The woman adjusted in her position and her eyes fluttered open once more.

"I'm glad that you're awake," said the man.

"Yes… as am I. How long was I out for?"

"Twelve hours or so? Maybe longer?"

"And where are we exactly?"

"Well… in the mountains still, but we've been travelling for a few hours now."

Zelda shifted her tired gaze from Arvid's supportive expression to look above her. She lay within the wagon and it was indeed moving. It was night still and the sky above her was clear. She could see all of the stars: they were beautiful. She could also see the looming shadow of a mountain beside the road that they were taking. She was bundled up in blankets and her comrades had done well to make her ride as comfortable as they could make it. The Hylian felt sore, she felt tired, and she had a headache. Still, Zelda knew that she needed to sit up.

Wincing, she moved. Arvid was quick to try and coax her back down, but a stern shake of her head convinced him otherwise. Instead, the knight helped her to sit up.

"What did I miss? Why are we moving at night?" she asked, sucking in a breath as her head began to throb and she had to close her eyes against her own stars she saw in her vision.

"You'll see…" Arvid said cryptically, holding Zelda upright as worry creased his brow.

He handed her a flask of water and she took it gratefully, drinking some down. At least that would get rid of her dry mouth. The water helped and Zelda opened her eyes to reassess what was going on and what Arvid meant.

She immediately saw what the man cryptically indicated.

"Oh, Goddess…"

The entourage of Hyruleans and Noruidians were the same, all on their mounts, except for Arvid of course as his horse and Zelda's were tethered to the back of the wagon and following along happily. Faris was up behind Zelda, driving the wagon, and much to Zelda's surprise… so was a wolf. The large, grey wolf was seated next to Faris like a common dog next to its owner, except for the fact that this dog was a very large wolf, a spiritual being, and had his piercing blue eyes fixated on the tall, dark person who walked at the forefront of the entourage.

"Are those-?"

"Mmhm, yeah," Arvid admitted, puffing out his cheeks and looking around: the entourage was surrounded by dark cloaked figures. "The Sheikah… Incidentally, they found us. Our luck, eh?"

"More like ambushed us..." Faris voiced, turning over his shoulder to smile at Zelda. "Good morning, my lady."

Zelda was sure that the others of her group also wished to greet her, but aside from shoed hooves striking the earth and the creaks of the wagon, the group of travellers moved in silence.

"Yeah, they appeared a couple hours ago and once they found out why we were there and, more importantly, who you were, they insisted on escorting us to their village and… that's where we're headed now."

"Really?"

"Yeah," Arvid replied with a grin. "Apparently we got pretty close. We should arrive shortly after sunrise, or so they told us. They... don't talk much. You should rest more, Zelda. You aren't missing anything and nothing will be helped with you putting off sleep."

"I'm fine," Zelda argued, which was sabotaged by a half-suppressed yawn.

"Go back to sleep, Zelda," Arvid advised, sitting back himself and making a show of getting comfy.

"Fine, fine…" Zelda conceded with a sigh before laying back down.

The rocking of the wagon and the stars above proved to be a great lullaby, because even though she tried to remain awake to think of the implications that they had found the Sheikah (even if it was the other way around), within minutes Zelda was fast asleep once more.

She slept until she was shaken gently awake hours later and when she opened her eyes, the sun had brightened the sky and she could hear… children laughing? Zelda blinked and looked up to see Ashei's face, the captain bearing a small smile of greeting.

"Good morning, my lady."

"Good morning, captain."

Zelda sat up, slowly, and Ashei helped her. Blinking and rubbing her eyes, the queen looked around and found the air to be…

"It's warm?" she breathed, seeing steam and even green trees in the area.

At first it made no sense to the queen. They were surrounded by snowy mountains, but yet there was warm breeze in the air and green foliage clung to the few small trees she could see. She also saw houses and buildings, all simply made but with notable dome-like sloping roofs. The wagon seemed to have stopped in the centre of the village and surrounding the travellers looked to be the entire village, which wasn't a lot. There were perhaps… thirty people gathered around? Maybe slightly more, probably less. The laughter she had heard looked to come from a small group of children. They ranged in ages and were shyly trying to get as good a look at the strange people, the horses, the cliff elk, and, most excitedly, the large wolf seated on the wagon as they were allowed by their cautious parents. Encircling them were the original nine Sheikah who had ambushed them, protecting them or, more likely, protecting their own people from the strangers. The source of the warmth seemed to be coming from a series of hot springs dotted around the village, hence the greenery and steam.

