Chapter 3: Heroes Live and Die

That night, Zelda dreamt of a wild boar that entered the castle and made a mess of everything. She had to wonder if it was considered a vision, since the event actually occurred the night before.

Impa woke her sometime around 6:30. She bathed, dressed, and went to private breakfast with her father at 7:30.

"Good morning, Zelda!" he greeted as she entered the room in a white skirt under a formal blue tunic. Her bangs were hanging on either side of her face. "You look splendid as ever!"

"Thank you, Father," she said with a curtsy. She took her seat at the table with him. Breakfast included eggs, cornbread, and varied fruits with milk to drink.

"Ah. Milk," Zelda said. Her father laughed.

"Yes," he said. "It turns out Talon was already bringing his monthly shipment, but stopped in town last night to deliver to a noble within town, Erinne. Talon is still bringing in crates. He insists on doing it himself, but he will fall asleep, as always."

"Oh. I was afraid Talon came over night, through Stalchildren and such."

"Funny you should mention the Stalchildren…"

"Funny, Father? I fail to see what is funny about them. And they have been mentioned everyday since they began rising from the earth!"

"Yes, yes. I know, but there's a rumor going around town."

"What kind of rumor?" Zelda asked anxiously.

"Well, I believe it was started by one of the guards. He claimed that he saw a boy wearing all green, possibly a Kokiri, come into the marketplace after fighting Stalchildren all night long. He had scratches and bruises, and there was blood all over him. He fought those creatures all night, Zelda! Some are saying he may even break the curse of the Stalchildren!"

"Well, Father! You seem fairly excited about all of this!" Truthfully, Zelda could hardly contain her own excitement. Was it the Kokiri boy? It couldn't be a coincidence. "Is there any fact to this wild fantasy?"

"Everyone is talking about it. Many people say they saw him! The funny part is that after his heroics, he dropped unconscious in Town Square!"

"Well he fought skeletons all night, Father! Surely he would be weary."

"Speaking of which, Zelda, listen to me. I am very sorry for the humiliation you endured last night."

"Oh, don't bother, Father," she replied. "If blame belongs to anyone but Sir Dragmire, I brought it upon myself."

"Don't worry. As soon as he signs that treaty today, he will leave."

"Promise?"

"Well, as courtesy, he may stay one last night and leave in the morning, so that the darkness and Stalchildren might not catch him."

"That's fine, I suppose," she replied.

"Don't worry, though. This will all be over soon."

After breakfast, Zelda and Impa were heading for Zelda's private courtyard for her lessons. As they were heading about to turn the corner into the courtyard, they heard Ganondorf's voice, and he sounded very upset. They stopped to listen.

"One Kokiri took out how many Stalchildren!"

"It doesn't matter," said a female voice. They decided it was more than likely a Gerudo. "They reassemble themselves, Lord Ganondorf."

"I know! I'm not worried about how many soldiers I have, Talia," Ganondorf said. "The Stalchildren are weak. I'm concerned about what might happen to my plan if a small boy had enough courage to defy my curse!"

"The people believe he may even break the curse!"

Zelda peeked around the corner and saw Ganondorf pick up the Gerudo messenger by the throat and start choking her.

"We will speak of this no more!" he said, and threw her to the ground. She grasped her neck and started gasping for air.

Ganondorf knelt over the Gerudo, who gazed in terror as he reached out his hand. But all he did was pluck a flower from the grass next to her. He stood straight up as he twirled the flower in his fingers.

"Does anyone know where this boy is?" he asked while staring at the flower.

"A… a small girl was seen dragging him down a back alley after he fainted."

"Hmm… There isn't much we can do about that. A fluke. A minor set back. The people can have their child savior for now, but soon enough…" Suddenly, the flower burst into flame and incinerated in his hand, then Ganondorf entered a state of maniacal laughter. "Let's go," he said. They started walking to the courtyard exit, where Impa and Zelda were standing. Zelda ducked back around the corner before they saw her.

"Impa!" she quietly exclaimed. Impa grabbed Zelda and held her tight. The Sheikah guardian made a shadow art hand signal, and jumped over the passageway into the courtyard, still holding Zelda. Impa's legs made contact with the opposite wall, and she kicked off, causing the two to fly through the air and land on a balcony high above.

After Ganondorf and Talia had passed, Impa took Zelda again and leapt from balcony to balcony, over the wall, and into the courtyard, landing softly and silently in the grass. Zelda was in awe of the whole ride.

"It felt like we were flying!" she said.

"You will learn to do that in due time," Impa responded. "Until then, you must meditate."

"Perhaps. But I am very worried, Impa."

"About Ganondorf?"

"Yes. I believe that Kokiri boy is the one from my vision, and I'm afraid Ganondorf will do something to him!"

"The goddesses will not allow their chosen one to be defeated, Princess."

"I know, but should I even have to worry, Impa? I feel like… I feel like I must compete in an archery contest, but instead of a bow I've been given a slingshot!"

"Princess, do not judge the goddesses' ways. It was not given to you to see the goddesses' actions through; just to see them."

"You're right, Impa. I'm sorry. But what can a Kokiri do against a sorcerer?"

"Sorcerer?"

"Yes. He's powerful, too. I can sense it. He casually burned a flower with his hand."

"Hmm… This is dangerous, indeed…"

"Yes, Impa. And the gods have chosen a Kokiri!"

