DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything of the Legend of Zeldacharacters, locations, plot, etc. It is all property of Nintendo. I am only writing a story based off of the game.


Chapter nine

Heading Up the Mountain


Link yawned as he blinked away the bright morning sun. He had spent the night in Kakariko's small inn and only just stepped out of the door after receiving a cheerful wave from the older gentleman who owned it.

The Hero was heading up Death Mountain today and woke early to start on the two day hike. Well, he was sort of forced to get up early—with many pokes from sharp fairy fingers and loud, "heys!" along with just as many reminders about the cloud swirling around the top of the mountain.

Navi had always been one of those morning people that you just want to flick. She zoomed around happily in the foggy morning air, giggling. The sleepy Hero glared openly at his fairy, shivering.

"Oh, shut it, Navi!" he grumbled, rubbing sleep from the clear pools of water he called eyes.

"You're just mad because I woke you up!" Navi squeaked. "Lazy bum!"

"Shut. It." Link replied, slower and even grumpier.

"Listen! You do know what's up on Death Mountain, right?" the fairy asked, flying in front of his face.

"Loads more work and a sage to awaken," Link muttered. "Yeah... I've pretty much figured that out by myself, thanks."

Navi rolled her eyes. Her friend needed to learn to be in a better attitude in the mornings: he was always so grouchy! "Yes and..?"

"What?" Link snapped; he didn't want to play one of his fairy's stupid guessing games.

"And... another one of those platforms!"

"So?" Link asked... but then he remembered. A small smile suddenly crossed his tired face. "Oh... yeah. I forgot."

Ever since Saria had mentioned him in the Temple of Light, Navi figured out that if she so much as said the Sheikah boy's name, the Hero would perk up and seem a bit more cheery. She did this all the time now, mentioning him whenever she could. The fact that Link thought he had a friend outside Kokiri made her... happy.

"Sheik would want you to get a better attitude about this!"

"He would, wouldn't he?" Link asked, looking up at the fairy, who was still fluttering around. "He'd probably..." a dramatic yawn interrupted the young Hero, "...yell at me." The yawn was so wide Link had to crinkle his nose. "Ow!" he exclaimed, reaching up to touch it.

Out in Hyrule Field, where the sun was always so bright; Link—who was unaware what could happen to people with fair skin who spent too much time in the sun—got painfully sunburned. Navi had told him when he got back to Kakariko with red arms, cheeks, and nose, that it wasn't some evil magic like he thought, it was only a burn from the sun and will eventually fade.

Link swore up and down that he would never go outside in the evil sun again, and no one could make him. Navi distinctly remembered the Hero of Time, Hyrule's last hope, sticking his tongue out at her once or twice. After he took an extremely cold bath and a Red Potion, his skin had stopped burning and reduced its color to a strange sort of. Link wasn't happy, but found an upside to it when he discovered that if he poked the sunburn, his skin returned to its normal color, but the second he let go, his skin slowly went back to being pink.

Link had a lot of fun changing his skin color that night, and had agreed with Navi to continue his journey in the morning: still laughing at himself. Now, he was regretting ever talking to his fairy last night.

Navi zoomed around, laughing at him like she did last night. "Yeah! He'd probably tell you to get off your lazy—"

"And you yell at me about language!" Link cut her off, holding up his hands.

Navi giggled again; then she and the Hero set off for the Mountain trail's gate which was located at the far north-side of the village.

"Sheik would never say anything like that, though. He's too... elegant," Link slowly said, out of the blue.

"Big word, Link!" Navi chimed.

"Hey, rude!" he defended himself, but then laughed, confirming it was a joke.

As they approached the gate... it looked as though it could no longer be called that at all. It seemed like it had been blasted through with what looked to be the force of a raging, rolling Goron... or maybe just magic. It wasn't a bad as the drawbridge that protected Castle Town, but it was close. It just had many holes in it, hung from its hinges, wouldn't close all the way, and looked as though it had rusted through. It was sad, really.

"What happened?" Navi voiced her friend's thoughts.

"Evil," said a gruff voice.

Link looked around wildly and Navi flew into his hat. A hand went for his sword before he realized who had spoken. It turned out to be the first guard the Hero had seen in seven years. Well... it hadn't felt like seven years to him, but still. The guard was standing by the broken gate, just like the one who had laughed at Link when he had first come to Kakariko.

