Prologue: The Beginning
Lit by only candle light, shadows danced along the stone cold walls. Even on the blue, red, and gold colored banners bearing the royal symbol of Hyrule, the taunting shadows were noticed. Princess Talonea lay broken hearted on her loved window seat, tightly clutching her crying baby to her chest. Barely able to breathe from the blast she took to her right side, she waited motionless, watching her own blood stain the expensive white cushion. Her golden red hair poured down the side of her face, hiding her green eyes, like a waterfall. Before her, two wicked beings fight vigorously with the king's brother, her husband, Prince Link. The witches are very short, old women with dark green leathery skin and crooked smiles that could make an orthodontist die on the spot. The first, called Kotake by her companion, used ice against Link. Kotake had a large ice chuck sticking out of her head where her hair should be. Kotake referred to the other as Koume. Koume used powerful blasts of fire against Link and had fire flowing from her head where her hair should be. They both were identical aside from their "hair" and powers.
Talonea felt destroyed with loss. She felt the depression and grief, hating herself. What no one in the kingdom of Hyrule knew, she was a sorceress just like the evil women who were fighting her husband. Long ago, she had given up her abilities in fear her family and children were at risk to face the consequences. Now, wounded and useless to the situation, she felt she had made a mistake. Having her powers and strength may have saved the night from turning into a disaster. Seeing that the battle was not going anywhere, Talonea knew she didn't have much time left to save the last hope for the kingdom. She carefully lifted herself from the window, using the wall to steady her weak body, and walked toward the door.
"Where do you think you're going with that child?" Koume cackled.
"Yes, my dear, where do you think you're going so soon? Just wait your turn now; we're almost done with your pathetic husband!" Kotake snickered.
Talonea stumbled, almost falling, at the sound of their hoarse voices and horrid cackles. Fortunately, Link got the gist of her plan and unleashed numerous attacks on the cackling witches. "Run Tally! Run my love! I'll hold them off!" He quickly glanced in Talonea's direction, "I love you."
"I love you, too... Link..." Talonea moved as fast as her wounded, weak soul would allow. Managing to make it out of the castle, she rode on horseback, fleeing her home. The town had been left in rubble from Gerudo thieves who arrived the same time the witches did. This was the first in a very long time those wretched women were known to still be alive in the tribe. The Gerudo tribe leader hasn't been seen during the attack, but Talonea knew he wouldn't be far to deliver the final blow. She pushed the horse to full speed and headed towards the one place she knew was safe.
Finally, Talonea reached the large hollow log tunnel leading to the Kokiri Forest. She slid off her white stallion and fought with all her might to keep her feet flat on the ground. Talonea knew deep in her heart, she was running out of time. Struggling, she used the horse to lean on, leading it as close to the forest entrance as possible. Without the strength to urge the horse further into the actual tunnel, Talonea released her grip of its reins and took her first step. Falling almost immediately, she quickly turned on her back, avoiding crushing the child she still held dearly close to her heart. Then, she heard the cackling.
"Well, well! Didn't you make it far!" mocked Kotake. Talonea looked with up with dreadful eyes. Kotake lifted her hand to the left side of her, a dark blob of swirling black lined in purple appeared. Soon after, Link was thrown like a ragdoll out of the blob, landing next to Talonea. Talonea gasped, wondering if he was dead. As if reading her concerned mind, Link twitched slightly and moaned in pain, proving he still had spark running through his veins.
Link shifted toward Talonea. Gently, he reached over and grabbed her hand, "I'm not quite done," he whispered. Talonea felt tears roll down her fevered cheeks. Pulling herself closer to her husband, she placed her lips onto his for what she knew to be their last kiss. Pain burned deep in her heart. She had already watched her daughter be taken, she wasn't going to watch her husband be viciously murdered trying to protect his family like it was wrong. Using what strength she had left, Talonea scooted into the tunnel using her free arm. She felt her body almost become lighter and the darkness swallowed her; never to be seen or see the outside world again.
Now on a wide wooden bridge, she realized she was in the Lost Woods. Talonea was almost where she needed to be. She continued to scoot herself to the next tunnel. Half way across the bridge, she looked to her left and noticed a girl in all green clothes and hair only slightly lighter than her clothes. The girl's face looked sad, grasping a peach colored ocarina to her chest. Talonea forced the words out of her mouth, "Please... Please help... me..." With her free arm, she revealed the now sleeping baby.
The girls blue eyes seemed to grow larger and she gasped loudly. She walked up to Talonea and helped her to her feet. Talonea felt at ease in the forest, she no longer felt pain. She and the forest girl headed to the very back of Kokiri Forest. The entered a large meadow where a huge tree stood strong and mighty. The forest girl carried the child, assisting Talonea when necessary. Arriving at the Great Deku Tree's Meadow in the back of the Kokiri forest, Talonea felt like she was floating. Feeling the urge to lie down, she rested on the soft grass. All noise and voices around her disappeared, memories flooded in her head like a waterfall. She remembered her childhood, growing up, marrying Link, and the birth of her twins. She could see the forest girl cradling her son Link, named after his father. Her last thought before passing on was her daughter Tally, named Talonea's childhood nickname, who was captured by the witches earlier that night. What would happen to Tally? Link may be the last home to save the kingdom... but can he do it alone?
