Fan Fiction ❯ Professional Hero ❯ Desert people ( Chapter 34 )

Chapter 34 - Desert people

Romani looked over the yellow desert while she played with a steel dagger. She hated this. Not the desert, no, she liked the desert. Well, she didn't hate it. But this… this situation. Her mother had said there was some urgent situation at the Spirit Temple and once again she wasn't allowed to go. She knew she wasn't ready to fight on her own yet, but that didn't mean she couldn't be with her mother. After all, she was Romani, daughter of Nabooru, queen of the Gerudo. That's why she snuck out and rode off to the desert Temple without her mother's knowledge. None of the Gerudo at the temple had spotted her (which didn't surprise her, her mother had always told her she was a good thief for her age) and had climbed up the huge stone construction that was in front of the Temple. She hadn't seen her mother yet but there were a lot of Gerudo around, seemingly nervous. Just as she was about to ask herself if it was a good idea sneaking out here, a bright light came down on the Tri-Force symbol close to the entrance of the tunnel. Nine persons appeared, followed by a loud shout.

"Fuck! It's fucking hot here! I'm fucking dehydrating!"

"There's a pond a bit further," Link told the two Zora's who happily sprinted in the direction Link had pointed out.

"What's going on here?" one of the Gerudo women demanded with her scimitar raised.

"I'm here to talk to Nabooru," Link answered calmly, "where is she?"

"Who are you and what do you want from her?"

"I am Link," Goro stepped forward, "and I have important news for her."

The Gerudo looked at the Goron and nodded.

"She's in the Temple. Strange things have started happening and now she has gone to investigate them."

"We go in after her," Link turned to the others, "you four," he addressed his children, "you stay here and don't go in. You got that?"

"Aw dad," they started whining.

"You! Stay! Here!" Link repeated, "I lost you once, I don't want to lose you again."

"Well, we neither," Malon whispered.

Link couldn't help but crack a smile and hugged his children.

"I'll be alright," he told them, "it's you I'm worried about. Will you stay here?"

"We will," Darmani sighed and grinned, "you go and kill whatever's in there, okay?"

Link grinned and patted his son on the head.

"Always."

The four children watched their father and grandfather enter the temple with the huge Goron and the two Zora heroes. They glanced at each other to see what they would do now and shrugged. Each went their own way around the temple, making sure they remained close to one of the Gerudo guards.

"We should have gone for the Sword of Time," Madakar said as they entered the hall of the Temple.

"No we didn't," Link answered, "first of all, I didn't want to alarm Zelda, and second of all," he unsheathed his Biggoron sword, "I have this."

"But the power of the sword…" Madakar rejected.

"I've got as much power in this sword as in the Sword of Time," Link told him, "you know what Kaepora told me once?"

Dekaru sat down in the shade of a huge stone gate. Just as he wondered who on earth would build a gate without a wall, a shape on top of the shadow on the ground caught his eye. He looked up and saw a girl jump down, holding out two daggers. Dekaru shrieked, rolled back and grabbed his deku stick. The girl landed on the spot where he had been resting and turned around, ready to strike.

"Who are you?" she demanded.

"I'm Dekaru," the boy replied, taking in his opponent.

The girl was about his age and had the red hair and deep brown skin that was typical for the Gerudo, with green eyes. Her hair was tied up in a long ponytail that reached to her backside. Her clothes consisted of a red pair of pants and a red top. There was no jewellery on her, or anything else that could make a noise. Dekaru lowered his deku stick and smiled. The girl smiled as well and lowered her daggers a bit. Quickly Dekaru shot forward, between her daggers and knocked her to the ground. He placed his knees on her arms and grinned.

"And who might you be?" he asked.

"You infidel!" the girl shouted, "I'm Romani, princess of the Gerudo."

Dekaru couldn't decide what startled him more, the fact she was named the same as his mother, or the fact she was a princess. Romani used this moment to lift her legs and flip the boy over. She raised her daggers again but stopped when she felt something cold against her back.

