AUTHOR'S NOTE: I'm aware I haven't updated this story in ages... oh well... here you go, Ch34.


Impa felt her power waver. The desert sun and constant upkeep of her disguise were wearing on her. She only hoped that Gerudo would return with Nabooru soon...

"In here, ma'am."

Impa hid a smile as Nabooru pushed through the tent flaps and stared expectantly. She had good timing.

"You came saying the last Sheikah has passed."

"Killed herself."

"And what proof do you offer?"

Impa took in Nabooru's mistrustful glare. Not all that long ago, Nabooru would have been a friend, an ally in times of terror and hatred. But now, as the Shadow Sage and the Sprirt Sage faced each other, contempt burned the air.

Impa withdrew her medallion once more and held it out at arm's length. Nabooru took it and held it as if it were diseased. The Gerudo guard behind her coughed politely.

Impa almost drew back as Nabooru rounded on the guard.

"What do you want!"

The younger woman stared respectfully at Nabooru's feet.

"Just to tell you, milady, that Lord Gannon in approaching."

There was a pause.

"Thank you. Wait outside, please."

Impa's mind raced. Gannon would be able to see me, my disguise isn't powerful enough to fool him... She needed to either stall or run. She only had a few moments...

There was a rustle as a shadowy figure opened the flap and stepped forward.

"Nabooru, why are you..."

Too late... Nayru protect me...

Gannon's bruised face contorted into a leering grin. Nabooru, not noticing, answered his half question.

"I was called out to talk to this beggar. She claims Impa is dead, and offers the Sheikah's medal as... My lord?"

"Beggar, you say."

Impa's heart stopped as Gannon leaned before her. She could smell his breath, surprisingly sweet.

"It's been a long time, hasn't it?"

In a whirl, Impa stood and let her disguise fall, ducking around Gannon and diving for the tent flap. She heard a curse from behind her as she stumbled out into the open, causing every Gerudo in sight to cry out in shock.

Sensing Gannon, she dodged to the left conjuring power.

Come on!

But she didn't have enough. She leapt up and curved back grasping a rock ledge and pulling herself up. She saw Gannon, only a few feet below, drawing a familiar sword... not his sword...

"Curse you!" she rolled as the blade clanged.

Gannon just laughed. The Master's Sword gleamed in the sun, blinding Impa for a moment.

An arrow buried itself in the rock beside her. She pulled it out and broke off the tip, ready to use it however she could...

That's not a Gerudo arrow. But...

"Impa!"

She fell back as Gannon reached for her again. That voice! The voice she'd been praying for! She called back, scraping her hand against rock, knowing what she said next could halt the attack against her...

"Hero! Come forth and reclaim your blade!"

Gannon froze. With a cry of triumph, Impa sailed over his head and landed behind him. As he began to turn, she reached for his neck, arrow tip gleaming in her hand.

"Not yet, Sheikah!"

She found herself thrown to the ground. She sat up, ready for the death awaiting her. But a familiar touch pulled her back, out of harm's way... Gannon was searching wildly for Link, swinging his stolen sword.

Impa gasped when she saw her savior, "Princess! What... how did... You're hurt!"

Zelda put a hand over her guardian's mouth, "Please, just don't get us killed."

Impa whispered once she was released, "How did you get here?"

"Gannon captured me and-"

"What!"

"Hush! I was being kept in the Spirit Temple, Link... Impa, he was dead, you saw him!"

"I revived him."

"How?"

"With Nayru's help."

Impa smiled as Zelda stared, "Did you think the Goddesses were going to let their Hero die so easily?"

Zelda opened her mouth to answer when a wild scream cut through.

"DAMN YOU, HERO! WHERE ARE YOU! I KILLED YOU! YOU WERE DEAD IN MY HANDS!"

"As dead as I am now, Gannon?"

Zelda held a hand to Impa's face as she began to rise. Impa looked curiously at her ward. Zelda motioned to a Gerudo guard standing on a short fence, spear lifted. There was a blur of light, and then a strangled sound. The guard fell forward, down to the sand, an arrow buried in her chest.

Impa looked around the Gerudo Fortress. There were no other guards in sight.

Link, barely visible, began to step forward from his hiding place, lengths away from where Gannon searched the skies.

"Impa, wait here, I'll be back."

Impa watched Zelda stand and climb painfully up a small rock hill.

Not this time.

She looked to Gannon, who was standing, defeated, out in the open.

He wasn't always like this... Not always evil, not always heartless. I knew him when he wasn't. He doesn't deserve to die surrounded by enemies... but if I step forward, he'll kill me... Then I'll die knowing I can't condemn him.

Impa rose. She walked steadily toward Gannon, seeing the recognition on his face as she reached him.

She stopped in front of him.