I'm sorry for missing my daily upload, work was hectic and I didn't have the energy. I'll do my best to post an additional chapter today to make up since I'm pulling a double at work
Normally Urbosa loved to her Zelda ramble. But when Kakariko is such a long drive away, it started to lose its luster. Impa was doing her no favors either, adding onto the wildfire with crazy theories about what the spirit might remember. Including but not limited to, remembering that he was actually evil, and killing them. They laughed it off, but Urbosa didn't exactly like the uncertainty of what his memories could entail.
"Urbosa?" Zelda perked up in the seat next to her.
"Yes little bird?"
"Can we get some food?"
In the backseat, Impa shot up to attention, even taking her feet off of her ghostly companion. "Can we? Zelda will pay, she owes me from last time."
While Zelda and Impa bickered, Urbosa glanced in the rearview mirror, seeing him watch their antics with a smile. But she found herself thinking about what he said earlier, about wanting to be with Zelda. He was a ghost, he didn't eat or sleep. He refused to leave her side, what if they broke up? Would he still follow Zelda then? Could Zelda really be in a relationship with someone like that? She felt Zelda tap at her shoulder.
"So is that a yes or a no? Impa and I decided to split the cost."
In the backseat, Impa was pouting, although she didn't look actually upset. "You should've made him pay."
That sidetracked Urbosa's thoughts. Zelda would be the sole provider, how would they take even care of kids? Her brain backfired. Could.. could he even? She shook her head vigorously to dispell the thought. Zelda misunderstood her head shaking.
"Aww, really? I'm sure there's something along the way. We promise not to make a mess in your car, please?"
Urbosa looked in the mirror again, he caught her looking and smirked at her. She really wished he was alive so she could throttle him. She turned to address Zelda.
"If you can spot something along the way, we'll make a stop."
Both Zelda and Impa cheered, debating heavily about what kind of place to stop and eat at. She heard him speak up.
"Don't I get a choice?"
Impa shot him a confused look. "Why would you get a say?"
"Because I have feelings."
Even Urbosa had to admit, that almost made her snort. The other two laughing and Impa gave him a fist bump. They decided that out of courtesy, he could pick.
"Thank you. I vote for whatever."
Now they were yelling at him, but his shit eating grin showed it had no effect. Zelda let out an exasperated sigh, but had a big dorky grin on her face.
"I hate you guys."
Impa shot her a wink, and he merely smirked and nodded. A few rarely moments of silence passed before Zelda spoke up again.
"Have you ever tried eating? I know you can interact with the physical world, but what would a ghost even eat?"
As soon as the question left her mouth, Impa's neutral face quickly turned into the most mischievous grin Urbosa had probably ever see on the girl. Impa turned to look at him, who smirked in return and replied.
"Jinx."
Zelda looked at them confused, slowly realizing based on Impa's reaction what she was going to say. An actual scowl formed on Zelda's face.
"Get your heads out of the gutter, Urbosa is right here!"
Urbosa was currently gripping the steering wheel and praying to Hylia to give her strength to not make her two backseat passengers walk the rest of the way to Kakariko.
The pit stop to get food had actually been a nice idea. Especially since with Impa's mouth stuffed with food, she couldn't say more dumb or irritating things. Zelda's phantom, however, had decided he wanted to sit with them instead of being invisible elsewhere, and Zelda and Impa had decided to sit in the same side of the booth. So, Urbosa had the fortune of sitting next to him.
Zelda suddenly reached across the table, holding out a fry to him, eyes burning with curiosity. Impa froze, before trying to push her drink to him, also wondering what would happen. She had to admit, she was kind of curious as well, but she wasn't about to offer her food to him. He grabbed the fry, shrugging his shoulders before popping it into his mouth. She had almost expected it to hit the floor, but to everyone's surprise, he chewed then swallowed it. Impa nearly poked him in the face with the straw from her drink. He rolled his eyes then took a sip, which to Urbosa's relief, didn't spill on the floor either.
