I don't own Legend of Zelda. Enjoy! :)

Chapter One

The Truth Unveiled

Eyes opened wide, revealing sapphire orbs. Light streamed through the library widows, giving a soft glow to its occupants. Zelda sighed, realizing she'd fallen asleep reading. Again. Yawning, the Princess of Hyrule stood up and placed the book back, waving goodbye to the librarian as she went to join her father for dinner.

As she walked, she felt the silent presence of her handmaid and guardian.

"Hello Impa."

"You need more rest, Princess. It's not healthy for you sleep a couple hours a night."

"I know… But I can't help it. You know why." She heard Impa sighed, but no more of the subject was talked about as they reached the Dining Hall.

Zelda's father, King Stephen, greeted her as she sat, but turned back to the ambassador from the Foerin Kingdom, discussing business—Zelda didn't pay attention nor did she care. She silently ate her meal, blocking out the voices. It wasn't 'til she felt a nudge that she looked up, her mind coming back to the present. She saw both her father and the ambassador giving her looks.

"I'm sorry," she said politely, "My mind was elsewhere. What was it you asked?" The King held in his sigh as he asked again.

"Zelda, I'm sure you know why Ambassador Keethon is here?" Zelda nodded, pretending to know; she didn't need to be scolded by her father for her lack of knowledge—nor by her handmaid.

"Well, it seems that we have a match for you in the Foerin Kingdom—Prince Tierian is asking your hand in marriage."

Zelda gave them a pleasant smile, but deep inside, she was freaking out. Marriage?! So soon?! Was she even of age?! She counted in her head and sadly was proven the she was of marrying age. She didn't realize that so many years passed since—

Mentally shaking her head, Zelda opened her mouth. "I am honored by the offer the Prince of Foerin is giving me and I accept his offer." Though deep down, she was screaming no.

Both males smiled at her, her father nodding her for correct answer. "Ah Zelda! You make this old king happy—finally you accepted a suitor! Now, I'm sending you to go see him in his Kingdom a week from now."

"I'm going to see him? Is it protocol for the Prince to come see me?"

This time, the ambassador answered. "Yes, Princess, it is. But with our two hundredth anniversary coming up, the Prince, along with his siblings, must stay in the kingdom to help prepare."

Zelda nodded, understanding the importance of a kingdom's anniversary.

With nothing else to say on the subject, Zelda excused herself. She tried to walk normally, but she really wanted to run to her room and lock herself inside, with no hopes of coming out. She didn't want to get married, she can't get married! If she did, it meant all the hoping and praying she did would be in vain.

Zelda again felt the silent presence of her handmaid, knowing that the Shiekah woman would want to stop her.

"Where do you think you're going?" Zelda didn't stop at the commanding voice of Impa, but answered her.

"To my room; I need to be alone." But it seemed Impa had other ideas as she reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her towards the Armory and the Training Court.

Zelda sighed, resigning to her fate—she knew Impa won't let her near her room 'til she let off some steam.

Dressing in a crème-color long-sleeved shirt, oak-brown pants, and midnight-black leather boots, Zelda grabbed her practice-sword and headed out to the Court, where young men were training and old men teaching them. She ignored the new recruits, going straight for the section strictly for the elite of the knights.

The knights greeted her formally before going into combat stance—they knew when she wanted a fight to cool off. Five knights surrounded her as the others watched, taking bets to see who would win—the Princess or the knights?

One of the knights lunged at her, aiming her defenseless left side, but she quickly spun and blocked the blow before easily shoving him off to the sidelines. Seemly distracted, another knight took aim at her exposed back, but Zelda swiftly rolled to the right and smacked him on the defenseless arm and side. The knight went down, clutching his injured side in pain. But there was no mercy for him. Zelda easily placed her sword at his neck, declaring him dead. The last three knights, joined by the knight that was shoved, came at her at once. Zelda didn't move. She waited 'til an opportune moment opened up; one of the knights was slower than the others—a break in their circle. Zelda instantaneously sprinted to that knight, catching him off guard with her speed. He didn't have time to block the stab at his chest, and Zelda declared him dead before rounding on the other three, all charging at her as one. She smirked—this is child's play for her. She leaped over them, twisting in the air, and swung her sword all across their necks. Landing lightly, she declared them dead as well.

Groans were from the five 'dead' knights, their bodies aching with pain. Zelda saw some exchanges of money between some of the other knights and the trainees, smirking as she saw most of the bets were in her favor. But she wasn't satisfied—no man in the army can match her speed, strength, and endurance. Seeing no one else willing to challenge her, she was about to go change when a voice stopped her.

"I challenge you."

Zelda looked back at young man—roughly her age, she guessed—with blond locks and same color of eyes staring at her. She would have declined since the plain, grey tunic he wore was that if a new trainee, but seeing the fire and courage in his eyes made her accept his challenge. She nodded and took her stance.

The trainee took his position as well, holding his sword in his left hand. She made note of it and quickly swift her sword into her left hand. She saw his eyes widen.

"You're left handed as well?"

"Yes. It's good for a fighter to have both his hands use offense and defense weapons."

