The Legend of Zelda: Prince of the Sea

by SushiSheik

Five years have passed since the events of Twilight Princess. Link has become a knight under Queen Zelda and the kingdom prospers. Then the day comes where a single Dark Arrow destroys this fragile peace and darkness returns to the kingdom. To save his Queen and Hyrule, Link must prove that his spirit is stronger than being a hero or knight... even if it costs him his life -ZeLink

15. Chapter Fifteen: Discretion

Blue eyes snapped open and searched all around. Where was she? For a moment panic swept through the woman's chest and her heart skipped a beat; that sinking feeling one gets when they realize that they have no idea where they are. Sucking in a breath the woman placed a hand to her chest to help slow her heart as realization settled into her mind and she closed her eyes to calm down.

She knew where she was and it filled her heart with dread.

'It's still so cold and colourless... it's still all the same'.

Zelda slowly opened her eyes to distantly scan the grey and foreboding world she had found herself in once again. She was back within her nightmare, the same one that had been plaguing her nights for nearly two weeks now and had been robbing her of a sound night's sleep. Wrapping her arms gently around herself as she looked ahead to see the only light within the bleak world. Seeing it instantly brought tears to her eyes and the queen could not help it even if she wanted to from beginning to walk forward. Her footsteps echoed through the dark and the regret within her heart grew and grew the closer she became to the only object beneath the pillar of light.

It was a stone table and laying upon it was a man who looked to be sleeping.

However, reality now reflected her dreams and Zelda could no longer tell which one was the true nightmare.

Tears fell freely from her cheeks as she came to stand beside the table and she looked down at the man laying there. His face was grey, hair a sickly white, tunic and hat a dark black and were stained by the deep crimson of blood that could be seen dripping from the table's edge. Previously in her nightmares, Zelda would always feel a rush of panic from seeing Link upon the table and she would frantically try and wake him up. She would cry out his name in despair but would stop when she finally saw the black blade sticking out from his gut and the amount of blood that had pooled around him. This time, however, she just stood there and stared blankly at his closed eyes.

Why were things different this time? Was it because it had come true? Had seeing the real thing made this scene lose its effect on her?

Zelda must've fallen asleep at his bedside back in the waking world, out of sheer exhaustion and against her wishes she had passed out. Now, however, she had returned to his bedside in this desolate world as well. She could not free herself from the image of her dear knight dead with a blade impaling his gut.

Biting her bottom lip, Zelda slowly lowered one of her hands to smooth back some of Link's white bangs. She knew what was to happen next, for each time previously in her nightmares when she tried to reach out to him the scene would change. Even knowing this, Zelda watched her fingers near Link's face. Barely a centimetre away from his skin, the woman felt the familiar weightlessness she felt right before she was wretched away from her dead, monotone knight. Mournfully she closed her eyes when the ground beneath her disappeared and her body sharply fell. The fall only lasted a second or two before her feet were suddenly upon solid ground once again and the queen reopened her eyes. The cold, stone tomb and Link were gone and had been replaced with a dark, sandy environment and a tumultuous sea.

Shielding her eyes from the wind that battered the sandy island, Zelda narrowed her eyes out across the dark waters that dominated the distance before glancing upwards towards the black sky. There was no point in looking around her for she knew that she was alone, all alone. Absently she reached up to wipe away her tears, but found that her face was already dry. Her hand paused and Zelda turned her attention to her arm and blinked when she noticed what she was wearing. Before when she had dreamt of this place, she had never taken notice what she wore because, well how often does one recall the clothes of a dream? Looking down at herself, the woman realized that she wasn't wearing a dress or any of her usual monarchical attire but was rather some sort of tight-fitting outfit. It looked similar to her training gear when she practiced her sword fighting but it wasn't the same.

A deep roll of thunder caught the queen's attention and she looked up, eyes suspicious. The dark sky was revealing itself to be the wall of pure blackness and whereas before she would try and run from it, now she stood her ground. Not only did she know that there was no escape but she no longer cared about the threat of the darkness. Her heart was filled with too much sadness and she knew that soon she would awake from this nightmare, so why try and fight it? Staring down the giant wave of black, Zelda steeled herself against the impact knowing that it would not hurt but wouldn't exactly be pleasant either.

Suddenly a beam of light erupted in the sky and it was so bright and unexpected that Zelda gasped and fell backward, caught off guard. Fear filled her chest and her heart began to hammer as she stared wide-eyed at the quickly descending pillar of light from the sky before shutting her eyes tight when the light struck the ground like a lightning strike. Raising her arms to protect herself, the queen began to peek out of narrowed eyes when strong hands suddenly grabbed her wrists. Screaming loudly, Zelda struggled against the surprising strength and couldn't help but be pulled to her feet.

"Quick! Hold onto me, Your Majesty!"

A deep, masculine voice reached Zelda's ears and she instantly stopped screaming, eyes snapping open in surprise as a strong arm wrapped around her waist.

She only had a brief second to get a glimpse at the man who held her, was barely able to understand how he was bathed in pure light, before her attention was drawn to his outstretched left arm. The light cast from the man illuminated the sheer wall of blackness that came crashing down upon them in the next second. Wrapping her arms around her light saviour, Zelda gritted her teeth against the great wind that assaulted them and she heard the grunt of the man from effort. Forcing herself to look up, the woman blinked when she saw that the man was actually shielding them with a barrier of light from the encircling blackness as it flooded and rushed around them, like a boulder diverting a raging river.

Turning her eyes towards her saviour, Zelda gasped softly as she took in the man's bright blonde hair waving in the wind, the shine of his ornate armour and the billowing of the crimson cape that hung from his shoulders. What truly intrigued the queen's attention was the long, ragged scar that jotted down the length of his right eye, rendering the eye blind. From where she stood on his right side, Zelda could not see the man's other eye but staring up at his face she couldn't help but feel like she knew him for he looked so familiar, so much like…

"Link?" she whispered, unsure and confused.

The man, who had yet to glance at the woman whom he held, let out a roar of effort and it was clear that holding back the surrounding darkness was more difficult than it seemed. His left arm that held back the blackness and looked to be the source of his light's barrier was beginning to shake and his hold around Zelda's waist tightened. She saw his mouth set into a scowl of determination and, without much thinking about it, Zelda also raised her left hand beside her knight of light's.

Instantly the Triforce symbol on the back of her hand began to shine and the light that surrounded them brightened tenfold, blinding them both. Shutting her eyes tightly against the light, Zelda's mind wavered and she soon became aware of only one thing: the man's arm around her waist. She focused on his strength even when it felt as though the ground beneath their feet left them and they began to float. Even if she wanted to open her eyes she couldn't, for the light surrounding them was too bright. Suddenly they were submerged into deep silence and stillness, the wind having died and peace surrounded the pair.

Zelda still held her arm outstretched, not knowing whether or not her Triforce piece was still activated. The woman slightly flinched when she felt the knight's hand lightly grab her arm and pull it towards him before he wrapped his arm around her in a slight embrace. It wasn't affectionate or anything but protective and his presence actually was quite reassuring, a comfort. Slowly Zelda adjusted her tense posture to lean into her saviour, the pair of them suspended in silence and light. At some point as they floated, she wasn't quite sure when it started, but Zelda became aware that tears had begun to flow down her cheeks once more. She made no sound, just wept out of relief or solace, and a sort of tranquility began to wash over her. The heaviness that had been in her chest lifted with their weightlessness and for the briefest of moments she thought of her father and how much she missed him.

Finally the light around them slowly started to dim and Zelda felt her toes brush against solid ground. Softly their feet came into contact with a solid surface while the light fully dissipated. The pair stood there, holding one another before gently opening their eyes. Zelda glanced up at her saviour before her eyes widened and she looked around.

"Wha-? No, it can't be…"

Zelda's whispered words caused the knight to faintly smile and he gently released his hold upon her and took a step back, watching her gaze around in amazement. The queen slowly held her arms and made a small circle, taking in their environment. Somehow, some way, they now were in the palace gardens. Everything was in bloom as if it was the height of spring yet all of the colours were muted and muddled. At first Zelda couldn't identify why but then she noticed that surrounding them was a veil of mists that drifted slowly above the ground. Looking up at the castle's walls, the queen blinked when she saw not the sky but continuous mists and dense fog. Raising her hand to her mouth out of shock, she paused and looked down at herself to see that once again she was dressed in her royal garb: a dress, long gloves and her hair was pulled back into her preferred back braid.

