Conqueror

A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.

-- Walter Winchell

Chapter Two

The two friends hugged each other for a long while as they said their goodbyes on that bridge separating Hyrule from Kokiri Forest. Link was terrified, but he suppressed his trembling with confidence and courage Saria had dug out of him. As he let go of his very best friend, she held out a familiar instrument. Her ocarina. It was small and bone-colored, but it was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.

"Take it, Link. Remember me when you play it. That way…when we're apart, it'll be like we're together."
Link took the gift and nodded, biting his lip. He didn't know how to say thank you.

Saria blinked back her tears and leaned against the rope rails on the bridge. Link held her gaze for a long time before turning and rushing in the other direction.

She watched him go, and even as he was gone from her sight, she watched, in silent hopes he would return. She knew he wouldn't. She wouldn't see him again for a very long time.

--

Link swung the sword as soon as he stepped onto the field. Trees guarded the way of the path so he couldn't see directly into Hyrule. He took this short moment to prepare for the dangers that possibly lay ahead. He and Saria had worked together to find the Kokiri sword, a sword that was hidden in a dark corner of the Forest. They'd put their savings together and purchased a shield. It was small and wooden, but it would do for now.

Link wore them well; the two pieces of armor seemed to be made for him. He didn't know what exactly he would encounter that would bring him to use these tools, but he knew he had them for a reason.

As he stepped out from the trees, he was met by an awesome view. A vast field with scattered trees was what he saw, and he was in awe of how large it was. There was a Kokiri legend that said Hyrule itself was just a tiny island. There was no way that legend was true…the expanse of this place! To the northeast, he could see a large mountain in the distance. Before it was a staircase and he felt strange as he looked at it. Perhaps that was where he was to go? In the middle of the field was a small, fenced-in place. He wondered what that was.

To the north was the Castle. The famous castle from the stories. It was hard to see, but he knew from the stories that there was probably a market placed before the castle. There were probably lots of sharp-eyed guards blocking the way, too.

Link decided to explore another time. It was time to find a home for himself. A place to lay his head. He headed for the place with the stairs.

--

The sign on the outside said "Kakariko" and he knew he was in the right place.

There were many things to look at in this village. A large windmill spun at the back of the village and there were many people milling about. Carpenters ran, here and there, and many parts of the village were unfinished. The houses looked lived-in and Link liked it already. The only thing that was wrong with the picture in his view was that the people were all bigger than him.

He shrugged, walked further into the village. If what the Deku Tree had said was right and he really was a Hylian, he'd catch up to these people one day.

As he walked, a chicken hopped after him. He frowned. What was this creature?

--

In the shadows of one of the houses, red eyes watched the boy in silence. Arms crossed and expression grim, she watched as he ran from the chicken, gaining no attention from the people who milled.

The chicken eventually lost interest and the young green boy walked around some more, looking this way and that. He was lost.

The woman in the shadows decided it would be best if he stayed with her. She knew he wouldn't remember her, and she didn't stay at her house much, anyway. Besides, it would be a good opportunity to see the boy as he would have been had he not become a Hero so early on in life.

Approaching the boy, she lightened her expression slightly.

"Hello," she said.

Link paused as she stepped up to him.

A lady, tall and thin, dressed in dark clothing, was talking to him. She looked…odd.

"My name is Impa. I am a Sheikah. You appear to be lost. Do you need a place to stay?"

The woman, Impa, had red eyes and white hair. She didn't seem too friendly, but there was a calmness about her that didn't alarm Link any.

He blinked several times.

"You are from the forest, are you not? I can tell by your clothing. It's obvious you're lost, little one." How did she know all of this?

Link nodded slightly. "My name's Link."

"Good to meet you, Link." Impa pointed toward her house and started off in that direction.

"I'll show you to my house and prepare a place for you downstairs. Afterwards, if you like, I'll show you around."

Link nodded again. Where was the harm in this? She seemed to want to be hospitable. This was a good thing.

He'd not experienced such warm friendliness since he'd met Saria. This woman's kindness was cooled by a sharp, mysterious edge that Link could read just by looking at her. What was a Sheikah, anyway? Was it some mysterious band of thieves just like in the legends? No, those were Gerudo folk. Link chuckled to himself. Come on, you know better than that, he thought to himself.

The Sheikah woman's house was large, and Link was amazed at its size. His tree house had been miniscule in comparison.

Impa pointed to a smaller area under the stairs. "I can have a bed made for you there, if that's all right with you."
Link shrugged. "I guess so. I can't complain, it's your house."
"You're my guest, young Link."
He nodded. "That's fine," he said. Sitting down at the table, he watched as Impa set a place for him under the stairs. She was being so kind. Why? What did she know that he didn't? Or was this just…law of the Sheikah people?

"What's a Sheikah?" he asked her. She turned to him and explained herself, sitting in the chair opposite of him.

"We're a small group of people who many people know nothing of…it's kind of sad, really. There are only a few of us left. We're very mysterious to onlookers and often discriminated."
Link nodded. He knew what that was like.

"We are the founders of this village, Kakariko. Our destiny is to protect the royal family of Hyrule. Many of us have been lost to vicious foes... There is quite a large collection of my people in the graveyard north of the village." Her eyes were far away and she appeared sad.

"So…you're not some mysterious band of thieves, are you?" Link asked. The second the words left his mouth he regretted them. Stupid! He scolded himself. Now she'll kill you if it's true!

Impa surprised Link when she chuckled. "No, no. We're not thieves. I'm someone's guardian, to let you know. That is why I won't be here too often. You'll most likely have this house to yourself a lot of the time."

"I won't make a mess," Link promised. Truth be told, he was a very neat person. It was rare in a Kokiri boy, but Link was quite a neat-freak.

Impa chuckled again, her laugh calming Link's nerves all the more. He was beginning to trust her. Still, it had been foolish to accept her offer of a house right away.

Yet…the Deku Tree had indeed said "Thou will know where it is when the time comes…"

Link and Impa chatted for a little while longer, enjoyed some food, and then Impa was on her way. "You're welcome to any of the food, and do be nice to the villagers. A new person is always an enigma…and we want you to be on their good side, don't we?"

Link nodded. She raised a very good point.

He noticed that time was passing. It was evening and the sky was getting darker. He frowned. He wasn't used to this. Was it actually going to get dark? Just like…in the stories?

Shuddering to himself, he decided it would be best that he stay inside until the sun rose again.

--