Hai everyone! Sorry for such a long delay, high school and family medical problems keeping me busy. Anyways, read on!
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The next day, Link saw just why everyone called her "The Boss".
"ROGER! Ah want you ta go dig up anything ya can find on the guards, castle, whatever could help us! AMY! Ah want you ta prepare a bath, ah dun want no guards smellin meh. They'll know there's a rat. DAN TAN! Ah want you two ta look take a look around da castle grounds. Watch da guards, look fer da times theys switch out, an' look fer ways in- but don't take chances-Ya hear?! I'll box yer ears if Ah havta come bail ya both out!"
Link watched, amazed at how well she had planned everything. To him, she didn't seem all that smart- but now…
Last night Star had him explain why he had to go to see the princess, and reluctantly showed them the Kokiri emerald as proof. He didn't want his last gift from the Deku Tree taken, but he also didn't want to fail his last request. And after he heard just what he was up against, Link realized just how much he needed their help.
No one could just walk in and meet the Princess, heck; no one could even get close to the front of the Castle. You had to be a rouge to be able to get in.
And he found a nest of them.
"Star an' Chase, help Amy git da stuff she needs. Ah bet they'll be flowers all around, so make it all sently. Just in case." The Boss folded her arms.
They were all in the main cavern, Boss's gang was lined up in front of her, from tallest to shortest, Roger, Dan, Tan (or Tan then Dan? Link shook his head) Star, Chase- Amy sat still on her "Bed". Link stood in a cornier, pretending to polish his sword. Roger spoke up, "Any place in particular you want me to look Boss?"
She scratched her chin, "Eh, look in books first. Once it gets dark, head ta da Pub. Bound ta be sum guard with a loose tongue thar."
"There, Boss."
She glared at him, "Shaddup."
At least someone was trying to correct her, Link smirked.
The twins ran out of the cave, whizzing past him. Amy struggled to get up with Star's and Chase's help. It had shocked Link, when he had first seen what was wrong with Amy. It had deeply disturbed him; there was no lameness among the Kokiri children. To think that one could not run… Or see for that matter, bothered him.
Amy was missing her left leg. She rested heavily on a crutch and others to get around.
"So Boss, anything special perfume for you?" Amy smiled as she became upright.
"Hm, perhaps you'll be like a real lady for once!" Roger joined in- once he was out of The Boss's punching range that is.
"I'LL SHOW YA WUT A LADY IS! GIT YER ASS OUTTA HERE!"
Roger snickered as he walked out the cave, following the twins.
Chuckling, Amy winked at Link, "Good luck putting up with her."
He sure hoped luck was on his side.
There were people everywhere.
People over in the booths, people selling things in the booths, beggars on the streets, people looking down from windows, porches, people running errands, people standing idly, babies, children, "adolescences", "adults", and the "elderly". There were no open spaces, it was like how dense the trees were- but trees didn't move, or shout, or taunt, or push, or bustle, or-or-
It was all so overwhelming for the poor little forest boy.
The Boss looked back at him, "Oi, what's wrong?"
"It's just so… loud."
She shrugged, "You git used to it-" Then something caught her eye.
Boss slipped around people with ease- Link struggled to push his way through the crowd gracelessly. Finally, the rouge stopped in front of a slightly shorter girl. She had long, shiny red hair with blue eyes. The un-dyed wool dress she wore was clean- it stood out in a startling contrast to The Boss's own attire. However, she greeted The Boss with happy eyes.
"Oh! Hi! I didn't see you! Is anyone else with you right now?"
"Naw. Just him." She pointed back at Link, who waved awkwardly. The Boss turned to him, "This is Malon, she's da daughter of the Lon Lon Ranch owner." To Malon she said, "So, wuht are ya doing here? Ah thought ya were supposed ta leave yesterday."
Malon pouted her lips, "My Dad hasn't come back from the Castle…. I think he fell asleep again."
"Yeesh. Guards won't let ya pass?"
"No…"
"Well, yer in luck- we was gunna go there anyway, we'll look fer yer Da."
