Author's Note: Well this took longer to finish then I thought it would but that's due mostly to writers block. Anyway in this chapter we see how Link's thoughts of failing his people still plague his mind and how a certain Sheikah helps him out. Hope you guys enjoy!
I found myself surrounded by pure darkness, and I was reminded of the inside of that mirror in the water temple. Confused I began to scan the dark environment, hoping to spot anything other than black. Then suddenly a tall figure appeared before me, who's skin was as dark as night, with eyes red as blood, and as I stared at the being I recognized it as my father.
"Why do you live?" He uttered, his words felt like a punch to the gut.
The dark being began to walk around me, as he said. "Your duty as a protector was to keep your people safe, even at the cost of your own life. So, why are we all dead, yet you still live?" He soon stopped in front of me and said. "You failed us. You failed your friends." The moment those words left his mouth dark versions of my village friends appeared behind him, and he continued to say. "You failed your family." And dark versions of my mother and sister appeared at his side.
I then felt a hand grab my shoulder, spin me around, and my eyes were greeted by the sight of Dark Link.
"You failed me." My doppelganger hissed.
...
My eyes shot open and I quickly sat up with a gasp. I saw before me was a crackling fire, which kept me warm in this cold night. On the other side of fire opposite me was Impa, who was sleeping with her head resting on her laying down horse.
Sheik and Nabooru were sleeping on the right, and left side of the fire respectively. With their heads also resting on their sleeping horses. The three of them had all like myself changed out of their Zora Armour, and back into their previous clothing.
I could hear heavy breathing coming from behind me, and I turned my head to see Epona laying down asleep.
"Not again." I groaned in frustration. That was the third time I had that same nightmare, and even though I was tired and desired rest, fear of having the nightmare again prevented me from doing so.
I looked over to Impa, remembering when I told her I'd go to her or the others if I was ever troubled, but she looked so peaceful in her slumber that I did not wish to disturb her.
I then desired to be alone, even though the others were asleep. So I got to my feet, and made my way away from my sleeping allies and onto the wooden bridge.
I walked along the bridge remembering my battle with my evil doppelganger, and what he said. "We failed them! We let them die!" Those words would just not leave my head. "We failed them! We let them die!"
I leaned onto the rope railing looking down to the lake, its water gleaming in the moonlight, and in it I saw my reflection as Dark Link.
"You let them die!" It hissed.
My eyes widened in shock at my reflection, but then a female voice suddenly called. "Lad." Making my heart jump, and I immediately turned around to see Impa. I wasn't completely surprised to see her, after all she's the only one who calls me lad. I looked back down to the water to see my reflection had turned back to normal, which made me believe my lack of sleep was making me see things, and I looked back to the Sheikah.
"Impa, you startled me." I stated. "Did I wake you?"
"My apologizes, and no, I've been awake for some time now. Since your first nightmare I believe." The Sheikah revealed, surprising me.
"You have? I'm sure I saw you-"
"I was just waiting." She interrupted.
"Waiting for what?" I inquired.
"For you to come to me, to any of us, like you said would if you were ever troubled again." The older woman answered.
"I'm sorry...I just didn't want to wake you." I replied.
"Why lad? We are your friends. We want to help you, you know that! Why must you distance yourself from us?" Impa questioned.
I found myself not being able to look her in the eyes, and turned my attention back down to the lake as I said. "I'm sorry Impa, it's just...this pain I feel is great. I guess I don't want to associate you guys with it. That I should just deal with it alone."
I noticed Impa make her way to my side saying. "You've been dealing with this pain for too long now, and you can distance yourself from us as much as you want, but I will always catch up with you. Because I refuse to allow you to deal with this pain alone any longer." She continued to place her hand on mine which gripped onto the railing, offering me some comfort. "Please lad, tell me what you dreamt."
I looked back up to the face of the older woman, and was greeted by eyes full of sympathy. I realized how much she wanted to help, and I decided to tell her about my nightmare. "I saw my family...all my friends, but they were in that demonic state."
"Like in the mirror?" Impa asked. After Ruto's departure I told them where I was taken, and about my battle with Dark Link.
"Yeah." I replied. "My father asked why I live, and told me I failed them. Then Dark Link appeared, telling me I failed him...myself. And I keep hearing Dark Link's voice. We failed them! We let them die! Repeat over, and over again in my head and it won't STOP!"
A short moment of silence followed as I calmed myself down.
"Do you believe that you failed them? Let them die?" Impa asked.
"...I don't know. I know it's Ganondorf's fault their dead, he killed them. But...the knowledge that he came looking for me, and that I couldn't save one of them...it haunts me."
