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Chapter Five: Talon

Pain. It radiated in pulsating throbs over Link's chest and back. This soreness was immeasurable compared to what he had faced before in battle. There was no doubt the former Hero was bruised in some places. His stiff fingers twitch and slowly cerulean eyes open to find a stone ceiling above. It was dark. Link grunts as he sits up. He could not see much of anything around him, but by the feel of cold rock and the familiar scent of desert willow, he knew he was in Gerudo's Fortress once again.

"Tch." With a click of his tongue, Link's hands begin to scavenge for his sword and shield. The sounds of rustling chains followed his every move. Figures. The Gerudo thieves were smart enough to keep him locked up and without weapons this time. He just had to open his smart mouth.

Link frowns and casually brings his cuffed wrists to his lips; he spits and spits onto the area before tucking the chains to his upper extremities underneath his legs. He pulls and turns his forearms without panic. Anxiety would only wear the experienced warrior down. There was no telling what happened to the two Hylian men captured before him. All he can pray for is that they were alive. That type of extreme security at the bridge made it hard for Link to resist comparing timelines again. The Gerudo must feel very threatened by Hylians at this point, earlier than what he could remember. Their desert king was not here to lead them; the Royal Family refused Ganondorf's proposals for an alliance. Disdain and hatred. It will forever stain history in this timeline like the Hyrulean Civil War.

One wrist slides free. Link shook it off to get a feel of circulation again. He twists the second chain between his fingers and pulls harder for his other wrist to come out too. Chances are that Gerudo Valley will be low on resources, without Ganondorf's participation in forming false peace between himself and Hyrule's king. A true con artist. Habits with thievery would be more aggressive out of desperation. The former Hero did not know how to bite back his tongue sometimes. Seeing people here operate with bad intentions always frustrated him and Nabooru. It is against Gerudo custom to steal from women and children and to murder innocents. Both agreed that Ganondorf led the entire desert civilization astray.

But how could they be treating Hylians like this now? What would this mean for Nabooru if she were to find out?

The former Hero was losing focus. Link frees his second wrist and begins feeling for the chains cuffing his ankles. His thumbs shove down the flaps to his boots and past the metal rings. They felt cold touching his skin. Link kicks off his footwear and was able to slip his legs free from the new spaces formed. In his past timeline, he found Nabooru stuck trying to retrieve silver gauntlets from the Spirit Temple. Her adult size affected her mission for a small crawl space in her way. Link benefits again being a child. She would be too far away right now for the former Hero to explain his situation to her. He would need to handle this alone and hope to meet Gerudo Valley's second-in-command under better circumstances. Nabooru's trust was not one he'd want to lose.

His elven ears listened for guards. Link strapped his boots back on and felt the walls for a door. His palms slid over what felt like bars instead. There was always a way out of something; he just had to find it. Link pushes an arm further into the darkness and finds a heavy lock. He'd have to smash it out.

Malon, no worries. It's going to take me some time to get back to you, but I'm alright.

Link picks up his chains and pulls. They stretched just enough to reach the door, and he hit the lock repeatedly. Pushing past whatever poison was in his system was a daring challenge. It was not like he did not feel its effects currently. Upon standing the first time, a mild wave of dizziness got to him. The former Hero felt incredibly nauseous with sudden movements. He would have to take each action as a pre-planned thought first. It was a problem that was going to slow him down.

"W-Who's there?!" shouted a hoarse voice. Link froze with a dented cuff over his head. He looks around to where he's heard it. The panicked voice was not of a woman's, and it continues with wavering fear, "What are y-you doing!? You'll alert them…!"

"…I'm trying to get out of here?" Link lowers the cuff and waits, "Who are you?"

Silence. A man was heard coughing. The sounds of shuffling caught Link's attention enough for him to glance ahead. A cell had to be in front of his own. Chains were rattling loudly in the same direction.

"I…I am Hylian! I own a ranch in the center of Hyrule F-Fields! My daughter-!"

"Talon!" Link jolts. He pressed closer to the bars and shouts louder, "Talon, is that you?!"

The voice stammers out of surprise, "Y-Yes?! But do I k-know you?!"

