**DISCLAIMER**I do not own the majority of characters and situations
presented in this story. I do not own The Legend of Zelda or any of its
characters. Leigh, Leena, Keman, Aiden, Rhiannon, and several other
characters are figments of my imagination.**
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry this took so long to get out, but I've been really
busy lately. Anyway, I would like to thank ignorantlygrinning, the Great
Susinko, and Kaori Lothelen for reviewing my story (Kaori on multiple
occasions). Thanks guys!!*big grin* I really like reviews, so thanks to
everyone who's left one so far. If anyone who reads this could leave a
review, I'd really appreciate it, even if its criticism (I need all the
help I can get : ) ). Thanks. ~Alatariel Sirenial~
Chapter 5
"Hurry!" Impa is dashing through the ashes of Kakariko at a speed I didn't know was humanly possible. I had caught up with her as we left Goron City and have been able to keep up with her so far, but my lungs are burning and I'm beginning to lag behind. We just ran down a mountain, for Farore's sake, and she's still as fast as ever. It's a wonder that she can spare the breath to yell at me.
"Did you hear me, boy? I said hurry!" she yells, turning her head to look at me as she starts down the stairs that lead out of town. I struggle to catch up with her once more, taking the stairs four at a time when I reach them. Impa stops abruptly at the bottom of the stairs and mounts the white mare waiting there in a fluid motion. I stop beside the horse and lean against a tree, breathing heavily.
"Get on," Impa commands, motioning to the area of the saddle behind her. I look up at her and shake my head. "That was not a request, boy, now get on!"
"I. have. a name," I say between gasping breaths as I take out my ocarina. "And there is. no way. in hell that. I am going. to ride on. the same horse. as you. I'm not. a child."
"You had me fooled," the Sheikah scoffs. I glare at her, put the ocarina to my lips, and play the short melody that is Epona's Song. As the last note fades and I stow my ocarina away, Impa gives one of her trademark exasperated sighs.
"Are you quite finished?" she asks. "Now, get on. I won't ask again."
"Patience, Sheikah," I say with a crooked grin. My grin widens at Impa's shocked look that I would dare refer to her as "Sheikah". A moment later, hoof beats can be heard as Epona gallops over the small bridge and comes towards me. I greet Epona with a pat on the neck and climb onto her back, giving Impa a gloating look. She ignores me and spurs her horse forward and across the bridge.
"Come on, girl," I say softly to Epona. "Let's outrun her." Epona leaps forward into a gallop, quickly pulling up alongside Impa and her mount. A second later, Epona is in the lead, racing toward the drawbridge of Castle Town. Her hooves clatter on the wood and then on cobblestones as we enter the town.
"Boy! Stop! Now!" Impa's voice calls from behind me.
"I have a name!" I shout back at her.
"Why you. Link, stop!" Rather surprised at her use of my name, I bring Epona to a halt as Impa comes up behind me. "We are not going to the Castle," Impa says. "Perhaps if you hadn't dashed off you would know that."
"Well, if you hadn't dashed off in Kakariko you could have told me that," I say, mimicking her voice. The Sheikah glares at me before turning her horse to the left. "Now follow me." I decide to listen to her and nudge Epona into a walk, following the white mare in front of her.
Castle Town is quiet and empty but for the stray dogs running through the streets. There are one or two lights on in the buildings, but it appears that most of the town is asleep. Impa leads the way through a gap in the houses and onto a short grassy path lined by an iron fence. Wisps of mist twist and swirl across the ground and among the gossip stones beside the path as we near our destination: a tall white stone building with dark pointed coned roofs atop its three towers. It looks almost like a very small castle. Huge wooden doors thrice the height of a man stand ajar, releasing a soft white glow from within. Impa and I dismount and she heads towards the open doors. I hesitate slightly before following her into the building.
A sourceless light fills the pristine white interior of the place although what appear to be several stained glass windows are dark. The building is composed of one long room with a dark doorway at the other end. Between that doorway, and us however, there appears to be some sort of altar in front of steps leading to the door and, to my surprise, a raised marble area identical to the one in Death Mountain Crater. The only difference is the symbol in the center. I know this place. I know that symbol.
It is the symbol of the Light Temple. This is the Temple of Time.
Impa starts forward, moving slowly now, almost reverently. I walk alongside her as the altar and the dark doorway draw near. We ascend the few steps leading up to the door. I expect Impa to enter, but she stops.
"You first," she says in a voice that is little more than a whisper. I look at her suspiciously, wondering why she wants me to go first. Is this a trap? Is something waiting for me through that door?
No, something inside me says. No, it is safe here. We are safe here.
I step through the door and into the room beyond. It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the dim light, but when they do, I realize with a shock that I recognize my surroundings. This is the room I saw in that vision when I first met Sheik. It is all here: the marble platform engraved with the six symbols, the pedestal, and. the sword.
As if in a trance, I move forward and step up onto the platform. Walking forward, I come to stand in front of the weapon, looking down at it.
I stand at the edge of the platform, staring up at the sword. A blue ocarina is still clutched in my hand, forgotten now that it has opened the Door of Time. A glowing ball of light hovers around the sword.
"It's that legendary blade. the Master Sword!" says a high voice coming from the ball of light, "The blade that can only be wielded by the Hero of Time." I have to take that sword. If I do, Hyrule will be safe. That's what Zelda said. I approach the sword, hold its hilt in both hands, and struggle to lift it from its imprisoning pedestal. As it comes free a blue light surrounds me. As the blue brightens to blinding white, a menacing laugh echoes through the Temple..
Shaking my head to clear it, I reach down and grasp the indigo hilt of the sword with my left hand. With a single motion I wrench the sword from the pedestal and hold it in front of me. Blue light consumes me as I stare down at the sword. the Master Sword. my sword.
The blue light fades and I turn from the pedestal, walking back over to Impa and the entrance to the room. Impa offers me a dark blue scabbard covered with designs in gold. I take it and sheathe the Master Sword as she begins to leave the chamber. I hurry after her, trying to fasten the scabbard to my back as I go. The Sheikah does not speak as she moves swiftly through the Temple, outside, and mounts her white mare once more. I mount Epona and then turn to Impa.
"Where do we go now? And why do I need this?" I ask, motioning to the sword hilt behind my shoulder.
"We are going back to Hyrule Castle," she answers in a clipped, quiet voice. "You must not speak so loudly. As for the sword, you are going to learn to use it, even if it kills you." I make a face at her use of the expression and she kicks her horse into a gallop. I can't help wondering why she's so worked up, rushing everywhere and speaking in whispers. But of course, no one tells me anything. Epona starts after Impa once more and we cross the square of Castle Town that is a thriving marketplace during the day. I notice for the first time that there are people huddled against buildings. I recognize them as residents of Kakariko. The fire must have driven them out. Upon closer inspection, I realize that the majority of the people are men: the women and children must have been the first allowed into the houses.
In an instant we are out of the town and climbing the path to the castle, passing through the gates that are opened by waiting guards. As our horses gallop across the castle drawbridge, I remember that I was here just last night, and now I'm back again. Impa and I dismount and leave our horses in the courtyard. Impa goes through the same door that Sheik and I used last night. She leads me through more corridors and stops at an open door through which faint candlelight is flooding.
"Get in," she says. As soon as I have entered the room, Impa slams the door behind me. I hear a sound unsettlingly like the scraping of a key in a lock, followed by retreating footsteps. I reach down and try the handle of the door, but it's locked. I can't believe this. Why would Impa lock me in here? Whatever her reason, this is really creeping me out.
"Hey! Let me out of here!" I yell, banging my fist against the door. As expected, there is no answer. I pound the door for another five minutes without result before turning to scan the room that has become my prison. It's small, not much more than a closet. If I were to stand in the middle with my arms extended I could easily touch both walls. There are no windows, and the room is devoid of any objects whatsoever. I would have expected a room like this to be full of useless things people stored away and forgot. Maybe I could have used some such item to get out of here.