"Hello," the Hero said, putting his hand down and walking up the stairs to the gate.

"Mornin'," the guard greeted. "Lemme guess, you're goin' up the trail again, aren'tcha, Mr. Hero?"

Link smiled, his thoughts were confirmed. It was indeed the guard who had laughed at him all those years ago. "It is you. I'm glad to see a familiar face."

As Link approached the man, he could see what seven hard years could do to a person.

He looked much older, obviously. He didn't stand as tall as he once did, or maybe it was just because Link was taller. His brown eyes were outlined with wrinkles and they didn't have the light of laughter like they used to. The little hair that could be seen under his helmet was greying, even though he was too young for his hair to start turning.

The man chuckled. "Learn to read yet?"

Link opened his mouth, slightly offended before remembering their first conversation. The guard had yelled at him from trying to slip through the bars of the gate and asked young Link if he knew how to read the clear sign next to it. Link hadn't even noticed the small wooden sign, and before he could defend himself, the guard decided that the little hero couldn't read yet.

"Uh..." Link began. He could read some things now, just before... he couldn't. Navi helped him a lot, but she wasn't the best reader either.

The wooden sign was gone from the opposite side of the gate, and he wondered what had happened to that as well. Link would've liked to show the guard that he could read it by himself.

"Wahaha!" the guard laughed.

The Hero played with the blue hoop in his ear, thinking of what to say. "Does your son still have that mask?" he asked, hoping to steer the conversation away.

The guard gave a small smile. "Sure does! But he don't wear it much at the camp."

"Camp?" Link repeated, brow furrowed. "For who?"

"All the rest of the guards and soldiers in service to the Royal Family, o' course! Well... the one's still alive," the man said. "Y'know, since they can't be at the Castle, and all."

"I didn't know of this..." Link muttered.

"Yeah! Ol' Lady Impa had that other Sheikah take 'em there after the Castle was attacked while she escaped with the Princess is what I heard," the guard continued.

The Hero's head suddenly snapped up and he beamed. "Sheik!"

The guard scratched his chin. "Yeah... that was it. 'e called himself, 'Sheik of the Sheikah'." He threw his head back and stood up a little taller: mocking the Sheikah's attitude when he had first met him. "Bloody dumb name if ya ask—"

"I think his name great," Link growled, losing his smile and glowering at the older man.

"Now don't be gettin' all offended," he said, waving the hand that wasn't holding the spear-like weapon he carried. "You're just like the Princess. She's always been so fond o' that boy."

"You've seen Zelda!?" Link asked, his mood changing again and his face now hopeful.

"Not in about a month," the man answered.

"Oh..." Link dropped his head. It seemed everyone knew where Zelda was, or had been, except him. It wasn't fair. Though Sheik said he would tell Link soon, right? As long as she was safe, he could live for now without knowing exactly where she was. She was with Sheik, and so she was safe.

"So, Mr. Hero, you never answered my question," the guard said, interrupting Link's silence. "Are you goin' up the trail?"

"Yes," Link replied. "And you never answered my question. What happened to the gate?"

"I told you!" the guard huffed. "I knew you couldn't read, but now you can't hear either."

Link ignored the insult and only waited for an explanation.

"'Bout five years ago, Ganondorf's servants tried to attack Kakariko," the guard began. "O' course, Lady Impa was 'aving none of that, so she and that other Sheikah fought back, with some other soldiers. But the servants wanted up the mountain for some reason, so they blasted the gate apart!" He threw his hand into the air as his finished his story for a sort of dramatic effect.

"So... the gate has been like this for five years?" Link asked, gesturing towards it. "Why has no one fixed it? And why are you still standing guard? Anyone can get through the gate if they want."

The man blinked at the fact that Link actually said something logical.

"Uh... them carpenters that used to be here moved away. I don't know where they went."

"Why hasn't someone else fixed it?"

"I'm not sure."

"Then why are you standing—"

"My duty is the guard this gate!" the older man said loudly over Link. "Can't have someone tryin' to go up the trail, can we? 'Specially now."

