Author's Note: This section of the story's getting boring… there are a lot of these boring sections… Mudora knows! He'll re-write the whole story! Heheh… just kidding. Not after that long wait he gave everyone. One day, perhaps, but not yet. In the mean time, let's spice this up!

Isn't a three-part "season premier" cool? No? Shut up. I mean, review! Please, review.

A Princess' Destiny

Chapter 15: Pieces of a Plan, Part Two

"Princess, you are worthy of your title, as the goddesses' chosen daughter."

Zelda stood in the sky with the goddesses once more.

"Your wisdom is exceedingly great. You have solved the riddle of the Triforce."

"There is so much I don't know, though" Zelda replied.

"Your knowledge is what we give unto you, destined one. Here is the answer you seek. When one with a pure heart touches the Triforce, they gain the True Force."

"True Force?"

"The full power of the Triforce, the ability to have any desire of your heart granted. Those who touch the Triforce without a pure heart, with a heart stained with evil, they do not gain the True Force. Instead, the three golden pieces separate. That greedy individual only gains one part, the part they most believe is worth all their trouble. The other two pieces go to those who have been destined to protect them. You, with the wisdom you've shown for such a young girl, and with the ability to keep secret, were chosen to protect the Triforce of Wisdom."

"Triforce of Wisdom?"

"Yes. The three pieces of the Triforce each are the pure essence of one attribute. An attribute of each goddess's choosing. Nayru admires the wisdom people can exercise if they so choose. Farore admires the courage our creation can show when facing things they do not know. And Din finds the power to act a most intriguing trait in those we've created. When Wisdom, Courage, and Power are brought together again, that is when one can make use of the True Force despite their wicked intentions."

"Does that then mean that one without a pure heart has taken the Triforce?"

"Yes. The depraved man, Ganondorf has entered the Sacred Realm and taken our most valuable gift."

"Then what has befallen Link?"

"The young boy with the fairy will never be seen again in your lifetime. You must move forward and prepare for what lies ahead."

Zelda had so much more to say, to ask, but couldn't. She had choked at these last words. The goddesses began to speak again in their single voice once more.

"Now, you must go. Little time remains before you will be unable to do what we ask now. Go back and retrieve that which was lost. The gift we gave you in Kakariko. It is of utmost importance, as what lies briefly ahead will require you to have this item."

The world started growing bright once more…

Zelda awoke atop Death Mountain again. It was a dry morning, and the smell of smoke was faintly rising to their camp. The winds had turned and the cloud over Hyrule Castle Town was rising and heading up Death Mountain.

Impa was meditating at the edge of a nearby gorge. Looking down, Zelda could see that a recent eruption had occurred and there was much rock still cooling in the gorge.

Impa rose from her concentration. "Princess, I am having trouble understanding this saying, of the Triforce.

"So was I, until I had a vision. The goddesses explained all to me." Impa listened attentively. "They say Ganondorf touched the Triforce, and that those as evil as he is only obtain one piece of the Triforce. The other two go to those the goddesses have chosen. Each piece has a certain attribute that a certain goddess picked. One is power, one is courage, and the other is wisdom. I have in my possession the Triforce of Wisdom. Ganondorf surely has the Triforce of Power. Impa, the goddesses told me that Link…"

She couldn't say it. She wouldn't. It would only mean she would have to believe it. And she couldn't do that either. But Impa knew what she was going to say. She held the princess close as she wept.

"It's my fault Impa," she said. "I sent him to his death. I knew better!"

"Princess, you did not do this. You were planning to go yourself instead of him. Various circumstances caused things to change. The only one we can blame is Ganondorf. And we will see that he receives justice."

"Impa, do you think that he has the Ocarina? Link had it. It's the only way to open the Door! Impa, with its magic and the Triforce's added to his own…"

"Princess, we shall see, soon. The goddesses are obviously on our side, and that is a power he can not obtain."

Impa always knew how to make Zelda feel better, even if it was only small consolations.

"Impa, the goddesses say we have to go back, to obtain the thing the goddesses gave me again."

"What would that be?"

"The Ocarina of Time is with Ganondorf in the Sacred Realm. It can only be the eye of truth. They told me I would need it."

"Then we must go, Princess!"

They suited up in Sheikah gear, fed the horses and hurried down the mountain. When they arrived in Kakariko, they found the people busily working together, rushing to and fro. Impa asked someone what was happening.

