Whoa it's been along time. I'm SOOOOOOO sorry for not updating. Even though I think I have a total ot 2 fans on my author alert. Not that I think I'm deserving of it mind you. NEway, hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: My first one. SHH! Don't tell the nice people in charge. I don't own Zelda and that goes for anything and everything else I've written for this site.

Sheikah Practice

The day was so early when Zelda awoke that not even the birds had started their songs; the sky was pitch black and the moon was full. Zelda knew it was early (duh) but she didn't go back to bed. Instead she went towards her armoire and pulled out from the back drawer and outfit not meant for princesses. It had brown leather breeches and a cotton short-sleeved shirt. She dug further for her belt and boots. These were Zelda's training clothes. She quickly dressed and snuck out or the castle to the training grounds behind the stable.

Now before anyone gets lost, let us get a few things straight. Impa, being Zelda's Caretaker, had always been a little leery of what would happen if she weren't there to take care of her. So when she felt the Princess was old enough, around the age of ten, she took her out behind the stables in an old stallion show-ring to act as a sort of training ground. The grounds were nothing much really. It was a dirt circle with a wooden railing enclosing it and a broken down pole that was used to show he stallions, not to mention a few enchantments complementary of old Sheikah magic.

Now that Impa was gone again, Zelda felt obligated to keep up the training. She knew it would be a challenge without Impa to help her, but she also know that if she didn't her skills (or lack thereof) would degrade. She warmed up in her usual manner by jogging around the fenced area several times to get her blood moving. Then to relax her heart and to prevent cramps she stretched. Her body, to say the least, was unimpressed with her. It had been two weeks since she had last trained. Mostly because of her magic studies. She must learn to balance her time more efficiently.

When she was through stretching she started her real training. Hmm, she thought, What should I do first? She pondered this for a while when it occurred to her. Kicks! She practiced her kicks; her high ones, her low ones, left leg, right leg. "Practice with both legs!" Impa would say to her, "This way you won't obtain a weak side." She stopped practiced her arm movements, and when she finished, she was sweating thoroughly. She felt unsatisfied though. She could practice this all day but it wouldn't be good enough unless she tried them in battle. If Impa was around she would battle with her. But since this wasn't she case, she decided to use an enchantment.

When Impa would test her, she would conjure up one of the several spells on the grounds and up would spring several Stalchildren. This being the only spell she used, it didn't take long for her to pick up the words for her own personal use.. She muttered the ancient text and rising from the ground came a dozen stalchildren. Immediately, they came to her like flies to honey. Granted, they were sinister flies and she was a poison honey.

Zelda kicked the first creature in the sternum, throwing it into the other creatures behind it. She repeated this maneuver several times to others until they caught on! Damn it! Her tactics were slush without Impa. What would she do? Fight them on their level! Instantly the dropped to the ground kicking one of them behind the knees, shattering its shin bone she got up and stomped its spine.

Suddenly a stalchild leaped from behind wrapping its bony arms around her neck. A crude maneuver for choking, but effective. Zelda felt her air supply being cut off. She tried to pry the monster from off her neck but her efforts were in vain. The only way to get the monster off her back was to hit it against something. But what? Then, like a point of enlightenment, the realized what. The pole! She fought her way as well as she could and hit her back against the pole. Its grip held good. Suddenly, to add to her troubles, another stalchild wrapped itself around her leg and sunk its teeth into her thigh. Zelda gave a pained cry. She threw her leg around to shake off the monster but to no avail.

This is it, she thought. This is how I'm going to die. Princess' Death by Stalchildren! How ironic. I help fight the greatest evil just to be killed by the smallest. C'mon Zelda! Think! What can you do to stop this? The princess looked down and saw the answer. Her hands weren't bound. With a new found strength, she pried the arms of the vile creature and threw it against the pole, the skeleton disassembled with the single blow. Now for the other one, she thought. Its teeth were still sunk in her leg so she could no rip it off. She looked around for options. It was possible to attempt a suicide kick against the pole, which seemed to be her newfound friend. If it failed though, her leg would be broken. Oh well, she'd be no worse off. Successfully she performed it She kicked the post and shattered its spine. She turned around for the rest but as fate would have it she tripped and fell top the ground. Goddesses! He was not having any luck! One by one the creatures piled on top of her: scratching her, biting her, inflicting all types of pain upon her. All her limbs were bound this time. She couldn't see, or breathe and all she heard was the gnarling noises of the nauseating monsters. She could still feel though; and besides the pain the stalchildren were inflicting on her, she thought she felt the ground vibrate.

Link, who had followed and observed her, leaped into action. His sword unsheathed, he swung it down on the top stalchild! Instantly the others looked in his direction. He took another swing and another. The creatures now saw him as a thereat. They started towards and Link struck them down individually until there weren't any left. He turned to Zelda to see if she was all right. Truth be told she looked terrible. But that was okay. What in the world made her do an act like that? Fighting all by herself! It was ludicrous. She always thought things out first.

Maybe that's what made her do it, he thought.

Zelda Struggled to her feet, her arms bleeding ad her muscles weakened, not to mention the gash in her thigh. The monster must've jabbed an artery. Great, she thought. Right in front of Link too. After all this time she thought she had improved. Turns out she was wrong.