"Well..." Link sighed. "I'm going up the trail now. Hopefully when I get back, it'll be safe enough and you can leave your post."

"Death Mountain has never been safe, boy," the man said, quietly. "I'll be here for the rest of my days."

"Can't your son to take your place?" Link asked. He hated that this tired looking man was forced to stand here by himself.

The man shook his head. "Nope. He's guardin' the gate to that camp." As he talked of his son, he smiled, a glimmer of pride lighting his dull eyes.

Link went to sigh, but couldn't suppress the yawn that took its place. "I... don't know what to do, then..."

"Don't worry 'bout me, Hero," the guard waved it off. "There's another guard that helps me out. We like our job."

And with that, the guard stomped his spear on the ground, just like last time, and the gate slid open. Creaking and groaning the whole way.

"I guess I'm off, then," Link said, looking through the opened gate and up the trail.

He walked past the guard, and he saluted the Hero.

Link stopped suddenly and turned around. "Last time I was here... I didn't even ask for your name and I still don't know it now."

"Frank," the guard said, in that gruff voice.

The Hero stepped forward and shook Frank's hand. "Thank you for everything."

"Sure thing, Mr. Hero," Frank said. He was slightly surprised at the mature gesture the kid had just made.

Link smiled, let go of the older man's hand, nodded to him, and then walked through the pathetic gate.


As they started up the trail, Navi appeared out of Link's long green hat. She fluttered in front of him and Link was forced to stop, lest he run face-first into her. He rested his hand on his hip and raised an eyebrow at her.

"Hey! Why do you think Sheik's name is Sheik?" she asked as a way of admitting that she had listened in on Link and the guard's conversation.

Link rounded on her. "Who cares? I like his name, and I don't care what anyone says!"

Navi waved her tiny hands. "Hey! Don't get mad! I like it too, but I was just wondering..."

Link huffed. "Well, don't make fun! I'm sure it was given to him for a very important reason."

Navi nodded and moved out of Link's way as he started to walk again. The fairy learned at this moment never to say anything about Sheik that Link could consider an insult to him.

As Link continued up the trail, he thought of the Sheikah boy. How dare Frank call his name stupid? Link liked the man, yes, but he didn't need to say negative things about the Sheikah's name. It was beautiful to the Hero.

Back home in Kokiri, some of the kids always picked on Link for his name, and he didn't like it one bit. Some people in Hyrule would often tell the Hero to his face that his name how ridiculous they found his name to be, and it caused him feel terrible. So, to him, going behind Sheik's back and making fun of him made the Hero mad. He knew he was being absurd, knew that it wouldn't have bothered Sheik at all, but he couldn't help it. It just... irked him.

"You know, Link," Navi interrupted his thoughts. She wanted to take his mind off anything that would cause him more stress than what the mountain already was. "I think you only got sunburnt because you don't have your undershirt!"

Link stopped again and looked down at his pink arms.

"Oh! Hey, I think you're right," he said slowly. "When we're done here, we can go get it from Malon! If she's done... of course."

"But, Link! You'll get even more sunburned!"

"It can't feel any worse than it does now, can it?"

"Well... I guess not."

The two stopped talking and Link finally realized that Death Mountain trail had also changed drastically in seven years.

It was strange, the path wider, and the soil looked... almost darker. Then there was, of course, the scary cloud that was swirling over the mountain itself. Rocks were broken, the occasional bombflower missing, and the heat was rising much quicker than it did last time.

"Why haven't we run into enemies yet?" the Hero wondered aloud after taking a drink of water from a bottle out of the pouch on his hip; the heat already causing his throat to feel scratchy. "Last time we were here, it was crawling with Tektites."

"We haven't seen a Goron yet either," Navi observed, fluttering high above the Hero's head.

"This is... odd," Link said, looking around. "Do you think Sheik might know more of what happened?"

"Of course he will, Link!"

A little ways up the path, Link started moving his right arm around, grimacing. The potion Sheik had given him had lasted a very long time, longer than regular potion, but the effects of it had started to wear off during the night, and even though he took some more, there was still a dull ache in his arm.

Link pulled up his sleeve and looked down at it. He had taken off the bandage Sheik had given him because the wound sealed over completely, but it was still bruised badly. It was purple and yellow with a strange green tinge to it that spread out across the skin. The Hero shuddered and replaced his sleeve.

