the end, may the Death Goddess Nerif carry her spirit to rest in peace." Mother Eclipsis said bowing her head, "Thank you for this information, you may leave now."
"T-Thank you Mother." the rebel bowed, before turning and running out to join her sisters who had been nervously waiting for her.
As soon as the doors shut, Mother Eclipsis stood up and walked off through another door. Closing it behind her, she paused for awhile, looking downwards.
"This... isn't supposed to happen. We're supposed to be the chosen ones... the ones who shall free King Ganondorf and destroy the bastard Hyrulian monarchy... we Gerudo have been chosen to rule..."
The mysterious leader of the rebellion clenched her fist, as she was trembling,
"But we keep losing our troops, dying in battle or running away like spineless cowards... all because of... that damn man... that damn false Gerudo King... the one who obstructed the plans of the great King Ganondorf... and defies the will of goddess Aifet..."
It was then the tall and mighty leader fell to her hands and knees and shouted out.
"EEEAAARRRGGHH! CURSE YOU FALSE KING! CURSE YOU!"
She then grabbed a chair and threw it with incredible strength across the hall, until it impacted into a wall and leaving a dent in it, as the heavy bronze chair itself fell and smashed with a loud echo to the ground. As Mother Eclipsis just stood there contemplating the news she had just been told, a rebel Gerudo opened a door, calmly walking towards Mother Eclipsis, and not even even alarmed by the chair's remains.
"Mother Eclipsis, the test subject is ready." spoke the rebel that had walked up to her, giving a polite bow. She was a sightly shorter then normal Gerudo, she had expressionless eyes, and she made no effort to smile or frown at all. Unlike many of the Gerudo, she wore a black short dress with white frills on the edges, as well as, oddly enough, small decorative horns on her head and small bat wings attached on her belt.
"Thank you..." Mother Eclipsis muttered, standing upright, "This is perfect timing actually, I could use a chance to let off some anger..."
"Very good Mother." the rebel in the dress said bowing, as Mother Eclipsis walked past her into the next room. The Gerudo girl slowly paused and turned in the direction Eclipsis left into, before letting out a soft sigh and going off on her way to see to other matters.
Mother Eclipsis stood in a large circular canyon in the far back of the Fortress, fortified with large bricks and statues. It was an arena designed after the Coliseum of Hotaig, the Gerudo goddess of war. Back when Ganondorf ruled the Gerudo, this was a place normally used for battles of sport, or to torment captured prisoners before they were killed. Nowadays however it was used almost exclusively by Mother Eclipsis for other matters...
Mother Eclipsis stood staring at a door on the far opposite end of the arena, closed off by iron bars. She could hear a faint growling and roaring from it, though she didn't seem the slightest bit intimidated by it.
"A-Are you ready, Mother?" called out a Gerudo rebel beside a large switch on a balcony of the arena.
Mother Eclipsis was about to answer, but then she felt a familiar sensation, as she sighed in annoyance and called out, "In a minute."
It was then behind Mother Eclipsis, a cloaked individual appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. The robe was a tan color, as opposed to the black robes and clothing of the rebellion. The person's features were covered by the hood, and there was a symbol of some kind decorating the robe.
"I was told about the failure of the mission at the Hall of Knowledge." the voice said, clearly an older male's, "Even though I provided your team with a copy of the Book of Mudora, you still couldn't obtain what you were after?"
"There was a minor setback." Mother Eclipsis said, "But the false king shall suffer for what he's done soon."
"Damnit, did you not hear what I told you before?" asked the man, "The false king cannot die just yet! Do you not recall what I told you about the prophecy?!"
"I'm well aware of it;" Mother Eclipsis said, reciting what she had been told by him;
"When the blood moon is cast over the field of battle, the blood of Hylian and Gerudo alike shall be spilled, and only then when the false king is struck down, shall the true Gerudo King rise to power again."
"Then you know what must be done." the man said, "The barrier that holds King Ganondorf within Hyrule's castle prison is too strong, the only way to shatter it is to kill the false king only on the day of the blood moon's rise!"
"We'll see about that." Mother Eclipsis scoffed, "You may have told us that the Desert Goddess Aifet has chosen us to destroy the false king and free King Ganondorf, but I don't care about what the prophecy itself says. As far as I'm concerned this is Aifet's test of our resolve. We shall overcome the false king as soon as possible with the power I hold now... "
"Hmph... such a stubborn one..." the old man muttered.
"RELEASE IT!" Mother Eclipsis then called out, raising up her hand to the rebel on the balcony.
The man in the cloak could only watch as the iron bars slowly opened, and walking out from the doorway was a humongous reptilian beast with a stone mask, a large mouth with hundreds of teeth, and a whip like tail swinging around it, this was a monster known as a Helmasaur King.
It roared out, scaring off any Gerudo rebels in the area except for Mother Eclipsis and the old man.
"Behold, prophet," Mother Eclipsis said, "The power that I now hold."
The old man paused and watched as the Helmasaur King roared out and charged at Mother Eclipsis, who brought up her cloak for just a second, but a powerful force impacted into the reptile, blasting off the mask it wore, and revealing it's bare hideous face. The monster roared out again and brought it's tail down at Mother Eclipsis, but she jumped high into the air, dove downwards at the monster, who then tried to blasted her with fiery breath, but she brought up her hand and swung down something that sliced the monster perfectly in half. The monster let out one final groan before it split apart down the middle and burst into purple mist.
The old man simply stood wordlessly as he watched Mother Eclipsis land down to the ground. The rebels watching all cheered out and whistled for their leader. Mother Eclipsis stood up with her cloak completely covering her body once more.
"As long as I hold this power, he shall always be by my side..." Mother Eclipsis said, "And as for the false king..."
"He shall die by my hand."
And that ends the chapter. I will start by saying this arc was honestly difficult to put together and required a lot of rewrites, and while I feel it wasn't as good as certain other arcs it was a necessity to do, namely to set up future plot points as the story starts going towards the major elements of the plot.
I will say it was really fun bringing back the older characters from past chapters at the end to show the positive impart Link had made on them all. Many of them will still return in future chapters, but this also served as a nice refresher as well.
Next time Link gets officially crowned as the king, but a new enemy might be coming to respond to it...
As always, leave a like follow or comment if you enjoyed this story! It's been a lot of work, but a lot of fun too, and your encouragement and critique has been welcome!