Chapter Fourteen – Preparations

Despite her extreme exhaustion, comfortable night slip, and cloud-soft down-filled mattress, Inasha found that sleep did not come easily for her.

Of course, the events that had transpired just outside her room didn't help much, either.

She cursed herself for her behavior. Her reaction was entirely unnecessary, despite her feelings about it all. She was rude, and she slammed her door in his face.

It was obvious he didn't take it well, as he slammed his own door after a while, shaking the floor just a bit. No doubt that awoke someone.

Then again, it was dawn. Perhaps everyone was already awake.

She turned her pillow around for the thousandth time in the past 10 minutes. It was no later than six, but despite her lack of sleep, it still eluded her. She thought that, certainly, she would be able to sleep after the night's events.

A flight to her home village filled with battle after battle, in which she had retained multiple wounds.

Meeting the ghost of the late Zora Queen, and receiving the blessing of water and a message for her son.

Link's…sudden move, and her terrible reaction.

Yes…it had been a long night. So, why did sleep still elude her?

She longed for her history text book. When all else failed, reading that book always managed to put her to sleep. She enjoyed dreaming about ancient heroes using ancient magic to fight an ancient evil.

She realized they were living in a new legend, one that perhaps would go down in the history books, just as the others.

She managed to finally lull herself to sleep, dreaming about how this new legend would be told. Perhaps…he would be the Hero of Twilight. And she, Hyrule's Light. She would go down as a legendary maiden, whether she met death or not.

Though she was exhausted, she only slept for a few hours. Her dreams were filled with images that her textbook often brought to her mind, but all the legends had blurred together.

She couldn't repress her sigh when she realized she was awaking early still. She was truly exhausted. She knew she was! Her body ached for rest. But her spirit was restless once more, and refused her the sleep she desperately craved. She tossed back the heavy covers and slid into a robe the innkeeper had provided for her, as well as the soft indoor shoes. The sheepskin insides of the slippers felt great to her weary feet.

She poked her head outside the door and was immediately met with bright sunlight pouring in from the now-open hallway window. Judging by the position of the sun, she could tell it was still early morning. She probably had slept more than two or three hours. Squinting against the bright sunlight, she crept over to Link's door and pressed her ear against the wood. She could hear his light snoring faintly through the door.

Happy that at least one of them was able to sleep, she continued out into the commons of the second floor, where Renado had treated them the night before, and was greeted by an eager Colin carrying a fresh bucket of cold water.

Out of all the children Inasha had known, she found herself most drawn to Colin. The young boy's idolization of Link was endearing, because instead of standing around and gushing about how great he was, like the other children would, he actually strived to be like his role model.

He greeted the female adventurer with a small and shy "hello."

Inasha nodded to acknowledge his salutation. "Good morning, Colin. How's the patient?"

"He's recovering well!" the boy perked up, eager that Inasha was interested in something he was doing. "Or, at least, that's what Renado said. Oh, and he woke up this morning!" He continued excitedly, walking into the prince's room to give the bucket to the girls still watching over the boy. Inasha followed behind. "He asked for water and complained about his fever, and then went back to sleep. We're still trying to keep his temperature down, though."

The two girls refreshed their rags with the cold water and took turns placing them on his head. Inasha could see that his color was returning a little, and he did seem to look a little more at peace while he slept.

"M…mom…" the words barely made it past his lips. Inasha looked questioningly at the two girls.

"Is he still…?"

Beth nodded slowly. "He's so worried for his mother…" she said softly.

"When he awakes and asks about her…send for me. I think he should hear the news from someone who can relate," Inasha requested, turning for the door. "I'm going to get something to eat," she added over her shoulder.

The children called a goodbye as she closed the door behind her. Her stomach growled loudly, urging her to move faster in her search for food.

