*Update 7/4/2017* Just a half-hearted fix of some grammatical issues and stuff, nothing special. Carry on.


SEVEN YEARS LATER


"Zara!"

One eye opened. Shadows and bright light played in her vision.

"Zara!"

Who's shouting? She rolled away from the sound, trying to retain the dream she was having.

"ZARA!"

Two hands roughly jolted her from sleep. The young woman startled awake, blinking up at the girl with frizzy brown hair shaking her cot.

Seeing she was successful, the girl straightened and put her hands on her hips. "There," she sniffed, throwing an accusing look over her shoulder. "I told you she was awake!"

Tired, the young woman blinked again, muted morning light now filtering into her eyes. The one-room cottage unfolded like a vision before her; warm yellow walls, a round wooden table, the aroma of soup filling the air. She stretched her sore limbs as a much less unpleasant woman waved her spoon from the other side of the cottage. "Well now she is, Jessica, since you just woke her. Leave her be."

The girl, Jessica, rolled her eyes, looking back to the cot. Her bed head of brown ringlets glowed in the sunlight, creating a halo around her head though she was no angel. "Get up," she ordered, in spite of the fact that Zara was already sliding out of bed. "Mum's out and I need my hair done."

The young woman they called Zara stood and yawned, extending her sore back as far as possible. She brushed dark brown hair from her eyes and looked to the larger woman standing over the stove, who had just clucked her tongue. "She's gettin' up now, so you can bother someone else until she's ready." Maine used her spoon to point at the other bunk beds around Zara's where people still slept. "You'd best wash your hair outside while you wait since you're making such a fuss!"

Jessica pouted, glaring at Zelda. "Hurry," she huffed, then marched to the front door.

"Goodness gracious," Maine mumbled as it slammed shut, stirring a broth over her stove that was reason for the delicious smell in the morning air. "What's got into her? Like an arrogant rooster."

Zara yawned again, rubbing her hazel eyes. She gave a knowing smile to her Hylian caretaker, who just shook her head.

"This ruckus is all probably because of the rumors," Maine continued talking aloud, mostly to herself. "Word has it the Duke's son is riding to town this morning." She wiped her large hands on her apron, pausing to scoop some broth into a bowl and hand it to the maiden with a roll. "You'd better be quick. Jessica has got her head wrapped around that boy, and Mamamu Yan is more than eager to secure him for her daughter. Thinks it'll elevate them to royalty. Ha!"

Zara set the food on the table in the middle of the room, pulling her apron off the chair and returning to her cot to make the bed. She tugged the smock over her dress, dipped the roll into the soup once, and lifted a sudsy bucket into her hand before turning for the door.

"Don't forget to eat!" Maine called over her shoulder as Zara headed out, roll in one hand and the bucket in the other.

The morning was clear and sunny, the opposite of how it had been the night Zelda had stumbled in Kakariko village seven years earlier. Cuccos clucked and birds tweeted as they flew between mountains; the sky was an immaculate shade of blue. A few marketers were already up, bustling out their goods and sharing gossip. It was on days like these the people could almost forget about the past seven years, or the reign of terror Ganondorf had them under. How fortunate young Zelda had been then to find Maine and disguise herself in a new life. Zelda inhaled the crisp air as she strolled, taking a bite from of the roll.

An impatient sixteen year old was waiting by the well, arms crossed and expression sour. Zelda took the steps one at a time, savoring her food.

"Would you hurry up!? You're slower than a half-beaten mule." Jessica brushed invisible specks of dirt off her cream-colored dress in a dramatic hurry, like her appearance was of great importance to the world. Her hair was no more tame than it had been a few minutes ago, and her cheeks were ruddier than usual. "Lord Charles could be here any minute! Let's go!"

Zelda licked last of her breakfast off her fingertips before acknowledging the daughter of her employer by raising the bucket she was holding. Jessica glared at her. "You carry it!"

Zelda pointed at the hill behind the windmill, where Jessica and her mother lived, and the girl squealed. She stomped her foot. "Why do you have to be such a pain when Mummy's not around?" She kicked the side of the well. "Nevermind going home, just…get on with it right here!"

She flipped her hair over the bricks, letting it dangle above the dry pit that used to house water. The well had been empty for as long as Zelda had lived in Kakariko, though she heard it had been full days before her arrival.