When Zelda sat up, an audible murmur spread through the crowd. This was either because they hadn't known that there was another person laying in the wagon, or… word had started to spread as to who the beautiful Hylian woman was.

Zelda smiled and Ashei helped her queen free herself from her temporary bed before Arvid helped Zelda hop down, though he kept his arm on hers to stabilize her. Everyone seemed to be curious and in wonderment of one another, on both sides: Sheikah and the travellers. Clearly, the hidden Sheikah Village did not receive a lot of visitors, let alone of such a variety. Zelda's eyes gazed over the Sheikah and took in their appearance. It looked like every resident of the village had white hair, or platinum blonde for a few at the very least, with red eyes and the pointed ears common amongst Hylian and Noruidians. They resembled everything that Zelda had read about the Sheikah, even their clothes resembled the drawings Zelda had studied.

It was all very fascinating, but now was not the time to start taking notes.

The female leader of the ambush barked out some calm orders in the Sheikah language before turning to look at Vahlymor. Then she turned her crimson eyes to fall upon Zelda. Even though it was subtle, Zelda saw the Sheikah's eyes widen ever so slightly before she turned to whisper something to her comrade. The leader then started walking towards the largest of the village's buildings and her comrade came towards Zelda, pulling back their hood to reveal a young man.

Instantly, Arvid and Ashei stepped in front of their queen and the wolf began to growl, which caused a hush to fall over the crowd.

The Sheikah man paused, glancing at the wolf, before speaking up in Common Hylian with his thick accent.

"You all will wait here until our chief calls for you."

The man then spoke some words loudly for all the village and the crowd began to obediently disperse, though the Sheikah warriors remained in their circle around them. Parents picked up their children or herded them away and on silent feet did the spectators retreat into their homes, leaving the Hyruleans and Noruidans suddenly alone with their mounts. Link stood dominantly from his high position, no longer growling, but still not calm. Only once had all of the villagers vanished did the protective circle turn in unison and faced the foreigners.

This roused another series of growls from the wolf.

"Steady now… Faro…" Zelda hushed, stepping around Arvid and walked towards the front of the wagon to where Faris and the Noruidians stood, looking guarded.

Faro, or Link, he goes by either depending on the person, did stop his growls but did not lower his guard.

"My lady," Faris greeted, giving his queen a welcome grin. "Good to see that you're up and at 'em."

"Indeed…" Vahl added, offering Zelda his own charming grin. "I am sure that you can offer some insight as to what is happening here, my lady."

"Perhaps," Zelda replied, keeping her tone equally low and calm, as she smiled at Todd, Crevan, Simin, and Balin, though the latter didn't return it… which was expected by now. "Probably just standard safety policies, asking for permissions, and alike. I'm surprised you wouldn't recognize this, Vahl."

"Oh, fear not, my lady," Vahl replied with a wink. "I am well aware… just making sure that everyone else here knows what's up."

"Subtle…" Faris commented dryly, rolling his eyes.

"Well, now that we're all on the same page…" Simin offered, crossing his arms and leaning against the wagon, "are we also… safe?"

"Undoubtedly," Vahl spoke up happily, even flashing a nearby cloaked Sheikah a smile.

"How can you be sure?" Todd asked quietly.

"Yeah…" Crevan added even quieter.

Zelda noted that the brothers were sticking closer together than normal and that Todd even kept a hand on his brother's arm. Clearly something had happened to them while she was asleep, but now was not the moment to inquire about it.

"Because," Vahl continued, glancing at the brothers, "they wouldn't have led us to the centre of their secret village if we weren't."

The prince then went over to stand on the other side of Crevan and casually wrapped an arm around the younger man's shoulder, giving it a squeeze. The action looked innocent enough, just a couple of friends hanging out, but the downturned gaze of Crevan revealed the twin's guilt.

"Fair enough," Simin replied, seemingly happy with the response because he took a seat on the ground against a wagon wheel.

Though this soon proved to be unnecessary. A minute or so later, the lead Sheikah warrior reappeared from the large house and returned to them.

"Follow me. Bring the Lens," she ordered shortly, before turning her back on them to lead them back towards the building.

The Hyruleans and the Noruidians looked at one another, before slowly starting to file in after the Sheikah. Arvid and Faris waited for Zelda, who double-backed to grab the Lens from her bag, before hopping back off the wagon to head towards the building. Zelda only made it a few feet away from the wagon before she paused and turned back.