Impa grinned. "He can actually eat? We gotta see what he can and can't stomach! Let's put hot sauce in something and see if he reacts!"
Zelda giggled and put her hand on Impa's shoulder to calm her. "Well now he's going to inspect everything you try to feed him."
Impa frowned the took a sip from her drink. Urbosa immediately grimaced.
"You didn't wipe it down after he drank from your straw."
She pulled the straw from her lips and examined it then shrugged. "Didn't wipe it before I gave it to him either." She took another sip.
Zelda atleast had the decency to take her side.
"That's unsanitary."
"You're unsanitary." Impa shot back.
"I'm way cleaner than you." Zelda countered.
"Yeah, you got me there."
Urbosa laughed softly, hearing him chuckle as well next to her. She popped a piece of fruit into her mouth, thinking to herself that maybe this road trip won't be the worst thing that's ever happened to her.
The first red flag that she should learn to not jynx herself was when Zelda nearly demanded that Impa take the passenger seat. Impa was kind of confused but agreed, jumping into the passenger seat and immediately pulling her slate out. Zelda was beaming when she got in the backseat with him, much to Urbosa's annoyance. Not even a few minutes later, Zelda was giggling in the back, quietly talking to him and showing him things on her slate.
The second red flag was when she saw their hands inching towards eachother in the middle seat. Zelda was looking out the window but she had a blush on her face, while he looked stoic as usual, but his hand was moving towards hers as well. Their fingertips barely touched when Urbosa cleared her throat.
"So! uhm, Impa." Said Sheikah woman raised her head from her slate. "What's Kakariko like? Might as well find something out before we get there."
Impa shrugged her shoulders, clearly not interested in the topic at all. "It's a village of shut-ins who like to do things the old fashioned way. Thanks to Zelda I haven't been stuck there bored out of my mind, but they'll probably be annoyed I haven't been back in awhile."
Urbosa exhaled, really expecting that to go smoother than it had.
"I see.."
When she looked through the mirror, she could see Zelda and him holding hands. She wanted to think of something to interrupt, but hesitated when she saw the sincere and serene smile on Zelda's face. She might not approve, but if they really did like eachother, did she have any say in that?
Reluctantly, she decided to drop it for now. Her eyes glanced at Impa now. She was Zelda's best friend but she knew next to nothing about her besides the things Zelda was willing to mention, most of the rest being need to know basis.
"Anyone at school caught your eye, Impa?" She began hesitantly.
Impa didn't even look up from her slate, idly swiping through memes. "Nope. Got a thing for blondes though, so if you know any single ones, let me know."
Urbosa decided to give up on small talk for the rest of the ride.
The drive to Kakariko proper was more of a hassle than any of them were expecting, besides Impa of course. She had to guide them through unmarked trails that barely saw cars. Metal signs quickly turned into wooden signs the closer they got to Kakariko. Eventually, Impa told Urbosa to park in a leaf filled lot, informing them they'd have to walk the rest of the way.
Zelda took countless pictures of the scenic nature and even Urbosa had to admit it was very nice. Impa on the other hand looked bored, and maybe even a little agitated.
On the outskirts of Kakariko sat a large metal gate. A young Sheikah woman called out from behind the bars.
"Impa? Where have you been? Who are these people?"
Impa's sour mood worsened, shooting a glare at the guard. "I've been busy, open the damn gate. They're friends."
The woman raised an eyebrow then laughed mockingly. "Impa? Having friends? No way am I letting anyone in that knows you. And in case you've forgotten, this is Kakariko, home of the Sheikah, you need special permission to bring outsiders in."
"Fuck off, I know our stupid rules!" Impa yelled out defensively, crossing her arms. "I just need to talk to the elders and then we'll be out of your hair."
The Sheikah woman smirked, hand resting on the handle of a sheathed blade. "You'd think you'd follow our laws if you knew them. Wait till someone else is on duty, I'm not letting in a traitor."
