After a moment my vision cleared again. I was outside the building in which I had been only a moment ago. There seemed to be voices coming from the corral, so I went over there to see what was going on. I nearly fainted when I realized whom it was that I saw. Talon was there, holding a piece of paper that seemed to make him very upset. Ingo was there, gloating and positively beaming about something-probably what was making Talon so upset. The real source of my shock, however, was Malon. She was definitely Malon, but she was different. Older, and definitely taller: she looked about fourteen, and her hair was longer. She also was beginning to look more mature. The usual sparkle in her eyes was there, but it was not of laugher. The glitter had turned into flames of anger. There was a pure look of hatred in her eyes as she stood there, fuming at Ingo. She spoke:
"This can't be! How could it happen? Why would it happen!?"
"There it is, all signed and everything. I trust you know who signed it, don't you?" Ingo seemed more like a serpent than a Hylian as he spoke. Poor Talon was speechless. Malon was the only one to speak up: "This isn't happening! The Ranch has been in this family for generations! Who is this so-called King to tear innocent people away from their homes?" Just then a blinding flash of light burst right in front of Malon, and the figure that emerged from it grabbed her wrist in what looked to be a horribly painful grip.
"It is I." There, in horrible living reality, stood the source of the evil that had plagued my dreams for as long as I could remember. Ganondorf, the evil king of thieves, was standing in Lon Lon Ranch, holding onto my best friend. Then it hit me: this was a vision. All I could do was stand there helplessly as I witnessed this horrible event. Ganondorf spoke again: "By Royal Decree, I, King Ganondorf Dragmire, declare that from this day forth Lon Lon Ranch shall have a new owner: My faithful servant, The Great Ingo." "Nooooo!" Malon somehow managed to tear herself away from Ganondorf and turned to face him. Bristling with wrath, her bright red hair was like the tail of a comet, her eyes an inferno: I had never seen her like this before.
"How dare you consider yourself the King of Hyrule? Everybody knows that the only reason you were able to seize power is because you killed King Harkinian and Princess Zelda has vanished!" WHAT!?
"Why, you little brat! If you had only kept you mouth shut, you could have had a reasonably happy life in Kakariko village. Instead, you must stay here."
"Why is that so bad? Dad and I want to stay at the Ranch. It's our Home!"
"No, your father will not be joining you. You must stay here and repay The Great Ingo for his and his family's years of faithful service."
"What!? What do you mean by that!?"
"You heard me. From this day forth, girl, you must work for Ingo as he worked for you." He turned to Talon. "And you...you have exactly five minutes to get whatever measly possessions you have and leave. Starting NOW." In a blinding flash of light and purple smoke, he was gone. The last thing I saw in my vision was Talon leaving the Ranch, casting a regretful look at Malon over his shoulder.
The shapes swirled again, and slowly all went black. For a moment I could neither see, hear, nor feel anything. Then it seemed as if I were laying on a cloud, no, a bed. It was a very soft bed, and it was very warm. I groaned as I began to feel a throbbing in my head, as well as my knees where I had hit the ground.
"I think she's coming around."
I opened my eyes to see a bright crimson gaze staring right at me. Impa was standing over me. "Huh? What happened to me?" I asked. "Impa, how, and why, did you get here?" "Shhhhh..." she replied. "You need your rest. Sit back and don't speak. Take it easy." It was only then that I noticed Malon and Talon standing meekly in the corner. Malon was holding Talon's hand, and both of them seemed quite shaken.
Impa then began to speak. "In answer to you first question," she said, "You had a vision." "I know that," I said. "I know you do," she replied. "Let me finish. You had a vision come to you in waking life, which is why you fainted. Your body wasn't used to your visions happening in full consciousness, so it responded in the only way it knew how. Therefore, you fainted. Does that make sense?" "Yes...I think so." I answered. "Good. Now you just sit tight a moment while I speak to Talon."
Impa crossed the room and stood in front of Talon. I noticed that he seemed to shrink against the wall as she drew nearer. "You can relax," she said. "I am in no mood to fight at the moment, and if I were, you are two of the people I would fight for, not against. The same goes for the Princess, but she does not know how to fight." Both Malon and Talon relaxed a little. Suddenly, Malon jumped. "My chores!!!" She gasped. "I totally forgot!" With that she dashed out of the room and slammed the door.
Slowly and carefully Impa explained to Talon what had happened, and why. I couldn't help noticing that Impa was forced to repeat several things in order for Talon to understand him. I couldn't blame him: I bet he had known nothing about visions and powers. "Now remember," Impa finished. "Everything you saw, heard, and learned today is a secret, a very, very important secret. There is a signed Royal Decree that this secret should be kept. Do you understand?" Talon nodded. "Good. Now make sure that Malon knows this, and that that `Ingo' creature knows nothing. Got it?" Another nod. It seemed that even after Impa's reassurances he still was very uneasy around her. He handed Impa a case of six bottles of Lon Lon Milk and left. "Now, let's go." Impa tenderly lifted me out of bed and carried me to where Comet still obediently stood. Beside her was a grey horse I had never seen before. Impa spoke some words in a strange to the brown horse, and it moved out of the way. Impa set me
in Comet's saddle, then mounted behind me. We rode off, with the brown horse following closely behind.