Following her sense of smell, Inasha made her way downstairs and into the kitchen. The innkeeper was busy in the kitchen making breakfast for the late risers. She had a pink apron tied over her dull blue day gown, and her raven hair pulled up in a small bun. Inasha vaguely remembered her name; she and the innkeeper hadn't exchanged many words before she left Kakariko.

"That smells very nice," Inasha said softly. The woman turned from her place at the wood stove.

"Oh, thank you, dear Inasha," she smiled sweetly. Her warm greeting eased Inasha's nerves just a bit. At least she didn't mind all the trouble Inasha supposedly caused. "How is everyone recovering?"

"Well, I feel better than I did yesterday. The young prince awoke for a moment earlier, but he's fallen back asleep now. And I'm not too sure about Link; though I hear him snoring in his room, so I assume he will be just fine. He didn't take too much damage last night anyways." Except to his ego…

"I was a little worried about the older boy," the woman admitted, turning back to the food she was preparing. "I heard doors slamming."

Inasha laughed nervously. "Oh, yeah, he was just tired. You know how boys get…"

The woman nodded. "Well…anyways, the young ones aren't wearing themselves out, are they?"

"No. I think they're doing fine. Is there anything…I could help you with?" She had never been one for cooking, but Inasha figured she could help with the simpler things.

"If you could just stir this soup while I knead the dough, that would be delightful," she handed the long spoon to Inasha and began to make the dough. The two women worked silently for a while, enjoying each other's company without having to ruin the moment with words. Inasha found herself missing her mother even more now. Why didn't she help her like this?

After a while, she began to sweat from the heat the fire created. She didn't mind it, though. She enjoyed warmth. Her shoulder was hurting from the constant stirring motion as well, but she ignored it. She was happy to finally be somewhat helpful to someone.

Though she'd never admit it out loud, she was beginning to feel guilty about leaving the pacifist town all on its own. She'd been the only one brave enough to wield weaponry. She felt like it was her fault that hardly anyone besides the elders saw the town fit to live in anymore, now that the monsters were such a real threat.

"Well, my dear Inasha! You're up early!" Telma's voice startled Inasha, causing her to jump at the sudden outburst.

"Oh, hello, Telma," she looked over her shoulder at the older woman. She wore the same clothes she'd worn the night before. Her dreads were down now, instead of in a ponytail, and looked freshly washed. Her skin glowed with a radiance that Inasha knew well, and then something else that she didn't recognize.

"I see you discovered the hot springs," she smiled.

Telma blushed. "Well…I was given a bit of a…personal tour," she admitted where only Inasha could hear.

The younger woman's mouth nearly dropped open. So that was the "other" glow about her. "Telma!"

"I know, I know, hush child! You're lucky to have grown up in a small town which such lovely hot springs," she added a little louder, noticing that the innkeeper was trying to listen in on their conversation.

Inasha laughed and took a sample of the soup she had been stirring. It was warm, but not as hot as it needed to be. "My mother and I enjoyed them quite often," she admitted. "Eldin's springs are also very fortifying, in their own way. But the waters are much cooler."

She thought of her other-worldly friend. She would visit with him again today, and it was something she was looking forward to eagerly. She missed their conversations.

Telma had turned to the innkeeper and was locked in conversation about the hot springs and the science behind them, leaving Inasha to resume her mindless stirring. Well, I'm certain I won't be able to go to the hot springs for a while, she thought with a soft laugh.

I suppose at least one of us should have some good fortune.

She found that she rather enjoyed her idle task. It allowed for her mind to wander without anyone interrupting her and telling her to do something for them.

Her thoughts drifted to the swordsman asleep upstairs.

She wasn't sure what to make of any of their feelings. It felt right, but then again, something felt…off. It was like she was missing some crucial detail. Someone hadn't told her something. But she wasn't sure what it was.

She was certain it had nothing to do with the Hero's unspoken feelings for his childhood best friend. No, it was something else. Something was missing from the bigger picture. And it bothered Inasha that she didn't know what it was.