"Yes, you're right," a voice from behind her said, "this is an arrow head, now lower the daggers and nobody gets hurt."

"Princess!" a Gerudo guard shouted as she saw Malon pointing her bow at Romani.

"I'm okay," Romani said as she dropped her daggers next to Dekaru's head, "it's my fault, I should have been more attentive."

Malon put down her bow while Dekaru squirmed his way from underneath Romani. Malon slowly lowered her bow as the young Gerudo girl sheathed her daggers.

"So," Dekaru tried to break the silence, "you're a princess?"

"Nabooru is my mother," the girl said, "I was named after a good friend of her, but she died shortly after I was born."

"That was our mother," Malon said, "Romani was our mother who died five years ago."

"Really?" the girls eyes grew wide, "that means your father is Link!"

"He is," Dekaru nodded, "and now he's inside that temple to fight whatever evil is in it."

"Just like my mom," Romani sighed, "I wish I could help them."

"What was it grandpa always said?" Malon glanced at Dekaru, "careful what you wish for?"

"You might get it," Dekaru completed, "it means things don't always go the way you think they will go. Or something like that."

"Anyway," Malon sat next to the young Gerudo girl, "we just fought some monsters and it's not as easy as it seems."

"For you maybe," Romani snorted, "but I'm trained by the Gerudo, and even though I'm only six, I'm one of the best new recruits there have ever been."

"Well, we've been trained by our grandfather for the past five years now," Dekaru scratched his neck nonchalantly, "and we were lucky to get out alive."

Romani thought about this and decided to keep quiet.

Thanks to the secret paths Impa had taught him five years ago, Link had soon caught up with Nabooru. Needless to say she was pleased to see Link again, and that the had brought company to fight whatever monster that threatened the temple. She was less pleased to hear that Zelda had tried to conquer the surrounding countries.

"We'll deal with that later," Link told her, "now we have to secure the temple to prevent her from using it's power."

"I can't believe Zelda would do something like that," Nabooru shook her head in disbelief, "she's the seventh sage for crying out loud."

"The only sage of wisdom I know is Kaepora," Link responded, "and he never told me anything of a successor. She only took the title of seventh sage because she had the Tri-force of knowledge and she was to lead the sages. She has nothing else to do with the temple of Wisdom."

"There's a temple of Wisdom?"

"I bet you a thousand rupees that's what she would say," Link grinned, "yes, there's a temple of Wisdom although I haven't been there yet."

Link suddenly wondered if Ganondorf knew about the temple and if he had invaded it all those years ago. He'd better ask Kaepora about that the next time he saw the owl. And how you're supposed to get in the damn thing.

"Anyway," Link shrugged off this alarming thought, "let's focus on this temple for the moment."

Now that was known that the Gerudo princess was amongst them, the Gerudo had concentrated their watch on the stone gate in front of the temple, where the young girl sat with Links children. This made it all easier for the Gravedigger to approach the Temple unseen. He remained hidden however, since it was yet unclear if he would have to strike, or if Malledril could do the job.

For the fifth time, Link entered the final chamber of the Spirit Temple, unsure what he was to find. The first three times he had fought Twinrova here, and the fourth time it was the evil sorcerer Kaligan, but now the entire room was filled with sand. The five platforms were still visible, but the space in between was filled with almost white sand. Just as Mikau was to step on the sand, Link stopped him.

"Careful," he said, "the last time I was here, that sand wasn't there, so I'm guessing it has something to do with the monster."

"You've guessed right." Nabooru pointed to the other side of the room.

From underneath the sand, a large wormlike creature drilled a way up and let out a huge roar that didn't suit it. It dove back under and soon the sand was without a wrinkle.

"Spread out!" Goro shouted as he held the Megatonn hammer high, "and stay clear of the sand!"

"We'll stay here and shoot that fucker where ever it pops up," Mikau said, readying his bow.

