~Chapter Twenty One- Spiritual Overdose~
They had left early that morning and now, Kuro, Warro, and Devon were caught in a sandstorm, in the middle of the desert known as the Haunted Wasteland. That morning, Kuro had returned the Spirit Pendant to Warro, granting him the magic cloak, which now protected him from the sand whipped up in the wind as Devon and Kuro wore cloaks they had prepared before the boy had woken up. They both were holding one of Warro's hands as Devon guided them to each of the flags the Gerudoes had set up to traverse the Wasteland.
"We should be close to the monument to the Phantom Guide!" Devon called out, over the howling winds. "We'll summon our otherworldly help, tomorrow!"
"What?" Warro asked, looking up to the sky, hoping to see through the veil of sand. The sun was beginning to set and from what Devon had told him, the rough part of the trek was almost over as the cooler part of the desert journey was beginning. However, they were tired and he was worried about their survival. The desert was compleely dry; there was no way for moisture to be anywhere.
"She said we're going to rest soon!" Kuro yelled.Up ahead, a silhouette of a monument appeared to rise from the ground, in the twilight. Trudging through the sand, which felt as if it got deeper with each step, they approached the monument and Devon began to feel the sides of it, looking for something.
"We placed a small area with some shelter and food here, for when we sent people to the Temple," she said as she continued feeling the wall. "It should be--oop!" She stumbled forward and nearly fell over, pulling Warro and Kuro with her. "Found it! Watch your step as you climb down the ladder!" Devon released Warro's hand and made her descent. Warro turned to Kuro and looked at her and then to their hands, before letting go and fllowing Devon down the ladder with Kuro above him.
"If you dare to look up his tunic, you're dead," Kuro said as the trio dscended into the dimly lit room underground. It was nice and cool as they got closer to the bottom, where two torches illuminated the area.
"Awww…" Devon groaned. It was to be expected, however. She did hold Warro prisoner for a few days after all and who knew if she kept her word to Kuro about not doing…
No, thought Kuro, shaking her head to mix up her thoughts to focus on something else. When she arrived at the bottom, she had a look around and saw Devon reachinginto a crate and pulling out a loaf of bead.
"It's not much, but it's dinner, right?" she said, tossing a loaf to Kuro and Warro. They ate their plain, non-luxury meal silently. Devon sat alone while Kuro sat next to Warro, staring at Devon getting the message across:
"Don't touch him."
Warro felt his shoulder being nudged as he tried to sleep. His eyes felt very heavy and he wanted to continue sleeping, but the nudging would not stop.
"Warro," someone whispered. "Warro." He then heard a sigh and then something clamp down on his nose. His eyes opened suddenly, startled by the inability to breathe through his nose and he jolted forward, bumping his forehead off something… or someone. "Ow… Warro, you idiot…"
"K-Kuro?" Warro stuttered, rubbing his forehead. As his vision became clearer, he saw Kuro sitting next to him, rubbing her own forehead. He looked to the other end of the room and saw Devon, all alone, sleeping soundly."Did you take your medicine?" he whispered.
"No, I--"
"Kuro, I promised that I'd get you to take the medicine," Warro said in a slightly louder whisper.
"Warro, the pills…" Kuro took out the bag and reached in holding one out to him.
"Take it," Warro sternly said. "Promise me you'll take them every day, like you're supposed to."
"Fine," sighed Kuro as she popped the pill into her mouth and swallowed. "I promise." She turned and then began to go up the ladder. "Come on up. I want to show you something."
"What is it?" Warro asked, picking up his sword and slinging it over his shoulder. Warro thought that id just had to be a monster Kuro wanted him to fight, knowing her. As he reached the top of the ladder, a breeze blew into his face, and when his eyes opened, his jaw dropped at the scenery. The sky was magenta as the sun was beginning to rise over the dunes, on the horizon. Without a cloud or tree in sight, the sight was simply amazing.
"We haven't been able to kick back and relax, after we left Lon Lon Ranch, haven't we?" Kuro asked, sitting in the sand, against the side of the monument. "I can't believe that after this week, it will be one month since we met." Kuro looked at Warro and patted the sand next to her.
"Week? Month?" Warro sat next to her.
"You are so dimwitted," Kuro laughed, punching his arm.
"S'long as it doesn't kill me, right?" Warro responded. There was a silence between the two of them. they just sat and watched the sun rise, before Warro broke the silence with, "What does 'love' mean?"
