Author's Note: Okay! We're back! Sorry this chapter is delayed. I'm trying to keep the story chapters of Hero's Path and Princess' Destiny alligned, especially for this chapter! Any questions? No? Let's get started!
A Princess' Destiny
Chapter 11: Prophecy Delivered
A dark cloud billowed over the fields once again. The vision was happening was once more. Rain began to fall on the grassy plains. A Gerudo army came marching from the east. The spirits Zelda had seen in Kakariko came from the west and dropped into the ground. From the ground sprouted the Stalchildren, who joined the army of Gerudos. At the front of the lines was Ganondorf. The formidable army marched to the gates of Hyrule Castle Town. The gates were closed to the outside, but that didn't stop them. Ganondorf shot a ball of fire at the wooden gate, and it immediately shattered into small, burning pieces...
Link came to the now restored gate and revealed three jewels-the Spiritual Stones. He hurried into the city and to the Temple of Time. He pulled out the Ocarina of Time and paused.
"How do I play the song...?"
Now she saw Ganondorf, standing atop Hyrule Castle, with a black crown upon his head. Zelda watched as the sun rose and set seven times. And then the entire castle crumbled under him, bringing him under the wreckage. The statues of the three goddesses came down to Zelda, and surrounded her again.
"We know that you now trust us, Zelda the seer,"the goddesses said. "We know what you have done for us. Now do this for you. Go." Zelda saw out in the castle courtyard, a passage through rock. "See the Great Fairy. She shall give you more of our power. Now do this for us. Go to the evil man, Ganondorf. Go see him and say to him, 'Seven days, and your kingdom shall end'."
"Just seven days?"
"Tell him..."
A drop of water on Zelda's head woke her. She was laying her head on Impa's lap, and they were in a cold, dark place. The floor was hard, wet stone, as were the walls. When Zelda saw the one barred wall, revealing a passage of the same stone, she realized where they were.
"Impa, how did we get here?" she asked. "Why are we in the castle dungeon?"
"The guards came to Kakariko just after you fainted. I couldn't resist the Royal Guard. I gave in. But it turned out the guards who came were under the control of Ganondorf, as is the whole castle!"
"Oh no. It's happened. He's taken Hyrule!"
"No. The citizens are still putting up a fight. All he's taken is the castle, and that only by his dark magic. But even his dark magic has limits."
"Not if he gets the Triforce, Impa. His power will be limitless! That's why it is so important we... Impa?"
"Yes?"
"Where is the Ocarina?"
"Here." She revealed in her hand a shadow-manifestation orb. "They thought it was just my last defense. Take it." Zelda reached into the void and willed her hand to grab, though it was too numb for her to tell if she had. She pulled out and found the Ocarina was in her hand.
"What about the lens?"
"Lens? The glass you brought out of the well?"
"Yes."
"I don't know. I haven't seeen it since you fainted. What was it?"
"The eye of truth. A Sheikah relic..."
"That allows the user to see the invisible, yes! If Ganondorf has it..."
"Just more power at his disposal. We have to get out of here."
"Not yet, Princess," Impa said.
"What do you mean?"
"I have grown weak from maintaining that shadow manifestation."
"I thought it was the easiest of the shadow arts."
"But I've held it the entire time you've been asleep, Princess. I've held it for three days! By the end, I had expended all but a small portion of the shadow energy by diluting it more and more with my own. I am too weak."
"What's going on in here?" a woman's voice asked. A Gerudo woman walked over to their cell. "Oh. Given up the manifestation, have you?"
"How does she know about the shadow arts, Impa?" Zelda asked.
"Gerudo scum!" Impa retorted.
"Oh, what a wonderfully generic insult. I expected more from a Sheikah," the Gerudo said. "Anyway, I have orders to take you to see Ganondorf now."
"No!" Zelda said as the Gerudo opened the door. She picked up Impa, who appeared too weak to even walk straight as the Gerudo took her out and locked Zelda in again. They disappeared out of sight, but Zelda heard their footsteps faintly falling for much longer.
She had to do something. Ganondorf knew they were up to something now for sure. After all, his men discovered them hiding out in Kakariko Village with the eye of truth. Now he was having Impa carried away to him, too weak to fight. There was obviously some bad blood between the Gerudos and anyone who took the Sheikah oath.
How could Zelda fight such a powerful sorcerer? She had the Ocarina of Time and a small amount of Sheikah training. Speaking of the Ocarina, she had to conceal it before the guard returned. She looked herself over. Somehow, she was dressed in a white gown instead of her training clothes. She had to hide it with manifestation, or just in her hands. Unless she escaped and rescued Impa. How could she escape? She looked around and found absolutely nothing. She felt around the walls, hoping one was fake. A futile effort and she knew it. Then she noticed a barred window up high on the wall, the light of the setting sun was shining in.
