Disclaimer: Legend of Zelda and its characters belong to Shigeru Miyamoto and Nintendo. GrimGrave does NOT own them, and does NOT make money out of writing fan fiction.

Sheikah Charm

Part 1

He knew what he had to do. What was in his hands, on his shoulders. A weight of great importance. What had started off as recurring nightmares turned out to be his destiny, a destiny that was a form of a repeated cycle of heroism, a world in the balance and an endless mass of hatred and evil.

The Great Deku Tree had told him of this destiny. Of the true meaning behind the nightmares, and what he had to do. Great faith was put on him as he advanced with sword and shield in hands, braving and besting the horrors of the evil that manifested into the path of destiny. For his efforts, an emerald of brightest green was put in his care, as the young boy left the forest behind him. The first leg of his journey was done. He had to walk the rest of the road, through scenery he had never even imagined.

He saw people; grown, tall people, in a civilisation made of stone and wood, barely anything of nature except flowers that served as ornaments for the solid structures. Amazed as the young boy was, he pressed on towards his specific location of destiny, the castle in the distance.

Link, the young Hero, was on his way to brave his fate, unknown to what may lie in store; be it of adventure, horrific dangers, or the ever so fragile bud of love.

:::::

He sneaked past the guards. Luckily, Link was able to blend in with the greenery that was around, successfully avoiding the guards that were on lookout for anything that didn't belong to these parts of the castle. As the final man made his turn on the daily patrol, Link got out and dashed towards the chamber.

There she was. Up on a small stone-platform, the princess of destiny stood, unaware of the coming of the hero. He walked up to her carefully, not wanting to frighten her until she spun around in shock. The two pairs of crystal blue eyes met, and for a brief second, it was silent.

That's when things took a calmer approach. They introduced themselves, forming the bond that Zelda, a long time ago had with the ever-returning Link. The dreams, the destiny that they were part of were expanded, and the two young children held a promise; they would save Hyrule. Even if Link was alone against a world of monsters, traps and a horrific evil, even if Zelda couldn't convince her father or anyone else. They would not let the man in black armour have his way.

"One more thing..." Zelda said with a smile. "Take this letter… I'm sure it will be helpful to you."

"What is it..?" Link replied. He eyed the paper puzzlingly. "This letter will allow you access to the mountain grounds outside the small village of Kakariko. Show it to the guards. They won't deny you access."

Link smiled at her with great admiration. He carefully folded the letter and put it in his pocket. "Thank you Zelda..."

The young girl smiled back, a giggle escaping her lips as she did. "It's the least I can do. My attendant will guide you out of the castle. Don't be afraid to talk to her."

"Your attendant..?" Link asked. The princess motioned with her hand towards the courtyard entrance, averting Link's eyes towards it.

In that instant, he felt his heart skip a beat. A tall, slender figure stood at the other side of the courtyard as if she was waiting for him. He felt drawn to her, like a moth to the flame, and he slowly made his way. As Link approached her, he could make out the muscular arms and body, the silvery-white hair and those piercing red eyes that were stern, but compassionate.

He felt his body grow warm. For the first time in his life was he observing a womanly figure. All he had known was the girls of his age, the furthest extent of them being cute. Even Zelda was just cute in his eyes, but this tall figure of a woman had such a strong presence around her. An aura of command and mystique, concealed in womanly features.

She stared right at him. He felt like flinching under her firm gaze, but he remained strong, holding his ground. "So you're the boy the Princess foretold huh?" She finally spoke. Her voice was one of experience, mature and stern. Link managed to nod, afraid that his voice would betray him. "A pleasure to meet you lad. I am Impa of the Sheikahs. I am responsible for protecting Princess Zelda. Everything is exactly as the Princess has foretold." Her neutral face broke into a small smile. That small smile, simple as it was, had an effect on the young hero; he felt warmer, as if he stood directly under the sun, his heart beating faster.

"You are a courageous boy… You are heading out on a big, new adventure aren't you? My role in the Princess's dream was to teach a melody to the one from the forest. This is an ancient melody passed down by the Royal Family. I have played this song for Princess Zelda as a lullaby ever since she was a baby." She kept staring into his blue orbs. "There is a mysterious power in these notes… Now, listen carefully..."

