Loud laughter rings out through Hyrule Castle, causing the guards in the halls to look around curiously. The laughter grows louder and louder by the minute. Concerned, the guards come rushing into the throne room and find the king rolling around on the floor in a hysterical laughing fit. The advisor, who is crouching over the king turns to look at the guards.
"Is his majesty alright...?" one guard asks.
The advisor sighs and snatches a paper of some sorts from the king's hands.
"He's going absolutely bonkers..." the advisor says, shaking his head.
"Heeeeey! Gimme! Gimme!" the king cries out, realizing the paper had been taken.
"See for yourselves..." the advisor says, holding up the paper.
The guards lean in and find the paper to be a little black and white photo of a boy with half a pot on his head. They sweat nervously.
"Yeah... Okay..." one says.
"It's the most amazing thing I have seen!" the king says, "A moment of misfortune forever captured in a little paper!"
"I'll tell you what truly is funny..." one guard says, walking into the room.
The king's eyes widen and his mouth falls open.
"His majesty has a huge secret he has been hiding from all of us!" the guard continues.
"SHUT UP! I DO NOT PERMIT YOU TO SPEAK ANOTHER WORD!" the king yells, still lying on the floor.
The advisor grins evilly.
"I say we hear this guard out. I want to know the secret!" the advisor says.
"NO! ENOUGH!" the king yells, getting off of the floor, "IMPA! IMPA, WHERE ARE YOU?!"
"Impa's not here, you fool!" the advisor says.
"Where is Impa?!" the king asks.
"Oh? Has she never told you...?" the advisor taunts.
"IMPA!" the king cries out again, desperate for aid.
"Your precious Impa is actually a prisoner!" the advisor says.
"NO!" the king cries out.
In a fit of rage, he fills the room with electricity, zapping everyone, even those who did no wrong. The upper triangle on his right hand glows intensely. He breathes heavily, still angry, as he studies all the injured people scattered about the room. He then flees as fast as he can back to his bedroom.
"WHY?! WHY?!" the king wails, throwing himself onto his bed.
The king continues crying for quite some time. The door to his room silently opens and very light foot steps are heard. The king isn't paying attention, still crying. A gentle hand reaches out and touches his shoulder.
"...hey... What's the matter, honey...?" the owner of the hand asks.
The king rolls over in an instant and stares at Impa with a look of terror. Impa backs up a bit.
"Impa! Why!" the king exclaims.
"Daphnes... I heard you crying... I came to find you..." Impa says.
Daphnes looks away silently.
"What has happened that you are so distraught?" Impa asks, returning to Daphnes' bedside.
"Everything... I messed up big time..." Daphnes says, still refusing to look at Impa.
Impa reaches out to take Daphne's hand, but he pulls it away. Impa gasps, slightly offended.
"...Don't touch me..." Daphnes whispers, "...I might lose control again..."
"Did you use your power again?" Impa asks, suddenly realizing what happened.
"...Yes... And innocent people got hurt..." Daphnes says.
"It's not your fault... You're still so young... You'll learn to master your power eventually..." Impa says.
"...and you... I... You weren't there... And I unfortunately understand now..." Daphnes says.
Impa gasps again and springs away, trembling.
"Why, Impa? Why? How did this happen?" Daphnes asks, sniffling.
"I cannot say. It's against the code," Impa says, "I didn't want you to know, Daphnes... I didn't want to upset you..."
"And yet, here you are. Impa... I'm torn... You know how I feel about criminals..." Daphnes says, finally looking at Impa again.
"Do you hate me...? Have your feelings changed at all?" Impa asks.
"I cannot hate you... My heart won't allow me to hate you. I am disappointed, however..." Daphnes says, "If I didn't put you in prison... It must have been my father..."
"Yes, I am your father's prisoner..." Impa says.
"But you don't have to be my prisoner... There has to be a way! I must fix this!" Daphnes says.
"You can't... The rules say that any prisoners that remain after the ruler who placed them there has died must remain until they die..." Impa says, "I'm bound to the law..."
"Stupid law!" Daphnes yells, getting angry again.
"Daphnes... Calm down..." Impa says.
"IT'S NOT FAIR!" Daphnes wails.
Impa grasps Daphnes' hands.
