So, this chapter is mostly the characters talking amongst each other, after having finished the Water Temple. Sorry if this is boring to some people.
But hey, 2.6k words! That's the highest word count we've gotten to recently. So, enjoy!
The group emerged from the temple and swam up to the surface of the lake, crawling onto the shore of the small island that hid the Water Temple from sight.
"The lake's already filled back up!" Alta pointed out.
Saria laid down on the grass to catch her breath "That was fast…"
"Now that Morpha's gone, Lake Hylia's back to normal, and Zora's Domain should thaw too." Ruto said "Thanks to us."
"Well, Saria was the one that killed Morpha." Alta jokingly replied.
"Yeah, but I was the one that chased it out of the water in the first place." Ruto countered, sticking her tongue out at Alta.
While the two bickered, Malon walked over to a stone tablet, reading the writing on it. Sheik came up behind her "What's this?" He asked her.
"When water fills the lake, shoot for the morning light." Malon relayed, looking up at the sky. They had been in there for so long, night had already fallen "What does that mean?"
"Why don't you try it and find out? We can camp here for the night; It's not like we can cross Hyrule Field without the protection of daylight."
Malon nodded. Sheik had a point. Hyrule Field had always been dangerous at night, but now, under Ganondorf's reign, it was even more so, with monsters of all kinds freely prowling the fields. Had it really been seven years since then…?
Sheik stood up to walk away, but Malon grabbed him by the arm. He looked down at her "Hm?"
"I'd like to talk to you…" She told him. She hadn't forgotten about his promise.
"Ah, yes… Very well, let's head somewhere we can talk privately."
Malon nodded and followed him across the bridge connecting the island to the shore of the lake. Once there, they sat down against the laboratory that was built next to the lake.
"Hey, why don't we just ask whoever lives here if we can stay in this house for a while?" Malon asked.
"You don't want to do that." Sheik replied.
"What do you mean?"
"The doctor living here devoted his life to studying the water in Lake Hylia. While I'm sure he knows everything there is to know about it by now, he's lived out here on his own for a very long time… I cannot vouch for his mental health."
Malon looked at the wall behind her "Ah…"
"But he should be asleep, so we're fine to talk here. It's not like he can hear us through the wall anyway, there are no windows."
"That's true."
"Okay, what did you want to talk about?"
Malon took a sharp breath. This was it, she thought. She hoped she could get straight enough answers out of him to be at least somewhat useful. She decided to speak the most prominent question on her mind first: "I thought the Sheikah died off during the Hylian Civil War… I've even seen all the gravestones dedicated to them in Kakariko Village. So, how are you here?"
Sheik took a few moments to respond "I am… One of the two Sheikah left. We've elected to work even deeper in the shadows than ever before due to this fact."
"I see… What are you doing here, away from your partner?"
"I believe I already told you, I'm here to assist Saria in her quest."
"Why go to such lengths, if you're trying to stay hidden?"
"Because, even in hiding, and even though we are only two, we are still loyal to the Hylian Royal Family. We would like to see it re-established just as much as the other Hylians."
"But there isn't anyone left in the Royal Family's bloodline…"
"There is one person left. As long as there is that fact, we have not lost."
"Are you talking about Princess Zelda?" Malon asked, to which Sheik nodded "But she went missing, didn't she? Everyone I've heard talk about her said that she most likely died while out in the wild, if not during Ganondorf's siege on Hyrule Castle."
"I am… Reasonably sure she is still alive. After all, her guardian, Impa, is the other remaining Sheikah. She has assured me that the Princess is safe... Though she could not tell me where."
"Really? Well, it's good to hear she's okay, at least…" Malon said. She recalled the conversation she had overheard between him and Impa, and how they seemed to respect each other "Who are you two, anyway? You and Impa?"
"Impa watched over the Princess ever since her birth; The King had instructed her to. She was a very caring and devoted guardian, from what I've heard. Me… I'm just the Sheikah survivor who trained under her."