"If you're looking for an explanation, Your Majesty, then yes, you are still dreaming. I've made sure that we've come to a safer location but it was you who chose the scenery". The knight paused and looked around, a thoughtful, almost reminiscent, expression momentarily crossing his face before he continued, "How fitting that we would meet in the palace gardens…"

Zelda turned her gaze to her saviour and finally saw his entire face and person. He was tall and noble, clearly a knight, and the queen let out a small breath when she saw the Wingcrest upon his chest plate, a symbol of the Hyrulean Royal Family. She could see now that the armour was dated, the design and make similar to sets found within the castle from a couple centuries ago. However, Zelda did not dwell on the man's attire but instead focused on his face. Before all she could see was the scar over his right eye but now she could see his left.

It was a truly beautiful shade of blue and once again she was struck with how familiar he looked to her, how similar he looked like Link but it wasn't him.

Zelda was staring and once again it roused a small smile on the knight's lips and he looked almost a bit bashful. The queen jumped a bit when the knight suddenly struck his left fist to his breast in salute before dropping to his knee to kneel before her.

"My Queen of Hyrule," he stated in a proper tone. "I assure you of my loyalty to the crown and to all of Hyrule. I am your humble servant and here to be your guide and aid".

"O-oh…" Zelda replied, stumbling over her words, before duty straightened her posture and she raised her chin. "Yes, sir knight. Arise and state your name".

She watched the knight rise on command, his right hand resting calmly upon the sword at his hip. "My Queen, I am Sir Link, Knight and Leader of the Royal Family's Guard, Chosen Hero of the Goddess Hylia and former bearer of the Triforce of Courage. I was born during the end of the Hyrulean Civil War, to give you a reference of my era. I have been known by many other titles, a couple you might know. The first…" The knight paused, as if to gather himself together, before he continued, "I was once known as the Hero of Time and, if I am not mistaken, you might also recognize me as the 'cursed swordsman' as I was privileged enough to have been buried in the Royal Family's Graveyard after I fell protecting my queen, your ancestor. Thereafter I became known as the Hero's Shade as I took up the mantle of becoming my successor's mentor during his ascension in becoming Hyrule's Chosen Hero of the Gods".

"The Hero of… Link?" Zelda blinked and took a step back. She usually wasn't shaken so easily but hearing of the knight's identity was more than a surprise. Her heart began to beat faster and her mind began to race as she glanced away. In a frantic tone she asked, "What is going on? Why have you appeared to me? Is this not a dream?"

"Calm yourself, my lady," Link replied, offering a reassuring smile before he gestured towards one of the gardens' many benches and offered his hand to her. "I promise you that I will explain everything".

Taking a deep breath, Zelda came forward and took his hand and allowed him to lead her to sit upon the bench together. Sitting did make her feel a bit more rooted and she was able to resume some of her usual queenly poise. Setting her hands upon her knees, the queen allowed her gaze to slide over the scenery and she took some comfort in the familiar scene of her castle's gardens. However, the scenery did not help in alleviate any of her confusion. "Am I… is this still a dream?"

"It is, my queen, but our meeting here is real. I have come from the Spirit Realm to meet with you and discuss the fate of my successor, the Link of your era".

"Link?" Zelda repeated, the shock clear in her voice and expression. "You can tell me what has happened to him?"

"I can," the Hero of Time replied and with a heavy heart and determination he continued, "but what I am about to say will distress you, I know this. I plead that you will hear me out and consider my advice, for your sake and safety are the most important aspects to consider".

"I understand," Zelda replied, interlocking her fingers and showing the ancient hero her undivided attention, even if her heart was frantic and panic was threatening her composure.

The Hero's Shade regarded the queen for a moment, studying her regal face and turning away slightly he began to explain. "In Faron Woods, Link was attacked by a being who was created from his own blood and dark, shadow magic. This being is an exact clone of Link in nearly every way, except that he is a dark reflection of who Link is. Every flaw, weakness and insecurity Link might bear have been twisted to become a strength in this being. For instance, Link's strong sense to protect you has transformed into a sick and disturbed desire within this-this… Dark Link creature. It was from this obsession to possess you combined with the evil will from whichever masters who created Dark Link that prompted the attack. Dark Link's intention was to entrap Link's soul in the Dark Realm once again. He failed, however, but this nearly occurred before, as you know, when Link was struck with the Dark Arrow. Whoever is behind these attacks, the arrow and the creation of Dark Link, seem to be intent on ridding Hyrule of the Chosen Hero and… to get nearer to you. With Link out of the picture, as he is the bearer of the Master Sword, you and the throne of Hyrule are less defended against the wills of evil".

For a moment the queen was silent, digesting the Hero of Time's words, before she spoke. "You said," Zelda asked politely, not wanting to interrupt but she wanted to make sure she truly understood, "that this… Dark Link creature was created from Link's blood and shadow magic. How did this happen?"

"As consequence of the Dark Arrow, my lady. The poison that remained in Link's body was successfully removed by the Gerudo and they burned the tainted blood, as they thought was the most appropriate action. However, they could not have foreseen that by doing so would release Dark Link into the world… or at least enabled his master to complete his creation. I am not exactly sure who is responsible for the poison or Dark Link, as even my sight from the Spirit Realm is not infinite".

"I understand…" Zelda replied, clearly perturbed by the news. "So, the Gerudo are truly innocent?"

"They are. Having known the tribe personally in the past, even during the reign of Ganondorf, the women of the Gerudo are not inherently evil. They abhor the use and abuse of shadow magic, having been used by the twin witches Koume and Kotake and they swore against magic after being banished from Hyrule following Ganondorf's failed invasion".

"The Twinrova?" Zelda asked, her brow perking. "If I am not mistaken from my history lessons but those witches were executed as Ganondorf was supposed to have been. Are they behind this Dark Link?"

The Hero of Time frowned and looked troubled as he replied to the queen's question. "I had only been a child when Ganondorf was executed, or well banished is I suppose the better term. I recall asking the princess of my time of what happened to the Twinrova, but even she did not know. The official record stated that they were executed as well but... seeing as how Ganondorf's execution was a failure I was never convinced. Years after, until my own death, I never did find out the truth. I'm afraid if there were any records of what happened to the witches, they were probably destroyed by Ganondorf's attack five years ago. As you are Queen and your history reads that the Twinrova were executed, perhaps that is what occurred after all. However, I always felt as though that was not the case. I will try and look into the fate of the Twinrova on my side, but the reasons behind Dark Link's creation and Link's attack are not why I've come to you".

The Hero of Time took a steadying breath, his expression was serious, and when he spoke his voice was calm but firm. "As I said, Dark Link nearly succeeded in trapping Link's soul within the Dark Realm had I not intervened. I arrived and saved Link from Dark Link but too great of damage had been done to Link's body and I had to save his soul first and foremost. I managed to separate his soul from his tainted physical body, for the safety and wellbeing of his soul was my most important concern. Only after they were separated that I was instructed by the Master Sword itself to plunge the blade into Link's gut, effectively purifying his body of its evil taint, but also barring access to the vessel so that Dark Link could not possess it after I departed with Link's soul".

"You were the one who thrust the Master Sword into Link?" Zelda asked, blinking in shock, before slightly shaking her head and asked another question. "What I mean is... so… what you are saying is that Link is… he is truly dead?"

The Hero of Time met the queen's eyes but could not discern any emotion within her face or gaze. She wore a perfect mask to hide her emotions and the knight frowned and sighed before answering. "It's… not the simple, I'm afraid. His body still lives due to the power of the Master Sword, as it has been frozen in time. Link's soul also survives and is safe, for the most part, in the Spirit Realm but a soul and its body are not meant to be separated. If not reunited soon, the soul will begin to fade and Link's body is too mortally wounded to last long without the Master Sword".

"You wish me to remove the sword and allow Link's body to die".

The knight looked back at the Hyrulean queen and pain etched across his face to see her expression so blank, so distant. She had read between the lines of his words and had guessed what he was about to say without him having to ask. Zelda made no notion of what she was thinking or feeling, but rather was staring off into the gardens and it was impossible for the Hero of Time to read her.

"I am… truly sorry, Your Majesty. You are aware that you're the only one who can bear the Master Sword aside from Link himself. I cannot interfere with the Light World any more than I already have and it pains me greatly to place you in this position".

"It is my duty and responsibility not only as Queen of Hyrule but also as a descendant of the Goddess Hylia's bloodline". Zelda's words were spoken both regally and bluntly, the woman accepted her duties as she had her entire life with acceptance. Being born to become the Queen of Hyrule never promised that she would have an easy life but coming to terms that to save her knight, Hyrule's own hero, she would have to effectively kill him made her feel more than just empty and cold. It was a hollow feeling, a sensation of having nothing within her body: no warmth, no happiness, just… nothing.

"My lady…." the Hero of Time began, pausing to sigh. "I am sorry. Removing the sword would be the safest method to save Link. With the Master Sword remaining by his body, Dark Link won't be able to possess it before it dies and when it does, Link's soul would be free to become a true spirit".

