((Disclaimer: blah-blah, Zelda characters not mine, Kiren, Impa II, Moth,
(and Fara, sort of) are.))
THE LOST WOODS
~So much for Mido's guidance,~ thought Impa, as they took another wrong turn and found themselves at the entrance to the forest for the fifth time. The Kokiri leader had fled with the rest of his gang. She sensed Farore's impatience and spoke up, "Mam, couldn't we go get a Kokiri to help?"
Zelda sighed, "We tried that Impa, but they've all locked themselves in their houses."
Impa turned to the fairy, and sent a thought to her, ~Goddess, can you talk to Saria?~
Farore's voice sounded in Impa' head only, ~Call me Fara instead, little one. Why don't you ask Zelda for the Ocarina?~ she hinted.
Impa's face lit up, and Moth looked at her strangely, "What is it, Princess?"
"Mam, can I borrow your Ocarina, please?"
Zelda fished in her pocket and handed over the Ocarina of Time. The two adults watched as Impa placed the instrument to her lips and, after a few tries, played the correct notes. The tiny glowing fairies around them danced in the air as Saria's Song filled the clearing. Zelda smiled proudly and hugged her daughter.
*Link? It's Saria, can you hear me?*
The voice of Saria echoed, and Zelda answered, willing her voice to stop trembling at the mention of his name.
"Saria, it's Zelda. We need to see you; can you play for us so we may follow the music?"
*Sure, no problem, but where's Link?* Saria's voice held concern. Impa bit her lip.
"I'll tell you about it when we get there. Now, please, just play." Zelda's voice had taken a commanding tone. Impa had the sensation of Saria nodding, and soon the bright notes of the Sage's Ocarina drifted through the woods. Impa noticed Farore, or Fara, as she now must call her, bobbing gently in time. Moth's ears were sharper from his training, and he led them skilfully through the forest following the lively tune. They passed a long tunnel leading down into the earth, and a deep pool headed by an altar, and Moth explained the shortcuts to Impa.
"That one leads to the Goron Village, on Death Mountain. That's in Kakariko. Oh by the way, Zelda, my mother closed Kakariko again, after what happened to the well last time. She told me she had to guard it closely and sent me after you."
Zelda merely nodded and grabbed Moth's arm as he nearly led them down the wrong passage.
Moth continued with his explanation, "That one, if you dive deep enough, will take you to the Zora River." Impa filed the knowledge away.
They eventually came out into the Forest Meadow, and were surprised to see the maze from previous years had all but disappeared, save a few moss- covered ruins. The air was thick beyond the gateway with what appeared to be thick smoke. Although Saria's Song still filled the air, a feeling of dread crept up Impa's spine as they stepped cautiously closer. Fara danced away ahead to look.
Moth and Zelda spun at the same time as, with a chilling howl, a Wolfos erupted from the earth in a shower of soil and growled at them. Its yellow eyes locked onto the Princess, and it charged. Fara shot back and hovered around the wolf's head, and it slowed and stopped and pawed at the air as the light from the fairy confused it. This gave Impa time to aim her bow and release an arrow. The tip struck the creature between the eyes, and after Zelda whipped its rear with a long chain, it gave another yowl and vanished into the earth again in a cloud of smoke and dust.
Impa dropped her bow-arm and let herself breath deeply again, feeling the blood racing in her body. Moth came over to her, "Well shot, lass. There's not much I can teach you about the art of using a bow and arrow. Fancy teaching me?"
***
Zelda stood at the gateway by the edge of the meadow, squinting across into the mists that now covered it. Moth strained his strange red eyes too, but neither of them could see a thing. Fara tried to enter the swirling clouds, but fluttered back telling Impa she couldn't; something was blocking the way. In desperation, Moth flung a sharpened disc into the fog, and it sparked as it cut through the clouds. The sound it made as it flew through the air grew fainter, then louder and louder as eventually the missile shot back at him. He ducked and the disc thudded into a tree behind him. He and Zelda exchanged looks.