Link hadn't noticed it until he laid down in one of the inn's bed, but from where he had fallen off Epona, his left hip really did hurt. The potion had also taken care of that until a few hours before.

He had to push through it, though. He couldn't complain about pain. Too many good people were suffering far more severely because of all this, and if Link had the power to end it all, then he was going to push through his own pain. There was still that voice in the back of the Hero's mind, though. That despairing, depressing, and sometimes annoying voice that always reminded him that he didn't want this fate. He didn't want to be the Hero of Time. Why was this his destiny? He didn't want this. But Link had to accept it. Who else had the power to kill Ganondorf? Only him. Who else could wield the blade of evil's bane? Only him. Who else could use the power of the Sages once they were awakened? The Hero of Time, Link.

He sighed, shaking his tired head.


The two adventurers hiked up the mountain until nightfall.

It was a far bigger ordeal than it was seven years ago: something more terrible than he'd thought had happened while Link slept. Boulders were rolled down the slope and aimed to kill him. Places were so steep that he either needed to crawl on his hands and knees, or find another way around. And still, it was extremely hot. Hotter than it had ever been the first time.

The Hero cursed his fairy in his head. She wasn't exhausted from the hike because she could fly, and she also wasn't blistering hot: the fluttering of her wings keeping her cool.

By the time Link and Navi reached the very same small cave that he had stayed in the first time up the mountain—which was still miraculously intact—the Hero had already drank two bottles of water, which was something to worry about seeing as he never found water anywhere here. He hoped against hope the Goron's still had that little spring in their city.

He actually just wanted to keep hiking through the night, saying that they were very close to Goron City, but Navi told him it was far too dangerous to hike in the dark. He stopped protesting immediately when the fairy threatened to tell his wise Sheikah Guide how foolish the Hero of Time was being.

Link knew that it was impossible to hike after nightfall, but he was anxious to get to the city. He wanted to know what happened to the rock people and to the entire mountain!

"Sheik's not the Great Deku Tree," Link mumbled as he started to set up a small camp in their cave. "What's he going to do? Glare at me to death?"

"Well, of course he isn't!" Navi said, hovering above him. "But Sheik would be disappointed with you."

Link didn't say anything. Yes, the Sheikah being, 'disappointed with him' was a far worse punishment than anything else his Guide could do to him. He hoped he would never disappoint Sheik. Maybe after all the was over, he would even make Sheik proud. It would be nice to have someone be proud of him.

"I just want to get there already," Link complained, sitting down on a large rock after he had started a tiny fire for light more than heat. They didn't need any more of that.

Navi landed on his shoulder and started to fiddle with the Hero's blue earring. "Hey! I know."

After dinner—a loaf of bread and some cheese he had brought in Kakariko—Link looked down at his left hand.

He took off his gauntlet and stared at the skin of his hand. Since it had been covered up with the gauntlet it had been shielded from the sun and remained its natural color. It was actually quite funny: he only really got sunburnt on a little bit of his forearm and just past his elbow. Nothing major, although Link was slightly dramatic.

On the back of the Hero's left hand glowed a faint outline of a golden triangle. It was quite beautiful, really; gleaming in the firelight.

"It's getting brighter," Link observed. "Are you sure it's piece of the Triforce, Navi?"

"What else would it be?" she asked, flying over to his hand to look down at it. "Rauru told us it had been split."

"Yeah, but he failed to mention which piece I got, or even if I received one," Link pointed out.

"Hey! What do you think it is?"

Link turned over his hand, clenching and relaxing his fingers. "Well, if it is a piece of the Triforce...I just... have a feeling," he started, " and I don't know if it's true, but... I think it's... it might be Courage."

He looked up at his fairy, blushing slightly.

"Courage?" Navi echoed.

Link shrugged, speaking fast in his embarrassment. "Yeah... I mean, think about it. I don't desire power at all, and... well, I displayed how much wisdom I have tonight," he laughed.

The Hero held up his hand again, staring at the back of it. "I don't know... it's just when I say it could be Courage, it seems to respond. It gets...warm. Not just on my hand either, but in my heart..."

"Maybe you should ask Sheik!" the fairy squeaked.

