When Cologne reached Gerudo Fortress, fewer guards than usually were around. But she knew this was because of the archery contest the warriors were holding once a week. This was a grand event which no Gerudo never missed, so she could return to the temple in peace, without being disturbed by anybody...
"There you are! Where in Hyrule have you been?"
Cologne nearly fell off her broom. She really must be nervous if she's getting scared like that.
"Oh, it's just you, child," she sighed in relief when she saw a middle-aged, but still good-looking Gerudo come out of the fortress. "Why aren't you taking part in the contest?"
"Don't you change the subject, grandmother!" the woman said reproachfully. "Elders Koume and Kotake have been looking for you. They were pretty upset when they couldn't find you either in the temple or here in the fortress."
"I've been an elder for more years than those two," Cologne said. "Don't you forget that, Kasuto! If they need me for anything, they can wait until I return."
"I shouldn't take them lightly if I were you," Kasuto frowned. "You should have seen how angry they've been."
"My business is my business, and not theirs," Cologne explained. "Do you imply I should be scared of them?"
"Not of them... but of Ganondorf," her granddaughter stated. "You know what he does with traitors, do you?"
"I know what he did to your sister, and I don't intend on letting the same happen to me. Really, you should know me better, girl!"
Kasuto sighed. "At least tell me the next time you just leave like that so I can come up with an excuse. For a while, I was afraid they would let their anger out at me..."
"Instead of lecturing me, you should lecture your daughter, Kasuto," Cologne pointed out. "If there's another Gerudo in danger of being marked as a traitor, it's her!"
"Shampoo? Is that the reason why you left the fortress? Did you meet her? How is she doing?"
"Sssshhhh, not so loud!" Cologne hissed. "Not here, we'll talk about it later. Meet me tonight, on the training course, when everyone's asleep."
"So you did meet her?" Kasuto said with surprise. "You know, for someone who pretends to be one of the king's closest followers, you certainly like to disobey his direct orders..."
"Watch your mouth now, girl!" Cologne grumbled. "At least I didn't risk my neck for a night with a worthless man who can't even fight!"
"That's a low blow, grandmother," the young Gerudo remarked. "Even you admitted that it was sweet how he adored me. It was just one night, you know?"
"And when do you plan on telling Shampoo about her father?" the elder asked with a raised eyebrow. "When she's being caught by Ganondorf?"
"In due time," Kasuto said and walked back inside. Cologne looked after her, then she remounted her broom and flew through the desert gate, towards the Spirit Temple.
Kasuto walked deeper into the fortress. Just like outside, only very few guards were making their rounds. Only one single warrior was guarding the only occupied cell.
Mousse looked up when he saw the mother of his beloved one enter the room. "You look upset," he noted.
"I've just wondered why so many people I know enjoy taking risks that could cost them their necks," Kasuto sighed. "Shampoo openly defies her king and joins up with the rebels. You, a man, sneak into the fortress and let yourself get caught. And now my grandmother leaves the desert without informing anyone and incurs Twinrova's wrath."
"Did... did she meet up with Shampoo?" Mousse asked hopefully. The nearly-blind carpenter's son stood up and looked through the bars of his cell. "Please, I've got to know... is she safe? Will she come back?"
"If she knows what's good for her, she'll stay away from Gerudo Valley for the rest of her life," Kasuto said. "I don't know if my grandmother met with her, she'll tell me tonight."
"I wish I could see her again..." Mousse sighed and slid down to the floor.
"Listen, I know you've got a massive crush on my daughter, but don't get your hopes up, Mousse. I mean, you're a good fighter and a carpentry master of hidden tools, but as far as I know, she found a boy among the rebels..."
A dark frown appeared on Mousse's face. 'So, this rebel is the reason why Shampoo is endangering herself,' he thought. 'As soon as I'm out of here, he will get to know my wrath...'
"Say, Mousse... I've been wondering... why have you never used your curse to escape this cell? Nobody except me and my grandmother knows about it, so why not just splash yourself with the water you get every meal and escape?"
Mousse winced. "Maybe because there are no glasses the size of a fairy... I'd be completely lost without them, you know that."
Kasuto frowned at the nearsighted boy... then she took a bottle of water from her pouch and sprayed the boy, whose clothes instantly engulfed his rapidly shrinking form.
A tiny, purple-haired, winged girl looked out of the clothes that were now much too big for her. "What was that for?" she angrily shouted.
"I'm just helping you to escape," Kasuto explained. She picked up the glasses lying next to Mousse's tiny form. She then took a small pouch from her belt and grinned. "Magic Dust... I snatched it from grandmother's belt." She sprinkled a bit of the glittering dust on the glasses, and they shrunk down to fairy size. "Here, take them and get out of here! And when you meet my daughter... tell her to never come back here again if she values her life."
Mousse took the shrunken glasses and put them on her cute face. "Am I supposed to fly naked?" she grumbled and hugged her naked form.
Kasuto groaned. "Here, take this!" she said and gave the transformed boy a small piece of cloth, which he wrapped around his body. "Now go already!"
Mousse beat her wings and hovered up into the air, while her body got surrounded by a purple glow. "Why are you helping me?" she asked.
Kasuto shrugged. "Well... maybe my daughter and grandmother aren't the only two crazy females in our family... I just don't know for how long they are letting you live, you know? And letting a nice boy like you die would really be a shame..." She smirked. "Now go, escape! Try to find my daughter..."
"Th-thank you..." Mousse stuttered and quickly flew out of the cell.
Kasuto sighed. "I hope I just did the right thing..."
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(Posted Thu, 29 May 2008 16:43)
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