The Legend of Zelda: Glaive of Souls

by lavender phoenix

AU. Nothing was as it should be. That's what Del thought after her and her friends were suddenly transported to the land of Hyrule. Since day one she's running from bokoblins, arguing with heroes, pursued by an unseen force, and searching for a legendary weapon that doesn't even exist in the games. Everything she thought she knew about The Legend of Zelda will be put to the test.

13. The Storyteller

HELLO EVERYONE!

Alrighty, so this chapter was a bit of a doozy- and I don't just mean in terms of its length... I had this chapter planned out pretty much from the moment I dreamt this story up, but it decided it be difficult and constantly bite me in the ass... BUT it is written, finally!

So yes, this chapter is the longest one yet, but it's an important one. I felt a little bad at first, making it so long. But then I remembered some of your comments about lengthy chapters, and I totally agree: If I'm gonna make you all wait this long (sorry :S) I might as well make it worth the wait.

So here's to hoping it delivers (haha).

As always, thank you all so so much for every read, comment, follow and fave. I can't express how much it all means to me :)

Disclaimer: I don't own LoZ; only my OC's and plot.

---

I awoke to someone roughly shaking my shoulder.

When I opened my eyes I was greeted by the dim glow of an oil lamp hanging above my head. Looking past the light, a dark shadow stood next to my bed and it took my foggy brain a moment to realize who it was.

I sat bolt upright in bed.

"Nobu, what the hell are you doing in my room?!"

"Shh! You want to wake Calli and have her sit in on another training session?" he whispered harshly.

"Training…? I didn't think you were going to today," I whispered back.

"Plans change," he huffed, offering nothing more as an explanation. "Meet me downstairs in five minutes." Then he turned and left my room, taking the light with him.

I sat in bed for a minute, allowing my eyes to adjust to the dark before slipping out of bed and quietly changing my clothes. I carefully tip toed out of my room- making sure that Calli was still sound asleep- and silently shut the door. My feet lightly skimmed the floor as I moved as fast as I dared down the hallway, then down the stairs and into the bathroom. Once I was done I headed for the main floor, throwing my hair up into a messy bun.

Nobu's dark shape was waiting at the bottom of the stairs. As I reached him he crossed his arms, the shadows of his face darkening into what I assumed was a scowl. "You're late."

"Wha…?" I said, baffled. I don't think I've ever rushed so fast to get ready in my life. How the hell was I late?

"Let's go," Nobu all but barked, then picked up a bag from the floor, the contents clattering like wood, and walked towards the doors.

I glared at his retreating form.

For a moment I thought about turning around and heading back up to bed. His attitude felt unwarranted (considering he came to me) and it was the last thing I wanted to deal with at God-fucking-knows-what-time-it-is in the morning. But as he opened one of the inn doors he didn't walk through, leaving me behind. He held it open for me and waited.

I decided that learning to fight was more important than Nobu's cantankerous attitude or my annoyance. So, I took a deep breath then walked out of the inn.

The sky was still dark and star-strewn; and the village path was still interspersed with golden light from the oil lamps.

I stifled a yawn then looked at Nobu's partially illuminated face. "What time is it?"

"Early," he grunted.

This time it was my turn to scowl. "No shit, Captain Obvious."

He raised an eyebrow. "Alright, it's exactly one hour until sunrise; three hours until breakfast; between thirteen and fifteen hours until dinner; and twenty-four hours before we probably do this all over again. Does that answer your question?"

I blinked at him then did something I didn't expect. I laughed. "Wow, you're not a morning person, are you?"

"I function just fine in the morning," he grumbled.

"Uh-huh…" I voiced, unconvinced. "Okay, listen. If training me today wasn't part of your "plan" then we don't need to do it. I'm fine with leaving it for another day."

He opened his mouth as if to say something but paused. He looked at me, his brows drawing together as if what I offered him was a good idea, but then blinked and said, "Can't."

"Can't?" I questioned.

"Princess Zelda asked that I train you today, and so I will."

I didn't say anything to that and just continued to walk next to Nobu, silently thanking Zelda for her subtle kick to his ass.

As we reached the fork at the end of the village path I started to veer left and bumped into Nobu's side.

"Where are you going?" Nobu huffed.

"The meadow…?" I questioned.

He shook his head. "The meadow's too dark right now."

"Okay, then where are we going?"

Nobu stepped around me and started heading down the right-side path. I followed behind without complaint- until the light from the oil lamps started to recede.

"Uh, Nobu? Do you happen to have a lamp with you?" I asked his fading outline.

"No."

"No?"

"No," he said again. Then I heard him stop walking. "This should be a good spot."

"A good spot for what?" I questioned as I stopped too.

"Training."

"Training?" I asked, bewildered. "Oh god, please don't tell me that I have to spar with you in the dark?"

Nobu actually chuckled. "Wouldn't that be an idea? But no, Zelda has a task for you."

"Really?" I asked, surprised.

"She would like you to use your magic as a source of light."

"Ohh…" I said, enthralled with the idea. It never occurred to me that my magic could be used in that way. "Okay, I'm gonna try." I took a few steps back just in case and summoned my power. My hand blazed to life, burning white with soft tendrils of red. I raised my hand above my head then looked around. I frowned. "Damn, it's not bright enough," I said as the light from my magic only casted a dim shadow.

"You need to draw your power out as if you're making a shield, but instead of expanding the magic, keep it concentrated," Nobu said.

I lowered my hand and raised my eyebrows at him, questioningly.

"Zelda's instructions," he answered.

I nodded and tried again, this time drawing my power up and holding it in my palm. The more magic I drew from myself the brighter the ball of light became. I smiled as the darkness around us bleached and I was able to make out our surroundings: the high rocky wall to my left and the tall building of the bomb shop on my right.

"Impressive," Nobu acknowledged. "Now let's go. We've already wasted enough time." He turned on his heel and started to walk away.

I exhaled sharply and followed behind.

As I took the first couple of steps I found that my light was dimming. It didn't take me long to figure out that I needed to focus on my power- to keep it at a constant flow or else lose it.

Luckily, I was an expert in the field of "walking while talking", so "walking while concentrating on magic" was a piece of cake

I continued to follow Nobu further down the path when he suddenly stopped and I had to catch myself before plowing into his back.

"Are we here?" I asked as I stepped back and to the side to take a look around. The walls lining the pathway widened in front of us to create a sort of box-like dead end. However, up ahead and against the back wall was a rickety old scaffolding, draped with a large knotted net made of fraying rope. At the top of the scaffolding was an opening set within the rock face- which I guessed was most likely another path that led further into the mountain.

"Yes," Nobu answered.

I looked around again. "I hope you're not expecting me to keep my light going, because I can tell you with complete confidence that I can't fight and hold my light at the same time," I said, bluntly.

Nobu didn't say anything but instead dropped the bag of wooden objects to the ground. Then he walked to the left and lit an oil lamp that was hanging from the wall. I watched as he moved about fifteen feet down and lit another lamp, then another, and another. I let my magic extinguish.

Once Nobu was done lighting the lamps he went back to the bag, opened it up and drew out two wooden swords. He tossed one to me.

"You remember your fighting stance?" he asked.

"Yes."

"Good." And he came at me.

My training was the same as yesterday: countering strikes and being vigilant to the changes of the fight. I found myself to be more at ease without other people watching, and was able to progress a lot better.

I practiced until the sun came up and the breakfast bell rang- signalling the end of our session. Nobu packed the swords away then handed me a canteen of water. Once I was done drinking he handed me a vial, filled with a shining liquid.

"A sun potion?" I asked.

"Drink it tonight," he said.

"Tonight? Wait, so you really are going to train me tomorrow?"

He nodded. "As it turns out, you're not a complete waste of my time."

"Thanks," I said flatly.

The corner of his lips turned up slightly. "Good job today, Del."

I smiled.

The two of us walked back to the inn, where we separated. I was the first out of my friends to be in the dining hall; and when they came down to get their food none of them questioned me about where I'd been all morning, all of them just thinking I woke up before them.

Not long after breakfast Zelda came to get me for more magic lessons.

And over the next three days this had become my routine: Early morning training with Nobu until breakfast, and magic lessons with Zelda until dinner.

It was on the third night that Parker had amazing news.

My lesson with Zelda was coming to an end for the evening (and I'd managed to expand my shield to cover over half my body) when Parker came bursting into the infirmary.

I jumped and lost my shield.

"What the hell, Parker? You made me lose my concentration," I whined.

"I'm sorry- sorry," he panted. "But I've-"

"Del, I believe Parker's sudden appearance is small a blessing in disguise," Zelda said.

"It's a big blessing, princess. I've got-"

"What do you mean?" I asked Zelda.

"Del? Zelda? I-"

"Your shield. You dropped it at the first sign of surprise. You will never survive if you cannot hold onto it during an attack."

"Dammit, you're right."

"Guys?"

"You will need to practice-"

"WE FOUND THE GLAIVE!"

My head turned slowly to Parker. "What…?" I breathed.

"Uh, well, we didn't find the glaive exactly… More like Shad found information about it," Parker explained.

"What kind of information?" Zelda asked.

"The kind that could lead us in the right direction," Parker said.

"Oh my god!" I cried and the three of us left the infirmary and raced over to Renado's.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

The hut was rather calm when we entered through the doors. Renado and Link were sitting on one of the benches around the lit fire pit, both sets of eyes moving as they watched Shad pace back and forth in the middle of the room- his nose buried in a small leathered tome that was cracked and ancient, and a look of intense concentration on his face as he silently muttered to himself.

Shad's movement was hypnotizing, holding my attention until I felt someone grab my hand. I blinked and turned my head to see that Calli had sidled up next to me, a bright smile on her face. I smiled back then noticed someone was missing. "Where's Charlie?" I asked her.

"The stables," she answered. "Telma went to go get him."

I tilted my head slightly to Parker. "You let Telma get Charlie?" I whispered.

"I couldn't stop her," he whispered back.

I smirked.

Just then, Zelda stepped away from us and walked over to Renado. "Nobu?" she asked him.

"He just left for a patrol with Rusl. I sent Ashei after him not too long ago. He should be here shortly, princess," Renado answered.

I watched as Zelda inclined her head in thanks then took a seat next to Link.

My eyes caught Link's and I smiled. He smiled back.

Just then, the double doors burst open and in flew Charlie.

"What'd I miss?" he puffed.

"Nothing yet," Parker said, his head shifting back and forth to Shad's movements.

"There it is again… Yes, yes this seems promising…" Shad mumbled as he rubbed his chin.

A few minutes later Telma came in, panting a little as she walked over to Renado and took a seat on his other side. "Good goddesses, Charlie, you run fast. I couldn't keep up with you," she said.

"Sorry Telma. Excited, you know," Charlie said with a shrug.

"Of course you are, dear," she smiled.

I gave Charlie a pointed look.

"What?" he mouthed.

I sighed and shook my head a little.

"Would anyone like some tea while we wait for Nobu?" Renado asked.

There was a chorus of yes's from us, followed by a dismissive wave from Shad.

As Renado stood and went into the kitchen, Parker, Calli, Charlie and I all grabbed the nearest bench and sat down with our backs facing the fire. Renado returned a moment later carrying a pot and cups, and as he poured the tea the hut was filled with a light chatter. However, as soon as he was done everyone fell silent. Even I remained quiet. I was too nervous and excited to say anything.

As the minutes passed while waiting for Nobu the only sounds in the hut were that of Shad's boots thumping across the floor and the sharp sips of tea (interspersed with the soft hiss of a burnt tongue), when a new sound was heard.

The doorknob to the front door rattled, then the door squealed open as Nobu marched into the hut.

"Shad, what have you found on the glaive?" Nobu demanded.

Shad stopped pacing, lifted his head and glared at the Hylian captain. "If you'd like to take a seat, Nobu? I'm almost finished."