The former Hero sighs in relief, "No! I am a friend of your daughter's, Malon! I was searching all over for you in Kakariko Village! She is very worried about you!"

He could hear a wince. As lazy as many found Talon to be, he cared just as much for his daughter. It was good news he was alive, but it's the worst area to be discovered in also, "I am guilty of disappointing her. She must have told you already, her favorite pony was given away for free by my assistant manager! He had no right…"

Link noticed the change of tone. It was despair. He raises his cuff and hits at his lock again, "Gerudo visited—the ranch, I know. I figured Epona—was brought here. You came to get her yourself?"

"Oh Epona…" Talon was heard sniffling, "I would not have come here knowing a friend of hers was searching for us…"

The former Hero looks towards the darkness. Comforting people was not his strong suit, especially in cold and eerie fortresses. A loud snap nearly startled Link, and his cuff split completely in half. He had to grab another ring to continue smashing his lock, "If it—makes you feel any better…I have not told Malon I suspected you searching. Have high hopes. I'm going to get us out of here."

"You sound too determined, child. The women here carry weapons sharper than a sickle! You're no match to them!"

The lock falls off and lands with a hard clang. Link pushes open his cell door and looks down the hall to see a torch light near to burn out. He rushes to it and retrieves it from its hanger. It took a couple gentle breaths against the oiled pit for more fire to breathe. The former Hero successfully revives the flame and approaches Talon in his cell.

He felt pity for the older man. Link saw how badly his condition was up front. Talon raises his head to see him. His skin was littered with scratches and his jean overalls had torn holes in them.

"Are you hurt?" Link asks him first.

Talon's mouth was agape. He was staring at Link's side before quickly looking away, "S-Sore, but I'm alright. What about you? Your clothes are bloody."

Link felt his side. He was surprised to feel something tucked under his arm to protect his wound. It was a pressure dressing that stopped his bleeding, "I'm…okay. They nicked me when I was caught at the bridge."

"You should take this chance to save yourself. Malon will understand if you have to-"

"I promised her." Link crouches down, "I'll find the dungeon keys and get you out."

Talon couldn't pull his eyes away. Something in his stare signaled to Link that he was as doubtful as he was terrified; he could not blame him. The man cannot hurt a fly and here he was, beaten down and terribly frail. The sight of this angered Link to his very bones.

He straightens his posture and goes to leave.

"Wait."

Link looks over his shoulder at Talon.

"How will I know you'll return?" he scoots closer to the metal bars.

"Give me two hours tops. I will need to find Epona too." the former Hero pats his pockets and finds Talon's pendant. Link slips it in through the bars for him to take.

Talon gently collects his accessory. Torch light illuminated tears flooding his eyes, "Malon, I'm so sorry…" he whines again, and Link had to glance away.

"Two hours, sir. Count the minutes in your head if you must..."

He nods, "T-Two hours…" Talon's head ducks onto his ashen knees, "Thank you, thank you so much…!"

…

Link was furious. The former Hero could not get that horrible image of Talon out of his head. When he finds who put their hands on him the way they had…

He was approaching his first main exit. Link shakes off the torch and grips its handle tightly. Right now, anything will sort as a weapon for him. Its black iron made for a durable staff to swing, and its pointed basket frame can catch a sword if held correctly. Gerudo women guard the inside and outside of the valley's fortress. Having experienced being captured here before, Link will use it to his advantage. He will not leave Talon, Epona, and his Kokori sword and Hylian shield behind.

"I'm telling you, those mismatched mats for rugs would not sell for a single rupee." Says one Gerudo. She was combing her hair with a golden brush around the corner. The former Hero stays low, his vision intermittently fogging and clearing. He was not hallucinating, there were two women casually talking to one another.

"Pah, if Hylians truly think that is of high class, they should see the fine rugs in our Spirit Temple. They have no idea what is really deserving of royal attention."

They disappear into the next hallway. He straightens his posture and reaches a flight of stairs in the opposite direction. It led to a higher level and a balcony expands onto an elevated patio outside. The former Hero looks left and right before carefully traversing through. On his side tonight was a night sky. No silver metal will reflect moonlight showering him out here.

