Its beginning.
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Zelda stared at the flurry around her, feeling as though she were a spot of stillness in the center of a hive of activity. Sheikah Shadows flitted about, collecting and transcribing, while Impa supervised, her stern voice lowered to a whisper. They rushed about with silent purpose, while in the adjacent room, Link and Ilayen were searching every nook and cranny they could find.
Across the room, Impa met Zelda's eyes. The Commander's gaze was narrowed and unhappy, and Zelda felt a twinge of guilt. She knew Impa didn't want to be part of this--it was suspicious at best and treasonous at worst, but Zelda had promised this would be the last time she'd involve the Commander.
That had only made the woman more angry.
She'd rather be involved and know what the bloody hell the Empress was up to than be kept in the dark about it all . . . or so she'd hollered in Zelda's ear. Zelda rubbed it now, mouth pulled down into a frown.
It was bad enough they were in the Queen's rooms at all, Impa had continued. That much Zelda agreed with. It felt like a crime, being in her mother's rooms, leafing through the papers still left on her desk, rifling through her personal items (though Zelda had done that herself; she'd claimed the task after a Shadow had approached the bedroom, at great personal risk). But there was too much information to just let sit in the dust. Even if they didn't find anything, Zelda knew she wouldn't be able to let it go until she knew for certain there was nothing to find.
And if they did find anything . . . Zelda pushed that thought away for the hundredth time, but it made its way back to the front of her mind, demanding to be answered. If they did find anything, then--
"Zelda!"
Link's loud whisper broke her out of her train of thought and she headed towards the connecting door, swallowing back the dryness in her mouth. Link met her in the doorway with a hand on her arm. "Are you ready?" he asked quietly.
Zelda took several deep breaths before nodding slowly. Whether she was actually ready or not didn't matter. She had to be ready. She couldn't run from this part of her life forever.
As she stepped into the room, she was bombarded with memories. Her father, picking her up and spinning her. Her mother, coaxing her forward to show her something. The three of them, falling on the bed in a mass tangle of limbs. Smiling, happy, a family.
Zelda and her father, both of them older, and both of them angrier. First talking, then yelling, and finally screaming at one another. That last night, she'd said some of the most awful things to him . . .
She'd blamed him for her mother's death, and she'd had the gall to take his silence as a victory. She hadn't once stopped to think what the queen's death had done to him, hadn't considered all the nights he might have laid awake in his bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering what he could have done differently. Just as Zelda had.
She shoved the memories back before the guilt could really set in and followed Link to the desk against the wall, avoiding the stretch of open floor that had seen so many arguments. Ilayen handed her a journal, thick with entries. He'd held a page open with his thumb. "All yours," he said.
Zelda took the journal gingerly. "'I must admit my advisor is a source of worry for me of late,'" she began. She cleared her throat. It felt strange, reading her father's private words. "'He has always been a rather intense individual; however, lately, he has grown more aggressive. He travels often to the Wastelands. For what, I do not know. But every time, he returns in a worse mood than when he left. He is disagreeable and prone to anger. I find it harder and harder to reason with him.'"
Zelda's breath shuddered as she exhaled. "'I worry that his search will change him. He's scoured the Wastelands for years, but his efforts have yet to lead him to the Fused Shadow. I fear that he will realize the truth.'"
She looked up. "The Fused Shadow? What does that--"
"It's an ancient artifact," came a grave voice. The group turned to see Midna approaching the desk, with Tetra in tow. The Queen of Twilight's amber eyes were hollow. "From the Era of Twilight. Its power is immense. It split into four pieces after the war, and those pieces were sent all over the empire, to be hidden. If he's found where one piece is, he won't hesitate to steal it. It's one thing he and Zant both obsessed over."
Zelda felt her stomach sink. "This was dated a little over a year ago. Around the time I left."
Tetra's eyes narrowed. "More than enough time to find the Fused Shadow."
"And if Zant had been involved, that's twice the danger," Impa murmured.
Midna exchanged a glance with Link. Unspoken words passed between them, and Link crossed his arms. "What else does the journal say?"