"Wh-what?" Kuro asked, adverting her gaze from Warro. It was her fault for his curosity, now, so she felt it was only right to try and answer him.
"What does--"
"I heard you," Kuro quickly said. "I was just caught off guard."
"Didn't you say to never let your guard down?" Warro asked. That's not like her, he thought. He looked back out to the scenery again and smiled. It really felt like it was a long time since he had been at Lon Lon Ranch. He recalled the girl there… What was her name again? Marin? No, Warro could barely recall her face let alone her name.
"You mean you don't feel comfortable around me?" Kuro asked, punching his arm again with a pout on her face. "We're friends! I can trust you, Warro. At first, I admit, I wouldn't have let you become friendly with me, but now…" She smiled and wrapped an arm around him. "I can trust you, Warro. I can count on you to look after me, if things get rough and I hope you can for me."
"I'm confused."
"Stupid." Kuro laughed, punching his arm again.
"So, what does 'love' mean?"
"It's something I can't realy tell you, Warro," Kuro said. "The best--uh-- people have tried to find the meaning for a long time; they devoted their life to it in some cases. It's a lost cause. You'll find your own meaning, one day, I'm sure of it." She looked down at the sand and thought of her past. Just wait for me, okay? She looked back up and then to Warro. "You ask too many questions." She punched Warro's arm once more. "You didn't know how to count, you can't read, and there are far too many things you don't know."
"Read?"
"Yep, we got a lot of work to do."
When Devon awoke, the trio headed to the top of the monument, where the Phantom Guide was rumored to reside. Devon read the stone tablet, and almost immediately afterward, she groaned loudly:
"We need the Eye of Truth! Nabooru knew the way to the Temple herself, so whenever we went there, she lead us."
"You mean we can't go on?" Warro asked.
"Yes!" Devon said exasperatedly, hugging Warro tightly. "We'll be trapepd here forever if wedon't get the help of the Phantom Guide!" Warro's body loosened up under Devon's grip as his eyes shut.
"Eye of Truth… Would it happen to be the same thing as the Lens of Truth?" Warro asked.
"Yes!" Devon exclaimed, kissing Warro's cheekers. "Come on, what are you waiting for? Bring it out!" She backed away and waited for Warro to pull the Lens of Truth from his tunic.
"But I gave it to Zelda, after I left the Shadow Temple. It was useless."
"THAT DOESN'T HELP US AT ALL!" Devon exlaimed pulling her leg back. "Warro, I love you, but don't get my hopes up for nothing!" Her leg then swung forward and connected right in between Warro's legs, making him let out a loud yelp of pain.
"DEVON!" Kuro exclaimed, coming out of deep thought. She had not noticed what Devon was doing to Warro at that time. Warro fell to his knees, placing his forehead against the ground breathing deeply.
"Relax, Kuro, we can still have his babies," Devon laughed.
"What do you by us mean having his--"
"Oh, so you don't want to share him?"
"I just--agh! Forget it! I have an idea!"
"An idea?" Warro asked between deep breaths.
"Is it a threesome?"
"NO!" Kuro punched Devon in the gut and turned to Warro. "Our guide is a phantom. Phantoms are ghosts and ghosts are spirits!"
"Exactly." Kuro looked at Warro. "When you done tending to your…" She hid her blushing face under her hand. Damn you, Devon! Stop making me think of Warro like that! she yelled in her mind.
"I can lick you wound for you, Warro," Devon said. "It can help you recover faster and I'm terribly sorry for what I did to your--"
"DEVON!" Kuro punched Devon in the gut once more. "Don't corrupt my image of Warro!"
"It's okay, Kuro," said Warro as he got to his feelt. "I'm feeling better, now. I wouldn't mind Devon or you licking my wound with me, next time."
"If you weren't stupid, I'd kill you right now, dimwit," Kuro sighed, placing her hand against her head as Devon giggled at Warro's remark. "Anyways, you should get yourself ready. You have the Shadow Sage's spirit inside the Pendant, right?"
"Yep," Warro said. "What about her?"
"Think you can get her to call the Phantom Guide for us?" Kuro asked. The wind began to pick up, breaking the silence. Warro's eyes were closed and when they opened up again, they were purple.
"That is impossible." It was no longer Warro speaking; it was Impa. "He can only sense them; not communicate with them, as he is right now."