Ignoring the girl's blabbering about the cold, Zelda lifted the bucket and poured water over Jessica's head. Why Jessica didn't just bathe more often was beyond her. In summer's heat water from the river wasn't that freezing.

Jessica spat and complained about how miserable she was while Zelda washed her hair. "Go to the house and get my things when you're done, and don't forget the bows and ribbons." She mumbled in a pinched voice from having her head upside-down. "I don't want to miss a thing this time. I'm coming of age and Mum says I shouldn't miss the opportunity to impress Lord Charles while I'm in my prime, whatever that means." She droned on, "Girls only have so much time to get married, before they get too old and no one wants them anymore."

Zelda put the bucket aside and had Jessica straighten as she went on and on about when she became a Lady, content to have a captive audience. Zelda combed through most of the tangles with her fingers. What is she talking about? That's ridiculous. She was aching to leave the whiny girl and grab her bow, some arrows and climb to the nearest peak—

A cry came from the watchtower. Shouts rang up from town square and Jessica nearly stumbled over the edge of the well. Zelda's heart jumped. She squinted at the tower, noticing that was what the watchman was frantically signaling to the crowd.

"He's coming!" Jessica caught her breath. "Fetch those things, Zara, he can't see me until I'm positively ravishing!" She fanned her flushed face with a hand, sending Zelda a scowl when she didn't leap at the command. "What are you doing!? Go! Now!"

Zelda sighed, pulling the tip of her scarf over her nose and turning away. At least she was headed in the opposite direction of the commotion. She'd had more than her fair share of commotion lately.

Dawning sunlight broke into rays that scattered into Zelda's vision as she peaked the hill beside the graveyard. The noise from town square was still audible from here, though less prominent. As Zelda approached the sparse trees that spotted the hillside she had the familiar sense of understanding of why Mamamu Yan and the other refugees had chosen to make their homes on the mountainside, even though it they were a bit of a pain to reach.

Rudimentary houses and huts were scattered throughout the clearing as Zelda strolled through. Looking around, one could tell the homes were not made by professional carpenters—or at least, sat unfinished after the carpenters deserted Kakariko. Zelda kept walking until caught up to what was probably the most polished shack and slipped inside.

Light filtering through slits in the wood was blocked out by the countless objects that filled Jessica's home. Pushing through the mess toward the vanity, the maid extended her bandaged right hand toward the pile of combs, ribbons, and perfumes sitting there. She swept them into the nearest bucket as a scream—faint, nearly imperceptible—tickled the hairs on the back of her neck. Her hand stiffened.

She knew it wasn't Charles the watchman had been signaling about.

Other distant sounds reached her ears as she surpassed the bucket and swept the objects directly into her hidden pouch. Darting to the door, she withdrew a purple vile from her pocket and studied its contents. Running low on magic again.

The young Hylian priest living next to Mamamu Yan's shack had already stumbled out of his crude home and toward the windmill by the time Zelda opened the door.

"Zara!" Ross exclaimed in mild wonderment, ganglier than ever in his early-morning robes. He was bleary-eyed, and his short hair stuck up on one side. "I wonder what is going on?"

Zelda strode past him to the gate, pressing both hands against its wooden surface. Ross stumbled to a stop several feet short of it. "My word! It's an invasion!"

An invasion this early in the morning was unheard of. But, in the fading shadows of the night, creatures of evil seemed to have made their way into Kakariko. Zelda strode along the gate, hazel eyes scanning it quickly.

"Don't fret, Zara." Ross half-followed her in his mild mannered way. "It looks bad now, but the village knows how to deal with issues like this. There is always hope."

Zelda continued walking until she found the spot where one wooden beam was lower than its brothers. She silently acknowledged Ross, keeping her eyes on the commotion. Two skeletal Stalchildren were terrorizing the closest market stands. Easy enough. What bothered her was the squawking guay that circled above their heads—birds territorially found in the desert or on the fringes of Hyrule field. What was one doing all the way in Kakariko?

She wished she could shoo Ross away, but to do so would blow her cover as Zara. Instead, she quickly turned to the man, bowing and nodding and pointing toward the houses as if in fear. Ross bought it wholeheartedly.

"Yes, yes, go take shelter. I'll watch from here and find you when the fight is over. It'll be alright, child," he added sympathetically. "We have the Sheikah to protect us, remember?"