Link broke out of his light trance and nodded. Clumsily, he fished up his ocarina, and listened to the Sheikah woman whistling Zelda's Lullaby. A soothing, beautiful piece of notes that was easy to follow. For a brief moment, the two emitted the lullaby together, a moment Link absentmindedly treasured deeply.

"It would be troublesome if you got caught by the guards." Impa said after a little while, having let the boy play the melody a few times to make sure he got it right. The blonde boy looked up at her.

"I'll show you a safe way out of the castle." The woman said with a smile, noticing the boy's small blush. "Follow me."

:::::

"You brave lad. We must protect this beautiful land of Hyrule." The tall woman said with a calm voice as she looked over the vast field before her gaze turned towards the east; a great volcano was towering in the distance.

Link looked over in the same direction, unsure of what Impa was focusing on. It was hard for him to concentrate properly when the woman was standing right next to him. There was something about her that craved Link's attention, even now in the face of his great task.

His innocent blue eyes looked over the woman from head to toe; she was tall. Muscled, but slim with sharp eyes that remained soft and gentle in their gaze. Her skin was slightly tanned, not much darker than Link's pale tone. Her clothing looked thin, but appeared to be armored at some locations.

Impa's appeal was prompting Link to stare at her. He couldn't put his finger on it, being the small boy as he was, but there was something about the tall woman. For a lack of a better word due to his limited vocabulary, Link thought the woman to be beautiful. Where Zelda and Saria were "pretty" or "cute", Impa was beautiful.

When the red eyes met his azure orbs at long last, the young boy-hero knew he had stared too long. He quickly averted his gaze with a strong blush, suddenly finding that kicking aimlessly in the dirt was a better way to kill time.

"Lad, are you even listening to me?" Impa suddenly said, curiosity written all over her face. Her gaze seemed agitated, but her voice revealed a calm, soothing tone.

"I…I...Uh…" Link stuttered, still unable to look her in the eyes. He found himself unable to find the right words – his throat felt dry and his body felt warm. His chest ached.

Impa arched an eyebrow at him. "Lad, I understand that this must be too much to take in all at once. But this task was yours to burden, and for Zelda's sake-"

"You're beautiful!" Link suddenly blurted out loudly. He noticed the woman quickly falling into silence, a mere gasp as evidence that she had heard him. He refused to meet her eyes, resulting in him still kicking around. This time on a small stone that was lying around and proved to be a good way to occupy himself.

But it was still unbearable. The young boy felt his heart beating so hard, its internal drumming echoed in his ears clearly. He felt warmer than ever, as if he was wrapped in several blankets. And when the peak of awkward silence was reach, he heard her. A gentle laughter.

She was chuckling softly into her fist with a small but noticeable smile decorating her crimson lips. Link stood still, utterly confused over Impa's behaviour. Had he said something funny? He had only told her she was beautiful; what was there to laugh about? Eventually, after she had calmed down a bit, she glanced over at the boy, still smiling ever so kindly.

"That's very kind of you to say lad." Impa replied, still chuckling a little. "And very cute. Thank you." She reached down with her open palm, sneaking her fingers under the green hat to ruffle the blonde hair in a friendly manner. The boy seemed to initially wince at the rough action, but quickly grew used to it. The Sheikah smiled down at him.

"As much as I do enjoy a compliment every once in a while," Impa then said, her soft smile slowly vanishing from her lips as she turned her head back towards the mountains in the east. "- you should not lose focus on your task lad. You have a great adventure ahead of you."

"I...I know." Link replied at first, his voice betraying him momentarily. His response had not come out as confident as he had wanted it to be. He took a deep breath. "I mean, I know that! I… I will find the spiritual stones!"

A single eyebrow arched upright at the remark. Impa watched him with an intrigued smile, allowing herself to chuckle softly once more.

´Haha… Cute kid. First he spouts out compliments out of the blue and now he is acting like the hero he is… for his age. It's adorable in a way.´ Impa thought to herself. She kneeled down next to the boy, gently patting him on the shoulder.

"I know you will lad. Allow me to help you be on your way, okay?" She pointed towards the mountains. "See that huge mountain there? That's Death Mountain, home of the Gorons. They actually hold the Spiritual Stone of Fire."

Link stared at the woman with wide eyes. "Really?"

Impa nodded. "And at the foot of the mountain you will find my village, Kakariko. That is where I was born and raised. You should talk to some of the villagers there before you continue up the mountain."