As I am about to try to get some much needed sleep, I remember the sword strapped to my back. I draw it and slash at the doorknob, hoping to rip it out of the door or to jar the lock open. When this fails after several attempts, I stab the sword forward in frustration. It passes about halfway through the door before stopping. I stare at the sword embedded in the door, reach out, and remove it. Through the new slit in the door, I can see flickering light on a stone wall, but nothing more. For a moment I consider attacking the door with my sword, perhaps cutting a hole through which I can escape, before admitting that it would get me nowhere. What I wouldn't give for a saw.
Conceding defeat, I sit against the wall facing the door. Why in Din's name did Impa lock me in here? It just doesn't make sense. I can't think about it now, though, since I can't exactly think straight. I really need to get some sleep. It's hard to believe how quickly all this happened. Just two days ago my life was boring, and now something's always happening.
Trying to stretch out and failing miserably because of the size of the room, I settle for curling into a bit of a ball with my arm for a pillow. Tired as I am, sleep doesn't come. After tossing and turning for some time, I eventually doze off but am almost immediately awakened by footsteps outside the door. A key turns in the lock, the door opens, and Impa steps into the room. I shut my eyes, hoping she'll leave me alone if she thinks I'm sleeping. I really don't need her criticism right now. I'm so tired that I am ready to snap, so it's probably best to just feign sleep.
Impa walks over to me and, to my surprise, hoists me over her shoulder. What does she think she's doing? She carries me out of the room, hitting my head against the door jam in the process. The cut on my head stings afresh as the Sheikah carries me down the hallway. She looks about in all directions and then, apparently satisfied that no one is around, breaks into a run. As she rounds a corner, she trips over the edge of a rug and falls to the ground, dropping me in the process. Giving up on feigning sleep, I stand quickly and see that my sword is already in my left hand. That's funny, as I don't remember drawing it.
Jumping to her feet, Impa draws the long knife she carries with her and points it menacingly at me.
"Drop that sword," she says, her voice filled with anger. I can tell by the look on her face that she is angry with herself for once and not with me. I grin crookedly.
"So, the perfect Sheikah screwed up," I say, gloating.
"I told you to drop your sword," she says tersely, brandishing the dagger. My mind suddenly goes blank, and I feel a lot more confident. One Sheikah with a knife? This will be easy: I've fought worse. Where did that come from? I can't even use a sword. the blankness fills my mind once again. "Drop it," she commands. I shake my head, still grinning. Impa draws the knife back so that it is level with her eyes and protrudes slightly past her face. She puts her other hand, flat and palm up, beneath the blade, guiding it.
Impa dashes forward in a blur of motion, thrusting the knife forward as she runs. Without thinking, I step aside to avoid the attack, but the knife still nicks my neck. My body seems to be moving of its own accord; I see the battle as though I am watching it rather than experiencing it. Before I can strike back my attacker leaps away. She immediately follows with the same attack again, but I block it this time. Impa slashes down and I parry and stab at her torso. She deflects the attack with an upward slash and her blade darts forward as I drop to the ground to avoid it. Turning as I rise, I bring my sword in a downward arc, using the added momentum. Impa jumps back to dodge the slash and lands awkwardly. I close in, sword at the ready. Impa barely has time to raise the knife before our blades collide and lock.
We fight to overpower each other, to almost no avail. Impa's eyes are locked on the crossed blades in apprehension. She knows that the only thing keeping her from defeat is the two feet of steel she now holds in both hands. She's shown so much emotion during this fight. that's not like a Sheikah. And it's definitely not like stone faced Impa. In my short contact with her, I can see that she doesn't let her feelings show. Then why is she letting her emotions go unchecked now?
Footsteps and shouts echo down the hallway, drawing near. Impa looks in their direction for but a moment, and I use that time to twist my blade and send Impa's weapon flying from her hands. She looks forward once more to find a blade at her throat and a wall at her back. To our left, three figures come bounding around the corner and stop short at the scene before them.
"For the love of Nayru, what's going on here? Impa?!" The blankness rapidly leaves my mind, and I recognize the voice. That was Sheik.
"Two of them?!" an unfamiliar voice exclaims, "Lovely."
"What the.?" someone says in a shocked voice. That voice sounds like Impa. but it can't be. I look over at the group quickly and see, to my shock, Impa standing beside Sheik and a Gerudo. But she's right here in front of me. How can there be two?
"Impa?" Sheik says, looking utterly bewildered. "But. you're right here.?"
"Sheik," the Impa in front of me says flatly, glaring at me, "Could you tell this idiot to sheathe his sword?" I match her glare.
"Uh, Link, could you?" Sheik asks, still in a puzzled daze. I grudgingly sheathe my sword and step back. "Well, um, would someone please tell me what's going on?" Sheik says.
"Of course," the Impa who attacked me answers. "I retrieved the boy from Death Mountain as the princess ordered, and when we arrived at the castle he attacked me. I must admit, I allowed myself to be caught off guard. That was my own fault, and it will never happen again. But there is clearly something wrong with him," she says, gesturing to me, "he attacked me for absolutely no reason!"
"Being Sheikah is reason enough," the Gerudo mutters.
"That will do, Nabooru," Sheik says shortly. Oddly, Nabooru obeys him. "Link," he says, turning to me, "why did you attack Impa?"
"I didn't!" I say angrily. "She locked me in a closet for hours and then tried to carry me somewhere. But she tripped and dropped me, so I defended myself." Sheik, Nabooru, and the Impa with them all look as though they weren't expecting that. The Impa in front of me stares blankly for a moment before quickly feigning surprise.
"What kind of story is that?" she asks irritably. "It's ridiculous!"
"Wait," Sheik says slowly, thinking back to something that was said before. "The princess never said anything about bringing Link back from Death Mountain to me." This apparently has some special meaning, because both Impa's react with a great deal more confusion than they should have.
"She said there was something dark growing in the Fire Temple," both Impas say in unison. They turn and glower at each other. Sheik gestures for the Impa at his side to continue.
"Her Highness said that she sensed a darkness in the Fire Temple and sent me to warn Darunia, as it was too small for him to sense yet. She also requested that I bring the boy back with me, just to be safe. I was to lock him in one of the storage rooms on the ground floor until Her Highness could meet with him. She was afraid he might run off. Oh," the Sheikah adds, remembering, "She wanted him to get the sword from the Temple of Time as well." The Impa who is not speaking nods her agreement. By now Sheik is beyond confused.
"I don't know what to think," he says, shaking his head.
"I do," Nabooru answers. "One of them is obviously an imposter, so just figure out who it is and chase them off, throw them in the dungeon, whatever you like," she says in a bored voice. "And as for what the princess ordered them to do, I'm sure someone else was impersonating Zelda." She eyes the two Impas before pointing to the one standing by me. "I would start your questioning with that one." Sheik nods and turns to the Sheikah Nabooru pointed to.
"What was the first technique you taught me?" he asks simply.
"How to use throwing needles and shurikens," the Impa in question answers without hesitation. In the next breath Sheik leaps at her and she jumps aside, grabbing her dagger as she does so. Sheik wheels round to face her.
"Wrong," he says, preparing to strike. The false Impa just grins as the blade in her hand glows red and then bursts into flame. She takes a few experimental swings that leave a trail of fire in their wake, and then flicks the blade. The flames extend and lash out like a whip, striking the floor at Sheik's feet before retracting.
"Don't move," she says with a smile. Wind begins to twist through the hallway and familiar green wisps of light surround the impersonator. The next moment she disappears.
"That was that Gerudo," I murmur.
"It had to be," Sheik adds.
"What Gerudo?" Nabooru asks, curious. "What are you talking about?"
"A Gerudo burned Kakariko yesterday," Sheik answers, turning to her as a distant bell tolls the hour.
"Two days ago now," Nabooru says. "Its midnight now. But who's counting?"