Not if the Sheikah can't get into battle, she thought as she nodded and hurried into the trees. As soon as he was looking the other way, she ducked behind one.

Ross stared through the gate at the chaos until a faint sound turned his head. He gasped, nearly losing his spectacles.

The tribal warrior perching on the top of the gate stared back at him with blood red eyes, crest glimmering in the early light.

"Ah," Ross stammered, clearly stunned to be seeing the infamous character up close.

Sheik's voice was brisk but gravelly. "Stay here."

The fumbling priest nodded. The Sheikah stood up. Ross thought he saw a small object in the warrior's hand reflect light into his eyes, but the second he blinked the Sheikah was gone.

The unexpected appearance of monsters had sent the people of Kakariko into some disarray. One Stalchild was smashing into a stand holding fresh produce, and the other was giving slow chase to a couple of frightened villagers. The bravest (or perhaps the most irritated) ones were trying to hold their ground against the feigns with sticks, while others stood on the outside edges and called for help. The guay swooped down and knocked off one

man's hat. Sheik crouched quietly on the nearest rooftop, unnoticed, above it all.

The sunlight that should've been dissolving the Stalchildren into piles of dust hadn't reached full intensity in the square yet. That's likely why they're still there, Sheik thought, fingering the object in her hand. I believe I can fix that.

Bright flashes of light blinded the bird first. The guay crowed loudly, catching sight of the purple and white Sheikah sending rays into its eyes with a small mirror borrowed from Jessica's household.

A large woman pointed at the rooftop. "It's Sheik!"

A couple of cheers broke out from the villagers. Sheik redirected the mirror. The Stalchild chasing the villagers stopped and looked up at her with the hollows of its skull as its bones began to smoke under sunlight. It burst into a pile of ash.

More cheers caused the other Stalchild reared up, leaving the booth to stagger in the direction of the gathering. Sheik focused the sunlight once more. In a few seconds, the creature was a heap of rubble.

The villagers rejoiced, even though the guay was still demanding attention with shrill squawks. Sheik studied it through the yellow hairs that shaded her face while she slipped the ornate mirror into her pouch. Jessica was standing on the outskirts of the small gathering. Hopefully she hadn't noticed whose mirror Sheik had just used.

Zelda adjusted the scarf covering her mouth, calculating how much time she had before she ran completely out of magic. The guay would not be quite as simple to get rid of since it was unsusceptible to sunlight. The guay slowly dove at her; she rolled to the side.

A different kind of commotion rose from the square—a figure came running into town, sword and hair gleaming brightly. Zelda recognized him with a sense of dread in her gut.

The esteemed son of the duke, Lord Charles, in the flesh. Wearing shiny plates of armor, no doubt. "Fear not, Kakariko!" he shouted, raising his sword as he trotted toward them.

The villagers were rapturous. Why this character worked them up so much, Zelda could not tell. She ducked the guay again, withdrawing a knife from her pouch.

"You there! Sheikah!" Charles stopped several feet from the house she stood upon, arming himself with a long bow and an arrow. "I've got the bird!"

By Din, was he going to shoot? Sheik narrowly flipped out of the way as the projectile whistled past. Who was he trying to hit—the monster or her!?

Sheik regained her balance, which had been nearly lost in that tumbling act. The guay had flown out of reach but not out of range, so she put the knife away and whipped out a thin silver chain instead. While Charles reloaded his bow, she aimed, flicking her wrist.

The guay shrieked indignantly when the cord smashed into it. It reeled into mountainside, crying and squawking. Eyes glowering at her like a demon's, the creature began to flap toward her madly.

Charles launched another arrow that embedded itself in the roof next to Sheik's leg, distracting her as the bird swooped low. Its sharp beak seared across her left arm.

Zelda stumbled away, clutching her arm. The oaf! If she hadn't padded her disguise so heavily, that certainly would've been more than a small cut! The guay paid no attention to Charles and immediately circled back to her, shrieking and wobbling. The growing crowd continued to make an obnoxious ruckus below the rooftop.

Sheik grabbed the arrow in the roof and snatched it from between the tiles, thrusting it as the bird plunged at her. The creature impaled itself on the arrow with a loud screech, exploding into a plume of purple smoke and feathers.

Cheers rose up. A few other villagers had come out of their homes during the fight, joining the noise. Charles maintained his composure as he put his weapons away, smiling with dignity. Sheik pointedly glared at the man.