"This is kind of creepy," Devon said, looking at Warro. "So, what exactly is the Spirit Pendant?" She took several steps away from Warro, frightened by Impa's possession over him.
"I am not sure," Impa said through Warro. "What I did notice is that it's magic is even more ancient than Hyrule itself."
"It's older than Hyrule?" Kuro asked. "You mean, before the Goddesses arrived? But then, why is the pendant shaped like--"
"I do not know, but it far exceeds anything a Hylian can craft today. Perhaps our legend of Hyrule was wrong." Warro's eyes shut again as Impa and stayed that way for a few minutes.
"Goodbye, and thanks," Warro said, opening his eyes up. The Magic Cape disappeared from his shoulders and the pendant reverted to it's black color. "Alright, I'm ready, Kuro." Warro shut his eyes and focused on the area around him. According to the instructions Impa had given him in the few minutes that he had spoken with her, before she left, the Phantom Guide was somewhere on the top of the monument…
"I'll be your guide on the way, but coming back, I won't play!" Warro's pendant shook a little and it jerked forward as if something had grabbed ahold of it and he stumbled forward. Only warro could hear the voice, but Devon and Kuro could tell that it was an unnatural movement Warro was following.
"Good work, Warro!" Kuro called out as she and Devon hopped off the monument, following Warro through the desert.
"I'll show you the only way to go, so follow me and don't be slow!" Warro stumbled with his eyes closed through the sand as the Phantom Guide showed the trio the way to the Spirit Temple. There were no monsters for the longest time, until Warro slowed down. Up ahead, Devon and Kuro saw what appeared to be another monument in the desert.
"It's the Colossus!" Devon exclaimed. "We're here!" She rushed forward and hugged Warro as the Phantom guide released its grip on the Pendant.
"You alright there, Warro?" Kuro asked, walking over to her friend. She placed a hand on his shoulder, laughing. He was pale and he obviously felt uncomfortable with Devon hugging him.
"Yeah," Warro said. Color began to return to his face as Devon released him. He looked over to the Desert Colossus and stared at the woman carved into the side of the cliff standing over the area. "What's that?" he asked, pointing at it.
"That's the Goddess of the Sand," Devon explained. "She is the one who allows us to survive in this harsh land." Devon pointed to the entrance into the side of the cliff underneath it. "That's the Spirit Temple." Devon smiled and walked forward, looking up to the sky. The sun was beginning to set over the desert. "Leevers will be rising tonight, so we should get right outside the temple. Warro, you deserve the rest, after being dragged around by a Phantom."
"I was ging to say the same thing," Kuro muttered, crossing her arms.They arrived at the cliff just as the sky turned dark. They looked at each other and then inside of the Spirit Temple. "So, you've been here before, right?"
"Yes, when I came of age, Nabooru took me here for the ceremony," Devon explained. "I don't know what you faced so far, but the Gerudo Training grounds mentally prepare us for this place."
"What do you mean?" Kuro asked, somewhat interested. She was going to try and make a mental layout of the temple in her head.
"Well, if you look abov us, there are two cliffs. Inside, there are two ways you can go. We are taken here, when we are children, to pass the first half, which requires the purity of a child."
"And the second half?" Kuro asked.
"The other half is reserved for only the strongest. Only Ganondorf and Nabooru have explored the right side of the Temple."
"Ganondorf was here?" Kuro and Warro asked in unison.
"Well, he WAS our king, remember?" Devon laughed, but then she noticed something. Warro was shivering. The desert was cold at night, but Warro looked like he had the life sucked from him. "Warro, you okay?" Kuro's eyes widened at Devon noticing something wrong with Warro before her and turned to him. She immediately knew he was cold and wrapped her arms around him, trying to keep him warm.
"What's wrong?" she asked. Warro's body trembled in her embrace.
"I… I hear screams," Warro muttered. "They are crying out."
"The Spirit Pendant?" Kuro asked, holding it in her hand, while it was around Warro's neck.
"It's just like the Shadow Temple," Warro muttered, trying to hid himself in Kuro. "So many tormented spirits calling out."
"Well, this IS the Spirit Temple," said Devon, sitting next to Warro and wrapping her arms around him. She looked at Kuro ad mouthed out, "I won't lose." Kuro responded with a glare and then a worried look at Warro.