"You speak, Sir Link, as if there was an alternative option to the fate you have proposed. Tell me if there is any other option you have not revealed".

The ancient knight looked aside and frowned. As a knight, even deceased, he could not decline a direct command made by a member of the Royal Family, especially the kingdom's ruling monarch. "I beg you, Your Majesty, please don't have me tell you. There is an alternative but it is too dangerous, there are too many risks that you would have to take. Link himself has asked me to plead with you that you will just remove the Master Sword and just-".

"Just… what? Watch his die?" Zelda turned towards her ancient knight and even the Hero of Time had to avert his gaze from her queenly stare. "Link was only attacked and is in the state he's in because I sent him away. I ordered that he leave without even considering that whatever might be behind his attack with the Dark Arrow might not be finished. You cannot ask me to make this decision knowing that there is an alternative. I have every right to know, I deserve to bear the information of how I could have saved the Hero Chosen by the Gods".

Every word Zelda spoke was deliberate, stern and held force. There was no way that the Hero of Time could avoid such a command, even if it pained him to speak what he had told Link back in the Spirit Realm. Upon hearing the truth, even his successor had refused the alternative, for it truly was too risky and too dangerous. The knight stood from his seat upon the bench, only to turn and drop to his kneel before his queen, his head bowed, and when he spoke he spoke only the truth but with a tone of regret within his voice.

"There is a way to save Link's soul and body, it is true. Link's soul could return to his body at any time but would only be trapped in an eternal sleep due to the Master Sword. Or, it would simply ascend into the Spirit Realm after the sword is removed and his body dies naturally. However, there is a place where once exposed, Link's body would also become like a spirit once the Master Sword is removed. His soul and body would be able to merge without his body immediately dying and it would allow his body the necessary time to heal. However, the journey to this place is long and treacherous and would require Link's soul to re-enter his body only to fall into a slumber. He would be vulnerable, you would have to journey with him as you would be the only person who would be able to remove the Master Sword but your place is within Hyrule. Not even Link is worth putting yourself at such risk, my queen".

"What is this place you speak of, sir knight?" Zelda looked upon the ancient hero with an unbreakable expression, however there was a curiosity deep within her eyes. Something that the hero had said in particular had caught her interest: that this place would cause Link's body to become a spirit. That bit of information nagged at her but she didn't have time to dwell on it. The Hero of Time began speaking again and the reason why that statement stood out to her became clear.

"The place, my lady, would be the Twilight Realm".

"Impossible". Zelda gasped out the word, her mask finally breaking as surprise crossed her face and she creased her brow out of frustration. "There was only one path that lead to the Twilight Realm and it was broken by the Twilight Princess herself. There is nothing left of the Mirror of Twilight, so how could the Twilight Realm even be an option if the pathway is forever closed?"

"There is never only one road into realms, my lady… there is another gateway to the Twilight Realm, it just does not lie within Hyrule".

Zelda blinked at the Hero of Time before taking an unsteady breath. Now she understood why his earlier statement about a body becoming a spirit sounded familiar. Before, when Twilight had fallen over portions of Hyrule, its inhabitants had become spirits without their knowing: they had lost their physical forms. Wetting her lips, the queen searched the ground as she thought hard before finally saying, "So this is what you meant by me having to take a dangerous journey? I would need to leave Hyrule in order to access the Twilight Realm and save Link?"

"Yes, my queen. As you now see, it is too much of a risk for you to take".

Zelda remained quiet for a long moment and she simply stared at the ground. The Hero of Time remained kneeling before her, searching her face, but he knew that he was running out of time. Dreams did not last forever and soon the queen would awake.

"My lady-"

"Where?" Zelda interrupted, looking up and looking her gaze onto his lone, blue eye. "Where is this gateway? Tell me, Link".

The ancient knight frowned but could not deny his queen's order. "I do not know the exact location, only that it lays off the coast of the Kingdom of Noruidia".

"Off the coast?" Zelda repeated, before recalling her recurring nightmare. "An island…" she whispered, frowning slightly herself. "If I were to journey to this place, how would I reach it if even you do not know where this gateway is?"

"The Twilight Realm is a dimension of shadows and you would need the guidance of those who are practised in shadow magic to find the gateway".

"Shadow magic?" Zelda scoffed and shook her head, sighing and leaning back. "Dark magic is the cause of all of this pain and suffering. Why would I turn to it save Link? He'd never forgive me-"

"My queen, please. Shadow magic does not always mean evil but, I beg you. Do not consider this path any further. Link was not at all pleased to hear any of this because he does not want you to put yourself in danger for him. He is the Chosen Hero and-"

"And I'm the damsel in distress? Why must he only be the one who is allowed to save others? He has put his life on the line many times to save Hyrule, why shouldn't the ruler of Hyrule save him for once?"

The Hero of Time sighed and dryly chuckled. "Funny… Link said that you would say something like that. He truly knows you".

"Yes, and I know him," Zelda replied, reaching down to place her hand on the side of her ancient knight's cheek, raising his chin so that he met her eye. "I know that he must be devastated that I must make this choice, but it is my choice to make, my burden to bear".

"Your Majesty, there would be so many perils… Dark Link would pursue you, for one, and there is still his master who would surely hunt you down if you left the safety of Hyrule-"

"If I left…" Zelda spoke up, softly, as if more she was speaking to herself. "I have never before left Hyrule but..." Pausing, the queen seemed to shake away that particular thought before saying in a stronger voice, "This good shadow magic that you speak of, what do you mean by that?" Zelda watched the knight's face intently and she saw that the Hero of Time was truly revealing his reluctance to say anything further. Her expression softening, she reached down to take up his hand and held it in between hers. He looked so much like Link that holding his hand was comforting to Zelda, it helped clear the panic that she had been harbouring in her head. "I know that you are worried about my wellbeing, that Link is worried as well, but I have not decided yet. I simply wish to know the details of all of my options, so that I might not regret my decision later. I don't want Link to suffer any more than he already has but, if there is a chance that I could save him, then I just... want to know".

"My lady, either Link's soul suffers in the Spirit Realm or will be trapped in sleep within his body. Releasing him from his bond to his body would-"

"I know," Zelda interrupted, not wanting to hear it again, "I… I understand". She knew what would be the best option, she just wanting to make sure she knew all of her options. "There must be another option. Surely Link must've pressed you for the same thing. If I know him as much as I do, I know that he would not be satisfied with just sitting on the sidelines waiting for someone else to decide".

"Yes… he said something like that…" the knight admitted before shaking his head, "but Link also knows that this is not the situation for discussing further options. I am not even sure if the other option would work and I told him that as well".

"So there is another option?"

"Well… yes," the Hero of Time said, clearly uncomfortable and was looking at the sky with concern across his face. "You'll be waking up soon, my queen, we don't have a lot of time left".

"Then answer me: what of this shadow magic and what is the other option for Link's soul... if I were to choose to find the second gateway to the Twilight Realm?"

The Hero of Time stood but did not release his hand from the queen's hold, who stood up with the knight and they locked eyes. The hero did not respond immediately but stared into the queen's face before he broke out into a small though genuine smile. In a softer tone he said, "How much you remind me of your ancestor, the queen of my era. You resemble her so much, although her hair was the colour of liquid gold. But you do have the same eyes and the same spirit. She would've wanted to know how to save me if the situation was placed before her and, well… in another timeline she proved herself to be far more than some damsel in distress". Taking a deep breath, the Hero of Time took a moment before finally saying, "If you were to choose to venture from Hyrule to locate the gateway to the Twilight Realm, there might be a way for Link to assist you rather than waiting within his body. I won't know if this will be possible, not until we try it, so I cannot say for sure. As for the shadow magic, I- I am afraid I have run out of time to explain. Look!"

Zelda looked up towards the sky where the hero pointed and saw that the fog and mists were darkening as were the ethereal walls of the castle. Everything seemed to be fading to black, as if someone in the background was slowly dimming the environment's lights. The structure of the dream was diminishing and a wave of weightlessness washed over the woman and she felt herself beginning to float. Desperately she clung to the Hero of Time's hands. "No! Not yet! Tell me, Link, please! I don't know- what should I-?"

The Hero's Shade smiled up at the queen as she stuttered, tears noticeably in her eyes, and he could see her panic. He held her hands as she was being pulled higher and higher into the air until his grip was the only tether keeping her near the ground; all around them darkness was closing in, but it wasn't malicious. No, it was simply the dream collapsing as Zelda's physical body was beginning to awaken. "If you truly wish to know, tell your nursemaid: 'the shadows of Hylians, once lost, are to be found!' She will lead you to the answers you seek".

