1I don't own Zelda

A/N: Haha! I'm not dead! Not yet anyway. My apologies for such a long absence. College decided to take over my life and did so rather quickly. But I'm back, and here's the next chapter for all those who are still interested. As a side note, this chapter won't be to long or introduce too many 'radical' new events since I've been gone for so long. We (myself included) need to get reacquainted with where things are going, plot wise, so consider this the calm before the storm as far as plot is concerned. Well, no more delay, onward we go!

Thinking/Flashback

Normal Speech

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The Zoras

"Zelda..."

Imp's voice hung by a thread as she gazed at the princess before her. So many things were running through her mind, she had to calm her breathing just to steady her thoughts.

"Zelda... I..."

The princess didn't even look up to meet Impa's gaze. Soft, quiet sobs were all that answered her as Zelda held onto Link's shield as if it were the last piece of herself.

Impa's shoulders shrank as she regarded her quivering form, "She's changed..."

The princess that Impa knew, and the princess that stood before her, were one in the same, but there were major differences, and Impa was having a hard time wrapping her mind around all the changes.

She hadn't even grown an inch, but just the way Zelda held herself, spoke volumes. Even in tears, the girl was standing straight, her shoulders firm against their burden. Her arms were slightly augmented, barely noticeable to anyone, but to Impa, it stood out like a sore thumb. Her clothes were the most obvious, but perhaps the biggest change that Impa noted, was when she stopped crying, steeled herself, and looked up.

"Those eyes..." Impa awed.

Although they were obscured by tears, and her face slightly red, her sea blue eyes held a fierce determination. At one point, they were soft and caring, lighthearted and strong despite the troubled world that surrounded them. But now, things had obviously changed.

Keeping her wits, Impa motioned for the bulblins to move Shad and Ashei to the wagons.

"Zelda... I... please forgive me..." she said, while bowing her head.

She remained silent, and Impa shuddered. She stood back up and was greeted by a look of compassion.

"I do not fault you," Zelda said simply, her voice calm, but sad. "I know all too well the evil that man is capable of..."

Impa looked surprised as Zelda smiled softly before walking towards the wagons.

"I understand what it is you must do, and again, I can not blame you, but know this Impa... There is something that I must also do... And since we're not in each other's way, I will go along with you... But when the time comes, you will have to choose as to where your loyalties lie... I trust in you... Impa..."

Zelda finished with her voice hardening and as she did, Impa's frown grew more apparent.

No other words were exchanged as the two made their way to their transportation, Impa taking the lead wagon along with Zelda.

It was a quiet, and yet disturbing ride. As Impa guided the horses up the slopes of the mountain, she would always glance back to look at the princess. To her dismay, Zelda sat near the very back, her body facing away from her. It appeared that she was reading a book at times, but Impa dismissed the idea.

As the wagon train neared the top of the slopes, Impa slowed them down to a crawl.

"If she were going to let me go," thought Zelda, "now would be the time... From here on, there's no escaping the bulblin numbers..."

"Princess... I... I'm sorry..."

Zelda's eyes darkened and she silently cursed herself for believing Impa was free from Ganon's grasp. She let out a sigh as her proud shoulders slumped and she leaned against the side of the wagon, too tired to even jump out and run for it. Impa's back remained turned to her and for a short time, she felt hope linger. But when Impa raised her hands and spurred the horses on, that hope was shattered.

XX

The rest of the trip was in silence and even when they had made camp for the night, hardly a word was spoken between anyone. Impa glanced over to her wagon and her eyes held a look of sorrow and uncertainty before she would go back to ordering the bulblins around.

Shad and Ashei remained bound and stayed near their own wagon, watching Impa scurry about.

"She keeps glancing at Zelda's wagon," murmured Ashei. "Do you think she'll let her go before we get back to the castle tomorrow?"

Shad shook his head in disgust, "If she didn't let her go today, she won't let her go tomorrow... I've read many books on war and the keeping of prisoners... Zelda is a key to something we do not yet understand... You saw how interested Ganon was with Link, and I've heard from Telma that Zelda carries a similar object to that of Link's..."

Ashei sighed, "True... Ganon wants whatever Zelda has and it looks like Impa is no longer herself... in that case, we have to free Zelda before daylight tomorrow.

Shad looked her straight in the eye, "Agreed, and here's how we're going to do it..."

Time passed and soon the darkness came. In the dead of night, two figures silently made their way from wagon to wagon. The moon cast a faint, pale glow in the wakes of the shadows, breathing life into dark shapes that danced along the ground as they moved swiftly and silently towards their target.