Link shook his head and replaced his gauntlet. "No. I don't want to."

"Why not?"

"I just don't want to!" Link said quickly. He didn't know exactly why he didn't want to ask the Sheikah, probably the one person other than Zelda who knew everything about the Triforce, he just...didn't want to bring it up.

"At least... not now," he added when seeing his fairy looked taken aback.

Navi nodded.

"You tired?" Link asked his fairy after a few silent moments.

At the same time, Navi stretched her tiny arms.

That was really the only human thing about the fairy. She didn't need to eat or drink, but she did need to sleep if she exhausted herself. Her favorite spot to sleep was in Link's hat, usually while it was still on his warm head. His hair was very soft and very comfortable, not too mention it smelled good. She hated it when he was sweaty, then she couldn't sleep in his hat until he got a bath.

"Yeah!" she said.

"Me too," Link smiled at her and stood up.

From the pouch that he had removed from his belt—along with his bandolier, sword and shield—he out drew the one thing he carried with him from home: his large green blanket made entirely out of yarn. He never liked to sleep without it...although he had gone seven years, but he wasn't aware of that.

Next he took off his cap and laid it on the cave floor. Navi thanked him and laid down inside it, making it glow slightly, pulling it up to her chin like her own blanket.

The Hero looked at it fondly for a moment, and then sat on the ground, resting his back against the rock wall, covering only his legs with the blanket Saria had made him long ago. It was still very hot, even with the sun now set, but the blanket was the only thing to remind Link of home.

It was anything but comfortable, but Link needed to keep alert on this mountain. He had gotten plenty of "good sleep" back in Kakariko, all he needed now was to rest his mind.

He closed his eyes and dozed off.


Sheik was cursing himself under his breath in his native language—that he forgot the Princess could speak—still upset that he forgot something very important yesterday.

"What's wrong, Sheik?" Zelda asked.

It was still only them in the cave; Impa had yet to return from the remnant camp.

"The Hero!" Sheik exclaimed. "I gave my knives to the Hero yesterday because I had nowhere to carry them."

"And... you forgot to ask for them back?"

Sheik looked at her and swallowed. "I was a bit... er...distracted."

"Distracted in what way?" she asked.

"It doesn't matter," he said quickly, shaking his head.

"Distracted in what way, Sheik?" she repeated, slowly.

Silence for a moment.

"Just... taking care of him."

Zelda raised her eyebrow at him, an expression she had learned from the Sheikah. "I thought you said you gave them to him after you cleaned him up?"

Why did she choose to pay attention to that detail? Sheik thought, irritably.

"That I did, Princess," he said slowly. "But I removed my knives from the back of Ingo and was still very angry with the evil man. Link offered to carry them, and I let him." It wasn't a complete lie.

"I still can't believe you just left a dead man at the ranch," Zelda huffed, pitching the bridge of her nose and giving up on her question. She wasn't going to get an answer; especially not the one she wanted.

"It's actually quite disturbing when you say it like that," Sheik said. He shook his head. "I'm going to have to make a trip to the main camp until I meet the Hero again."

"Where is he, by the way?" Zelda asked.

"Halfway to Goron City," Sheik told her, unable to keep the nerves out of his voice. "Impa needs to return quickly. I can't take you to the main camp just yet—"

"I hate being treated like a child, Sheik..." the Princess said loudly, crossing her arms.

"I apologize, Princess, but as of now, that's how it has to be," Sheik replied harshly, his eyes flashing. Why couldn't she understand that? He couldn't quite explain why he was getting so angry all of the sudden, but something about what Zelda said set him off. "I have sworn to be your protector, and I will not leave my Princess alone in this war!"

"Sheik, I—"

"Yes, the Hero of Time is of great importance to me, but I'll be damned if I—"

"Sheik, calm down—"

"—leave my Princess unprotected! Zelda, we have gone over this countless times. I cannot take you anywhere near the Hero right now! You two hold too much power, and Ganondorf may be able to—"

"Will you listen to me?" Zelda asked gently.

That shut Sheik up. He changed his expression to neutral and relaxed his hands.

"My goodness, you are like Impa," she said mostly to herself and stood up. "I know that it is necessary, and I know that you are sworn to protect me, but you need to lighten up! I wasn't being serious, Sheik."