With his final words spoken, the knight released his grip on the queen and she was swept up into the air. The last expression he saw from her was surprise as she continued to reach out for him but to no avail. The hero began to shine while the ground beneath him faded into nothing. He began to fall into the darkness, like a lone shooting star against the black night sky, back towards the Peering Gate where Link and the Crimson Loftwing waited for him. There was a smile on his face, a sad and happy smile all in one, at being able to speak and touch the Queen of Hyrule once more. Never again would he see the queen he had sacrificed his life for, the Zelda whom he loved, but at least he was able to meet her descendant.

"Farewell, my fair Zelda… please be safe," he whispered into the dark before focusing on his descent back towards the triangle of light of the spiritual gate.

/

"No!"

Zelda jolted upright, eyes wide, heart hammering and her clothes clung to her skin from sweat. Her breaths came out ragged and short, panic caused her to scramble backwards when she realized that she had no idea where she was.

"Easy, my lady!"

The queen jumped when tender hands were suddenly at her side and the familiar voice enabled her to take a deep breath. "Imala, I…. Where?"

Zelda gave her nurse a small smile before finally being able to take in her environment and saw that she was in her bedroom. The room was dark, signifying that it was sometime during the night, save for the blue glow of the Luminous Stone chandelier and a dying fire in the great hearth. The Hylian had no recollection of how she came to be in her room, let alone in her own bed in night clothes, because the last thing she remembered was that…

"Imala? But how? I was with Link and then... How am I-?"

"You fell asleep there, dear, right by his side. Poor thing... I had you taken here so you could finally get a proper night's rest. Don't fret, love, I haven't left your side". Imala smiled at the queen, the plump, older woman always having had such a caring demeanour and kind face. "You were dreaming again, dear. Sounded frightfully fierce! Was it the dark place again?"

"I…" Zelda hesitated, looking down at her sheets before flashing Imala another small smile when the nurse handed her some water. Sipping her water, the queen tried to sort out the sleep from her mind and remember what exactly she had been dreaming about. Why had she awoken with such a start? It felt like she was needing more time, but for what? Her head was fuzzy and a wave of exhaustion washed over her and she slumped her shoulders. "I was dreaming about... Well, I-I don't exactly remember what I was dreaming about, I'm afraid. It's gone from my memory," she said in a small voice, looking back up at Imala. "How long have I been asleep?"

"Well… let's see. It's been, oh a good five hours or so? When they brought Sir Link's body in, oh goddesses rest him! You were so distraught, you nearly fainted, love".

"Yes, I recall," Zelda replied quietly, holding her cup between her hands as sadness overtook her features.

Imala gave her queen a look of sympathy and reached over to squeeze one of her hands. "My dear Zelda-".

"I'm fine, Imala, really I am," Zelda said gently to cut her off, looking up at her and clutching her hand in return, her expression softening though still sad. "I just am having a difficult time believing it. I'm finding it hard to grasp that he's gone".

"I know, love. I felt the same when I lost my Riker. It took me a great deal of time to accept that he was gone and, even when I had, it took even longer for me to live with it". Giving her queen a kind, loving smile, Imala took the queen's cup and set it aside to that she could gently hold both of her queen's hands. With a smile she continued in a soft tone, "But you're strong and I know that, with time, you'll get through this".

"Yes, of course, with time…" Zelda's voice trailed off and a perplexed expression came over her face. Why did it feel like she had forgotten something, like there was something tickling the back of her mind but she could not remember?

Imala, who had started to busy herself with pouring her lady a cup of tea, noticed the queen's puzzlement. The nurse then said on a whim, "By the way, dear, that reminds me. There was something you kept muttering in your sleep that I haven't heard you say before". Stirring the queen's tea how she liked it, a bit of milk with some lemon, the nurse tapped the side of her chin and thought. "Now let's see what was it now? Oh, yes! I thought you were talking about Sir Link, because you muttered his name a couple of times, which I could understand given the circumstances, but no… you kept saying… oh, yes! Time! Time Hero or something or another-"

"Time Hero?" Zelda repeated, quirking her brow before her eyes went wide. "The Hero of Time!" In a flash, everything from Zelda's dream came rushing back and the images slammed into her mind with such force that she gasped and clutched her chest.

"Lady Zelda! What is it?"

"I- I-I-I remember! My dream, I mean! Oh, Imala! It-it started out like before, with the darkness and I saw Link's body, dead with the black sword, but it was also different, somehow… And, then it changed and I was on the island again and there came the wave of darkness! It was the same as before until... until a light… Yes! There came a beam of light from the sky and from it came a man, a knight, and he shielded me from being swallowed by the darkness again!"

"Steady, love, take a deep breath, you're not making much sense so steady now and focus yourself," Imala cooed, coming to sit beside her hyperventilating queen, true concern in her face. "Easy there, breathe… Good, now, tell me what happened".

Zelda did as she was told, focusing on her breathing, but her eyes were wide with panic: panic that she'd forget the content of her dream once more it she took too long. "Yes, you're right… let's see. Right! The knight… he looked, oh goddesses! He looked so much like Link! Except, he wasn't. He had deep blonde hair and was wearing armour from at least two hundred years ago. He was… handsome and he saved me form the darkness. He spirited me out of there and took me to a place that was identical to the palace gardens but… it was different. Everything had been toned down: brightness and colour and there was a mist everywhere. He said, this knight, that we'd be safe there and he told me that I was dreaming".

The woman took a moment to catch her breath and took another sip of her water. Imala, right there beside her, gently rubbed her back like she had so many times before when Zelda was younger and had a bad nightmare. "He told me who he was, a Hyrulean knight, who served my ancestor, Queen Zelda, who ruled Hyrule following the Hyrulean Civil War. I remember learning of her during my historical studies. But he also said that he had been known as the Hero of Time, who was, or is rather… Link's predecessor in the line of Chosen Heroes. The Hero of Time told me that he was the one who saved Link, or rather his soul anyway, from being attacked by this creature he referred to as Dark Link, a being created by dark magic. This Dark Link attacked Link and almost succeeded in trapping Link's very soul in a place called the Dark Realm. However, the Hero of Time reached Link in time and chased Dark Link away. He then was able to separate Link's soul from his body and, oh goddesses. He said that he had been the one who impaled Link's body with the Master Sword. He said that he did it to save Link's body from being possessed by Dark Link".

Zelda sighed and rubbed the sides of her head, leaning slightly against Imala who still was rubbing the queen's back. The nurse trying her best to following Zelda's frantic words but it was sounded pretty fantastical. Speaking what the Hero of Time told her aloud, Zelda was beginning to realize just how complicated the situation was and she hadn't even begun to sort of the real reason why the hero had visited her dreams.

"Apparently, Link's soul is with the Hero of Time in the Spirit Realm and his body is being kept alive in some sort of stasis by the Master Sword. The two halves of Link's being cannot be separated for long or else Link's soul will begin to deteriorate. The reason as to why the Hero of Time came to me was to instruct me…" Zelda paused to wet her lips, which quivered for a moment. "He came to instruct me how to save Link from his suffering. He said that I was the only one who could remove the Master Sword from Link's body, so that it could… die. That way, Link's soul would be free to cross over and be free".

"Oh, sweet Farore! Zelda… my dear, I'm so sorry! That all sounds terrible. Poor Link!"

"That's… not all. I pressed him, Imala, I asked for another option, anything else! I know, knew… that what he told me was the only true option, that it would save Link and spare him from any more suffering, but I just… couldn't. I couldn't bare the thought of losing Link in such a way. I needed to hear that there might be another option. I tried to reason that it because I wished to know all of my options, but really… It was for myself".

A sob brought Zelda's words and she reached up in surprise to find her cheeks were wet: she didn't even recall when she had started to cry. Sniffling, the Hylian quietly accepted the handkerchief Imala revealed from her pocket and wiped her eyes, twisting the cloth in between her fingers as she stared at it dismally. "I… was selfish, Imala," Zelda admitted in a whisper, "and the Hero of Time could not deny my request. He told me that there was in fact another way to save Link but it would require me having to leave Hyrule and…"

Zelda trailed off with her words and Imala leaned forward to see her face. "Lady Zelda? What is it? You've gone white as a sheet, my love".

"The Hero of Time gave me a message, a phrase to say. He said... we ran out of time and he said that the phrase would lead me to the answers to my questions I still had".

"A phrase, dear?"

"Yes, a phrase…" Zelda paused and looked up at her nurse, uncertainty in her eye. "He said that the phrase was, well... for you, in fact".

"Me, dear?" There was true confusion in Imala's voice and the plump, older woman looked taken aback by her queen's words. "I'm afraid, my dear, that no you've completely lost me".

