Author's Note

I'll admit, I hadn't expected to get this out so quickly, but here we are. Almost to Gerudo Desert now.

Uploaded

06/20/2023

LEGEND BELOW

"O-Oh goodness, I'm so clumsy!" = Normal speech.

''Dont panic.'' = Normal thoughts.

Chapter 9

A hidden power growing stronger/Expecting a fight

Rated-M

M rating for Romance, and things of explicit nature.

Music of the day

The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time - Fairy Fountain theme

The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time - Volvagia Theme

He'd left Kakariko behind, currently high in the air held aloft by use of his paraglider he'd been gifted by the ghost of the king. His current destination was the harsh desert lands of the Gerudo Desert, a place he was mostly sure was west of Kakariko.

After he'd left Impa behind, he'd visited their guardian deity as promised. Just thinking about it now was…

Well…

He was left with more questions after leaving her than before he met her.

When he finally arrived at her shrine within the forest above the hidden village, he wasn't sure what to expect.

So when a giant beautiful woman exploded forth from the flower, dressed in beautiful sparkling scales of a magical design, he'll admit that he'd been lost for words.

He stood there with his jaw agape, eyes wide as he stared up at her large sparkling eyes.

"Oh well, look at what we have here. I was not expecting for such a handsome young man such as yourself to greet me this morning. And dear me, it seems like you can't even tear your gaze off of me, I'm flattered." She cooed, fluttering her eyelashes at him.

He wasn't prepared for her to lean forward in her pool, resting on her left arm while she raised her right to his chin, cooing in delight. "And my my, you really are quite the looker. To think you came all this way for me, oh Darling, you're going to make me act up at this rate." She said lowly, cheeks flushing as she leaned in close, her large presence threatening to consume him whole.

"So tell me, Mr Hero, what brings you to my spring this morning?" She asked lowly, tone dipping into something far more sensual. "Are you here seeking wisdom? Information perhaps? My power? Or, are you, in fact, here for something else…?" She whispered, her lips hovering an inch from his ears. The feeling of her breath tickled his long pointed appendage, his cheeks flushing hot red in embarrassment.

His eyes were wide in shock, thoroughly unable to formulate a response of any kind for the giant fairy woman.

She finally relented, falling back into her pool with a laugh as she dropped the act she'd been using on him. "O-Oh my! You're so red, Darling!" She laughed, sinking back into her magical pond just a bit.

He pouted slightly, realizing now that she'd been playing with him from the moment he arrived…

He sighed, the cool mountain air chilling his suddenly warm cheeks.

As her giggle fit slowed to a crawl, she was finally able to ask him his true reason for searching her out. "Tell me Darling, why did you search me out today? What it to have your apparel enhanced?" She asked curiously, resting her head in her plans, elbows on the edge of her flower pond.

He nodded firmly.

She smiled lightly down at him. "Wonderful Darling, what you're wearing is a very strong armor already, but I can enhance it with my power." She explained.

She went on to ask him to provide her with certain items and parts left behind from the monsters of the land, and with her powers she was able to turn their body parts into power to make his armor magically stronger then possible with mere mortal craftsmanship.

Thankfully he already had the necessary items on him, and provided her with them.

How she was to transform them into magic power for his armor, he wasn't sure. But he received his answer when she blew a kiss at him a moment later, her magic power flowing into his armor. If that wasn't enough, his exposure to her magic rejuvenated him, making his senses even more alert than before.

He was sure to thank her for her kindness, and was quick to leave to begin his quest to save the kingdom. But she stopped him before he could go, picking him up by his tattered royal blue cape. He yelped in surprise as he was suddenly hoisted into the air, held up before her mischievous sparkling eyes.

"Leaving me already, Darling? I'm hurt, we've barely even gotten to know each other." She teased, voice low.

He huffed, anxious to begin his quest. Standing around talking all day wasn't going to save anyone. "People out there need my help. I must go." He responded firmly, hands on his hips.

His the presence of his tough tone of voice and determined stance was almost entirely lost by the fact that he was held up in the air like a toy.

"I know you are a terribly busy man, but I've found myself attached to you, so I thought to offer my advice." She smiled, yet her words seemed serious. "I sense an odd strength inside of you, more than any other man." She commented, poking him gently in the chest.

He sighed, the statement something he'd been hearing a lot of lately. He was the Hero chosen by the Sword after all, it would make sense if he was more powerful than most.

He'd trained for years before the Calamity struck, so it would make sense that he was strong.

And yet, seemingly knowing what he was thinking, she grinned. "I'm not talking about your training, Darling. I sense strong spiritual power within you, power that I have not ever seen in any other man." She expressed her findings, curiously looking him over.

She studied his eyes, finding herself excited by his fiery determination and willpower.