Impa choked back a scream. She had just glimpsed a lantern, floating at the end of a ghostly rotting arm. ~I saw that too, Impa. There're Poes in there. Big ones.~ Fara informed her. Shaking, Impa tugged her mother's clothing and told her and Moth.
Moth's face fell. "What good's steel against ghosts?" he said in desperation, gesturing to the various weapons concealed on his person. Zelda grinned, "Impa, can I use an arrow?"
Impa nodded, looking slightly puzzled. Zelda made a complicated movement with her hands and wrists, then gestured to Impa to pass the arrow. She did so, and Zelda manipulated the arrow until the tip rested in the ball of yellow she had conjured. Realisation dawned on Moth, who exclaimed, "Light Arrows!"
Zelda nodded and, borrowing the bow, fitted the arrow, sighted, and let it fly. The arrow streaked through the mists and parted them; shrieks and screams of dismay and terror came from the clouds. Moth pushed Impa forwards, "Run! Quickly, before it closes in again!"
The three of them sped between the fog. At one point, a more adventurous Poe poked its head from the smog and was about to go for them. Moth stuck a fistful of needles in its face and Impa brained it with her bow, and after that no more Poes troubled them.
Moth had just reached the steps leading up to the Temple when the path in the mist vanished, swallowed up in black clouds. He leapt onto the third step as an arm stretched from the mist and grabbed at his clothing. Impa gasped in horror, but all the same thwacked it with her bow. The hand withdrew, releasing his clothing but leaving a disgusting sticky stain. Moth shot her grateful look as they climbed the steps and ran through the passage without meeting any other terrors.
Saria leapt from her customary log and ran to greet them. Impa was amazed to find her only slightly taller than she, and even more taken aback to find Moth and Zelda treated Saria with more respect than she had ever received. They both bowed, and Impa copied them and was surprised to find Saria jump over to her and hug her tightly.
"Impa! I waited so long to meet you!"
Impa managed a smile, "I wanted to meet you too, Saria."
Fara hovered around her head, and seemed to be conversing animatedly with Saria's pink-tinged fairy. In a short moment of silence, both children knew a little more about the other via their fairy partners. Saria wept openly for Link, and this set Impa off again. Moth comforted them all, for Zelda, although not showing her grief, felt his absence all the more keenly. A kneeling Moth had one arm around the Forest Sage, whilst Zelda hugged Impa to her.
Moth felt a little awkward amongst these three grieving souls. The Sheikah boy looked up from the Kokiri and spoke to them all gently, "Look, I know this is hard for everyone, but I don't think Link would object to a little more action being taken around here, hmm?"
His words had the desired effect, and Saria left his shoulder and dried her face. Impa sniffed and wiped her eyes also, and Zelda sent him a relieved look.
Saria produced the twin of her Ocarina from her tunic pocket and pressed it into Impa's trembling hands, "Take it, Impa. You know Saria's Song; learn many, many more."
Impa took the gift and placed it carefully into her pocket, along with the fragments of Farore's nut.
Moth drew Zelda aside and spoke to her in quick low tones that were hard to catch. Impa stood awkwardly as they conversed. She looked questioningly at Saria, who shrugged. Saria called her fairy with a mischievous grin and sent him soaring over to listen. Neither Sheikah heeded the presence of the fairy, and Saria related what they were saying in a whisper to Impa, "Moth wants to stay with you, and Zelda needs to round up the other Sages. I think Moth is going to take you on as his apprentice, Impa! You're lucky, he's quite good looking."
Impa poked her in the ribs with a smile, dually wondering with delight at the Sage's nerve to listen to their whispers. Moth seemed to notice they were being eavesdropped on and flashed a grin to Impa. She smiled in return, feeling a lot better now she would stay with Moth.
