The Sage of Death
Zelda, Malon, and Peach appeared in the graveyard, thanks to the Nocturne of Shadow. Malon had a longbow strapped to her back, but otherwise looked the same. Peach had her backpack once again. Just as Malon and Zelda began to descend the stairs, Peach turned the other way and jumped over the fence.
"This way," Peach said. "Unless you want to jump into an abyss…" She led them back to Kakariko, which was still eerily empty. The only sound, besides a few birds, was that of the windmill slowly turning. Peach climbed down the well and the others followed. Soon, they reached the Bottom of the Well.
"Wow, this place is creepy," Malon frowned, looking at the dungeon-esque surroundings.
"Not as creepy as the Shadow Temple," Peach shuddered, though she knew it was actually connected to the temple. She was no less adverse to the environment of the well than she was to the temple. Peach walked through the ankle deep water and found the central dungeon. She took a deep breath, and attempted to ignore the blood all over the floor and walls as well as the large cross in the center. She stood before a particularly large pool of murky blood, though she looked at the ceiling instead. She stepped forward and fell through. Since she was not screaming, Zelda and Malon followed silently. They fell quite a distance, but Peach was floating enough to safely slow their fall.
"People actually drank from this place?" Malon asked, noticing a pool of who-knows-what in the center of the massive chamber. The pool was constantly changing colors and there were decayed hands sticking out. They could hear the moaning of ReDeads echoing from all around. Peach was trembling quite a bit, but she never stopped pressing forward into one of the meandering passageways. They reached a dead end that only had a blue flame floating against the wall. Peach jumped and floated through the flame. It was actually an invisible passage. She offered a hand to the others and helped them inside.
The passage was completely dark. Zelda created a flame in her hand to light the way. The darkness seemed to reach out and smother the flame. Zelda was about to question it, but Peach merely continued forward. They all took hands so as not to get separated. Eventually, more blue flames appeared and Peach followed their paths. Zelda got the feeling that they were going in circles but she said nothing. Peach suddenly stopped and the others bumped into her.
"We're here," she said through a shaky voice that echoed into the darkness.
"Where is here?" Malon asked nervously.
"The Land of the Dead," the Sage of Death spoke. "I trust you have brought the new Sage of Life to revive me."
"I'll be glad to revive you," Malon said. "The sooner we leave, the better…"
"Be wary of the ancient madness that overtakes living Sages," she warned.
"It only affects the other ones," Zelda said. "Malon was traumatized, but she wasn't mad."
"If I do attack you…do not hold back," she warned. Malon raised her arms and a rainbow filled the area, setting off that peculiar jingle that appeared whenever a secret was discovered. A torch for each color appeared around them and they appeared to be in a circular cavern with no ceiling. There were absolutely no visible doors around. The revived Sage of Death stood before them in a brown death shawl that covered all her face except her eyes. They were as red as Sheik's. She was tall and thin. What little skin they could see was milky white, though she was well-covered by her black cloak.
"You're a Sheikah?" Zelda said, somewhat surprised.
"Correct," she replied. A dead hand sprouted out of the ground, holding a rod of some sort. She grabbed onto it and pulled it out, revealing it to be a scythe. Immediately, she lunged at Zelda.
"Whoa!" Zelda yelped, bringing her sword out just in time to block. The sheer force of the blow knocked her back. "What's wrong with you?" She did not respond and simply took another swipe. Zelda ducked and stepped back, but quickly found herself against a wall. "Peach, heal her!"
"Right!" Peach said.
"Oh, no you don't," the Death Sage said, outstretching a white arm toward Peach. A black mist was emitted from it and overtook Peach before she could do anything.
"Ah!" Peach screamed, holding her sides and falling to her knees. She winced in pain, squeezing herself.
"What did you do to her?" Zelda demanded. The Death Sage turned back to her, but parried an arrow from her right.
"I have no quarrel with you," the Death Sage said, glaring at Malon. "Don't start one."
"Stay away from Zelda!" Malon said, readying another shot. The Death Sage raised her arm toward her and Malon suddenly flew back against the wall. The impact shook the room and she was plastered against it for a second before sliding down unconscious.
"Malon!" Zelda screamed. "You heinous…" She blocked another attack and disappeared in a green light before the follow-up could hit her. She reappeared behind the Death Sage, charging her Shining Ray. The Death Sage did the same and reappeared behind Zelda, kicking her down and preparing the final strike.