"Nabooru," Sheik inquires, "Do you know of any Gerudo who were near Kakariko or would have burned it?"
"Kakariko was founded by a Sheikah: there are many Gerudo with grudges from the war that would not hesitate to burn it," Nabooru answers bluntly. Impa nods in grim acknowledgement of the fact as the Gerudo continues. "As for whether or not there were any Gerudo near Kakariko at the time, many of them are out on raids right now. I do not need to keep track of where they go, for it does not really matter so long as they do not foolishly endanger their comrades." At the word "raid" both Impa and Sheik narrow their eyes.
"If you were not a Sage, Gerudo," Impa says the name like a curse, "I'd-"
"You'd what, Sheikah?" Nabooru asks with disdain. "Don't flatter yourself. You would never be able to apprehend me. You are unable even to catch the lowest ranked thief among us. If I were not a Sage, bound by duty to be here, you would never be able to find me. I stand before you now willingly. I realize," she says, eyeing the two Sheikah standing before her, "that you do not approve of how we Gerudo make a living. But it is how we survive, and we are, if I may say, pretty damn good at it, so you'd better learn to live with it."
"Why you.." Impa snarls.
"What? 'You' what?" Nabooru taunts. "Say it. What am I, Sheikah?"
"Nabooru, Impa, please!" Sheik says, stepping between them. Both Sheikah and Gerudo glare at each other before turning and heading down the hallway in separate directions.
"I'm going to bed," Nabooru calls over her shoulder as she saunters off.
"Thanks for the announcement," Impa mutters, striding down the hall in the opposite direction and turning a corner. I turn to Sheik.
"What was that?" I ask, speaking up after being silent for so long.
"It was nothing," Sheik answers with an annoyed half smile. "Just some friendly bickering."
"Friendly bickering?!" I ask. "It sounded like they wanted to kill each other!" Sheik shrugs.
"There has always been a deep rivalry between Gerudo and Sheikah, but Impa and Nabooru met under circumstances that required them to work together. They learned to tolerate each other out of necessity and have grown to become very close friends. Each would give her life for the other willingly," he says, wearing a full grin now. "They just like to have fun fighting with each other. It's like. fencing matches with words, if you will. It's a little competition. They weren't serious about any of what you just heard, except for what Nabooru said about our not being able to catch her if she weren't a Sage." He frowns.
"Sage or not," Sheik continues, "I still don't approve of the Gerudo way of life. Theft is wrong, no matter how you look at it."
"So those two are actually friends?" I say with doubt in my voice. Sheik nods. "Alright, if you say so. Hey, where do you want me to go?" I ask.
"Oh," Sheik says as though just realizing I am there. "I guess I'll show you to a room. This way," he says and we start off in the direction Nabooru went. We haven't gone very far before we ascend a curving staircase, our path lighted by the occasional torch. At the top of the stairs is another hallway, this one richly carpeted. We turn left down a corridor and follow it for a bit before Sheik stops and opens a door.
"You can sleep in here," he says. I enter the room and he adds, "Just don't touch anything but the bed. This room isn't supposed to be in use, and if you mess anything up, the princess will tan both our hides." With that, he closes the door and leaves me alone. Without taking in anything of my surroundings I drop onto the bed and fall into a dreamless sleep.
I awaken to someone knocking on the door of the room. Opening my eyes, I am blinded by the sunlight streaming in through the room's lone window. Rubbing my eyes, I stand up and go to the door, tripping over a rug in the process. I open the door to see a nervous looking servant standing outside.
"Oh!" he exclaims, rather surprised that the door opened. "I was beginning to wonder when you would wake up. I have been knocking for the better part of an hour."
"Sorry about that," I mumble, still out of it. "The door wasn't locked, was it? Couldn't you have just come in and woken me up?"
"Most do not enjoy others walking in on them. I thought that I would just wait," he answers, looking as though he is asking himself why he didn't just come in and wake me up. "I have been sent to fetch you," the servant continues. "There is a meeting you are to attend. If you would follow me, please, I shall escort you to the great hall." He turns on his heel and scurries away with quick, small steps. I follow him through the winding halls of the castle, still trying to wake up. Soon, we've reached a large staircase leading down, with doors just as large and grand as those outside the throne room at the bottom. Once we have reached the door, the servant pulls open the door and hastily pushes me into the room before shutting the door behind me.
"Well it's about time," Nabooru says. She and five other people are seated at the end of along table nearest the door. I recognize her, Impa, Darunia, Zelda, and..
"Din, Nayru, and Farore! Saria?!" I stand gaping at the Kokiri, stunned.
"Hi, Link!" she exclaims happily, running over to give me a hug. I forgot how short Kokiri were. Saria actually used to be a little taller than me. It's just another reminder that I'm not Kokiri. I glance up to see Zelda looking at me sadly. She meets my eyes and hastily looks away.
"Saria," I say, smiling, "What are you doing here?"
"I'm the Sage of Forest," she answers with a grin.
"No, not you too," I say with a laugh. "Please don't tell me you've become Impa." Saria laughs with her high, bell like laughter as Impa narrows her eyes at me.
"Oh, Impa," Saria says, "He didn't mean it."
"Yes I did." Saria and I start laughing again.
"I realize that you two missed each other, but could you save this for later?" Nabooru asks. "We've lost enough time as it is."
"Do you realize what time it is?" Impa asks with a glare. "You slept until noon!!" she says icily. I redden slightly.
"Sorry. I didn't know I was supposed to wake up."
"That is alright," says a high, unfamiliar voice. "I forgive you." I turn towards the table to find the owner of the voice and am taken aback at the appearance of the stranger. Sitting at the table is a creature that can only be a Zora, one of a race of fish people. Zora look just like Hylians, except they are covered with iridescent blue scales, have webbed feet and hands, and fish like qualities on their heads. This particular Zora has a large flat oval of skin and scales that extend her head to the sides, like a living headdress. Her eyes are actually a beautiful shade of bluish purple. A moment later, I fervently fix my gaze on those eyes, my face bright red, so that I don't look down. Apparently, Zora don't believe in clothing. I mean, I guess with the scales it's more like she's wearing a bodysuit, like a Sheikah, but it's a REALLY tight bodysuit.
"Aww, Link, sweetie, you're blushing," the Zora says in her high girlie voice. "I knew you missed me." Wait a minute, sweetie?
"What the hell are you talking about?" I ask nervously. The Zora's eyes suddenly fill with tears and she begins to sob. Saria runs over to comfort her, but the others merely shake their heads.
"There she goes again," Nabooru mutters.
"Link doesn't love me anymore!" the Zora sobs, a whining tone in her voice. I am about to comment on this as Zelda intervenes.
"Link," she says softly so as not to be overheard by the distraught Zora. "Ruto is, ah. very fond of you."
"Really?" I say sarcastically, "I couldn't tell."
"Look, she is the Princess of the Zora and the Sage of Water, and we cannot get much done without her relatively calm, so could you do us a huge favor and just humor her for now?" Zelda asks.
"What??" I demand, "You want me to pretend I love her? There is no way."
"Look, it is just for now, and you do not have to pretend to love her. Just play along with whatever the Sages and I make up, alright?" Zelda looks at me hopefully.
"Fine," I sigh. "But just for today." Zelda nods her thanks and walks over to Ruto, motioning for everyone else to sit down.
"Now, Ruto," Zelda says, sitting beside her, "Link lost his memory, you know that. I am sure that when he remembers everything, he will still love you." She gives me a look over Ruto's head. I sigh and go to sit down next to Ruto. Right. Death Mountain will freeze over before I love that psychotic fish.
"Really?" Ruto asks.
"Really," Saria answers with an impish grin from her seat on my right.
"So you don't remember me?" Ruto inquires quizzically. I shake my head. "Very well," she says, disappointed but satisfied.
"Can we start now?" Impa asks in an aggravated voice.
"What exactly are we starting?" Nabooru asks. "What is our purpose here? I thought that you explained everything to him, Zelda."