Nobu opened his mouth to argue but Zelda called for his attention. She didn't say another word but just stared at him; and there must have been something in her stare because Nobu nodded then made his way over to us, a light line of red colouring his cheeks under the shadow of his helmet.

"Shad, whenever you are ready," Zelda said patiently.

"Thank you, Your Highness," Shad bowed, "but I believe I'm good to start."

There was a clank of metal as Nobu crossed his arms.

Shad pushed his glasses up with a small smirk. Then his face sobered as he said, "First of all, I'd like to apologize for the length of time it's taken me to find this," he lifted the small tome in front of him. "My research had a direction- however, that direction led me astray. I thought that I needed to find information, any information, on the glaive itself, when I should've been looking at the time the glaive was-"

"Shad, will you stop rambling and get on with what you know," Nobu growled as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"The time the glaive was created,' Shad continued as if he wasn't just interrupted. "When I first found those few passages about the glaive, they all referred to a time when demons were able to walk on our plane via a human host. I originally believed this time period to be that of the goddess Hylia; however, I was wrong. It was during the time before the Goddess. Once I realized that, I found this," he raised the small tome again. "It's an account of the ancient tales told during that era."

"Tales? Like stories?" Charlie asked, skepticism lacing his voice.

"Wait, are you saying that this glaive thing is just made up?" Calli questioned softly.

"No- no of course not! Uh, let me explain." He cleared his throat and stood a little straighter. "Before language was written our histories were told as stories, and were passed down through the generations as such. When writing was invented someone wrote those histories down but still in their original story form. Does that make sense?"

"Yeah, I guess so," Calli said. Charlie nodded.

"Semantics," Parker chuckled under his breath.

"I'll continue," Shad smiled. "Now, unfortunately the tale about the glaive is only two pages long-"

"Seriously?" I interrupted, raising my eyebrows.

Shad adjusted his glasses. "This is a good thing, Del."

"How so?"

"These two pages confirm that the glaive truly exists."

My brows furrowed. "Yeah, well I already believe that the glaive exists. Does it tell us how to find it?"

Shad looked away from me and cleared his throat, his face going a little pink. "I- I'm not sure yet…"

"What do you mean, Shad?" Parker asked in a stern, measured voice. "You said you found information that would lead us to the glaive."

Shad exhaled harshly. "Might! I said I found information that might lead us to the glaive!"

"You've got to be kidding," Parker muttered.

"Look," Shad said as he opened the book and walked over to Parker. "This passage right here- I think it might be a clue to the glaive's whereabouts. You see how these three sentences are structured? One on top of the other; almost similar in length; and not flowing together like the rest of the script? I believe that it's a poem, or maybe a riddle, that guides one to the glaive."

"Can you translate it?" Renado asked.

Shad sighed as he turned the book back to him. "Regrettably it's written in a language that I'm not familiar with," he said, staring at the writing.

"WHAT?!" Parker, Calli, Charlie, and I yelled at the same time.

Shad jumped in shock.

"Alright, enough of this!" Nobu barked. "Shad, how about you inform us on what you were able to translate," he growled, and this time I agreed with his harsh tone towards the scholar.

Shad's face turned bright red. "As I said a little over a week ago, translating Old Hylian isn't my forte," he started through gritted teeth. "But I know enough to build a strong understanding of this tale." He took a deep breath to calm himself and continued. "The story tells of a man who lived long before the goddess Hylia, and who had in his possession the Glaive of Souls. However, one day it was stolen, split into three pieces, and hidden over Hyrule, never to be seen again."

"Is that all?" Nobu asked.

Shad gave him a puzzled look.

"Is that all your "strong understanding" can tell us? Just a tale of someone who once owned the glaive before it disappeared?"

Shad looked as if he was ready to throttle the Hylian captain. "My guess…" he hissed, "is that the glaive was taken by what the story refers to as sjena- or shadow demons- as a way-"

"Wait, what did you just say?" Telma interrupted.

"I was going to say that I believe the demons took the weapon so that it couldn't be used against them-"

"No, no! That word. What was that word?" Telma demanded.

Shad blinked. "Sjena? It's Old Hylian for what I believe roughly translates to mean 'shadow demon'. It's actually written numerous times in the story- maybe even more than the word for glaive-"

Telma laughed. "That word does not mean 'shadow demon'. It means 'Shadow Folk'."

Parker and I looked at each other.

"Shadow Folk? You mean the Sheikah?" Shad asked.

Telma nodded.

"How do you know?" Renado asked, stunned.

"From my grandfather," she smiled lovingly. "Oh, the old man loved to collect ancient relics. One of his favourite pieces was a small, timeworn boulder that had an emblem of an eye carved into its surface. And on the bottom of the stone were the words 'u sjeni lezi istina', which means 'In shadow lies truth'."

"The Sheikah's adage…" Shad breathed.

Nobu grunted softly. "It makes sense that it would be the Sheikah. If anyone was to create a weapon to destroy demons it would be them."

Shad nodded slowly in agreement. Then he turned back to Telma, eyebrows raised. "How do you know for sure?" he questioned.

Telma laughed again. "My grandfather was good friends with a lady who read excellent Old Hylian, my dear." Then she winked at him.

Shad's cheeks coloured again. "Ah, yes, well-" he cleared his throat, "yes, it- it's pretty obvious now that the word sjena would derive from sjeni. Shadow Folk from shadow. Yes, very obvious," he concluded with a curt nod.

"So now that we know the glaive was made by the Sheikah, could that poem be written in the Sheikah language?" Link asked.

Shad looked at the passage in the book. "It- it could be…"

"Is there anyone that you know who can read Sheikah?" Zelda asked. "A colleague of yours, perhaps?"

Shad looked down at the writing. "I believe there are a couple colleagues of mine who could translate it, Your Highness. However, they're all still in Castle Town-"

"And trying to contact them is a risk I'm not willing to make," Nobu interrupted sternly.

And he's back to being a jackass…

"I could try and translate it myself…" Shad said as he stared at the writing again. "It'll take some time, but I might be able to."

"Some time?" Calli whimpered.

My heart turned to lead at the worry in her voice.

"Shad, we appreciate what you're trying to do for us, really we are. But we've been here for eleven days already. Are you sure there isn't anyone that you know who could translate that passage for us?" I pleaded.

Shad looked back at me, pity in his eyes. Then he looked away and placed a hand under his chin as he started to pace. "I wonder if… no, he'd still be stuck there. Hmm, what about…no, no good… Maybe -," then he snorted and shook his head. "No, I'd be crazy to-"

"Who's Impaz?" Link asked out of the blue.

"Impaz?" Parker said, turning to look at Link then back at me. His eyes were round as he clearly recognized the name. I gave him an apologetic look because I didn't.

Shad stopped moving and looked at Link with wide eyes. "How do you know that name?"

"You whispered it just now, as you were pacing."

"She- she's no one of importance. Just a crazy old woman who thinks she knows everything about- Uh, just forget her name, alright?" he said with finality in his voice.

"Shad, would this woman be able to help in our search for the glaive in any way?" Zelda asked gently.

He remained silent for a moment, then said, "Possibly…" lengthening the word as he thought. Then he shook his head, hard, and started pacing again. "No- no I'm afraid she can't. Her methods and research are not reliable… bases everything on hearsay and convenience, for goddesses sake! No, I can translate the passage. It'll take me some time, but I can do it." And he turned on his heel and jogged up the stairs to the library.

"Shad come back down here!" Nobu shouted as he stomped over to the staircase.

There was an uproar of chatter as the others all started to talk at once.

But I didn't pay any attention to it as I sat frozen on the bench, my breathing becoming laboured and my heart beating so fast that I thought I was going to faint.

And then I was hit with an idea.

I took a few deep breaths to calm my dizzying heart, stood from the bench and walked a few steps as if I was planning on leaving. Then I crumpled to the ground.

The other's reactions were instantaneous: everyone calling my name in shock before the shadows of their bodies started to surround mine. Someone lightly tapped my cheek a few times before changing to fan my face; all the while my name being called over and over. I kept myself still for another moment then I opened my eyes.

"Oh my god, Del!" Calli, cried. "Are you okay?"

"Wha- what happened?" I asked as I looked at all the worried faces above me. "Why am I on the ground?"

"You fainted, sweets," Telma said from my right.

"Fainted?" I said, puzzled. Then I paused, pretending to be in thought. "No… something happened. Something…" Then I gasped and sat up, making Calli and Parker jump in surprise. "Shad… Where's Shad?" I asked urgently.

"I'm here," Shad responded softly. I found his startled face peering over the kneeling bodies of Renado and Link in front of me.

I looked at him with steady eyes. "You have to tell us where to find Impaz," I said evenly, my tone offering no room for argument.

His alarmed expression turned into a scowl. "Why? Why do I have to?"

"Because the goddesses demand it of you."

An ambient silence fell over the hut; one so heavy and thick that even the crackling of the fire sounded muted to my ears.

Then Telma spoke, her softened voice echoing through the silence like thunder. "Del, did you just have a vision?"

I shook my head lightly. "No not a vision. More like a message. I heard a voice- or maybe three- that said Shad must tell me where to find Impaz."

Again the entire room fell silent. I felt the intense gaze of ten pairs of eyes all on me; but I only focused on one.

I watched as Shad's face drained of all colour. Then he started to nod, slowly at first, as if the movement was a foreign gesture, but then faster and faster until his glasses slipped down to the tip of his nose. "Okay, yes. Yes, I'll tell you where to find her. Better yet, I'll go with you to find her…"

I beamed at him- part in relief and part in triumph that my plan worked.

"Yes, yes I'll go with you… I'll pack my things and we'll be off!" Shad exclaimed then headed for the back doors.

"Wait a minute," Nobu said, grabbing Shad's shoulder before he got too far. "There's no way I'm letting anyone leave the village right now, it's too dark. Eat and rest up tonight; you'll leave first thing tomorrow."

There was a murmur of happiness that floated around the hut.

Link stood then extended his hand to me- which I took- and he pulled me up.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice soft as he looked at me.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I said with a light laugh.

"Good," he said then gave me a lopsided grin. "Ready for another adventure?"

"Ready as I'll ever be," I grinned back.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Parker, Calli, Charlie and I were back in my and Calli's room, all of us crammed together in the tiny space and trying to sprawl out the best we could as our bellies were full from our late dinner.

Earlier, as everyone left the hut together and walked towards the inn, there was a moment when we entered into an already empty dining hall that I thought we'd missed dinner and would have to go the rest of the night with no food.

Luckily Zelda was with us, and she graciously called on the chef to whip us up something to eat. The chef agreed without complaint; but I could tell he did it begrudgingly as the portions were on the smaller size.

He gave us all a small bowl of crisp veggies in a clear broth, and a roll of sweet bread with a good chunk of soft goat cheese. We were also given a few pitchers of water and a couple pots of hot tea.

Once everyone poured themselves something to drink we all gathered our trays and then separated for the night.

Zelda, Nobu, Renado, and Link said their goodnights then left for the hut.

Shad and Telma's rooms were on the second floor of the inn, so the four of us followed behind them.

"I will come and wake you up in the morning, sweets," Telma said before turning into her room.

I nodded, then made my way to the third floor with the others.

The four of us entered the room and we squished together on the floor so we didn't spill soup on my and Calli's beds. Our stomachs filled up fast with the liquids of our meal, and once we were done we abandoned our empty trays on the floor and draped ourselves as best we could on the beds.

"I can't believe you did that," Parker said after a moment.

"Are you mad that I did?" I asked.

He shook his head. "I'm starting to see the benefit of your little "oracle" lie," he smiled.

I snorted in amusement. "Well, I can't believe that none of you said anything that would've blown my cover."

"Hey!" Calli said from her bed, pointing a lethargic arm at me. "We can keep your oracle secret just fine, thanks."

"Yes, you're right," I apologized with a smile.

"So, do you really think this Impaz lady can give us the info we need?" Charlie asked, slouching next to Calli.

