Arrival in Kakariko

"Thus far, much of our quest has been in vain. As I approach the small village of Kakariko, I wonder what surprise Destiny has in store for me. She has already taken so much from me. Will she do the same in this next episode? When I reach Kakariko, will I meet the man I love and the woman I suckled from as a child? Or will I only meet despair and death as I have so frequently here? If Impa, like the others, wishes to eliminate me, then so be it. I can take no more punishment, be it physical or mental. And should that traitorous Sheikah who lurks in my body make any attempt on her person, I will end it all myself. His affections for Peach have clouded his mind and have caused us great heartache.

"As I wonder what it is that so attracts him to her, I find the answers come easily. She has so many enviable qualities: beauty, youthful cheeriness, kindness, mercy, and love. Throughout our entire journey, she has only killed once to my knowledge. As impressive as that was, she has regretfully admitted to a much higher number before I arrived in her land. I find it hard to believe, considering her track record. Her Psych Bomb has been her only lethal attack, while Sheik and I have killed nearly everything in our path. How is she capable of such effective restraint, while I exhaust myself so easily against every one of our challenges? Bolt, the Zeus Guy, was perhaps an exception…my magic was ineffective, Sheik's speed was useless, and Peach's turnip attack, though it surprised Bolt in its potency, proved little threat. I was beaten quite handily, while she suffered so greatly. Somehow, we survived, likely a plan of Bowser's to force her hand in marriage. And force it they did…for it was not death that Peach feared, at least not her own. It was my life she feared for. She sacrificed her freedom and kingdom just to end my torture.

"And this brings me to a question that has plagued me since then…Would I have done the same? Some time ago, I would have probably answered yes to that question immediately…But now I'm not so sure…not after seeing what horrors I am capable of. In the same situation, say with Ganondorf instead of Bowser for parallel effect, I'm not sure I would sacrifice myself and, more importantly, my kingdom to save the life of a person I've only known for a week. That prospect frightens me to no end. It seems my ever so lauded wisdom is betraying my heart. I have lost three friends so far, each who accused me of something I am…no…was sure I didn't do. But as this quest continues, I see myself only supporting their arguments. Those dreams that I had…they included the things I was accused of. Would I…did I…will I commit those infernal crimes? My heart urges me to ask those very questions. My brain tells me that everything I have done is justified, that they had no right to falsely accuse me, and that I had a right to defend myself. But I am constantly reminded that this is the route that Sheik has chosen to take and we are currently no longer on speaking terms.

"So much has happened in such a small amount of time. And as I trudge up this stairway to Kakariko, carrying Peach in my arms, I can only wonder what will happen next. My legs ache from walking so far. My arms are tired from carrying Peach this far. My eyes burn from resisting the urge to sleep. My head aches from swimming in so many thoughts. Worst of all, my heart is pained by the sins I have committed. I pray for an end to this madness, be it through salvation or death. I no longer care what route Destiny sends me down, so long as it is an end to my suffering. Only Time will tell what lies ahead. And the Sage of Time has yet to awaken."

Zelda stood before the Shadow Barrier, wishing for it to simply disappear. She raised a tired arm, supporting Peach in the other, and charged her last bit of magic for a Shining Ray. What little magic she had left was only enough to crack the barrier. She was crestfallen and was ready to breakdown. Then, Peach moved and looked up through half-opened eyes.

"Shining Star…" she rasped, barely audible. "Help us break through this veil of shadow…so that we might save the lives of those trapped inside." The Shining Star rose out of her and shattered the barrier. She fell still once again.

Zelda trudged further and saw the wooden gate. At this point, her emotional state was at a breaking point, as if it were a glass trinket filled with cracks that would require only the slightest agitation before it would shatter to pieces. She could see the windmill turn peacefully in the distance, but it was unusually quiet. Once she passed through the gate, she encountered the very people she was looking for. Link stood there with a sword drawn and a fierce look on his face. Impa stood beside him with a knife, though she looked different. Instead of her usual light armor and tights, she wore a more conservative white dress with the Eye of Truth on her chest and had her hair down. They both looked ready to fight to the end. Zelda fell to her knees and began to cry, laying Peach down. She refused to fight them.