He suddenly halts. A Gerudo stood with her back towards Link. She was in his way of entering another room and continues adjusting her face veil. Her body leans over to catch a clip that fell from her hands.

The former Hero sped forward and clubbed the thief on the back of her skull. His body swayed over the poor Gerudo now collapsed onto the floor. Sudden movements, right. Considering more of a stealthy approach would be the safer option. Link sighs and closes his eyes. He was stabilizing his motion sickness for a moment. This guard did not have dungeon keys on her, so it was on to the next one if destiny made it be.

Link used one boot to shove the Gerudo over the edge. She rolls off and lands onto a trailer full of dry hay below. Outside, Gerudo Valley's Fortress shook with high pitched screams. Guards in the lower-level cry for help. That should distract them enough to make it to the opposite end. Link trudges inside with a small yawn. Either all the traveling or poison dosage itself made him tired…

Or pretty inconsiderate.

Link shook his head and entered an empty kitchen. Food was abandoned on the table, but no signs of dungeon keys. He scratches his head. There was supposed to be lit cell here for prisoners considered important to desert civilization. The Gerudo must have rearranged the layout to the fortress during those seven years in slumber. Link felt foolish and circled the table to reach another flight of stairs.

…

Experience is experience, but not all the time does it pertain exactly to someone's unique conflicts. That was what Navi had taught her partner during their travels together. Adapting makes for survival.

And Link, well, was a victim of this outcome. Again.

He ran into a Gerudo Swordswoman as she was putting on lipstick. The sight stupefied him and got him in serious trouble when he was caught staring. Her beauty hit Link like a bag of rocks.

The former Hero yelped as he crashed into a few crates. Link had to move out of the way in the most ridiculous ways possible. Reason one, without a shield, two shamshir blades threatened to slice him to bits. Reason two, even these were laced with more of the same poison he was infected with. He raises his face and immediately rolls out of the way. The Gerudo Swordswoman leapt and slashed at the spot where he rested a second before.

"You have got to be kidding me…!" he pants. Standing and stumbling, Link held his side and rushed for the exit. He heard her draw her blades again and ducks, one shamshir spun like a boomerang and narrowly missed Link's head. It crashes powerfully against the door and tumbles on the floor.

This is it, now is his chance! Link grabs its handle and raises it when turning. He faces a now stunned Gerudo Swordswoman.

"What in the world…?" she scoffs and steps back. Her brows were furrowed, "You have to be on a serious high with our herbs! What do you think you're doing with that, kid?! P-Put it down!"

Link did not answer. He charges at full speed and spins on his heel. The torch staff knocked her blade out of parrying position and his own shamshir crosses between them as a concealed attack. Link's opponent skids away with bright sparks bouncing off from metal in contact with metal. She was highly trained for this, but she may have never had a child fight her like this before. The former Hero will take any incredulity to defeat her.

His knees wobble. There are dungeon keys rattling at her waist. Link begins to think more about weaknesses and strengths between them. Shamshir blades, although effective with performing deeper cuts, cannot thrust effectively like in lancing. There is no power behind the weapon enough to pierce armor. Its lightweight and much easier to block enemies with a curved edge; however, if an opponent is in close-quarter-combat, the wielder risks death.

Am I overthinking it?

A loud gasp brought Link back. The Gerudo Swordswoman had wide eyes as she slumped against a wall behind her. It confused him. He notices drops of blood speckling the stone in red, and there, the former Hero saw a cut in the thief's forearm. He had successfully grazed her. She gave him a glare as she saw Link was aware of her injury, too.

Her hand went to pull out a Deku Nut for escape.

"Oh no you don't!" Link dashes towards her again and with all his might, he smacks the torch's staff into her side. His opponent falls over, crying out in pain. Link quickly kicks away her shamshir and he hurriedly digs for the dungeon key ring attached to her belt.

"Why you little…!" hands try to grab onto his tunic. The former Hero uses this moment to knock her out during their struggle.

An eerie silence filled the room.

"H-Hah…" Link was panting. His head hung over and it felt extremely heavy. He exerted himself. To his left was a large chest and he slowly rose to see what was inside. A small click indicated it was unlocked and to his relief, there lie his Kokori Sword and Hylian shield.

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