"How did you do that?" Zelda asked. As the scythe came down, it was stopped by someone holding a dagger. They looked and saw that it was Impa.
"Can't have you doing that," Impa said, as they moved away from one another.
"Impa?" Zelda said.
"Impa?" Peach repeated, looking up. When she tried to cast her healing spell again, the Death Sage used the mist to put her in pain once again.
"Stay out of my way, all of you," the Death Sage said, glancing at Peach.
"Really, now, is this necessary?" Impa asked. The Death Sage glared at her and disappeared. She reappeared closer to Zelda, attempting another deathblow. Impa flew over blocked it for Zelda. Zelda got up and went to check Malon. Seeing that she was still alive, she glared back at the two rogue Sages. The Death Sage seemed to be holding back, while Impa asserted herself. Still, the Death Sage seemed to be easily blocking every strike.
"You're pathetic," the Death Sage muttered disgustedly.
"You know I've improved," Impa grinned.
"Go away!" the Death Sage shouted, batting her aside with the flat side of the scythe. She ran straight for Zelda, who charged her Shining Ray. When she fired, the Death Sage leapt onto a nearby wall and pressed off, preparing a midair strike. She was yanked out of midair by Impa, who grabbed onto the far end of the staff, dangerously close to the blade. Impa swung her around and tossed her into a wall.
"You know I can't let you kill her, sis," Impa said, smirking.
"Sister?" Zelda murmured.
"This does not concern you, wretch," the Death Sage said, standing up. Impa snapped her fingers and dead hands sprung up around the Death Sage. "Hmph!" The hands suddenly sunk into the ground and grabbed Impa, holding her down. "This is my domain."
"Don't hurt her!" Impa yelled, quickly breaking the hands away.
"Stay back!" Zelda yelled, charging her Shining Ray. She was suddenly lifted by an unseen force and pressed against the wall. She could see from the approaching woman's hand gesture that she was using telekinesis. She looked around for anyone that would be able to help her. Malon was knocked out. Peach was still recovering and looked on helplessly.
"Now, die," the Death Sage spoke, preparing to cut her open. Zelda closed her eyes and felt the wall shake slightly.
"Ugh!"
Zelda opened her eyes and saw Impa wincing in front of her, staring directly at her. She was still smiling, though it was grim now. "Zelda…do me a favor, okay…Show Ganondorf who's boss…" She collapsed. Zelda was released from the psychic hold and could see an incredibly deep gash going through Impa's bloodied back.
"Fool," the Death Sage sighed.
"How could you!" Zelda whispered. "She was…your sister…" Then, tears welled up in her eyes. She screamed, "She was like a mother to me!"
"Just as I asked her to be," the Death Sage said, looking down at the corpse. "But she is not my sister…not anymore. Not after what you did to her."
"I already saw my Impa die before," Zelda said angrily. "Do you know what it's like to see someone so important die? And you killed her! My mother…"
"Zelda," the Death Sage said, removing her bloodied shawl. Zelda gasped upon seeing her. She had long hair whiter than Impa's. Her robe had the Eye of Truth on the front. Most shockingly, her face was the same as Zelda's.
"No…"
"I am your mother."
"What?" Peach gasped, barely able to speak.
"There is nowhere to run," the Death Sage spoke to her daughter. "Embrace death just as I did after suffering your birth. Consider it…returning a favor."
"No!" Zelda said sternly, raising her sword. "No one does that to the people I love! Not even my own mother!"
"Don't hold back." The Death Sage sprung at her, swinging her blade by holding the part of the staff closest to the blade. Zelda blocked as best she could, but she was being knocked around by every strike. When, she attempted a counter strike, her mother spun back, cutting Zelda's belly.
"Ah!"
Another attack consisted of the Death Sage kicking high and thrusting low at once. Zelda was hit by both and toppled over onto her back. Before she could recover, the Death Sage scooped her up with the scythe and slashed. Zelda had luckily been so dazed that she fell back, allowing her to only take a bloody gash across her cheek. She cut into the Death Sage's side, but the stoic Sage hardly flinched and spun in a circle with her scythe. Zelda was caught by it and was spun along with it until her mother stopped and sent her flying into the wall once again. She lay against the wall, breathing heavily.
"Get up," the Death Sage said.