Wordlessly, Zelda returned to the page. "'The location of the Fused Shadow is well hidden. Only a select few know where each piece is kept, and they are all highly protected. What Ganondorf plans to do with the piece is beyond my imaginings, though I cannot believe it is in the empire's best interests. He is different from the man who became my advisor. I can no longer trust his judgement.'"
She set the journal down. Her father . . . even her father hadn't trusted Ganondorf. Which made her wonder . . . had he known about everything else, as well? Had he known about the monsters, and the experiments, and the Triforce?
Her mind whirled; she put a hand to her forehead as Ilayen asked, "So that's it, then? We don't know where the Fused Shadow is--"
"Says who?"
Everyone turned to stare at Midna, who laid a hand on her hip, smirking. "The locations of each Fused Shadow are entrusted to the ruler with a piece under their protection. Seeing as the Fused Shadow is a Twili heirloom to begin with, the ruler of Twilight is always entrusted with a piece. And, of course, I know where all the others are as well."
Memories crashed together in Zelda's mind. "That's why it was so imperative that Zant not gain control of Twilight," she realized. "If he had won that duel, then he would have learned the location of Twilight's piece, and by extension--"
"Ganondorf," Link finished grimly. He and Midna exchanged another look. "But if Zant and Ganondorf were already in this together, couldn't he have found out the location anyway, leader of Twilight or not?"
Midna shook her head. "He would have had to be leader in order to find out. It's part of the process."
Zelda nodded; there were things a ruler did that only he or she was privy to--no one else was part of it. Learning the location of such an important object as the Fused Shadow would be one of those things, no doubt. "So where is the piece Ganondorf was trying to find?" she asked. "The journal spoke of the Gerudo Wastelands. Does that help?"
Midna rubbed her chin. "It's most likely in the Ancient Coliseum ruins. When the War of Twilight ended, the pieces were hidden in places significant to Twilight and Hyrule's history. For example, one piece is in the Palace of Twilight--in my room, actually. Another is in the Tower of the Gods."
Zelda jerked, exchanging a sharp glance with Link. His eyes were bright, and she knew he was going over everything he'd told her about the Tower, from his training to the many-month-long storms that had hovered around it. Had the Fused Shadow been the cause of those storms? Did it have power like that? And if it did, what would cause it to suddenly create storms?
She cleared her mind in time to catch the last of Midna's words. "The Ancient Coliseum is one of the most important places in Hyrule and Twilight's history. If it's anywhere in Gerudo, it's there."
"What about the power of the Fused Shadows?" Zelda pressed. "If one was being used, would it cause the others to react?"
Midna cocked her head, thinking. "I don't think so. Even if one had been stolen, we would know almost immediately. They are guarded, you know."
Zelda knew. She also knew guards weren't much of an obstacle for Ganondorf, as the pictures of the old Palace of Twilight flashed in her mind. The bodies strewn on the floor, blood spatters on the walls . . . indeed, guards were no obstacle at all.
The thought of the warrior bloomed randomly in her mind, and with it a nagging idea that demanded attention. She turned to Tetra. "Do you have the journals from Ganondorf's rooms?"
Frowning, Tetra produced the journal and handed it to her. "Was there something specific you were looking for?"
"Entries on the missing warrior."
Zelda felt Link straighten at her side. "Have you realized something?"
"Possibly," she muttered, flipping to the back of the journal. She hadn't had much time to skim through the latest entries, but she knew Ganondorf had made several more in between the discovery of the journals and the run-in with Ghirahim. She just hoped they had what she was looking for.
Towards the back of the journal, she stopped, looking up at Link and finding him and Midna exchanging yet another glance. "Is there something you'd like to share?" she demanded, patience running thin. If there was anything they knew, they needed to share it.
Link grimaced, turning to her. "We're not entirely sure if this is related, but, well . . . we had a run-in of our own with the Fused Shadow. Midna received word that her piece was in danger of being stolen--it wasn't always in her Palace room. We had to find it and relocate it to the Palace, which is when we ran into trouble."
"Zant had heard of the move and tried to stop us, saying the Shadow was better off where it had always been," Midna added, her voice betraying her bitterness.