"Rest, Daphnes, be at peace... Till the sun rises tomorrow... Let no more stress, fill your heart, or worry, fill your mind... Just rest..." Impa says.
A soothing aura emits from Impa's hands and surrounds Daphnes. He takes a deep breath and sinks into his bed asleep. On Impa's right hand, a left triangle glows brilliantly. Silently, she turns and leaves the room, shutting the door behind her.
The next morning, Daphnes wakes up to find Impa silently crouching on his bed. He moans and rubs his tired eyes. Outside, there is a large group of people chanting.
"What...in Hyrule...?" Daphnes asks.
"I think they know," Impa says.
"Ah! How long have I been asleep?! What did you do to me?!" Daphnes cries out.
"You've been asleep for over 12 hours, it's sunrise now," Impa says.
"No! This is bad! This is very bad!" Daphnes cries out.
He begins sweating intensely.
"SHOW US THE PRINCE! SHOW US THE PRINCE! SHOW US THE PRINCE!" the crowd outside chants.
"I tried to stop them and they nearly took my head off, again," Impa says, climbing off the bed.
"I can't show them Ganondorf... They'll know!" Daphnes says.
"There is no other baby around," Impa says.
Daphnes groans, "If only I had the Triforce of Wisdom!"
"You do have the Triforce of Power and the Triforce of Courage..." Impa says, smiling, "Maybe put the skills you do have to use?"
"Yes... I need more time..." Daphnes says, getting out of bed.
Impa watches as Daphnes makes his way to the door.
"You sure you want to make an appearance like that...?" Impa says with a chuckle.
Daphnes glances at his ruffled up clothes and blushes.
"Not very professional, but I have to silence that darned crowd..." Daphnes says.
Daphnes opens the door and steps out onto the balcony. There has to be at least a thousand Hylians gathered at the base of the castle. Nervously, Daphnes clears his throat.
"My loyal citizens..." Daphnes begins, trembling a bit.
"SHOW US THE PRINCE! WE HEARD YOU HAVE A CHILD!" the crowd cries out.
"You are correct, I do, in fact, have a child. However, as your ruler, I ask that you respect our privacy!" Daphnes says.
"WE MUST SEE HIM!" the people cry out again.
The king sighs and runs a hand across his face. Impa appears and gently takes Daphnes' hand. The crowd instantly starts booing.
"SILENCE!" Daphnes yells.
The people fall silent at once.
"I will show you your prince on his fifth birthday! I promise!" Daphnes says.
With that, the now satisfied crowd disperses.
"You did good," Impa says.
"I was terrified..." Daphnes says, walking back into his room and shutting the door.
"Now you have a few years to prepare, but the people will return, you know. They will not forget your promise," Impa says.
"And I'll come up with a plan when that time comes..." Daphnes says.
The advisor breaks into the room.
"Now how did you get yourself out of that mess, huh?!" the advisor asks.
"No thanks to you," Daphnes says, gritting his teeth angrily.
"And what is that filthy criminal doing in here again?!" the advisor asks.
"That's none of your business. I suggest you back away from the king before I smack you unconscious!" Impa yells, holding up a hand to smack the advisor.
"I'M THE ADVISOR! I was given authority by the past king to do as I see fit!" the advisor cries out.
"My father is dead. Stop relying on his policies..." Daphnes says.
"NEVER!" the advisor yells, "GUARDS! I NEED YOU IN THE KING'S ROOM!"
Instantly, a mob of guards show up. Impa groans in annoyance.
"You are NOT taking me back to the dungeon!" Impa shouts.
The guards grab hold of her and start to drag her away.
"LET IMPA GO!" Daphnes cries out.
"Mind your place, your majesty... Criminals should die, remember? You said that yourself!" the advisor says.
"Well, not this one!" Daphnes says.
"That's not how things work and you know it!" the advisor taunts.
Daphnes pushes the advisor aside and runs after the guards.
"Hey, I can handle these fools on my own!" Impa says, grinning, "I escape every day!"
With that, she tosses a Deku nut, creating a huge smoke cloud. The guards and Daphnes start coughing. When the smoke clears, Impa is gone and nowhere to be seen.
"She got away again!" one guard yells.
Daphnes sighs in relief.