The Legend Of Zelda Fan Fiction ❯ Gerudo Forest ❯ Chapter 16 ( Chapter 16 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

“Turn around. Go Back!” Ganon tried to order her but Melissa had no intentions of doing so. She had seen the massacre that was taking place. The Gerudos that weren’t killed were being rounded up into cages just as all the horses, somehow including Trinexx, was being rounded up. She didn’t know what they would do with them but she had a feeling it wasn’t anything good. If she went back she risked all of them being caught. “If we go back we can’t help them later. We will be in the same situation as they are.” Melissa tried to explain to him. “ At least we know who the great evil is.” She thought to him to which he didn't respond. Melissa ran till her legs cramped up. She could feel what little strength she had left fading. She spotted a cave hidden in the side of a rock and decided to stop there. They could hide there till she regained her energy. Chara and Ganon slid down her back and she could already feel the changes reversing. Once human again she collapsed to the ground. She was so tired. She didn’t even have time to worry about clothes. Her eyes felt heavy and she faintly remembered the feeling of something being wrapped around her. She woke the next morning wrapped in his arms and cape. He must have picked it up before they had left. She could see the sun shining through the mouth of the cave. It muted the light the Triforce gave off. She could hear his heart beating in her ear that was laying across his chest. “So He did have a heart.” she thought to herself looking up at him. He was still asleep. He had evidently cleaned the blood off of him last night. He really didn’t look all that bad when he was sleeping. As she studied his face he opened his eyes looking down at her softly. Melissa looked away quickly. “Morning.” she said trying not to turn red from being caught watching him sleep. He stretched and yawned releasing her. She took that opportunity to grab a pair of clothes from the bag. It was covered in trinkets that she had no need of. “Honestly? Who picked these out?” She asked with a little laugh. “I’m not really a fancy kind of person.” Ganon looked down. So he had been trying to impress her. “Hand me your dagger please?” She asked him. “Don’t cut them up!” He said outraged. “Well if I wear them as they are it will attract too much attention.” She tried to convince him. He thought about it then begrudgingly handed over the blade. She made it as plain as she could. She handed the dagger back then walked behind a rock. Once dressed she came back out handing him his cape. She placed the trinkets in the bag. They might need them later to barter with. Chara came in from the outside. She had been scouting out where they were and to everyone’s surprise Melissa had brought them fairly close to Gerudo Valley. “I counted 30 soldiers. They have some of our people locked in the barracks.” Chara said reporting what she had seen. “We haven’t been gone but a few months but already they have moved civilians in.” She said angrily. “The horses are tied up in the old archery range. Some of the horses still have the equipment packed on them.” She said eagerly. Melissa could see the cogs in Ganon’s mind turning. “Here is what we will do. I will free whoever is in the barracks while you two get the horses.” It was a simple plan and it might work if Melissa could be stealthy enough. She knew Chara had the skills of a ninja but Melissa hadn’t grown up a Gerudo. She would do her best though. As the three of them snuck into the village Melissa realized that Ganon and Chara were the only ones who stuck out. With Melissa’s ears covered no one gave her a second glance. Maybe this would be possible. Ganon and Chara stuck to the shadows so as not to be seen. When they reached a low flat building they split up. Ganon looked back at Melissa pointing for her to follow Chara before disappearing inside. Melissa watched which way Chara sneaked and followed her as inconspicuously as she could. They had to make their way through a market place. Vendors were trying to catch the attention of the people as they walked by. They sold a range of fruits, vegetables, and trinkets. On one table she saw the one of the outfits Ganon had worn as Armos. She could tell because the leather band with the red Triforce was with it. “Oh! “Said the vendor noticing the garment had caught her eye. ” You have an eye for quality there. Got this from the temple this morning.” He said with pride. Melissa tried not to show how much the thought of people looting the temple upset her. “It’s only 100 rupees for the set.” He said with a smile. “I have no rupees.” She said disappointed she couldn’t reclaim at least one thing that had been stolen. Then she thought of the trinkets she had cut off her clothes this morning. “I do have this. She said pulling a handful of them out of her bag. “His mouth dropped open.” Where did you get theses?” He asked clearly wanting what she held. “I went to the temple this morning to.” She lied with a smile. He bought it. “Give me what you have in your hand there and you may have the set. I will even throw this leather band in.” He said completing the outfit. “Deal!” Melissa said handing them over and placing the clothes in her bag. She knew that what she had given him was way more than what the clothes were worth but at the moment she didn’t care. She had regained at least one thing. She turned to see Chara watching her in the shadows shaking her head. They set off again. They finally made it to the horses. Trinexx was in a coral all by himself. Soldiers were trying to break him but Trinexx was as stubborn as his owner. “We need a distraction.” Chara said looking at the two guards guarding the bigger coral. “I think I can provide one.” Melissa said with a smirk. She gave Melissa a thumbs up before hiding in the shadows again. Melissa would reclaim Trinexx while Chara grabbed some of the others. When the Guards saw her approach they stopped. “Hey girlie. What you doing here?” The pudgy one with a blond mustache asked. ”I just like looking at horses.” Melissa said giving them a smile. “Where did you get this one? He’s so beautiful.” She said pretending to be curious. “He was from the temple.” said a brown haired freckled man in armor that looked too big for him. “Rumor is this is the Dark Lord Ganondorf’s war horse.” Said the mustached man leaning closer like it was some big secret. “Right now I am trying to break him.” Said the one with freckles bragging. “It looks more like he’s breaking you.” she said causing the one with the mustache and some of the others around them to laugh. The freckled man looked upset. “Well I would like to see you do better!” He said indignantly. “Could I really?” Melissa asked faking excitement. “I don’t know if that would be safe.” Said the one with the mustache. “Please!” she begged flirting with him. Girls can always get men to do foolish things she thought when he agreed. They let her enter the coral. Trinexx didn’t recognize her at first. He must be so scared she thought. She started to sing to him. Just for the fun of it she hummed Epona’s song. When Trinexx realized who she was he came running up to her and nuzzled her face. “Well I’ll be!” Said the freckled man. “Bet you can’t ride him though.” He said trying to save face. Melissa put her foot in the stirrup and barely managed to swing her leg over. She trotted Trinexx around the coral gathering speed. “Impressive!” Said the one with the mustache. Melissa saw that Chara Had gathered all the horses they needed and was signaling for her to get out of there so Melissa spurred Trinexx as fast as he would go making him leap the fence. She heard shouts from the soldiers as Trinexx galloped off with her on him. While Melissa led them on a chase Chara snuck the horses out a back way to wait for Ganon and the others to meet up. After a while Melissa decided to lose them. Trinexx was happy to run as fast as the wind leaving her pursuers in the dust. Melissa exited the city and found Ganon waiting for her. “Where is everyone?” She asked as she neared him. “It is safer if we scatter for now.” he said climbing up behind her taking the reins. “Where is Chara?” Melissa asked looking around for her friend. “She went with Koume and Kotake. Do not fret we will see them again soon enough.” He said leading Trinexx into a gallop around the outer edge of the city and into the gorge.