"This is just as much for all of you as it is for Link," Zelda answers. "Maybe more so."
"Then why did we waste time waiting for him?" Impa asks.
"I did not want the interruption of introductions," Zelda answers coolly, giving Impa a look that says, "I didn't want Ruto flipping out like that in the middle of something."
"Now," Zelda continues, "We have had some disturbing news. Rauru says that Ganon is growing stronger. He is gathering an army in the Dark World, to be released if he is ever freed. This army is no mere mob of moblins or stalfos: they are demons and all other sorts of dark creatures. They cannot be slain by normal weapons. One can kill them only with a demon weapon or one that is of the light, like the Master Sword. Such blades are impossible to find and very difficult to make. If that army is set free, Hyrule will be destroyed."
"But it's not going to be freed," Saria says. "Isn't that the point of all this? And, for Ganon and that army to be freed, don't we have to fail in what we're trying to do?"
"I never said we were going to fail," Zelda replies. "I just thought I would let you all know that the stakes have been raised." Eyes flick about the room for a moment, resting on the occupants before Zelda continues. "Let us have a report on the state of each temple. Saria?"
"Things are. stirring in the Forest Temple," the Kokiri says, twirling a strand of green hair. Saria only plays with her hair when she's really worried. Things are worse than she is willing to reveal. "The stalfos have returned, and the maze is filled with moblins once more. There are more than before. They are beginning to wander into the Lost Woods. Some have come far to close to the village. They seem to be.waiting for something." The others nod in response to this information, and Impa begins to speak.
"The darkness is returning to the Shadow Temple. The monsters multiply by the day, and the shadow has awakened. Some roam the graveyard and even the remains of town at night. It is as Saria said: they seem to be waiting. They are not unduly hostile, as though they await the command of some general to attack." I notice that all the Sages stiffen at Impa's mention of "the shadow." Something about it stirs my memory.
"There is nothing in the Fire Temple," Darunia says, shaking his head. "I sense nothing." Several Sages breathe sighs of relief.
"That is welcome news," Zelda says, her face still taught with worry.
"The wind is icy in Zora's Domain," Ruto says softly. "I went to Lake Hylia, but I could not enter the Water Temple. A dark energy bars the entrance." Ruto no longer seems foolish. I can see a hint of the Sage she truly is.
"You think that's bad," Nabooru cuts in. "Guess who's moved back into the Spirit Temple?"
"Twinrova," I say in unison with Zelda. Everyone stares at me. I don't know where that came from, but it must be right. I remember two dead witches fading away, arguing about which is the elder. Their names come to me as well: Kotake and Koume.
"That's right," Nabooru says, rather stunned.
"But. I killed them," I say quietly. More stares.
"Memory coming back, kid?" Nabooru asks.
"Do you remember me now?" Ruto asks excitedly in her high voice, once again a silly girl.
"No," I answer coldly. Then, seeing her eyes fill with tears, I add, "I remember things a little at a time. I'm sure I'll remember you eventually."
"Well, you may have killed them once," Nabooru says as she steers the conversation back on track, "But they're back now. And worse, some of my Gerudo are siding with them," she says, her face one of disgust. "I've weeded most of the traitors out and have dealt with them accordingly," Saria and Ruto wince, "But others continue to support them. Some of them are still loyal to Ganon," the Gerudo says sadly.
"Well, it is not like we were counting on the Gerudo in the first place," Zelda says, then, seeing Nabooru's glare, "Oh, Nabooru, I did not mean that the way it sounded. It is just that were are not really depending on anyone other than ourselves at the moment." Nabooru nods her understanding.
"But shouldn't we start involving others?" Saria asks. "If everything is as you say, the monsters from the temples could attack at any moment. We will need some force to stop them. We could enlist the help of all the races of Hyrule."
"Even the Kokiri?" Ruto asks. "An army of little ten year olds from the forest, wouldn't that be cute? They'd fight to defend their home. that would be so sweet!" Saria and I both blink at the Zora princess, stunned at her idiotic statement.
"Sweet?!" I ask in near disgust. "Children dying at the hands of monsters is sweet?"
"We aren't children," Saria mutters.
"Saria, you know what I meant," she waves for me to continue and mouths "I was talking to Ruto."
"And Ruto, they can't even leave the forest," I say.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know," Ruto says, looking perplexed.
"Saria had a point. An army? Would that work?" Impa asks.
"Maybe not an army," Nabooru says, thinking out loud. "If we could train and arm the inhabitants of each area, then they could defend themselves if attacked. I would normally be in favor of an army, but we would just be lining up targets for Ganon's army to destroy. We would be outnumbered at least three to one."
"Are you sure?" I inquire. "Just how big do you estimate this army to be?"
"There are countless stalfos and moblins," Impa says. "I would guess eight thousand strong."
"And our forces?" I ask.
"Two hundred sixty nine Sheikah," Impa answers.
"Over five hundred Gerudo, but that's counting the disloyal ones," Nabooru adds.
"One hundred two Gorons," Darunia says.
"Eighty Zora," Ruto says.
"And out of the thousand or so Hylians. perhaps six hundred should be sent into battle. The others are children and elders," Zelda says.
"So," I say, doing the mental calculations, "that's a little less than fourteen hundred against their eight thousand. You were being optimistic," I say, raising an eyebrow at Nabooru.
"Pessimistic, actually. Never underestimate your opponent, kid," the Gerudo replies.
"But eight thousand to fourteen hundred are worse odds than three to one," I say in confusion.
"You count for at least two thousand, " Nabooru answers with a grin. "Or," she says, correcting herself, "You will as soon as someone teaches you how to fight." She laughs at my surprised look. "Don't looked so shocked, kid. You were an amazing fighter before you.er," she looks at Zelda, "lost your memory."
"Well, he's barley even decent now," Impa says condescendingly. "And I say barely decent because you did beat that intruder last night."
"Just so you know," Nabooru says, "That's the closest you'll ever get to a complement from old stone face here." Impa shrugs, not denying it. "Zelda," Nabooru says, turning to the princess, "who's teaching this kid how to fight, anyway?"
"Not me," Impa says. "I don't need his wisecracks."
"Wisecracks, eh? Wouldn't happen to be sarcastic, would he?" As Impa nods, Nabooru grins. "I will teach him. Who knows, I might learn something if I can jog that stubborn memory of his."
"Uh, thanks," I say uncertainly.
"No need to be worried," Nabooru says brightly. "I don't bite."
"I would not be so sure," Zelda mutters with a smile.
"Princess, I'm offended," Nabooru says melodramatically.
"I think we are done here. We have all been sitting around and waiting for a long time. Lets stop for today and continue tomorrow. If everyone could just remember to see if the can get anyone to fight when they go back home, that would be helpful." Everyone stands up and rushes for the door, eager to get out.
"I'll talk to you tonight, Link," Saria says on her way out. I head out into the hall, about to go outside, before remembering that I haven't eaten. As if reading my mind, Zelda turns around.
"There should be some food in your room, Link," she says.
"Thanks," I say, and rush up the stairs and in the direction of my room. As I walk, I hear something moving behind me. I whirl about to face the other way, but no one is there. I continue on, stopping at intervals to look for the source of the noise behind me.
Upon reaching my room, I open the door, step inside, and turn around to check the hallway one more time. Unexpectedly, I am bowled over by a blue shape. I fall onto my back with the blue thing on top of me and find myself looking Ruto in the face.
"Ruto! Get off me!" I shout.
"Sorry," the Zora begins to answer.
"Oh!" comes a voice from the door. I turn my head to see Zelda standing in the doorway looking very surprised. "I. sorry, I did not mean to interrupt. I had no idea you two were.." As Zelda trails off, I realize what this looks like.
"No, Zelda, you've got it completely wrong," I start, red with embarrassment as I push Ruto off of me. Zelda has already started down the hall by the time I stand up. "Zelda!" I call after her. She doesn't even acknowledge me.