But, she saw something more hidden beneath his gaze, something unnatural. It wasn't evil, nor malevolent, but warm, passionate. It was powerful, akin to a blazing inferno held within his heart, and he'd been fanning that flame.

She could see it, the unnatural power held within his frame, hidden away just below the surface, tickling her senses.

"You remind me of a dragon." She admitted, cheeks flushed. "That's what I see when I look into your eyes." She spoke lowly, voice surprisingly serious. She raised her hand to gently cup his chin, and he had to resist the urge to lean into her touch, something about her presence unnaturally soothing and calming.

Then she sat him down gently atop her flower pedestal, the man blinking rapidly in surprise. She smiled down at him, as if looking at him differently now. It was apparent to him that she'd seen something in him that seemed to have changed her perspective just a bit.

"You have the eyes of a powerful dragon, capable of intense passion and fiery love." She expressed genuinely, leaning down to get on his level once more. He blinked up at her as she stared at him, a happy genuine smile on her face that left the playful teasing nature she'd first displayed somewhere else. "But, more than that, I also sense the capacity for an immense strength surpassing anything before it."

He wanted to ask what she meant, what she could see in him that he couldn't. Was it related to the spirit orbs he'd been collecting within himself? Was it something else? Either way, how did she know? Was it a power that came with her role as a guardian deity?

So many questions plagued him, but he had no time to stand around and ask. And, even if he wanted to, she seemed intent on leaving him guessing for the time being.

"You're very interesting. I'll be keeping my eyes on you, so make sure to visit every once in a while, Darling." She winked, and before he could react, she leaned in and placed a quick kiss on his face before leaving him stunned as she vanished into her fountain, leaving him alone…

The interaction wasn't long ago now, and it was still fresh in his mind. He wanted to investigate the subject, but doing so would take him away from his quest.

Perhaps, knowing what would happen should she tell him the truth, she decided against informing him of what he wished to know.

Doing so only left him with a new question.

Does he continue to gather these ancient spirit orbs and enhance his body to better his chances at saving the world? Or does he leave them be, and instead do his best to bring peace to the world without that power?

That was the question that plagued him. Would accepting this massive gathering of power from those of a different time give him the strength needed to put this Calamity in the ground for good?

And, if it did, would he accept it without any care to as what doing so would mean for him in the end?

He shook his head, dwelling on it atop his laundry list of other top priorities making his head spin.

He decided that he'd play it by ear, and continue to gather them along his way. After all, they were placed there for him by an ancient people, all for the sake of the Hero.

He just wondered why they would do all of this for one man? One man that would eventually die? What of the heroes that would come after him? Wouldn't they also need the power he'd been gathering into his soul? Would it not be more prudent to create a weapon instead, something that would live on past a normal Hylian lifespan to continue to keep evil forces at bay?

Too many questions…

Far too many questions…

His feet touched down upon the grassy lands between Kakariko and the Great Plateau, now forced to continue forward on foot. He was close to where he first awoke now, to his right another mountain with some sort of old colosseum built into its side, and the left stood the Great Plateau.

After a bit of running he found a fork in the path, to his right a horse stable and a small gathering of people. To his left was a road that would lead to the desert, if the wooden sign beside the road was to be believed.

He made a note to return to the stable at some point, make sure whoever had made a living there was safe. But as of right now, he planned on making a beeline for the Gerudo Desert.

He stopped just up ahead by the road, noting a gathering of travelers that had all stopped. Curious and intrigued, he made his way over to see if everything was alright.

Of course, once they all caught sight of the warrior that approached, they all ran up to greet him, faces distressed.

"Sir! Sir please! You must help us!"

"Please! Please don't leave us!"

"We're begging you! We'll give you everything we have, just please help us out!"

Link was taken aback as three Hylians rushed up to him, fell to their knees, and began begging him for his help. Sensing that something was terribly wrong, he took a knee beside the Hylians, voice soft.

"Easy, I'll gladly help. What's wrong? What happened?" He asked in open concern.

They were weeping bitterly, as if they'd just lost someone dear to them.

It didn't make that sinking sensation in his stomach any better.

"T-The monsters on the bridge! T-They-!" The first man tried, a simple farm hand with no fighting experience to his name. But just speaking of it broke him up, and he couldn't finish his words.

While the other two young men wept, the first one reached out and grabbed his hands, eyes pleading. "Please sir… Those monsters… They… They took our wives… We were powerless to stop them…" He explained quietly, broken.

Link's eyes widened, before they narrowed in a fiery anger.

"Show me where they are." He order sharply…

The sun was high in the sky now, likely around midday when he reached a deep lake that seemed to come from the Lake of the Dead atop the Great Plateau. The drop off was easily over a hundred feet down, and the only way across the chasm was through use of the large rope bridges that had been made.

