Sheik's eyes opened suddenly. He was resting on his stomach, looking up at a green sky.
Green?
The leaves of the trees came into focus. Sheik was in a forest.
"Finally awake?" said a quiet voice. Impa.
"Yeah . . ." Sheik said, not moving. Impa was rubbing something on his back. "What are you doing?"
"What do you think, Sheik?"
Sheik made a guess in his head.
"What happened at the castle? And how long was I out?"
"Long story short, I used a deku nut to bring you back here. You were only out for a few hours."
Sheik nodded and then cringed as a sharp pain shot up his spine. The whip marks were still bringing horrible pain.
"Sorry, Sheik. This'll still sting a bit."
"It's all right; it wasn't your fault. I'm just glad you're here."
"Tell me this Sheik: why in all of Hyrule did Ganondorf capture you instead of me? It's not the reason I'm thinking, is it?"
"No, actually not. Ganondorf somehow thought I was you. He brought me back and then realized that I'm not . . . you. He started asking me questions about Princess Zelda; he wasn't directly after you."
Impa stopped the massaging of the substance on Sheik's back. She looked up at the sky.
"We still have another year to wait for him," she said mysteriously. Sheik awkwardly lifted his head.
"Can I . . . turn around, Impa?"
"Hmm? Oh, yes. It'll still-"
"Ahh!"
"-hurt a little . . ." Impa finished as Sheik sat up. Sheik's eyes clamped shut as he fought back some tears.
"Oww . . . Holy Farore, that hurt . . ."
Impa put the healing oil into a box and stowed the box in hole next to a tree.
"Well, it will, you stubborn little fool. I can't possibly begin to think how you of all people could bear such pain."
"I managed. Plus, I'm alive, aren't I?"
"Yes, but you could have been killed!"
"I had no choice; he thought I was you!"
Impa sighed and stood up.
"Can you stand without it being too much strain on your back?"
Sheik shakily got to his feet.
"Yes, I'm fine."
"Good. Now, promise me one thing, Sheik . . ."
"Yes, ma'am?"
Impa took Sheik's chin forcefully.
"Don't ever let that happen again. If they're looking for me, you tell them where I am. It's too much of a risk for you to be captured again."
"They'll never find us, Impa. I told him nothing."
Impa sighed again.
"All right, then. I suppose I should go check on the Princess."
Sheik winked and then produced a deku nut. He threw it to the ground and vanished in a cloud of white smoke.