"I see…" Malon replied. That made sense "How did you find out about Saria's destiny?"
"I've been watching Hyrule for a long time. I can see the guidance of the Goddesses when it's in front of me." Sheik responded, looking at the island where the others were "That girl is lucky… While I'm sure the other Sheikah regret being unable to save the Hylian boy and his mother, it seems the Goddesses knew how risky the move they were making was, and had a backup plan in Saria. And she's done very well, too."
"I wouldn't say she's lucky…" Malon countered "I've heard of what life is like in her forest, from people who've studied it. Put together with how she was when we first met, I think I've gathered most of how it was… And now, look at what's happened. Look at everything she's gone through. She can never go back to her life in the forest… Even if she goes back physically, this journey has changed her too much on the inside to simply return to her previous life."
"Hmm, very true…"
Malon lowered her head "I feel sorry for her. I wish it was anyone but her that had to go through all of this… Even myself would be fine, just not her…"
Sheik put his hand on her shoulder "I'm sure the Goddesses knew what they were doing. She has just the right spirit, I believe. She isn't so serious as to push herself too hard in trying to save Hyrule, and yet she isn't too childish either. She knows this is a real danger, and she's trying as hard as her body will allow her to. Even despite all of her burdens, she stays positive whenever she can, and when she can't she has her Fairy to help boost her confidence."
Malon nodded "Yeah… Those two are a perfect pair."
"Indeed. No two people could be better friends than them."
"I wonder if all the Kokiri's Fairy partners are like that?"
"When we make it through all of this, you'll certainly have the time to find out."
"If we make it through all of this."
"I have confidence you'll see this through to the end. Saria needs you, after all."
"She does?"
Sheik nodded "She needs both of us. Have you ever thought back to what you did seven years ago? You, Saria, and the Princess… No one of you, nor any pair, could have accomplished all of that alone - You each contributed something very valuable to your journey. She needs us just as much as we need her. Do you see what I mean?"
"Kind of… I think I get it, yeah."
"Never forget your value as Saria's partner. You are a good friend to her, and you'll make just as fine an archer as well."
"You think so?"
Sheik nodded "Indeed. Your aim isn't quite perfect yet, but I can tell that it'll improve dramatically as time goes on."
"I'm going to need to find a way to get rupees for arrows, though…"
"Don't worry about that, I can handle arrow costs."
"You sure? I don't want to cost you all of whatever money you have."
"I'm sure. I have plenty of rupees to spare."
"Ah… Thank you, Sheik."
"You're welcome. Was there anything else you wanted?"
Malon thought for a moment, and shook her head. She was sure she could find something else she wanted to know from him, but for now she was satisfied.
"Then we should get back to the others." Sheik said, standing up. Malon followed suit as they walked back to the island. There, the others were waiting. Well, two of them. Ruto had gone back to Zora's Domain already.
"Here they come." Alta told Saria as they approached.
"Sorry we left without saying anything, I wanted to talk with Sheik for a little bit." Malon excused herself.
"Alta told me." Saria replied "She said you left to talk privately."
"I made sure Saria stayed here so she wouldn't hear your conversation." Alta told them.
"Ah, thanks, Alta." Malon said.
"So, what's the plan?"
"We'll camp here over the night, and tomorrow morning we'll figure out what this inscription means." Malon explained, motioning to the tablet from before "After that, we'll head for…" She trailed off, looking to Sheik "...Where are we going next?"
"Kakariko Village." Sheik answered "That's where the Shadow Sage, Impa, lives."
"Impa?" Saria started "You mean, Impa, from the castle?"
Sheik nodded "The same. She was once Zelda's guardian, but now she watches over Kakariko in secret, protecting it."
"Maybe she'll know where Zelda is!" Alta exclaimed.
"I wouldn't bother. I've already asked her, and she was unable to tell me."
"Well, maybe we'll have better luck!"
Sheik folded his arms, smiling a bit under his face cover "...I won't deny that is a possibility… But for now, we should focus on getting some rest. We have a lot to do tomorrow. Considering the incident with Dark Saria in the Water Temple, I'd like Saria to train in the morning as well."