"I'm sorry," Ruto says from the floor. "I didn't mean for you to fall over. But I don't see why she's upset. You're mine, after all." I throw Ruto a disgusted look and head down the hall in the opposite direction that Zelda went. "Link? Are you mad at me, too?" I don't answer. I just need to get out of here.
Chapter 5
"Hurry!" Impa is dashing through the ashes of Kakariko at a speed I didn't know was humanly possible. I had caught up with her as we left Goron City and have been able to keep up with her so far, but my lungs are burning and I'm beginning to lag behind. We just ran down a mountain, for Farore's sake, and she's still as fast as ever. It's a wonder that she can spare the breath to yell at me.
"Did you hear me, boy? I said hurry!" she yells, turning her head to look at me as she starts down the stairs that lead out of town. I struggle to catch up with her once more, taking the stairs four at a time when I reach them. Impa stops abruptly at the bottom of the stairs and mounts the white mare waiting there in a fluid motion. I stop beside the horse and lean against a tree, breathing heavily.
"Get on," Impa commands, motioning to the area of the saddle behind her. I look up at her and shake my head. "That was not a request, boy, now get on!"
"I. have. a name," I say between gasping breaths as I take out my ocarina. "And there is. no way. in hell that. I am going. to ride on. the same horse. as you. I'm not. a child."
"You had me fooled," the Sheikah scoffs. I glare at her, put the ocarina to my lips, and play the short melody that is Epona's Song. As the last note fades and I stow my ocarina away, Impa gives one of her trademark exasperated sighs.
"Are you quite finished?" she asks. "Now, get on. I won't ask again."
"Patience, Sheikah," I say with a crooked grin. My grin widens at Impa's shocked look that I would dare refer to her as "Sheikah". A moment later, hoof beats can be heard as Epona gallops over the small bridge and comes towards me. I greet Epona with a pat on the neck and climb onto her back, giving Impa a gloating look. She ignores me and spurs her horse forward and across the bridge.
"Come on, girl," I say softly to Epona. "Let's outrun her." Epona leaps forward into a gallop, quickly pulling up alongside Impa and her mount. A second later, Epona is in the lead, racing toward the drawbridge of Castle Town. Her hooves clatter on the wood and then on cobblestones as we enter the town.
"Boy! Stop! Now!" Impa's voice calls from behind me.
"I have a name!" I shout back at her.
"Why you. Link, stop!" Rather surprised at her use of my name, I bring Epona to a halt as Impa comes up behind me. "We are not going to the Castle," Impa says. "Perhaps if you hadn't dashed off you would know that."
"Well, if you hadn't dashed off in Kakariko you could have told me that," I say, mimicking her voice. The Sheikah glares at me before turning her horse to the left. "Now follow me." I decide to listen to her and nudge Epona into a walk, following the white mare in front of her.
Castle Town is quiet and empty but for the stray dogs running through the streets. There are one or two lights on in the buildings, but it appears that most of the town is asleep. Impa leads the way through a gap in the houses and onto a short grassy path lined by an iron fence. Wisps of mist twist and swirl across the ground and among the gossip stones beside the path as we near our destination: a tall white stone building with dark pointed coned roofs atop its three towers. It looks almost like a very small castle. Huge wooden doors thrice the height of a man stand ajar, releasing a soft white glow from within. Impa and I dismount and she heads towards the open doors. I hesitate slightly before following her into the building.
A sourceless light fills the pristine white interior of the place although what appear to be several stained glass windows are dark. The building is composed of one long room with a dark doorway at the other end. Between that doorway, and us however, there appears to be some sort of altar in front of steps leading to the door and, to my surprise, a raised marble area identical to the one in Death Mountain Crater. The only difference is the symbol in the center. I know this place. I know that symbol.
It is the symbol of the Light Temple. This is the Temple of Time.
Impa starts forward, moving slowly now, almost reverently. I walk alongside her as the altar and the dark doorway draw near. We ascend the few steps leading up to the door. I expect Impa to enter, but she stops.
"You first," she says in a voice that is little more than a whisper. I look at her suspiciously, wondering why she wants me to go first. Is this a trap? Is something waiting for me through that door?
No, something inside me says. No, it is safe here. We are safe here.
I step through the door and into the room beyond. It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the dim light, but when they do, I realize with a shock that I recognize my surroundings. This is the room I saw in that vision when I first met Sheik. It is all here: the marble platform engraved with the six symbols, the pedestal, and. the sword.
As if in a trance, I move forward and step up onto the platform. Walking forward, I come to stand in front of the weapon, looking down at it.
I stand at the edge of the platform, staring up at the sword. A blue ocarina is still clutched in my hand, forgotten now that it has opened the Door of Time. A glowing ball of light hovers around the sword.
"It's that legendary blade. the Master Sword!" says a high voice coming from the ball of light, "The blade that can only be wielded by the Hero of Time." I have to take that sword. If I do, Hyrule will be safe. That's what Zelda said. I approach the sword, hold its hilt in both hands, and struggle to lift it from its imprisoning pedestal. As it comes free a blue light surrounds me. As the blue brightens to blinding white, a menacing laugh echoes through the Temple..
Shaking my head to clear it, I reach down and grasp the indigo hilt of the sword with my left hand. With a single motion I wrench the sword from the pedestal and hold it in front of me. Blue light consumes me as I stare down at the sword. the Master Sword. my sword.
The blue light fades and I turn from the pedestal, walking back over to Impa and the entrance to the room. Impa offers me a dark blue scabbard covered with designs in gold. I take it and sheathe the Master Sword as she begins to leave the chamber. I hurry after her, trying to fasten the scabbard to my back as I go. The Sheikah does not speak as she moves swiftly through the Temple, outside, and mounts her white mare once more. I mount Epona and then turn to Impa.
"Where do we go now? And why do I need this?" I ask, motioning to the sword hilt behind my shoulder.
"We are going back to Hyrule Castle," she answers in a clipped, quiet voice. "You must not speak so loudly. As for the sword, you are going to learn to use it, even if it kills you." I make a face at her use of the expression and she kicks her horse into a gallop. I can't help wondering why she's so worked up, rushing everywhere and speaking in whispers. But of course, no one tells me anything. Epona starts after Impa once more and we cross the square of Castle Town that is a thriving marketplace during the day. I notice for the first time that there are people huddled against buildings. I recognize them as residents of Kakariko. The fire must have driven them out. Upon closer inspection, I realize that the majority of the people are men: the women and children must have been the first allowed into the houses.
In an instant we are out of the town and climbing the path to the castle, passing through the gates that are opened by waiting guards. As our horses gallop across the castle drawbridge, I remember that I was here just last night, and now I'm back again. Impa and I dismount and leave our horses in the courtyard. Impa goes through the same door that Sheik and I used last night. She leads me through more corridors and stops at an open door through which faint candlelight is flooding.
"Get in," she says. As soon as I have entered the room, Impa slams the door behind me. I hear a sound unsettlingly like the scraping of a key in a lock, followed by retreating footsteps. I reach down and try the handle of the door, but it's locked. I can't believe this. Why would Impa lock me in here? Whatever her reason, this is really creeping me out.
"Hey! Let me out of here!" I yell, banging my fist against the door. As expected, there is no answer. I pound the door for another five minutes without result before turning to scan the room that has become my prison. It's small, not much more than a closet. If I were to stand in the middle with my arms extended I could easily touch both walls. There are no windows, and the room is devoid of any objects whatsoever. I would have expected a room like this to be full of useless things people stored away and forgot. Maybe I could have used some such item to get out of here.
As I am about to try to get some much needed sleep, I remember the sword strapped to my back. I draw it and slash at the doorknob, hoping to rip it out of the door or to jar the lock open. When this fails after several attempts, I stab the sword forward in frustration. It passes about halfway through the door before stopping. I stare at the sword embedded in the door, reach out, and remove it. Through the new slit in the door, I can see flickering light on a stone wall, but nothing more. For a moment I consider attacking the door with my sword, perhaps cutting a hole through which I can escape, before admitting that it would get me nowhere. What I wouldn't give for a saw.