Upon standing she realized how much blood she was losing. Link noticed it too and rushed too her.

"You're a mess," he told her.

"Thanks for the observation," she retorted.

" Your gratitude is overwhelming. Do you need help?"

"Only to my room."

"Ah! I get to see your lovely room once again in the darkness."

"Just help me while I limp," Zelda said irritably. Her embarrassment didn't put her in the best of moods.

Up and up the two went to the Princesses chambers, each step Zelda lost more and more blood. Link took notice to this. Upon reaching her room he laid Zelda on the bed and he turned to her wash basin, intending to wash her wounds. Then he had a thought.

"If you'll wait there I can grab a bottle of red potion."

"No need," she replied and suddenly he heard a rip! He turned to her and saw her hands over the gash an her thigh, a strange light emanating from them. Watching in total amazement Link saw the wound getting smaller and smaller till there was nothing left.

"You can heal," he whispered unknowingly.

"Only myself. I've never done it on others. It takes a lot of magic, I don't think I have that kind of power."

Recognizing Zelda's self-esteem was not at his highest, Link felt genuinely sympathetic for her. Which was odd for him since he usually had trouble with emotions. Period. But seeing Zelda like this, he couldn't stand it. He looked at Zelda her tenderly and saw her soft features turn into a pained expression. He placed his hand on her pale cheek and sat next to her. He brought her face up so that their eyes met.

"I think you have that kind of power. I think you can do anything," he spoke softly.

"How do you know?" she asked.

"I just do. You never cease to amaze me. You always give up. It's like you live by a certain philosophy that gives you determination in a different light. I know this because it's like knowing the sun will always rise, I have faith in you."

A single tear streamed down Zelda's cheek. The Hero of Time stroked it away tenderly with his thumb. Zelda smiled weakly. Her eyes looked no longer pained but joyful. She put her hand on his and closed her eyes, reveling the moment.

"Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you."

"Know this. I will always be here for you."

"I know. I've always known."

"You better go back to sleep. Get your strength up. We'll talk more in the morning"

"All right," she whispered.

"Sweet dreams," and leaned over her her and kissed her forehead. Zelda felt warmth from his body and took a deep breath. When she opened her eyes he was gone. The warmth Link gave her was still there in her heart, and briefly she felt truly happy with no cares. That was short-lived when she remembered she was still scratched up. Se went to her mirror and healed her and the rest of her body. She knew if she waited to long body would take over the natural healing processes and her magic would be useless. She changed back into her nightgown and took a look outside. It was still dark. She returned to her bed and wrapped herself up in the soft covers and dreamt her own dreams. Link being the main subject.

It always seemed as if dawn was the first to reach Lon Lon Ranch. Malon could hardly believe it was morning already. She got up, dressed and groomed for the new day. But before she started her chores she grabbed a cucco and headed towards her father's room to wake him, knowing if she didn't do it now he'd sleep till noon. When she opened the door though, she received a shock. Her father was already up.

"You okay Pa?" she asked worriedly. (Hint: Southwestern accent. Think Cowgirl).

"I don't feel well. I think I have a cold," Talon answered.

Malon put down the cucco and felt her father's forehead. "You do feel rather warm. Do you hurt anywhere?"

"My throat," he replied.

"Well, why don't you go back to bed and I'll bring you some broth, all right?"

"No, I can't do that! What about the chores! I got work to do!"

"Would you settle down Pa! Ingo and I will double your chores. Not to mention Link is coming here to borrow a bottle, I'll have him pull his weight. Don't you worry about a thing. Now is there anything else?"

"Yeah," he hushed his voice, "is there anything behind me?"

Malon gave him a puzzled look.

"Just look wouldya?"

Malon did as she was told, "I don't see anything. Why do ya ask?"

"It's just, well, the reason I woke up was I felt like someone was string at me real hard, like I was being watched or something."

Malon raised an eyebrow. Maybe her father had worse fever than she thought. "I'll bring you some broth," then left.

As soon as she shut the door, Talon felt a painful surge through him. He felt his own will power being drained. He struggled continuously. But his efforts were lacking. He closed his eyes to fight some more and saw an image being burnt into his head. It was an image of a sinister looking eye, ever watchful. Feeling drained he dropped to the floor and with one last effort fought against this unknown power, then he passed out. Little did he know, his last conscious effort triggered his dormant magic within, and continued to fight for him. But it won't be enough to save him. He needed more.

Deep within the servant's corridors of Hyrule Castle, Roxa rubbed the back of her head. She had just been blasted into a wall ten feet from her cauldron.

"Shit!" she spatted. "These Hylians have magic."

Well! Tell me what you think? I'll reply to those who review as you'll see with those who have below.

LadyAkki45: I cannot thank you enough for putting me on you recommended story of the day. It really forced me to get off my lazy butt and get to work. Thanx!

jenni123: Thank you!

Dj SpRiTe: Thank you. Unfortuantely I get writer's block so updating and soon have never made it into my vacab. But I'll try.

Gosh I'm feeling bad for not updating. Anyway...

Rika: I'm glad you like it. Hopefully you haven't forgetten about it. hahaha.

Niahm nic Raghnall: Wha't your new name? Is it foreign? Anyway thanx for reviewing.