Eventually Zelda nodded, came back over to Impa and hugged her. She beckoned to Saria, then flashed a Deku Nut to the soil and vanished. Saria disappeared in the same instant and the glade was silent. Moth raised a brow at Impa, "Want to learn how to do that first?"
Impa nodded quickly. Moth reached in a pocket and showed Impa a small leather bag full of seeds. "Take 'em, Princess. When the time comes, grab one, hold the clearest picture in your mind of the exact place you'd like to end up, then crack the nut on the ground. If you're concentrating hard enough, you should end up where you wanted to be."
"What happens if you're not concentrating hard enough?" asked Impa, who liked to know the risks.
Moth smiled wryly, "That depends. Some lesser-trained Sheikah have ended up in Termina; others - who knows."
"Did they get back OK?"
"Eventually."
Impa stared hard at the innocent little bag, then accepted it and tied it to her waistband. Moth looked her up and down critically. "You're going to need some new gear, I'm afraid. You'll have to come with me to Kakariko. My mother can kit you out - she got Zelda's clothes for her. Ever been there before?"
Impa nodded. Moth grinned, "See you there!" He flashed a nut to the soil and was gone.
Impa stood uncertainly for a little while. Just to be on the safe side, she stared around her and memorised the exact place in the glade she stood now, for a return journey in case it all went horribly wrong. Then she took a deep breath, clutched a nut tightly, and tried to hold a picture of the village in her mind. She'd only been once, and the picture was fuzzy at the edges. Fara whispered in her head, ~Concentrate, little one. You can do it!~ Impa willed the picture clear and threw the nut to the ground.
***
Impa opened her eyes. She was standing under a twisted tree in the middle of a gently sloping patch of grass. A bold Cucco pecked at her boot. ~You made it, Impa!~ cried Fara joyfully. Impa looked up from the bird to see Moth standing on the grass near her, a smile on his ashen features. "Well done! And not even trained properly either! You'll make a fine Sheikah, Impa, my lass." Impa managed a grin before the tiredness and grief and pain of what had happened that day finally caught up with her little body. Moth caught her as she fell to her knees, sobbing quietly in half-sleep. . .
***
THE LOST WOODS
~So much for Mido's guidance,~ thought Impa, as they took another wrong turn and found themselves at the entrance to the forest for the fifth time. The Kokiri leader had fled with the rest of his gang. She sensed Farore's impatience and spoke up, "Mam, couldn't we go get a Kokiri to help?"
Zelda sighed, "We tried that Impa, but they've all locked themselves in their houses."
Impa turned to the fairy, and sent a thought to her, ~Goddess, can you talk to Saria?~
Farore's voice sounded in Impa' head only, ~Call me Fara instead, little one. Why don't you ask Zelda for the Ocarina?~ she hinted.
Impa's face lit up, and Moth looked at her strangely, "What is it, Princess?"
"Mam, can I borrow your Ocarina, please?"
Zelda fished in her pocket and handed over the Ocarina of Time. The two adults watched as Impa placed the instrument to her lips and, after a few tries, played the correct notes. The tiny glowing fairies around them danced in the air as Saria's Song filled the clearing. Zelda smiled proudly and hugged her daughter.
*Link? It's Saria, can you hear me?*
The voice of Saria echoed, and Zelda answered, willing her voice to stop trembling at the mention of his name.
"Saria, it's Zelda. We need to see you; can you play for us so we may follow the music?"
*Sure, no problem, but where's Link?* Saria's voice held concern. Impa bit her lip.
"I'll tell you about it when we get there. Now, please, just play." Zelda's voice had taken a commanding tone. Impa had the sensation of Saria nodding, and soon the bright notes of the Sage's Ocarina drifted through the woods. Impa noticed Farore, or Fara, as she now must call her, bobbing gently in time. Moth's ears were sharper from his training, and he led them skilfully through the forest following the lively tune. They passed a long tunnel leading down into the earth, and a deep pool headed by an altar, and Moth explained the shortcuts to Impa.