"Zelda?" Link said, nearing her cautiously. "Is that you?"

"I give up," she said tearfully. "Do with me what you will."

"Oh my Goddesses!" Impa said, dropping her knife. She ran and kneeled in front of Zelda, grabbing her into a hug. "I'm so glad you're safe."

"What?" Zelda said, confused. "Don't you have some reason to kill me?"

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Impa cried, squeezing her lovingly. "I had hoped none of this would involve you…but I'm not one of your enemies. You're still my baby!"

"Really?"

"Of course! I would never try to kill you!"

"I missed you," Zelda said faintly, drifting into sleep exhaustedly.

"Link, pick up her friend," Impa said. "We have to get them inside now!"

Peach awakened to the sight of this silver-haired woman staring back at her. She sat up in bed with a start, "Where am I? Who are you?"

"Shh, lie down," Impa said, pressing her back down. Peach saw that Impa was applying ointment to the wound on her shoulder, which was free of blood. "You're lucky you got here when you did. This was a nasty bite. And you had a few other problems too. You were bleeding internally. Did anything else happen to you?"

"I…I drowned," Peach said, trying to remember. "And after I was revived, I was stabbed."

"That explains why your dress was open," Impa said, rubbing ointment into her neck. "That should do it for your bite. Now, what I want you to do is just apply this ointment to your chest and stomach. It should stop the internal bleeding. I took the liberty of taking off your dress so it can be washed. Once you're done, I'll wrap you up and you can rest."

"Thank you," Peach said.

"My name is Impa, by the way," she said, going to the door. "I'm Zelda's nursemaid. I'm going to check on her now, so I'll be back in a few minutes."

"Okay," Peach said. Once Impa left, Peach sat the bottle of ointment in front of her and began to undo her bra.

Impa walked into another bedroom, where Zelda was resting. She had woken up, but remained in bed. Being her nursemaid, Impa had already applied ointment to Zelda and applied bandages to the appropriate areas. Impa sat at her bedside and stroked her cheek.

"Feeling better?" Impa asked.

"Yes, thank you," Zelda said tiredly. "I was this far from killing myself. What happened to the Saria, Darunia, and Ruto? What caused them to want to hurt me?"

"I'm not sure," Impa frowned sadly. "They are the Corrupted Ones. I realized it pretty quickly after escaping the Dark World with Link."

"Where is Link?" Zelda asked.

"He's out hunting and gathering food. People here haven't had much to eat."

"That Shadow Barrier…Why did you keep it up? The lava flow has cooled by now. And the flood subsided."

"I didn't have the power to put it down," Impa answered. "It has to do with my current state."

"I remember Rauru saying something like that," Zelda said thoughtfully. "Why do you look so…"

"Maiden-ish?" Impa smiled sadly. "Well, I'm not sure how it happened, but I know that I split into two beings. The person you see before you is the light side of Impa. My dark side is waiting in the bowels of the Shadow Temple. She is the one that held up the Shadow Barrier, mostly to protect the temple rather than the people. Somehow, you broke it."

"So, she's your dark side…Why don't you just rejoin her?"

"It's not that simple. If I were to approach her, she would easily defeat me and absorb me. She would become the dominant half…and you know that the dark side is never the good side. She is, however, the stronger, more powerful side. That's why I haven't confronted her."

"Couldn't Link help you?"

"By the time it was safe for the barrier to go down, none of us were physically up to it. Had we attacked her prematurely, Kakariko would have been destroyed in seconds…But now that you're here, I'm confident that we'll be able to handle her…well, when you get better of course."

"…Is Peach all right?" Zelda asked hesitantly.

"She's taken a beating, but she'll be okay," Impa smiled. "She's already awake, right now… You look troubled. Is something wrong?"

"It's about Sheik…" Zelda said uncomfortably. Suddenly, there was a shriek from Peach's room.