"Then why don't you remove the Pendant?" Kuro asked. "It seems like a hinderance, in this temple." Warro looked at Kuro and shook his head.
"Impa--"
"The Sage?"
"No, the one we met in Kakariko," Warro said. "She said it'll make me stronger, if I keep them out. Don't worry, I'm find a way to ignore them. I just didn't expect it to be so strong." Warro then smiled, adding, "The other Impa said that I'm a man, now. I have to get stronger to protect Hyrule, now." Kuro's face twisted into a grin and so did Devon's and they both howled in laughter, falling back and clutching their stomachs from how hard it was. Warro stared at them blankly, not knowing that why what he had said was so funny. As the laughter died down, Kuro wiped a tear from her face and hugged Warro.
"Thanks for the laugh," she said. "I haven't had one like that for awhile."
"Warro, you hardly know how to fight!" Devon laughed. "If you're serious, I'm teaching you to use your sword properly!" Devon smirked and muttered unde her breath, "… in more ways than one."
"If you're teaching him, I may as well be his partner," Kuro said, pulling Warro towards her. "You're welcome to join us, if Warro has no objections."
"Objections?"
"Do you want Devon with us, Warro?" Kuro asked, crossing her fingers, hoping he would say no.
"Of course! She was very nice to me, when I was held prisoner!" Warro exclaimed. Devon laughed as Kuro's head lowered.
"Right… nice things," she muttered. "There's nothing wrong with that." She sighed and laid down, closing her eyes. "I'm going to sleep. See you in the morning." Devon nodded and laid down as well.
"Same. You get some sleep too, Warro."
"Okay," Warro replied, laying back. Kuro was on his right and Dvon was on his left. It felt different sleeping so close to others--even the Skulls Kids needed space. He shut his eyes and tried blocking out the cries of the spirits. He had a dream that night. A woman was calling out for help. She said she had no control over herself anymore. Warro dismissed the dream, unable to understand its meaning, when he woke up the next day. The three waited until they all wer ready to enter the Temple. Warro spent most of the morning, blocking out the cries, which still wailed in his head. He had to keep his guard up. He could feel that the spirits were even more concentrated than the Shadow Temple. There were bound to be evil spirits wishing to harm him, inside. "I'm ready," he said.
"Finally," Kuro said, patting Warro's shoulder, after taking a pill. "Don't worry, okay? If anything happens, I'm there." Warro looked to Devon, who nodded, implying the same. As they walked into the Temple, Warro got the chills as he fel the presence of pirits watching all around them. As they climbed the stairs at the entrace, Warro stopped hearing their footsteps echoing, instead hearing a loud ringing, which got louder as they got closer to the top.
"HELP ME!" a woman shrieked, piecrcing through the loud ringing in Warro's ears. He suddenly fell to his knees, holding his head. The ringing stopped and the sound of conversing spirits could be heard. They got louder and louder, and even louder. Warro's throughts were jumbled; he could not think straight. his head hurt violently as he placed his hands on the ground. He took deep breaths, trying to block out the spirits, but to no avail. Sweat dropped off the tip of his nose as he felt Devona and Kuro lift him up off the ground. His vision became blurred and soon, everything went black.
Devon and Kuro were close to the exit, when suddenly, appearing in blue and red lights, two old women flying on brooms appeared. They lowered themselves down and stood before Devon and Kuro, laughing. One had a blue gem on her forehead and the other had a red gem.
"Looks like Master Vaati was right, Koume," the old lady with the blue gem said, in a high pitched voice. She laughed and pointed at Warro. "The prototype did follow him!"
"Prototype?" Kuro muttered. "What do you mean?" She looked at Warro and then at the old ladies. Were hey planning on taking Warro? She would not let that happen. She tightened her grip on her halberd and slipped Warro onto Devon's shoulders.
"Ahhh, and Master Vaati mentioned you as well," the witch with the red gem--Koume-- added. "He said your thirst for vengence would guide you here."
"He said that, did he?" Kuro asked, pointing it at the witches. "Where is he?"
"Should we tell her, Kotake?"
"No, Koume, no… Let's have a little fun!"
"You bitches!" Kuro yelled rushing towards them.
"Kuro, don't--"
"Tell me where he is!" She yelled, swinging her halberd at Koume and Kotake. Midswing, she felt something slam into her stomach and send her hurdling back into the stairs, knocking her out.