Conceding defeat, I sit against the wall facing the door. Why in Din's name did Impa lock me in here? It just doesn't make sense. I can't think about it now, though, since I can't exactly think straight. I really need to get some sleep. It's hard to believe how quickly all this happened. Just two days ago my life was boring, and now something's always happening.
Trying to stretch out and failing miserably because of the size of the room, I settle for curling into a bit of a ball with my arm for a pillow. Tired as I am, sleep doesn't come. After tossing and turning for some time, I eventually doze off but am almost immediately awakened by footsteps outside the door. A key turns in the lock, the door opens, and Impa steps into the room. I shut my eyes, hoping she'll leave me alone if she thinks I'm sleeping. I really don't need her criticism right now. I'm so tired that I am ready to snap, so it's probably best to just feign sleep.
Impa walks over to me and, to my surprise, hoists me over her shoulder. What does she think she's doing? She carries me out of the room, hitting my head against the door jam in the process. The cut on my head stings afresh as the Sheikah carries me down the hallway. She looks about in all directions and then, apparently satisfied that no one is around, breaks into a run. As she rounds a corner, she trips over the edge of a rug and falls to the ground, dropping me in the process. Giving up on feigning sleep, I stand quickly and see that my sword is already in my left hand. That's funny, as I don't remember drawing it.
Jumping to her feet, Impa draws the long knife she carries with her and points it menacingly at me.
"Drop that sword," she says, her voice filled with anger. I can tell by the look on her face that she is angry with herself for once and not with me. I grin crookedly.
"So, the perfect Sheikah screwed up," I say, gloating.
"I told you to drop your sword," she says tersely, brandishing the dagger. My mind suddenly goes blank, and I feel a lot more confident. One Sheikah with a knife? This will be easy: I've fought worse. Where did that come from? I can't even use a sword. the blankness fills my mind once again. "Drop it," she commands. I shake my head, still grinning. Impa draws the knife back so that it is level with her eyes and protrudes slightly past her face. She puts her other hand, flat and palm up, beneath the blade, guiding it.
Impa dashes forward in a blur of motion, thrusting the knife forward as she runs. Without thinking, I step aside to avoid the attack, but the knife still nicks my neck. My body seems to be moving of its own accord; I see the battle as though I am watching it rather than experiencing it. Before I can strike back my attacker leaps away. She immediately follows with the same attack again, but I block it this time. Impa slashes down and I parry and stab at her torso. She deflects the attack with an upward slash and her blade darts forward as I drop to the ground to avoid it. Turning as I rise, I bring my sword in a downward arc, using the added momentum. Impa jumps back to dodge the slash and lands awkwardly. I close in, sword at the ready. Impa barely has time to raise the knife before our blades collide and lock.
We fight to overpower each other, to almost no avail. Impa's eyes are locked on the crossed blades in apprehension. She knows that the only thing keeping her from defeat is the two feet of steel she now holds in both hands. She's shown so much emotion during this fight. that's not like a Sheikah. And it's definitely not like stone faced Impa. In my short contact with her, I can see that she doesn't let her feelings show. Then why is she letting her emotions go unchecked now?
Footsteps and shouts echo down the hallway, drawing near. Impa looks in their direction for but a moment, and I use that time to twist my blade and send Impa's weapon flying from her hands. She looks forward once more to find a blade at her throat and a wall at her back. To our left, three figures come bounding around the corner and stop short at the scene before them.
"For the love of Nayru, what's going on here? Impa?!" The blankness rapidly leaves my mind, and I recognize the voice. That was Sheik.
"Two of them?!" an unfamiliar voice exclaims, "Lovely."
"What the.?" someone says in a shocked voice. That voice sounds like Impa. but it can't be. I look over at the group quickly and see, to my shock, Impa standing beside Sheik and a Gerudo. But she's right here in front of me. How can there be two?
"Impa?" Sheik says, looking utterly bewildered. "But. you're right here.?"
"Sheik," the Impa in front of me says flatly, glaring at me, "Could you tell this idiot to sheathe his sword?" I match her glare.
"Uh, Link, could you?" Sheik asks, still in a puzzled daze. I grudgingly sheathe my sword and step back. "Well, um, would someone please tell me what's going on?" Sheik says.
"Of course," the Impa who attacked me answers. "I retrieved the boy from Death Mountain as the princess ordered, and when we arrived at the castle he attacked me. I must admit, I allowed myself to be caught off guard. That was my own fault, and it will never happen again. But there is clearly something wrong with him," she says, gesturing to me, "he attacked me for absolutely no reason!"
"Being Sheikah is reason enough," the Gerudo mutters.
"That will do, Nabooru," Sheik says shortly. Oddly, Nabooru obeys him. "Link," he says, turning to me, "why did you attack Impa?"
"I didn't!" I say angrily. "She locked me in a closet for hours and then tried to carry me somewhere. But she tripped and dropped me, so I defended myself." Sheik, Nabooru, and the Impa with them all look as though they weren't expecting that. The Impa in front of me stares blankly for a moment before quickly feigning surprise.
"What kind of story is that?" she asks irritably. "It's ridiculous!"
"Wait," Sheik says slowly, thinking back to something that was said before. "The princess never said anything about bringing Link back from Death Mountain to me." This apparently has some special meaning, because both Impa's react with a great deal more confusion than they should have.
"She said there was something dark growing in the Fire Temple," both Impas say in unison. They turn and glower at each other. Sheik gestures for the Impa at his side to continue.
"Her Highness said that she sensed a darkness in the Fire Temple and sent me to warn Darunia, as it was too small for him to sense yet. She also requested that I bring the boy back with me, just to be safe. I was to lock him in one of the storage rooms on the ground floor until Her Highness could meet with him. She was afraid he might run off. Oh," the Sheikah adds, remembering, "She wanted him to get the sword from the Temple of Time as well." The Impa who is not speaking nods her agreement. By now Sheik is beyond confused.
"I don't know what to think," he says, shaking his head.
"I do," Nabooru answers. "One of them is obviously an imposter, so just figure out who it is and chase them off, throw them in the dungeon, whatever you like," she says in a bored voice. "And as for what the princess ordered them to do, I'm sure someone else was impersonating Zelda." She eyes the two Impas before pointing to the one standing by me. "I would start your questioning with that one." Sheik nods and turns to the Sheikah Nabooru pointed to.
"What was the first technique you taught me?" he asks simply.
"How to use throwing needles and shurikens," the Impa in question answers without hesitation. In the next breath Sheik leaps at her and she jumps aside, grabbing her dagger as she does so. Sheik wheels round to face her.
"Wrong," he says, preparing to strike. The false Impa just grins as the blade in her hand glows red and then bursts into flame. She takes a few experimental swings that leave a trail of fire in their wake, and then flicks the blade. The flames extend and lash out like a whip, striking the floor at Sheik's feet before retracting.
"Don't move," she says with a smile. Wind begins to twist through the hallway and familiar green wisps of light surround the impersonator. The next moment she disappears.
"That was that Gerudo," I murmur.
"It had to be," Sheik adds.
"What Gerudo?" Nabooru asks, curious. "What are you talking about?"
"A Gerudo burned Kakariko yesterday," Sheik answers, turning to her as a distant bell tolls the hour.
"Two days ago now," Nabooru says. "Its midnight now. But who's counting?"
"Nabooru," Sheik inquires, "Do you know of any Gerudo who were near Kakariko or would have burned it?"
"Kakariko was founded by a Sheikah: there are many Gerudo with grudges from the war that would not hesitate to burn it," Nabooru answers bluntly. Impa nods in grim acknowledgement of the fact as the Gerudo continues. "As for whether or not there were any Gerudo near Kakariko at the time, many of them are out on raids right now. I do not need to keep track of where they go, for it does not really matter so long as they do not foolishly endanger their comrades." At the word "raid" both Impa and Sheik narrow their eyes.