"I didn't want to say anything before," said Impa after a short period of silence. "But the reason that you received a vision today is that your powers are growing. Unfortunately you body seems to have not yet caught up, and that is the more detailed explanation of today's events." In the silence that followed I took time to enjoy the sights. Today was the first time I had gotten a close-up look at Hyrule Field, the huge expanse of rolling green plains that nearly covered the valley that made up Central Hyrule. I took in the sweet smell of the grass and of the newly fallen rain. I noticed how more beautiful the sky was out in the open than in the castle courtyard: and it was certainly much bigger. The tiny yellow and white flowers that grew dotted all over the field looked like stars that had fallen from the nigh sky and now lay strewn about the countryside for all to admire. The singing of the birds was in perfect time with the rhythm of the horses' beating hoofs that
thundered across the serene plain. Stretches of low walls ran here and there about the field, and taller ones stood embedded in the sides of the tall bluffs that appeared in some places: the first beginnings of the foothills of the Grey Mountains that hemmed in Hyrule Field on all sides. It was said that many Sheikahs lived in villages that lay in high passes in the mountains.
"Zelda, this is very important," Impa said after a long while. "The reason I was able to come to you was another one of your powers." "What is it?" "I received a telepathic message telling me that you were in trouble. I followed the signals as they got stronger. They eventually led me to Lon Lon Ranch. Malon was very upset as she ran out of the house right in time to meet me. She told me what had happened and where you were and then ran off. I went upstairs immediately and found you lying unconscious on the floor."
"So that's how you found me?" I wondered. "But what about the telepathy?" Impa sighed. "You are not the only one of us that has special powers. I have them too." "I knew that." "I know you do, but you don't know why. Look over there." She pointed as she guided Comet eastward. I followed her gaze as we slowly stopped before a large stone bridge. A broad stone path wound its way from the bridge through a thicket of large, dark trees, which grew denser as they went back from the bridge. I noticed that a few outlying trees were growing on the nearer side of the bridge. This small forest wound its way southward, growing thicker and thicker as they went. On the further side of the bridge the road eventually ran to a tall, broad, and very steep flight of steps that wound their way steadily upward into the mountains, bordered on each side by a great wall of sheer stone. The whole staircase seemed to have been cloven from the very mountainside by the slow wearing of the flow of time,
as the staircase was very old and worn; it was cracked in many places. "It is time you saw this," Impa said. She softly spoke to Comet and both horses clattered across the bridge and down the road. Little did I know that the end of this road would lead me to the time and place where I would meet my destiny.
"This can't be! How could it happen? Why would it happen!?"
"There it is, all signed and everything. I trust you know who signed it, don't you?" Ingo seemed more like a serpent than a Hylian as he spoke. Poor Talon was speechless. Malon was the only one to speak up: "This isn't happening! The Ranch has been in this family for generations! Who is this so-called King to tear innocent people away from their homes?" Just then a blinding flash of light burst right in front of Malon, and the figure that emerged from it grabbed her wrist in what looked to be a horribly painful grip.
"It is I." There, in horrible living reality, stood the source of the evil that had plagued my dreams for as long as I could remember. Ganondorf, the evil king of thieves, was standing in Lon Lon Ranch, holding onto my best friend. Then it hit me: this was a vision. All I could do was stand there helplessly as I witnessed this horrible event. Ganondorf spoke again: "By Royal Decree, I, King Ganondorf Dragmire, declare that from this day forth Lon Lon Ranch shall have a new owner: My faithful servant, The Great Ingo." "Nooooo!" Malon somehow managed to tear herself away from Ganondorf and turned to face him. Bristling with wrath, her bright red hair was like the tail of a comet, her eyes an inferno: I had never seen her like this before.
"How dare you consider yourself the King of Hyrule? Everybody knows that the only reason you were able to seize power is because you killed King Harkinian and Princess Zelda has vanished!" WHAT!?
"Why, you little brat! If you had only kept you mouth shut, you could have had a reasonably happy life in Kakariko village. Instead, you must stay here."
"Why is that so bad? Dad and I want to stay at the Ranch. It's our Home!"
"No, your father will not be joining you. You must stay here and repay The Great Ingo for his and his family's years of faithful service."
"What!? What do you mean by that!?"
"You heard me. From this day forth, girl, you must work for Ingo as he worked for you." He turned to Talon. "And you...you have exactly five minutes to get whatever measly possessions you have and leave. Starting NOW." In a blinding flash of light and purple smoke, he was gone. The last thing I saw in my vision was Talon leaving the Ranch, casting a regretful look at Malon over his shoulder.