"Kuro!" Devon exclaimed, brandishing a sword. "Where is Nabooru?" She pointed it at them.
"Another Gerudo," said Koume.
"Another one to turn into our soldier," Kotake added.
"Just like Nabooru."
"You--" Devon was about to charge, but then she remembered she was carrying Warro.
"We have no need for you, however," the two said. "We just want to borrow the prototype for a bit." They casted a spell and a light eveloped Warro and the boy disappeared from Devon's arm.
"Warro!" Devon looked around as Koume and Kotake's laughter echoed around her. She turned around and rushed over to Kuro, who was still out cold. "Damn it!" She yelled. She ran over to Kuro, putting her sword away and wrapping Kuro's arm around her shoulder. She carried her out of the temple. It would be not until the morning of the next day, when she would wake up. Meanwhile, inside the heart of the Spirit Temple, around that same time, Warro began to stir. He could feel his sword and shield still on him and he had no injuries.
"Kuro?" he called out. "Devon?" He stood up and looked around. He did not know where he was or what had happened the day before. Then he heard laughter. He reached for his sword and held his hand over the handle.
"He's up, he's up!"
"Who's there?" Warro asked, taking out his sword and holding it in front of him. He looked around and suddenly Koume and Kotake appeared before him, startling him. He stumbled backwards and narrowly avoided falling down at their appearance. "Who are you?"
"I am Koume," one said.
"I am Kotake," the other added.
"Together we are Twinrova!" They got onto their brooms and circled around Warro, looking down at him.
"Master Vaati asked us to keep an eye on you," Koume said.
"He said you were of interest to him." Kotake fired down a spell that hit the ground and froze it. The ice spread along and then up Warro's legs, stopping at the top of his knees. "We will be playing with you, today."
"What does Vaati want?" Warro asked through clenched eeth. The cold and the pain was sharp. He looked up at Twinrova, trying to hide his fear.
"He wants to see if you are still useful to him," Koume replied. "And we will be testing if you are. Show your true colors, child, don't be shy!" The ice shattered around Warro's legs as he was set free from the spell. "This will be far more painful, if you do not comply."
"Hang in there, Warro!" Kuro yelled as she ran alongside Devon, into the Spirit Temple. After Devon told her what had happened, after she rushed Twinrova, the two knew what mut be done--they had to rescue Warro. At th top of the steps, Kuro turned left and saw the small crawl-pace. "Devon, I'm sorry, but to hell with this path needing the purity of a child!" She reached into the pouch in her side and took out a pair of bombs; they were her last two. After lighting their fuses, she rolled them into the crawl spaces. She and Devon took cover around the corner of a nearby wall as the bombs made the space more acessible for them. They rushed in, before the dust cleared, kniowing that each second wasted was a second Warro could be dying. In the next room, Devon paused, stopping Kuro from going forward.
"He's probably at the highest point of the temple," she said. "I've heard rumors, but it's worth a shot! There's, where the two halves of the temple meet." She turned to a door and pointed at it. "This way!"
"Ugh!" Warro coughed as he was thrown against the wall, after Twinrova slammed into him on their brooms. After he hit the ground, Kotake shot a fire spell at him. "Whoa!" Warro rolled out of the way, just narrowly dodging the blaze. He looked up and saw Twinrova coming down at him again and this time he tried something a little different than what he had tried before. As they skimmed the surface of the large platform they had been fighting on, Warro rushed at them and at the last minute, he slid underneath them. However, they were fast enough to evade Warro's attempted counter-attack. Twinrova turned around and this time Koume fired her ice spell at Warro's feet. Warro jumped back as the ice encroached, avoiding being frozen in place again. He looked back at them and rolled to the side as they dived down at him again.
"Just bring your true self out, child," said Kotake. "It will make this so much less painful for you."
"Are you sure this is the way?" Kuro asked as she and Devon scaled a wall. Kuro felt as if they were going the wrong way. Her heart raced as she climbed the wall. Warro was in danger and she failed to protect him. "I won't let it happen again," she muttered as she reached the top. Devon then lead her through another door, another room, and then they reached the central chamber of the Spirit Temple. The statue stood at the center of the chamber, just as Devon had said, but right at the foot of it stood a suit of armor.