Both Shad and Ashei had worked tireless to rid themselves of their bonds and by chance, they had freed themselves and were now hoping to do the same to Zelda.

They had just arrived at the back of her wagon when a light from a lantern appeared, two wagons behind them.

Both heads darted left and right, trying to find a means to hide and just as the light came into view, both of them scurried underneath the wagon and watched quietly as figure approached.

The steps were slow, almost pained as they drew closer and closer. Shivers ran up their spines from the cold wind that blew at them from behind. Shad put his arm over Ashei's shaking form and pulled her close to steady her body and provide what little warmth he could.

In the pale moon light, she smiled at him and he smiled back.

"You two can up from down there now," said Impa, half amused.

Their eyes lit up in surprise and defeat as they pulled themselves out from underneath their cover.

"How did you know?" asked Shad, annoyed that his plan had failed.

"I could hear you two a mile away," Impa chuckled as she drew closer to them. "You're here to free Zelda, aren't you?"

Both of them took a fighting stance as Impa came face to face with them and reaching out, pulled back the covers to the wagon. Inside, she revealed a pile of covers where the Princess obviously lay sleeping.

"She's here," said Impa, patting the pile with her hand, "just so long as we agree she's here..."

XX

Morning came and the wagon train assembled themselves as soon as the sun's rays danced across the tops of the trees. It wasn't long until they were up and moving along and the edge of the Zora Passage and the Eastern fields came to an end.

Impa studied the terrain before her with careful eyes. She grimaced as they drew near the entrance into the fields before the castle.

"This is unexpected..." she mumbled as a bulblin check point was set up, waiting for her to arrive.

She slowed the wagon down, keeping a stoic face and a steady hand.

"What do you want?" she called out, voice loud and commanding.

"We're here to escort the prisoners to the castle..." came a gruff voice from a particularly short bulblin in the front of the line. Behind him stood other bulblins, each one carrying a pole with what looked like banners and flags, each one sporting a dark and ominous looking eye.

Impa regarded him carefully before nodding. "So be it... Make haste and take us through Castle Town, towards the outside entrance into the dungeons... These prisoners are A-class and the King wishes their detainment be immediate and permanent until he sees fit..."

The bulblins all chorused in acknowledgment and began leading the way.

Impa inwardly sighed as she looked back at the pile of covers, 'This is going to be interesting...'

Flashback

"Zelda... What is it that you're reading?" asked Impa, finally catching a glimpse of the book that she thought Zelda had.

The princess kept her back turned to Impa's face, "It is a book I found in the old mansion where you took me from... It is... important to me and my kingdom..."

Impa frowned as she whipped the horses on, "What do you mean?"

Zelda sighed out loud and began reading,

"When that which represents all is broken... The Last Door will finally appear... Only when the three keys converge, can the struggle against Light and Shadow finally reach a conclusion... The outcome of such a battle is not for me to know or to see... But through my research and studies, trials and tribulations, I have learned one thing that disturbs me the most... There is no clear victor... The struggle will end with Light or Shadow in victory... No stalemate... and only one winner... Either way, this war will end..."

Impa sat in silence, contemplating the words as they neared the exit out of the Snowspire region.

"I have been reading bits and pieces and now I think I am finally beginning to understand..." said Zelda in a quiet tone. "There are still large pieces of the puzzle that must be found, but I know I can find them..."

Impa's face softened into a sad smile, hearing Zelda's words, filled with so much determination and sorrow.

"I will find them... For Link... I will find them..."

End flashback

It didn't take long for the wagon train to reach the town's perimeter and as they passed through, Impa was reminded of why she hated being under Ganon's rule.

Bodies lie everywhere.

It was a harsh and grim reminder that despite the town's majestic look from afar, there was indeed a war going on and Ganon was the worst possible man to lead such a war.

Anyone who had been considered dead weight was exactly that: dead.

"Maybe that's why I've done the things I've done up until now..." Impa mused. "Maybe it was out of the pure desire to survive... Or maybe I was just weak and looking for excuses."

She turned her head to look back at her cargo, covered in blankets. "I will make it up to you Zelda... I swear upon the Goddesses..."

They passed through the graves that had become the town streets and quickly proceeded to the entrance into the dungeons. Impa stopped her wagon by the dungeon gates and got out as Shad and Ashei were forced out from one of the wagons behind her.

Impa stood up straight, "Leave them and the Princess to me... Take the wagons and empty the remaining supplies into the storage rooms. Go inform the King we've returned..."