The shapes swirled again, and slowly all went black. For a moment I could neither see, hear, nor feel anything. Then it seemed as if I were laying on a cloud, no, a bed. It was a very soft bed, and it was very warm. I groaned as I began to feel a throbbing in my head, as well as my knees where I had hit the ground.
"I think she's coming around."
I opened my eyes to see a bright crimson gaze staring right at me. Impa was standing over me. "Huh? What happened to me?" I asked. "Impa, how, and why, did you get here?" "Shhhhh..." she replied. "You need your rest. Sit back and don't speak. Take it easy." It was only then that I noticed Malon and Talon standing meekly in the corner. Malon was holding Talon's hand, and both of them seemed quite shaken.
Impa then began to speak. "In answer to you first question," she said, "You had a vision." "I know that," I said. "I know you do," she replied. "Let me finish. You had a vision come to you in waking life, which is why you fainted. Your body wasn't used to your visions happening in full consciousness, so it responded in the only way it knew how. Therefore, you fainted. Does that make sense?" "Yes...I think so." I answered. "Good. Now you just sit tight a moment while I speak to Talon."
Impa crossed the room and stood in front of Talon. I noticed that he seemed to shrink against the wall as she drew nearer. "You can relax," she said. "I am in no mood to fight at the moment, and if I were, you are two of the people I would fight for, not against. The same goes for the Princess, but she does not know how to fight." Both Malon and Talon relaxed a little. Suddenly, Malon jumped. "My chores!!!" She gasped. "I totally forgot!" With that she dashed out of the room and slammed the door.
Slowly and carefully Impa explained to Talon what had happened, and why. I couldn't help noticing that Impa was forced to repeat several things in order for Talon to understand him. I couldn't blame him: I bet he had known nothing about visions and powers. "Now remember," Impa finished. "Everything you saw, heard, and learned today is a secret, a very, very important secret. There is a signed Royal Decree that this secret should be kept. Do you understand?" Talon nodded. "Good. Now make sure that Malon knows this, and that that `Ingo' creature knows nothing. Got it?" Another nod. It seemed that even after Impa's reassurances he still was very uneasy around her. He handed Impa a case of six bottles of Lon Lon Milk and left. "Now, let's go." Impa tenderly lifted me out of bed and carried me to where Comet still obediently stood. Beside her was a grey horse I had never seen before. Impa spoke some words in a strange to the brown horse, and it moved out of the way. Impa set me
in Comet's saddle, then mounted behind me. We rode off, with the brown horse following closely behind.
"I didn't want to say anything before," said Impa after a short period of silence. "But the reason that you received a vision today is that your powers are growing. Unfortunately you body seems to have not yet caught up, and that is the more detailed explanation of today's events." In the silence that followed I took time to enjoy the sights. Today was the first time I had gotten a close-up look at Hyrule Field, the huge expanse of rolling green plains that nearly covered the valley that made up Central Hyrule. I took in the sweet smell of the grass and of the newly fallen rain. I noticed how more beautiful the sky was out in the open than in the castle courtyard: and it was certainly much bigger. The tiny yellow and white flowers that grew dotted all over the field looked like stars that had fallen from the nigh sky and now lay strewn about the countryside for all to admire. The singing of the birds was in perfect time with the rhythm of the horses' beating hoofs that
thundered across the serene plain. Stretches of low walls ran here and there about the field, and taller ones stood embedded in the sides of the tall bluffs that appeared in some places: the first beginnings of the foothills of the Grey Mountains that hemmed in Hyrule Field on all sides. It was said that many Sheikahs lived in villages that lay in high passes in the mountains.
"Zelda, this is very important," Impa said after a long while. "The reason I was able to come to you was another one of your powers." "What is it?" "I received a telepathic message telling me that you were in trouble. I followed the signals as they got stronger. They eventually led me to Lon Lon Ranch. Malon was very upset as she ran out of the house right in time to meet me. She told me what had happened and where you were and then ran off. I went upstairs immediately and found you lying unconscious on the floor."
"So that's how you found me?" I wondered. "But what about the telepathy?" Impa sighed. "You are not the only one of us that has special powers. I have them too." "I knew that." "I know you do, but you don't know why. Look over there." She pointed as she guided Comet eastward. I followed her gaze as we slowly stopped before a large stone bridge. A broad stone path wound its way from the bridge through a thicket of large, dark trees, which grew denser as they went back from the bridge. I noticed that a few outlying trees were growing on the nearer side of the bridge. This small forest wound its way southward, growing thicker and thicker as they went. On the further side of the bridge the road eventually ran to a tall, broad, and very steep flight of steps that wound their way steadily upward into the mountains, bordered on each side by a great wall of sheer stone. The whole staircase seemed to have been cloven from the very mountainside by the slow wearing of the flow of time,
as the staircase was very old and worn; it was cracked in many places. "It is time you saw this," Impa said. She softly spoke to Comet and both horses clattered across the bridge and down the road. Little did I know that the end of this road would lead me to the time and place where I would meet my destiny.