"An Iron Knuckle," Devon muttered. "That wasn't here last time." As they approached it, it abruptly swung it's great axe down between Kuro and Devon. "We got no choice now, Kuro! We have to fight it!" They made some distance between the Iron Knuckle and split up, so that it would be forced to target one of them at a time. Kuro took the front, while Devon too the back. Kuro swung her halberd and connected with the Iron Knuckle, but its armor proved to be nearly impenetrable. It grunted upon impact and Devon followed up Kuro's attack with a strike from behind. The Iron Knuckle grunted again and swung its axe at Kuro who just barely dodged it. "We make a good team!" Devon said, after avoiding the Iron Knuckle's attempted counter-attack.
"I admit, I'm surprised!" Kuro responded, striking the Iron knuckle as it slowly brought its axe back up. She ran away as the axe came down.
"Warro should get kidnapped more often," Devon joked. "Of course, we would feel lonely." Devon ducked under the axe as the Iron Knuckle whirled it around, and then she stepped forward , slashing across the mask that covered it's face. The armor chipped and Devon gasped, when she saw a a golden eye staring at her.
Warro rolled on the ground with flames roaring behind him. His hair stuck to his forehead and his legs were shaking. After sliding on the ground enough, the leggings had ripped and scrapped up his leg. Twinrova laughed, taunting him once more to "show his true power," but Warro did not understand what they meant. They flew down at him again and slammed into him, shoving him against a wall.
"Agh!" Warro cried upon impact. As he fell to the ground, he felt dizzy and his vision blurred. He landed face down and not long after he had fallen, he had started to rise up. His eyes were narrowed and were as red as the blood dripping down his forehead. He was silent as he rushed toward Twinrova. He felt no pain; only anger. His speed had tripled in just meer seconds and as the two witches fler up into the air, they would learn that there was no escaping Warro, now. "What's wrong?" Warro asked as he leapt up, grabbing onto Kotake's broom, causing it to tilt upward. "Not having fun, now that I can keep up with you?" He yanked on the broom and caused Kotake to tumble back, falling onto him and making them both fall to the ground. Warro cushioned Kotake's fall--unintentionally, of course-- and shoved her off his body. Picking his sword up he pointed it at the witch, who began to laugh.
"Good, good," she said, catching her breath. "Master Vaati was right. Your Dark Matter was reactivated." Her lips curled into a grin as Warro got closer. "Do you want to know what I mean?" Warro lifted his sword up and his lips parted.
"I don't care." The blade came down upon Kotake, but he was suddenly thrown aside from Koume ramming into him from the left. He bounced and rolled along the ground and recovered, skidding backward before he rushed at the two witches.
"You're gonna get split, if you don't move, Devon!" Kuro yelled as Devon's just barely dodged the Iron Knuckle's attack against her. She had slowed down her movements and her eyes did not move away from the crack in the armor that she had made. This Iron Knuckle was different; a person was inside! Devon did not respond as she midnlessly avoided the axe as it was swung at her as Kuro attacked it from behind. Devon knew why it targetted her. She knew who was inside that suit of armor. She lunged at the Iron Knuckle and pierved the armor with all of the strength she had. She and Kuro then jumped back to avoid having the armor fall on their feet as the person under the armor was revealed. Standing before them with a gaping wound in her stomach was a Gerudo woman.
"Nabooru," Devon muttered as the jewel atop Nabooru's head shattered, revealing the smaller one, that all high ranking Gerudo wore. As the woman fell to her knees, Devon dropped her blades and caught her fellow, just before she fell. "Nabooru, I'm sorry," Devon muttered. "I knew it was you and I…"
"It's fine." Nabooru sputtered some blood from her mouth. "I was going to be killed anyways. Ganondorf learned I am the Spirit Sage."
"So, was that you that Warro heard, when we arrived?" Kuro asked. "He said that he heard someone crying out to him." Kuro knelt down nex tto Devon and removed her bandana. "So, this is the woman we came to find?"
"Yes, this is Nabooru," Devon said, wiping her eyes with the hand that was not covered with blood. "If I knew a way to undo brainwashing, I would have tried something else." Devon looked down at Nabooru. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." Devon pounded the ground. "Damn it…"
"It's fine," Nabooru muttered, placing her hand on Devon's. "The only way to reach your friend was by killing me." She spat out some more blood and looked at them both. "Your friend is in terrible danger," she said quietly, before letting out her last breath and falling limp in Devon's arms. Devon's eye shut tightly as Kuro stood up. The ground beneath them began to rise up to the face of the statue, which began to mysteriously crumble, revealing a door inside the statue's face.