Perhaps another visit with the Goddesses was in order. Whatever it was, she was certain it had something to do with them. And until she figured out what they knew that they weren't sharing, she couldn't admit anything about her feelings.

She was vaguely aware of the innkeeper taking the spoon from her and instructing her to sit down, her meal was ready. Inasha obeyed and took a seat in the dining area. Luda was there as well.

"Hello, Inasha," the girl greeted. "How have your travels been? Aside from last night, that is."

Inasha smiled at her softly. "They've been alright. I've see some amazing sights. I saw a village even smaller than this one…I've had slight…issues…with Ordon goats, I've sat at a feast with an entire village of no more than 10, and then we went from there to Castle Town."

Luda's eyes grew wide as she took a spoonful of her soup. "Oh my! That must have been quite a change of scenery!"

The blonde headed girl nodded, dipping her bread in her soup. "It was. Oh, Luda, it was so beautiful! We got there just as evening was approaching, and there was so many people! The square was full of townspeople wandering about, going about their daily tasks. And, oh my, you should have seen the southern road! That's where all the vendors set up! I've never seen so many amazing wares! I even got a slice of my favorite cake!"

The shaman's daughter smiled at the traveler's eagerness. She had to admit, she was a bit jealous. This girl was seeing the world, while she was trapped at home, working with her father, destined to one day take his place.

It was a rather boring life.

Inasha continued to tell of the lively Castle Town, and went into great detail about Link's home town. The subject of their relationship was left untouched, much to Inasha's relief. They said brief goodbyes after breakfast, and parted ways. Luda had a patient to care for, and Inasha had a light spirit to visit.

She walked almost with a spring in her step to her friend's spring. She yearned to talk with him once again, and also was curious if there was any better way of getting to Lake Hylia than the way Link had taken—jumping off the bridge.

Inasha found that the path to her old hideout was clear, and eagerly took her place at the edge of the cliff. A small, smooth pebble sat on a ledge nearby. It was her way to contact the spirit. When that pebble was there, it meant the spirit was awaiting her arrival.

She wondered briefly how long it had been sitting there, waiting for her return. The smooth pebble skipped across the surface of the water for a moment before sinking beneath the waves. Her friend appeared in his less impressive form: the ball of moving light.

She smiled when he spoke. "Welcome, my Child of Light. It has been too long since we visited."

He read the look on her face. "You've met with a terrible fate, haven't you? It seems you have finally come to terms with your destiny. My dear Child…what may I help you with?"

Inasha sighed. "I've caused the Hero a lot of delays. In order to make up for lost time, we're splitting up to go to two different places to seek out this…Fused Shadow thing. I'm heading to a temple in the lakebed of Hylia. What am I going to need? And is there any easier way to reach the lake than to take a dive off the Great Bridge?"

"My advice is this: Collect as many arrows as you can carry and obtain bombs that go off underneath the water. You will encounter many foes that can only be defeated in close combat. Because of this, you must seek out a blade that can stave off the monsters that lurk in the lakebed. After you have collected the items, come back to me, and I will guide you safely to the lake."

Inasha nodded and smiled at the spirit. "I know I can always count on you, Eldin. I have one last question…"

"You may ask me anything, my Child. You know that."

She nodded. "Well…um…it's about…the hero. Link. And me. Um…it feels like…there's something I should know before we…try any form of close relationship. What am I missing? What haven't I been told?"

"I am afraid I do not hold that information," the spirit admitted. "You will have to question your mother about that."

She nodded, and rose to her feet. "So I feared. Thank you, Eldin. I will return later."

"Goodbye, my Child," the moving light scattered all over the spring, indicating the deity's departure.

Sighing, Inasha headed for the general store. She had learned that Malo, the strange infant from Ordon, had fixed it up and now ran the store. As strange as it sounded, it was perhaps her best option to find the supplies she needed.

