At the end of the world in a mossy grotto stood a cottage draped with heavy vines and lined with thickets of thorn-bush. It was green and pretty and sat behind magic so thick you would need the world's sharpest sword to cut it, and even then you might faint from fever, as the Gerudo's companions had.
She was from one of the crown-aligned factions, and her bejeweled fingers laced around the runaway Princess Zelda's arm, and she dragged the girl across the grotto. Zelda, for her part, was livid at the injustice of her foiled attempt at escape.
When the guard and girl reached the cottage doorway, Impa crossed her arms and grabbed hold of her ward.
"Foolish child." The grotto sang with a slap across the cheek, and the Gerudo bit her lip behind her veil. To strike the Princess was an act punishable by death, even for one so beloved as Impa. But the Princess only cowered, fat teardrops falling onto the rough fabric of her shirt.
"Sheikah," The Gerudo muttered, tentatively, "Wild hearts don't belong in cages, even the royal ones-"
Impa's gaze remained on Zelda.
"There is no royalty here."
The Gerudo furrowed her eyebrows, but before she could ask for clarity, two blades flew - one lodged itself between her lips, the other pierced her throat. And as blood poured from her mouth and her vision faded black, she only knew a pair of eyes - red, red eyes.
The firelight was warm but Zelda shivered beneath her blanket. Impa poured tea from an iron kettle and pressed the steaming cup into Zelda's hand.
"She was a friend," the Princess said, finally, harshly, staring her mentor down. "She could have delivered me to Ganondorf, but she brought me back."
"Yes, and she was the last to know your location," Impa said coolly, pouring herself a cup of tea and meeting Zelda's eye. "Now, it is only me."
The Sheikah leaned back in her chair.
"Would you like to know what happened to the rest of them?"
"No," Zelda replied, though it was useless to protest.
"I cut open two throats and a stomach. And you will do the same to others."
And from deep within her green prison, Princess Zelda cried. She cried until her body broke and blood spilled from her eyes. Her hands burned like fire and her body twisted on the ground, and somewhere in the hours of the night, blue eyes shut and red eyes opened wide.
Impa was right. There was no royalty here.
