The Legend Of Zelda Fan Fiction ❯ Gerudo Forest ❯ Chapter 52 ( Chapter 52 )

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

“That went better than I thought. At least you didn't fall off with my horrible flying skills.” Melissa smiled happily skipping down the steps from the roof while he followed chuckling at how silly she was acting. She couldn't help it. Flying made her fell giddy and excited. Especially with everything he had made her do. He had actually been able to hang on no matter what he had ordered of her and had definitely tested the limits of her flying abilities. They had so much fun it never even crossed their minds to go to the usual spot. Her sides felt a little bruised from where his feet had been digging in but it wasn't anything serious. They made it halfway down before they ran into Koume and Kotake who had most likely seen them land on the roof and had come to get them. By the looks on their faces Melissa could tell they had news on how Impa was doing. Melissa didn't think she really needed to be there for the questioning but she followed Ganon anyway. The guest quarters were located in the eastern half of the buildings and it didn't take long to reach from where they were now. Impa was propped up in bed against a rather stiff looking pillow while Nabooro sat in a chair beside the bed. Impa looked to the door as they entered and gave Ganon a rather ugly look. “I told them to tell you no questions today.” Nabooro said getting up to shoo everyone out but Ganon held up his hand stopping her in her tracks. “I wasn't informed but if she needs to give the wizard more time to plot I will gladly come back another time.” He said returning Impa's glares with a smirk. Melissa wondered if there was an actual story behind the death looks they were giving each other. Melissa wasn't going to pry. She remembered what had happened when she had first asked about Nabooro. She wouldn't go through that again. Maybe she could ask Impa later. “Let him begin his interrogation. The sooner this is over the sooner I can leave.” Impa said raising her head to try and look stronger than they all knew she felt. “So what does the Dark Lord wish to know?”
“Not much. Just if you know any of Agahnim plans and why he sent you to kill me instead of coming himself.” Ganon inquired leaning back against the wall looking unfazed by the shadow sage's rude looks.
“ I don't remember anything from when I was being controlled. So what ever he was planning and what ever he was trying to accomplish I can not say. Is that all you want to know? Can I leave now?” Impa asked haughtily.
“I am not holding you here. You may leave when ever you feel you are ready.” Ganon replied loftily turning to leave.
That was it? That is all he wanted to know? Melissa still had some questions and she guessed since no one else was going to ask she might as well.
“Did you find Link and Heather?” Melissa spoke up from the door.
At first no one heard her because she had spoken so quietly. Why couldn't she be more assertive? It was something she was going to have to get over.
“Did you find them?” She asked a little louder.
All eyes turned to her making her wish she had stayed silent.
“Who is this? Why do I feel like I have met her before?” Impa asked turning to Nabooro.
“This is Melissa. She is like Heather.” Nabooro said introducing her officially but left out that Impa had held her hostage.
The sage studied her. Was the sage sizing her up?
“ Your his aren't you?” Impa finally said with a sneer.
What did she mean by that and why was she acting this way to her? Melissa was taken aback by this unprovoked anger and decided she didn't want to know anymore. She backed up and ran out the door upset with herself. Impa probably thought her a weakling like everyone else after that display.
She made it back to her room and collapsed on the bed wiping her eyes. Ganon hadn't followed her which was okay because she was tired. After today's ups and downs she needed a rest. She closed her eyes and tried not to think of the days events and thankfully she didn't have to wait long before she drifted off.
She woke the next day feeling mostly refreshed. The sun beat through her window and she sat up looking around. How late was it? From how hot her room was it felt to be midday already. Had Ganon let her sleep in? She got up and rushed to put a fresh set of clothes on.
She put on the blue one she had just bought and headed to the door. She just couldn't miss bow practice. If she didn't get better soon they probably would never leave. She rushed to the practice field but Kona wasn't there. She would just have to practice on her own she guessed.
After setting the targets up she grabbed her training bow. There wasn't much of a wind today but maybe it wouldn't matter. After what felt like hours she felt she hadn't done to bad but she was still missing the targets more than she wanted. This had been so much easier on the game. Her fingers were beginning to hurt because she had forgot her finger taps but she continued to practice until one well placed snap of the bow cut her finger.
“owwie!” She said sucking on the tip of her finger.
“Mind if I join you?” Melissa heard a voice say behind her.
She turned to see Nabooro walking up.
“Be my guest but I was just about to quit.” Melissa responded not really knowing if she wanted company or not.
“Well then can we talk?” The sage asked.
“What's there to talk about?” Melissa asked leery that this was going to turn into another one of those You shouldn't be with him lectures.
“Well I know you wanted to know if Link and Heather was okay and I guess I wanted to apologize for how Impa acted. After what she's been through can you really blame her?” Nabooro asked.
“I know why you sympathize with her but I did nothing to warrant such treatment. She should apologize herself instead of getting someone else to do her dirty work.” Melissa sighed knowing she wouldn't be able to stay mad.
“She didn't send me but I know she would apologize if she was well enough to get up. When you left she hadn't expected that reaction. She didn't say it but I could tell she was upset with herself.” Nabooro argued trying to plead Impa's case.