I turned my head to look at Parker. "Who is Impaz again?"

"She's the little old lady who helped Ilia and the Zora prince," he answered.

"Oh, that's right! She gives Link the Sky Book too," I remembered. "I liked her character. She was so sweet."

Parker nodded. "She's supposed to be a descendant of the Sheikah, so hopefully she can tell us what we need to know."

"There's something I don't get," Charlie said. "If these "Sheikah" people are the ones who made the glaive then why don't you ask them where to find it? Why go after this one lady that Shad obviously has a problem with?"

Parker answered. "The Sheikah are extinct in this timeline. Except for Impaz, that is."

Charlie stared at Parker for a moment. "Okay… then you believe she knows what we're looking for?"

"I think so," Parker nodded. "Impaz is a minor character in the game, but she plays a big role. You can't continue the game without her help."

"But this isn't a game," Calli said softly.

"True, but something tells me that going to see Impaz is a step in the right direction."

"I agree with Parker," I said. "She was important in the game, so she has to be important to us now."

"Fair enough," Charlie nodded then stood. "Well, I'm gonna take a bath. I'll see everyone in the morning."

"Okay," I smiled.

Calli stood as well. "I'll go with you. I need to try and wash all this off," she said, raising her arms and hands to show bright green stains on her fingers and forearms. Then she gathered her sleep ware from the ground, grabbed her bathing supplies and followed Charlie out the door.

Parker turned to me. "What are you going to do?"

I stretched my arms above my head. "You know, I think I'm going to bed. The effects of the sun potion don't last long when I'm using magic and I'm pretty exhausted. What about you?"

"I don't know. Sleep too, I guess…" he shrugged half-heartedly.

"You okay?"

Parker chuckled lightly. "Yeah, it just feels a little weird not having anything to do anymore."

I stared at him for a moment, watching as his eyes turned downcast.

"Then come with us," I said.

His eyes shot back up. "What?"

"Come with us to find Impaz," I smiled.

Parker looked at me with skepticism. "Del… I don't think-"

"No, I want you to come," I interrupted.

Parker shook his head slowly, uncertain.

"Listen, you're just as much a part of this as Shad is; possibly more. I want you to come. You need to come."

He looked away and stared at the wall across the room. He remained silent as he thought; his face almost expressionless. However, I could see the scales balancing in his head, weighing the pros and cons.

But I knew how to tip those scales and whispered, "Let's go on an adventure."

Parker turned back to me and smiled- and it was like I was staring at his eleven year old self again, gearing up for another Triforce quest in the backyard.

But then his smile faltered slightly. "Won't it be too dangerous? Link having to watch over the three of us?"

I gave him a flat look. "Okay, I may not be skilled in combat yet but I can create a relatively strong shield, and I have some control over the release of my magic."

The expression on his face said I wasn't convincing him.

"Will you trust me if I say that I won't let anything happen to you?" I asked.

Parker blinked. "I'm not worried about me! I just don't want you to get hurt trying to protect me…"

I gave him a soft smile then lifted my right palm. I summoned my power, allowing the blazing white of the magic to coat my hand as soft red tendrils rose and danced in the air. "You know, the reason I was given magic in the first place was so I could protect the three of you," I told him.

"Really?" he said quietly.

I looked at him and nodded, but his focus was aimed at my hand. I closed my fingers and snuffed out my magic. Parker's eyes jumped to mine.

"Really," I smiled.

"I haven't seen you use your magic before," he said.

"I hadn't been confident enough until now," I explained. "So, will you come tomorrow?" I asked again.

Parker nodded this time.

"Yes!" I clapped. "Oh, this is so exciting!"

"Kinda is, isn't it," he beamed. "Alright, well I think I'm going to take a bath too. Get ready for tomorrow and all." He stood then walked to the door. "I'll see you in the morning," he said before leaving my room.

"Night!" I called as he entered the hallway.

Smiling, I slipped off my bed, gathered my nightgown and toothbrush, then headed down to the bathroom.

Once I was done and back in my room I climbed into bed and couldn't help but feel elated with the prospects that tomorrow could bring.

And as I closed my eyes for the night, my heart was filled with nothing but hope.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

The sun was steadily rising over the ridges of the mountain as Parker, Calli, Charlie, Telma and I made our way to the end of the village path.

As we waited for Link and Shad to join us I glanced over my shoulder to the left-hand pass of the mountain. That was the way we were going today.

Shad mentioned that we had to travel to Upper Eldin to find Impaz; and that mountain pass just so happened to lead us there.

As I continued to stare down the path thoughts started surfacing in my mind. Thoughts of danger disguised as beautiful sparkling snow; of dark blue eyes so close I could almost swim in them; of warm hands tightly holding onto mine—

"Del?"

I snapped out of my reverie and turned my head to see who called me. I locked eyes with Link. I felt a light bloom of heat cross my cheeks as I gazed at him.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Yup, just uh- just lost in thought," I said with a casual wave of my hand.

He looked down the left-hand pass then back to me, the corner of his mouth rising a little. "Good thoughts I hope?"

Yes...

But I didn't answer him and changed the subject. "I see Rusl finished making a sheath for the Master Sword," I said, pointing to the sword's handle now poking over Link's shoulder.

"Hmm?" Link voiced as he turned his head. "Oh yeah, he finished it the other night," he smiled. He removed the Hylian Shield from his back then pulled the sheath's strap over his shoulder and handed it to me.

It was beautiful. The body was made of hardened leather, dyed navy blue to match the guard and handle of the sword. On the surface of the leather were gold inlays in a Hylian design, and just under the lip of the sheath's opening was a small setting of yellow stones in the shape of the Triforce.

"This is amazing," I smiled as I handed the Master Sword and sheath back to Link.

"Rusl really outdid himself," Link said. He stared at it for a moment, running his thumb over the small Triforce in admiration before replacing the weapon and shield back on his person.

"Ah, good morning," I heard Telma say, and I looked past Link to see that Zelda and Nobu were heading our way.

"Hey, can I talk to you for a sec?" I asked Link.

He raised a curious eyebrow. "Okay."

I walked a few feet away from the others, Link following behind. When I stopped I turned to face him. "I'd like Parker to come with us today," I stated bluntly.

He blinked at me, surprised. "What?"

"Look, I know it's dangerous out there-"

"It is," he said matter-of-factly.

"I know," I sighed then stared at Link with steady eyes. "But he deserves to be a part of this, not just Shad. I want him to come."

Link's eyes were just as unwavering as he gazed back at me. "Can he fight?"

"Can Shad?" I asked, thinking back to the bokoblin attack and Shad's basic lack of involvement.

Link's eyes broke contact with mine. He exhaled then looked back at me. "Alright, Shad isn't the best fighter. But he's Hylian and he knows how this world works-"

"So does Parker," I defended. "He spent days reading those books about Hyrule. Hell, he probably knows this place better than any Hyrulean- ever!"

And that's the truth…

He still didn't look convinced.

"He's smart, Link- really smart. And if this quest is all about finding clues and deciphering puzzles then I want him with us," I reasoned.

Link rubbed the back of his neck.

"I'll make you a promise: that Parker's safety is on me. It'll be my responsibility and no one else's."

Link opened his mouth as if he was about to argue when he stopped. He closed his lips and stared at me in that same searching sort of way that put my nerves on end. Then he said, "Are you sure?"

I nodded firmly. "I am."

Link took a deep breath. "Alright, then Parker comes with us."

"Thank you," I beamed.

Link sighed and shook his head lightly.

"No, seriously, thank you," I said sincerely; then turned my gaze to Parker (who was talking animatedly to Charlie). "I know this means a lot to him. And it means a lot to me." I admitted. Link didn't say anything so I turned to look at him, concerned. However, the moment my eyes found his, his gaze dropped quickly, looking everywhere but at me. "You okay?" I questioned.

"Uh yeah… Sure, no problem. Uh, about Parker I mean," he said in a rushed breath, his eyes flicking to mine then away again.

"Okay," I drawled suspiciously, then said, "Well, I need to ask Telma something. I'll be back."

He nodded and then I walked away (giving Parker a thumbs up as I passed him) and stopped next to Telma who was talking to Zelda and Nobu.

"Good morning," I said to the princess and the knight.

"Good morning," Zelda replied with a smile as Nobu nodded his head in greeting.

"Telma, I was wondering if you could help me with something?"

"Of course, sweets."

"Parker is coming with us and I'd like him to have some armor."

"He's wha-"

"Nuh uh!" I said forcefully, putting my hand up and silencing Nobu. "I don't need your negativity today."

Zelda quickly placed a hand to her mouth, but it did nothing to hide the giant smile that rose on her graceful lips.

Nobu kept his mouth shut- but the twitching in the corner of his eye and the red colouring his face told me that a major ass-whooping was to be expected in my near future… But now wasn't the time to worry about that.

"Do you think you can find some for him?" I asked, turning back to Telma.

"I think so," she smiled, then walked over to Parker and grabbed his wrist. "Come with me, dear," and she dragged my wide-eyed cousin to the storage house.

I chuckled then looked back at Zelda and Nobu.

Nobu's eye was still twitching…

"Right, I think I'm gonna go… Over there…" I said then turned on my heel and speed walked back to Calli, Charlie and Link.

"What's up with Nobu?" Link asked as I took a spot beside him.

I snorted. "Come on, I know you heard all that."

Link sighed sharply. "Just because I have good hearing doesn't mean I listen to everything. Especially other people's conversations."

I looked up at him and raised my eyebrows. "Are you serious?"

"Yes," he said taken aback.

I crossed my arms and smirked. "So if I asked you if you've ever listened to any of my conversations, you'd say no?"

His cheeks coloured. "Well, uh… well- it's hard not to listen when someone says your name at least fifty times in one minute," he accused.

I blinked at him, my cheeks the ones colouring now, as I thought back to all the times I had talked openly about Link to my friends (more often than not while he was in the same room as us), not aware of his dog-like hearing just yet. "Point taken," I said with embarrassed defeat.

"So?" Link urged.

"I basically told Nobu to shut up… more or less."

Link's eyes rounded as he looked at me then to Nobu, the corner of his lips twitching upwards. "You've got guts, I'll tell you that."

I winced. "Why doesn't that sound like a complement?"

Link chuckled.

At that moment Telma and Parker returned from the storage house; Parker now garbed in armor almost similar to mine. He wore a dark leathered breastplate that covered his entire upper body and dark metal wrist guards that went up his forearms, stopping just shy of his elbows. Around his hips was a thick, black belt that held a sheath and sword to his side. His dark curly hair was pulled back and tied into a small ponytail at the nape of his neck; and his face held an expression of complete calm as he made his way back to us. However, his eyes had a brightness to them, and I knew that he was trying very hard to contain his excitement.

"You look great," I said when he stopped in front of me.

His calm cracked and gave me a goofy smile, his cheeks turning pink. "This breastplate is incredible! It's so pliant!" he said, bending from side to side.

"Faron leather?" I asked Telma, who was standing next to Parker.

"Yes it is," she confirmed.

"Thank you," I said, grateful that she was able to find some for him.

Telma smiled.

It wasn't long before Shad joined us, accompanied by Ashei.

"Good morning, everyone," Shad said, adjusting a rather large traveling bag on his shoulders.

"Shad, what's in the bag?" Link asked, eyeing the pack.

"Essentials," the scholar replied.

"Like what?" Link prompted.

"Uh, well… like-"

"Like his books and papers and maps and notes. Pretty much everything he just can't live without," Ashei answered; her voice heavy with a tone that sounded suspiciously like jealousy.

"So basically nothing essential to our survival," I said, crossing my arms.

Shad glared at us.

"Alright, enough," Nobu said with a roll of his eyes; then he bent over and picked something up from the ground. "Link," he called and held out a bow and quiver.

I watched as Link walked over to Nobu and collected the weapon. He removed the Hylian Shield then put the quiver around his shoulder, resting it on the opposite side of the Master Sword. He then replaced the shield on his back before placing the bow over top of the quiver. Once the weapons were adjusted comfortably he made his way over to us.