She eyed the storefront. The old door had been replaced with a brand new, lighter-colored metal door. The old posters advertising special sales had been replaced with images of the child's face with the words "Malo-Mart" written in fancy script below. The hours were written on the door, but they were in much less fancy, cuccoo-scratch penmanship.

"Hours: Daylight-Bedtime."

She raised her eyebrow at the child's terrible writing. Then again, it was probably an accomplishment that someone so young as him was even able to write.

She sighed and rested her hand on the doorknob. It would be the first time she'd entered the store since her mother's passing. Knowing that she wasn't truly dead…would she be able to handle the rush of memories?

At least the wreckage was cleared, so she didn't have to be reminded of the brutality of the attack that had occurred.

When she stepped inside, she could not see any form of store clerk. An old wooden shield lay upon the counter. Beyond, a few wares were stacked neatly on the shelves.

She picked up the shield to examine it. Her mother used to stock these shields…

"Hey! Don't touch things that aren't yours!" a voice came from behind the counter. She glanced down to see the youngest Ordanian glaring at her indignantly. "If you want it you'll have to buy it from me!"

She bit her lip. "This was mine before you took over the store. My mother ran the general store before you."

The young boy softened his tone a little. "I'm sorry. I didn't know that. Sorry for yelling."

"It's alright," she assured him, setting the shield back down. "I'm here to ask if you've got any arrows or bombs in stock."

"I'm afraid I don't have either," the boy admitted, almost ashamed. "I know the Gorons up on Death Mountain stock arrows, but it's a little hard to get up there right now. There are so many careless travelers who pass through Hyrule field, though. Maybe you'll find some in the grass out there. I found plenty of money out in the fields. Or you could just take them from a monster that uses them."

Inasha nodded, leaning against the counter.

"Barnes handles the bombs. He's running low, though. When the monsters attacked, they blew up his bomb storage."

Inasha thought about the story Link had told her. When he was collecting the tears of light, two twilit parasites thought they'd be really smart and hide inside the fireplace of a building on the hill. Link had used a fire to smoke them out…but then they'd spread that fire all over the building. How was he to know it was a bomb storage unit?

Long story short, he'd escaped…but the building was lost in the process.

"Thanks, Malo," she nodded to the young boy. "Good luck with the business."

Back out in the thoroughfare, Inasha passed through once-busy streets, lost in her thoughts. She hoped Barnes would have that special kind of bomb. But, if his bomb storage had been blown to bits…it wasn't likely.

He sold his weapons black-market, due to the strict rules of the elders. But Inasha held his trust, as a fellow lover of weaponry. At least talking him into selling her his wares wouldn't be a challenge.

The bomb shop was exactly as she'd remembered it: two stories, a small porch out front made mostly from metal. The metal door was a little dented—as though something had been beating on it. However, it still didn't look too bad off. On the inside, the flooring was mostly made of grate that felt uncomfortable to her feet through her thin shoes. Though she had changed before leaving the inn, she still wore the house shoes, and they were only good if the terrain beneath her feet was soft.

All over the walls hung posters that forbade the use of lanterns or anything else that had to do with fire. Grate stairs led up to a room that Inasha knew held the doorway to the upper cliffs and the watch-tower. The bomb storage also used to be up there.

"Well, if it isn't the famous rebel!" Barnes' voice held no malice; only light teasing. Despite how…strange the old man was, Inasha found him relatively bearable, compared to most of the townspeople that haunted her childhood.

"Hey, Barnes. I'm here to ask if you have any bombs that…you can use underwater?" Saying it out loud felt ridiculous. Who had ever heard of such a thing?

The shop owner's eyes lit up. "Actually, I just got a shipment in today! Brand new technology, right here!" He held up a strange round object. It looked like a huge blue piranha with a gaping mouth. Within the mouth was a large black sphere.

"Um…how exactly does this thing work…?" She took the bomb and eyed it wearily.