The red-head's eyes went wide, "You're not going to- um- you know-…"
The Boss waved her hand, "Pish, as if we was dumb enough fer that! Wadda take us fer?"
"Sorry." She laughed, "I just didn't want our best helpers to get arrested!"
"Alright. Well, once ya two got work fer us, ya know where ta come. Come on Link, we gotta go take care of stuff."
Malon smiled and waved good-bye. Link waved as The Boss tugged him away into the throng of people.
"What's arrested mean?" Link asked, puzzled at this new word.
The Boss rolled her eyes, "Jeeze! Do ya know nutin'?!"
To Link's relief, she pulled him into an open area. Here, the people were much more spread out. A soothing fountain babbled in the middle of the square, there some women and children relaxed on the benches surrounding it. Bakeries and other restaurants (along with a few shady steps descending into what Link came to now as "Bars") lined the walls here. Due to the still early morning time, it was not as crowded here.
Boss led Link to one of the far benches, "Sit." She commanded. Obediently, Link obliged. She sat down next to him. "Alright, we need equipment ta git in the Castle. First, me an' you'll git whut's really need. Rope," she held up a finger, "lock picks," another finger, "Deku Nuts, red potion…"
"…. What are lock picks?"
Boss groaned.
The sun was starting to dip down towards the horizon as Roger made his way to the old pub by the guard barracks. There, off duty guards tended to gather- a perfect place to gather information for The Plan. Dan and Tan had gone back to the hideout at noon; like clockwork their stomachs told them when to go in. Roger had seen them dash out of the Castle road's gates, however, he was too moody to greet them. And what was he brooding about?
Link.
How could one naïve boy put so much of his family at risk? And how could The Boss have obeyed Star without question? That never happened- the true reason Boss was named was for her own unwillingness to follow orders from others!
He stuffed his hands into his long coat's pockets. This was his favorite coat, it starched all the way down to below his calves, patches of varying colors all down its length. It was a shade of dark brown, and was- for the most part- clean.
Not only was that boy putting his family at risk- but… Roger saw the change in Boss. It was the way she walked, talked and even looked at that boy- it wasn't the same way she treated the rest of her family, it had a… a potential to go in a direction he wanted his relationship with her to go!
Roger halted, gritting his teeth, sure, she was a lot younger than he was, and that boy looks about her age- but he was the one that found her! He was the one who took her to… to…
He placed his hand on his brow, the anger that had flared within him died a bit, replaced by a bitter regret.
He was the one who had given her to his older brother, whom was now gone.
No, relax. He'll soon be gone. Once we carry out his silly little game, he'll go on his silly little way.
With that thought in mind, he strode to the pub. He was willing to do his part.
For now.
Link sat high on one of the battlements of one of the outer walls surrounding Castle Town. The sun had completely faded below the horizon, but the moon was nowhere in sight-a new moon. Even the stars seemed to have dimmed themselves for their task tonight.
One of the numerous tunnels that made up the hide-out lead up towards the top of the walls, with some minor climbing, Link had made it up just fine. The others were out, smoothing out the details of the plan. Tonight turned out to be the perfect night to meet Zelda. Roger had gathered that there was to be a conference with the King tonight with some foreign king. Zelda, he also heard, liked to spy on such meetings from a one-way window in the garden. Amazingly, this spot was close to the outside wall where the water left into the moat surrounding the castle (as found out by the twins). All Link and The Boss had to do was avoid being seen by the guards.
It all seemed too good to be true.
"Hopefully, things will come out better than… what happened last time." Navi poked out from Link's hat. He knew she was referring to the loss of the great Deku tree.
"I wonder what they all are doing…" He thought openly. The other Kokiri most likely hated him now- all but Saria.
"I don't know. Something like this has never happened before. Well, not in my lifetime at least. But I'm pretty old."
"How old are you?" He asked quizzedly.
"Oh, about 100 years…"
"Fairies live that long?!"
"Oh yeah, I'm one of the youngest actually." She said matter-of-factly, "But no one knew more than me when it came to monsters!"