"You can stay here," Kuro said to Devon. "I have a little reunion to attend. " She walked through the door as Devon slowly rose to her feet. She looked at Kuro, wiping the tears from her eyes.
"You win this time."
"So, this is the power of the infamous prototype," Koume muttered. Like her sister, her nose had been broken by Warro and she had various scratches all over her small body. "Maybe your Dynamo Attack will prove to be a worthy test for him."
"Master Vaati wished for him to be brought back alive, though," Kotake argued.
"But we rarely get to look so young!" Warro was advancing towards them with the tip of his sword dragging off the ground to get their attention.
"Look, in this world, we have the people who can use magic and those who can’t," he said as he stabbed his sword into the hard ground without even breaking the tip. "Then there are some who can use a sword. Now, I can use both magic and a sword, but I don't need either to ake care of you old hags." Warro's eyes were almost glowing as he approached the witches as they rose up into the air. They apparently had changed their minds as they began to circle around each other, getting faster and closer to the other, before one huge, very young woman appeared. She winked at Warro and then floated back. Koume and Kotake's voice spoke at the same time and said,
"We are called Twinrova. If yu are so sure you can beat us, let us see you try, little boy."
Warro's eye twitched as he charged toward them without a weapon in hand. "Never call me little!" he yelled loudly.
"That voice," Kuro muttered as she heard the sounds of battle and Warro's voice. She noticed the difference instantly. Her pace picked up as she found a wall to climb up to where she thought the battle was taking place.
"You did not jest, when you said you could take us on," she heard Twinrova say. "You pack quite a punch." Kuro got to the top of the wall and clambered onto the platform. "However, this would be much different without Master Vaati's help. It is why yo should join him, once more."
"Vaati hurt Kuro," Warro said, walking over to Twinrova, who had landed conveniently by his sword. "I may suck at it, but I've always wanted to protect her."He turned around. "Ain't that right?" Kuro blinked once, her eyes widened.
"That smile," she muttered as he knees became weak. Then Kuro let out a loud gasp and yelled, "Look out!" Warro turned around, lifted his sword from the ground and swung it clashing against one of the two rods that Twinrova held, making her shoot an ice against the wall of the room. Warro's eyes narrowed and he spat.
"You're such a disgrace. You have no right to use magic, if you're like that." The boy looked at Twinrova and they could tell that he was not the same person. He was far more dangerous, now. Kuro an over to Warro and stood in front of him with her weapon at the ready.
"The usual plan, right?"Kuro asked, her voice wavering. "I take the front; you take the back?"
"No, leave this to me," Warro said, gently pushing Kuro back. "Those witches need to be taught a lesson." Warro got into a stance that was nothing like he had done before. It was as if he had suddenly become an expert.
"Twinrova!" A deep voice echoed through the room and everyone knew who it was.
"My lord!" Twinrova responded.
"Ganondorf," said Warro and Kuro. The room fell silent as Ganondorf's voice continued.
"Return to the castle, at once, and give me the information that Vaati had ordered you to gather."
"But my lord, what about the prototype?" Twinrova asked.
"Leave him," Ganondorf replied. "He is no longer a point of interest for me. Depending on what your report details, I might have to punish somone."
"Yes, my lord." And with that, Twinrova vanished in a bright light. Kuro turned to Warro, who just smiled happily at her with his eyes closed. Kuro tackled him and punded her fists against his chest
"You're such an idiot!" she yelled. "It's just like you to play cruel jokes!" She punched his chest once more and cried into his tunic. "You're so dimwitted!"
"L-Long as it doesn't kill me, right?" Warro's voice was its usual tone once more. "What's wrong? Did'ja forget to take your pill?" Warro let out a small laugh before letting out a soft "Ow" and gripping his injured leg which felt like it had been stipped entirely of its skin.
"You need to stop pretending to suck," Kuro said, resting her head against his chest. "Though that is a nasty wound."
"Where's Devon?"
"I'm right here." Devon's voice called up from the bottom of the platform. "You two alright?"
"Yes," Kuro said as she stood up. "Warro's in bad shape, but I think he'll make it." She wrapped Warro's arm around her shoulder and picked his swor dup, off the ground. "You did well, Warro." She turned o him and pecked his cheek. "You're my best friend, you know that?"