She jumped and climbed on the bricks as best she could with the Ocarina in her mouth. She fell back down several times, but her determination kept lifting her to her feet and finally up to the window. She grabbed hold of two vertical bars right next to eachother. She looped her arms through and put them together in the form of the shadow symbol. She channeled the energy and broke the symbol. She grabbed hold of the bars again and directed the energy into her arms. Then she forced it out slowly to her palms, building manifestation spheres as tall as the bars. Then she released them, and the spheres faded, along with the two bars. When they were gone, she crawled out.
She was right above the narrow moat around the castle. She jumped out and grabbed the opposite stone ledge of the moat. She pulled herself up and looked around. The drawbridge into the castle was closed. No way in there. Besides, if she walked through the front door she would end up getting caught by all the guards inside anyway. She didn't even want to think of what would happen if Ganondorf caught her sneaking in to the castle after sneeaking out of her cell.
He was too powerful, but she remembered something he didn't have: the power of the gods. She remembered the passage through the wall in her dream. She had to see the Great Fairy. She reached out to Impa with her mind. Impa...
Yes, Princess? I'm fine. You be strong.
What are they doing to you?
The Gerudos are mocking me. Holding a trial on account of kidnapping you. The penalty if I am "convicted" will be death.
Don't worry. Stay strong. I am coming.
No, Princess, they are too strong.
I have a plan.
Zelda cut off the connection. Impa didn't want her to do it. Impa didn't think she could. Impa was probably right. But Zelda had to prove her wrong.
She started off, out toward the gate. Two guards were posted there. She knew she couldn't be seen, but she had no choice. The guards gave chase, but very slowly. They were stumbling toward her. She turned and heard them growl. Most guards don't growl. Ganondorf had done something to them.
She jumped behind a tree in the outer courtyard, when she thought she would successfully lose them. She realized with all the guars around there had to be a way to make it harder for them to see. All she could think of was nightfall or some serious weather. When weather crossed her mind, she remembered the song she played in Kakariko that dried up the well. Could it help her? She began to play the cheerful little tune, until lightning struck in the courtyard. Clouds moved in over the entire city and a heavy downpour instantaneously started.
Zelda got up and hurried through the rain in the direction she knew the passage to be. The rain kept getting harder and harder, until it kept her from seeing very far ahead easily. Perfect, she thought. Now the guards couldn't see either.
Hoping she was still going the right way, she came across several landmarks that she had noticed in her vision. Finally, she reached a wall of rock where she had hoped to find the passage. But she didn't. She followed the wall to the right for a while, but didn't find anything. She put her hands on the wall to keep her right next to it and walked back the other way. She went farther and farther until she couldn't feel the wall anymore. She saw it, but when she touched it, her hand went right through. It isn't really there!
She walked through and found herself in a white, stone room the entire place had a strange glow to it. At the far end of the room was a small, shallow pool of water. In front of the pool, the Triforce was painted on the floor.
The crest of the Royal Family... Zelda didn't know whose voice entered her thoughts, but recognized what it meant. She played the song of the Royal Family, the lullaby she had played in the well. The faint sound of laughter filled the room. Zelda stopped playing and looked around. It grew louder and louder, until a woman flew up out of the pool, laughing. She had bright red hair and a tunic of leaves. She stared at Zelda.
"Welcome, Princess of Destiny," the woman said. "I am the Great Fairy of Magic. You have come on behalf of the goddesses. I will give you the magic of Din, goddess of power."
The room grew much brighter, until finally everything grew very dark. Zelda could make out the still pool, but the fairy was gone. She turned and left, wondering what magic she had now received. She came seeking power and found the blessing of Din. What was it?
She stood in the courtyard again, but the rain had grown lighter. There were several guards in the area, and they all looked at Zelda at the same time. She heard a shrill scream come from every direction at once. The guards stumbled toward her. She would run, but she was surrounded. One guard reached her first and grabbed her arm. She looked into his helmet and saw a terrible face. Twisted and grotesque, all she could compare it to was the creatures she had seen in the Royal Family Tomb. Could it be? Had Ganondorf made the Royal guard into an army of the living dead?
She kicked the guard off her and ran out of the circle of others. When she had made a good distance, she started playing the Sun's Song she had learned in the tomb. Light shone through the clouds and pricked each and everyone of the guards. They froze and fell to the ground. Each and every one.
How could he? Zelda thought. Ganondorf would stop at nothing to reach his goal. She ran back to the castle, hoping the Great Fairy's magic had allowed her enough power to stop Ganondorf.
She had to conserve energy. She wouldn't barge through the front door. She ran around the side of the castle, looking for a way into the inner courtyards. She found a drain on the side, obviously from one of the fountains in the courtyards. She put the Ocarina in her mouth again and jumped and climbed through the drain. As expected, she came out in the inner courtyards. She remembered where her own window was, where she had left her chamber all those nights ago. She ran to it. The courtyards were not being watched at all. She climbed in her window and found everything just as she left it.
She was soaking wet. If she even tried to sneak down the hall, she could be followed by the trail of water she left behind. Her nicest dress was still sitting on her bed from when she last changed in this room. She took off the white gown and dried off with the bedsheets, then put on her dress and searched Impa's drawer of Sheikah items. She found some more flash pellets and needles, but not much else. She stashed them in a sack and opened the door.