"Zelda! What did I just say? In any case, Ganondorf seemed awfully worried about the boy, but you didn't come up once."

"So?"

"Well if he isn't concerned with you, he doesn't know what we're planning."

"True," Zelda replied, her face lighting up. Her hero had entered town, Ganondorf would soon be leaving, and he had no clue that they would soon stop his nefarious scheme before it even got off the ground.

"Today, I thought we would skip usual studies because of the ceremony later," Impa said. This immediately made Zelda happier. "But instead, you must meditate."

Zelda was slightly upset over that notion, but obliged. Even princesses enjoy a day off from school. She sat cross-legged once more with Impa, with her arms on her thighs and her eyes closed. She sat there for a long period of time. An hour? Two? For all she knew it could have been ten minutes. Meditation was so incredibly boring. Schoolwork would probably be a more productive use of her time. She didn't even concentrate as she was supposed to. She was too excited, and too many plans and thoughts were rushing through her head.

She opened her eyes, and Impa was gone. Where did she go, and how long had she been gone? Impa was so silent that there was no telling. Zelda started wondering if she should report this to her father, because Impa wasn't to leave Zelda's side unless directly commanded by the king himself. She stood up and started walking around. The courtyard was so quiet. It was quite enjoyable.

Zelda heard the sound of footsteps coming toward the courtyard. It couldn't be Impa because Zelda could hear each time the foot fell. Whoever was coming would see Zelda alone, and Impa would be fired, or executed, or something, and Zelda wouldn't receive the training she needed.

"Princess," Impa said from behind her. Zelda turned to face her.

"Where were you? Where did you come from?"

"I jumped down from the castle wall."

"P-princess," a voice said.

Zelda turned to see the messenger girl curtsy in the entrance to the courtyard. She must have been nervous because she needed the princess' attention, but wasn't actually supposed to speak until spoken to. 'Ah, well,' thought Zelda. 'If Impa can leave me alone, this girl can catch my attention.'

"Yes?" Zelda responded.

"Princess. His majesty, the king, wanted me to inform you that the treaty ceremony is postponed until tomorrow."

"Tomorrow!" she returned, but after regaining her composure said plainly, "Tomorrow?"

"Yes, madam. Lord Dragmire wished to visit town today. Shall I have the girls wash your purple dress for tomorrow?"

"Yes, please."

The girl curtsied and left.

"Do you think he's searching for the Kokiri?" Zelda asked Impa.

"I would not doubt it, Miss Zelda."

"He fell asleep and is being watched by a small girl. If Ganondorf finds him…"

" 'If' is a big word, Princess. Hyrule Castle Town is quite large and foreign to Lord Ganondorf, and he wants to maintain favor with the king and his people. He won't find the boy, I'm sure. Now, it is time for noon luncheon."

"Noon? How long was I meditating?"

"No time at all. You were thinking of the Kokiri," Impa teased. "Now, I've brought a meal. Would you like to eat out here?"

"Most certainly!" Zelda answered. They set up a picnic in Zelda's courtyard and began eating.

"I wanted to eat out here because it is private," Impa said. "There is something I must tell you."

"What is it?"

"While I was getting lunch, I passed the Royal Treasury. There was a Gerudo snooping around there. Those thieving…"

"Did she take anything?"

"No. She didn't get in, but she was scouting it out."

"You mean like casing a robbery?"

"Princess! Where did you learn that thief talk?"

"I study. So…"

"Yes. I believe Ganondorf plans to rob the treasury."

"Why should he? He plans to own the castle and the entire kingdom soon enough."

"Think, Zelda. You are right, but I don't think he is after the whole treasury. Just one item."

Zelda's faced burst into a sudden realization. "The Ocarina of Time." Nothing else needed saying. If this were the case, his plan was revealed. If he was after the treasure of the Royal Family of Hyrule, the Ocarina of Time, he must have intended to learn to play the Song of Time, which would open the Door of Time, so he could enter the Sacred Realm. "If someone like Ganondorf Dragmire took the Triforce from the Sacred Realm… Impa, we can't let him!" Zelda jumped up and ran.

"Zelda!" Impa jumped up and chased her.

Zelda had to see her father. Ganondorf had to be revealed before he could do anything else. She re-entered the castle and ran to the throne room. She burst through the large double doors and stopped. Though her heart had been pounding from running, it felt as though stopped as suddenly as she had.

Ganondorf was kneeling before the king. "Yes, my friend. My visit was very fruitful…" Ganondorf was saying, but stopped and turned to see Zelda. Everyone stared at her standing there, petrified and on the verge of tears. All hope had suddenly vanished as soon as she saw. There was a green, Kokiri's hat hanging from the back of Ganondorf's belt, and he had a devilish grin on his face.

"Did you want something, Zelda?" her father asked wearily.

Her heart started again, but it seemed lodged in her throat. She just stepped backward. Had Ganondorf…? Was the Kokiri…? She continued slowly stepping backward, until she took a bad step at the top of the main staircase.

"Zelda?" the king asked again, now worried. The doors closed and she fell backward, as though in slow motion, until Impa caught her before she hit her back on the stairs.

She cried in Impa's shoulder, and Impa carried her back to her chamber. Impa asked her what had happened, and Zelda told her attendant about the hat.

They were both upset at this point, and stayed in Zelda's room the rest of the afternoon. That evening, Zelda ate dinner in her room and cried herself to sleep, no hope left in her soul.