"Lad, you cannot blame yourself for Ganon's decision to go searching for you." The Sheikah said.
"And what about protecting them! When they attacked I ran! And soon I was knocked out and while I slept my people were slaughtered around me! Some hero I am." I exclaimed.
"Link you were just a boy back then." She replied.
"I still am a boy. I'm the same today as I was back then." I declared.
"No, you have grown, you've become stronger, wiser, and more courageous than you ever were before." Impa stated. I then began to feel tears escape my eyes as she continued to say. "Do you really believe your family, and your friends blame you?"
"No, I've known them my whole life, they're not the type of people to not forgive, and hold onto hate. I know they forgive me." I uttered.
"Then stop using their image to rebuke yourself! You need to move on, you need to let the self-condemnation go." The older woman replied.
I turned around to fully face her and said. "Why did they die? Why did Ganon find and attack us? Why was I made unable to protect them?! Why did they die while I alone lived?! Why?!"
"I don't know lad. But sometimes bad things happen, even if we don't want them to. You need to forgive yourself for something that isn't your fault." Impa declared.
I slowly looked down, my vision foggy with tears some falling down, and I heard Impa say. "Until then, I will stand by your side. For when you need to talk..." She placed her finger under my chin, and tilted my head up until our eyes met, then continued to say. "Or cry."
I then practically threw myself into her chest, and she responded by wrapping her arms around me as my tears burst forth like water from a dam, and I sobbed unceasingly into her chest soaking it with my tears, and Impa held me silently as I mourned for my people, and in her arms I never felt such comfort.
Once my loud crying and flowing tears ceased after I don't know how long I remained in the Sheikah's arms, which she still had tightly wrapped around me.
We both stayed there in silence until Impa softly spoke. "How are you feeling lad?"
"Tired." I replied.
"Heh, me too." She smirked.
"Sorry, we should probably head back." I apologized, feeling a little bad for keeping her from sleeping this long.
I then felt Impa's arms tighten around me a fraction as she said. "It's OK lad. We can stay here for as long as you need."
My heart was warmed by how much she cared for me, and wanted to help me, and I knew I needed to thank her. So I reluctantly pulled out of the hug and noticed Impa seemed a little disappointed I left her arms, but I paid it no mind and continued to say. "Impa, thank you for staying with me. Thank you for refusing to leave me alone with this pain. Thank you for staying with me as I mourned for my people, something I should of done a long time ago. Thank you so much for all of this."
As those words left my mouth I realized how much I could trust Impa, and decided to open up about the pain I've been feeling. "When my people died I felt so alone...and even though I knew that it was Ganondorf's fault they died, the notion that I failed them persisted me, and soon I began to think it true. I convinced myself that I deserved hate, and unforgiveness for my failure, and I used my people's image to do it. I built a wall around me, filling it will self-condemnation. I just put a smile on my face and no one noticed...I didn't want them to. Not because I didn't trust them, they earned that. Not because I didn't want to bother them, I knew they wouldn't be. But because I didn't want them to see the pain that filled me, and...I didn't want them to take it away, I told myself I deserved it...But then you noticed. Maybe you were just at the right place at the right time, but you noticed, and you began to break through, and take some of the pain away. Thank you Impa. I cant say it enough. Thank you."
I watched as a smile formed on the older woman's face as she said. "Your welcome lad. Remember whenever you feel troubled, just come to me, I'll just come to you. And if you don't, I'll just come to you!"
"I believe you." I smiled. "And I will I promise. I'll go to the others too."
Impa's smile then oddly faded away, and she says. "About that lad...May I request you always come to me first."
"Oh, erm, okay, but...why?" I asked, surprised and confused by her words.
Impa started to struggle to maintain eye contact. Something I believed to be foreign of her.
"Because...they will comfort you, they will, but not as much as I will. They will listen to you problems, but not for as long as I will. They care for you, but...not to the extent I do." The Sheikah's last few words surprised me, and I instantly began to wonder what she was trying to say with that she cares for me more than the others do. But she had not yet finished. "It pains me to know you've been alone with this pain for so long. So please come to me, and in my arms you'll find peace, and love."
The moment the word love exited her mouth I felt my heartbeat speed up.
"L-love?" I stammered not believing I heard her right.
The older woman looking a little nervous something else I wasn't used to seeing from her replies. "...Yes lad."
I was shocked by her reply, but I then came to my senses and said. "Oh, you mean as a friend right? Haha, for a moment I thought you meant-"
"No lad. I mean as a woman, who has fallen in love with a man." Impa interjected, then took a couple steps closer to me, and I noticed she was blushing, as was I. "I love you, Link."