Link nodded eagerly, wanting to give the woman a proper answer, but alas, he couldn't. With Impa kneeling down to his level, Link got a better look on her face; the beautiful face of distinct features that made his young heart beating wildly in his chest and his face hot like the rays of the sun.

And her smell! Being only used to natural fragrances that the forest provided, Link found himself inhaling a pleasant odor he was unfamiliar with; and it drove him crazy. Again, he couldn't put his finger on what it was, but it was foreign, prompting him to keep breathing in the aroma the woman was covered in.

"The song I just taught you has some mysterious power. Only Royal Family members are allowed to learn that song." Impa glanced back at the boy beside her. "It will come in handy on your adventure, I'm sure. Do not forget those notes lad. Remember that it will help you prove your connection with the Royal Family."

Link nodded again. "Y-Yes! I won't forget! I will bring back the stones! I… I will stop Ganondorf!"

His voice, so soft and light due to his age remained strong despite it all. His small azure eyes were suddenly sharp like icy edges as he clenched his small fists. Impa watched him with vigilance, but it became clear to her that despite him being such a young boy, he had the attributes of a hero that lied dormant within him. After all, he had sneaked past the guards and collected a Spiritual Stone already, and if Zelda's dreams were of any indication, then this was certainly the chosen person.

The Sheikah nursemaid couldn't help but to feel a smile surfacing on her lips as she watched him.

"That's the spirit, lad. The Princess will be waiting at the castle for you to return with the stones. We're counting on you!"

"Yes!" Link replied, smiling brightly at the woman. Impa chuckled again, ruffling his hair once more. She couldn't help it.

"And lad… Here." Impa then said. Without warning, she gently pulled away the blonde locks of hair, giving a light kiss on the boy's forehead. The moment of her soft lips touched his skin was enough to make Link feel even warmer than before. His flushed face looked back up at Impa who chuckled.

"For good luck." She said before stepping back, throwing a deku nut in front of them. The second the bright flash was gone, Impa had disappeared.

´Looks like I will be waiting as well…´ Impa mused, watching from a safe distance how Link, confused, looked around before finally running towards mountains on his small feet. She smiled.

The boy had a kind heart and an honest personality. Good qualities. A shame that one such as him, who had complimented Impa, was a child.

Though the more she told herself not to think about it, she ended up thinking of nothing but the boy; how he was doing, what was he doing?

:::::::::

As the day had passed without as much as a word from the young boy, the princess had been growing distressed and scared. She would wander around aimlessly in the garden or her room, barely speaking to anyone at all. She only ate a small portion of the food she was given, having grown almost antisocial in her stressed out state. When she did talk, it was always about Link; would he return? Had he found the stones? Is he injured?

The fate of the world was in the balance. Impa could perfectly understand as to why Zelda acted like she did. They both trusted Link, but going through each day and knowing what could possibly happen any moment was not easy to do.

While Impa never showed it on the outside, she was just as worried as her Princess. She didn't want to see the boy come to harm. She told herself that they both were making a hen out of a feather – Link would return, and the land would be safe. Ganondorf would NOT get his hand on the Triforce.

That's what Impa had told herself and Zelda. And yet, on that day, it all changed at the speed of lightning.

Suddenly the sky was covered in the darkness of rainy clouds, black as the thickest coal. The castle was in uproar; screams, screams and shouts everywhere. So many voices calling for help, screaming in pain or battle shouts roaring in every direction.

The castle was under attack.

There had not been a single second that has gone to waste. Impa, with Zelda in her arms, ran the entire way out of the castle. Past the guards, the attendants and worst of all the monsters.

It was an escape route filled with screams and blood. The nightmare had come to life. Ganondorf had attacked in hope of gaining his way to the Triforce and the Sacred Realm.

Monsters left and right tried to block Impa's and Zelda's escape, with little success. Even with one arm free, the Sheikah had bested the horrific creatures until they got to the royal stable. A steed would surely help them escape the castle grounds but also the town in a quick pace. Soldiers all yelled in defiance against the monsters, helping the princess escape despite their sealed fate.

´You were too late lad…´ Impa thought to herself. The white stallion galloped through the crowds of panicked civilians, defending guards and roaring monsters, unfazed by the chaos that had happened at the drop of a hat.

´You can still do it lad… I know it. All is not lost yet. But…´ Impa paused momentarily.