The wolf had returned to a sitting position and did not look as if he was going to move.

Zelda glanced back at Arvid and Faris, though only Faris had the same sort of idea that Zelda was thinking off.

"Are you... going to stay with the wagon? Faro?" Zelda added the name only after a moment's pause.

The wolf only wagged his tail a few times but didn't move.

The Hylian queen flashed him a small smile before turning to join Faris and Arvid to head inside. Clearly if Link thought it was safe enough for Zelda to head inside without him, then it truly was safe.

Or… he couldn't leave the wagon…? Zelda was slightly more sure about this possibility than the other.

The house was dimly lit inside and was slightly smokey from burning incense and candles. Coming through the front room, Zelda and her knights entered the main room to join the others. They were all seated in a semi-circle around an elderly Sheikah woman who was seated upon a large pillow. Behind her stood the same female warrior who had led the ambush.

"Welcome!" the elder spoke, her voice bearing both the weakness of age but also the strength of years of wisdom, "O Queen of Hyrule. It is an honour to receive you within my humble home."

Zelda glanced at Arvid, who just shrugged, as they took their seat with Zelda sitting directly before the Sheikah Chief.

"I informed them who you were," Vahl revealed, leaning towards her slightly, ever smiling his charming smirk.

"And how lucky you were for so casually revealing such sensitive information without consequence…"

Vahlymor and Sir Faris exchanged looks and the prince's smile did not lift the knight's stern disapproval.

"All is well, I assure you," spoke the chief, who was smiling.

"It is… an honour to meet you," replied Zelda. "Praise be unto the Goddesses that we found you."

"As I have been informed by my daughter," the chief said, gesturing to the Sheikah warrior standing dutifully behind her, "that it was we who found you, but… I have also been told that you were close to us. Guided by an old artifact, is that correct?"

"Yes, we were," Zelda admitted, revealing the Lens of Truth within its black canvas casing.

The chief extended her hands and gave Zelda a polite nod of permission, to which Zelda calmly handed her the artifact. With slow, thoughtful movement did the elderly Sheikah stroke her wrinkled fingers across the dark canvas and still she smiled.

"I have only seen drawings of this…" she mused lightly, joy in her voice. "Drawings and what my mother told me of it."

With slow, deliberate movements, the chief slid the Lens of Truth from its casing to reveal the foot long, purple coloured mirror that was so unassuming, but could be used to dispel illusions. The woman began to hum lightly under her breath as she took her time to allow with her clouded, red eyes to analyze every inch of the mirror. The room was hushed aside from her gentle humming and as time slowly ticked by, the waiting travellers began to glance at one another.

The chief's daughter made a small sigh before uttering a word, which seemed to snap the chief out of her thoughts.

"Hm? Oh! My apologies… At my age, thoughts and thinking can stretch on for days without realizing a moment has passed." The woman laughed lightly, which turned into a bout of coughing that was waved off when her daughter tried to step forward. "No, it's fine. Again, at my age, every movement or breath results in a cough or some other ailment. Nothing to worry about."

Zelda only returned the old woman's smile.

"I have been waiting for you," the chief finally said, smiling wider. "And, if not I, then my daughter here would wait after me when I go, and her children after her, and so forth."

"Awaiting… the messenger of the gods and the land's light, I assume?"

"The chief only chuckled with glee.

"Oh! Goddesses be praised! yes, exactly, that, child!" The chief chuckled again and clapped her hands together before resting them gently upon the Lens of Truth and bowed her head. "O Queen of Hyrule, I bow before thee, for I am Impa, the Chief of the Sheikah, and this is my daughter, Preyma. Welcome to our village!"

"Impa?" Zelda repeated, glancing at Preyma and back. "As in… the Lady Impa of legend? Whom I've read about-"

"Oh, no! I'm afraid not, dear lady," Impa replied with a knowing smile. "The Impa that you're referring to… was my mother. She never left Hyrule, you see?"

Impa looked around at her honoured guests, still smiling, before proudly declaring, "You all are honoured guests in my village and will be treated as such. You are very safe here and I will ensure that you sleep in warm beds tonight with hot food and drink to fill you. Please, relax. Her Majesty and I have lots to discuss-"

"I don't think it wise to leave-"

"Arvid, please. It's fine."

Zelda turned to her knight and set her hand upon his arm, giving it a squeeze as she gave him a small nod.