He chuckled, he liked Navi. She was nagging sometimes, but resourceful and always wanting to be helpful.
"So, what do you think of… um, her? Do we call her Boss?" Navi gave the fairy equivalent of a shrug, "I honestly can decide whether I like her or want to throw her to a Dongo."
"I think she's nice- kinda." He replied slowly. "She's a little rough, but she means well. I mean. Look at how much she's helped us now, we'd most likely be…," he struggled with the word, "dead… out in that field if not for her."
"You have a point- but I still hate how she called me a bug."
"Then ya better git used ta it Buggy!" Link jumped as a booming voice came from the exit from the tunnel. He watched as her hand groped for purchase, and then swung herself up with ease onto the battlements.
"Meh an' you leave in a hour, so don't git too comfy up 'ere. Dan n' Tan are setting up a distraction, Roger's out tryin' ta git a few guards tipsy sum."
She sat down next to him, looking acrossed the field. With some hesitation, Link voiced Navi's question on what to call her.
"…Na, don't call meh Boss, that's just fer the others. You ain't stayin', so you can't really call meh that."
"That seems like a silly reason, we're in your care- aren't we?" Navi chimed.
"Those who call meh Boss are lookin' fer ma protection, and also are loyal ta meh an' will never leave ma side. You two, yous are gunna want ta split, once ya see Zelda, yeah?"
They nodded.
"So you two can't stay with meh. And so, you dun call meh Boss."
"Huh," a shade of surprise in Navi's voice, "That's deep… I didn't think you had it in you."
She snorted, "Oh, git over it." She took out a whet stone and started to sharpen one of her daggers. Link watched her for a bit, then his face broke out into a grin,
"Dagger."
"Say whut?" The thief gave him a side long glance.
"Dagger, that's what I should call you."
She stopped for a moment, holding up her old dagger to get a good look at it.
"It's like you- in a lot of ways." He explained, "Rusty, so it doesn't look all that pretty, nor valuable. But, it's trustworthy, seasoned. It knows the ups and downs, and it knows it can protect, or to harm." It has its own shine, just like you, he thought.
She blinked for a few moments, letting what he had said sink in.
"Dagger… I like that." She whispered, and then continued to sharpen it, "Fine, it's Dagger from now on."
Dagger.
She had a name now.
That boy had given her one.
It was an odd thing, being named. Others outside of her gang had simply never called her anything, they always said "You, kid, she"… It made her wonder just why she had never named herself before. She frowned; perhaps she just wanted someone else to name her…
With a sigh, she hauled herself up, they had work to do.
"Come on, git yer sword n' shield. We gotta be ready."
The guard at the gate was asleep on her feet, her breath reeked of the beers that a young man with a patchy coat had given her. The newly dubbed Dagger smirked at this; Roger never failed when it came down to women.
She had donned a fresh tunic and matching pants of much darker colors in order to blend in with the midnight air. Both her daggers were belted at the waist, along with a pouch of rocks, and rope with a hook tied at the end wrapped acrossed her chest over her shoulder. A faint smell of soap emitted from her skin from the bath, erasing the encrusted dirt and foul smell.
It was decided that Link world just wear his own tunic, seeing has it blended well with plants. His sword and shield were wrapped in cloth to silence their clatter on his back. Navi was, of course, hidden beneath his hat.
The gate into the castle grounds was bordered on both sides by massive walls of natural rock, making a perfectly defensible position. The gate itself was massive; it acted like a bridge to the two cliffs.
Dagger scanned the right cliff face for the ivy that the twins had mentioned. She soon found it, signaled to Link to follow, and climbed it. Once up top she ran to the other side of the cliff. Passing the gate, she cleared some of the ivy that had covered the ground. There waiting for them was the rope the twins had set in place.
"What is that?" Link asked in a hushed voice.
She turned her head to where the forest boy was pointing. It was a large stone, its shape much like a tombstone that was fatter in the middle than the outsides with an eye carved into its center. The eye however, radiated a sort of piercing chill that would give the bravest man goose-bumps.