´I would've liked to see you again. To return in victory. Just one more time.´

As if on a deranged fulfillment of a wish come true, Impa saw it in front of her; something small and green, just on the other side of the drawbridge.

Link.

She couldn't believe it at first. Link had indeed returned, or at least was just about to. But before the Sheikah could snap out of her mild shock, the horse rode past him in a flash. All she could see now was the young boy, covered in surprise as he was left behind, with Zelda throwing her ocarina to him.

The last image of Link she would be able to remember for the next seven years. A hero left behind.

::::::::

Years passed. Impa had lost count by now, but she guessed it to be the fourth year now.

Four years since their escape from Ganondorf. Four years of successfully hiding from him and his subordinates. They were currently camping in the thick part of the forest, where their enemies wouldn't be able to spot them.

Zelda, now 14 years old, added some wood to their campfire. She briefly glanced over at Impa, though she remained silent.

"Alright." Impa suddenly said. "What is on your mind princess?"

"…." She didn't respond at first.

"Princess, I know you have something you wish to tell me."

"… I'm worried about Link." She finally said. "We only left him behind back then. Who knows what has happened to him while we ran away?!"

"Calm yourself princess." Impa said. She placed a hand on the girl's shoulder. "I am sure the lad will pull through no matter what. If he was on his way to see us, then that means he must have acquired the stones. And that itself is no easy task."

She paused.

"The boy will do his part, princess. And you must do yours. We may not have stopped Ganondorf where we wanted to, but it is not too late. He does not have the world in his grasp because of the prophecy – and he never will. You and the boy will see to that."

"But…" Zelda looked back at Impa with teary eyes. "I can't help but worry! We don't know for sure if he-"

"Princess." Impa interrupted. Her voice, while not loud to the point of yelling, had been clear.

"Link will be alright. As much as I share your worry regarding him, you must fulfill your own part of the prophecy. After all, when the time is right, Link will return. And you need to be ready for when that time comes. Do you understand me Zelda?"

The blonde girl didn't reply at all, but as she wiped her tears and nodded with a smile, Impa knew. She was a strong girl – she would not let the emotions get the best of her. Impa patted Zelda on the shoulder gently.

"Good. Now get some rest; we have a long day ahead of us, of many that are still left before Link will come back. Starting tomorrow, I will begin teaching you how to handle a kodachi."

"I understand, Impa. And… Thank you."

Impa merely nodded, allowing a smile to be directed at the girl. But as she grabbed a piece of wood and tossed it into the fire, it got lost. Her thoughts returned to the faint memories of the young, happy boy who had first left in good spirits, only to be left behind in confusion.

She felt ashamed. She would've liked to grab hold of his hand, slung him up on the horse and take him with them, but she couldn't for various reasons.

If the legends were true, then Link would be in for a very long sleep. He couldn't have joined them.

Her crimson eyes turned to the dark evening sky. She sighed.

´Lad… Wherever you are and whatever you are doing… I hope you are alright. We are waiting for you. Zelda… and I. I wish to tell you how brave you are. How good you were on keeping that promise.´

Impa sighed.

´As silly as it may sound; I really appreciated your compliment. So… Thank you.´

::::::::

Seven years. Seven, long, years.

Everything had changed. No matter where he looked, Link found nothing that had remained the same. Time was a cruel thing in the wrong hands.

The market town lied in ruins. The vibrant town that was once bloomed with life was now infested with monsters, debris and gloom. The proud white castle that had stood in the distance was replaced with a single black spire that pierced the corrupt sky of deviant colours.

The field had remained the same, though poes now roamed and attacked on random wherever you went. It was a mockery to its former tranquillity. The forest had grown gloomy and vicious, forcing the Kokiri children into hiding. The mountain now lived up to its name and the pure, rich lake had nearly gone dry.

Nothing had remained the same.

And yet, Link had found a glint of hope, of life. Kakariko Village, once a quiet village, had now become filled with people from the market, each with a separate goal of making it better for them. A change, but a positive change at that.

Kakariko had become his sanctuary – the one place where Link could truly relax, where there was people and life all around him. Where he could occasionally take a break from his adventures through the woods, the mountains, the water and the sand. Where he could forget about it all and just sleep, allowing him to dream of fond memories that had never left him despite the seven years.

