Breath Of The Wild: Lost Memories

EPISODE: PAYA

20 YEARS BEFORE CALAMITY'S END:

"It's a girl!" Impa announced to the villagers below her house once she had gone past the door, her cane supporting her. As they began to cheer and applaud for the new arrival, the maturely aged woman smiled, a few teeth lost in her past battles. She looked at them one by one. All were happy, for once. In that very instance, they had forgotten the trials they had to endure to stand in this day. It was a moment of perfection for both them, and for her. Breaking through the loud noise of clapping and shouting, the door behind Impa opened, with the maid standing in the middle. Unlike the rest, she had a face of sorrow. Not something that the Elder had noticed right then.

"Um… Elder Impa.." She stammered.

"Roaki! Come on, come tell the world how beautiful she is! Her eyes, her cry! Doesn't it make your heart melt?" Impa grinned, her arms on the other woman's shoulders.

"Impa…" She looked down. She had respect for the Elder, but whenever Impa noticed anyone not using her title, she knew something was amiss.

"Roaki, whatever's the matter? You should be happy!" She tried to keep a smile for the maid, only for it to turn into concern.

"Saeed…" She then knew instantly that it was something serious. She began to sprint, her wooden staff heavily smacking onto the wooden floor of her house. The crowd behind her suddenly went silent, with murmurs and whispers.

"Is the baby.."

"Whatever has happened?"

"Please, no.."

Roaki looked behind to face the villagers, turning away from Impa's back. She had to see for herself what had happened, she had no words to express it. She only stood to where Impa last was and cleared her throat, bowing to her observants. "Please remain calm. We would like to ask if you could-"

"Is the baby alright?!"

"Tell us what's wrong!"

"We want answers!"

Soon, the laughter and cheers turned into sudden feelings of betrayal and needed closure. She wanted Impa to do this instead of her, but at the same time, she knew that it was professional to remain calm and avoid riling them up with sudden news. They would all know by tomorrow. Informing them in their homes would be much better than having their emotions wracked side by side with the commotion. "I'm sorry! But please, this is… Unwelcome news, even for Lady Impa. Please, we will inform you tomorrow, but we would like to have privacy and some time to mourn." She didn't bother having to explain after the outburst, she went back inside, closing the doors behind her with a slam. Heavily breathing, she took a moment to collect herself, before going back upstairs, where she knew Impa; and the baby would be.

Impa was seen to be crouched as Roaki walked up the stairs to the delivery room, originally the heirloom hall. She was holding Saeed's hand as the still woman was laid on the bed. She wasn't breathing.

She was with her husband now.

Impa, having seen death many times in her life, didn't even have the courage to bring tears to her eyes. Her lip trembled as she realized she never had time to say goodbye. There was always the chance that someone was going to die after birth, but… There was so many careful planning to this moment that they never expected it to go wrong. The newborn on the other hand, rested in a crib on the left side of the room, softly sleeping under the sheet that warmed her. Roaki held her hands together, respectfully approaching the Elder.

"You have my condolences. I'm so sorry."
"..."

Impa didn't bother looking elsewhere until she broke the silence.

"She was young and fruitful. Even after having a child, she still had much to live for."

"Such as?"

She stood up and rested a hand on her back before she turned to face Roaki, her face now determined. Even after witnessing her child's passing, she knew that it was up to her and her assistant to take care of the child now. The job of the mother, now passed on to the child.

"To await the hero of legend when he returns." She sighed. "Look at me. I'm an old woman." She weakly smiled at her, trying to keep her usual humor to a degree. "I don't know when Link will wake up, but I know it won't be when I'm around." She looked towards the baby girl. "But she will. You and I can make sure of that."

Roaki had to bow at Impa's request. She never had parents to look after her, but it doesn't mean that doesn't have to happen again. She walked over to the crib and placed her hand on the end of the wooden bedding, making sure not to wake up the child. "She named her, you know. That was the last thing she said."
Satisfied with the knowledge of her daughter's last words, she smiled warmly. "What was it?"

"...Paya."

Impa squinted for a second before eyeing her. "You have no right to be making jokes at this ti-"

"No, I'm telling you the truth!" She whimpered, worrying about Impa's anger. "P-Please look at her and… You'll see."

Impa huffed and heard out her maid before standing next to her, lifting the blanket gently from the baby's form. There was a brown birthmark on Paya's bottom, and she couldn't help but stay silent.

Then she snorted.

And then she started to full on giggle, the chances of her granddaughter having the mark of a Papaya Seed smack dab on her left butt cheek! Today had quickly turned into a bad one, but this had to be a glorious moment, surely. Paya then started to cry as Impa made too much noise, and Roaki let out a sigh of relief. Impa picked her up from the crib and hugged her, calming the infant down.

"Welcome to the world… Paya…" She tearfully smiled.

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