"That's just a gossip stone." She muttered, tugging on the rope to make sure it was secure. She didn't like to look at the stones for too long.
"What dose it do? Who put it there?"
A sharp glare was given in response, "Do you wanna meet yer princess?" Dagger hissed. With a frown, Link nodded.
The dual slid down the rope, and concealed it again within the ivy.
They were past the gate, but that was only the easy part.
A small blond child dressed in a silk dress dyed the pink of princesses and the white of innocents shivered slightly in the secluded courtyard. The night's darkness and wintry blanket draped over everything, stealing all color and warmth. However, this young lady was not daunted by this weather, nor by the punishment her father would give if she were found here. Excitement- and fear- made her feel intoxicated; she had to see this foreign King for herself, to confirm her suspicions.
The conference would start soon, inside the throne room- and she would see it all. She tired to prevent breathing on the window; her breath fogged it up in the cold. But it was a magic window. Inside the throne room, if one were to look at this window, one would only see the stone in the wall. She had always wondered who put the window and charm in place… she wondered many things- and would be scolded by her scholar for wondering about things "A Princess shouldn't wonder about".
Impatiently, she looked into the darkness behind her- somewhere in the shadows was her caretaker, Impa. She loved the woman as if she were her real birthmother, more than the real mother she never met. She had a peculiar way with shadows, that Impa. She could blend in so well with darkness. It was one reason why she never played hide-and-seek with her. But not only did Impa watch out for her, but she also taught her things that it was deemed 'unnecessary" for women to know- such as math and how to defend herself.
"Theys were just sitting there fer da takings!"
"Shh! It was probably a trap, for people like you."
"H-hey, guys? Let's not fight, please? They were only rupees…"
"Shaddup!"
"Hmmf!"
The child froze. She knew not to whom these voices belonged to. The first one was harsh, the second like a bell, and the last like a lost boy.
"Looks like the coast is clear. Fer now. Hey Buggy, go take a peek up ahead."
"I am not a bug you piece of street trash!"
"Cockroach!"
"Thief!"
"An' damn proud of it! 'Sides, it was meh who woke up Malon's damn lazy da."
"So? I bet I could have done it myself!"
"By what? Tinkling? Or how about glowing? Yeah, I bet that would have really-"
"-Guys…"
"I-Impa?" The little girl whispered fearfully.
"Buggy- git back here!" It was the harsh voice, but it was more hushed now. "Did'ya hear dat?"
A peculiar chiming noise came from around the bend, "No, I didn't. Now why don't you just stay quiet and quit trying to boss me-"
Her blood ran cold as she spied a light coming around the wall towards her. Oddly, it shined a soft blue and bobbed as if… as if…
"Are you a fairy?!" She blurted out.
The light- a fairy she now knew- jumped up, giving a few alarmed tings! and dashed out of sight.
"S-someone saw me!!"
"Good going Bug! Ah TOLD ya to git back here!"
"No please! Come back Fairy! I didn't mean to scare you!"
The little girl started to run to where it had disappeared, but stopped dead as a dark figure leaped out of the shadows of the gate. She held her breath, oh dear Naryu help me!
The shadow's shoulders drooped, "s' just a kid ya bug!" The fairy returned, hovering next to the shadow, "Oh, it is…"
From the light of the fairy, it was obvious the shadow was too, just another girl. In fact, she didn't look much older than herself. Another silhouette moved just around the corner. It too was just a child though- a boy from the looks of it.
"Waaittt… is she…?" The ball of light hovered closer, "Are you Princess Zelda?"
"Yes!" The blond child cried. In her excitement, the Princess hadn't thought the situation out clearly. She still didn't know these strangers, nor their intentions. And she just told them who she was! Oh no! "Um, you're not going to uh…" The little princess let the question hang in the air. The first stranger snorted rudely, "Ch- Trust meh if Ah wanted ta jump ya," She waved a dagger in front of Zelda's face, "Ah would have." She sheathed the weapon in a scabbard lined with cloth to muffle the sound. "Kid ere'," She jerked her thumb back to the boy behind her, "Wanted ta talk wid' ya. All yer's." With a glance back at the boy she ambled to a corner in the court yard and sat down against the wall. Slightly nonplussed by the rouge's guttural language, Zelda turned to the boy.