"Bulblins," Link said out of the blue as he approached me.

"Sorry?" I asked, confused.

"You're wondering what the arrows are for, right?"

I nodded- because saying that I was hoping to see him place the weapon in some sort of item shrinking bag would guarantee strange looks from everyone.

"They're for killing bulblins," Link explained. "They-"

"They like to hide in high places and ambush their targets from above!" Shad interrupted. "That's why you find most of them in Upper Eldin. The terrain is full of tall hills and rock formations-"

"Which is why we need the arrows," Link cut back in. "Shoot them before they shoot us."

"Just make sure you have your wits about you, yeah?" Ashei said. "Bulblins can be pretty sneaky if you're not on the lookout."

"Good to know," I said, glancing at Parker who looked both enthralled and terrified.

I smiled.

Soon we heard the echoing sound of hooves filling the air; and I looked down the village path to see that Talon was heading our way, leading Epona and Suna behind him. However, I didn't see Ai.

"Where's Ai?" I asked, approaching Talon as he stopped next to us, only to be pushed back a step by Epona's large head into my chest. I scratched her cheek in greeting.

Talon's brows knitted together. "I was told he would not be needed today."

"Oh," I blinked. "By who?"

"Me," Link answered as he walked over to Epona- whom she turned her attention to. "Upper Eldin is much more dangerous than the South Field. It'll be safer if you ride with me."

Guess I'm not learning to ride this time either…

"Parker? You'll ride with Shad, okay?" Link said.

"Parker, you're coming too?" Shad asked.

"Yeah, I am," Parker smiled.

"Oh…well excellent! It'll be nice having another intellectual along for this journey."

"Hey!" Link and I cried, both of us offended.

Shad blinked at us in shock. "What?"

I was about to open my mouth when Talon spoke up. "Now, now my friends, you must get a move on. There is only so much time in the day!"

"Quite right," Shad said and quickly walked over to the cream coloured mare- who started pawing the ground.

Parker started to follow Shad when I blocked him. "Do you still remember those riding lessons from summer camp?" I asked in a whisper.

Parker thought. "It's been years, but I think so. Why?" he whispered back.

"One sec," and I walked over to Link. "Hey, can I ask you a favour?"

Link raised an eyebrow. "You mean another favour?" he smirked.

"Okay yes, another favour," I chuckled softly. "Would it be alright if Shad rides with you?"

"Oh, uh-"

"I'm only asking because if Parker rides with Shad then Shad has to look out for him, right? And I made a promise that Parker's safety is my responsibility, so it'd make the most sense for me to be with him," I explained.

Link looked at me then at Parker. "He knows how to ride?"

"He does," I nodded.

Link looked back to me. "Okay."

I smiled. "Thank you… again."

He snorted with a grin. "Shad," he called. "You're going to ride with me."

Shad's bespectacled face peered from around Suna's thin neck. "Oh…? Okay then." And he walked over to Epona, shifting the large pack up his shoulders.

"And Parker, you're with me," I said making my way to Suna, Parker following behind.

"Do you know how to ride now?" Talon asked me with an amused laugh.

"No," I said dourly. "Parker does though."

"Good lad," he exclaimed and clapped Parker hard on the back, pitching him forward into Suna's shoulder.

"Thanks," Parker said, rubbing his nose.

"Alright you two, up you get," Talon motioned to the saddle.

I hesitated a moment as I stared at the horse's lean body. "Talon, are you sure she can carry the two of us?" I questioned.

Talon threw his head back in laughter. "Of course she can! Gerudo mares are strong, remember?"

"Right," I said as I visualized Suna snapping like a twig under my and Parker's weight. I mentally shook my head clear of the image. "Okay, Parker you first."

He put his left foot in the stirrup and grabbed the pommel, bouncing on the ball of his right foot a few times before pulling himself onto the saddle. I gave him a moment to get comfortable then asked for his hand to help me up.

The first attempt I almost pulled Parker right out of his seat. Thankfully only Talon saw as everyone else was caught up in their own doings. The second attempt was successful and I settled in behind him, placing my arms loosely around his waist. It was a snug fit on Suna's saddle but it wasn't too uncomfortable.

I looked over to see that Link and Shad were already atop Epona; and with the four of us ready to go Zelda stepped forward.

"I wish you a safe journey," she said, gazing at each of us in turn. "May the goddesses watch over you all."

"Thank you, your Highness," Shad said, bowing deeply- which caused his large bag to shift, the sudden movement pitching him sideways. He had to grab Link's waist to stop him from falling out of the saddle.

Ashei laughed loudly.

"Okay, let's go," Link said over his shoulder, then gave Epona a light tap with his heels, prompting her into a jog.

Parker copied Link, and Suna started forward. As we jogged past Calli and Charlie I turned to wave goodbye before Parker steered us towards the left-hand path.

"Remember!" we heard Telma call from behind us. "What does not kill you makes you stronger!"

Parker's head whipped over his shoulder. "Did she really just say that?" he asked in disbelief.

"Unfortunately," I confirmed.

"I didn't think she was serious about wanting to use it," Parker chuckled.

"She was."

"Doesn't sound right coming from her, does it?"

This time I chuckled. "I know her intentions are good when she says it, but man is it creepy…"

Epona and Suna continued to jog down the path for a few minutes, passing the illusioned wall to the meadow and heading into the seemingly endless trail up ahead when Link pulled Epona to a stop.

Parker pulled on Suna's reins and stopped us too.

"We'll let the horses walk while we're still in the mountain," Link said as he scanned the area around us. "It'll take us a couple of hours to reach the exit this way, but I want to take things slow. Zelda's barrier may have weakened again, and I don't want to draw any attention our way if it is."

"Good idea," I said, thinking about the ice keese.

Link turned in his saddle, his eyes finding mine. They were soft as he gazed at me, and I knew that he was thinking about the ice keese as well. He blinked then shifted to Shad. "Shad, you have a map of Upper Eldin?"

"I do," Shad answered.

"Then I'd like you to draw out a route to where Impaz lives. Preferably one that avoids as many hills and rock outcroppings as possible."

Shad nodded then removed his large bag- with difficulty- from his back, rummaging through it until he found the proper map and a writing utensil.

"Got everything you need?" Link asked.

"Yes," Shad responded with a slight wheeze, having placed his bag back over his shoulders- once again with difficulty.

"Good," Link said, then motioned for us to start moving.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

The journey to Upper Eldin took a little over two hours to make, and turned out to be a relatively quiet trip.

Link suggested that it might be smart to keep our talking to a minimum since we had no idea when the barrier would thin out. He assured us that a thin barrier would still hide us from sight (up until we left the mountain), but it didn't guarantee that we wouldn't be heard- and followed.

At that, he turned his head over his shoulder and gave me a pointed look.

I gave him the finger.

He raised an eyebrow.

I smirked then said quietly, "What? I thought you didn't want me to talk?"

Link snorted- whether in annoyance or amusement, I wasn't sure. But I didn't make a peep after that.

As we made our way further down the mountain pass I decided to take advantage of the calm and quiet and concentrated on expanding my shield some more. Now that I had Parker to look out for it was imperative that I made it bigger.

I practiced non-stop for an hour and got nowhere.

Summoning my power and concentrating it in my palm was easy- a lot easier than normal, in fact. I attributed that ease to Parker being with me (his physical safety now a reality, as oppose to a mental one) and setting off my trigger like a light switch. However, whenever I tried to lengthen my shield, stretching the hazy red of the edges ever so slightly, it would always snap back and I'd have to start again.

It was maddening.

But I couldn't stay frustrated for long because during all my failures I managed to teach myself something- something that I wasn't taught in my lessons with Zelda.

When my shields failed and my magic would give way, rather than having my power disappear and needing to re-summon it, I was able to catch it and keep it in its concentrated form on my palm.

It may be nothing more than a little trick- nothing fancy or flashy or grand- but it offered me a security that's taken away whenever I have to re-summon my magic. It gives me back those couple extra seconds used up by blind concentration- those precious seconds that could ultimately determine life or death.

So, for the rest of the journey through the mountain I worked on catching my magic whenever my shield broke, taking no time to bring it back up. I even played around with the feeling of dropping my shield on purpose and readying the energy for an attack.

Of course, I never released my magic. I always simmered it down before trying my shield again, making sure to keep everything in check so as to not attract any unwanted attention.

However, I did attract Parker's attention, and by the time we reached the end of the mountain pass he was practically sitting side-saddle watching me with rapt eyes.

We were both so engrossed with my magic, in fact, that Link actually had to reach out and grab Suna's rein to stop her from walking out into Upper Eldin.

"Sorry," Parker mumbled as he swung his leg over Suna's head and sat forward again.

Link gave us a look that told us he wasn't very impressed.

"Shad, do you have a safe route for us to take?" Link asked, looking away from me and Parker and out into the field.

"Through the East Field, yes- for the most part…" Shad answered.

Link turned in his saddle to look at the scholar. "For the most part?"

"Uh, yes. The path we need to follow is relatively straight and in open terrain. However, the map shows a thick mass of outcroppings just before the Eldin Bridge that is unavoidable. See?" Shad said, showing Link the map.

Link studied the map for a moment then said, "Okay, we'll ride until we reach the outcropping, but we'll stop before going in to let the horses rest for a bit. Something tells me that once we enter that outcropping we're going to have to push the horses through."

"Why?" Parker asked.

Link turned to him. "We'll find a couple bulblins in there, for sure. But if we race the horses, we'll have a better chance at outrunning their arrows."

"Oh…"

"Hyrulean horses are fast, Parker. We'll be fine," Link assured him.

Parker didn't say anything, but just nodded.

My gut pinched. I wished now that I worked more on expanding my shield and less on playing around with my new trick.

"Link, if you look here, there's a patch of trees not far from the entrance," Shad said, pointing at the map. "It should offer us cover while the horses rest."

Link took another moment to examine where Shad was pointing. "Seems good enough," he agreed.

"Wonderful," Shad said, folding the map.

"Parker, stay behind Epona but keep close, alright?" Link said.

"Alright," Parker answered.

"And everyone, keep your sights high. Remember, bulblins attack from above," he added, adjusting the bow and quiver across his shoulder. "Are we ready?"

"Ready," Shad said, locking his arms as best he could around the Hylian Shield strapped to Link's back.

"Ready," Parker said, tightening his grip on Suna's reins.

I quickly wrapped my left arm securely around Parker's waist, keeping my right arm free and to my side as I summoned a small amount of magic within my palm. "Ready."

Link gave Parker a nod before whipping Epona's reins; and Parker (no more than a split second behind) did the same with Suna's.

And then the two horses darted out of the mountain pass, galloping into the field beyond.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

The East Field in Upper Eldin looked completely different from the South Field in Faron.

While the South Field was low flatlands bordered by nature, the East Field was high landforms with nature inbound.

The landscape was lush with rolling hills and crumbling outcroppings, grassy knolls and colossal boulders. Tall, thick trees were dotted all over the ground, seemingly growing in places with no rhyme or reason. The land to the north was an emerald wall of monstrous hills, veined with dozens of thin streams of aqua water, flowing downward from what had to be a large water source hidden somewhere at the top. The land to the far east was much flatter than the north, covered mostly in small knolls that revealed a large river on the other side whenever there was a break within the grassy swells. And the land to the far west was an endless expanse of shimmering gold and copper; its pristine openness marred only by the dusty grey of a towering spire.

Wait a minute…

"Parker!" I said loudly over the wind, slapping his stomach with my left hand. "Parker, look to your left!" His head turned. "Do you see it? It's Hyrule Castle!"

"Oh my god, it is!" he cried over his shoulder with a laugh.

"I can't believe it…" I murmured into the wind. I continued to stare at the tower in awe, hit by a feeling of absolute amazement over what I was gazing at.