"If you were not a Sage, Gerudo," Impa says the name like a curse, "I'd-"
"You'd what, Sheikah?" Nabooru asks with disdain. "Don't flatter yourself. You would never be able to apprehend me. You are unable even to catch the lowest ranked thief among us. If I were not a Sage, bound by duty to be here, you would never be able to find me. I stand before you now willingly. I realize," she says, eyeing the two Sheikah standing before her, "that you do not approve of how we Gerudo make a living. But it is how we survive, and we are, if I may say, pretty damn good at it, so you'd better learn to live with it."
"Why you.." Impa snarls.
"What? 'You' what?" Nabooru taunts. "Say it. What am I, Sheikah?"
"Nabooru, Impa, please!" Sheik says, stepping between them. Both Sheikah and Gerudo glare at each other before turning and heading down the hallway in separate directions.
"I'm going to bed," Nabooru calls over her shoulder as she saunters off.
"Thanks for the announcement," Impa mutters, striding down the hall in the opposite direction and turning a corner. I turn to Sheik.
"What was that?" I ask, speaking up after being silent for so long.
"It was nothing," Sheik answers with an annoyed half smile. "Just some friendly bickering."
"Friendly bickering?!" I ask. "It sounded like they wanted to kill each other!" Sheik shrugs.
"There has always been a deep rivalry between Gerudo and Sheikah, but Impa and Nabooru met under circumstances that required them to work together. They learned to tolerate each other out of necessity and have grown to become very close friends. Each would give her life for the other willingly," he says, wearing a full grin now. "They just like to have fun fighting with each other. It's like. fencing matches with words, if you will. It's a little competition. They weren't serious about any of what you just heard, except for what Nabooru said about our not being able to catch her if she weren't a Sage." He frowns.
"Sage or not," Sheik continues, "I still don't approve of the Gerudo way of life. Theft is wrong, no matter how you look at it."
"So those two are actually friends?" I say with doubt in my voice. Sheik nods. "Alright, if you say so. Hey, where do you want me to go?" I ask.
"Oh," Sheik says as though just realizing I am there. "I guess I'll show you to a room. This way," he says and we start off in the direction Nabooru went. We haven't gone very far before we ascend a curving staircase, our path lighted by the occasional torch. At the top of the stairs is another hallway, this one richly carpeted. We turn left down a corridor and follow it for a bit before Sheik stops and opens a door.
"You can sleep in here," he says. I enter the room and he adds, "Just don't touch anything but the bed. This room isn't supposed to be in use, and if you mess anything up, the princess will tan both our hides." With that, he closes the door and leaves me alone. Without taking in anything of my surroundings I drop onto the bed and fall into a dreamless sleep.
I awaken to someone knocking on the door of the room. Opening my eyes, I am blinded by the sunlight streaming in through the room's lone window. Rubbing my eyes, I stand up and go to the door, tripping over a rug in the process. I open the door to see a nervous looking servant standing outside.
"Oh!" he exclaims, rather surprised that the door opened. "I was beginning to wonder when you would wake up. I have been knocking for the better part of an hour."
"Sorry about that," I mumble, still out of it. "The door wasn't locked, was it? Couldn't you have just come in and woken me up?"
"Most do not enjoy others walking in on them. I thought that I would just wait," he answers, looking as though he is asking himself why he didn't just come in and wake me up. "I have been sent to fetch you," the servant continues. "There is a meeting you are to attend. If you would follow me, please, I shall escort you to the great hall." He turns on his heel and scurries away with quick, small steps. I follow him through the winding halls of the castle, still trying to wake up. Soon, we've reached a large staircase leading down, with doors just as large and grand as those outside the throne room at the bottom. Once we have reached the door, the servant pulls open the door and hastily pushes me into the room before shutting the door behind me.
"Well it's about time," Nabooru says. She and five other people are seated at the end of along table nearest the door. I recognize her, Impa, Darunia, Zelda, and..
"Din, Nayru, and Farore! Saria?!" I stand gaping at the Kokiri, stunned.
"Hi, Link!" she exclaims happily, running over to give me a hug. I forgot how short Kokiri were. Saria actually used to be a little taller than me. It's just another reminder that I'm not Kokiri. I glance up to see Zelda looking at me sadly. She meets my eyes and hastily looks away.
"Saria," I say, smiling, "What are you doing here?"
"I'm the Sage of Forest," she answers with a grin.
"No, not you too," I say with a laugh. "Please don't tell me you've become Impa." Saria laughs with her high, bell like laughter as Impa narrows her eyes at me.
"Oh, Impa," Saria says, "He didn't mean it."
"Yes I did." Saria and I start laughing again.
"I realize that you two missed each other, but could you save this for later?" Nabooru asks. "We've lost enough time as it is."
"Do you realize what time it is?" Impa asks with a glare. "You slept until noon!!" she says icily. I redden slightly.
"Sorry. I didn't know I was supposed to wake up."
"That is alright," says a high, unfamiliar voice. "I forgive you." I turn towards the table to find the owner of the voice and am taken aback at the appearance of the stranger. Sitting at the table is a creature that can only be a Zora, one of a race of fish people. Zora look just like Hylians, except they are covered with iridescent blue scales, have webbed feet and hands, and fish like qualities on their heads. This particular Zora has a large flat oval of skin and scales that extend her head to the sides, like a living headdress. Her eyes are actually a beautiful shade of bluish purple. A moment later, I fervently fix my gaze on those eyes, my face bright red, so that I don't look down. Apparently, Zora don't believe in clothing. I mean, I guess with the scales it's more like she's wearing a bodysuit, like a Sheikah, but it's a REALLY tight bodysuit.
"Aww, Link, sweetie, you're blushing," the Zora says in her high girlie voice. "I knew you missed me." Wait a minute, sweetie?
"What the hell are you talking about?" I ask nervously. The Zora's eyes suddenly fill with tears and she begins to sob. Saria runs over to comfort her, but the others merely shake their heads.
"There she goes again," Nabooru mutters.
"Link doesn't love me anymore!" the Zora sobs, a whining tone in her voice. I am about to comment on this as Zelda intervenes.
"Link," she says softly so as not to be overheard by the distraught Zora. "Ruto is, ah. very fond of you."
"Really?" I say sarcastically, "I couldn't tell."
"Look, she is the Princess of the Zora and the Sage of Water, and we cannot get much done without her relatively calm, so could you do us a huge favor and just humor her for now?" Zelda asks.
"What??" I demand, "You want me to pretend I love her? There is no way."
"Look, it is just for now, and you do not have to pretend to love her. Just play along with whatever the Sages and I make up, alright?" Zelda looks at me hopefully.
"Fine," I sigh. "But just for today." Zelda nods her thanks and walks over to Ruto, motioning for everyone else to sit down.
"Now, Ruto," Zelda says, sitting beside her, "Link lost his memory, you know that. I am sure that when he remembers everything, he will still love you." She gives me a look over Ruto's head. I sigh and go to sit down next to Ruto. Right. Death Mountain will freeze over before I love that psychotic fish.
"Really?" Ruto asks.
"Really," Saria answers with an impish grin from her seat on my right.
"So you don't remember me?" Ruto inquires quizzically. I shake my head. "Very well," she says, disappointed but satisfied.
"Can we start now?" Impa asks in an aggravated voice.
"What exactly are we starting?" Nabooru asks. "What is our purpose here? I thought that you explained everything to him, Zelda."
"This is just as much for all of you as it is for Link," Zelda answers. "Maybe more so."
"Then why did we waste time waiting for him?" Impa asks.
"I did not want the interruption of introductions," Zelda answers coolly, giving Impa a look that says, "I didn't want Ruto flipping out like that in the middle of something."