The embarrassment he endured when he, a boy of 10 years old blurted out to a grown woman that she was beautiful. And her reaction; the laughter, the kind treatment and the soft kiss that had landed on his bare forehead.

Link would never forget. Not a single memory of Impa the Sheikah went lost. It was all still with him, for these seven years. He may have been locked in sleep for those years, but the memories had never faded; they had matured, as he had, into something more. Gone was the childish crush on a beautiful, motherly paragon. Link, the young Hero of now 17 years old had never forgotten Impa, and his feelings were now morphed into a blooming affection that yearned for Impa in the platonic and physical love.

Staying with the Cucoo Lady named Anju from his childhood, Link shared roof with her with non-other than Impa's house. She had left her house open for the public as she wasn't there. No one knew of her whereabouts since that day and it had left Link in dismay. He had hoped to at least find clues of where she was, but she remained gone – a memory from his childhood.

Until that one day when he got back to the village, only to see it in flames.

"What..?! No! NO!" Link cried out, rushing towards the village. The flames licked high, the smoke lingered above, and the people panicked – a familiar sight for his azure eyes.

"Link!" He heard a voice call. Looking up ahead, the young blonde spotted one connection he had left towards Impa.

"Sheik! What has happened!? Everything is-"

"Stand back Link! It's about to break loose!" Sheik shouted back. Just as she did it, the wooden columns above the well behind her shattered, chunks of them flying in every direction. A low, but unnatural growl emitted from the well, just as Sheik suddenly was lifted up from the ground by an invisible entity, throwing her around.

"Sheik!" Link screamed, rushing to her side. The Sheikah woman roughly swayed from side to side in the air until she suddenly flew away towards the ground. Link ran as fast as he could, and just in time managed to catch the falling Sheikah in his arms – the impact forced him down on the hard ground instead, but it was worth it.

"L-Link! Watch out, it's coming again!" Sheik shouted at him, prompting him to turn around. All he managed to see was a large shadow on the ground that speeded towards him, before suddenly grabbing him and tossed him around as well.

Whatever it was, the monster had a strong grip – it nearly crushed the Hero before he was thrown away into a nearby wall. The shadow growled yet again before vanishing into the well.

"Are you alright Link?!" Sheik asked as she ran up to the hunched over form of the Hero.

"Ouch… What… In the world was that…?" Link asked. Sheik helped him up to his feet, her red eyes wide with horror.

"There is no time to explain Link! It used to be imprisoned in the Shadow Temple but the seal has been broken! We should be glad we got away with some rough treatment and a few burning buildings!"

"The buildings! Sheik we need to-!"

"I will take care of the village Link! You need to head over to the Shadow Temple, located behind the graveyard! Link, Impa is the final Sage! You have to help her!"

His clear, blue eyes shot up with disbelief. "I-Impa…?"

Sheik didn't reply. "I will teach you the melody that leads you to the infinite darkness that absorbs even time – Hurry! Impa needs your help Link!"

The green-clad Hero quickly nodded, clumsily getting up his ocarina. Despite the chaos that was going on around them, the pain of his sore limbs and the concentration he put down to play the eerie melody, Link could only think of one thing now. He had finally found a lead to Impa!

He would be able to meet her! After seven years, he would finally meet Impa again!

The adrenaline coursed through him. With the new melody echoing in the air, the purple light finally took him to the entrance.

And Impa would be on the other end.

::::::

She heard the shadow move. It slithered on the ground like the dark being it was, roaring loudly as it hid in its concealed form.

It reeked of blood. Musky stone and dampness. Just like the room. A room with a single person and a broken blade.

´So you finally broke free huh…´ Impa mused. ´I knew you would, one day. Though I had hoped it would not be under this lifetime. Because I probably won't be able to seal you away again.´

She chuckled in the darkness. The stench grew stronger.

´I had hoped to see the young lad again. And now you will deny me that joy, fiend. Alas, I will at least go with a smile, knowing that he will eradicate you in my place. You just wait.´

She felt the shadows thicken around her. It was close.

´Link… Wherever you are and whatever you are doing… I hope you are well. And… Look out for the princess.´

At the blink of an eye, everything suddenly felt like nothing. No pain, no touch, nothing.

Everything had turned black.

An idea I have had for a while now, finally put into text.

Review please - I would deeply appreciate if you gave me feedback. =)