"We had to stop at Purification Shrines as we moved the piece to its new hiding spot," Link continued. "At the last Shrine, Zant fought us. He kept going on about how he needed "the blood of the hero", and how that was part of his deal."
"Part of his deal . . ." Zelda murmured. "The deal with Ganondorf, perhaps? But what's this about the blood of the hero?"
"That's what we were trying to figure out," Midna said. "And then you wanted to know about the warrior--Link filled me in," she added at Zelda's confused look. "We were trying to figure out the connection between them: Zant needing the blood of the hero, and Ganondorf searching all over for this missing warrior. And then I remembered--the Fused Shadow can't be used unless by someone with blood ties to the original users."
Zelda stared at Midna for a solid five seconds before realization crashed down on her. "Blood ties? You're saying--"
Midna nodded. "Ganondorf formed that deal with Zant for more than just control of Twilight. He wanted Zant to find and steal the Fused Shadow, since Zant was the closest person to it, and Ganondorf himself wanted the warrior because--"
"He's a descendant of the Hero of Twilight," Zelda finished. "If he had both, then he would be able to wield the Fused Shadow. That's why he's so hell-bent on finding the warrior--Link--"
She turned to him, excitement and fear making her limbs shake. "We have to find him. This--if Ganondorf gets his hands on the warrior, we'll fall that much further behind."
"But the warrior is missing, even more so than before," Link argued. "We'd spend more resources than we can afford trying to find him now. We should be more focused on finding the Fused Shadow."
"We can't go traipsing around the desert, especially not after last night," Zelda said. "We may as well have held knives to each other's throats--I can't just leave the castle--"
"It won't be undefended," Tetra put in, her blue eyes sharp. "He won't make a move unless he's sure he can win."
"What if he feels that he's beginning to lose?" Zelda challenged. Her panic and paranoia of the last few weeks began to seep into her voice. "These monster attacks weren't random, and they weren't by chance. Every time I leave the castle, something happens. He's trying to get rid of me in the easiest way he knows."
She knew she sounded paranoid, but she couldn't stop the fears from pouring out. They were underneath every interaction with Ganondorf, behind every nightmare from which she woke, screaming, around every corner of the halls she walked alone.
"We're prepared," Link calmed her, grasping her arms gently. She shook in his grip. "We know who's behind it, and if last night proved anything, it proved that he's aware of that now. But this can't wait, Zelda. We have to find the Fused Shadow before he does."
Zelda knew they were right. She knew that if Ganondorf got ahold of the Fused Shadow, coupled with the Triforce of Power he may or may not already have, they would have no chance at all. Not to mention the monsters. She shuddered, then sighed. "All right. But we leave immediately. I don't want to give him any chance to strike. And it will only be myself, Link, and Ilayen going."
/
Zelda distracted herself with preparations to leave, making sure Impa knew what load of horse dung to feed the council over the next few days. She felt a tad guilty over bringing Ilayen, especially when she spotted he and Tetra whispering together away from the others, but she needed both of them with her.
When it was finally dark enough, she slipped into her Sheikah suit and slung a cloak over her. They wouldn't have the luxury of changing clothes like last time, so she had a Shadow go into Castle Town and purchase three Sapphire Circlets. Imbued with the power of water, they would keep the three of them cool enough during the trek across the desert. Part of her winced at the sight of the bill the Shadow brought back, though.
Impa and Tetra accompanied Zelda, Link and Ilayen through the servants passages. At the end, the torchlight illuminated the lines carved into their faces. "Be swift," Impa said, her tone grave. "Don't be seen."
Zelda nodded, her hand tightening around the hilt of her dagger. Her heart was in her throat, but she pushed back the nerves. Now wasn't the time to back out--not after everything, not when so much was at stake.
Impa hesitated, then leaned forward and kissed Zelda's forehead. "Be safe, child," she murmured.
As she returned to the stoic, hard commander, hands folded behind her back, spine straight, Zelda's eyes burned. When her mother had died, there hadn't been anyone to fill that empty place. Not truly. She'd begun to think that there was no one for her to turn to, and then Impa had come out of the shadows. Though she wasn't there often, and most times had to return to duty after only a few hours, she'd been one person Zelda had known she could go to--for anything.