The bulblins all grunted and started their work.

"Follow me," said Impa as she picked up the mass of covers and walked through the gates with Shad and Ashei in tow.

The change in atmosphere was almost un-natural as they went into the darkened world. Cold stone surrounded them as they walked through the hallways and drew closer to the holding cells. It was a dark and unwelcome place.

"Are you sure this is what you want to do?" asked Shad as he followed. "You know what this will mean for you..."

Impa smiled, even though none of her followers could see, "I know... And it is the least I can do to offer my apologias to her. I'm sure you saw just how much she has changed... I want to aid in that change, not hinder it..."

Impa stopped them outside a large steel door and commanded the bulblin keeping watch to open it.

"Inside," said Impa, walking in with them and depositing the bundle of covers on a nearby bed.

"There are extra blankets in there," she said before bringing her voice down to a low whisper, "and don't worry about trying to conceal the 'princess.' Ganon is still weak from the transfer and he won't be around for a few days... I'll try and figure a way for you two to bust out of here, but in the mean time, please, just lie low for now..."

Impa immediately turned and walked outside the room and addressed the bulblin, "Shut and lock the door, make sure they receive two meals a day. There are three prisoners so a total of six meals, understand?"

The bulblin nodded and shut the heavy iron door.

"Well..." mumbled Shad as he went over to the covers and dissembled the bundle into nothing, "now we wait and pray... In hopes that Zelda is safe and sound..."

XX

"Hiya!" shouted Zelda as she spun on her heels, slicing the snow wolves as she did.

The creatures stopped moving and fell to their sides before melting back into the snow. The princess let the sword's tip fall to the ground as she struggled for air.

"I will... not stop..." she panted as she placed the sword back in its wrappings and Link's shield back on her arm. She took in a deep breath and then continued onward towards the Zora Domain.

She smiled as she moved away from one of the many battles, remembering Impa's sudden action, "Leave quickly Princess... We are as close to the Zora domain as I can get you without being too close to danger. Say nothing and go! There's a snow bank coming up... Jump out and lie low until we pass..."

"Thank you... Impa... Thank you..."

With each step she took heading west, the snow became softer, the climate warmer and the mountain regions less mountainous. It wasn't long until she worked her way over a steep hill, and coming to a stop at its peak, did she see below her the palace entrance into the Zora Castle.

"Yes..." she smiled half heartedly while her eyes began to close. "Link... I... I made it..."

Zelda fell to her knees and then to the ground, falling blissfully into sleep. The world around her fell silent once more and it would have stayed that way, had she been a little farther away from the Zoras.

"My lady, you must stay near Prince Ralis' realm," called a guard, chasing after a young girl who was coming towards Zelda's sleeping form unknowingly.

"Oh come now," she laughed, pushing herself up the hillside. "I'm sure there is a beautiful view at the top of the hill! Ralis won't mind."

The guard shook his head as the Zora princess continued climbing.

"Lady Ilia, I was ordered to keep watch over you. If anything happens to you then I'll..."

The guard's words were cut short by Ilia's scream.

"Quickly!" she shouted to him as he came racing up behind her. "Take her and head down to my quarters. Have my maids clean and dress her into comfortable clothes. I will inform Ralis of this immediately!"

The guard who had just finished hearing his lady's orders, glanced over her shoulder to see Zelda sprawled out on the ground.

"But she is nothing more but a peasant. We will need the Prince's permission before..."

Again, he was stopped by Ilia, but this time, she was within an inch of his face and her eyes screamed obedience.

"Listen," she seethed, "those clothes remind me of someone I know and yes, I understand your reasoning but, I know enough of this world to know who is and isn't royalty, now go!"

"Yes my lady!" squeaked the guard and he hastily carried the body down the hillside.

"Be careful!" Ilia called after him, before slumping her shoulders and sighing. After a few quiet moments she lifted her gaze back up from the ground and started down the hill towards the throne room.

"What has happened?" she thought. "Why is the Princess here... and without her guardian...?"

She stopped momentarily to look up at the setting sun. A sudden sadness came over her as the twilight approached and she couldn't help but feel sorry for Zelda, but perhaps more so for Link.

"I never apologized... And although I don't know why she's here by herself... I can only guess it can't be good..."

XX

Night was falling rapidly in the Zora kingdom. The last few rays of light glistened on the proud Zora falls, creating rainbows and auroras that bounced and glittered off the stone walls that surrounded the palace entrance. For all the Zora inhabitants, it was a grand and peaceful exit to another calm and fitting day within the Zora kingdom.