"Good work, chap," he called up to her as if nothing was amiss. Sheik's eyes narrowed.

The arrow in her hand embedded itself into the grass between Charles's feet. Charles stepped back, a wary look briefly displaying on his confident face. A couple of concerned mutters rose from the crowd.

"What's the meaning of this!?" he cried.

She folded her arms. "If you take up that bow ever again, I will hunt you down." At the stunned expression on his face, she added, "I don't tolerate incompetence."

He stooped down to retrieve the arrow, reluctantly laughing. A smattering of voices joined in. Slipping the arrow into the quiver, Charles shouted, "Tell you what, Sheikah! If you enjoy competent company that much, why don't you come down from there and have a dri—?"

The quiver on his back suddenly exploded. Charles stumbled to the ground, the scream of a frightened girl piercing his ear.

Confusion broke out again in the square, anyone standing nearby stunned by the flash and everyone else trying to figure out what happened. Charles recovered and threw off his quiver, shielding his eyes as if the whole thing might explode. People backed away in fear. The air was smokey from the explosion. Where were the monsters? Where was the perpetrator?

Charles realized after a few seconds that all of his arrows were still in place. Nothing had actually exploded. It dawned on him—he squinted at the rooftop.

The Sheikah was already gone.


The marketers were beginning to repair the damage to the market stands while the rest of townspeople began to gather to the shiny-plated newcomer as the abnormally exciting morning settled back into its calm, albeit busy routine. The village was already rife with gossip concerning Charles and the appearance of Sheik.

Maine pushed open the door of her cottage, flour on her hands. "What's the ruckus about?"

"Go back inside, Maine," a large man rumbled as he strode past, large butcher's knife resting on his shoulder. "The trouble's gone."

Maine put her hands on her hips. "What happened? I couldn't leave my stove."

"Some monster attack. They hit up a couple of stands. Nobody got hurt. The Sheikah got 'em first."

"You mean that Sheik? I'll be." Maine wiped her hands on her apron. "That devil's got me confused between whether he's a good guy or a bad guy."

"He's real quick," the muscly man grumbled, hefting his blade a little higher. As the owner of the town's general store, the bazaar, Grock didn't get to use his knife often enough anymore. "Didn't even give the rest of us a chance. He got rid of the monsters without even leaving the rooftops. Say, I think he mighta been on your roof!"

Maine and Grock both glanced up at the exterior of her cottage. Meanwhile, a loud voice reverberated in the clear mountain air as its owner stepped into town square. "Charles! Charlie!"

Mamamu Yan sauntered into town square in her large white gown, small white dog tucked into her left arm. She had practically appeared from thin air. "What a pleasant surprise, seeing you here!"

Charles sheathed his sword and ran his fingers through his groomed hair. A couple of nearby girls squealed excitedly to each other. "Hello, Mamamu Yan. A pleasure, as always." He bowed deeply, kissing the woman's outstretched hand.

"Well." The large woman primped her lofty bun, looking flushed. "You visit far too little. Whatever is the occasion this time?"

"Ganondorf's reign, isn't it?" A stooped, white-haired man in blue robes shambled from the entrance of Maine's. "He seized Hyrule seven years ago this day, didn't he?"

Mamamu Yan cast the old man a sour look, petting her little dog.

"Seven years and he still stinks!" A lanky man standing near the large palm tree in the west of the square slapped his knee. His brother, Lester, joined in jovially. "You got that right, Chester!"

"They speak the truth," Charles sighed, a somber expression taking his features. "Today marks the seventh year of our people under King Ganondorf's thumb. Incidentally, today is also the seventh anniversary of my older brother's death." He raised a hand to his heart.

Mamamu Yan put her hand over her heart as well. "How sad. I'm grieved by your loss, Charles."

Several villagers standing nearby murmured amongst each other as a young lady with a head full of wet, tangled hair came rushing around the back end of crowd. "Mother," she hissed urgently, approaching on the far side of Mamamu Yan.

"Child, what are you doing here?" The woman shifted the dog in her grasp as she turned to Jessica with hushed whispers, "You're not yet presentable! Your hair!"

"Jessica," Charles welcomed, spying her to her misfortune. She acknowledged the man with a small nod, trying to hide the mess on her head. "What brings you out here so early in the morning?"

"Oh, she rises with the sun." Mamamu Yan took a step forward as her daughter partially hid behind her skirts. "Naturally, since she leads such a busy lifestyle. What were you saying about your dear brother?"