"Why are you doing this?" Zelda winced.
"The ancient madness took me from the moment I was revived," she answered. "Though the excuse it is giving me has to do with what you did to Impa. Now, stand up and defend yourself."
Zelda struggled and was only able to get to her knees. She looked up at her tiredly, feeling the blood ooze from her stomach and cheek. Her mother glared back down at her, expecting her to get up. Zelda looked once more to Malon and lowered her head in defeat.
Her mother scowled and said icily, "I'm disappointed. What a useless daughter." Using her telekinesis, she grabbed Zelda by the throat and choked her in the air. Then, she looked to Peach, who was struggling to get up. "And you…you're nothing compared to your mother."
"Please, no," Peach winced.
"If you wish to save my daughter, I'd suggest that you hurry and heal me." As soon as Peach began, the Death Sage blasted more black mist onto her.
"Aaaaah!" Peach screamed. As she continued to focus her magic, the Death Sage put more effort into her attack. Peach screamed even louder and clutched her head. "Stars! Sprites! Give me strength!" The yellow glow fought against the black mist, but could not hold it back. It did weaken it enough for Peach to complete her spell.
"Hmph," the Death Sage sounded dismissively. Despite her outward appearance, she was feeling the excruciatingly painful effect of the spell breaking the curse. She immediately stopped her deadly attack and lowered Zelda, who was also healed to the ground.
"Thank you…Peach," Zelda coughed.
"You're welcome," Peach panted. "What was that attack?"
"You should be glad to share your mother's blood," the Death Sage said blankly. "She and you are the only ones who have ever withstood it. Everyone else I used it on died instantly."
"I think reviving you was a mistake," Zelda said, kneeling by Malon's side. "Mother or not, why would you have used that on other people, especially Peach's mother."
"They really didn't tell you anything about me, did they? Do you even know my name?"
Zelda was at a loss for words. "I never really thought about you."
"Good. It means Impa and your father were doing an excellent job."
"Father… He's dead, isn't he?" Zelda asked.
"You are indeed a Sheikah," her mother nodded. She showed little emotion at all. She did not frown, smile, or even arch her eyebrows. The madness seemed to have been the only thing that drove her to express anger.
"That doesn't make any sense," Zelda shook her head. "I don't even look like a Sheikah. I have blue eyes, not red."
"Not all Sheikah have red eyes and pale skin," her mother said, turning to walk through a wall that was not actually there. Zelda lifted Malon onto her back and followed, with Peach close behind.
"Why would you want me not to know anything about you?" Zelda asked.
"I wasn't the only one. Your father's advisors were behind most of it." The glowing floor now illuminated the passage, which used to be totally dark. It went through every color, as did the spirits that wandered by.
"But why?"
"They didn't want word to get out that the King had been consorting with a Sheikah warrior. It has to do with keeping the Royal Family bloodline pure."
"You said you met my mother?" Peach asked.
"You look almost exactly like her," the Sage of Death said. "I've fought her enough times to remember that face."
"Why were you fighting her?" Peach asked. "She would never do anything to hurt anyone unless she was defending herself."
"I assure you I did not attack until I was sure she was the one laying siege to the battlefield."
"She would never… Why would she? How could she?"
"You actually don't know, do you?" the Death Sage asked, with a subtle smile. "She is the Wanderer."
When they returned to Kakariko, they found it somewhat populated once again. There were a few Hylians, but most of the inhabitants were Gerudo guards. Upon seeing the Death Sage, some of them became nervous and avoided her. One of the less fearful Gerudo approached the group.
"Zelda, Peach, Malon, and…other?" she asked.
"Hilda or Ingrid will do," the Death Sage said.
"Yes," Zelda said. "What is it?"
"The Great Nabooru wishes to see you. She is in the large house in front of the graveyard." They headed into the house and found Nabooru sitting on the floor anxiously.
"Finally, you're back," she said, standing up. "I've got good news and bad news."
"Um, good news," Zelda said, lying Malon down while Peach went to get a pillow.
"I found Link's soul," Nabooru said.
"Bad news?"
"It was taken to the castle where Ganondorf is," she sighed.
"Well, can't you just take all the souls in the castle?" Zelda asked, signaling Peach to be quiet.
"No," Nabooru said. "He has a barrier around the castle. I can't even sense anyone inside."
"We'll get there eventually," Zelda said, noticing Malon beginning to move again. "Lie still."
