Once again, I apologize for the long delay. I got so caught up trying to figure out the direction I wanted this story-arc to go in that it gave me a headache and made me not want to work on this fanfic for a while. But then I realized there was a very simple solution, so now I'm ready to proceed forward. Thank you for your patience and I hope you enjoy this next chapter!

53rd Entry: Sheikah Switch

"This is outrageous!" Zelda's father Rhoam complained.

It was the morning after Osfala had sent his message to Zelda, who instinctively forwarded the message to her father's Sheikah Slate. But now, she was starting to regret it as she tried to keep a calm face while eating her porridge and raw Cucco egg breakfast in silence.

"Did Osfala or the other Sages show any indication they were planning to intervene with the Mirror of Twilight recovery mission in the Gerudo Desert?" Rhoam questioned.

Reluctantly, Zelda shook her head.

Surprised, Rhoam raised his eyebrows. "Not even Irene said anything to you?"

"No," Zelda answered. "My guess is they planned it during my last trip to the Spring of Courage. Will you be sending the Champions to retrieve the Sages?"

"Our Captain of the Hylian Knights will deal with the Sages. But in the meantime, I will be sending a team of Sheikah warriors to find the Yiga Clan's hideout and the Champions to the Divine Beasts in case the Yiga Clan retaliate."

"Why would you send the Sheikah to infiltrate the Yiga Clan? Is it to rescue the captured children and Link, assuming they're at the hideout?"

"Yes."

Zelda gave her father Rhoam a doubtful look. "Do you know where the hideout is?"

"Not…off the top of my head," Rhoam admitted. "But I'm confident the Sheikah warriors know where it is."

"Maybe I should accompany the Sheikah warriors to make sure they're going the right way."

"You will do no such thing!" Rhoam objected. "Until this situation is dealt with, you will remain in this castle."

This made Zelda stand up. "But, the Champions and I stopped Agahnim together! Not to mention that I saved Link from Yuga, with help from his counterpart Ravio, but still! I've proven my worth as the Champions' Commander. Therefore, I have the right to do what I can to protect our land from this new threat in the form of the Yiga Clan and whoever's benefitting them."

Frowning, Rhoam stood up as well. "If you really want to prove you're worthy of putting yourself in danger, then show me your Sealing Power. You've spent several months trying to unlock it, so you should have no problem demonstrating the power of our goddess ancestor that can defeat evil in its many forms."

Clenching her right fist, Zelda held up her left hand. She closed her eyes and concentrated. After several minutes, though, she felt nothing.

"It seems the time you were blessed with the Triforce of Wisdom, and the power of the Master Bracelet from Lorule, were merely flukes," Rhoam said as he turned away from Zelda. "You didn't concentrate on your Sealing Training as much as you should have. Is it because you don't believe in the Goddess?"

"Of course I do," Zelda claimed. "But every time I asked Hylia for confirmation of my prayers, she never answered."

"Never?"

"Well, I thought I heard humming during my last trip to the Spring of Courage. But Revali thought I was crazy, and now I'm inclined to believe him."

Rhoam paused. "Your mother thought she heard humming from the Goddess Statues, though I didn't believe her. It was what inspired her to look up the ancient songs of our people, including the lullaby named after you. Perhaps there is hope for you after all."

###

Because Zelda wasn't allowed to leave Hyrule Castle, all of her homework assignments were sent to her via the Hyrule Network. Instead of doing her homework, she consulted the Hyrule Historia book on the ancient songs that the Hero played on various instruments. This included the Ocarina of Time, which was vaguely described in the book.

This must be another censorship created by Sahasrahla and the other authors of this book, Zelda figured. So that's why Agahnim tried to ask more information from Sharp and Flat, before he killed them. But now the question is: did he find the Ocarina of Time? Probably not, since he would've used it to change the past and nothing's changed — at least to my knowledge.

Zelda's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of knocking coming from her door, so she went to answer it. Standing on the other side was Paya, who was wearing the Sheikah Stealth outfit that Zelda bought her.

"Hey," Paya said, looking somewhat guilty. "I just thought I would let you know that I'm going to be heading out soon to join the Sheikah warriors on their search for the Yiga Clan hideout."

"Oh, really?" Zelda picked up her Sheikah Slate. "Let's take a picture to remember this momentous occasion."

"Um, sure," Paya agreed and posed in front of Zelda's Sheikah Slate. "I heard that your father isn't letting you leave the castle. You're not mad that I'm going, though, right?"

"Not at all," Zelda lied.

Instead of pressing the Camera button on her Sheikah Slate, Zelda selected the Stasis Rune. This caused Paya to freeze completely as a green aura surrounded her body with partially visible chains holding her in place.

"Sorry, Paya, but I can't just stay in this castle and do nothing," Zelda said as she picked up her shoulder bag and arrows. As she walked past Paya, she switched her Sheikah Slate for Paya's.

Then using her Paraglider, Zelda dashed out the door to her room and leaped off the castle wall before the Guards spotted her. Gliding over the castle's moat and several buildings, she landed behind Majora's Cafe. Fortunately, no one else was nearby as she opened her shoulder bag and quickly changed into a Stealth outfit that was identical to Paya's that she bought between visits to the Spring of Courage. Next, she braided her hair, placed bandages around her mouth and chest, then checked Paya's Sheikah Slate to see where the other Sheikah warriors were meeting.

To be continued…