Zelda's timid voice broke the silence. "Impa is not a traitor.. I'm sorry if she broke rules to leave, but she's still a part of your group. Please, it's urgent business!" Impa shot her a mournful look, before looking down at the dirt path.
The women seemed confused before a grin spread on her face. "You didn't tell them? Some friends they must be." Impa tried to cut her off, but she continued. "Impa didn't just break our rules, she renounced her oath to the Sheikah." Zelda and Urbosa recoiled, but Impa clenched her fists and looked away ashamed. The woman continued with pure delight on her face. "She ran away to join the Yiga. Then had the audacity to run back here in the middle of the night months later and beg to be let back in!"
Urbosa had known a lot about the Yiga clan. Growing up in Gerudo Town she knew they were an ancient group, but they weren't the cult like she had heard they originated as, now more of a gang. Zelda had told her Impa had a checkered past, but the Yiga?
She hissed out in anger and betrayal. "The fucking Yiga? You were a part of them? Did you know the ones that almost killed Zelda!?"
Impa flinched, unable to stop the tears that had begun to stream down her face.
She choked out a response. "Y-yeah.."
Before Urbosa could speak another word, Zelda stood between her and Impa, a pissed off expression clear on her face.
"Urbosa, are you forgetting that she saved me from them!? If she's not part of them, then what does it matter? Because the one person who should give a damn is me, and frankly, I don't." Zelda grasped Impa's hand and squeezed it tight.
Impa looked up in shock, relief washing through her. "Zelda.. thank yo-"
"Hold on, is this the bitch you always kept talking about?"
Three murderous glares were shot in her direction, but she continued regardless.
"Is this why you demanded to go to school? What, Yiga men weren't doing it for you anymore? Had to find a Hylian chick too? You're something else Impa-"
Her last word was accompanied by a visible breath. The surrounding temperature had dropped considerably, frost starting to form on nearby trees. The three, 'wait, wasn't there four?' on the other side of the gate didn't seem taken aback. She opened her mouth to speak but nearly jumped when radio on her belt chirped, a bored male's voice coming through.
"Go ahead."
She scowled and grabbed it off her belt.
"I didn't call you!"
A beat, he radioed again.
"I said go ahead."
She pressed down on the button, dropping it in shock when it let out a high pitched feedback. Her glare settled on Impa, about to yell at her when she heard rapid heavy footsteps behind her, she whirled around drawing her blade to find no one there. Her heart was pounding as she shakily held her blade out, scanning the foliage for anything. Each rapid breath was clearly visible. She slowly reached down to grab her radio.
"I-i need someone to check my post, I think there's an intruder."
"Alright, I'm on my way."
Behind her, Zelda and Impa exhaled in relief, hoping whoever showed up would listen to them. Urbosa stood silently, as much as she felt even more conflicted about Impa, it was clear Zelda could've done worse, judging by the woman infront of them, putting her hand on Impa's shoulder.
Impa nearly recoiled at the touch, looking back fearfully. It pained Urbosa to see the normally carefree woman so vulnerable, squeezing her shoulder gently.
A Sheikah male quickly made his way over, jogging down the path.
"What the hell is going on?" He looked behind the other guard. "Impa? She's not the intruder you're talking about is she?"
The woman scowled, still searching around nervously.
"No, there was another one! A blonde Hylian male, I think he slipped past me!" It was clear she was panicking, the other guard trying to calm her down.
Said spirit, now fully visible stepped out from behind a tree, waving a hand. "Hey sorry, just had to take a leak."
The male guard exhaled in annoyance, shooting a glare at his companion.
"Alright, well still, what the hell is going on?"
Zelda stepped forward.
"Impa told me your elders may be able to help my friend. We wish to speak with them, and if they are unable to help we will leave." Her hand gripped Impa's tightly. The guard looked at them before radioing in, asking if the elders were available. They seemed reluctant at first until he told them it was Impa and a blonde Hylian woman and male, the radioing going silent before another voice told them to open the gate.
He shot them a look then pressed a button on the inside of the guard post, the gate slowly opening.
"Welcome to Kakariko."