"Oops!" Link could be heard. "Sorry, about that." He wandered into Zelda's room with a blushing face. Then, he caught Zelda's gaze. Impa smirked and left the room.

"Hello, Link," Zelda said somewhat shyly.

"How are you doing?" he asked, sitting next to her.

"Better…I really did miss you."

"Same here. I…couldn't stop thinking of you," he said awkwardly. "I got really worried when Impa told me some of the others were probably trying to kill you. I never wanted anything to happen to you. I really care about you…and um, I…I just want to make sure that…that nothing ever happens to you again."

"Thank you," she smiled sweetly.

"It's not just a promise," he said, blushing deeply as he took her hands in his. "Consider it…more of a vow. Like…a-wed-ding-vow."

"What?"

"You know I'm not good with words," he sighed. He took out a red rupee. "This is really not that good, but…will you marry me?"

Zelda began to breathe quickly, nearly hyperventilating. Her shaky hands slowly took the rupee. She smiled as hot tears streamed out of her eyes. "Yes…Yes, of course…"

"Really? All right!" Link cheered. Then, he noticed that Zelda was still hyperventilating and her hands were shaking even more. "Zelda? Are you okay?"

Her body fell limp as she finally fainted in bed. Link was not sure whether that was a good thing or a bad thing.

After some rest and something to eat, Peach felt well enough to partially heal both herself and Zelda. It was nighttime and the moon was out. Most of the people in Kakariko had left for other places in Hyrule, particularly Lon Lon Ranch and Gerudo Valley. Peach walked outside and saw Zelda talking to Impa near the red rusted looking house. They both looked a bit saddened. She walked over to investigate. She wore a borrowed long blue skirt while her torso and right shoulder were completely wrapped in bandages. She had taken off her gloves.

"Peach!" Zelda said, not expecting her. "What are you…?"

"Let him say goodbye, Zelda," Impa said somberly. "It's the very least you could do…Just one last time."

"What's going on?" Peach asked.

Zelda hesitantly transformed into Sheik one final time. He knew it was time to go. "Hello, Peach."

"Oh, hi, Sheik," she smiled. "What's the occasion?"

"I'm afraid I've worn out my welcome," he said, smiling sadly under his veil. "I've done horrible things…but I still believe they were the right things to do."

"Like what?"

"…Sweet Peach," he sighed. "I'd rather not spoil this moment by telling you. All you need to know is that I committed them out of concern for you. What relatively few years I've existed on this plane, never have I encountered a woman as kind, selfless, and beautiful as you. Do you remember what I told you earlier today?"

"…Oh…yeah," she said nervously, blushing. "Sheik…I…"

"I know we can't be together," he shook his head. "We're from two different worlds and I can only stay in this body for precious little time. Had Destiny done things differently, perhaps we could have been something…But know that I truly do love you. Even after I take my final resting place with the rest of the Sheikah, I will always remember you, Princess Peach Toadstool." She suddenly grasped him in a hug.

"I'll always remember you too, Sheik," she said. "I think I know what you did…and I forgive you. We both had too much to drink that night. It's not your fault."

Sheik was glad she thought it was only that. "I think I'll leave on that light note. Stay sweet, Peach. That's your best trait." Zelda reappeared as Sheik's spirit exited and faded.

"Don't be too sad, Peach," Zelda consoled her. "He wouldn't want to share a body with me for too long."

"Especially since Zelda's getting married," Impa added. "The honeymoon would be awkward."

"You're getting married?" Peach asked. "To who?"

"To Link…" Zelda said shyly.

"You're so coy!" Peach teased her. "When is the ceremony?"

"In an hour or two," Impa said proudly. "Link insisted on getting it over with. He's a nervous wreck."

"Would you be my Maid of Honor?" Zelda asked Peach.

"Of course!" Peach squealed, hugging her. "I'm so happy for you. See what happens when you believe. Things always work out for the better."

"Thank you so much, Peach," Zelda said, squeezing her. "For everything…I couldn't have gotten this far without you."

"Now, then," Impa said. "This won't be as fancy as it should be, but let's try to make the best of it by starting with some proper clothing for you two."