A/N) I want to take a moment to thank my great support team for staying on my butt for this story. You guys are so great and definitely give me the will and drive to finish this story.
Anyways things are getting down to the wire. Time is ticking and our bad guy is about to be revealed! Is it bad I get excited writing this even though I know what's going to happen?
Sheik and Link made it back to the castle. Hyrule field was eerily quiet and devoid of life. Just the way it was before this all happened, but the smoldering of Kakariko Village behind them, told a different story.
They reported to Zelda who was still by Impa's side. Impa and Zelda took the news as hard as Sheik had, but no one was hurt and that was good news. It would have been devastating for Zelda to hear she failed her subjects, and Sheik and Impa would have failed the one group of people who respected, and revered the sheikah race.
"Worry not Princess, the people of the village are strong. They will pick up the pieces and rebuild to be better than ever." Impa said offering Zelda a soft smile. In only a few hours she already looked pale, and sickly. Sheik hated seeing his Aunt looking so weak.
"Your right Impa they have before. Oh boys" Zelda looked over to the boys. Sheik had his head lying on Link's chest who had an arm wrapped around him. She couldn't help but smile at how adorable they looked, despite the circumstances. She continued "The other sages have contacted me. The forest and desert are untouched. Death mountain has rather strong monsters but are doing well against them, Zoras domain has an attack every once and awhile but the temple is empty. My only fear is the Shadow temple, considering Impa's condition."
There was a knock on the door that drew everyone out of their thoughts.
"Enter!" Zelda said
A very beautiful young girl entered. She had long blue hair that reached down to her waist and a set of bangs framing her big blue eyes. She wore a white lab coat, Link thought there could be no way she was a doctor. She was probably no older than him.
"Doctor. How is the patient?" Zelda asked, worry coating her question
"He's gonna make a full recovery the lucky scoundrel. Most the blood on `im wasn't his. He had quite a belly wound but I sewed him up best I could. Couple a days of some red potion he will be good as new. Might have to ask dem kids in the forest for more fairies. I see this gettin ugly" the doctor replied. Her rough accent and voice did not go with her sweet appearance "Alright you." She turned to face Impa "Time for another dose. Now either take it nice or I will tie you down to force feed you. Oh and no more of dem fancy Sheikah secrets eh?" She pulled a bottle of red potion out of her pocket.
Link had a potion or a few hundred during the course of his travels, and knew that stuff was vile. Beyond vile, of course it cured exhaustion and healed wounds, but it was so hard to swallow. He didn't blame Impa for refusing.
"Doctor is your patient able to see people?" Zelda asked
"Yeah, but keep it short and simple. His name is Nicholas by the way." the doctor was currently struggling to give Impa the potion.
"Impa I order you to take that potion and get some rest. Boys come with me."
Impa sighed Zelda had her cornered. She couldn't refuse the order, and with a face took the bottle of potion from the doctor.
The boys were following Zelda to the infirmary to see what information the soldier could offer. Maybe even have an idea of what or who was behind the recent tragedies.
"Zelda I don't see why you keep that Doctor around here. She has a mouth and an attitude. She's completely disrespectful to you." Sheik said
"Sheik, Merit happens to be the best Doctor in Hyrule. To be honest, I like the way she works. I don't get special treatment because I'm royal. I'm just another patient" She pushed the door open to the infirmary.
It was a normal, all white, sterile smelling infirmary. There was a man lying in one of the beds and they walked over.
"Lieutenant Nicholas. I'm Zelda, thank you for your service to Hyrule. How are you?"
"Just fine your Majesty. I would get up and bow, but in my current state..." He trailed off
"No need, and please it's Zelda. These two with me are going to investigate the attack. This is Link and Sheik. Could you tell us everything you can recall."
"It all happened so fast ma'am but I'll try"
"That's all I can ask for"
"Well we all loaded up and began a search around Hyrule field. We encountered weaker monsters here and there, but they weren't a problem. That was until we were coming down from death mountain. There by the cavern, the tektites were brutal. Stronger than we've ever encountered before. We lost one man to them. A good friend of mine too, but I digress. We stopped to get a drink in Kakariko, and all seemed well and fine. We went to leave to search around the opening of The Zoras Domain, but never even got across the water. We were attacked by all manner of creatures, ones I've never even seen before. Big ugly creatures like ogres, ones even in head to toe armor. My commander told me to flee and report back to you immediately. I feel like such a coward."
Zelda put her hand on his shoulder "You followed orders and performed them admirably. I promise those soldiers families will be taken care of and their memories honored. I assume the battle was were you obtained that wound."
Nicholas shook his head "No ma'am. As I was running I caught a glimpse of a something in the corner of my eye. I stopped to look around and saw nothing. Not until I turned around. Black as shadows he was with burning red demon eyes. He stabbed me in the gut and told me to tell the princess his masters return is imminent."
The four people sat in eerie quiet. Mulling over what had just been said. All hoping the same thing: master didn't mean Gannon. It was impossible, the seal was strong, intact. How was a return imminent?
Link had one question for the soldier and walked over to him "Can you tell me exactly what the creature looked like please?"
The soldier nodded "He actually looked identical to you, hero."
