The Legend of Zelda: The Lost Princess

Chapter 2- Lost and Found

Thank you Marinawings, for my ONE review- you're so sweet! This chappie's for you! Now if the rest of my readers would review they might get chapter dedications too 

CRAAAACK!!! Zelda flinched as the log split under Link's cleaving blade. Sheik whistled approvingly.

"No wonder there's no evil in this land anymore. Ganondorf's minions might be dangerous, but they're not stupid enough to show up while YOU are around. You and that meat cleaver of yours."

Link smiled fondly at his friend and sheathed his blade in its scabbard, its hilt protruding over his left shoulder.

"Watch how you talk about my sword, friend. That 'meat cleaver' as you call it gets highly offended when it's not shown proper respect."

Sheik laughed and bowed in an exaggerated fashion. "My sincerest apologies, O mighty cleaver of minion-meat!"

Zelda rolled her eyes and slapped at Link's arm flirtatiously. "Don't boys EVER grow up? Seriously, Link, you and Sheik may look 19, but you're still acting like you're 9!"

Link shifted uncomfortably. He HATED it when Zelda flirted with him, not only because he knew of his best friend's unrecognized love, but…..she was ZELDA, a princess! And she acted like it- prissy, helpless, and ethereal, her head always stuck in some daydreaming cloud. Sure, she's beautiful, Link thought. How could she NOT be, with those enormous baby-blue eyes and silky blond hair, but Goddesses, she had NO spirit, no spark! She's the typical stereotype of a princess. He opened his mouth to reply to her statement, but shut it abruptly as he noticed Impa striding purposefully towards him. The Hero dipped his head respectfully at Impa's approach.

"Milady," he murmured as Sheik kissed his mother's hand and Zelda dropped a curtsey to the Sage of Shadow. Impa acknowledged them with a warm smile. "Son, Your Highness, I should like a word with Link. Alone."

Zelda's blue eyes searched Impa's crimson ones, asking the question without words. To this Impa gave a barely perceptible nod, and Zelda's face lit up. She laid her hand on Sheik's arm.

"Come, my champion. I noticed today that the infirmary is out of motherwort. Help me find some?"

As the pair ambled away, Link offered his arm to Impa, which she took.

"You're looking well, lad, castle life seems to agree with you," she commented, making pleasant small talk. Link, sensing that she wished to discuss deeper matters, nodded gravely.

"Thank you, Your Grace. However, my appearance is not what you wish to discuss, am I right?"

Impa shook her head, smiling as she did. "Serious to a fault, dear, and straight to the point. All right then, I'll get right to it. Are you familiar with the legend of the forgotten princess?"

Link stopped dead in his tracks and regarded Impa carefully. THIS was what she wished to discuss? A child's bedtime story? He nodded slowly.

"I've heard stories, M'lady, of the young royal of both Hylian and Gerudo descent, Zelda's younger sister. It's said that when Queen Albinia died, King Harkinian took a wife from among the Gerudo. If I'm not mistaken, the new Queen had been their leader- Nabooru's older sister. Wasn't her name Rowena?" Link looked to Impa for affirmation and she nodded at him to go on.

"It was a political marriage, with hopes of uniting the two nations," Link continued to relate. "Rowena's beauty was unsurpassed, either in Gerudo Valley or in all of Hyrule. She and the King fell deeply in love, despite Rowena's knowledge of Harkinian's wish to secure her nation as his own. The birth of their daughter, Princess Ariana, was celebrated throughout Hyrule, Gerudo Valley, Termina, Holodrum, and Labrynna, in fact ALL the surrounding nations sent envoys to wish the new princess health and prosperity. It was hoped that the baby Princess would be the tie that bound the two races whose blood ran together in her veins. For already relations between Hyrule and Gerudo Valley were unstable. Ariana was the King's last best hope for peace.

"But it wasn't to be. The leaders of a Gerudo Puritanical cult felt Rowena had betrayed them by marrying a Hylian, and they saw the child of their union as an abomination. They assassinated Lady Rowena, and Princess Ariana vanished without a trace. It was discovered after the Seven Years of Terror that the leader of the cult was Ganondorf. No one knows to this day whatever happened to Ariana."

Impa's eyes had been downcast as she listened to Link's soothing baritone relate the all-too-familiar tragic legend. When he finished, Impa raised her head.

"That's not entirely true, Link. Ariana disappeared, it's true, but for her own protection. Regardless of Ganondorf's hatred for her niece, Nabooru took it upon herself to hide her away and train her in the ways of the Gerudo- as well as to teach her her Hylian heritage. Finally, when Ganondorf began his rise to power, it was simply too dangerous for Ariana to remain where Ganondorf might find her. So the Six Sages sealed her away in the Spirit Temple, to await a time when her life would no longer be in peril. That Time has come. With Ganondorf vanquished, it is time to restore Ariana to her birthright, as both a Hylian AND a Gerudo Princess."

Link sat down heavily on a nearby bench. The legend was true, and Ariana was real?! He'd heard tales of the beautiful young free spirit and his heart had gone out to her for her tragic and mysterious fate. But here all this time he'd fancied her a legend, like so much else in Hyrule, as a simple fairy tale. NOW….. he raised his head.

"Why tell me this, Impa? If it's safe for her to come back, why hasn't she?"

Impa smiled. "You know that your destiny as Hero called for you to destroy Ganondorf. The King and the Sages knew that the only time Her Highness would be safe was when the threat of Ganondorf was removed. Logically the Sages decided that it was best they link YOU to her return, for if you were able to come for her it would mean that the truth was no longer a secret and she was safe."

Link shook his head ruefully. "You Sheikah and your secrets. And just HOW am I supposed to facilitate Milady's return?"

Once again Impa just smiled. "Fairy tales aren't entirely flights of fancy. Certain powers are so strong there's no need to exaggerate to make it sound more appealing." Impa looked deep into Link's bright cerulean eyes.

"Powers….like that of a Hero's kiss."

Well well, doesn't Link have an adventure waiting for him? Seems like he might just be getting the free spirit he longs for….or is Ariana going to be very Hylian like her sister? Sorry, all you Zelink fans out there….don't mean to bash Zelda. But goodness! Can she BE any more stereotypical? Anyway, reviews are appreciated, and stay tuned! We've GOT to find out how this kiss goes, don't we? Lol.