But suddenly my awe vanished, taken over by a chill that set deep within my bones- one that didn't come from the cool jet streams of air that glided past, but from a realization:

Ganon was in that castle…

I kept my eyes on the tower, hawk-eyed for any sign of Ganon's presence, until the landscape bulged upwards and hid it from sight.

I let out a shaky breath as I turned my focus to the land ahead, keeping watch on a bunch of boulders that lined our path about thirty feet away; my magic concentrated and ready to expand into a shield if I needed it to. However, after about half an hour of riding (and not seeing anything that equated to danger) I started to relax. And the further we rode into the field the more I forgot about the threats that lurked around. I started to enjoy the feel of the wind against my face, the warm sun against my shoulders, and the rhythmic movement of Suna's gait.

After an hour I started to feel uncomfortable.

Since I didn't have the stirrups to brace my feet on, my legs had to dangle over the sides- and this started to create a spiking pressure on my tailbone.

Parker wasn't doing much better. He kept shifting every now and again, trying to find a comfortable spot in the cramped saddle that we shared. But he never complained once, never asked for us to stop; and so I resolved to do the same.

It wasn't easy…

But relief came quicker than I expected. We were riding in between two small hills (eyes raised to their peaks) when we rounded a bend and a large rock outcropping became visible: the length of which seemed to cut across the entire East Field before us.

Link veered Epona to the right (Parker following suit) and led us to the patch of trees that Shad found on the map. He and Parker slowed the horses to a jog before we entered into the thick grove, then pulled them to a stop once we were inside.

"We'll break for fifteen minutes," Link said, swinging his right leg over Epona's head and jumping off the saddle before Shad even moved a muscle.

I snorted in amusement; then I looked from side-to-side, deciding the best way to get down.

"Here, I'll help you," I heard from below me and turned to see Link standing next to my leg.

"Oh, okay sure," I said and watched as he reached out to me. I twisted my torso as best I could so he could get a stable grip on my waist.

"Okay, brace your hands on my shoulders and slide out," he instructed.

Alright Del, let's try and do this gracefully… I thought as I placed my hands on his shoulders. Once I felt secure I started to lean over and slide my right leg up the saddle. However, I underestimated my speed and ended up slipping too fast, crashing into Link's chest and causing him to take a few quick steps back to prevent us from falling.

"Sorry," I apologized, loosening my death grip from around his neck.

"It's no problem," he chuckled then released my waist from the circle of his arms, setting me back onto my feet.

I looked up and gave him an embarrassed smile- which faltered when I realized that his hands were still on my waist and mine were still on his shoulders. I blinked then stepped away quickly, my cheeks blazing and my heart beating just a little faster. I turned towards Parker and watched as he swung his leg over the saddle and dropped down.

"How're you feeling?" I asked him, trying to calm my erratic heart.

"Sore," he laughed as he stretched his arms far over his head.

I nodded. "Yeah me too," I said, taking a deep breath before copying his stretching. Once I was done I took a moment to scan the area.

The grove consisted of about a dozen trees, all with wide trunks and full foliage. However, the spacing between each one was pretty wide and I grew a little concerned.

"Link, are we safe here?" I asked, turning to find him rummaging in the satchel connected to Epona's saddle.

He stopped what he was doing and looked up, his eyes roving across the field. "As safe as we can be," he said honestly.

"Hmm…" I voiced as I gazed out at the field as well.

"The outcropping is the only high point around here, and if there happens to be any bulblins in there they'll have a really difficult time trying to reach us. The tree tops are too dense and we're in too far for their arrows to get close," he stated.

"Okay," I said, looking at him, a little more at ease.

Link went back to the satchel. "Shad, can you come take these?" Link asked, pulling out a wooden box and a large wooden canteen. Shad nodded and took the items. Then Link stuck his hand back into the bag and pulled out two small bowls and another wooden canteen. He placed a bowl next to Epona and Suna, opened the large bottle and filled each bowl with water.

The horses drank greedily, finishing the water within seconds before turning their focus to the lush grass of the grove.

"We should eat too," Link said, walking over to Shad then sitting on the ground. Parker and I followed and the four of us made a circle as Shad opened the lid of the wooden box.

I was expecting it to just be a few loaves of bread again, but I was greatly surprised. Inside were some round buns, thin slices of cured meat, a large chuck of goat cheese, and a bunch of apple-kiwi fruit.

"I'm starving!" Shad exclaimed and dug right in; the rest of us barely waiting turns, shoving a hand into the box the moment someone else's left.

The four of us were just as greedy as the horses: polishing off our food without a word and drinking our canteen dry in almost no time at all.

"How long before we ride again," Shad asked Link as he wiped his hands on his pants.

"Seven minutes," Link answered.

Shad yawned and placed his pack at the base of a tree, then said, "I think I'll close my eyes until then." He leaned back, laying his head against his bag when a hollow thunk, followed by a sharp twang, filled the air.

The four of us didn't say a word, didn't even take a breath, as we stared at the spot where Shad's head was seconds ago- because there, embedded within the tree, was the shaft of an arrow.

Link sprang to life, jumping up from the ground while removing the bow from around his shoulders. He notched an arrow, scanned the grounds then released it.

I spun quickly to look behind me, catching the last moment the arrow flew far through the air before piercing a thin, dark monster in the neck. It took me a second to realize that the monster was a bulblin, dressed head to toe in dark clothing. I watched as the bulblin's body became lax then keeled over, falling into a heap on the grass.

"Shad, are you okay?" Link asked, re-notching another arrow and keeping his eyes to the field.

"F-f-fine," Shad stuttered from his spot on the ground; his face a sheet of white.

Parker stood. "I thought you said their arrows couldn't reach us," he said, shocked.

"They can't. Not from above," Link confirmed.

"Well that one clearly didn't come from "above"," Parker pointed out.

"That was a ground scout," Link said, slightly surprised as he lowered his bow.

"How come you didn't hear it?" I asked him, standing up.

"Bulblins are pretty stealthy; ground scouts even more. I- I wasn't expecting to see any around here," he admitted.

"And what does seeing one mean?" Parker questioned.

Link blinked then said, "It means that we're in for some trouble. Ground scouts are only seen when a bulblin camp is nearby. I'm guessing the outcropping is their base."

"That's a smart move on their part," Shad said, still on the ground.

"Why?" I asked, looking down at him.

"It's the only way to get to and from the Eldin Bridge. They can ambush travelers and take their supplies," Shad answered.

"Ah," I said. "Well, it won't take us that long to get through, right?"

Shad pulled out the map from a pocket in his shirt and unfolded it. He stared at it, his lips moving silently as if he was counting then said, "It's almost three miles."

Dammit…

"Three miles on a horse- that should be less than ten minutes. Possibly eight if we race the horses through like Link said we would," Parker stated.

Link nodded. "We also have the advantage," he said. "By sending out a scout, the main camp isn't watching this area. There's a chance that we can make it through the outcropping unnoticed."

"But probably not," I said flatly.

The hint of a smile rose on Link's lips as he shook his head. "With their scout dead they won't notice us right away. But they will and we have to be prepared for when they do." He walked over to Shad. "Come on, time to move," he said, offering the scholar his hand.

Shad grabbed Link's forearm and was pulled to his feet. He took a few deep breaths before he turned and picked up his pack, placing it over his shoulders once more.

Link gathered the items he removed from the satchel and put them back before mounting atop Epona.

Parker and I did the same: Parker swinging himself onto Suna's saddle then helping me up behind him.

Once I settled into the saddle I quickly summoned my magic, expanding it into a shield. I concentrated on holding its size for a moment; and when I felt confident that I wouldn't lose it I looked up to glance at Link. However, it was Shad that caught my attention as he stared at me in awe; his eyes moving and tracing the glowing red edges of my shield.

I couldn't help the swell of pride that rushed through me.

I tried not to grin like an idiot when I looked away from Shad and over to Link- who was staring at my shield as well.

But then Link reined in his focus and looked from me to Parker. "Ready?" he asked.

I gave him a small, reassuring smile and nodded; Parker nodding as well.

He nodded back then adjusted his grip on the bow that was still in his right hand before signalling us to go.

The two horses shot out of the grove like bullets.

As we raced to the entrance of the outcropping I raised my shield hand over my and Parker's head for protection. And as we entered the enormous rock formation I held my breath.

I kept my sight high on the ledges; my gaze sliding back and forth, tears beading off my cheeks as the wind streamed into my eyes as I tried to hold them open.

The horses' hooves thundered over the grass, the sound echoing up the rock walls… but nothing happened.

Maybe we will get through unnoticed…

I exhaled a breath of relief when I felt a strong force blow across my shoulders. I twisted in the saddle and looked behind me, my eyes widening in horror.

Planted in the rock face was an arrow.

I turned the other way and scanned the ledges from where the arrow came from, finding it difficult to see as the sun was blazing in my eyes. But then something moved, stepping away from the light of the sun before disappearing within it again. But that exposure was enough and I knew I found what I was looking for: a bulblin.

"Link!" I shouted over the wind, hoping that he could hear me. Thankfully he turned his head and I quickly pointed behind me. "There's a bulblin behind us!"

Link looked up to where I was pointing, eyes squinting in the light as he twisted his torso. He lifted his bow and notched an arrow. A beat of thunder from the horses passed- then he let the arrow fly.

I turned and saw the arrow disappear into the sunlight, only to see it again protruding from the chest of the bulblin as its dark silhouette pitched forward and fell, hitting the ground with a screech that echoed around us as we rode away.

"Holy fuck!" Parker yelled, and I turned forward to see him looking over his shoulder.

I nodded in agreement then moved my shield to our left side.

With my shield adjusted I looked back at Parker when I saw his eyes bulge. "We've got company!" he shouted, and I glanced behind to see dark body after dark body materializing on top of the outcropping- roughly five or six, and all of them racing along the edges after us.

I twisted in the saddle once again, bringing my shield down to protect my and Parker's backs.

I watched as the mass of bulblins started to fall behind- their speed no match to that of Epona and Suna's. They continued to fire their arrows at us, but it was becoming useless. Every arrow that flew towards us would end up in the ground, never coming any closer than five feet before the horses doubled that distance within seconds.

I almost laughed at the bulblins feeble attempts to take us down, finding it rather enjoyable to watch them fail over and over again. However, my enjoyment was cut short when I heard Shad scream. I whipped my head forward to look at him and saw that protruding from his thigh was an arrow.

Quicker than lightning, Link re-notched his bow and fired just to our right. My eyes followed the arrow as it whizzed up and hit another bulblin- this time in the face.

Relieved, I turned back to the front; however, my focus was pulled back to Shad's thigh, now with a bloom of bright red blood leaching through his pants.

Just then, movement up ahead caught my eye- and I let out a whimper. Dozens of dark bodies started to appear along the rocky ledges, and I gazed in terror as they all raised their bows and notched their arrows.

I lifted my shield above our heads, taking a shuddered breath and watched as the world around me started to slow. My body ran cold as I breathed in; and I started to feel helpless as I breathed out.

I stared up at my shield and for the first time felt nothing but hatred towards it.

Why aren't you bigger? Why aren't you protecting my friends? Isn't that the entire reason why I have you?

I felt desperate tears prick the corners of my eyes as I felt Parker's quickened breathing under my left hand; and saw how pure white Shad's face was as he gripped Link's shoulders for support.

I almost screamed my anger out loud when my breath hitched as I saw the bulblins start to release their arrows.

My arm suddenly hummed and I felt a surge of white hot power gush into my palm. I looked up to my shield once more and watched as it started to expand rapidly. It was as if it had a mind of its own; the hazy red edges growing wider and wider within seconds.

Just then, we were bombarded by arrows…

… however, none of them came close to touching us.

Wide-eyed, I stared at my hand as I was now holding up a domed shield that encompassed all of us within it.

I was stunned, unable to tear my eyes away as I watched the sunlight ripple over the barrier, revealing an intricate pattern of swirls that shimmered in a soft red.

