Chapter Seven

"I need everyone in Hyrule looking for her," said the King. "She ran away from us! I need her back here."

"Don't bother," said Link as he raised himself from the couch. "Didn't you hear anything I told you last night? She's been possessed by evil. And there's nothing we can do to stop that except to destroy Ida Dragmire." He gestured him to come closer. "And I know Truda is just Ida Dragmire in disguise."

"Don't be silly, Link," he said. "Truda is just a respectful member of our service crew."

"Don't be so easily deceived."

The King looked at Link hard. He only looked back the same way. "Okay. Guards! Lock up Truda until we could find out who is behind all this nonsense."

Link replied with the same smile Zelda gave to him two nights ago.

Impa stared out the window from her room. She was trying to sense where Zelda was, but now that she was evil, she could no longer do so. She looked out of the window. "Zelda...we want you home. Link...he needs you the most. And your father is worrying so much. Please come home. Zelda, where are you?"

"I'm right here," came a voice from behind. But before Impa could wheel around to confirm it was Zelda, a hand pressed against her mouth. "If you scream, I'll kill you. You promise you won't scream?" She showed Impa her hatchet. Impa nodded and Zelda let her mouth go free.

"Zelda...why are you doing this? Why are you acting so evil?"

"I thought you were smarter than that, Impa," she said whirling in front of her. "Ask Link - he knows. But I guess you won't get it. You were always the stupid one. Well, anyway...I need you to tell Link to meet me at the front of where his house used to be at night, you hear? And nothing else. Don't tell him anything else or I'll kill you while you sleep."

"Oh, Zelda, why not kill her right now?" said an evil voice from the doorway. Impa slowly turned to meet face to face with Ida Dragmire. "You have the weapons and the chance right now."

"I'm sorry, Master Ida, but I'd like to give the helpers a chance to live."

"Helpers?"

"She's the one who's going to tell Link where to meet us. If I kill her, how is he going to come to us?"

"I knew you would be a big use to me, Zelda."

"A use?" screamed Impa as she began to walk sharply to her. "You're using Zelda to get the Master Sword because she's knows the one who owns it. Why couldn't you have just taken me?"

"I could have taken you, but I just needed someone that Link wouldn't kill. He can't kill Zelda. His love for her is too strong for him to fight her. That's why I chose her. And besides, she's the princess. She's very important to everyone. If I chose you, no one would care."

Impa looked right through her. "There's more to this than just getting the Master Sword, isn't there?"

"Zelda, you were wrong. Impa isn't the stupid one. Yes, there is more to this then just the Master Sword. But that's for you to find out soon." She smiled. "Come Zelda, we must prepare for battle."

"Yes, Master Ida." And they left by jumping out the window. Impa, frightened and concerned, ran to find Link to give him the news.

Chapter Eight

"So how is this going to work again, Zelda?" asked Ida as she plucked at her plate of dried worms. "Link won't go down easily. He has already dodged three attacks."

"Three?" said Zelda trying to figure out the math.

"Three. One when we tried to blow up his village, but he was out. Two, you stabbed him twice, but he survived. And three when you numbed his body and tried to stab him then, but he screamed."

"Oh, yeah," she frowned. "Well, he's weakened pretty good, and he has no chance when it's one against three."

"She invited me," said Ganondorf who was sitting at the end of the table. "Link is going down this time. And I'm not holding back anything."

"Honey, you never did," said Ida.

"I know, but at least he isn't going to win. I can at last be King of Hyrule!"

"And I'll be the queen."

Zelda looked down. "And I'll just remain the princess."

"But..." said Ida, "Ganondorf, may I see you for a moment outside."

"Sure," he said. They walked outside. "What's up?"

"It's Zelda."

"What about her?"

"We've both agreed to change her back once Link is dead. But I mean, come on! Look how far she's gotten us. If it weren't for her, this wouldn't be happening. So let's just not.She can be the princess. Our princess. Come on."

"But the only way to change her back to normal is that her true love shows his gratitude to her."

"But her true love is Link."

"Of course. It has always been Link. But he'll be dead by then. And there's no other person that loves her more than him."

"Okay...I guess she could. If it serves you right." He looked at her with total admiration.

Then Zelda popped her head outside. "I'm sorry to break this up, but it's almost night and Link should be starting out soon."