Zelda hesitated before she spoke, searching in her nurse's eyes for something. Whether or not she saw something, she didn't let on. "He said to tell you… 'the shadows of Hylians, once lost, are to be found'. What does that mean, Imala?"

The queen's keen eyes never left her nurse's face as she spoke the Hero of Time's words and her gaze narrowed when she saw the colour drain from the woman's face. Zelda had known Imala virtually her entire life, the nurse was the closest figure of a mother she had ever known, and she trusted her with everything: her secrets, her insecurities and even her life. A spark a fear ignited in Zelda's heart when she watched her trusted nurse's expression change so dramatically. A seriousness Zelda had never seen before took over Imala's features and the nurse was suddenly very on edge, looking over her shoulders into the shadows of the room and looking very tense.

"Imala?" Zelda asked again, her tone sterner and she was no longer crying. "What does that phrase mean? What's wrong?"

"It means, my queen, that I believe that we have little time to act. Quickly, my dear, get dressed for discretion, no dresses. I will make the arrangements". Imala's words were short, curt, and abrupt. The nurse got up from the bed and made for the door before opening it and whispered something to whomever was standing there.

Zelda also got up from the bed and watched her nurse with suspicious, confused and slightly distrustful eyes. What was going on? Imala was acting so uncharacteristically suspicious and authoritative that the woman was having difficulty grasping that she was still watching the same nurse who used to have bubble baths with her as a child.

Imala opened the door and Sir Arvid stepped into the room, looking himself a bit confused but had his hand upon his sword's hilt at his hip. Both knight and queen watched the nurse turn to leave the room before Imala glanced back to Zelda and said, "Quickly, Lady Zelda! Do get dressed. I will explain everything but we are wasting the night. We must leave and return to the castle before daybreak lest we arouse suspicion. Now, do hurry!"

Imala left the room and Zelda and Arvid watched her leave, both speechless. Arvid slowly turned to his queen and said in an unsure voice, "She… instructed me not to leave your side, Your Majesty, but she didn't say why. What in the name of Din is going on?"

Zelda stared at the door, the wheels in her mind spinning and computing, before she turned to her Personal Guard to the Queen and straightened her posture. "I trust Imala. We do as she says. Draw your sword, my knight, and watch the shadows for anything".

Her orders given, Zelda went over to one of the hidden doors of her room and opened it to enter her grand dressing room. Usually the queen had Imala or her handmaidens to help her dress, as was customary, but this was an unusual situation. It didn't mean that Zelda wasn't able to dress herself, of course, but it did dictate what she could wear. With no help meant no dresses and considering how Imala had spoken and acted, discretion and stealth was probably how the night's activities were going to develop. With that in mind, Zelda dressed in her sword-training outfit, thinking that the tight-fitting material would ensure easy movement and minimal sound. Smoothing her hands down the front of her tunic, Zelda stared at herself in her dressing room's huge, gilded mirror as she twisted her long, brunette hair into a braid over her shoulder. Her hair wasn't as tight and neat as it usually was, as Zelda didn't often have to maintain her own hair, but her appearance would suit their situation. Finally, the queen grabbed her black cloak of mourning that she had been wearing earlier that day by Link's side and donned it.

Exiting her dressing room, she paused when she saw the back of her knight and for the briefest of moments she thought it was Link. When Arvid turned around, Zelda's face instantly creased with guilt before she was able to smooth her expression over and approached her knight.

"My queen," Arvid greeted with an incline of his head, his gaze clearly trying not to stare at his queen's uncharacteristic covert appearance.

"Sir Arvid," Zelda replied as she fixed one of her gloves.

"I am glad to see that you are at least better rested".

"I am, somewhat," Zelda replied, for she still felt tired but the adrenaline in her veins was masking those feelings for now. Neither said anything for a few moments until it was clear to Zelda that her knight had some questions he was holding onto. To be fair, she had an equal amount of questions but she was his liege and leader and so, she was expected to lead. "Arvid… I am unsure exactly what will take place tonight but I am placing you into my confidence as you are my standing Personal Guard. What… may happen tonight, as I currently understand it, is that we might learn of a method of how to save Link. Nothing is for sure and even if we do learn of how to save him, it might not be our best option. There are many things that I must consider and time is truly of the essence, so I expect your full cooperation, obedience and loyalty. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, of course!" Arvid immediately replied, saluting his queen before taking a knee. "I am your humble servant and your word is my will".

"Good," Zelda replied, eyeing her knight, before sighing and glancing at her room's main door. Where had Imala gone and where was she? Her mind began to spin and think when she suddenly realized that Arvid was still kneeling. "Oh, Arvid, you may rise".

The man returned to standing, his hand still upon his sword's hilt, and the knight's eyes searched the room's darkened corners nervously. Since Sir Link's body had arrived to the castle hours before everyone had gone on high alert and the castle had gone into lockdown. Arvid had been with the queen when she had been informed of the news, as she and Prince Vahlymor had been having lunch together out in the gardens. The knight had watched a messenger rush to the queen and whisper her the grave news, to which she had stood up so quickly she had bumped the table and both her and the prince's glasses had crashed to the ground. The Noruidians had been planning on exploring Hyrule the next day but now they were no allowed to the castle, for a time at least. As much as everyone knew, there was an assailant on the loose who had been strong enough to overtake Hyrule's Chosen Hero and murder him apparently with his own sword. This was enough reason alone to put everyone at unease. The queen's guard had become doubled while the queen herself secluded herself away with Link's body to mourn in private, safe within the heart of the castle.

Seeing the queen dressed like a thief in the night and both of them seemingly in the dark as to what the queen's nurse was up to more than agitated Arvid. He would gladly die for his queen but contemplating that he possibly was facing an enemy he couldn't even see had his senses stretched thin.

"Arvid?"

"Yes, my queen?"

Zelda held her lips open, as if she was going to speak more, but the woman hesitated and her eyes turned downwards as doubt creased her expression. The knight waited patiently for his monarch to continue but her distress was clear and it caused his chest to ache. Zelda was beloved by all of her subjects, in particular her loyal knights, and to see her suffering any ounce of torment only made him wish to serve her even more. The queen never had a chance to say the words that were caught on her lips, for in the next moment the door opened and Imala rushed inside before closing the door behind her and locked it. Imala had herself donned a dark cloak and went over to hand Arvid a black cloak as well, which would fit over his armour and cover his Hyrulean blue cape.

Seeing Zelda in her disguise the nurse gave her queen a nod before saying, "Good, all right, my dear, everything should be in place, but we must act quickly. Just follow me and don't speak, for there may be eyes watching and listening from the shadows. Now, to the corridor, my lady. Sir Arvid, if we are met by any soldiers it will be your duty to push your high ranking and assure that they don't ask any questions, like to see Lady Zelda's face. No one can know that the queen has left the castle. Understand?"

Arvid nodded and started to move towards the main door when he noticed that both women were instead heading towards one of the far corners of the room, opposite from where Zelda's adjoining change room was. Zelda pulled up her cloak's hood and with Imala behind her and Arvid taking up the rear, the Hylian queen pressed a short sequence in a Triforce design that was hidden on the side of the room's great hearth. Suddenly, a space appeared from the wall paneling that was large enough for a person to slip inside and the queen did so without hesitation. This particular corridor very few people knew about, mainly only Zelda, Imala and Link, and was only supposed to be used for emergencies. The secret corridor had two possible destinations with one of them leading to Link's private quarters. This was to ensure the queen's safety at all times, especially if her room's main door was inaccessible. Zelda did not head that way, however, but instead turned and the trio began to descend down a tight, spiralling, stone stairwell that was illuminated with large Luminous Stones that were embedded into the walls. Down and down they descended, their footfalls echoing behind them and none made a motion to say anything. Zelda herself had only ever descended these stairs three times in her entire lifetime. The first was when her father had shown her the secret corridor when she was a little girl. The second was when her mother had died in childbirth and the young princess had tried to run away to be by herself, but she had only gotten as far as the bottom of the stairs before turning back. The last time, however, was from less tragic circumstances. In fact it occurred about two years or so ago.

To keep a long story short, Zelda had snuck out of the castle with Link to ride out to the northern portion of Hyrule Field. Why? To watch a rare meteor shower together without the lights of the castle to interfere with their view. Just her and Link lying beneath the wide sky watching dozens of shooting stars crossing the night sky: neither saying much, they just enjoyed the show and the peace.