"That one leads to the Goron Village, on Death Mountain. That's in Kakariko. Oh by the way, Zelda, my mother closed Kakariko again, after what happened to the well last time. She told me she had to guard it closely and sent me after you."
Zelda merely nodded and grabbed Moth's arm as he nearly led them down the wrong passage.
Moth continued with his explanation, "That one, if you dive deep enough, will take you to the Zora River." Impa filed the knowledge away.
They eventually came out into the Forest Meadow, and were surprised to see the maze from previous years had all but disappeared, save a few moss- covered ruins. The air was thick beyond the gateway with what appeared to be thick smoke. Although Saria's Song still filled the air, a feeling of dread crept up Impa's spine as they stepped cautiously closer. Fara danced away ahead to look.
Moth and Zelda spun at the same time as, with a chilling howl, a Wolfos erupted from the earth in a shower of soil and growled at them. Its yellow eyes locked onto the Princess, and it charged. Fara shot back and hovered around the wolf's head, and it slowed and stopped and pawed at the air as the light from the fairy confused it. This gave Impa time to aim her bow and release an arrow. The tip struck the creature between the eyes, and after Zelda whipped its rear with a long chain, it gave another yowl and vanished into the earth again in a cloud of smoke and dust.
Impa dropped her bow-arm and let herself breath deeply again, feeling the blood racing in her body. Moth came over to her, "Well shot, lass. There's not much I can teach you about the art of using a bow and arrow. Fancy teaching me?"
***
Zelda stood at the gateway by the edge of the meadow, squinting across into the mists that now covered it. Moth strained his strange red eyes too, but neither of them could see a thing. Fara tried to enter the swirling clouds, but fluttered back telling Impa she couldn't; something was blocking the way. In desperation, Moth flung a sharpened disc into the fog, and it sparked as it cut through the clouds. The sound it made as it flew through the air grew fainter, then louder and louder as eventually the missile shot back at him. He ducked and the disc thudded into a tree behind him. He and Zelda exchanged looks.
Impa choked back a scream. She had just glimpsed a lantern, floating at the end of a ghostly rotting arm. ~I saw that too, Impa. There're Poes in there. Big ones.~ Fara informed her. Shaking, Impa tugged her mother's clothing and told her and Moth.
Moth's face fell. "What good's steel against ghosts?" he said in desperation, gesturing to the various weapons concealed on his person. Zelda grinned, "Impa, can I use an arrow?"
Impa nodded, looking slightly puzzled. Zelda made a complicated movement with her hands and wrists, then gestured to Impa to pass the arrow. She did so, and Zelda manipulated the arrow until the tip rested in the ball of yellow she had conjured. Realisation dawned on Moth, who exclaimed, "Light Arrows!"
Zelda nodded and, borrowing the bow, fitted the arrow, sighted, and let it fly. The arrow streaked through the mists and parted them; shrieks and screams of dismay and terror came from the clouds. Moth pushed Impa forwards, "Run! Quickly, before it closes in again!"
The three of them sped between the fog. At one point, a more adventurous Poe poked its head from the smog and was about to go for them. Moth stuck a fistful of needles in its face and Impa brained it with her bow, and after that no more Poes troubled them.
Moth had just reached the steps leading up to the Temple when the path in the mist vanished, swallowed up in black clouds. He leapt onto the third step as an arm stretched from the mist and grabbed at his clothing. Impa gasped in horror, but all the same thwacked it with her bow. The hand withdrew, releasing his clothing but leaving a disgusting sticky stain. Moth shot her grateful look as they climbed the steps and ran through the passage without meeting any other terrors.
Saria leapt from her customary log and ran to greet them. Impa was amazed to find her only slightly taller than she, and even more taken aback to find Moth and Zelda treated Saria with more respect than she had ever received. They both bowed, and Impa copied them and was surprised to find Saria jump over to her and hug her tightly.
"Impa! I waited so long to meet you!"
Impa managed a smile, "I wanted to meet you too, Saria."