I-I-I

The young Hylian maid returned from the mountainside at a moderate pace, securing the bandage over her right hand as she reentered the bustle. Zara had taken a considerable time to retrieve her mistress's things, but if anyone asked it was probably because the poor girl had gotten lost or forgotten her destination. She had a fresh bandage on her upper arm. Likely from another clumsy fall; Zara showed up all the time with those sorts of injuries. No one had noticed Zelda's prolonged absence this time except Jessica, who frantically motioned her over as soon as she was in eyeshot. Charles was in company. Zelda sighed. Dear Nayru.

Zelda, whispered a voice in the wind as approached her employers. Zelda paused. Nothing. She shook her head.

Jessica was positively fuming when Zelda finally reached her, but she bottled it up in the presence of Lord Charles. Zelda tried not to find that amusing as she set the bucket down and began working on Jessica's hair.

"Zara!" Lord Charles' enthusiasm drew envious looks from the girls around Zelda, who was focused solely on her task. "Ah, I was wondering where you were off to!"

And here it was again. Zara, the dumb, mute maid, stealing all the attention of the fancy suitor visiting the girls who were clearly much higher in the social hierarchy. Younger, too. No doubt the "prime" of their lives. Zelda lowered her face to hide her laughing expression in her scarf. She really shouldn't laugh—it wasn't kindest thing of her to do, but…it was so funny! She could act like a stupid cucco and Lord Charles would still follow her around like a pompous puppy dog.

"Don't be shy, Zara," Charles said. Mamamu Yan shot Zelda a taut look, clearing her throat. The woman hated having Zara nearby when Charles visited Jessica, but she couldn't have Jessica in front of the man underdressed. Apparently, the idea to dress her themselves never crossed their minds. As Charles began pour compliments over her, Zelda had to actually turn her face away so she would not laugh. Laughing will blow your cover, she reminded herself.

Zelda, the whisper came again. She sobered immediately. What was the source of this? She lifted her eyes to the rooftops, studying the patterns of clouds in the sky.

"And how you continue launder in Hyrule Field even in these dire times is admirable," Charles blathered. I need to refill my magic, Zelda thought as she tied the last ribbon into Jessica's hair, which now looked less like an unruly mane and more like tasteful curls. Jessica turned to Charles with a poised smile, and Mamamu Yan announced loudly enough to draw everyone's attention, "Darling!"

Why they worked so hard to secure the affections of a man who flirted with all his maidservants as well as his noblewomen acquaintances was beyond Zelda's ability to comprehend. She collected the remainder of Jessica's hair things into the bucket and turned to leave the square.

"Zara! Where are you going?"

Mamamu Yan cut off Zelda's exit. In spite of Charles' actions toward the maid, Mamamu Yan smiled unusually wide at her.

"Zara," she said, spreading her free hand in a friendly gesture. Zelda was aware that they had the attention of Lord Charles now and things became crystal clear.

"You're such a good maid, darling. Helping Jessica look so lovely in time of crisis." She lightly touched her daughter's hair, eyeing the Lord. "Here. Your pay for the week."

With large, showy movements, she pulled out a white purse that had been tucked between her arm and the dog. Zelda untied a leather pouch from her middle and opened it so Mamamu Yan could drop a fat purple rupee inside.

Charles stepped forward, a charming smile on his face. "Aren't you a generous soul, Mamamu Yan!" He winked at Zelda. "But she did such a wonderful job—" he smiled at Jessica before continuing, "she certainly deserves a tip in wake of the chaos this morning."

Jessica blushed, averting her eyes. How impressive—flirting with two women at the same time, Zelda thought as she held out the pouch for him as well. Glancing at her expectant expression, Charles withdrew a red rupee from his side and chivalrously slipped it into the young maid's wallet.

Zelda retired her pouch, feeling suddenly quite satisfied Charles had decided to drop by. Charles smirked at her as she did so. "Did you have any adventures while I was away, Zara?" he asked charmingly. Mamamu Yan's pleasant face soured slightly.

"Of course not!" The older woman laughed. "Zara is a good maid, but she doesn't leave the village except to launder—don't you, Zara?"

Zelda readily nodded, finishing the knot on her pouch. Charles offered a good-natured laugh. "Oh, but doing laundry in Hyrule field requires courage on it's own, don't you think?" He gave Zelda a small bow and added in a soft voice. "I think you're very brave, Zara."