"Go ahead, stay here," one of the Gerudo mocked, and ran to the next platform, "we'll do the real work."

Just as she had said that, the monster emerged behind her, but thanks to the arrows of the two Zora warriors, the monster seek shelter in the white sand.

"That's why they stay here," Link shouted to the shocked Gerudo, "to cover us when we move around. As soon as everyone is on their position, they'll move to the centre pillar to cover everything from there."

Nabooru and Madakar ran to the platform at the opposite side and Goro took the right side. As soon as they were in place, Link drew his bow and nodded to the Zora twins. They ran at the centre platform, just as the monster emerged at the right side of the chamber. Link shot a light arrow at it's head and Goro jumped up with his megaton hammer.

"It's another one!" Link-Zora suddenly shouted as he aimed his bow, "it's got another patern on it's back!"

Just as the light arrow exploded in the monsters face and Goro's hammer landed on its back, a second worm erupted from underneath the sand and came crashing in on Goro. The young Goron hero could roll out of the way but still was caught in the blow. The two monsters submerged again and left the sand calm again.

"Goro! You okay?" Link shouted.

"I'm fine!" Goro answered as he got on the platform again, "was that second one the same as the first one?"

"I think so," Mikau looked around the room, "this one had a green pattern on his back, just like the first one."

"So there are at least two of these things in here." Link muttered, scanning the area.

He readied his bow and stepped on the sand.

"Link!" Nabooru yelled, "what are you doing?"

"Trust me!" he shouted back, "Nothing to worry about."

After a few steps, the green patterned monster came up behind him and the other one in front of him. Link shot an ice arrow at the second monster that froze it's body. He jumped out of the way as the first monster crashed down and disappeared under the sand.

"Nothing to worry about," he panted as he drew his sword.

Link jumped up and climbed the ice that imprisoned the second worm. It's face was gravely damaged by his light arrow and bled out of numerous wounds. Link jammed his sword deep in it's skull to end it's suffering. The monster incinerated in a green blue flame and vanished. Link dropped on the sand and raised his sword, ready for another attack. A noise made him look back but nothing was there.

"Look out! Behind you!" Madakar shouted but it was too late.

The monster jumped out of the sand, but arrows from Zora and Mikau slowed it down enough for Link to jump out of the way. He let out a wave of energy with his spinslash that left a large mark at the side of the monster.

"You know, you really should show us how you charge your arrows like that," Mikau shouted to Link, "that would really help us a lot. No wonder you're always the fucking hero, if you don't share you tricks it's not that fucking hard."

"Mikau," Link responded, "shut the fuck up!"

"I hear ya, boss." Mikau grinned and shot his bow at the monster that tried to attack Madakar and Nabooru this time.

Nabooru jumped up to the monster and delivered two deep gashes in it's head with her scimitars. Madakar just stepped aside out of the monsters path and planted his sword deep in it's body. The monster jerked violently, throwing Nabooru on the sand and caused Madakar's sword to break off.

With a load roar it dove under again.

"Come on!" Mikau yelled, "what the fuck does it take for this motherfucker to die?"

"Keep it up," Goro shouted, "with a little luck you'll talk it to death."

"Fuck you, rockpile," Mikau continued as he turned around and shot at the monster that now attacked the Gerudo guards, "at least I'm doing something constructive. All you do is stand there, waiting for it to come up near you. I'm constantly on the look out here."

Link ran up to the Gerudo guards to help them fight the monster but was too late to wound it. The monster budged into one of the guards, knocking the wind out of her, before it disappeared in the sand again.

"How can he keep talking," she motioned towards Mikau as Link helped her up, "and still fight this monster?"

"It's a gift," Link grinned, "for as long as I've known him, he's never been quiet, always ready to snap an insult or profanity."

"Fuck yeah! We got him!" Mikau high-fived his brother as their arrows hit the monster in its previous wounds and send it back underground.

"Come on, this is taking to long." Link shouted and walked on to the sand.