"You see, this big black thing is where all the explosives are kept. You light the tail right here," he pointed to the tip of the tail. "That's for use out of the water. The design is based off the bombfish that lurk in the depths of Zora's temple. Hit those things once and you'd better run, because the pressure ignites their explosive abilities! That's how you use them underwater, as well. You'll know when they're activated, because they'll sizzle like a real fuse and flash, which is a sign that you'd better get out of the way, because they're building up pressure! They hit peak pressure, and then BOOM!" the man threw his arms out to the side to animate his explanation.

Inasha jumped a little at the sudden outburst, then laughed nervously. "Okay…let's talk prices."

"Do you own a bomb bag?"

"No, I'm afraid not," she admitted, pulling out her rupee pouch.

"I'll sell you a starter pack for the discounted price of 50 rupees! Only because I actually like you," he added with a chuckle.

Inasha returned the laugh and handed over a purple rupee. Barnes handed her a stretchable thread bag that was a mixture of red, blue, and orange. 15 bombs sat inside the bag, protected from detonation by the bag's special properties.

As with all other Hylian-made bags, it was infused with a special magic that allowed it to hold far more than it should be able to, without weighing more than a pound or two.

"Oh! Have I told you about bomb arrows yet?" he asked as she was about to leave, knowing that the archer would be thrilled to hear about it.

She dashed back to the counter, leaning in with interest.

"Yes, they are quite handy! Though, they're also a little dangerous. See you remove the explosive pouch from a bomb like this…" he picked a bomb from the shelf and opened the jaw of the fist. He revealed a hatch on the backside of the black sphere and pulled out a pouch with a fuse attached. "This works with normal bombs, as well. Now, you simply strap it to an arrow—might I borrow one?"

She nodded and brandished an arrow from her borrowed quiver, which Telma had graciously allowed her to continue using until she was reunited with her own equipment.

"Now, just take a piece of string, tie it to the tip of the arrow, and then light the fuse! I won't do that here, since this whole store is an explosive hazard. But they're quite fun to play with." Inasha grinned impishly. "Now, young lady, please don't use them in town. They can be rather dangerous—"

"AWESOME! Thanksbye!" Inasha dashed out of the store before the shopkeeper finished his warning, her eyes as big as a toddler's on its birthday. Barnes rolled his eyes and mumbled to himself about the recklessness of teenagers.

X-X-X

"Spare sword, spare sword…" Inasha mumbled to herself, wandering throughout the streets. She asked any villagers she passed by if they had a spare sword, but she was usually ignored or scowled at. Sadly, not everyone was impressed with her rebellious ways.

After nearly an hour of searching, Inasha sat beside the road and sighed, putting her face in her hands. She didn't know what else to do. She was far from skilled with a blade, but if Eldin told her it was necessary, she knew it was best to listen. He wouldn't advise it otherwise.

Her ears twitched at the sound of approaching footsteps. Renado made his way towards her, offering her his hand.

"Inasha. I couldn't help but notice you looking a bit…troubled. You're looking for a blade?"

She nodded, accepting his extended hand.

"I have one in the cellar. Allow me to get it for you," he offered as she stood. "I believe you have the strength to wield it properly."

The young girl raised her eyebrows. This man had turned her human mother into a pacifist, just like the rest of the doomed village. But now…he was offering her a blade? She followed him to the sanctuary, curious to see the blade.

It's probably just a wooden stick, she thought wryly.

They entered the dark sanctuary. Renado had closed all the windows and lit the wall candles, giving the place the sacred aura it deserved. A pot of incense burned in the center of the room, in front of a gaping hole in the floor. A large statue stood to the right.

Inasha took a seat on one of the benches and waited while he disappeared into the cellar. She gazed around the circular building.

It had been a while since she'd been in here, she realized. However, it was as unchanged as ever. The thought that at least something from her childhood was still intact gave her a feeling of security, even if that place was the home of the man she had come to resent.