That seemed all well and good, but something about it put him on edge. Behind him the three men followed closely, yet kept a little distance in case he was to engage in combat. None of the three young men were fighters, all farmers or of other trade. Without him, they'd be defenseless out in the wilds.

He reached back, drawing his sword and shield, ready for any hostile encounter should he need. He ran forward, stepping foot onto the bridge.

This was where it had happened, where they had been forcibly separated from their wives.

The wind had gone quiet, the sounds of birds chirping that had accompanied him the whole way having too been silenced.

He knew it.

It had to have been a trap of some sort. The monsters must've known that the men would run to seek help, and had been waiting for him.

His grip on his sword tightened just a tad, readjusting his shield too. After crossing three separate bridges, he saw it.

It was large, massive in fact.

It was a red Hinox, a massive giant of a Bokoblin, easily forty feet tall. And it was blocking the only way forward, sitting cross legged in front of the next bridge.

And when it took notice of him, its lone eye widened in surprise, before it shambled to its feet to do battle with him. He quickly took notice of the weapons and armaments it had hanging around its neck like a trophy of sorts, all having likely been procured from Hylians it had slain previously.

But all of that wasn't important…

No…

For the three tall women it had cuffed and hanging around its belly were what he noticed first. They were tall, likely of the Gerudo women he'd been searching for. They'd been stripped of everything, and chained together to the beast's stomach, as if to taunt the Hylians that had fled.

He felt his blood begin to boil in red hot fury as his eyes worriedly scoured their uncovered bodies, taking note of all the wounds and pain they'd been made to suffer, all before being gagged and tied up. The one saving grace lay in the fact that they hadn't been defiled like some other monsters would've done.

When they all noticed him approaching, they tried to call to him, but all he heard was muffled sounds of terror.

He needed, above all, to get those women out of there.

Then he would slay the beast permanently.

His eyes narrowed into a firm dangerous slit as he proudly walked up to the beast, the monster watching curiously as this new Hylian approached of his own accord. It could've easily thrown a cheep shot and tossed a rock his way, but seeing a new warrior approaching without any fear made its belly ache in preparation for the time when it could feast upon his flesh.

Link stepped forward, stopping to stand tall ten feet from the giant. The monster grinned widely down at him, mouth salivating in anticipation.

"I'm going to get you all out of there, just hold on a little longer." Link spoke, eyeing the three bound women.

They all said something, but it was ineligible with their gags in place.

The Hinox laughed, its voice carrying all throughout the chasm and the canyon walls, the sound disgusting.

The idea that such a pipsqueak of a mortal could defeat it in single combat was more than humorous to it, and it was going to relish its newfound meal.

Link wasn't fazed by its laughter, and instead bent down in his stance, shield forward and sword back in preparation to strike.

Then he launched forward, feet gliding over the ground as he rushed the giant beast.

Surprised by his speed, it reacted instinctively, slamming its hands down where it was sure Link had gone. But it wasn't fast enough, the Hero sliding out of the way before delivering a devastating strike to its midsection just below where it had the women tied up, before rapidly following up with a second and third strike to its exposed belly.

It recoiled in shock, stumbling backwards as it swiped blindly at him. Link hopped backwards, then backflipped out of the way of the monster's wild swing, avoiding being hit entirely. He landed, before standing straight once more, letting out a breath.

He wasn't even winded, and, more then that, was still raring to go.

However, the beast had been dealt a bloody blow, and it quickly came to realize that playing around would mean its quick and painful end.

The Hinox glared balefully at him, roaring in hot red anger.

Link clicked his tongue, and flicked his sword clean of the monster's blood. He charged in again, shield raised to defend against any forward attack, and sword held back, ready to unleash an attack of his own.

The Hinox roared, stomping it feet in anger, attempting to flatten Link entirely. Its attacks were sloppy, panicked, and only served to tire the large monster as it failed again and again to hit him.

Link hopped and slid out of the way each time, landing a strike on the beast's legs every chance he got.

Finally, however, the beast had enough, and purposefully took a hit, just to surprise him. Link, instinctively went for the attack, but wasn't prepared for the mighty kick that came his way as a result.

Hastily, he threw up his shield to block, but the attack snapped his aged shield in half, and slammed into him, sending him flying across the makeshift arena.

His body hit the ground hard, rolling many times, before coming to a halt near the edge of the hundred plus foot drop.

The Hinox roared in laughter, ignorant to its own pain and wounds, laughing gleefully as it celebrated its apparent victory.

The women cried out in horror as they saw their one chance of escape destroyed.

…

…

…

That was, of course, until Link stood back up.

The young man stood, turned his glare on the beast, and wiped the blood from his mouth. He took one step towards the behemoth of a monster, then another, and another. Before the beast knew it, the Link was rushing forward at break neck speeds, in his hands a sword stained with its own monstrous blood.