The next night...
The sun sank into the sandy horizon. A sand storm roared with anger over the Haunted Wasteland as Koume and Kotake stood disguising their plans in the Spirit Temple. The winds of the storm were so powerful, even the Leevers buried themselves under the loose sand in the Desert Colossus.
"What's the point anymore, Koume? That child is a demon in disguise! Why can't we just kill it? Wasn't that the point when we snatched the smelly baby? As long as she didn't grow up in Hyrule she would never know her true purpose in life."
"I see something worth waiting for, Kotake."
The old witch huffed, "What?"
"Her powers... her abilities... She has her father's courage and strength as well. You're forgetting we failed to grab the boy. Her brother, her equal half. Without her he can't completely succeed in his destiny. That child you want to just throw away does have purpose here. We'll have her train and use her to destroy her brother. She's the only one who can..." Koume explained.
"She has a strong mind though, I don't think we can brainwash her," her sister mentioned.
"No, we can't. But she was brought here very young, an innocent baby," Koume agreed, thinking for a moment. "She will know only our customs, lifestyles, and laws and what not. The blood in her veins and the strength of her mind will make a mighty Gerudo thief. And nobody will know. With red hair like her mother and wearing our traditional clothing nobody will know the difference. And if they do, they won't know who she really is."
"You're right, Koume. That's quite an excellent plan..." Gahh... "The thing is being loud again. Why are we keeping her here?"
"We're not. I'll send for the nanny tomorrow after the sand storm blows over. She will be raised and trained as a thief in the Gerudo Fortress until she's older. When she turns sixteen, I'll have her brought here for her much more important training from her 'grandmothers'" Koume cackled.
Kotake grumbled, "I don't want to be a grandmother. I'm not old enough yet."
Koume walked over to where the child lie wrapped in a blanket. The blanket was royal blue with the Hyrule mark and the Triforce. The Triforce is a large triangle, formed by three golden triangles all connected, with an empty space of an upside down triangle in the middle. Each of the three golden triangles has meaning: one means courage, the second means wisdom, and the last means power. Around the baby's neck was a gold necklace of the Hyrule symbol and her name: Tally. Koume gazed in Tally's green eyes for a moment, so bright and innocent. A noise came from her right; Koume quickly removed the necklace and adjusted the blanket so that the symbol was hidden. Nabooru, second-in-command to the Gerudo leader, Ganondorf, walked towards them. She stopped and stared at the child, "Where did that child come from?" Nabooru questioned.
Koume tried to laugh innocently, "Well, It's sad actually..." Kotake strolled over and took the baby from her sister. "You see, this child... Ah forget it!" Koume cackled. "I'll just brainwash you again."
Nabooru jumped backwards, flipping in air and landed on the staircase railing above them, "Brainwash? What?!" Nabooru was one of the best thieves for the Gerudos.
Before she could say more, Koume was floating right next to her in her sorceress form, fiery hair flowing behind her. She placed her hand on Nabooru's head. Soon enough Nabooru's struggling stopped; Koume's touch of sorcery was already tricking her mind. Koume cleared her throat and began, "This child is yours. You will take very good care of her. Give her a normal Gerudo life until she is sixteen and bring her to us here at the spirit temple. Tomorrow when the sandstorm stops, you and the child will go to the Fortress." Koume grabbed Nabooru's arm and pulled her from the staircase. They both slowly drifted like leaves to the floor below. "Oh, one more thing. You're going to take care of her tonight and always protect her with your life. When she's in our care in sixteen years, you can forget about her." Koume made sure to create a few fake memories for Nabooru carrying the baby.
Koume returned to normal and let go of Nabooru and took Tally from Kotake. Kotake mumbled something about not being anymore simple but Koume ignored her. Nabooru rose from the sandy floor shaking her head with confusion. "So, Nabooru, did you think of a name for your baby girl yet? I told you how cute I think she is right?" Kotake asked.
Nabooru paused for a moment and looked down at Tally. "Umm, no you didn't and I haven't named her yet. Would you like to help me name her?"
"Well, that sounds like a swell idea!" Koume exclaimed, grinning widely.
Wow, these women give me the creeps, Nabooru thought. "So, what do you think than?"
"Kazalyn! Name her Kazalyn, Nabooru," Kotake insisted.
Nabooru felt like something had to be wrong with this situation. Why can't I remember specific memories from the last few months? What did I do...? Surely, I'd remember my pregnancy. Everything I do remember feels so vague and... and fake almost. "Well, that's a pretty weird name but I suppose that'll do." Koume pulled the blanket from the child claiming she deserved a new Gerudo one, then extending her out to Nabooru. Nabooru took "Kazalyn" and headed back to her room, confused and tired.
Kotake turned to face Koume, "Now what?"
"Patients Kotake... in time our plan will unravel..."