"Del, how are you doing that?" Parker shouted in awe, snapping me out of my astonishment.

"I have no idea!" I shouted back, then leaned to the side to call to Link. "We need to move faster because I don't know how long I can hold it," I yelled to him as he turned his head to look at me.

He nodded then urged Epona to go faster. Parker did the same with Suna, and the two horses picked up speed- so much so that they practically flew over the ground.

The bulblins' arrows continued in their onslaught; however, my shield didn't waver and kept us protected. I marveled at how strong it was; at how little sensation I felt with each arrow hit; and I felt a new confidence swell up inside me.

But I wasn't going to overestimate this new found assurance- blatantly aware that my shield could snap back without a moment's notice. So I prayed with everything I had that we'd see the exit soon.

As the horses stormed through the passage the bulblins started to thin out; their masses unable to materialize quick enough before we blew past them. I wanted to breathe a sigh of relief, but I forced myself to hold off; keeping it in until I knew we were safely away from this place.

The passageway curved slightly up ahead, and once we rounded it the relief I was holding came out in an unstoppable rush. Up ahead, not more than twenty feet away, was the exit. Epona and Suna- as if sensing that safety- put on a burst of speed, and the two horses blazed through the rest of the pass and out of the outcropping.

"We did it! We did it! We made it through!" Parker yelled, laughing almost in disbelief.

I allowed myself to laugh too- it was the only way to stop myself from crying. The fear and uncertainty and relief I felt crashed within me and I was overwhelmed. But the laughing helped, and I started to feel calmer.

"Del?" my name was shouted. I leaned to the side to see Link looking at me. "Keep your shield up until we pass over the bridge, alright?"

"I'll try," I answered. However, I was slightly apprehensive- unsure if I'd be able to continue to hold it now that we were away from danger. I looked away from Link, and without thought, my eyes landed on Shad- and the arrow in his thigh.

I quickly pushed away my worries, resolved to keep my protection going. I wasn't going to let anyone else get hurt.

And so I raised my arm a little higher, locked my elbow firm, and kept my magic flowing and my eyes peeled.

The Eldin Bridge was up ahead.

I grinned as it looked exactly like it did in the game: Two fortified stone arches (crumbling with age) bordered the entryways and stood sentinel over the long cobblestoned roadway that floated above an unfathomable chasm below.

The hollow thunder the horses' hooves made upon the grass changed once we raced onto the bridge, becoming sharp and striking like claps of lightning.

When we made it across the bridge and back onto grassy lands I saw Link turn his head to say something to Shad. The scholar nodded his pale and sweaty face, then pulled out the map from his shirt pocket. He braced the paper against Link's back, protecting it against the wind, and followed his finger along an image I couldn't see. Shad said something back to Link, who nodded.

"We're almost there," Link shouted. "Stay behind me."

"Okay," Parker shouted back.

Link continued forward over the field, leading us towards another long rock formation that seemed to be an extension of Death Mountain's mountain range. As we got closer a giant opening became visible, and soon we were heading in, surrounded once again by rocky walls. However, these walls weren't smooth like the outcroppings. They were jagged and spiked and angry looking, as if something hulking and malicious tore the mountain range apart.

As we made our way further down the path the boys kept their sights to the ledges while I kept my focus on my shield. My arm was starting to fall asleep from keeping it raised for so long, but I refused to let it down.

Just then, Link held out an arm that told us to stop. Parker pulled hard on Suna's reins, causing the cream mare to slide a little as she grounded to a halt right beside Epona. Both horses shook their heads as heavy gust of air blew rapidly from their noses.

"What is it?" I asked, keeping my shield up and scanning the area for danger.

"We're here," Link said.

"We- we're close," Shad corrected with a laboured breath.

"Oh god Shad, your leg…" I said with concern.

He chuckled. "I- I'll be okay. I've been shot in worse places, believe it or not."

"Really? Where?" Parker asked with piqued curiosity.

Shad's cheeks burned molten red against his bleached skin. "Uh…"

Link chuckled as he quickly dismounted Epona, walking to the satchel on her saddle and rummaging through it once more. "He got an arrow to the ass," he divulged as he removed his hand from the bag and handed Shad a small vial of Red Chu jelly.

"What?!" Parker and I laughed at the same time.

Shad glared at Link, but then his eyes crinkled shut as Link placed a hand on the arrow in his thigh. "Ohhh, make it fast!" Shad pleaded.

Link nodded. "Okay, on three. One-" and he pulled the arrow straight out.

Shad yelped in pain. "You said on three!" he accused before he uncorked the vial and downed the contents in one gulp.

"And you said make it fast," Link stated with a shrug.

Shad scowled, his face turning pink as the Red Chu jelly started restoring him back to health. Then he exhaled in deep relief and looked down at his thigh, giving it a rub. After a moment he dismounted from Epona, landing on stable feet.

"Del, you can let your shield down now," Link said, coming up beside Suna.

"Are you sure?" I questioned, not entirely certain if I wanted to risk it.

Link rubbed the back of his neck. "No," he said honestly. "But I think you need to give yourself a rest."

He was right. My arm had lost feeling a while ago; the weight of it becoming like stone. However, I hesitated.

Link noticed and gave me a reassuring smile. "It's okay, Del."

I took a deep breath and nodded. Since my arm had no feeling I wasn't entirely sure if I was pulling back my magic or not. But after a moment I saw that the edges of my shield started to recede- shrinking more and more until it was nothing but a condense ball of magic floating above my palm. I closed my unfeeling fingers around the glowing orb and snuffed out the light. Then I allowed my arm to fall, dropping back to my side like a ten ton noodle.

"Are you okay?" Parker asked, turning in the saddle to look at me.

"Yeah, but I think my arm is dead…" I said as I used my left hand to pick up my wrist then letting it go and watching as it fell lifelessly onto my lap.

Link handed me a vial of Red Chu jelly.

"Thanks," I said, relieved. I took the vial, pulled the cork out with my teeth, then drank it down. The feeling in my arm came back almost immediately.

"Here Parker, take one too," Link said, offering Parker the jelly.

Parker took the vial and drank. When he was done Link took our empty bottles and walked back over to Epona.

"Going to need help down again?" Parker asked, twisting to face me with a smirk on his lips.

"No, I can get down just fine this time, thank you," I said, flicking the back of his arm. With the Red Chu jelly in my system my body was strong and capable of supporting my movements again. I asked Parker to remove his left foot from the stirrup so I could place mine there, and using Parker's shoulders for stability, I swung my right leg behind me and dropped down.

"So Shad," Parker said as he dismounted. "How'd you end up with an arrow in your ass?"

I snickered as I walked over to Shad, completely curious to hear this story.

"I don't see how that information is relevant to us right now," he huffed as he pulled out the map once more and started examining it.

I turned to look at Link, my eyes begging him to tell us what happened.

He grinned. "Shad accompanied Ashei on a patrol a few months back and wasn't paying attention to his surroundings."

"He wasn't?" I exclaimed in mock horror.

Shad grumbled. "I was inspecting a rare type of plant, if you must know."

"Yeah, and because of that a bulblin arrow stuck your ass," Link pointed out before turning back to me and Parker. "Ashei had to carry him back to the village. Needless to say, he hasn't gone on any patrols since."

Parker laughed.

Shad mumble something unintelligible under his breath.

Link snorted in amusement. When I gave him a questioning look he said, "Ashei forbids him to."

"Oh," I giggled then stopped as I thought of something. "Are you and Ashei dating?" I asked Shad, curious.

"Wha- what?! No! No, of course not! She- she's just a friend; an ally… A- a comrade-in-arms!" he explained, his face turning beet red.

"Just a friend" my ass…

Shad cleared his throat rather loudly. "Can we get back to finding Impaz, please?"

"Finding? I thought you knew where she was?" Parker questioned.

"I do…" he petered out. "…sort of," he petered back in.

My jaw went slack as I gave him an incredulous look. "So you're saying that we just went through all that for "sort of"?" I cried, waving my hand in the general direction of the outcropping.

Shad scratched the side of his head as he stared at the map. "No, no- she's around here. She said she was."

"What do you mean?" Parker asked.

"About a month before Ganon usurped the throne, Impaz decided to leave the college in Castle Town-" then he mumbled "-for reasons that nobody could understand…" and he rolled his eyes. Then he cleared his throat. "She mentioned that she was heading to her ancestral home in the mountain range of Upper Eldin. This is the only pass found out this way, so it has- it is here." And he went back to studying the map.

I exhaled sharply then turned to look at Parker. I made a show of looking around then raised my eyebrows in question, silently asking him if he remembered anything about this place.

He subtly lifted his hand, telling me to wait a second, and took a good look around. He walked past Link and Shad (who were both examining the map now) then turned and walked back towards me. He kept going, scanning each side of the rocky walls until he stopped and smiled.

Without a word I walked over to him, stopping at his side to see what he was looking at.

There, set within the wall on the left-hand side, was the gaping hole of a man-made tunnel.

"The Hidden Village," Parker said softly.

I smiled.

"Hey guys?" I called. "There's a tunnel over here. Maybe her home's on the other side?"

Shad and Link both looked up; Shad squinting our way before lowering his eyes back to the map. "The map doesn't show any tunnels or caves in here," he explained. "Maybe if we exit from the other side and follow this trail here…"

"Looks like we're taking matters into our own hands," I whispered.

"Looks like it," Parker whispered back. "Wait here."

I waited as he walked over to Suna, gave her a quick pat along her neck, then took the rein near her bit and led her back over to me.

"What're you doing?" Link asked, taking a step away from Shad.

"Heading into that tunnel," I answered as Parker and Suna came up next to me.

Shad huffed and walked quickly over to us. "I already told you, the map says there's no tun- oh, look a tunnel…"

I snorted. "Well, we're going in. You're welcome to come along if you'd like."

"It might be a dead end," Shad said as he scrutinized the opening.

"Could be," Parker shrugged. "But we won't know until we check. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?" he smiled, then gave Suna's rein a light tug and she followed him without hesitation.

"Coming?" I asked Link before walking into the tunnel myself.

The light from the late morning sun followed me into the tunnel, illuminating my way for a few feet before deciding it wanted to go no further and passing me off to the shadowy arms of the dimness ahead.

I kept my eyes trained on Suna's slim outline, listening to the clap of her hooves against the stone ground, when the clapping sound suddenly doubled. I looked back to see Epona's dark frame entering the tunnel, along with Link and Shad's.

The four of us continued on together; and it wasn't long before I was able to see the dimness starting to recede- releasing us from its darkened arms and giving us over to the hands of the intensifying light at the end of the tunnel.

Parker and Suna were the first to exit, followed by me, then Shad, then Link and Epona.

And as the four of us stood side-by-side I couldn't help my smug grin as I gazed at Shad's wide-eyed response to what was in front of us.

"Well Parker, it seems that your guess was right. A village hidden on the other side of a tunnel," I said, unable to properly conceal the slight boast to my tone.

"Well I'll be an Oocca stuck in a pot…" Shad breathed.

"Shall we?" I asked, extending my hand in front of me.

Shad was the first to move; however, it was to take the map and writing utensil out of his pocket. Then he bolted forward, scribbling across the paper as his head ping-ponged back and forth; his movements making the large bag on his back to bounce wildly.

With Parker and Link leading the horses, the three of us followed the eager scholar up a short dirt road and through a ranch-style gate into the village.

It was a small village; one that looked remarkably like an old western ghost town.

The dirt road continued from the gate, running the length of the small town where I counted eleven similarly structured buildings. There were six on the left and four on the right (all with connecting balconies), and one lone house right at the back of the village.

As we walked further down the road a light breeze swept past and the old wooden buildings started to creak. It was an eerie sound that sent a shiver up my spine.

"Stop," Link said abruptly, halting in his tracks, Epona right beside him.

Parker tugged Suna's rein as the two of us froze.

"What is it?" I asked.