Zelda nodded meekly. Mamamu Yan, she noted out of the corner of her eye, put her hands on her hips. She forced a smile. "Mmm! This maid is very busy Charles, so we mustn't keep her. Zara—you're free to go."

She sent the girl a look that meant she should leave now, so Zelda gave the group a humble bow and gladly took the opportunity to escape, leaving the bucket behind. It was not her fault that Charles was an outrageous flirt. Charles had always proven to be that way with women—in spite of his adamant declarations of love for the long lost princess. Zelda stifled a laugh. Charles did not suspect Zara to be anything but a quiet little maid. If only he knew who he was actually flirting with.

A low roll of thunder rumbled from Death Mountain as Zelda made her way up the stone steps. She glanced up. Unusual, fiery clouds were forming about the head of it. The villagers took no notice of them, bustling like normal as she passed by. Strange, Zelda thought as she continued to walk. The sky was clear a moment ago.

A chilling wind swept around her dress as she approached the medicine shop. She stumbled, an unfamiliar scene flashing across her mind's eye for the briefest of seconds—a sword in a pedestal. What in Hyrule? She rested against the outer wall of the shop, attempting to compose herself. Her vision flickered again, and this time she saw a small green figure standing over the sword.

"The boy's spirit slept in the Sacred Realm for seven years," a low, old voice came drifting over the sounds of the townsfolk her. It occurred to Zelda that the voice was speaking directly to her mind, not from the wind. She incredulously braced herself against the wall. The scene of the small boy standing over the pedestal returned, more clearly. Zelda's chest constricted. Link.

She was there suddenly, watching with disembodied eyes as her small Kokiri friend grasped the hilt of the sword with both hands and pulled it straight out. She gasped within herself. Link drew the Master Sword. All this time, I thought I thought he was killed…

Blue light flooded the chamber with the pedestal, and the young boy ascended into the air, body encased in luminescence. He and the sword and his fairy disappeared into the unseen depths of the Sacred Realm.

The vision changed. She saw a hexagon with different points of light at each joint, shrouded in darkness. The symbol of the Triforce glowed in the center, where a green figure stood with the Master Sword.

"The Hero has awoken," the elderly voice explained as the figure wandered about the hexagon aimlessly. "But he cannot save Hyrule without your guidance." Zelda watched the hero dwindle and fall, the darkness eventually encroaching him. No!

It was then that another figure appeared at his side, one with two faces: the face of a warrior but also the face of a princess. Zelda recognized it—herself. The new figure took hold of the green one and guided him to each point of the hexagon, where he used the sword to dissipate the darkness. The face of wizened man came into focus.

"The hero must awaken each of the seven sages of lore," he said. On the hexagon, the hero and the warrior went around to every faded point of light, awakening the glow. "Once awakened, the spirit of the hero and sages will have enough power to conquer the evil plaguing the land." Zelda watched as the light from each point, the light of the sword, and light from her own little figure all converged brightly on the towering source of the gloom beyond the hexagon. The beast in the shadows roared. It was eradicated in a burst of light, and so was the darkness.

Zelda's mind was spinning with her own thoughts. She still could not believe her Kokiri friend had not died seven years ago. And that there might be a way out of this awful darkness? It was too much to hope for. In fact, the possibility forced her to sit down, though she was still wrapped up in vision.

W-what needs to be done? she feebly questioned the old man, unsure if he could even detect her thoughts. The image of a Kokiri boy frozen in time remained in front of her eyes, drawing out the sorest of emotions. She clearly saw the Temple of Time, sitting untouched by the monsters outside of it, waiting patiently there with its empty pedestal of time. The elderly man spoke in a gentle tone.

"I am Rauru, sage of the Temple of Light," he said. "I am ready to add my power to your friend's, but it is up to you to help him awaken the others. Five sages reside within their respective temples. The last is the leader of the sages, a figure of great wisdom and power who can only be awoken by the prevailing of great light in Hyrule. I tell you these things because you, Zelda, are the only being capable of guiding the hero on this quest."

The images ancient temples flashed through her eyes, places she recognized from her travels as Sheik. Each was crawling with monsters. Her thoughts became exasperated. I know of where you speak, but how could any mortal—much less a Kokiri—access the sages within the temples without dying?