When the shaman returned, he held a long cloth in his outstretched palms. She eyed the hidden weapon cautiously. He sat beside her and revealed the blade.

Carved into its metal hilt was what appeared to be a chain design, each link at least three inches wide and five inches long. The long blade reflected the candlelight of the dim sanctuary, glowing with a soft metallic orange color. Where the hilt met the blade, two long curved spikes curled towards the tip of the shining weapon.

She recognized it as more than just a simple blade. It was…

"An assassin's blade?!" her voice squeaked with shock. What is Renado, of all people, doing with a weapon used to eliminate dignitaries?!

"We all have pasts, Inasha, some darker than others. But keep in mind, an assassin's target is not always chosen out of jealousy. Sometimes a tyrant must be brought to his death before he destroys a kingdom."

Inasha was gaping, she was well aware, but she couldn't find the willpower to close her mouth. "B- b-but…you're…" she sputtered.

"I am now a healer, yes," the shaman continued, as though reading her thoughts. "Everyone has a past. But that does not always have to affect the present, nor the future." He handed the shocked girl the sword. "I believe you will use this sword for good. It is light compared to most, despite the steel that was used to make it. I think you will have no trouble wielding it. You will also need this…"

From beneath the cloth, he revealed the blade's sheath. It was simple and black, with an adjustable leather strap.

Numbly, she accepted both the blade and sheath. She adjusted the strap and fixed it on her body, the strap running from her left shoulder to her right hip. It wasn't uncomfortable, and fit nicely with her quiver.

She was starting to feel bad for Link, having to carry around so many items strapped onto him.

The sword wasn't heavy in her arms at all. She bounced it a little on her hands, experimenting with its weight. She then managed to sheath it; albeit with minor difficulty. She made a mental note to practice sheathing her blade so she wouldn't wind up accidentally stabbing herself in the heat of battle later.

"Renado…I…" she gulped, looking up at the shaman in a new light. "Thank you…"

He smiled down at her. "You are welcome, child. I feel that your mother is smiling down upon you at this moment."

She almost bristled instinctively at his insistence that he knew her mother so well, but decided instead to let it slip past her. He did just give me something very valuable…a piece of his past. I could stand to be a bit more tolerable, I suppose.

She found herself beginning to…even respect the man.

Though it wasn't something she was willing to admit to. No, not just yet.

X-X-X

"So, you seek a shorter passage to Lake Hylia, my Child?"

The addressed girl nodded, looking at the golden spirit expectantly. He had chosen to appear to her in his true form this time. His huge wingspan took up most of the cavern, but to her, he looked magnificent. She was seated on her favorite ledge, her legs folded in front of her and her hands resting in her lap. She prayed he had much easier passage in mind than the one she had taken earlier.

"In the tomb where the Royal Family of another tribe slumbers, there is a passageway blocked by rocks. You will need a great force to remove them from your path. This will lead you to the lake."

Inasha couldn't help but smile a little at Eldin's usual cryptic ways. He never said things directly. Occasionally, he was so vague that he made no sense, but usually it was clear enough for the young village girl.

"Thank you, Eldin. I'll look for it tomorrow. It's getting a little late now, isn't it?" Both beings in the domed room gazed out to the thoroughfare. The late afternoon sun only added further to the town's characteristic orange glow. A light breeze made its way leisurely through the town, barely rustling the dried up foliage that strived to grow in the cracks of the walls.

Despite the glaring sun overhead, the weather was neither too hot nor too cold, though the faintest chill could be felt on the wind. No doubt, summer was fading. Inasha knew it was the first month of fall, but she had lost track of what day. Possibly, it was about the middle of the month.

The town had changed drastically since Inasha left. Most of the villagers who had survived the raid had migrated to other villages, deeming the dusty town an unfit place to raise a family. The elders remained, of course, declaring that their sacred town would be their eternal resting place. And I'd be more than happy to bring them to that eternal rest very quickly…

A few of the elders were standing idly by the spring, their idle bickering lost on the wind long before it reached Inasha's ears.