In a blind panic is raised both hands high in the air, attempting to crush him once more. But it was too slow, and its attack missed entirely.

With an opportunity before him, Link scaled the monster's arms, rushing up its large muscular biceps, tearing a long bloody line up the appendage as he ran. By the time he reached the beast's shoulder, he kicked off, two handing his sword as he attempted to behead the behemoth.

It was only the monster dropping to its back in panic that saved its life, Link's blade flying through where its head had been only moments before.

Link flew forward, landing in a roll to break his fall. He huffed, the repeated and rapid fire attacks of his beginning to exhaust him.

But he was far from done!

He got to his feet once more, spinning around to lock his sights with the monster of the bridge once more.

But, the Hinox must've realized that playing defensively was only going to result in its death, and waiting for him to come and attack was not working out. So when Link had turned to face it, it had already rushed forward, ignoring all its own wounds in an attempt to flatten him in one move, irregardless of its own safety.

Link barely had any time to react, and had no shield in hand to block the two handed slam that the beast sent his way.

In that moment, he reacted out of instinct, and threw his own two hands up to stop the monster.

An explosion of sound echoed out as the beast's immense weight slammed into the much smaller Hero, flattening him to the ground.

The beast huffed and puffed, the exhaustion of the battle and its many wounds finally catching up with it. But, in the end, it had defeated the Hylian.

Only, that's when it realized that its hands most certainly were not touching the ground, held away from the surface by an opposing power. Its lone eye widened in surprise as the Hero it thought to have flattened not only stopped the full might of its attack with his bare hands, but was actively pushing back against it!

Link roared with his full strength, having stopped the Hinox from flattening him with his own two hands, legs bent at the knees as he struggled with all his might. He sucked in a deep breath, regaining his strength, and pushed back.

The Hinox grunted and struggled to flatten him, but Link continued to push back against it, roaring loudly, screaming with every ounce of his strength.

And, to the monster's horror, it was forced back a step, its own strength being overpowered by the tiny Hylian below it.

Link roared as he seemed to gain a second wind, and took another step forward pushing the beast back more. This slowly sped up, until he finally threw the Hinox's hands out of the way, drew his sword, and launched forward. The beast, thoroughly wounded and out of stamina, had no way of stopping Link as he jumped forward, and drove his sword to the hilt in its eye.

Suddenly, the mighty beast fell to its back like a pile of rocks, crashing to the ground with a mighty thud. With both feet planted beside the massive eye, Link huffed, using the sword to support himself as he tried to catch his breath.

But, once he finally did, he stood tall atop the corpse of the massive man eating monster that had plagued the land.

He glanced down at his hands, the same hands that had stopped the mighty beast, and had even pushed back and temporarily overpowered its strength with his own.

He clenched his fists, noticing how he felt significant stronger than when he first awoke in the Shrine of Resurrection.

Standing atop the corpse of a mountain of a monster, one that he felled with his strength, he began to wonder if the Great Fairy he'd spoken to truly was right…

But he put all of that behind him as he instead climbed down to the beast's belly, and began freeing the three women. "Don't worry, I've got you. Everything's going to be okay now." He smiled lightly as he began taking off their bonds and removing their gags. He made short work of the binds, and quickly procured a few blankets from his bag so he could preserve some of their modesty, seeing as they had no clothing to their names.

Eventually he was back on the ground, helping each of them down as they'd all been hurt. Standing beside the beast, he looked up at them, holding his arms up. "I've got you." He said. His voice was the most sincere thing they'd ever heard, and it practically forced them to believe him.

One by one they jumped off, and he caught them each time, setting them carefully on the ground.

However, he wasn't expecting them to fall to their knees and pull him into a firm and intense three way hug. Seeing as they were so much taller than him, they'd have to do so to equal his height.

His eyes widened in surprise, before his expression softened tenderly. "It's okay now. I won't let any more harm come to you." He said softly, hugging the three crying women.

They all whispered things of thanks and gratitude, their words hard to hear through their tears. But his response was to hug them even tighter.

They were Gerudo, the people renown for their fighting spirits. But these three did not seem to be fighters, and were young as well, probably only eighteen years old each.

With every waking moment he spent in this world, he just realized how horribly messed up it had become. This instance was beginning to become a common occurrence.

How many people did he have to save, how many monsters did he have to slay, before they were all safe again?

That was a question he was sure wasn't going to be answered anytime soon. Yet, he knew what his response was.

He would continue to step in and rescue anyone in need, so long as he continued to breathe, he would not be stopped.

In the distance he heard the cries of the three Hylians from before, all rushing out to return to their stolen wives sides…

Chapter

9

End