Now, Zelda blinked hard. It's funny, she thought. Before, it was always Impa going away to some campaign or another. Now, I'm the one leaving.
She took a deep breath. "We should be back in about a week, but give us a little leeway. As much as you can, actually. We don't know what we'll be walking into out there."
Impa nodded, once again the stiff, strict commander, and Zelda capitalized on the moment to step under the gate, Link and Ilayen close behind her.
All the way down the main road, they kept to the shadows, avoiding the watchlights that swept the cobbled paths. After the last few incidents, the Royal Guard wasn't keen on letting through a possible attacker. It seemed her opinion on the monsters was more widespread than she'd realized.
At least my guard is loyal, Zelda thought, feeling a twinge of guilt as she ducked into a deeper shadow to avoid discovery. Even if I'm spurning their efforts to keep me safe.
They made it down to the gates, curiously still open despite the late hour, where Link took the lead. He nudged Zelda and Ilayen under an overhang and intercepted the guard that approached. "Pipit, it's us."
The guard, a man a little older than Link, let out a relieved sigh. "Thank the goddesses, Link. I was starting to get worried."
"Are the horses ready?"
"Yes, sir."
Link stepped past the guard, clasping his shoulder. "Thank you."
Pipit smiled, slapping Link's back. "Captain Groose always said you were a special kid, and he was never one to judge a man wrong. I trust you, Captain."
The name Groose sent a ripple of remembrance through Zelda. A chilled morning came to mind, with a view through a window of a massive, white mountain, Link's voice filtering through her head.
There was my commander, Groose . . . he died in a skirmish with Twilight, sometime after the Riots.
Zelda clicked her tongue. A look passed between the two men, and Link closed his eyes for just a moment, a smile ghosting over his lips. Then it was gone.
"I'll see you in a week's time. Keep an eye on things for me, and let Miss Tetra know if you find anything."
"Yes sir. Good luck, Captain."
Link nodded, turning to Zelda and Ilayen. "Let's go."
He led them outside the overhang, where three horses had been saddled. Zelda recognized the middle one with a start.
He didn't.
She whirled on Link, who, despite the circumstances, was grinning widely. "Recognize someone?"
"Do I," Zelda breathed, stroking the dappled gray-and-white stallion's nose. She hadn't seen this horse since she'd returned, battered, burned and bloody, from the Fire Mountain eruption. She'd leapt off his back in her haste to get to the meeting, and hadn't had time to wonder what had happened to him since.
Well, now I know, she thought, smiling as the stallion snorted softly. "Ready for another mad dash across the country?" she asked him. The horse looked at her with its dark eyes and snorted again, and Zelda laughed.
"Zelda," Ilayen murmured. "Are you ready?"
She leapt onto the stallion's back, pushing away the fear and nerves that came with that question. "Let's get moving."
/
"We are not having this conversation again."
Zelda placed her hands on her hips. "I beg to differ, Captain."
Link scrubbed his face vigorously while Ilayen sat cross-legged on the grass, watching with vast amusement. "I already told you--it takes us too close to the Estate! If there was risk before, it's nothing compared to now!"
"And for what reason would the Empress and her two guards be traveling through the desert, after several incidents that almost claimed their lives? Would they not be sequestered in the palace, planning a certain ball, as was announced?" Zelda stuck her neck out to emphasize her point.
They'd received the raven last night: the story her council had been fed was that Zelda had locked herself away in her room to plan the elaborate ball she'd announced the night before, thereby explaining away her absence for the next week. As her guards, it only made sense for Link and Ilayen to be missing right along with her.
For once, Zelda wished she was back in the palace doing exactly that, instead of sweating on the edge of the Wastelands, having the same argument she'd had months ago with the same obstinate swordsman.
As if reading her mind, Link crossed his arms. "It doesn't matter what nonsense the council is hearing. Ganondorf is going to be on the lookout for any schemes. If he doesn't buy it, there's no doubt he'll be sending someone out this way."