Fara hovered around her head, and seemed to be conversing animatedly with Saria's pink-tinged fairy. In a short moment of silence, both children knew a little more about the other via their fairy partners. Saria wept openly for Link, and this set Impa off again. Moth comforted them all, for Zelda, although not showing her grief, felt his absence all the more keenly. A kneeling Moth had one arm around the Forest Sage, whilst Zelda hugged Impa to her.
Moth felt a little awkward amongst these three grieving souls. The Sheikah boy looked up from the Kokiri and spoke to them all gently, "Look, I know this is hard for everyone, but I don't think Link would object to a little more action being taken around here, hmm?"
His words had the desired effect, and Saria left his shoulder and dried her face. Impa sniffed and wiped her eyes also, and Zelda sent him a relieved look.
Saria produced the twin of her Ocarina from her tunic pocket and pressed it into Impa's trembling hands, "Take it, Impa. You know Saria's Song; learn many, many more."
Impa took the gift and placed it carefully into her pocket, along with the fragments of Farore's nut.
Moth drew Zelda aside and spoke to her in quick low tones that were hard to catch. Impa stood awkwardly as they conversed. She looked questioningly at Saria, who shrugged. Saria called her fairy with a mischievous grin and sent him soaring over to listen. Neither Sheikah heeded the presence of the fairy, and Saria related what they were saying in a whisper to Impa, "Moth wants to stay with you, and Zelda needs to round up the other Sages. I think Moth is going to take you on as his apprentice, Impa! You're lucky, he's quite good looking."
Impa poked her in the ribs with a smile, dually wondering with delight at the Sage's nerve to listen to their whispers. Moth seemed to notice they were being eavesdropped on and flashed a grin to Impa. She smiled in return, feeling a lot better now she would stay with Moth.
Eventually Zelda nodded, came back over to Impa and hugged her. She beckoned to Saria, then flashed a Deku Nut to the soil and vanished. Saria disappeared in the same instant and the glade was silent. Moth raised a brow at Impa, "Want to learn how to do that first?"
Impa nodded quickly. Moth reached in a pocket and showed Impa a small leather bag full of seeds. "Take 'em, Princess. When the time comes, grab one, hold the clearest picture in your mind of the exact place you'd like to end up, then crack the nut on the ground. If you're concentrating hard enough, you should end up where you wanted to be."
"What happens if you're not concentrating hard enough?" asked Impa, who liked to know the risks.
Moth smiled wryly, "That depends. Some lesser-trained Sheikah have ended up in Termina; others - who knows."
"Did they get back OK?"
"Eventually."
Impa stared hard at the innocent little bag, then accepted it and tied it to her waistband. Moth looked her up and down critically. "You're going to need some new gear, I'm afraid. You'll have to come with me to Kakariko. My mother can kit you out - she got Zelda's clothes for her. Ever been there before?"
Impa nodded. Moth grinned, "See you there!" He flashed a nut to the soil and was gone.
Impa stood uncertainly for a little while. Just to be on the safe side, she stared around her and memorised the exact place in the glade she stood now, for a return journey in case it all went horribly wrong. Then she took a deep breath, clutched a nut tightly, and tried to hold a picture of the village in her mind. She'd only been once, and the picture was fuzzy at the edges. Fara whispered in her head, ~Concentrate, little one. You can do it!~ Impa willed the picture clear and threw the nut to the ground.
***
Impa opened her eyes. She was standing under a twisted tree in the middle of a gently sloping patch of grass. A bold Cucco pecked at her boot. ~You made it, Impa!~ cried Fara joyfully. Impa looked up from the bird to see Moth standing on the grass near her, a smile on his ashen features. "Well done! And not even trained properly either! You'll make a fine Sheikah, Impa, my lass." Impa managed a grin before the tiredness and grief and pain of what had happened that day finally caught up with her little body. Moth caught her as she fell to her knees, sobbing quietly in half-sleep. . .
***