It was far different than Inasha had grown accustomed to. There were no screams of the children playing in the spring, laughing and enjoying their young life. No adults conversing, courting, joking, and bargaining out in the town thoroughfare…The bustle of her town would never have compared to Castle Town, but now, it seemed it would never see even its usual stream of activity again.

Inasha realized with a start that…she was missing it all. She looked back at the huge, shining spirit that took the form of a bird. Behind his ornate mask, his nearly blinding white eyes held a look of sympathy and understanding. "It really has been too quiet. I weep for my province… This settlement is the only Hylian one in my lands…and now they are all departing. Soon this will become nothing but a town of spirits and lost memories…"

"I'll come back!" she suddenly blurted. "I'll start a family here! And maybe some of the Ordon children will move here when they grow older. They really seem to enjoy their life here! And there's still Luda, she might decide to stay in this village, too…"

Eldin shook his head and placed a glowing wing gently over her mouth to silence her. It was the first time she had ever touched a light spirit. He felt like…a solidified liquid. He held the texture of the waters of his spring, but it provided resistance to a physical touch. She looked up at her dearest friend.

"My Child, do not worry. The Three Goddesses are watching over these lands, as well as the other six. I am certain they will manage the smaller details, as well as the larger. Now, you have a long journey ahead of you. I suggest you go, enjoy what you have left of this day as you wish. Don't bother with this old Light Spirit anymore; we will have plenty of chances to speak together again, both in this life and the next."

His words brought to mind her fate, and her mood mellowed. She gazed down at the clay earth, thinking of all she would be leaving behind. She scooped up loose soil in her hand, then let it trickle from her closed fist, carried off by the gentle breeze.

Tightening her fist, she stood and addressed Eldin once again. "You're right. My time in this world is limited. I need to enjoy everything while I can. Eldin…thank you for your wise words and guidance. I will return to you when my task is complete!" she bowed in respect to the Great Light Spirit. He disappeared in a bright burst of light, sending golden droplets of water flying, returning to the spring waters below. She smiled as she watched him depart.

She departed her hideout, deciding to test out the bomb arrows Barnes had introduced her to. Not only would they possibly become invaluable tools, they also sounded like a lot of fun to toy with.

Heeding his warning to keep from using them in town, she aimed to scale the sharp cliffs near the hotel. With ease, she climbed up the towering cliffs. A few loose rocks were dislodged by her climb, but she wasn't discouraged in the slightest. She had done this before many times.

At the top, she gazed around. Nothing but a vast expanse of cliffs and crevices met her eyes. The valley in which Kakariko was nestled in was highly protected by all the natural rock formations. They were largely uninhabited as well, which meant it would be safe for Inasha to use her weaponry.

She sat down on a flat rock facing away from the glaring sun and pulled out her tools. With some difficulty, she pulled the explosive pouch from a water bomb and strapped it onto an arrow.

She realized how badly the extra weight unbalanced the arrow. She'd either have to adjust her aim considerably, or find a suitable counterweight.

Being surrounded by rocks, she opted to search for a counterweight. However, no matter how much she searched, she could not find a rock that weighed roughly the same as the explosive pouch.

With a sigh of frustration, she pulled out a match and decided she would just have to learn to adjust her aim. She slid the match against the rough ground, the scritch-ing sound echoing a moment around her.

As soon as she lit the long fuse, she tossed the match onto the dirt and took aim. Compromising about 30 degrees, she aimed for an invisible target. The arrows whistled through the air and—thankfully—found its mark.

The resulting explosion was far greater than she had imagined it would be. A thunderous boom followed by the sound of rocks shattering and breaking apart, clattering into the deep canyons below, echoed throughout the entire province. It shook the ground so hard that Inasha nearly fell of her rocky perch. The ground audibly rumbled and groaned at the sudden disturbance.