Impa, where are you?
Don't come, Princess!
I promise I'll get you out. I've come so far and have received greater power from the goddesses. She really hoped that pulled through.
I'm in the throne room, Impa answered.
The hallways were lightly guarded, only six or seven Gerudos circulating the passages routinely. She waited for just the right moments when no Gerudo saw her to make her way from door to door, her ultimate goal the throne room. Finally she reached the staircase and the double doors. There was a Gerudo guard with a spear at the door who saw her coming.
Zelda opened the sack as the guard rushed down the stairs toward her and threw a needle at her. The needles were almost as long as Zelda's forearm and sharp on either end. She tossed it like a dart and hit the Gerudo's spear hand. It stuck straight through her hand and she fell to the ground screaming. Zelda ran up the stairs preparing a flash pellet, when she remembered the goddesses words.
Ganondorf was sure to be in there. Seven days...
She cracked the door open and peeked in. Impa was four meters past the door, staring at the throne on her knees. There were Gerudos on either side of her holding her. Ganondorf sat on the throne staring back at Impa.
"Who's there?" Ganondorf asked when the door creaked.
There was no turning back now. The Gerudo on the stairs wailed loudly and the two guards by Impa let go and turned to the door.
"Seven days, Ganondorf," Zelda said loudly. "Seven days and your kingdom shall end!" She thrust the door open and threw a flash pellet to the ground, turning her head away. The Gerudos, Ganondorf too, couldn't see a thing. Zelda ran over to Impa and started to drag her out, but by that time they could see again. There were more guards inside than Zelda could see. There were guards lining walls on either side of the throne room. Every Gerudo jumped at Zelda and Impa as Ganondorf shouted.
Goddesses, what do I do? Zelda thought as everything happened in slow motion before her. This was the end. All the women bared their weapons, and Zelda knew she couldn't get them all with needles even if she had enough. She dropped on top of Impa, as if to shield her. Din, where is your magic?
Suddenly, a force came over her like that of channeling energy, but much stronger. Her entire body was burning with energy she wasn't even controlling. She felt all she could do was release a shout of anguish in the strange and powerful sensation. As she released a high-pitched scream, she also released a wave of intense heat all around her, burning all the Gerudos.
All the women cried out as their entire bodies caught on fire. What has happened? What did I just do? Zelda thought. She stared down at Impa, but Impa was unscathed. She looked up at Ganondorf. He had no burns either.
"You..." he started. Zelda started to pick up Impa, but she hopped to her feet alone. Impa grabbed Zelda and leapt right out the door. Ganondorf came charging right behind.
Zelda was being led by Impa's hand as she ran down the halls. Startled Gerudos weren't swift enough to act as Impa dashed past. Ganondorf was pursuing just as fast as Impa was running. Zelda wondered where Impa was going, or if she even had a plan. They ran to a spiral staircase that led up a tower.
"Impa..."
"Hush!" they started climbing until, several stories up, they stopped at a stained-glass window. Impa punched the glass out and peeked through. She tossed Zelda out and Zelda started screaming. Impa jumped after her and they fell toward a rooftop below.
There was a square hole in the slanted roof, and Impa and Zelda both fell right through. Under the hole was a large amount of hay, which Zelda landed in and jumped out of the way for Impa to land in. The stables was where they now were. When Impa landed, she grabbed Zelda's hand again and rushed over to a horse. A white horse already ready to go. Impa set Zelda on the saddle and she hopped on as well. Ganondorf crashed through the roof and landed on the dirt floor. He got up as if he hadn't taken such a terrible fall. With a quick snap of the reigns, Impa's horse was off through the courtyard.
Even in the midst of all this, Zelda wondered what she had done to burn all those Gerudos. They were coming up on the castle drawbridge. She felt it again. The super-powerful energy channeling through her, and her arms thrust up toward the door as of their own will. Waves of flame shot out of her hands and incenerated the wooden gate. The white horse leaped over the moat and ran down the path. A black armored horse hopped over the water shortly after. Its rider was the Gerudo King.
They rushed through the outer courtyard and out down through the town they were rushing straight toward the city gates now. The gate was closed for the night. How could they escape?
The gates, as if by the desperate wishes of Zelda and Impa, started opening as they approached. It was completely open by the time they reached it, and ran through without difficulty. Ganondorf was gaining, but was still afar off. As they crossed the drawbridge, Zelda saw Link. He was just standing there, surprised at the sight.
Had he done it? Had he collected the Stones? Then he was the only hope now. They were riding away from Link, who was staring at them, perplexed. Zelda took the Ocarina of Time and held it close. She hoped he knew what to do. She threw the Ocarina to him it flew through the air, farther than Zeelda even knew she could throw. It went right over his head and into the Zora's River.
No, thought Zelda. If it washes downstream, there's no telling where it will end up!
Too late now. They were gone. Over a hill and out of sight. They were drawing near Lon Lon Ranch. They were out of the storm's cloud. They kept going farther and farther, not knowing where they would stop. Zelda just hoped Link could pull through...