Link didn't say anything as he scanned the village with focused eyes.

I heard the buildings creak again- and that's when Link whipped off the bow from his shoulders, notched an arrow and released it, sending it flying through the first story window of the third building on the left. The sound of shattered glass filled the air, followed by a loud thump.

Shad, who was a few buildings down, turned to face us with a confused expression.

I had no doubt that both my and Parker's faces looked exactly the same; but none of us got the chance to ask Link what happened as the sound of creaking wood deepened into a rumble.

I watched the wooden buildings start to sway as bulblin after bulblin literally started to come out of the woodwork.

"Shad run!" Link shouted. "Into that alleyway," he instructed to me and Parker, pointing to an opening between two of the buildings on the right.

Suna and Epona didn't need any urging to move as the bulblins' arrows started to fall, prompting the three of us to run even faster into the alley. Shad, thankfully, was only a few steps behind. It was a snug fit but we managed to get the horses in safely- along with ourselves.

"Del, can you create your shield again?" Link asked.

I nodded and summoned my magic. I started to expand my power, pulling it outwards, further and further and—

It snapped.

No… No, no, no!

"Del?" Link questioned.

"I- I can't," I breathed. "I can't make it as big as I did before."

"But you can still make one, right?"

"Yes," and I re-summoned my magic, creating my shield- only to have it cover half my body.

"It'll work," Link assured with a soft smile. "Keep watch of the opening."

"Okay," I said shakily.

"Everyone stay here," Link ordered and then he stepped out onto the road.

With my shield held out in front of me I watched with rapt attention as arrows whizzed through the air: striking the ground or embedding in the wood paneling of the village homes. However, none of the arrows touched Link as he deftly dodged each and every one that flew towards him.

With every arrow that came his way he reciprocated with one of his own- firing arrow after arrow in an unbroken succession of retaliation. And even though my view was limited, I knew that every arrow hit its target as a piercing screech filled the air immediately after each shot.

He's amazing… I marveled, my heart fluttering a little.

Parker seemed to think so too as he kept trying to peak around me for a better view. I had to push him back a few times as he started to get too close to poking his head out of the alleyway.

After nudging Parker behind me for a third time, I managed to take my eyes away from Link for a moment and scanned the small area that was visible from the alley.

Nothing.

I went back to watching Link and noticed that he wasn't firing the arrow he had notched to his bow. I saw him search the grounds, his eyes roving all over before closing them and turning his head slowly from side to side.

When he opened his eyes he exhaled and slackened his bow before replacing the unused arrow back into his quiver. He turned to face us and smiled at me.

I smiled back, happy and relieved that the attack was over.

As I stepped out from the alley- ready to drop my shield- movement suddenly caught my eye. I looked up and saw a bulblin emerge on the rooftop right across from us; arrow aimed right at Link.

I reacted instantly: collapsing my shield and catching my magic in my palm before sending it right back in a beam of red energy.

The blast hit home- cutting through the bulblin and incinerating it to ash.

A moment passed and the village stilled, turning into a ghost town once again.

"Thanks," I heard Link say, drawing my attention away from the bulblin's remains, now floating away on the breeze.

I exhaled slowly. "No problem."

"That was incredible!" Shad exclaimed, his eyes round as he came to stand beside me. Then, without warning, he grabbed my right hand and started examining it: spreading my fingers, wiggling my wrist, and prodding my palm.

Parker materialized on my other side, eyebrows raised questioningly at what Shad was doing.

"Shad, let go of her hand," Link said with an annoyed sigh.

Shad looked up from his scrutiny. "Oh… oh right. Sorry," I smiled sheepishly.

"It's fine," I said, giving him a terse smile as I was slightly weirded out.

"Why don't you go and get the horses?" Link suggested to the scholar.

Pink faced, Shad nodded then jogged back to the alleyway.

"It's true, though. That was awesome," Parker said.

I gave him a small smile. "So what now?" I asked.

"You can give me my packages," said an unfamiliar voice.

I quickly turned around- and looked down.

There, standing before me, was a tiny old lady.

Shocked, I stared unblinkingly at her; and she stared unblinkingly back at me.

"I'm sorry?" I said, snapping out of my daze.

"My packages?" she repeated.

"Packages?" I asked confused, looking at both Link and Parker, who were just as baffled.

"Why are mail people such dimwits," the old lady grumbled to herself. "Yes, my packages! I sent an order with that roaming postman about a week ago and they were supposed to arrive yesterday!" Then she crossed her arms and glared at us. "I do hope it wasn't because of those damned bulblins, because that dolt of a postman promised me my packages no matter what!"

"What makes you think we're postmen?" Parker asked.

"Why else would you be here?" she argued.

"Impaz, it's you!" Shad called in surprise, coming out of the alley with Epona and Suna in tow.

I watched as the tiny lady turned towards Shad, then threw her head back and cackled. "Ah, Shaddy boy! What are you doing here?"

"To see you," he answered, his look of surprise falling flat.

"Ahh, so the college demoted you from scholar to delivery boy, eh?" she said with a sad shake to her head. "What a pity. I had such high hopes for you, lad."

"I wasn't demoted!" Shad cried shrilly.

"You weren't?" Impaz said, placing a hand under her chin. "Well good for you, Shaddy. Always knew you had what it took."

Shad's face turned red as his demeanor started to resemble that of a volcano ready to explode.

"So, what brings you fine young people out this way, if it's not to deliver my packages?" Impaz asked, turning back to face me, Parker and Link.

"We're looking for information on the Glaive of Souls," Parker answered, "and Shad said that you'd be able to help us."

"Might! Migh- why doesn't anyone listen to me anymore?" Shad huffed.

Impaz's dark eyes widened as a smile blazed on her lips. "The Glaive of Souls? Why, that tale happens to be my very favourite! Please, come with me and I'll tell you it's epic story."

"Thank you!" I beamed gratefully.

"But keep your eyes peeled as we walk through the village. Those dirty bulblins like to lurk around the rooftops."

"Oh, you don't have to worry about them anymore. Link destroyed them all," I informed her.

"You don't say?" she drawled impressed, looking around. Then she looked back at me. "Who's Link?" she asked.

"Oh…," I blinked at her. "Him," I said as I pointed to Link.

Impaz walked up to Link and smiled. "That was very nice of you, dear," she said tenderly as she patted his forearm. Then she turned to me and Parker. "And you two are?"

"I'm Del, and this is Parker," I answered.

She smiled warmly at us, then she said, "Come, come," and motioned for us to follow her down the dirt road. Parker, Link and I followed behind; Shad and the two horses taking up the rear. "You three are lucky you came to me," she said after a moment. "There's no one in Hyrule who knows glaive lore like I do! You might even say I was born knowing…" she trailed off, grinning at us from over her shoulder.

"Oh, here we go…" Shad said, exasperated.

"What do you mean?" I asked, curious to know her answer (and the reason to Shad's annoyance).

"Why my dear, that's because I'm a Sheikah!" she exclaimed proudly.

Shad groaned loudly. "You're not a Sheikah, Impaz."

"Shad!" I cried, looking over my shoulder at him in shock.

"What's wrong with you?" Link exclaimed.

"Oh, pay him no mind," Impaz advised. "I am a Sheikah," she confirmed; but then she sighed, her shoulders drooping. "But I'm also the last."

"You can't be the last because the Sheikah are extinct," Shad said forcefully. "We've told you over and over that there's no evidence the Sheikah bloodlines survived. Therefore, there's no support to your claim!"

I snapped my eyes to Parker in confusion, and he looked just as confused as he stared back.

Impaz not a Sheikah… That can't be right…

But as appalled as I was at Shad, I couldn't help but take a closer look at Impaz. She stood no higher than five feet tall; her slim frame supported by tiny legs that shuffled over the dirt road as she walked. Her white hair was parted in two and pulled into small buns just over her ears. But then I noticed something- something about her ears. They were rounded, not pointed like a Sheikah's should be. And her eyes… When I was staring at her moments before, I was staring into dark eyes- not red…

I didn't want to think it but… maybe Shad was right. She didn't seem to exhibit any features that were unique to the Sheikah.

"Oh pish!" she exclaimed with a wave of her hand. "If I'm not a Sheikah then why was I named after the greatest Sheikah there ever was: Impa?

"Being named after Impa doesn't make you a Sheikah!" Shad said through gritted teeth.

"Oh, Shaddy," Impaz sighed, turning back to look at the scholar. "You need to learn to see further than the margins of your beloved books." Then she looked to me, Link, and Parker and smiled. "I know what I am. I feel it in here," and she slapped her gut.

I smiled at her. I couldn't help but admire her tenacity.

But a true Sheikah or not, I didn't care. As long as she could tell us what we wanted to know, that's all that mattered.

"Ah, here we are," Impaz sang as we came upon the single leveled house at the end of the road. "My humble little abode." She walked over to the front door but stopped before turning the knob. "Shad, be a good lad and bring the horses around back. There's a water basin and small patches of dry grass for them to eat if they need it."

"I'll take them," Link said, walking over to a disgruntled Shad and taking the reins from his hand, then leading Epona and Suna around to the back of the house.

"Come inside everyone," Impaz invited, turning the door knob. "But please watch your step," she cautioned. We found out why as soon as she swung open the door.

A group of cats of all colours and sizes skirted outside; some running off in different directions into the village, as others circled and rubbed Impaz's legs.

"Hello, my darlings," Impaz cooed, reaching down to pet three cats that were encompassing her. "I've had to try and keep them locked in the house while those bulblins were around," she said to us. "Poor things were starting to go mad with boredom."

"How many do you have?" I asked as a chocolate brown cat started to rub my calf. I crouched down to give its cheek a scratch.

"Nine," Impaz answered before walking into her home.

I gave the brown cat one last scratch before standing up and following Parker and Shad inside.

The interior of her house was rather simple. It was a single-level, rectangled space where the main living room took up most of the area. There was a large rug that sat in front of a giant lit fireplace in the middle of the left-side wall; and placed on top of that rug was an old, ratty chair that had seen better days. In the back left corner was an alcove that housed a tiny kitchen which consisted of a flat topped stove and stone basin; and just to the side of that, along the main wall, was a small round dinner table that didn't have any chairs. To the back right corner of the house was an opened doorframe, where I believed led to her bedroom and bathroom. The walls of her house were pretty barren- the only décor being that of a wooden wheel, that looked as if it once belonged to a wagon, and a few pieces of old paper, tacked haphazardly beside the fireplace.

"Um, you have a really nice house," Parker said out of politeness as he took a look around.

"Thank you, dear," Impaz beamed. "Now, would any of you like a cup of tea before we get down to business?"

"Please," I said as Parker nodded.

As Impaz shuffled her way to her stove Link walked in through the open door, holding an old fluffy grey cat in his arms.

"Aww, who's your friend?" I asked, turning to Link and reaching out to tickle the cat under its chin.

"Don't know. But he just jumped into my arms when I was out back," Link said with a smile.

"That's Old Sensei," Impaz said as she filled a pot with water then placed it on the stove. She turned back to us. "You must be a good person," she smiled, the corners of her eyes crinkling deeply.

"Why do you say that?" Link asked with a chuckle.

"Cats are very intuitive, my dear. And Old Sensei is the most intuitive cat I know. If he likes you it means you're a good person."

"Well that's a relief to know, considering he's the Chosen Hero of Hyrule," I laughed.

"Are you now?" Impaz asked as her eyebrows rose, creating deep fissures on her forehead.

Link nodded humbly.

"How wonderful!" she exclaimed with a clap of her hands. "My ancestors were able to help your former reincarnations many times in the past; and now it's my turn to carry on the tradition!"

God I hope so…

Shad snorted from next to the door, removing his large bag from his shoulders and placing it on the ground.

Parker, Link and I all glared at him.

It wasn't long before the water was boiling and Impaz was steeping the tea. A few minutes later and everyone was holding a hot cup in their hands.