Hearing her words I felt a mix of emotions, but the prevailing one was joy, which happened to be the one Impa did not notice.
"I'm so sorry lad!" The Sheikah quickly apologized. "I must be making you feeling so uncomfortable! Having some old woman confess-" Before she finish apologizing her lips were silenced, by mine.
The kiss was short, and the moment our lips parted I instantly desired another taste of her exotic flavoured lips.
"I love you too, Impa." I confessed, as I stared into her beautiful, red, eyes.
"Really lad?" The older woman replied, her eyes wide in surprise.
"Really." I firmly replied.
"Are...are you sure? Do you not wish for a younger woman, a more beautiful one?" She asked.
I grasped her hand, and confidently replied. "I've never been more sure about anything in my life. And your age doesn't bother me, and you're the most beautiful woman I have ever met."
A large smile graced the Sheikah's face, and she placed her hand on my cheek, and declared happily. "Link, you feel my heart with joy, I the truly love you lad."
Impa continued to lower her head to mine, and passionately claimed my lips, blessing me with her exotic tasting lips, and filling my entire body with warmth. I quickly kissed her back with equal passion, wrapping my arms around her I pulled her closer, deepening the already passionate kiss.
Soon, needing to catch our breaths, we reluctantly pulled away. Both of us were blushing and smiling at one another.
"I've been desiring your lips for some time now, and they were better than I ever imagined." The older woman revealed.
"I love you Impa. It took me awhile to realize my feelings, but now I know, I'm in love with you." I declared.
Impa grinned in response, and caressed my cheek with her thumb as she said. "Who would of thought my greatest joy would be discovered within this chaos. From this day forth neither you, or I will face another challenge alone. I love you Link."
The two of us continued to stare lovingly into each others eyes, when a yawn escaped my lips. Impa lightly chuckled in response, making me feel a little embarrassed.
"Perhaps we should head back and get our rest now. We're both tired, and we have a long journey a head of us." Said the Sheikah woman.
"Yeah, I guess your right." I replied, feeling annoyed that my yawn ruined the moment.
Impa with a warm smile, held out her hand to me. I took it with a smile of my own, and we made our way back to our sleeping companions, with our fingers intertwined.
...
It was evening of the next day, the others and I had been riding across Hyrule Field all day. So needless to say, we were all desiring rest, which we would soon be granted as we were currently making our way towards Kakariko Village's entrance.
"Welcome back Miss Impa!" Greeted the guard standing at the entrance.
"I am glad to be back!" The Sheikah replied.
We all continued to make our way into the village, where I saw all the hylians retreating back to their homes for the evening, and I spotted some entering into the newly constructed houses. I couldn't help but admire how swift, and skilfully the new houses were built. The carpenters here were quite lazy, but when they focus on a task they get the job exceedingly quick.
Then without warning, Impa halted and dismounted her horse. Then turned to the rest of us, and said. "I'm sure you are all tired. You all may retreat to my home, while I take the horses to the stables."
Before I could attempt to protest, Nabooru exclaimed. "Great! Come on Link let's go!" Completely ignoring Sheik.
"Wait wait wait. Are you sure Impa?" I asked.
"Yes I am, lad." She answered.
"Well...alright then." I replied.
Myself, Nabooru, and Sheik left the Sheikah woman, and headed to her house. I didn't feel good about leaving Impa to deal with the horses, but truth be told I was tired, and if she had decided to deal with the stallions alone, then there was no arguing with her.
Soon the three of us reached and entered Impa's house. The place looked as if we had never left, but there was someone missing.
"Where's Zelda?" I enquired.
"Dunno." Nabooru shrugged. "Perhaps she's in her room?"
"No she isn't." Sheik declared as he made his way towards the stairs.
"Do you know where she is then Sheik?" I asked as the Sheikah began to climb up the stairs.
"She's gone somewhere to with a discussion she had with Impa." He replied, his answer getting my full attention.
"Wait, do you know what Impa and Zelda discussed that night?" I questioned.
"Yup." He said.
"Can you tell me about it?" I asked.
"Nope." He answered as he entered his room.
"Oh come on Sheik." I said, but the Sheikah shut the door behind him, and I knew he wasn't going to tell me anything.
"Let's not worry about the princess." I heard Nabooru say from behind me, and I turned around to see the Gerudo walking up to me seductively, and placed both her hands on my chest. "Besides, my body aches from that long journey. It could use a massage." And she flashed me a suggestive wink, making me blush.
Knowing she didn't want just a simple massage, I gently pushed her arms away and said. "Perhaps you should get some rest. I'm gonna go see if Impa needs any help with the horses." And as I quickly walked towards and passed through it I heard Nabooru groan in frustration.