"Link," Zelda sighed, feeling her patience wane, "we were perfectly fine the first time. I understand," she raised her voice as Link opened his mouth to argue. "I understand that the risk is greater now. But we'll hardly be in sight of the Estate, and we're not even heading in that direction. By the time he thinks to check, we'll be on the other side of the Breach."
Ilayen leaned forward and studied the map spread on the flowers. Somehow we've ended up in the same flowery field as last time, on the way to Twilight, Zelda thought. Only this time, we're heading along the opposite side of the desert. "Nabooru's Breach splits halfway into the Wastelands. The Ancient Coliseum is on the northern Arm, which means we'll be north of the Dragmire Estate. We should be fine."
Zelda heard the doubt in his voice and felt it resonate with her own. We'll have speed on our side this time, she thought, closing her eyes. We'll be fine.
When she opened her eyes, she found Link's gaze on her. She met it squarely, refusing to give an inch. He sighed. "If you insist, then we have to leave now. We need to reach the edge before dusk."
Zelda answered with a nod, but as Ilayen turned to get the horses ready, she stood up on her toes and kissed Link's cheek quickly, dancing away before he could respond.
As it was, she could picture his smile as she made her saddle ready. Glancing up, she found Ilayen's gaze on her, and felt her own smile crack. Had he seen? Her heart rate picked up with nerves, but Ilayen merely smiled back and turned away to pack up the map.
Zelda let loose the breath she'd been holding, a little dizzy from the way her heart pounded so suddenly, but the discordant feeling in her chest remained. That came out of nowhere. Why was I so anxious? It wasn't as if Ilayen hid his relationship with Tetra from her. So why was she so hesitant to be open about herself and Link?
Frowning, Zelda hopped into her saddle and set off. Glancing at where the two bantered a few feet ahead of her yielded no answers. They were as good friends as always, as carefree as they could be under the circumstances. Was she afraid to ruin their friendship?
She brooded about it all the way to the edge of the Wastelands, feeling as though a black smog hung over her, but she raised her cowl as the camel stall came into view. Nudging her horse ahead, she pulled away from Link and Ilayen until she was right in front of the stall.
The same withered man glanced up, a half-carved flute in his hands. An intricate design wove itself around the wood; he set it aside and glanced up, squinting in the fading light. "Back again?"
Zelda didn't know how he'd recognized her: her hair was shorter, she was in completely different clothes, and she was pretty sure she'd gained some muscle, leaving behind her thin frame from her year in exile. Besides, she wore a hood. But she brushed it off. "I assume the fare is still the same?"
Link stepped forward with his wallet, but the man shook his head. He waved a hand. "Take them. Your need is greater than mine."
Taking in the shabby stall and tattered clothes he wore, Zelda had her doubts, but she nodded deeply all the same. She took out her own wallet and laid down a few bills anyway. "We'll need someone to take care of our horses," she said to his unchanged face. "Thank you. May the Goddesses light your path."
She stepped away, making the sign of the Goddesses. As she made to turn, she saw him do the same, and bit back a smile. Mounting the camel, she made sure her saddlebags were tied to the saddle and nudged the animal forward. She glanced back once.
The dark sky of dusk hid the old man's smile, but Zelda saw it clearly all the same.
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AHHHH IM SO EXCITED FOR THURSDAY.
I honestly hope you guys have as much fun reading this as I do posting it lmaooo. This is the beginning of, really, well, I'll let you find out *laughs best villain laugh* but really, I hope you I guys love it.
REVIEW REPLIES.
To Ultimate blazer: hell yeah! She never really does much in the fights, aside from shooting at Ganondorf occasionally. Most of the time she's the "damsel in distress", so this time she's going to fight.
LMAOOOO IM DEAD
To Generala: hmmmm perhaps?? Hahahahaha XD maybe in another fic lmao. Ohhh don't worry ;) I'll make up for it. There is quite a lot going on, after all. Haha who can? Zelink alwaysss.
Hope you love this as much as I did, and please review! I love it, and you guys. You're awesome. Later~