But for Prince Ralis and soon to be Lady Ilia, the sun's departure was in no way signifying the end of a good day.

"Where did you find her?" asked Ralis, his face spilling rivers of concern.

"Near the peak of the Zora hills that overlooks the greater domain and the forgotten roads to Snowspire," replied Ilia. "I'm afraid something isn't right..."

Ralis frowned as he sat on his thrown, overlooking the makeshift bed that held Princess Zelda.

The young prince had aged considerably in the last year, not so much physically, but more mentally and emotionally. Since the passing of the King and Queen, Ralis was forced to take up his family's legacy and he did so with passion and courage, in hopes of honoring his fallen parents.

Despite the current situation, he looked over to Ilia and smiled. Ever since she had first come into his life, things had seemed to brighten and he was thankful for such a strange and unplanned meeting.

Instead of her Ordon attire, she wore Zorian robs, fit for a Queen, and at the rate things were going, she would soon fill that role. The Hylian girl had found a place in the prince's heart, and he in hers and it showed.

"Ugh... Ralis, when does this 'change' end? These things are so itchy!" grumbled Ilia as she scratched at slits that were forming just behind her ears.

Ralis laughed, "You chose me, remember? Did I not warn you, nay, encourage you to think this over before agreeing?"

Ilia smiled sheepishly, "Maybe so, but I felt that everything was right in my heart and I would not go against it."

Ralis' smile grew warmer as he gazed at his bride to be.

"She's so strong... An ordinary Hylian would have been less prepared for such a thing and yet she accepts it with open arms... Simply amazing..."

It was just one of the many qualities that Ralis came to adore of Ilia: her conviction to follow her heart.

Many things had happened in the year since the defeat of Zant. One of such things was the blossoming relationship between Ilia and himself and what it had grown into now.

He loved her and she loved him and to prove it, she made the ultimate sacrifice without even thinking twice.

"I'm sorry it's so uncomfortable, my dear," he spoke softly, almost regretful. "The union of a Zora and a Hylian is not common place, nor is it frowned upon, but for those who chose this path, one must become the other... and I..."

Ilia chuckled, "We've been through this already Ralis," she said kindly. "I knew what I was doing the moment I drank from the Well of the Zoras... I knew what I would become and I was more the willing to take that path, just so long as I could continue to be with you."

Ralis looked down to the ground as he tried to hide a faint blush. It was comical, and yet peaceful to know that a simple girl could make the prince act as such.

"Ohhh... Link... Please... please don't go..."

The agonizing moan brought Ralis out of his trance and he moved immediately to Zelda's bedside, where Ilia was attending her.

"What do you make of it?" he asked.

She shook her head, "She's suffering from exhaustion and she has minor wounds adorning her arms and legs... Judging from the paleness of her skin, she came from Snowspire and it appears that all that we have feared is indeed true..."

Ralis frowned, "Why are you so certain?"

It was Ilia's turn to frown, "You and I both know Zelda chose Link as her trusted Guardian..."

She bowed her head momentarily, hesitating, "I never got the chance to apologize to him, for hurting him so... I have no doubt in my mind that Zelda comforted him and they grew very close and for that, I am forever in her debt... However..."

Ralis focused his gaze on Ilia, "However?"

She sighed, "If Zelda is here now... and Link is not... Then I fear what our scouts have said about Hyrule Castle being overrun is true... Worse yet... If the scouts sent to Kakariko and the West return with ill tidings... I fear an evil power has come to claim dominion over these lands, just as the Zora legends have spoken of..."

Ralis couldn't help but let out a humorless chuckle, "You've been here a little over six months and already you know just as much if not more about this kingdom then I do... You truly are amazing."

Ilia blushed from the attention, "Oh stop Ralis, this is hardly the time."

He nodded, "Indeed..."

Ralis bowed to Ilia, showing he was taking his leave, and traversed the stairs back to his throne where his advisors were waiting.

He inwardly groaned as they started murmuring different things to him, nitpicks on how he should behave around Ilia and suggestions on building up war efforts.

Soon though, his mind began to block out the endless ranting and he focused his eyes onto the sleeping princess before him. On instinct, he grabbed a torn piece of a banner that had been recovered by one of his warriors and began kneading it with his hands.

"We lost contact with the Goron Tribe nearly a week ago... Hyrule Castle has grown dark and quiet... A great tremor to the East in Snowspire shakes my lands and roughly two days later, here lies Princess Zelda on my doorstep, looking beaten and exhausted, mumbling about Link... And speaking of which, he's no where to be found..."