"What do we do now?" Peach asked.
"Revive the Ice Sage," Zelda's mother spoke.
"Where would we find someone like that?" Peach asked.
"The Ice Cavern," the other three spoke.
Though it was getting late in the night, Zelda and Peach stayed up, while Malon slept upstairs. Zelda was talking to her very quiet mother, trying to catch up. Peach was waiting her turn.
"I'm not sure what I should call you," Zelda said uncomfortably. "You are my mother by blood, but…"
"I understand," she nodded. "If you are uncomfortable with calling me Mother, you may call me either Ingrid or Hilda."
"Why two names?"
"Ingrid is my birth name," she said. "Those who are close to me call me Ingrid. Hilda is a nickname I earned on the battlefield."
Zelda was uncomfortable with her lack of sociability. "Why do you seem so…stoical?"
"That is my way," she answered simply.
"Okay… What was your rank?"
"That is difficult to say. Officially, I was a lieutenant commander. But your father often made me his personal bodyguard. Other times, I was a peace ambassador."
"You speak of Father so distantly," Zelda said. "Did you actually love him…?"
She said nothing.
"Or am I just an accident?" Zelda whispered somberly.
"Both," Ingrid spoke. "…I never wanted a lover or a child. Your father distracted me from my duty to protect him and the kingdom. He made me uncomfortable whenever I saw him. He made me cross many sacred lines and taint the royal bloodline."
"You speak of it as if he ra…violated you."
"In a sense, he did," Ingrid said somewhat uncomfortably. "He never actually forced me...but that was still an unfamiliar emotion... I dislike him for it, but I still love him… And though I dislike you and think of you as a great disappointment…I still love you too…"
"Thanks…I think."
"Even though you technically killed me by being born," she continued. "Which caused me to accidentally seal Malon's fate shortly after her daughter was born…and then do the same to Queen Rita."
"Who?"
"Ruto's mother," Ingrid said. "The Ice Sage."
"I think that's enough guilt for one day," Zelda said, getting up and going upstairs. Peach walked over to Ingrid quickly and sat before her.
"How long ago did you see my mother?" Peach asked.
"Seventeen years," Ingrid answered. "I was pregnant when I last saw her."
"Why would she do such horrible things?" Peach asked.
"The Wanderer is supposedlya bringer of peace," Ingrid said. "I don't know what drove her to do it the way she did, but she seems to wield a power beyond that of even the Sages."
"She's still alive?"
"I'm sure of it," Ingrid said. "She withstood my assaults much better than you did, especially the black mist that crippled you. Though she was my enemy, she earned my respect. Had it not been for her, the war might not have ended, I would still be alive, and Zelda would have been nothing more than a miscarriage." Then, to Peach's disturbance,Ingrid smiled ironically. "I find myself regretting her appearance in light of such a pleasant alternative…but still, under different circumstances…"
"She would have been a friend?" Peach suggested hopefully.
"A trustworthy, but annoying acquaintance," Ingrid said. "She had a tendency to mistakenly think of me as jealous of her."
"Why?"
"I found her in the company of Zelda's father a few times," Ingrid said, raising an eyebrow, obviously hiding agitation. "They were intimate friends apparently…a bit too much for my liking…"
"Like…Zelda and Malon?" Peach whispered.
"I heard that!" Zelda called from upstairs amidst Malon's giggling. "I told you, we're just friends."
"No, not quite that close," Ingrid said. "Unfortunately, I did think that they were lovers at one time, much to my own shame."
"I thought you said you weren't jealous?"
Ingrid's eyes turned to her, while her face looked forward. "…I'm sure you've done the same thing to Zelda."
"I don't understand," Peach said, tilting her head.
"Your mother thought I was jealous of her endowments."
"What?"
"Her breasts," Ingrid said flatly.
"Well, you are pretty flat," Peach said. "Flatter than Zelda." Malon could be heard giggling again.
"You are equally endowed and equally annoying," Ingrid said, closing her eyes. "Get some sleep." Malon could still be heard giggling. "That goes for you two as well."
"Don't tell me you…" Zelda began to complain.
"Do not make me lay my hands on you, Zelda," Ingrid said in an ominously calm voice. Both Peach and Malon made stifled giggles. Ingrid smothered the flames lighting the house with her telekinesis and muttered, "Hmph…kids…"