New bets were made, more falling towards Zelda, as the two fighters circled each other. Zelda tried to read him, tried to see his weak point. She thought he would be nervous, fighting royalty, but his eyes were set and his body calm—he's mastered his fears it seems.

With no more delay, Zelda struck, putting power behind her blow; but the trainee easily side-stepped it. Zelda saw he was going to do and quickly twisted, blocking his downward strike. She winced as she felt the powerful blow bend her to her knees—the other knights never had this much power behind their strikes. She shoved him off and back-flipped away, putting distance between. She smiled, finally having a challenge that she doesn't have to hold back. She fell into a different stance. Crouching low, she held her sword in a reverse grip, feeling her power flow through her. She saw the trainee gauge her before charging, preparing to jump and strike her down. But it won't do him any good; she'll strike him before his sword would have time to fall. As he got closer, Zelda prepared to disappear and appear behind the trainee, but a smoke-bomb exploded between the two fighters. Both coughed and moved away as the smoke cleared, revealing Impa standing in the middle of the fighters.

The Princess's guardian marched towards Zelda, barking orders. "This fight is over! Everyone back to their tasks!"

The knights and the trainees hurriedly did the Sheikah woman's bidding, fearing her wrath. Zelda looked at the trainee that fought her, his eyes piercing hers. Then a small smile broke across his face, nodding at her. She smiled back, nodding back; it was good fight and they'll again fight to see who is stronger. She then looked at Impa and grimaced at the disappointing look she gave. Zelda knew what made her angry and knew she'll get a stern talking to.

Walking with Impa behind her, Zelda went inside the Armory, placing back her sword and quickly changed into her royal garment. Seeing the servants taking away her fighting clothing, Zelda made way to her room. She felt Impa silently walking behind her, anger stewing from her—she knows what is coming.

"You know what you've almost done. You know it is forbidden for you to use those techniques."

"I know Impa."

"Do you? You almost revealed that yo-"

"I know! I know. I know…" Zelda sighed, her shoulders slumping as she felt more weight bore upon them, defeat and sorrow seeping into her body. "I know what I almost did and I know I'm forbidden to use those techniques… But Impa… You can't understand what I'm giving up. None of you can."

"Zel-."

"Please… Leave me be for a while."

Impa bowed. "As you wish, Princess." And promptly left as Zelda entered her room, her maids had the bath already drawn in the wash room.

Thanking them and undressing, she stepped into the warm liquid, the scent of lavender surrounding her. Her maids unbraided and washed her long blonde hair, and scrubbed her skin. Zelda wanted to wash herself, but Impa always reminded her 'that's the way of a princess'.

After she was clean, she was dried and dressed for bed, laying down on the fluffy sheets and blankets. Her maids bid her goodnight and left. Once the maids' footsteps died down, Zelda immediately got up. Checking to see all the curtains were closed, Zelda let the magic given to her flow over her body, her features and stature changing. Her blue eyes turned blood-red, her light skin turned tanner, her blonde hair turned three shades darker, and her womanly figure giveaway to a manly figure.

Sheik sighed as the transformation was completed. He swiftly braided his long hair in a half-braid and then proceeded to dress in his skin-tight Sheikah uniform. Stowing away his weapons in the hidden pockets and tighten the wrappings around his arms, he grabbed a prepared leather-pack underneath the bed and climbed out of the window, easily scaling down the castle wall to the next roof. He was leaving; he's done with pretending to be the Princess of Hyrule. For seven years he fooled the King and his people; it was only the Sheikah, his kin, which knew of him and his ability.

He took of out his pack a golden harp. It belonged to the Princess, but he's using it as way of warping from place to place. And he'll use it now—Termina wasn't a bad place to go. He started to pluck the first notes when a soft voice stopped his playing.

"Don't go Sheik." Sheik sighed and turned to his cousin, her red eyes staring at him.

"I'm sorry Reven, but I can't do this anymore. The Princess is probably dead! She's been missing for seven years! Seven years of my life taken, pretending to be her! But I'm done! And I'm not keeping up the disguise anymore. I can't!" He felt water gathering in his eyes, but he refuse to cry!

"Sheik. I can't begin to understand what these past years did to you, but you can't just run away—not now, not when you're needed!"

Sheik laughed, though it wasn't a pleasant sound. "Needed?! For what? To marry some stranger prince in a distant land? No! That is not my fate!"

"Then I have no choice but to stop you." Reven unsheathed her tantō, holding it in a reverse grip and took a stance. Sheik did the same, hearing his blade hiss as he released from its sheath, slinging the harp over his back. They posed like coiled snakes, ready to strike at any moment.

"I'm not a knight you are used to fighting, Sheik. I'll be able to dodge your moves and speed." Reven voiced as she shifted to the right.

Sheik smirked. "Let's see you try and stop me."

He waited with patience as he saw her tense, ready to pounce. She lunged, her tantō swinging upward. Sheik easily blocked and twisted to the left, kicking her in the side. Reven blocked with her arm, the power of the kick making them slide a bit. She pushed him back and aimed to slice him in the leg, but Sheik tucked into himself and rolled to the right, springing up to throw a kunai at her. Reven easily knocked it to the side, but wasn't prepared for three needles, hidden in the shadow of the kunai. They pierced her skin, hitting pressure points that made her crumble on the roof. She could feel Sheik zoning in on her quickly and she raised her tantō in a weak defense. Sheik stepped on her wrist, disarming her and held his tantō at her neck.

