New Horizons - A Skyward Sword Aftermath Story

Chapter 32 - To the Gerudo

With the help of both the Zoras and the Gorons, the Hylians' new town was beginning to prosper. Shops run by Peatrice and the older residents had been established, there were now functioning farms with cattle and cuccos, and trade between the three tribes was finally starting to set itself in motion.

Now, there was only one tribe left. The mysterious sand dwellers, who, still had yet to be found due to the vast sand storm that had been plaguing the area for months. After planning and preparing, Zelda decided that waiting for the storm to blow over was no longer an option. She had to find the cause of the problem.

It was the first few minutes after sunrise. The cuccos had just started their morning call. Zelda discreetly packed everything onto her loftwing, in hopes that, by leaving earlier, nobody was around to talk her out of going alone.
Unfortunately, her wishes didn't come true.

Her fatal mistake was when one of her bags wasn't secured to her birds hardness, resulting in it falling onto his foot. He let out a loud cry.
"Oh my!" the girl ushered. "I'm so sorry!"

By chance, the bird's small cry reached the ears of Groose, who immediately perked up from his half-asleep state.

Following the source of the noise, the boy was met with what he wasn't hoping for, but also what he expected. Zelda fidgeted with the harness straps nervously as she saw him walking towards her, a disappointed frown on his face.

As expected, Groose scolded her, but quietly enough so that they didn't attract any more attention.
"Ya goin' to get yourself killed one of these days!"
Zelda closed her eyes and sighed.
"Groose, I need to do this."
"I know ya do, but ya can't do this alone!"
"I will not be a burden to anyone else any more."
"Oh for the love of- Zelda!"
Groose placed his hands on the girl's shoulders.
"Listen, Zelda. We NEED you. You are our key to everythin'. If somethin' ever happened to you, it would be a far greater burden than anythin' else."
"Ya need to be safe. I beg that ya reconsider and take Link with you."

"... I can't do that."
"Alright, fine. How about I come with you?"
"You... Would do that?"
"As well as Link."
Zelda scoffed.
"This is ridiculous."
"Hey! By YOUR father's laws I'm not even allowed to carry a sword around outside of the academy grounds! What makes ya think I could protect you on my own?!"

The girl sighed.
"...Why don't we just forget this ever happened? And I'll let you go bomb flower bowling all you like down by the river."
Groose scoffed, amused by her attempt to bargain. He wasn't buying it.
"If you don't let Link and I join ya, it won't be long until my next class at the academy. I'll just tell your father you're runnin' around by yourself and flyin' into sandstorms."

The glare in her eyes told him that he had struck a nerve. They both knew it was a losing battle for her.
"You need him, and you know it."

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Jerking awake, Link fell on the floor as his front door crashed open. Confused and disoriented, he instinctively went to reach for his sword beside his headboard. A few seconds later, he came to his senses and realised Groose was there.
Rubbing his eyes, he gave the other a confused glare.
"What are you-"
"No time to talk. You and me, we're going to the desert today, with Zelda."
Link gave him a disappointed stare.
"She won't even want me there."
"But she needs ya. So get dressed, we leave in 10 minutes."

Conflicted thoughts and feelings raced through Link's mind. Ever since what happened with Peatrice, they had hardly spoke. Yet, everything still felt raw. As well as the guilt that haunted him, the girl's words never slipped his mind. He could never hate Zelda, but it didn't mean that he wasn't hurt.