“ It doesn't matter now. What's done is done. What's the news on Link and Heather?” Melissa asked not wanting to think about the the sheikah anymore.
At the mention of the hero and his guardian a troubled look crossed Nabooro's face.
“What's wrong?” Melissa asked now worried.
“Impa thinks they might be in trouble.” Nabooro started her face echoing what Melissa felt. “She said she found them and helped them through the Shadow Temple. They found the Triforce piece but she said it disappeared right in front of them.”
“All of the ones we have found did the same. One of the statues we collected a piece from told us not to worry. That it had been transferred to a bearer.” Melissa told her already knowing the pieces had a habit of doing that.
“To a bearer? Did it say who?” the sage asked but Melissa could only shake her head.
“Sadly the statue had been badly damaged by the wizard while searching for the piece. It ran out of energy before it could tell us. I don't know if that means once all the pieces have been found that we will then have to find this bearer or if the bearer will come to us.” Melissa responded seeing another daunting task ahead.
“Well if what Rutulla told me is true I don't think we will have much problems with that.” Nabooro said giving her a strange look like she knew something but wasn't sharing. “But back to what Impa said.” Nabooro said taking a deep breath. “ Once the piece disappeared they were making their way out and ran into the wizard who seemed to have a band of stalfos under his control. She said they fought but he overpowered them all. Link ended up knocked out somewhere in the middle of the battle and while Heather was trying to protect him he slipped this sort of collar on her making her change back. The wizards then gave them to the stalfos while he dealt with Impa. She doesn't know where they took them because the wizard threw a spell at her and she blacked out but she thinks they might still be at the temple.”
“What?!?! Does Ganon know?” Melissa asked hoping this would finally make him decide they needed to continue.
“He knows.” Nabooro said crossing her arms looking upset. “He plans to leave out within several days. Impa should be good enough to travel by then.”
Finally! She wasn't too keen on the Shadow Temple but if this was the news to get them going again she would just have to deal with it. If Heather could make it through surely she could.
“So speaking of Ganon... You haven't seen him anywhere today have you?” Melissa asked wondering what he was up to.
“He's your intended. You don't know where he is?” Nabooro asked sitting down on a crate.
“ I haven't seen him since yesterday.” Melissa admitted. “I guess he must be busy since we are leaving soon.”
“We? No your staying here on this rescue operation. If the wizard is still there it will be too dangerous for you.” Nabooro clarified.
“What? Like hell I am. There is no way I'm being left behind. I have been waiting a while now to get back on the road. If Agahnim was able to sneak Impa in here what's to stop him from sending another assassin? It would be just as dangerous here. I already talked to Ganon about this before. Did he really say he was going to leave me behind?” Melissa asked upset.
“I said no such thing.” a deep voice spoke up from the shadows.
“How long have you been hiding there?” Nabooro asked turning wide eyed.
“Long enough.” Ganon replied idly stepping from the shadows.
Had he been watching her practice? Why had he been hiding?
“Surely you aren't thinking of bringing her with us. You don't realize how bad it will be if the wizard gets a hold of her.” Nabooro said jumping up angrily looking ready to argue this to the death.
“What is it that your not telling us?” Ganon demanded and Nabooro stopped realizing he was slowly solving her secret.
Melissa just wished she could figure it out as well.
“It really isn't that hard to figure out.” Nabooro said folding her arms against her chest. “If Agahnim controls the guardians he controls the Triforce.”
Was that really the big secret? Melissa had figured that out a while ago.
Ganon eyed her suspiciously but let it go.
“She is still coming with me.” He responded with a glower challenging her to argue with him.
Nabooro opened her mouth to say something but he cut her off.
“This is not up for discussion.” He growled.
Once again Nabooro stormed off upset. That seemed to happen quite a lot with them. Melissa wondered what would have happened if Nabooro had really married him. They didn't seem to ever get along which would have been bad for the gerudo if they really had stayed together. Though Nabooro would make a more suitable queen, maybe fate had a reason for allowing their falling apart to happen.
“Were you there the whole time I was practicing?” Melissa asked embarrassed he had seen her horrible display.
“No I got here around the same time as Nabooro but thought it best to let her go first.” He grinned watching Nabooro disappear in the distance.
“Okay then what brings you here?” Melissa asked as she began putting things back up.
“Do I need a reason?” he whispered gruffly in her ear wrapping his arms around her making Melissa jump.
She hadn't even heard him come up behind her. He brushed her hair back and kissed her neck.
“You look nice today.” he said holding her tightly.
“What are you doing?” She asked stunned he was showing this much affection in the open.
“What do you think I'm doing?” he continued with a chuckle, kisses moving further down.
How should she respond to that? She knew what he wasdoing. She guessed a more accurate question was what had gotten into him all of a sudden.
“I have something for you.” he said releasing her before walking back to the buildings.
Should she follow? His sudden mood change made her a little suspicious of his motives. There was one motive she could think of but she was pretty confident he respected her enough for it not to be that. Well she had been sure till he turned giving her a playful smile.
“Are you coming?” he called.
Well she could think of worse things to happen to her so with a grin she ran after him.