Rauru offered a small smile at her inquiry. "I suppose you'll have to see his survival."

Zelda closed her eyes tightly, even though it had no effect on the visions. Rauru's smile softened as if he could see the tension in her face. "I know this is a fearsome journey, and it troubles you. But fear not. You can succeed. I did not have the power to reach your mind until the hero started to awake. Your destiny is deeply entwined in his, Princess."

She sighed, heart thudding in her head at the prospect of overthrowing Ganondorf. I suppose there's no option other than doing as you say, she replied, thoughts turning to her late father.

"The forces of evil will know of the hero's waking the moment he descends from the Chamber of the Sages with the Master Sword. He will be weak, vulnerable, and confused. He does not know of the passage of time since he drew the sword. They will seek him out in this time of susceptibility."

I understand, Zelda replied. I'll reach him before Ganondorf's minions do.

Rauru's image began to fade, as did his voice. "I suggest you hurry, princess."

The spell holding the vision over Zelda's mind broke. She opened her eyes suddenly, thrust back into Kakariko village.

There's no way to be certain this is true unless I see that empty pedestal for myself, she decided, senses adjusting to the bright colors and sounds. It took a moment to register a tall person standing over her.

"Zara!"

Zelda squinted up at Grock. How long had he been standing there? She offered a lightheaded smile and accepted his outstretched hand.

"You alright, girl? You've been sittin' there for nearly five minutes!"

She nodded sheepishly and offered a large yawn, trying to make it look as if she had accidentally fallen asleep. Grock's bushy eyebrow raised.

"Don't go takin' naps outside the potion shop in the future, yeah? Miss Maine wouldn't have it." He patted her shoulder. She nodded.

Another man stood at the entrance of the medicine shop: Cameron, the somewhat shifty Hylian fellow who managed the place. "Has she been drinking?" he asked Grock, who only grunted. Still recovering from the vision, Zelda stumbled over to the smaller man, pointing insistently inside his building. I need magic! Quickly! Grock slapped Cameron's back and returned to the bazaar.

The storm forming over Death Mountain thundered a little louder as Cameron shut the door behind himself. "Here for the usual, then?"

Zelda nodded, holding out an empty bottle and thirty rupees.

"What do you use all this stuff for anyway? I have to mix more every other day thanks to you." He filled her bottle with green potion before handing it back. "Here."

You would not believe me if I told you. She accepted it with a nod, returning to the door.

"Don't get ahead of yourself."

Outside, Zelda headed up the hill to the Death Mountain trail, picking up her skirts. The activity above the summit meant trouble—her worries momentarily turned to the Gorons. They'll have to hold on for now. She hiked a ways up the canyon before unstopping the bottle and drinking some of the mixture. It tasted bitter, but she could feel the magic being restored to her veins.

Zelda corked the bottle and slipped it into her enchanted pouch, pulling out a golden lyre. Making certain she was out of sight of the village, she muttered a spell and her body flashed purplish white. Her maid-like appearance vanished, replaced by that of Sheik.

She plucked a few withdrawn notes on her lyre. She had avoided traveling to castle town for several years, knowing it was overrun with creatures of the undead. At least I don't have to walk. She strummed a hopeful tune on her mystical instrument. Moments later, she disappeared in a swirl of yellow.


Author Notes: Cliffhanger! Sorry, my sisters made me do it. This chapter was originally twice as long as this, but I chopped it in half for some reason. I write really long chapters. :D

Clarification stuff-so, if you hadn't figured it out already, Princess Zelda is the maid Zara in disguise. There will be more backstory on how this happened later. Zelda/Zara is also Sheik, which -if you haven't played Ocarina of Time for some reason (you need to get on that)- SPOILERS! Sheik appears male to most people, which can get confusing sometimes. Typically when Zelda is disguised as Sheik she continues to refer to herself as a "she" even though other characters refer to her as "he". Sorry if that messes with anyone's head, haha, I'll try to be really good about clarifying whose POV things are coming from in the future. Also, I use Zara/Zelda/Sheik interchangeably, so if I'm talking about any one of those three just know they are all the same person: Zelda! Lol I'm so CONFUSING!

If you have played Oot -GOOD FOR YOU- you know that I've made up a bunch of characters. Heh, sorry about that. I will eventually make a list of who is fake and who is real. And who I arbitrarily named.

On to Chapter three!