Zelda sighed and shook her head when Sheik said nothing.

"I didn't mean for you to leave me unprotected. I was merely pointing out that I am constantly treated like a child. I meant no offense whatsoever. I also know that your duty comes before our friendship, but you can at least take a joke now and then."

Sheik frowned slightly, blushing. "I apologize, Princess. I should know better than to raise my voice at you."

Zelda rolled her eyes. "Stop that, would you!? "

Frustration rose up again in Sheik and he almost stomped his foot, but controlled himself and chose to say nothing. He couldn't help that he was like this! He became friends with Zelda after he was hired to be her bodyguard. He was a Sheikah, and therefore, he was always going to respect her as the princess of Hyrule before she was Zelda.

Did he just say 'importance to me'? he meant to Hyrule, right? Zelda wondered as she watched her friend walk as calmly as he could away from her. She hadn't heard one of his outbursts like that in awhile... Wonder what's bothering him...

My duty comes before our friendship, Sheik thought to himself while sitting down at the cave's entrance with his back to Zelda; staring up at the night sky. That goes for the Princess and the Hero of Time. They will just have to accept that fact.

"You should braid your hair, Sheik," came Zelda's tentative voice from behind. "It looks so beautiful when you do."

Sheik turned his body around to face her and smiled; showing that he was no longer mad.

"Unless... you want this," she added, holding up a long white turban she had found is Sheik's pack.

Sheik shook his head. "For you, Princess, I'll braid it today."

Zelda beamed.


An hour later, Sheik—with braided hair—was heading toward their main camp, or hide-out, or remnant base, whatever you would like to call it, to get his back-up set of knives. He could only guess the Hero was sleeping, seeing how he hadn't moved in more than two hours. That was a good thing, it was very late and extremely dark. He'd be a fool to climb Death Mountain at night.

Impa had returned to the cave and shook her head in disappointment at her nephew who was so careless. She told him he needs to have better focus as a Guide when around the Hero, and Zelda had grinned in an odd from behind to herself. His aunt also reminded Sheik that true shadow warriors did not wear their hair down, but anytime the topic of Sheik's hair would come up between him and his aunt, Zelda would jump in and threaten to ring Sheik's neck if he cut his hair.

It was just to get Impa off his case, he knew, but Sheik appreciated it nonetheless. He loved his long hair and loved to let it be free once in a while.

Sheik warped away to Kakariko and appeared in front of Impa's house. It was raining there and Sheik couldn't help but smile brightly. He loved the rain. He stood there for a moment to look at Impa's house—he had always been so fond of it.

After that, he checked his surroundings to make sure no one was watching before turning toward the cliff wall. He stared intently at it, and the rock seemed to melt under his fiery gaze and formed into a wide gateway to the main camp, or secret hide-out, whatever you fancied.

Many, many years ago when Kakariko was first built, the Sheikah created an even more secluded area to hide the children and elder in if Kakariko ever fell under attack. The place they had built—which now held the royal army and their families—would only appear to the Sheikah eye, much like things in their sacred Shadow Temple.

Sheik had led the surviving soldiers and guards with their families here after Castle Town was attacked. He remembered how amazed they were when the eleven year old Sheikah boy melted through the solid cliff wall, and he smirked.

Sheik ran through the hidden archway and down the winding grassy path lined with thick trees. Only about five minutes later, he emerged into the camp. The place was only half the size of Kakariko, and it didn't have nearly as many people, but it was still crowded.

The volume of the soldiers, guards, and whoever else was there was finally unmasked, and the suddenness of the sound almost knocked Sheik backwards. They were all extremely loud tonight.

There be something going on, Sheik concluded in his head.

Two guards stood on either side of the entrance as always. They saw the shadow warrior's shadow approaching and quickly drew their weapons.

"You still think just anyone can find this camp?" Sheik asked the two guards as he came into view. "Honestly, not everyone can have the eye of a Sheikah."

"Apologies, master Sheikah," they said in unison.

Sheik nodded to them as he passed.