"No."
"'Course not," Kuro said, smiling. "I just found that out a moment ago."
Traveling back to the Gerudo Fortress was far easier than it was traveling from it. Once they arrived, the Gerudo were told the grave news of their leader, Nabooru and they all mourned for her, while Kuro spent the day with Warro, who was recovering from his injuries. Sitting next to the bed Warro laid in, Kuro removed her bandana and laid it on her lap.
"Tell me, how long is it?" she asked.
"How long is what?" Warro asked. Warro's head was wrapped by a bandage and underneath his blanket, his left leg was wrapped up tightly.
"My hair. How long is it?" she asked once more.
"It's down to here," Warro said, running a finger along his jaw. Kuro's hair had grown slightly since they had met.
"Hmmm," Kuro rubbed her hair between her fingers, looking away from Warro, blushing slightly. "I… I want to grow it out. I'm not a guard anymore, so there's nothing holding me back." She blinked for a moment and sat right back up, the pink fading from her face. "I mean, you still have to get me ruppees!" Warro's head turned to the two wallets that he had carried wit him--his own and Impa's.
"You can have them," he said. "I got by without them."
"Warro…" Kuro sighed, shaking her head. "We need to get you a job. You want to protect Hyrule, right?" She gripped his hand tightly. "You can't protect it as you are; neither of us can. We must get stronger and then strike back."
"Yeah," Warro muttered. "Until now, I've been fighting with the aid of the Spirit Pendant. That fight with those witches… I barely remember much, after they knocked me hard aganst the wall. I know it was me though… It felt like that time, in the Forest Temple. I felt like I knew what to do."
"That's because you pretend to suck." Kuro smiled. "You should stop it."
A little over a week would pass, before Warro fully recovers from his wounds. Without the potions the Gerudo had created, he and Kuro would have been in the Fortress for even longer. As dawn rose over the valley, every Gerudo stood at the bridge, facing the three--Warro, Kuro, and Devon. Kuro had traded in her sandals for a pair of laced, leather boots and Devon hair had been tied up into a ponytail. Warro was the only one who looked no different than when he first arrived. Warro's black leggings and top had been replaced by the Gerudo. Underneath his tunic, he wore a long sleeved top with a loose, turtleneck collar, while his leggings looked no different.
"Well, sisters, you all take care of yourselves!" Devon said, looking at all the Gerudo. "I don't know if I can return to the Fortress, after I leave, today." Devon looked at them all solemnly and bowed her head."And as such, I will have to give up my position. It's up to you girls, now." Devon turned around and began to walk away. Kuro stood by Warro as he smiled at the women and said,
"Thanks for beig so nice to us," Warro said. "Next time you see me, I won't get caught so fast."
"And next time you see me," Kuro said, spotting Isha in the crowd. "Vaati will be dead and I'll be stronger."
"And when you do return, we will do everything in our power to fight against Ganondorf and his tyranny," Isha replied. "You have my--no, our word." Kuro nodded and walked off with Warro and chased after Devon. When they caught up to her, they began to discuss the current situation. Hyrule was not strong enough to stand up to Ganondorf alone, but in great numbers, they stand a chance. Just rallying the Gerudo, despite how ironic it would be for the King of Evil to fall to his own subjects, would not be enough, however.
"We need to get more allies," Devon said as they came out into Hyrule field. "We need to travel across the sea and request help." Devon was carrying a folded up piece of paper and once they had found a good spot, she set it on th ground and unfolded it. It was a map, and a very large one at that. Most of the world was covered by the large ocean known as the Great Sea. On the southeast of the map was Hyrule, to the southwest was a land called Labrynna, and to the north was Holodrum. "We can find allies in each of these countries."
"Allies?" Warro asked. He had used the word before, but he never quite understood the meaning.
"Friends, Warro," Kuro explained. "We're going to make lots and lots of friends." With a new age dawning over Hyrule, very soon, the entire world will be engulfed in the conflict.
Heroes will rise; many will fall, but some are reborn. Lake Hylia had a new visitor drifting down from the river. A blonde boy garbed in green floated in the water. His tunic was torn and his hat floated gently behind him. A sword was strapped to his back and it resonated as his left hand began to glow.
"Ugh…" the boy groand as his eyes opened up.