"What is it that you wanted to ask of me?" She said so kindly with such innocent eyes. Link was instantly reminded of Saria. He felt more at ease with this girl- much more so than Dagger's rough manner. But before he could answer her first question, she shot out another one, "Are you from the woods?"
He blinked, and gave a bewildered nod.
She clapped her hands with glee, "I thought so!"
"How did you guess?" Navi ringed.
"I had a dream." She answered cryptically, "I had a dream where storm clouds where billowing over the land of Hyrule, but suddenly- a ray of light shot out of the forest, parted the clouds and lit up the ground… the light turned into a figure holding a green and shining stone followed by a fairy. I know this is a prophecy that someone would come from the forest with that stone. Do you have it?"
Shining Stone? Oh! He pulled out the Emerald to show.
"Yes, I thought you might be the one! After I saw your clothes- Oh! I'm sorry! I got carried away with my story and didn't even ask for your names!"
"Um, Link." Another seer? They must have been more common than he thought! Or he just got lucky… "This is Navi, my fairy," Navi gave a small bob and a ting, "And that one over there is Dagger." He pointed to Dagger, whom seemed to be either sleeping now or just not paying attention. She gave no indication that she heard her name at least.
The Princess's eyes where still focused on him though, "Your name is… Link? Strange…" Her little cute face turned thoughtful. A waved of embarrassment flushed on his face though- why was she still staring? "It sounds somehow… familiar. Ok link!" She again clapped her hands with a small smile, "I'm going to tell you the secret of the Sacred Realm that has been passed down by the Royal Family! Please keep this a secret from every body. Promise?" She leaned in close to him. She smelled faintly of strawberries, he noticed- Why?
"I-I promise." He stuttered. She gave a quick look to Dagger, as if she forgotten her, "Oh, will she tell?" Link gave a shrug- the rouge looked asleep…
"Well, I guess it's safe." She gave him another cute smile, "The legend goes like this…
"The three goddesses hid the Triforce containing the power of the gods somewhere in Hyrule, the power to grant the wish of the one who holds the Triforce in his hands. If some one with a righteous heart makes a wish, it will lead Hyrule to a golden age of prosperity. If someone with an evil mind has his wish granted, the world will be consumed by evil… that is what has been told… So, the ancient Sages built the Temple of Time to protect the Triforce from evil ones."
Temple of Time? Didn't Dagger point that out when they were walking around Castle Town? It was only a passing comment though, she didn't say much on it… He pushed his thoughts aside as Zelda started again.
"That's right… The Temple of Time is the entrance through which you can enter the Sacred Realm from our world. But the entrance is sealed with a stone wall called the Door of time. And, in order to open the door, it is said you need to collect three spiritual stones. And another thing you need… is the treasure that the royal Family keeps along with this legend…The Ocarina of Time!" She ended with a flourish. Link thought he caught another snort come from Dagger's direction, but she still looked asleep.
"Ganondorf, the leader of the Gerudos," She continued somberly with a small frown, "They hail from the desert far to the west. Though he swears allegiance to my father, I am sure he is not sincere. The dark clouds that covered the land in my dream… they must symbolize that man!
"I told my father about my dream… however, he didn't believe it was a prophecy… But... I can sense that man's evil intentions! What Ganondorf is after must be nothing less than the Triforce of the Sacred Realm. He must have come to Hyrule to obtain it! And he wants to conquer Hyrule… no, the world!"
She reached forwarded and grasped his hands. They were soft and silky- and again Link wondered why he noticed this. "Link... Now we are the only ones who can protect Hyrule!
"I…I am afraid… I have a feeling that man is going to destroy Hyrule… He has such terrifying power! But it's fortunate that you have come… We must not let Ganondorf get the Triforce! I will protect the Ocarina of Time with all my power! He shall not have it! You go find the other two spiritual stones! Let's get the Triforce before Ganondorf dose, and then defeat him!"