"Alright. Good night then, everyone."
"Good night." Everyone replied, and scattered to several parts of the island to sleep on, as they didn't have anything akin to sleeping bags or tents. In retrospect, they probably should have thought of that, but they hadn't.
"Hey, Alta?" Saria asked, as she lay on the grass.
"Hmm?" Alta responded, lifting her head to look up at Saria.
"Why is it so dangerous to travel across Hyrule Field during the night, anyway?"
Alta thought for a moment "Ganondorf would be the reason. His dark influence has attracted many more monsters to Hyrule than has ever been here before. Hyrule has certainly become a dangerous place."
"Ah… But, wasn't it dangerous seven years ago, too? Talon was worried that Malon had wandered off back then, after all."
"Yes, but only during the night. Under the ground live certain monsters called Stalchildren. They started appearing soon after the Hylian Civil War, so I'm not entirely sure what they are… My best guess is that they're soldiers from that era, who are still fighting on for the Triforce, even after their flesh and minds have eroded away…"
"Is that really possible?"
"I don't know. It could be some kind of magic they cast on themselves so that they could still serve their cause even after death. Of course, said death in combination with that magic made them mindless… Or maybe their will is just that strong, it lasts even after death. I don't know anything for sure. We can't really talk to them, after all. All we know for sure is that they burrow all around Hyrule Field, they attack everyone in sight, and they don't like sunlight."
"I see…" Saria recalled Rauru's brief explanation about the war. Can a relic as powerful as the Triforce really cause the Hylians to go to such lengths in an attempt to obtain it? Even killing other Hylians? It just didn't seem right… She was used to living in a place of peace and harmony, after all. War was still a foreign concept to her, and its motives even more so.
"Oh, please…" Saria heard a voice in her head, after silence had fallen for several minutes "Don't tell me you're thinking what I think you're thinking."
Saria sat up and looked around, but saw no one there.
"Don't bother calling out, you'll just wake everyone up and make yourself look like an idiot."
Saria slowly laid back down. Everybody else had already fallen asleep, like the voice said.
"Remember me?"
"Dark Saria…" Saria whispered.
Dark Saria laughed "That's right. A good memory you've got, there."
"How are you in my head?"
"I'm technically a part of you, y'know. There are things we can do that other people can't. Like this telepathy thing we've got going on here. I have to admit, it's a little cool."
Saria nodded in understanding.
"Don't worry, I'm just sticking around nearby to watch your progress. Hehe, I may be your shadow, but that doesn't mean I can't be sporting, you know what I mean?" Dark Saria got no response to this, so she continued "Anyway, I'm sure you're thinking about that Civil War thing, right?"
"It's still really confusing…"
"You've only been in the fighting business for, what, two weeks or so? Relative to you, anyway. Listen, Humans may be different from each other, but they all have one thing in common: They all crave power, without exception. So, when a relic as spectacular as the Triforce comes along, what do you expect to happen? I just don't get why there were people willing to defend it, rather than use it for themselves as well. But I suppose it doesn't really matter to me. All that does matter to me is that I get to beat you in a fair fight once the time comes." Dark Saria laughed again, more heartily this time "I can't wait for that!"
"Why is that?"
"Because it's what Master Ganondorf created me for, of course. I was made to defeat you, and that's what I'm going to do. I'm only waiting because I want a good challenge out of it to boot. You should count yourself lucky."
Saria nodded "I'll keep that in mind."
"Well, this little chat was fun. I have other things to attend to, though, so… I'll catch you some other time." Dark Saria said, before her presence faded.
Saria stayed where she was in the grass. So, she and Dark Saria can communicate? It seems like she can sense her presence as well, which she hadn't noticed until it faded. What else could they do as a result of her creation? She also seemed talkative, though whether or not this was a good thing was under consideration. Saria's thoughts lingered on Dark Saria's words as she slowly drifted off to sleep.