Such a happy memory was such a far off reality from the moment that Zelda was living currently. When her feet finally touched the ground floor, Zelda allowed Imala to take the lead. There were two possible exits from the secret passageway and the queen did not know which exit they were to take. Up ahead was the crossroads which would determine their destination: the left lead to a disguised entrance hidden in the east wall of Castle Town that could only be opened from the inside and the right connected to a long passage that ran beneath the castle's moat to a hidden exit on the bank of the northern section of Hyrule Field. The last time Zelda had been down here with Link they had gone right and the woman half expected to take the same route this time. To her surprise, Imala lead them down the left corridor which meant that they were going to exit out into the dark streets of Castle Town.

The queen raised a quizzical brow at the back of her nurse but did not say a word. She knew that Arvid remained close to her back, his sword still drawn, and while she drew comfort from his presence she could tell that it was not the same feeling if he were Link. Thinking of her knight, knowing that it was his soulless body laying up in the castle and that his soul was at her mercy, twisted her empty stomach. A pang of pain struck her heart and she took a sudden intake of breath. Imala glanced back at her but Zelda just pulled up her hood to further hide her face, the older woman said nothing and continued forward. The air in the corridor was heavy, stale and it was cold. Water dripped down along the walls from the moat but Zelda knew that these passages were more than safe, having been commissioned by the Goron following the Hyrulean Civil War.

Minutes ticked by and their quick progress took them downwards as they descended beneath the castle's moat until finally they met a set of stairs, signifying that they were beneath the town. Ahead of her Zelda could hear Imala's heavier breathing, the older, plump woman not used to so many stairs at such a quick pace, but the queen also knew that she'd never hear a complaint from the woman. As the trio ascended, the air became fresher and slightly warmer until Zelda could see a wall of black ahead of them, which could only mean that they had reached the exit. Imala raised her hand when she reached the top and Zelda held back with Arvid right there with her. Both queen and knight watched the nurse approach the wall and performed a series of knocks upon the stone before pausing to listen. From the other side came a few knocks in response and Imala must have been satisfied with the knocks because she turned to Zelda and nodded. The queen climbed the few remaining stairs with Arvid as Imala pressed a large Luminous Stone on the wall and the door mechanism was activated, opening the door.

The night air rushed down into the corridor and ruffled Zelda's hood and the light of the street was bright enough that each of them blinked against its slight brightness. The woman reached up to draw the material further down her face, not wanting to be recognized now that they were leaving the safety of the passageway. Imala went out first, followed by the Hyrulean monarch and her Personal Guard. Coming out of the wall onto the street, Zelda saw that the street was virtually deserted. However, one of the east entrance doors was being held open by a cloaked figure. Suspicion arose in Zelda but upon seeing that Imala approached the figure, she relaxed slightly but still hung back when Arvid gently laid his hand upon her shoulder and placed himself in front of her.

Imala came to the figure and they shared a few quiet words before the nurse motioned for Zelda and Arvid to hurry. Walking forward, the pair could not see the face of the person as they stood in the shadow of the door and their cloak's hood was pulled far down their face. Imala passed through the doors and so did Arvid but as Zelda followed she looked at the mysterious doorman. The queen blinked when the person looked up and for a split second she saw the smiling face of a woman with circular markings beneath her eyes. By the time Zelda recognized the cloaked woman she had passed through the doors and they were shut quietly behind her. Glancing behind at the wood of the door, the queen wondered how the owner of the town's bar knew Imala. She was the same woman whom Link was friends with and had spoken of many times as she had helped him during his adventures. What was her name though?

The question was quickly forgotten when Zelda looked ahead and saw three horses tethered on the other side of the eastern stone bridge to the fence surrounding Lonna Ranch. Lead by Arvid, the trio approached the horses and the knight helped the women mount up before mounting himself.

Now that they were outside of the town Zelda felt it appropriate to finally whisper, "Where are we headed?"

"The Bridge of Eldin," Imala whispered back before nudging her mount forward.

This particular destination caused both Zelda and Arvid to share a look. Lonna Ranch occupied the majority of the eastern field save for the the road that connected the route from Kakariko to Castle Town and another road that ran along the northern edge of the filed which connected to the Bridge of Eldin. Essentially, the trio currently stood at the crossroads and Imala was leading the way to head north. This was fine as the fence of the ranch created a giant ring and the entrance to the ranch was closer to Kakariko, so they ought to meet little to no traffic on the northern road, but the problem was the Bridge of Eldin. Both sides of the bridge were heavily guarded with thick gates so it was inevitable that they were going to encounter soldiers.

They kept their horses at a trot and Zelda urged her mount to come beside Imala so that she could whisper to the woman, "Imala, the Bridge of Eldin is continuously guarded. How by the name of Nayru are we to remain discreet if we must pass through both gates of the bridge?"

The nurse glanced at her queen and Zelda could see the panic in the older woman's face. "It was our only option, my lady. We must reach the other side of the bridge".

"Then why did we not just take the other route of the passageway to exit into the northern field?"

"We needed the horses, my lady," Imala said softly. "Being on foot was too much of a risk and we must return you to the castle by the morn. It if were discovered that you were gone, there would be chaos".

"I know, you are right," Zelda admitted as she looked ahead and could see the torches of the bridge's gate and unease twisted her stomach. "How will be pass without being searched?"

"That is where Sir Arvid is to perform," Imala said and, as if on cue, the knight urged his mount to ride on the other side of Zelda with a grim expression.

"It won't be easy, Your Majesty. Even with my position and rank, harbouring two cloaked figures in the middle of the night with no questions being asked ought to be reported".

"Let us just see what happens," Zelda replied in a whisper before Arvid shushed them both as they neared the light of the gate.

The noise of the horses' hooves upon the road alerted the guardsmen of the gate that riders were approaching and a voice called out, "Who goes there this time of night?"

Arvid lead the women and pulled back his cloak to reveal his face in the light gate. "Hail the gate! It is I, Sir Arvid, Knight of Hyrule and Personal Guard to Her Majesty Queen Zelda!"

"Sir Arvid?" the guardsman repeated, looking over at the other guard, and both men approached the knight. "What in the name of the Goddesses are you doing here at this hour? What sort of business would draw you from the castle and... who are your companions?"

One of the guards were getting a bit close to Zelda's horse and Arvid quickly spoke up, "My business is a direct order from the Queen herself! I am on a secret mission and I must pass without delay. I am under strict orders to escort these two to Zora's Domain. Please, allow us to pass and speak nothing more that you saw us. It could bring risk to the entire kingdom!"

"The Queen ordered this? Risk to the kingdom?" The tone of the first guard was obviously suspicious but his companion's expression read a bit more unease.

"Obin, I don't think we should cause him anymore delay, especially if he's under orders from Her Majesty-"

"Do you have proof, Sir Arvid? A letter with the Royal insignia, perhaps?" Guard Obin asked, clearly doing his duty and with good reason, this meeting was rather suspicious. "Just who are your companions and why are their faces covered?"

Sir Arvid frowned with impatience, sweat itching the back of his neck. "Do you honestly expect me to be carrying around some sort of doctrine that outlines that I am under secret orders from the queen just so anyone could possibly get their hand such information? Now, gentlemen, I understand that you are doing your duty, but as the standing Personal Guard of the Queen I am giving you a direct order to allow us to pass and to not report that you have seen us. If I am late or fail to complete my mission I will not withhold any information when I inform the Queen as to why I was. Obin... was it?"

Arvid's veiled threat caused the colour to drain in both guardsmen's faces, especially Obin's. Both men bowed to the knight and muttered their apologies before they hurried and signalled for the portcullis to be opened. The great winch of the gate started to turn with a great thud and slowly the thick gate opened. Without another word, Arvid gave the men a nod of his head before he nudged his horse forward and the three riders hurried forward across the bridge in a canter.

The hooves of the horses echoed across the stone of Eldin Bridge before touching the northern side of the gorge, as this side's portcullis had also been opened thanks to a signal given by Obin. Arvid lead the way until they were out of sight of the bride's gate before Imala retook the lead. Imala pushed her horse onward into the high walls of rocks; the snorts of the beasts and their hooves were the only sounds to be heard. For years this route was often overrun by Bublins, but following Zelda's ascension as queen she had ensured that the brutes be exterminated from Hyrule. This command was even more heavily enforced following the ambush that resulted in Link being shot with the Dark Arrow. Gazing around at the high walls and the darkness that surrounded them, the queen couldn't help but wonder if they weren't being watched.

Hopefully wherever they were headed to wasn't too far because they were going to push their luck and run into someone, or something, sooner or later.

Luckily they rounded a bend and Imala signalled that they could slow. Initially Zelda did not understand why they were seemingly stopping in the middle of nowhere until she saw ahead of them on the left a cave entrance and she understood. The queen glanced over at Arvid and the hardened expression on the knight's face as he stared intently at the cave's entrance informed her that he also was confused as to why there were there. The entrance of the cave had been improved over the past five years, at Zelda's command, and the trio were able to ride into the mouth of the cave with ease.