Her eyes burned with intensity. The things she spoke of… They seemed too much for two kids to handle… Then he thought of the Deku Tree- wasn't it a man from the desert that cursed him? It was likely Zelda's Ganondorf and the Deku Tree's murderer were one and the same. More than anything, he wanted to avenge the Deku Tree's death!
Voices the fluttered into the courtyard as the sound of a fanfare came from behind the far wall. Zelda looked back, "Ah! It's starting! Come this way- I want to show you!" She tugged at his hand, which she still held, over to a window he hadn't seen in the gloom of the night. She pressed her finger against her lips and pointed through the small window. Link peeked in.
The room beyond was covered with splendor. Dagger would have a field day if she managed to get in there! To his right, two chairs made from what seemed like solid gold sat on a raised dais. One chair was higher than the other though, and in it sat a rather doughy man with a majestic beard that was white with age. A crown with many glittering gems rested upon his head.
To his left, on the plush crimson carpet that stretched from the foot of the dais beyond Link's view, a man was kneeling. A shiver of horror tingled up the boy's spine as a flash of memory came- his nightmare. The man on the dark horse… it was him.
"Ganondorf." Link jumped, lost in his thoughts, he had forgotten Zelda.
"Well, ain't he a bundle ah' joy?"
Now both Link and Zelda jumped- Dagger had walked up behind both of them! She squinted through the glass. "Hmf. He's a' lookin' at us."
Confused, Link looked back- and jumped yet again- The man was indeed looking at them! Transfixed, Link watched as Ganondorf's eyes trailed over each one of them, his mouth forming a wicked and vile sneer as they rested on Link. He backed away, bumping into Dagger, who didn't even give a grumble when he stepped on her foot. Even her tough façade crumbled at the sight of that man.
"D-Don't worry," Zelda reassured shakily, "He can't see us- and even if he can- he has no idea what we are up to."
Link nodded as they retreated back from the window. They were all shaken a bit. Navi's glow seemed dimmed, Zelda had lost her giddiness, Dagger's tough guise slipped, and Link, well, he had lost some faith in himself. How could he ever hope to beat a monster like that? An uncomfortable silence followed, until Dagger broke it. She spat at the ground and looked to the Princess, "Well, still wanna' foil em' kid?
Zelda thrust her chin out defiantly and put her hands on her hips, "Of course! Now more than ever!"
Link was amazed at how she had recovered, and how she still held so firmly to the belief that she could stop that evil man. It gave himself courage. "I… I want to help. I want to save Hyrule too." Navi sounded her agreement with a pearl or notes.
Dagger looked to each one of them, and threw up her hands with a sigh, "Yer' all Hopeless. Ya know?" She folded her arms- her toughness recovered, "An' that's why ya need meh. Cuz I ain't a hopeless dreamah."
"Dreamer." Navi corrected.
"Shaddup."
"You'll help?" Link asked, started.
"'Course dummy!" She cuffed his head lightly, "Ah ain't trustin you twowid' Hyrule. Wid' only two numbskulls like you- we'll all beh dead faster than the damn runnin' man!" She retorted.
Zelda gasped at Dagger's foul language, but Link felt reassured a bit now that he knew he would have Dagger's help. She was a helpful asset; Her "street smarts" as she called them, had she was more knowledgeable than himself when it came to Hyrule. And she had gotten him this far already! Zelda however, seemed less sure.
"I didn't see you in my dream…" She frowned. Dagger snorted.
"Ah usually ain't in da mumbo-jumbo uns'."
The princess gave the rouge a quizzical look, "Whatever do you mean?"
"Ah gots a kid wid a talent like yers. He never sees meh in them far-flung uns, only until the last second, when it changes."
Now Link was confused as well. Navi gave a sigh, "I think," the fairy chimed, "she means that dreams that describe the far future don't include her. However, once that future arrives, it changes to include her. Yes?"