As the sound of a rockslide continued to echo about the canyons, a hysterical laugh found its way out of Inasha. She imagined the sleepy town's reaction to the explosion she had caused, which only served to further her laughter. The sheer amount of power she had just witnessed coming from her bow nearly took her breath away.

"These are the best things ever invented!" she whooped out into the empty air. Smoke drifted from the point of impact towards her, cutting off her laughter and bringing her to her knees coughing. Despite the ash and dust, she was still laughing, her mood on high.

She fell back onto the ground, still giggling as the smoke cleared. She had not felt this way in a long time! She felt powerful, like she was finally powerful enough to make a difference.

It was an amazing feeling.

"What's going on?! Is anyone hurt?" A familiar masculine voice halted her laughter. She glanced over her shoulder to see Link looking genuinely startled, holding his sword so tightly that his knuckles were turning white.

"I just discovered the power of bomb arrows!" she proclaimed happily. His grip on the sword visibly relaxed as he let out a huge sigh, shoulders slumping forward in relief.

"Inasha…you sacred me—and probably many others—to death," he scolded, approaching the girl.

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize such a tiny bomb would have such a powerful effect," she mumbled shyly, coming down from her high.

"Where did you get the bombs?" he asked, taking a seat beside her on her rock.

She withdrew a water bomb and placed it in Link's hand, careful not to let their fingertips brush. "Be careful, they're somewhat pressure sensitive. Barnes claims that it is brand new technology based off a creature that dwells deep within the Zora's Temple called a bombfish."

At the mention of this information, the former ranch hand's attention went from the fish-shaped explosive to his fellow adventurer. "Inasha…promise me you'll be careful when you go there…"

His quiet voice startled her. She found that she couldn't pull her gaze from his pleading, azure orbs. "Of course, Link," she replied with a hint of confusion. "It's not like I was planning to meet my doom at the bottom of a lake!" She gave him a strong smile, tilting her head to the side and closing her eyes.

He sighed with relief, and then his eyes fell upon the blade that was strapped to her back. "Where did you get that?" he questioned, reaching for the hilt.

Her hand reached it first, the thin blade hissing as she withdrew it from the sheath. It reflected the setting sun with vigor, even right down to the ornate hilt.

He sucked in a breath. "Inasha…this is…"

"An assassin's sword. I recognize it," she finished his statement, tossing an unruly strand of hair from her face as she watched him examine the blade. "Renado had it in his cellar. Don't ask me why; I don't know," she lied.

He gave her a sidelong glance, raising an eyebrow. She held his gaze, praying that her eyes wouldn't give away her lie. She may not have been fond of Renando, but that didn't give her the power to spread around rumors about him. If he wanted Link to know, he'd tell him himself.

"…That's not going to come in a lot of use for you, do you realize that?" he asked instead.

She shrugged. "I'll make it work. It's all that I have."

They found themselves in a now-familiar silence. Even the wind seemed to die down. No noise was heard from the dead lands around them.

A low rumble suddenly broke the silence, followed by Link looking down and rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment. "I uh…haven't eaten yet…and…I guess my stomach doesn't like that much," he mumbled.

She laughed softly and sheathed her sword, then rose to her feet. She stretched a little and surveyed the land around them. The sun shone with a heavy orange as cast fingers of light all over the landscape, setting beyond the distant hills. Long shadows began to stretch across the cliffs, the only shade the land would see all day.

Carefully, the two began their descent back into town to grab their dinner. They continued in a silence only broken by the complaints of the hero's vacant stomach.

X-X-X

Revised 12/23/14
Removed some dumb idea I had for naming the different months in the Zelda world. Why would I waste my time with that? And why would a peasant know the specific dates? They weren't totally and thoroughly educated. Knowing the seasons and the position of the sun are good enough. The story flows better now.