Walking farther into the camp, Sheik was correct: some sort of party was going on tonight. There was loud laughter, music, shouting, singing, and the smell of alcohol in the air. A single large bonfire had been set up in the very center of the remnant base where people were sitting, standing, and dancing around. Dark green tents were scattered around the perimeter, and a very large tent—where the Princess held her meetings—stood at the very end as the head of the camp.

Sheik sunk into the shadows and snuck around the back side of the tents. He didn't need anyone to spot him tonight. The people here respected him and Impa as much as they did Zelda. Sheik had saved them all, including their families, and Impa had saved their princess, and he just knew they would try their best not to let Sheik escape tonight.

He was creeping along when a long shadow cast from the bonfire suddenly slipped between the tents and away from the celebration. The shadow belonged to a tall Gerudo woman Sheik had known for quite awhile. Turning around, she almost ran straight into the Sheikah.

Her golden eyes widened and she stifled a gasp. "Gah! Sheik... you are the only person I have ever met who could scare me like that."

Sheik smiled under his cowl. "Hello, Neema."

Neema was a very tough girl and a highly trained spy. Five years ago she had been a spy for the Evil King, but after Sheik had caught her, she had turned spy for Hyrule. She had a very high rank in Ganondorf's army and was very valuable to have on Hyrule's good side.
After a very long meeting with the Princess, Zelda had agreed to use her as a spy against the Evil King and, as an added bonus, feed him false news of her whereabouts and the remnant's.

It had been hard for anyone to trust her in the first few years, but Neema had proven herself to be true.

Sheik thought Neema was prettier than most Gerudos, but that could be a matter of opinion. Tonight she was wearing casual clothes—unlike other Gerudos. She wore black pants, a short-sleeved black shirt that hung off her shoulders, and no shoes.

Neema was very battle worn, and the glow from the firelight only showed it more vividly. Her scars across her tan arms and face looked more pronounced, and Sheik came close to wincing every time her looked too hard in her right eye. The pupil there was white against the golden backdrop: a wound Neema had recieved from the Sheikah boy himself.

"Hey, kid," she sighed, running a hand through her deep-red, shoulder-length hair, resulting in messing up her bangs.

"Not up for celebrations?" Sheik asked.

She scoffed and grinned, though a scar over the left side of her lips caused that side of her face to be in a permanent scowl. "Hell no. This damn party's been going on for hours."

"Hmm..." was all Sheik replied, looking over her head.

"Judging by your lack of williness to create small-talk, you're here for something else other than to see old friends... or whatever people who have friends do," she guessed, winking her blind eye.

"Once again your skills at reading a people surprises me," he said in a monotone.

"Yeah, always nice to talk to you, Sheik," she said sarcastically, patting him on the arm and starting to walk away.

"What is going on, by the way?" he asked after her.

Neema stopped, but she didn't even turn back. "My birthday. These people will take any excuse to have a party... even for a, 'filthy Gerudo spy'," she answered over her shoulder, recalling the old nickname that some of these soldiers had given her, and then disappeared between the tents to hers.

Sheik thought about going after her, she might have some news about Ganondorf, but he shook his head. He was here to do only one thing. Impa was more than capable to ask Neema.

He wondered where the Gerudo's five year old daughter was at—that kid loved Sheik—but maybe she was sleeping; it was late and even if you were the child to a spy, you still had a bedtime if you were five.
Neema had a history to her, and Sheik didn't really want to think about it right now. He still felt so guilty, even though he had and has done everything he could for her and her kid.

He shook his head once again and started toward Zelda's tent.


A short while later, Sheik left the remnant base, fully equipped again and not feeling like he was naked without the two knives up his sleeves. He approached Impa's house and saw the faint aura his magic had left behind when he warped here. It was translucent and sparkling; only appearing to a well-trained eye.

Sheik smiled and stepped into it. He took a deep breath, still smiling at the powerful feeling he got while standing in the magical aura, and warped back to the Princess and his aunt.

Tomorrow he would set out for Death Mountain where he would be meeting the Hero once again for the fifth time.


I'm back! Kind of another boring chapter here, but I wanted to introduce the "main camp" since the story's talked about it before. Also a character that no one will care about.

Thanks for reading and I'd like to hear from you, so leave a review!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything of the Legend of Zeldacharacters, locations, plot, etc. It is all property of Nintendo. I am only writing a story based off of the game.