"What then do you suggest we do?" Madakar asked with a hint of annoyance in his voice.

Link said nothing but charged his sword. When it was completely charged, he thrust it into the sand and let out the energy. A huge energy wave rippled the sand.

"Good idea," Goro grinned and let his hammer come down hard on the sand, "it's a worm, so let's lure it out like a worm."

The worm emerged with a load roar and eyed Link.

"This is it!" he shouted, "No more games! Let's end this."

Link started to charge his sword and watched the monster. It swayed his head and appeared to be awaiting Link next move.

"I was taught once that a warrior attacks last but strikes first." Link said.

The monster let out another roar and charged forward. Link just remained calm and spun his sword. The energy wave cleaved the head of the worm in two and killed it outright. Link became engulfed in blue green flames but came out unscathed when the remains of the worm vanished.

"Dude, what d' you know, it worked." Mikau grinned just before Zora nudged him in the ribs.

"That was a huge risk you took." Madakar warned Link.

"You know," Link responded, "when I was in the past, I thought it was strange you had a complete army under you. Later I learned that was the normal way to do these things. I had been running around for all this time, doing the work of an army, and not even a small army. I've come to know what has become a risk and what not because of my wandering life. And frankly, I didn't care if it was a risk. And if it weren't for my children, I still wouldn't care."

"They're coming back!"

The children sat back up and watched the entrance of the temple where several Gerudo had gathered.

"You think they all made it alright?" Malon asked.

"They have to," Darmani said, "they're hero's."

"Wait," Romani jumped up, "there they are!"

Just as the party came out of the temple, Malon spotted something on the wall above the entrance and drew her bow.

Nabooru came out of the temple first, as it was suited the Gerudo queen to handle her own affairs. Just as she had set foot in the sunlight, a large shadow fell upon her. She jumped out of the way, barely dodging the large manlike monster dressed in darkblue with a black leather mask. Several Gerudo raised their halberds but the hulking monster just swiped them away with a single motion. He shot forward to Nabooru and once again she was able to dodge the monster. Five Gerudo jumped before their queen to protect her, but the monster jumped up and kicked two of them in the face, driving their nosed deep in their skulls, and landed behind them, in front of Nabooru.

"Get him!" she yelled as she unsheathed her scimitars.

Several Gerudo jumped on the large creature but it just dodged their blows and crushed every Gerudo he could reach.

"What is that?" Madakar asked as he saw the monstrosity fight.

"I don't know," Link admitted, "but that outfit he's wearing looks familiar, and what's that red on his chest and mask?"

The monster suddenly turned around and looked at Link.

"No, not yet," it hissed, "first the sages, then the Hero."

It jumped up and landed behind Nabooru. Before she could react the monster snapped her neck.

"One down," it seemed to laugh, "on to the next one."

It jumped up and shot out a cable out of its wrist. The hook at the end of the cable drove itself deep in the wall of the temple and the large monster climbed up the templewall and then jumped in the desert.

"It's in the desert!" one of the Gerudo shouted, "let's get that killer!"

"You won't find it." Link said as he walked over to his children.

"We know the desert better than anyone," the Gerudo objected.

"Doesn't matter," Link shook his head, "if it doesn't want to be found, you won't find it. You can try but I'm going to the next temple. It's clear it's going to kill the sages, and the Water Temple is the closest here."

"But… my mom…" Romani snickered as she kneeled next to Nabooru's body.

"She's dead," Link said, "I'm sorry. But be assured, I'll make sure that monster pays. The rest of us better leaves to make sure it doesn't kill more sages."

Goro, Zora and Mikau-zora nodded and Madakar rounded up the children.

"Where do we go now?" Mikau asked.

"Lake Hylia," Link answered as he brought out his ocarina, "time to check up on Ruto."

In a bright light Link and his friends were carried away by the melody and left a grieving Romani with her dead mother. Nabooru of the Gerudo had fallen. Link prayed she was the only sage who would die.