After I shut the door behind me I let out a sigh of relief, and I realized now that I was in a relationship with Impa I will need to be more careful around Nabooru.
I decided I might as well go see if Impa did in fact need any help with the horses, but as I headed to the stairs I noticed Impa climbing up them, and upon seeing me a large smile formed on her face, and I grinned in response.
"That was quick." I commented as the female Sheikah walked towards me.
"Yes, Cremia and Ilia dealt with the horses when I got to the stables." She informed.
"That's kind of them." I stated. "You know I would of been more than happy to help you with the horses."
"I believe you lad, but I wished to have a word with Cremia and Ilia alone." The older woman admitted.
"About what?" I inquired curiously.
"You." She answered surprising me.
"Huh, me? What about me?" I questioned.
"About how you are now mine, and if they try anything with you, they'll have to answer to me." Impa revealed.
"Wait what?!" I exclaimed, greatly surprised by her words. "Impa, their just my friends!"
"Lad, I've seen the way they look at you. Especially your rear." The Sheikah enlightened.
"I...I never noticed." I replied with a blush.
"You've failed to notice the way many woman look at you." She stated, making me feel more embarrassed, and she continued. "After all, I was able to get away with it for so long."
Hearing this I couldn't help a smile, and becoming curious I asked. "Did you ever, erm, sneak a peak at my butt?"
Impa's cheeks immediately flushed, and she exclaimed. "Of course not!" A short moment of silence followed, and was broken when she uttered. "Well...perhaps once." And I chuckled in response. The older woman was visibly embarrassed, and obviously desiring to changed to subject she said. "Anyway, the next woman I shall be having some words with is Nabooru."
Nabooru I could understand, but I still didn't want her to go overboard and said. "You know your the only woman I love, and want to be with. You do trust me don't you?"
"Of course I trust you lad. But they need to know that now you are with me, there are certain boundaries they cannot cross with you." The Sheikah declared.
Knowing there was no stopping her I replied. "Alright Impa, just don't be too hard on them."
"I'll try lad." She assured.
My thoughts then turned to the absent princess, and since we were in a relationship I hoped she'd tell me where Zelda had gone...it was a small hope but it was something. "Impa, I'm sure you know that Zelda isn't here, but do you know-"
"I'm not telling you where's she gone." The Sheikah interrupted.
"Oh, come on!" I exclaimed while throwing my arms up in the air emphasising my frustration, making Impa chuckle. "How come Sheik's allowed to know?" I enquired.
"Princess Zelda and I can trust him." She answered.
"And not me?" I questioned.
"If we were to tell you, that would ruin the surprise." Impa said, as she placed her hands on my shoulders.
"Surprise?" I uttered feeling even more curious.
"Yes, and that's all you get to know." She declared.
"Of course." I sighed. "Can I at least know when she'll return?"
"I cannot say exactly, but I suppose in a few today's." The older woman replied.
Hearing this I realized that will give us all enough time to rest, and for me to spend time with Impa, and it turns out she was thinking the same. "While we wait for her grace we could...spend time together." She said with a blush.
"I was thinking the same thing." I smiled.
Impa smiled in response, and leaned forward, pressing her lips against mine. Then only a second after our lips, we were interrupted by a loud, feminine, voice yelling. "WHAT THE HELL!"
We both instantly turned our heads to see Nabooru, standing at the open front door of the house. Her eyes wide, and mouth agape in shock, and behind her was Sheik who also appeared stunned.
"That wasn't the reaction I was expecting." Impa said with her arms crossed.
"That actually was the reaction I was expecting." I stated, and received a glare from the Sheikah woman. "Just a joke...sorry."
I turned my attention back to Sheik and Nabooru to see them still shocked. I stepped forward, turned, and held my hand out to my older lover saying. "Come on. Let's give them an explanation." And with a small smile she took my hand, and with our fingers intertwined we walked over to the Sheikah, and Gerudo.
No one may understand why I fell for an older woman, or why Impa fell for a young man barely a adult, but neither of us cared. For no matter what anyone said, our hears will always desire one another.
And done. So Impa and Link are a couple now yaaaaaaay! I decided they would be together at the very beginning of this fanfic and that's because 1. Impa's awesome. And 2. There just aren't enough fanfics with them as a couple actually the only ones I've found and read are the ones from GrimGrave. Also I hope I wrote their scene well if I didn't I am very sorry about that. Anyway next chapter Zelda returns and Link finds out what hers and Impa's discussion was about that night. That may take awhile to finish but hopefully it won't! I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Please review criticism is welcome!