"The survivors from the battle in Hyrule Castle Town retreated here, and we're planning an attack against that man's armies now."

"This does not have the approval of Impa," Impa said. "I do not recommend you continue with this plan. There will be much fewer survivors in a second fight. Especially when you are planning offense against a stronger opponent."

"We must get revenge for the dead bodies in the streets!" the man cried and ran off.

"This does not bode well," Zelda said.

"No. It does not bode well at all, Sheik. Let us hurry. We will need what cloud cover is left over the city to sneak in."

After they had ridden down into the valley and out the gate, they rushed their horses to a gallop across the field to the town. The drawbridge was now in shambles, and they had to dismount and hide the horses.

"We cannot afford wet feet for stealth," Impa said. She grabbed one chain that once carried the weight of the drawbridge and pulled it close. She had Sheik begin climbing as she held it taut. Once her apprentice was safely on the wall, she began climbing herself.

The clouds didn't darken the sky as much as they had two days ago, so the two Sheikah had to choose cover very carefully. Gerudos rigidly patrolled the streets, but they saw none of the cursed Royal Guard. Presently, a Gerudo came marching across the wall. They were in a good deal of shade, fortunately, but soon the woman would see them. She turned her head momentarily, and they took that second to bound to a nearby rooftop.

They ducked out of sight and waited. Impa appeared to be listening for something, but Zelda heard nothing. Finally, Impa said, "She has passed, let us be moving."

They took off to another roof, but were nearly spotted by a rooftop-sentinel. They ducked behind a chimney. Impa led Sheik to climb down through a top story window and into the house.

It was a stone building, but had obviously been burned out. In one corner, Zelda saw a cucco that had died burning. She remembered Chub, Link's gift-pet to her. With no occurrence to consider what fate had befallen Chub, she dreaded the thought that this cucco may have been another child's pet, or gift.

They hurried through the house to the opposite wall and Impa peeked out the window. After a moment, she motioned for Sheik to come and they jumped across to the next building window.

They continued this in silence until they reached the limits of the city. The building they were in now leaned against a cliff about twenty feet taller than itself. Impa led Sheik to the roof of the building and stopped at the opposite end from the cliff.

Impa took every dagger they had, stuck them between her fingers, and clenched her fists. She ran at the wall and jumped at it. She kicked off of it to gain some more air and slammed her fists into the wall. The daggers stuck in, holding her in place. She released the daggers and pulled herself the rest of the way up.

Sheik ran at the wall, jumped at it, kicked off of it, and grabbed two daggers stuck in the wall. Impa pulled him up and silently congratulated her apprentice. She hung from the cliff and pried the daggers free of the wall.

They hurried along the top of the cliff to the top of the gate. The castle courtyard was surprisingly lightly guarded. They snuck into the castle area, and found the gate still vacant from Zelda's fire magic. They hurried into the inner courtyards and into the castle itself.

Nothing. That is exactly what they found. No one was inside the castle as far as they could tell. They started searching frantically around the castle for the lens until their search led them to the throne room. Certainly, if Ganondorf kept it there, he would have kept it on his person. They cautiously opened the door. Inside was not what they were hoping to find.

The Gerudo woman known as Talia sat at the throne. She jumped slightly as the door opened, but resumed her lounge when she saw who it was, obviously an attempt at intimidation.

Zelda was offended by this blatant disrespect of the Hylian throne, and was about to say something, until Impa took initiative.

"That is not your throne, Gerudo thief," she said.

"And where is its rightful owner?" Talia scoffed. "That fool of a king, Daphnes, has disappeared…" Zelda was offended again at this insult to her father, but glad to hear he had not been confirmed dead as of yet. "… and my lord has been missing three days now. My elder sister has been reported dead, thus making me, Talia, the second daughter of Ganondorf, rightful heir to his throne."

Zelda had plenty to say, but could not afford to blow her cover by saying it. Fortunately, Impa had similar sentiments.

"The throne you sit upon is not yours, nor is it your thieving father's. That throne belongs only to King Hyrule, and will not so easily be taken."

"Then shall one fight for this throne?" Talia challenged.

"What is the point?" Impa replied. "Your father will be returning soon, with more power than all three of us combined. He will take the throne again. And when his time is up, Hyrule will be lifted of the stench of you foul creatures. However, if you would kindly hand over the object in your belt…"

Zelda hadn't even noticed. Resting in her belt, Talia had the eye of truth.