The prince cringed, "Mother... I know you said times would be difficult... but... I never expected this..."

He smoothed out the article and gazed upon it with hard eyes, "The Eye of Agahnim..."

Flashback

"Pay attention Ralis," said an old looking Zora as he tapped the board with a stick. "I know most of this history is boring to you, but if you are to ever take anything with you from our lessons, I beg that you will remember this..."

A young Prince Ralis regarded the old Zora with awe before nodding, showing his attention was held.

"Many years ago, or so the Legends say, a Great War was fought over these lands."

The Zora unfolded a map and held it up for Ralis to see, "From the upper most regions of our kingdom down to the very roots of the trees in Faron Forest, did this struggle commence, taking with it many lives... Such wars in Hyrule have been common place throughout our history; however, there were few struggles, few wars that were set apart from all the others..."

Ralis gulped, "What... what set them apart?"

The old Zora looked grim, "During petty feuds and the break down of communications, our race and other races of Hyrule found themselves in minor battles and blood shed over worthless arguments and they were quickly settled and recompense was made... But the Wars of Hyrule, those that lasted years and determined the future of all races began not with the struggle of the races themselves but with a greater struggle, one that has been sown into the very fabric of Hyrule itself..."

The young prince shook his head, showing he did not understand.

The Zora scholar sighed and picked up another scroll. "Here Ralis, look at this," and in saying so, he unrolled the parchment, showing on it a beautiful artwork of the Great Zora Falls. Ralis admired the painting for a short while, before he noticed splotches of dark color used at the base of the waterfall when every else, only bright colors were used.

"Why are those colors so dark?"

The scholar smiled and nodded, "There is a force in existence, young Ralis, that is a part of all living things in Hyrule... You... Me... this waterfall, everything... This force has both good and evil aspects within itself and both quantities balance themselves out to achieve harmony and peace..."

The old Zora took his finger and brushed it against the dark coloring, and as he removed his hand, he watched Ralis' face twist in horror as the blackness consumed the waterfall.

"But when this balance is upset and nature favors ill workings over good... That is when the Dark Lord arises and fights for dominion over our lands... It is these struggles that you must be wary of, Young Prince... We have been fortunate enough to know peace for many years now, but there is a great fear building that our time of peace is nearing its end and when it does, if your parents are not around... It will be up to you to lead our people to safety..."

Ralis sat back in his chair, nearly overwhelmed by the sight of the dark ink crawling and consuming the waterfall he knew and loved.

The scholar nodded in understanding and began to put away his things.

"That is enough for now I believe. I'm sorry to have said all of this so suddenly, but it is my duty to prepare you for"

"How will I know?" Ralis said quickly, his voice cracking.

"What?" asked the scholar, slightly surprised.

"How will I know" said Ralis with more conviction, "when such a war is upon me?"

The old Zora regarded the Prince with admiration before nodding with a smile.

"You truly are a wonderful young Zora..." he beamed before his face dimmed and the smile faded. "Are you sure you want to know this now?"

Ralis got up from his chair and nodded, "Yes... If this is so horrible as you say, I want to be exposed to it now, so that when I see it face to face for real, I may not be stricken with fear and doubt..."

The old Zora regarded him with pride once more before nodding, "Very well..."

He turned, and walked away from the Prince and into a small storeroom where Ralis could hear the shifting of boxes and crates. After some time, the Zora returned with an old looking piece of parchment that was black, seemingly burned by fire.

"There is but one symbol that will dictate to you the coming of such a War..."

He unrolled the scroll and Ralis did his best to control his shaking and stuttering.

On the old blackened scroll, there was the shape of an eye in runes the likes of which he had never seen before. What unsettled him the most was that the eye seemed to move on the paper, an eternal void of blackness staring right at him, inviting him into the never ending darkness.

"The all seeing Eye of Agahnim... The Symbol of Dragmire..."

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A/N: Well, that's that for this one. Sorry for it being so short, but I was compelled to get at least something out there to show that I haven't forgotten about this. The next chapter will hopefully (notice the emphasis on 'hopefully') be out in the coming week. Much of it has been written already but there is still some work I have to do to it before I'm satisfied.

I'm hoping this chapter wasn't too bad. I was sort of at a loss at how to bring the story back from the grave and I'm pretty sure it shows in places. For arguments' sake, lets just assume that Ralis and Ilia are around the same age, just to make life easier.

As always, comments, good or bad are welcome.

Until next time.