"You've failed, Reven. Now I'll be on my way."

"No you won't."

At hearing at the stern voice he grew up with, Sheik immediately went on the defense, his eyes staring into his aunt's.

"Impa, I am leaving."

"Sheik, you're surrounded; you can't leave."

Sheik looked around and saw others of his kin, each ready to stop him from running. But he won't stay—he'll fight if he has to!

"I'm not staying here! You can still search for the Princess without me!" But he saw Impa give him a sorrow look—his aunt never gave that look. He questioned why, but it was his cousin who answered.

"You said it yourself, Shiek," She slowly stood up, plucking the needles from her uniform as her eyes filled with sadness, "She's probably dead. And you're right; she is dead."

Shock vibrated through his body, making his limbs numb. The Princess was dead?! He knew that his thoughts at times would go down that road of possibility, but he would shake them off and hoped for the Princess's return.

"She's… Dead…?" Impa nodded.

"We'll show you if you let us."

Sheik didn't want to—oh how he didn't! He rather just run without knowing, but deep down, he had to know, had to know his kin isn't lying.

With a nod of his head, he let Impa take his arm as she whistle the tune Nocturne of Shadow and felt the purple lights warp him and his aunt to the Kakariko Graveyard.

Upon arriving, Sheik felt the death-chill that emitted from the Shadow Temple behind the graveyard—a burial ground for his people. Below sat the stone-head of Royal Family's Tomb—a grave for the Hylian royalty. Sheik followed suit as Impa lightly leaped to the ground, both landing before the tomb. Impa again whistle, this time the tune of the Royals—Zelda's Lullaby. Sheik always wondered why that lullaby was the secret melody of the Royal and why it was called Zelda. But he didn't dwell on it as the head-stone slid open, revealing stairs going underground. Impa entered first, then him.

They descended deep into the ground, passing stone tables that held all of the Royal dead. Sheik wasn't afraid—the Shadow Temple held more souls then this tomb alone. But he was afraid of what Impa would show him. And it was coming all too soon.

"We're here." She stepped aside and allowed Sheik to see and what he saw made his heart clench and crumble away.

Before him, displayed peaceful was the real Princess of Hyrule lying on a stone table. Her skin was smooth and soft to touch, her long blonde hair fanned behind her, cleaned and shining in the torch light. Her arms folded over her stomach, one hand on top the other. White cloth clung to her body as a dress and if she had a veil and flowers attached to her hair, it would look she was in a wedding dress. But she wasn't and never will be; she was still as stone, never to move again.

Sheik lightly touched her, feeling the stiffness of her muscles. The Sheikah who prepared her body did a wonderful job of preserving her—Sheikah were also known for their embalming of the body and preventing decay for years.

"What happened…?"

"A year ago… I and a few of our kin found her body mangled and disgraced in the Faron Woods. We didn't know what do to do; the heir to the throne was dead. The King would be depressed and would go into a state of coldness and the Kingdom would fall under tranny and there would be war—it has happened before in the past. To prevent such events repeating, we decided for you to keep pretending to be the Princess, eventually be the Princess. Since then, we've taken care of her body here, where she was cleaned and healed, laid to rest where she rightfully belongs." She turned to Sheik and lightly laid a hand on his shoulder. "The reason why you're needed and keep being the Princess is because there is no Princess. Should the King find out that you're not the real Zelda and discovers her death, he'll turn on us and we can't fight the entire Hyrulean Army—our tribe would be wiped out.

It was true; Sheik knew that while his kin are the protectors of the Royal Family, the King still harbored mistrust—mistrust bred into the Royal line from the first moment the Hylians and the Sheikah met.

"Then what are we to do? You can't expect me to go through with the marriage—I don't have the reproductive organs of a female!" Impa pulled out a small vial.

"I know and that will be solved with this. A Gerudo witch brewed this for us—it's a special potion that makes any woman who is barren to have a child. In your case, make your organs that of a female and able to reproduce. You would became a female—an actual Zelda so to speak."

Terror vibrated through his veins—he'll have to become Zelda, really become her, so his people won't be slaughtered, so the King can—in a way—have his daughter back and have grandchildren. Everyone would be happy. Except for him. His life, his future, his identity would be stripped from him as he carried out his duty to King and Kingdom, to be the Princess everyone loves. And he could do it—hell, he's been doing for seven years, can he do it for the rest of his life.

Sheik looked back at Zelda, her face etched into a smile. Before, he sought her council on matters that were too big, too confusing for him to make sense and decide. And now, he searched her face, that somehow beyond the grave she'll give him answer.

But none came as the air was still with death. Sheik knew what to do. And if he has to be Zelda forever, then so be it.

"Alright. I'll take the potion." He held out his hand for the vial, the smooth glass cool to the touch as Impa gave it to him. Popping off the cork, Shiek cheered to Zelda and downed the potion.