"Why is it important to you, Hylian lapdog?"

"Because, that object is a Sheikah relic much to precious to be given to swine like yourself."

"I like it. It is pretty, and I stole it right from under my father's own nose."

"It couldn't be that hard. You Gerudos have noses that could shade half your miserable pit of a kingdom."

"That miserable kingdom is now an empire, Sheikah worm. An empire that rules you and your people. If I recall, you must swear fealty to the king of your realm. Swear to me."

If there were a proverbial straw that broke the horse's back, that was it. In a split second, Impa lunged forward, bearing three daggers, two in one hand. Talia grabbed something at the side of the throne and swung it in a high arc. It was a Gerudo saber. She blocked Impa's offense and rose calmly to her feet. She grabbed a second sword leaning against the throne and forced Impa back.

"I hope Gerudos aren't the only ones who remember the Sheikah laws, Impa," Talia said. "Let's see, what was that one? Don't fight in a rage? You'll do yourself harm, Sheikah."

She struck with one sword and Impa blocked with all three knives. Talia brought up the second sword in a low strike, and Impa could not defend. She sliced with her daggers in a manner that pulled free the engaged sword. It fell upon the other, deflecting the attack. Zelda cheered in her heart. She couldn't allow herself to utter a word. Her voice could be recognized.

Impa did a back flip, and threw one of her daggers at Talia. The Gerudo deflected it with her saber with ease.

Impa charged forward with both daggers thrust out before her. Talia prepared herself in defense. Before Impa reached her, she somersaulted over and turned to strike at her back.

Talia was ready for this. She swung around with her sword and knocked one dagger free from Impa's hand.

Impa rolled to the side and jumped up. The dagger and sword clashed with equal force. Zelda could tell it was straining Impa greatly to compensate. Finally, she released and pulled back.

"Sheik, we must finish this quickly!" Impa said.

"Sheik?" the Gerudo spat. "What a wretched name!"

Sheik rushed in behind and pulled out a couple of daggers. Zelda knew Talia was much stronger than she was. Sheik threw a dagger at Talia's head. He knew she'd dodge. It flew past and Impa caught it.

Talia turned to face Sheik. She raised her saber to strike and Sheik raised his dagger in defense. The blades met, but the force caused Sheik to lose his weapon. He fell to the ground as Talia stood over. Zelda could only think of one thing to do. She made the hand signal for fire and felt the burning energy run through her. It was similar to the sensation she felt when the fire magic ran through her, only less potent.

She released the signal as Talia swung down at Sheik, and intertwined the energy with her own. She forced it into her arms as fast as she could, and released a fire manifestation orb, right in Talia's face.

Sheik rolled aside just as the saber hit the ground. Talia freed one arm to clutch her face, and turned as Impa charged again with two daggers. She raised her sword in defense and waited for Impa to jump. But she didn't jump. She crossed her arms and placed a dagger on either side of Talia's blade, then cartwheeled in the air.

Talia's arm bent a direction it didn't want to go, and she released her weapon. Sheik did a sweeping kick and Talia fell on her back. Impa lowered her daggers at Talia's throat while Sheik pulled the lens free of her belt.

"I hope the Gerudos remember Sheikah laws better than that, Talia. What was that one? Watch all opponents at all times? Or was it, 'Don't get in over your head'? Either way, you lose, thief."

They left the throne room while Talia clutched her face and cried in defeat. She knew she couldn't recover by attacking again, and that burn left her in terrible shape.

They began sneaking back out again, and made it back into the city without incident. Surprisingly, Talia hadn't called the Gerudos on them. Impa quietly explained that Gerudos were too proud to have their countrymen win battles they could not. And that Talia's face would need some medical attention before she could hunt them down herself.

As they made their way through the city the way they had come, they noticed several Gerudos making their way toward the Temple of Time, leaving their posts behind. Curious to find what the commotion was about, they secretly followed. At the temple, the Gerudos were congregating into a mob, chanting and cheering. Impa and Zelda stared in shock. It was too soon. They were not ready. Now they were stuck. From the open threshold of the temple strutted Ganondorf. He had his hand raised high and it glowed brightly. The symbol of the Triforce was upon it, and a smirk spread across his face.

He laughed in his terrible, maniacal way, and everything started fading…