"Please, take a seat," Impaz instructed as she settled herself into the old chair by the fireplace.

Parker, Link, Shad and I all looked around the main room for some extra chairs but found none. And when Impaz didn't mention where we could find some, Parker took it upon himself to sit on the floor.

Impaz beamed at him.

Link, Shad and I followed suit.

After the four of us were seated Impaz took a sip of her tea. "For the majority of my adult life I have tried to gather all the information I could find regarding the Sheikah- as a way to keep my ancestry and heritage alive. It hasn't been easy; but with perseverance and hard work I can now say that I know more about the Sheikah than any who call themselves 'experts'," she smiled confidently.

Shad snorted into his tea- thankfully burning himself in the process.

"First, I have to say that I'm impressed you've all heard of the Glaive of Souls. Not very many people have," she added.

"I can see why," Parker said. "It took us forever to find any information on it; and when we did, it told us very little."

"As it should," Impaz nodded, placing her tea cup to the side of her chair. "What happened with the glaive was disastrous, and serves as a harsh reminder of our greatest failure."

"'Greatest failure' or not, proper documentation of the weapon should've been made," Shad accused.

"Tell me Shaddy- if your failure cost hundreds of people their lives, would you want it documented?" Impaz questioned.

"If it meant that others would learn from my mistake, then yes I would," he said with confidence.

"Ah, but the Sheikah did learn, and ended up destroying their greatest triumph."

"Hang on; I thought you said the glaive was their greatest failure?" Parker said.

Impaz nodded before reaching into the side of her chair and producing a small wooden pipe. "It was both, my dear. And I'll tell you the tale of why," she said, then got up and walked to the fireplace to light her pipe. Once she sat back down she inhaled twice, then blew out a lilac coloured smoke that smelled remarkably like cedar wood and peppercorns.

Then she began.

"A long time ago- longer than before the Three Golden Gods sent the goddess Hylia down to Hyrule- the Sheikah were a tribe of shadow warriors. Hidden deep within the jungles that were once these lands, the Sheikah built their civilization around natural fissures found in the earth. However, what many don't know is that these fissures were not natural, but caused by the constant pushing of malignant demons trying to escape their plane. The Sheikah built their homes and their temples in these places so that they could harness the power of these shadows, thus creating their unique talent of wielding shadow magic.

"The Sheikah were careful with their craft; but it's only ever a matter of time before caution gives way to chaos. And that fateful day was the day a fissure blew, splitting so large that multiple demons managed to escape into our world, searching for hosts to carry their incorporeal bodies. The Sheikah were able to avoid possession by using their shadow magic to defend themselves. But the other denizens of Hyrule were not so lucky.

"When the Sheikah learned of the chaos created by those possessed by the demons they took to action: forging a powerful weapon with the ability to cut the darkness attached to a soul. And they were triumphant- constructing a magnificent weapon that used their shadow magic to destroy the demons, which they called the Glaive of Souls.

"It wasn't long before the Sheikah were named the Protectors of Hyrule. And even though the demons were still running rampant, it was considered a time of safety. That is, until one cruel and unforgiving day."

Impaz inhaled deeply on her pipe then exhaled before continuing.

"A human man had come to believe that his wife was possessed by a demon. And although the Sheikah who wielded the glaive at that time told the man that this wasn't true, he refused to believe. So he set out to steal the glaive and save his wife on his own. He was successful and took the glaive before the Sheikah could stop him. But what the man didn't know was that the glaive could only be touched by those who knew how to use magic- as those who didn't risked the chance at losing their mind.

"The man returned home and used the glaive on his wife; but in doing so he ended up killing her. Horrified and filled with grief at what he'd done, his mind was easily consumed by the shadows within the glaive. You see, shadows can warp a broken mind so easily; and under the influence of this magic the man started to see a darkness in everything- and it became his mission to cut it out.

"Hundreds of innocent Hyruleans lost their lives before the Sheikah were able to stop him; but stopped him they did. It was because of this that a unanimous decision about the future of the glaive was made: That the glaive be broken- but not destroyed- and hidden away deep within Hyrule. And so the Sheikah broke their weapon into three pieces and hid them in places where no one could stumble upon them by accident.

"And that, my dear Parker, is why the glaive is our greatest triumph- and our greatest failure."

"Wow," Parker breathed, absentmindedly scratching the chocolate brown cat, who decided to sit in between me and Parker during Impaz's tale.

"So what happened with the rest of the demons after the glaive was broken?" Link asked, now with three cats in his lap.

'The Golden Gods sent Hylia down to protect the Hyruleans against the demon invasions."

And so began the events leading to Skyward Sword…

I turned to gaze at Parker and felt like he was thinking the same thing.

I looked back at Impaz. "The magic within the glaive… is it bad?" I asked, concerned about what we'd have to do if it was.

"That depends on who's holding it, dear," she said, reaching down to grab her cup and taking another sip of her tea. "Someone who has the ability to use magic renders the glaive's power neutral; and so it's the heart of the holder that wields the glaive as either good or bad. But, if someone without magic is to use it- like the man from the tale- then that someone is influenced by the shadows forged within the weapon."

"I guess you'll be the one handling the pieces when we find them," Link said to me, grinning.

"You can produce magic?" Impaz asked; her dark eyes widening as she stared at me.

I nodded then summoned a small amount of magic to show her.

Her eyes widened even more. "But you're a human," she said, shocked.

"You're human too!" Shad exclaimed, seemingly out of left field.

"Sheikah," Impaz corrected with a wag of her index finger.

"You have none of the distinctive Sheikah features!" Shad cried, verbalizing the same fact that I noticed earlier. "Your ears are rounded, for goddesses' sake!"

"What do ears have to do with anything?" Impaz asked.

Shad's eye twitched. "Sheikah had pointed ears- like mine and Link's! Yours are rounded like Del's and Parker's. Like a human!"

Impaz inhaled on her pipe then exhaled the lilac smoke. "Oh, pointed ears are going out of fashion, Shaddy boy. There's no need for them. The goddesses don't talk to us anymore," she sighed.

'They talk to Del," he stated, trying to one-up her- then immediately looked as if he wanted to retract his statement.

Impaz glanced from Shad to me, then to my ears. Then she laughed, throwing her head back in a loud cackle that made one of the cats in Link's lap jump. After a minute she wiped the mirth from her eyes and said, "I think you just helped prove my point, Shaddy."

Link and Parker chuckled.

"And what about you? Can you use shadow magic?" I asked, already certain of her answer but still curious to know.

Impaz's smile fell a little. "Unfortunately I can't. My parents never taught me. I assume it was because they wanted me to have an unburdened life- being the last Sheikah, and all," she claimed.

Shad groaned softly.

"Yes, that makes sense," I agreed, reveling internally when I heard Shad squeak in disbelief.

"Impaz, you mentioned that the glaive was broken into three pieces," Parker said, bringing our conversation back on track. "Do you know where to find them?"

Shad suddenly stood and walked over to his bag. "Yes… yes- I have it here! Uh wait…" he said, sounding like his enthusiastic self again as he rummaged through the contents in the pack. "Ah- ha!" he exclaimed as he pulled out the small leathered tome, flipping through the pages as quickly and delicately as he could while he made his way to Impaz. "I found this in my search for the glaive," he said, handing her the book. "This passage here- I think it might be clues to finding where the glaive pieces are hidden," he explained, pointing to the writing on the page.

I watch with rapt attention as Impaz's dark eyes skimmed back and forth, reading. "I can't read it," she said after a moment, snapping the book closed with one hand and giving it back to Shad.

The look on Shad's face was odd- as if he couldn't decide whether he wanted to rage or rejoice.

My heart sank into my stomach. "You can't?" I breathed.

Impaz gave me a pitying smile before saying, "The Sheikah language is rare to see; and it pains me to say that in all my years of research I was never able to learn it."

"So you have no idea where to find the pieces?" Link asked.

"Of course I know where to find them," Impaz said, rolling her eyes. "Just because I can't read some text on a page doesn't mean I don't have the information." And she pointed to her head. "I am a Sheikah after all."

"Then can you tell us where they are?" Link questioned.

Impaz stared at us, inhaling on her pipe and exhaling a circle of smoke. "No."

"Why?" the four of us shouted.

"The Glaive of Souls is the Sheikah's most dangerous weapon. I'm not going to tell a bunch of kids where to find it just so they can play around with it."

"Play with it?" I cried. "We don't want to play with it, we need to use it!"

"Use it? Why?" she asked, her eyes narrowing.

"Because we think it can separate Ganon from the Triforce of Power," I said candidly.

Impaz's face became unreadable. She sat there unmoving for what felt like minutes; and I became concerned that she was having a minor stroke. But then she blinked a few times and smiled brightly. "Well, it's about time someone does something about that horrid man. Very well, I'll tell you what you need to know."

I exhaled in utter relief.

"Thank you," Link said, then asked, "So where do we start?"

"I'm afraid I don't know the answer to that," Impaz confessed. "Riddles are not one of my strengths."

"Riddles?" Shad questioned.

Impaz nodded. "Three riddles to be exact. My ancestors created one for each hidden piece. So, all you have to do to start is decipher the riddles and follow where they tell you to go."

Impaz became quiet, and the four of us watched her in silence as she smoked her pipe a few times, the lilac smoke billowing around her head every time she exhaled.

"Are you ready?" she asked, as if she was waiting on us to start.

"Yes!" the four of us chorused together impatiently.

She smiled then said:

The blade that cuts the darkness is bathed in purity's care;

The handle that calls the darkness is wrapped in chains of judgement fair;

The guard that sees the darkness is lost within a nightmare.

I quickly glanced at Parker, the look on his face telling me that the wheels were turning swiftly in his head.

"So, each component of the glaive has a role?" Parker asked Impaz.

"You're a smart lad," she said impressed. "Yes, each piece was forged separately, but were made to work in harmony.

"First, the cross guard- made out of shadow glass, and carved with the Sheikah's Eye of Truth- acts as a mirror that reflects the illusions casted by the demons within their host body.

"Next, is the handle- which was once the upper arm bone of a Sheikah who sacrificed himself for the creation of the weapon. He allowed himself to become possessed; and in doing so, trapped the demon within his bone using shadow magic. You see, darkness calls to darkness; and that is what the handle does. It calls out and seeks those who have been infested by shadows."

"Wait a minute," Parker said. "Why is it called a glaive then, if the weapon is only a few feet long?"

Impaz grinned. "When the Sheikah became possessed with the demon their powers merged into one; and as that power started to grow exponentially so did the Sheikah's body. They say that he grew to be about thirty feet tall!" she explained with enthusiasm.

Shad snorted. "A man growing to be thirty feet… That's impossible," he scoffed.

"How do you know? You weren't there," Impaz argued.

"Neither were y-"

"The last piece," Impaz continued as if no one spoke, "is the blade, made from black iron, which can cut through a demon's dark hold on a person's soul and send it right back into the underworld." She paused to inhale on her pipe.

I used that moment to take a deep, silent breath as I tried to calm my elated heart; my nostrils filling with the smell of cedar wood and peppercorns as thick wisps of smoke escaped Impaz's lips.

Then she grinned at us behind the vapors of lilac. "Find the pieces and restore the glaive to its former glory, and you will have your weapon to defeat the Darkness."

---

And there it is... the origins of the glaive.

I don't know about all of you but I absolutely love origin stories! So I hope mine turned out well.

Also, I hope my riddles are okay. It literally took me weeks to think of those, hahaha. So if they're too easy then I'm sorry, I tried.

But if they're decent then I'd love to know if anyone can figure them out. Granted I won't confirm the guesses until the specific chapters are posted, but it would be fun to see what you think. So if anyone wants to guess, either in the comments or just to yourselves, I'll let you know that as of right now the only timelines I'm working with is Twilight Princess and Ocarina of Time.

So happy guessing ;D

If you like what you're reading, please don't forget to review, follow and fave!

~lavender phoenix~