Dagger shrugged, "Ah dun git da stuff. But Ah guess that's da gist of it."
Zelda cocked her head, "How… odd."
"Anyways," Link interjected, "Where's the next spiritual stone?"
"Legend says that each stone was given to the other races, one to the Kokiri, then the Gorons, and lastly the Zoras." The little princess said, "We have the Kokiri, so that means we need the other two."
"So, da Mountains an' da Rivah?"
"Riv…ah?" Zelda asked, confused.
"River." Navi corrected, avoiding a swat from Dagger.
"Damn Bug." She glared at the Fairy, "But we can't go ta da River- Landslide tossed sum boulders in da way."
"So, Mountain first?" Link asked.
"It appears so… I'll try to get my Dad to look into the river."
"We're gunna need sum permission ta git in them mountains first." Dagger crossed her arms, "Road ta da Mountain's blocked off fer common folk."
Zelda gave a pout, "I knew that! Just wait a seconded." She took a folded piece of paper and a pen from a hidden pocket in her dress. She scribbled something on it hurriedly, and then handed it to Link.
"It's a note, with my signature. Give it to the guard and he should let you pass." Zelda told him with a proud grin of accomplishment.
Navi gave a ring, "Well, if we're done here…"
"Right. Time ta go." Dagger cracked her knuckles. Lnik nodded in agreement, and gave Zelda a small bow. "I'll try my best to get the Stones."
She giggled, "I know you will." And she gave him a light peck on the cheek, "For good luck." He reddened at the unexpected contact as Dagger rolled her eyes.
Zelda waved to someone behind Link, "That's Impa! She's my caretaker. She can lead you guys out."
He took a look over his shoulder to see a rather imposing woman waiting at the entrance of the courtyard. Something about her seemed familiar… the woman on the horse from his dream! He took a double take at Zelda, yes, she was the little girl in the woman's arms.
"Don't be afraid of her, she's really nice." Zelda encouraged, breaking link from his thoughts.
"Ch- Who said we're 'fraid?" Dagger grumbled, but didn't immediately approach Impa. Link couldn't help but to gaze at Zelda one last time, and then hurried to join Dagger. The new woman gave a hint of a smile at them. She was tall, with a lean body. Scars zigzagged all around her body where the skin showed, and her eyes- although a rather unsettling color of deep crimson- spoke of a soft inner kindness.
"I am Impa of the Sheikahs." She gave a curt nod, "I am responsible for protecting Princess Zelda. Everything is exactly as the Princess foretold." a look of bewilderment crossed her face. "You are a courageous boy… You are going 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 in the Royal Family. I have played this song for Princess Zelda as a lullaby ever since she was a baby… There is a mysterious power in these notes. Now listen carefully…" Impa held her finger to her mouth, and blew- her cheeks puffing out a little. The song was pretty, but the whistling gave it a harsh edge.
Link took out the fairy ocarina Saria gave him. He played back the notes in the soothing tone of the ocarina that was much better suited for the song. A thoughtful look passed Dagger's face as she listened.
Impa gave another small smile, "Good. Only family members are allowed to know that song. Remember, it will help to prove your Royal connections."
"Thank you." Link gave a little polite bow and put his ocarina away, remembering Zelda's Lullaby. He thought the tune matched the princess perfectly.
"If the castle soldiers find you, there will be trouble. Let me lead you out of the castle." Impa gestured to the pair.
"Aw," Dagger gave an impish snigger, "it was fun to mess wid them guards' heads." However, she followed Impa out without further complaint. Link glance back at Zelda, she smiled and waved at him. He gave a sheepish smile back, and dashed after Impa too.
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And there you have it~ And as any Zelda fan would know, when Dagger said "Theys were just sitting there fer da takings!" She's referring to the room in the courtyard that had all the rupees below an overhang covered in ivy that you used to pass the guard. The rupees were placed there to tempt the player into the guard's line of sight. And Dagger, with a nose for all baubles, was tempted indeed. It was only Link that made her resist XD.
Now, see that pretty little Review button below? You know you wanna hit it…~