"Now," Zelda continues, "We have had some disturbing news. Rauru says that Ganon is growing stronger. He is gathering an army in the Dark World, to be released if he is ever freed. This army is no mere mob of moblins or stalfos: they are demons and all other sorts of dark creatures. They cannot be slain by normal weapons. One can kill them only with a demon weapon or one that is of the light, like the Master Sword. Such blades are impossible to find and very difficult to make. If that army is set free, Hyrule will be destroyed."
"But it's not going to be freed," Saria says. "Isn't that the point of all this? And, for Ganon and that army to be freed, don't we have to fail in what we're trying to do?"
"I never said we were going to fail," Zelda replies. "I just thought I would let you all know that the stakes have been raised." Eyes flick about the room for a moment, resting on the occupants before Zelda continues. "Let us have a report on the state of each temple. Saria?"
"Things are. stirring in the Forest Temple," the Kokiri says, twirling a strand of green hair. Saria only plays with her hair when she's really worried. Things are worse than she is willing to reveal. "The stalfos have returned, and the maze is filled with moblins once more. There are more than before. They are beginning to wander into the Lost Woods. Some have come far to close to the village. They seem to be.waiting for something." The others nod in response to this information, and Impa begins to speak.
"The darkness is returning to the Shadow Temple. The monsters multiply by the day, and the shadow has awakened. Some roam the graveyard and even the remains of town at night. It is as Saria said: they seem to be waiting. They are not unduly hostile, as though they await the command of some general to attack." I notice that all the Sages stiffen at Impa's mention of "the shadow." Something about it stirs my memory.
"There is nothing in the Fire Temple," Darunia says, shaking his head. "I sense nothing." Several Sages breathe sighs of relief.
"That is welcome news," Zelda says, her face still taught with worry.
"The wind is icy in Zora's Domain," Ruto says softly. "I went to Lake Hylia, but I could not enter the Water Temple. A dark energy bars the entrance." Ruto no longer seems foolish. I can see a hint of the Sage she truly is.
"You think that's bad," Nabooru cuts in. "Guess who's moved back into the Spirit Temple?"
"Twinrova," I say in unison with Zelda. Everyone stares at me. I don't know where that came from, but it must be right. I remember two dead witches fading away, arguing about which is the elder. Their names come to me as well: Kotake and Koume.
"That's right," Nabooru says, rather stunned.
"But. I killed them," I say quietly. More stares.
"Memory coming back, kid?" Nabooru asks.
"Do you remember me now?" Ruto asks excitedly in her high voice, once again a silly girl.
"No," I answer coldly. Then, seeing her eyes fill with tears, I add, "I remember things a little at a time. I'm sure I'll remember you eventually."
"Well, you may have killed them once," Nabooru says as she steers the conversation back on track, "But they're back now. And worse, some of my Gerudo are siding with them," she says, her face one of disgust. "I've weeded most of the traitors out and have dealt with them accordingly," Saria and Ruto wince, "But others continue to support them. Some of them are still loyal to Ganon," the Gerudo says sadly.
"Well, it is not like we were counting on the Gerudo in the first place," Zelda says, then, seeing Nabooru's glare, "Oh, Nabooru, I did not mean that the way it sounded. It is just that were are not really depending on anyone other than ourselves at the moment." Nabooru nods her understanding.
"But shouldn't we start involving others?" Saria asks. "If everything is as you say, the monsters from the temples could attack at any moment. We will need some force to stop them. We could enlist the help of all the races of Hyrule."
"Even the Kokiri?" Ruto asks. "An army of little ten year olds from the forest, wouldn't that be cute? They'd fight to defend their home. that would be so sweet!" Saria and I both blink at the Zora princess, stunned at her idiotic statement.
"Sweet?!" I ask in near disgust. "Children dying at the hands of monsters is sweet?"
"We aren't children," Saria mutters.
"Saria, you know what I meant," she waves for me to continue and mouths "I was talking to Ruto."
"And Ruto, they can't even leave the forest," I say.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know," Ruto says, looking perplexed.
"Saria had a point. An army? Would that work?" Impa asks.
"Maybe not an army," Nabooru says, thinking out loud. "If we could train and arm the inhabitants of each area, then they could defend themselves if attacked. I would normally be in favor of an army, but we would just be lining up targets for Ganon's army to destroy. We would be outnumbered at least three to one."
"Are you sure?" I inquire. "Just how big do you estimate this army to be?"
"There are countless stalfos and moblins," Impa says. "I would guess eight thousand strong."
"And our forces?" I ask.
"Two hundred sixty nine Sheikah," Impa answers.
"Over five hundred Gerudo, but that's counting the disloyal ones," Nabooru adds.
"One hundred two Gorons," Darunia says.
"Eighty Zora," Ruto says.
"And out of the thousand or so Hylians. perhaps six hundred should be sent into battle. The others are children and elders," Zelda says.
"So," I say, doing the mental calculations, "that's a little less than fourteen hundred against their eight thousand. You were being optimistic," I say, raising an eyebrow at Nabooru.
"Pessimistic, actually. Never underestimate your opponent, kid," the Gerudo replies.
"But eight thousand to fourteen hundred are worse odds than three to one," I say in confusion.
"You count for at least two thousand, " Nabooru answers with a grin. "Or," she says, correcting herself, "You will as soon as someone teaches you how to fight." She laughs at my surprised look. "Don't looked so shocked, kid. You were an amazing fighter before you.er," she looks at Zelda, "lost your memory."
"Well, he's barley even decent now," Impa says condescendingly. "And I say barely decent because you did beat that intruder last night."
"Just so you know," Nabooru says, "That's the closest you'll ever get to a complement from old stone face here." Impa shrugs, not denying it. "Zelda," Nabooru says, turning to the princess, "who's teaching this kid how to fight, anyway?"
"Not me," Impa says. "I don't need his wisecracks."
"Wisecracks, eh? Wouldn't happen to be sarcastic, would he?" As Impa nods, Nabooru grins. "I will teach him. Who knows, I might learn something if I can jog that stubborn memory of his."
"Uh, thanks," I say uncertainly.
"No need to be worried," Nabooru says brightly. "I don't bite."
"I would not be so sure," Zelda mutters with a smile.
"Princess, I'm offended," Nabooru says melodramatically.
"I think we are done here. We have all been sitting around and waiting for a long time. Lets stop for today and continue tomorrow. If everyone could just remember to see if the can get anyone to fight when they go back home, that would be helpful." Everyone stands up and rushes for the door, eager to get out.
"I'll talk to you tonight, Link," Saria says on her way out. I head out into the hall, about to go outside, before remembering that I haven't eaten. As if reading my mind, Zelda turns around.
"There should be some food in your room, Link," she says.
"Thanks," I say, and rush up the stairs and in the direction of my room. As I walk, I hear something moving behind me. I whirl about to face the other way, but no one is there. I continue on, stopping at intervals to look for the source of the noise behind me.
Upon reaching my room, I open the door, step inside, and turn around to check the hallway one more time. Unexpectedly, I am bowled over by a blue shape. I fall onto my back with the blue thing on top of me and find myself looking Ruto in the face.
"Ruto! Get off me!" I shout.
"Sorry," the Zora begins to answer.
"Oh!" comes a voice from the door. I turn my head to see Zelda standing in the doorway looking very surprised. "I. sorry, I did not mean to interrupt. I had no idea you two were.." As Zelda trails off, I realize what this looks like.
"No, Zelda, you've got it completely wrong," I start, red with embarrassment as I push Ruto off of me. Zelda has already started down the hall by the time I stand up. "Zelda!" I call after her. She doesn't even acknowledge me.
"I'm sorry," Ruto says from the floor. "I didn't mean for you to fall over. But I don't see why she's upset. You're mine, after all." I throw Ruto a disgusted look and head down the hall in the opposite direction that Zelda went. "Link? Are you mad at me, too?" I don't answer. I just need to get out of here.