Before Link re-discovered the site, the Hidden Village lived up to its title, but under Zelda's rule she had commissioned that the forgotten village be restored. However, it became clear that focus ought to remain on Kakariko Village, which has since returned to its former, bustling glory. As a result, the Hidden Village, which had been renamed Kissa Village after all of the feral cats inhabiting the town and 'kissa' being the term for cat in Ancient Hylian, had its restoration put on hold and progress was slow. Exiting the cave revealed the village's new sign that read 'Welcome to Kissa Village: the Old Kakariko' in honour of the village's original sign. The community was still mainly inhabited by cats, some of which stirred from the windows of the few remaining dilapidated buildings to inspect the sudden new visitors. There were buildings in various states of either being dismantled or built but it was clear that construction had not been active for some time, much to Zelda's annoyance. She'd been so preoccupied with her kingdom's other building projects that she had not pressured her architects enough to remain diligent with this village's progression. Still, there was a reason for that: Hyrule simply no longer had to population to populate another village at the moment, so there truly was no rush.

Glancing at a couple of cats sitting upon a windowsill who were watching them, Zelda wondered to herself if there was anyone even living there anymore. Her memory nagged at her about something Link had told her when recounting his heroic tales but her troubled mind was such a mess that she couldn't piece her thoughts together well enough to remember. The small entourage travelled the entire length of the village until they reached what looked to be the final house but it looked to be abandoned as well.

"We're here," Imala whispered and began to dismount her horse with a few grunts and a bit of effort.

Arvid was quick to dismount and was at is queen's side within moments to help her down. Zelda glanced at him and gave him a small shake of her head before dismounting on her own. The whole point of their subterfuge and disguises was so that no one would know she's noble, let alone the queen. They followed Imala to the house's door and watched as the woman softly knocked and waited. No sound came from within and Zelda's heart skipped a beat when a cat yowled from somewhere in the night. Imala knocked once more, a bit louder, and after a few seconds a few noises could be heard from inside the house. A light ignited in the window and the door window's curtain was briefly pulled back. Imala stood back the locks on the other side of the door were unlatched before the door was opened.

Zelda blinked and her head turned down when a tiny and clearly old woman was the one who answered the door. The woman blinked at the shady trio before smiling wide and in a thin and weary voice she said, "My dear, it is a bit late for a social visit, don't y'think?"

"I know and I am sorry. May we come in? It's urgent-"

"Oh yes, of course," the woman answered, shuffling from the door and opening it fully. "I'll, ah, make some tea. Come in, come in".

Imala motioned for them to follow and Zelda did before glancing back at Arvid, who was hanging back. "I'll remain outside with the horses," he stated and Zelda gave him a nod.

"You did well at the gate," she whispered to him, earning a small smile from the knight.

"They were good men, only doing their duties," he replied.

"I know," Zelda said, "so perhaps it won't be much of a surprise when they receive a sudden reward from their reporting officer?" Zelda flashed her knight smile before she entered the house, closing the door behind her. Arvid gave a subtle chuckle at his queen before turning and established his defensive post in front of the door, gaze staring suspiciously into the surrounding night.

The house was small and dirty with cobwebs in the corners. There were boxes, a small bed in the corner, a tiny stove in the centre of the room and various other random furnishings but the space was pretty sparse. There were a couple cats inside as well and were asleep on a crate. Zelda remained near the door and observed her nurse interact with the older woman. Imala was acting her typical, helpful self and was coaxing the old woman away so that she could handle making the tea. The old woman relented and went back to sit on her bed just as a coughing fit erupted from her, which brought Imala to her bedside.

"How many times have I told you to move to Castle Town?" Imala chided with a sigh, tucking in the tiny woman under her blankets.

"This is my home and I am the last resident. I just have a cold".

"You and I both know that it's more than a cold," Imala replied in a soft tone, sighing, before returning to the tea preparation.

Zelda was beginning to feel a bit awkward and, frankly, a bit impatient: Imala assured them several times that night that they were under a tight schedule and yet they had time for tea? "Imala," she said, stepping forward with her hood still covering her features, "we are wasting the night, are we not?"

The nurse looked up at her liege and for a brief second surprise flashed across the woman's face before guilt replaced it. "O-oh yes, of course…"

"Imala? Who is your friend? You don't usually bring company, dear, and so late too!"

Both Zelda and Imala turned to the woman in the bed, who coughed once more and sympathy passed through the queen. Imala, a cup of freshly brewed tea in her hand, went over to the bed and sat on the side. Smiling down at the woman, she tenderly fixed her pillow before turning towards Zelda and gesturing for her to come forward.

"My dear, you know that I don't prefer to talk about myself and have asked in the past that my time spent away from the castle be kept to myself".

"Yes, and I have always respected your wishes as it's truly the only thing you have ever asked from me," Zelda replied, coming to the bed and sitting gently at the very end.

"Imala? Oh, what a sweet voice your friend has," the woman said weakly, her smiling causing her old, wrinkled face to brighten momentarily, and her weak, reddish eyes searched to see the hooded figure at the end of her bed.

"Shh, now. Here, drink your tea," Imala cooed, helping the old woman drink some. Smiling, the nurse wiped the older woman's mouth before she spoke, "This… is my mother, her name is Impaz".

"Impaz? I have heard that name before," Zelda replied, her memory finally returning to her. "Link… he spoke of an Impaz".

"Did you say Link?" Impaz spoke up weakly. "The messenger of the heavens! Such a handsome boy… I miss his visits".

"Yes, he told me about that. How you sheltered his friend, Ilia, and that you gave him the artifact he needed to reach the City in the Sky".

"He told you? Well, now.. You must be very special to him," Impaz said with a weak smile. "Where is that sweet boy, anyway?"

"Mother, Sir Link is actually why we are here and we need your help".

"My help? Well, for that boy, I will help in any way I can".

Zelda came forward and Imala got up to allow her to sit by Impaz's side. Taking up the tiny woman's hand, the queen smoothed her fingers over the older woman's wrinkled, arthritis filled fingers and said softly, "Madam Impaz… can you tell me what this phrase means? The shadows of Hylians, once lost, are to be found".

The Hyrulean Queen watched the Impaz's face intently when she spoke her words and saw the slight shift in the old woman's features. Impaz sighed and slowly she looked over at Imala and said, "My daughter… why didn't you say that I had the Queen of Hyrule in my humble home?"

As Imala sputtered and fumbled with a response, Zelda reached up and pulled back her hood to reveal her face to Impaz, who smiled up at the kingdom's monarch. "My dear... Your Majesty, it is an honour to have you here in my humble home this night".

"And it is a pleasure to finally meet you, Madam Impaz. I wish to personally thank you for aiding Link with his endeavours during Zant's Invasion," Zelda replied with a soft smile and allowed for Impaz to gently bring the queen's hand to plant a gentle kiss upon it.

"I know why you are here," Impaz said hoarsely, "and I have been waiting for this night my entire life".

"So you can tell us what the phrase means?"

Impaz nodded slightly. "I can. It was my duty as the last resident of this village to await the messenger of the heavens, who was Link it is true, but I also had a secondary duty. I was-" Impaz paused as another coughing fit overtook her, more violent than the last. Imala was right there and Zelda leaned away to allow daughter to attend to her ailing mother, the queen's features creasing with concern and worry.

"Will she be all right, Imala?" Zelda asked softly.

"We all face the same fate, Your Highness, one way or another..." Imala replied softly, helping Impaz drink some more tea. "Mother is… she's dying, my lady, yet she refuses to leave here".

"I have been waiting for Her Majesty and now that she is here I can die in peace afterwards".

"Mother-"

"No! No more interruptions, there is much to discuss," Impaz shooed her daughter away and gestured for Zelda to come closer. "Has Imala ever told you about her heritage?"

"Umm, well... actually no…" Zelda admitted, blinking, caught off guard a bit by that question. "She… doesn't really talk about herself and I never asked out of respect for her privacy. All I know is that she was a handmaiden to my mother, Queen Adelheide". Zelda turned towards Imala and noticed just then that Imala did not resemble her mother.

"Imala takes after her father," Impaz said, as if she could read Zelda's thoughts. "But she and I are descendants of a mysterious race who can trace their origins back to when Hyrule was just formed. That phrase you spoke? The shadows of Hylians? That is us, for we are the Sheikah, who are known as the Shadow Folk".

"The Sheikah?" Zelda repeated, astonishment in her voice. "I have read of them. They… were nearly wiped out after the Hyrulean Civil War while protecting the Royal Family and the rest-"

"Yes, the rest retreated from Hyrule, back into the shadows. There were a few, who were not pure Sheikah, that remained, like my grandmother. She was the one who entrusted me with the responsibility that one of the Sheikah remain in this place to perform our last two duties. 'To await,' she said, 'the messenger of the gods and the land's light'".

"The land's light?" Zelda asked.

Impaz nodded and reached for her queen's hand, who gave it softly. "The Royal Family of Hyrule can trace their bloodline to the Goddess Hylia herself, as she was reincarnated as a mortal in the form of the very first Zelda. You, my dear, are her direct descendant, the Goddess Hylia incarnate. You… are the land's light and it is your destiny to find the Shadow Folk and allow them to return to Hyrule where they belong: by your side as your loyal servants".

"I'm… destined to find the last remaining Sheikah?" Zelda said slowly, confusion clearly written into her expression. Looking over at Imala, her mouth caught agape, Zelda's mind raced and she shook her head as she said, "But this makes no sense! Link's soul is stuck outside of his body and I was informed that by telling my nurse that phrase, I would learn how to help him".

Impaz blinked and the old woman frowned. "Link's soul?"

"Yes," Zelda replied with a sigh before retelling what she had told Imala to Impaz, of what had happened to Link and the cryptic information about saving him using shadow magic.

Upon hearing her queen's words, Impaz was silent the entire time Zelda spoke and took a few moments afterwards to consider the information. Wetting her withered lips, the elder spoke softly, "My lady, it is clear to me that you truly are the prophesied land's light. The Sheikah are called the Shadow Folk for two reasons: the first, as the chosen guardians of the Royal Family they watched from the shadows to ensure the protection of the family. The second reason, my dear, is that members of my tribe have long been gifted with abilities of shadow magic. I do not possess such ability but there have been members of our history who had exuded phenomenal skills that would enhance their mobility and hand-to-hand combat. If what you tell me is true, then in order to save Sir Link's soul and return it to his body by finding the Twilight Realm, I am sure that finding my tribe is the answer".

"How?" Zelda asked, desperation and exasperation mixed in her voice.

"I… I have proof, an artifact that will help you in finding my tribe, who I know have hidden themselves in the mountains to the west. Imala, please, if you could?"

"Yes, Mother," Imala replied and Zelda watched as her nurse went to a corner of the room and shifted away one of the many crates. Revealing just bare wall and floor, Imala crouched down and must've pressed something, Zelda could not see, but suddenly an opening in the floor appeared to reveal a secret compartment. Imala reached in and pulled out what appeared to be a foot-long, flat object wrapped in black canvas. Getting up with a grunt, Imala brought the mysterious object over to her mother who gently took the artifact and looked up at Zelda.

"The Sheikah left Hyrule out of shame, you see. True that they were nearly wiped out from the war but there had also been a war amongst my tribe that had fractured them into two halves. Before the war, the symbol of my tribe did not bear the notable tear as your own cloak bears. The tear was added to the insignia after a faction of my tribe broke away and betrayed the Royal Family. They had become hungry for power and sought after it and history has remembered these individuals as the Interlopers".

"The Interlopers?" Zelda repeated in surprise, her knowledge of her kingdom's history filling her mind. "But they… they were responsible for the creation of the Fused Shadow and attempted to take control of the Sacred Realm. For their crimes, they were banished by the Light Spirits to the…" Zelda trailed off with her words as clarity filled her mind and Impaz only nodded, knowingly.

"The Twilight Realm, yes. It is true, that the Interlopers were originally Sheikah, my own people, and for their betrayal my tribe added the tear to our emblem to forever remember our shame. They were banished to the Twilight Realm and their descendants became, I've heard, the people of that realm".

"The Twili," Zelda answered, sitting back and thinking of Zant, the Fused Shadow, and Midna. Thinking of the Fused Shadow, Zelda herself had drawn the magical artifact from memory for the dedication sculpture in honour of the Twilight Princess. She never pieced it together before but the Fused Shadow did depict symbols that were very similar to the Sheikah Eye emblem. However, they did not have the tear. "But, that does make any sense. How could the Twili be descended from members of the Sheikah tribe? It has not even been two hundred years since the Civil War?"

Impaz slowly began to unwrap the artifact she held but her progress was slow, her fingers not having the mobility as they once did. She paused at the queen's question and Zelda gently reached forward to help and together they revealed a purple tinted mirror. "Hm, perhaps... is it possible that within the Twilight Realm time flows different. Perhaps it has been much longer than a couple of centuries for them?" Clearing her throat, Impaz took another sip of her tea before continuing. "If shadow magic has threatened Sir Link's life and if shadow magic is to save him, you will need the aid of the Sheikah to find the Twilight Realm, my dear. To find the Sheikah, use this. It is called the Lens of Truth and has been passed down to me after being recovered by a great member of my race, the great Impa. This mirror is used to dispel illusions, which I am sure my people have placed around their hiding place in the mountains to protect themselves. With it in your possession, it will prove to my people who you are and I know that they will swear allegiance to you if you grant them entrance back into Hyrule".

Tracing her fingers across the glass of the Lens of Truth, Zelda remained quiet for some time before Impaz patted her hand. "You have a great many troubles on your mind, my lady".

"I do, yes," Zelda replied softly, before rewrapping the mirror and sighing. "I was… advised to not seek out this path, Madam Impaz. There is a safer, quicker way to save Link but it would also mean his death, though his soul would be saved and would no longer suffer. That is the path I was implored to take, not this destiny of finding the Sheikah in order to find the gateway to the Twilight Realm. I am the Queen of Hyrule, after all, and leaving my kingdom without a ruler would not sit well with my Councillors, for one. It would leave the kingdom even more vulnerable than it already is".

Impaz only smiled up at the young queen and gave her hand a squeeze. "Destiny is what we make it, my dear. We always have a choice. You have come to me to hear of this other option presented to you but, in the end, it is your decision. If it is not you who journeys to find my tribe then perhaps it shall be one of your descendants. That's the tricky thing about prophecies, they are never truly black and white. I have, however, fulfilled my final duty and have passed along this knowledge and this artifact to the Goddess' descendant. I... thank you, Lady Zelda. It has been my honour to meet you."

Settling back into her pillow, Impaz sighed and looked to be at peace, as if the weight she'd been carrying with her had finally been released. Zelda, however, was fighting the distress within her chest, the heartache, the anxiety, and the doubt threatening to bring her to her knees. Imala came over and laid her hand upon the queen's shoulder. Looking up at her nurse, Zelda revealed her despair and Imala gave her an understanding smile.

"You don't have to decide tonight, my lady, but we must leave now. Dawn is drawing near and we must return you to the castle before your disappearance becomes known".

Slowly nodding, Zelda looked down at Impaz and gently clasped the old woman's hand between hers. "Thank you, Madam Impaz. You have proven to me just how loyal the Sheikah are to the Royal Family. If there's anything at all that you need, simply ask".

Tears formed in the old woman's eyes and she chuckled hoarsely. "There is little, my Queen, that an old woman like me needs, especially now. Just knowing that you have heard my words gives me hope for my people. I know that you must choose the best choice for all of Hyrule but now, I know, that one day my people will return to the kingdom. Thank you, my lady, for allowing me to serve the Royal Family just as my ancestors had".

Exiting the house and once back upon their horses, the queen, the knight and the nurse traveled to the northern portion of Hyrule Field to enter the secret entrance within the bank of the castle's moat to return undetected. Imala assured them that their horses would be retrieved shortly thereafter. Moments after they returned to the queen's quarters, the sun's first rays broke over the horizon, ushering a new day and the last that Impaz, one of the last Sheikah in Hyrule, would ever see.

Exhausted, Zelda sat upon her bed, the Lens of Truth upon her lap, and the queen stared into the magical mirror but only saw her sorrow. What should she choose? How should she save Link? Should she be merciful and simply remove the Master Sword? Or, should she follow a destiny that could only be accomplished by a member of the Royal Family and save not only Link, but an entire race from their shame?

"Link, I-" she whispered before her sigh slightly fogged up the glass. She knew more than she did just hours before but she was also more undecided and confused as ever. As her breathe's fog dissipated, the woman blinked when she thought she saw a shimmer across the mirror, like a brief reflection in the ripples of a pond and and she peered deeper into the magical glass. Narrowing her eyes, Zelda searched for any sign of what she may have seen but, alas, the Lens of Truth revealed nothing. Leaning back upon her bed and setting the Sheikah artifact aside, the queen stared up at her bed's grand canopy, too confused to allow her exhaustion to overtake her.

"What shall I do?" she asked the air, wondering if perhaps a goddess would happen to hear her plight and provide a miracle response. Unfortunately, life was not that fair or easy and the Queen of Hyrule knew that she would either have to kill the Chosen Hero or leave her beloved kingdom for lands and dangers unknown.