"I'll be fine. The Sheikah were sworn to protect my family-"

"Were sworn. Yet they abandoned your family, did they not?"

Zelda turned to look at Prince Vahlymor, and the man's typical charming smile had dissolved into the serious look of a prince as well as a concerned fiancé.

"What the man says is true," Impa spoke, stopping Zelda from refuting him, and the chief's joy had lessened. "The Sheikah of this village remain loyal to the Royal Family of Hyrule, even though many of them now have never even seen the castle or its inhabitants, but our vows stretch beyond time and bloodlines, as does our shame. We left Hyrule because we failed in our duty, but now is not the time for such melancholy. Please! Enjoy your stay here. Rest, eat, and relax in our hot springs."

Impa gestured to Preyma who stepped forward and pulled down her cloth mask to reveal her full face.

"Follow me," she said simply, before half-bowing.

The Hyruleans and Noruidans glanced at one another before beginning to stand, while Zelda remained where she was seated. Vahlymor stood, but then came to crouch next to the queen.

"Are you sure about this?" he asked in a low whisper.

"I am," Zelda replied in her normal tone, giving him a smile.

"And what of our mounts? The wagon?" Faris spoke up, looking between the two royals.

"Everything will be taken care of," Impa reassured in her grandmotherly way.

"And the wolf?" Vahl asked, perking a brow at Zelda.

"He… is fine. He'll probably stay with the wagon," Zelda offered. "I'll check on him once I've finished speaking with the Chief."

Vahl considered her face for a moment longer before smiling.

"Okay," he said finally, before standing. "I hope that we may be honoured with a tour of your village, Lady Impa?"

"Of course! Simply ask and my daughter will escort you around and all who wish to join you."

Preyma gave her mother a quick look upon hearing this, but when the elder only remained smiling at Zelda and the prince, the Sheikah woman only sighed in obedient acknowledgment.

Seemingly satisfied with this, the prince flashed Zelda a wink and headed towards the front door to exit with Faris.

Zelda waited to hear the door to be shut and once she had, did she meet Impa's kind, cloudy eyes.

"I have… so many questions."

"I'm sure you do, my dear. Though, if I may ask a question first: this wolf that I've been hearing about... he is a normal wolf?"

Zelda hesitated to answer, which was an answer in itself. Impa nodded.

"He is no ordinary beast of blood is he?"

"No…" Zelda relented with a sigh, "he is not."

"And… he is the true reason why you have sought us out?"

"I-! I mean… please, allow me to explain-!"

Zelda stopped when Impa raised her weathered hands and chuckled.

"Do not fret, child. I understand. It would take a great reason and risk for the Queen of Hyrule to leave her kingdom behind, and locating the Sheikah on a whim does not warrant such great risk, even if it has been prophesied to us that one day a member of the Goddess Bloodline would come."

Zelda let out a dry laugh, before quickly clearing her throat and apologizing.

"Please, there is no need for that. I am here to help you."

Impa then assessed the young queen over and sighed softly.

"You look tired, my dear. The road has been har don you already."

"I shouldn't be. I just slept for over twelve hours."

"Well you are, body and soul. Earlier today my people sensed wave upon wave of divine power. That is how they found you, so it is all right to admit your exhaustion. How about… you go with the others-"

"But, I-!"

"Now, now, child… we have time. This village is well protected by our magic and my warriors have never faltered in their training, even in exile. Go. Rest with your companions. Eat your fill and breath some relief. We will speak later after you have regained some of your strength."

Zelda wanted to protest. She wanted to ask her questions, to start solving some of the mysteries that have been plaguing her, but with a sigh she admitted that the elder was right. She felt exhausted and a proper meal did sound tempting. After a moment more, she nodded.

"You're right… I appreciate your wisdom and you have my gratitude for your hospitality, for myself and all of my companions."

Impa only smiled and bowed her head.

"Go, child. Until later."

Zelda smiled and stood, inclining her head out of respect to the older woman before taking her leave. Emerging from the dimly lit house, the woman blinked against the brightness of the day and took in the sight of the village, but literally and figuratively from a different perspective.

The villagers had begun to emerge from their dwellings once more and the horses and cliff elk had been led to a stream nearby where a couple cattle grazed, including the horse that drew the wagon. Zelda's companions were nowhere in sight, aside from Faris. The huge, one-armed knight stood next to the wagon, which had been pulled to the side and was now situated next to the livestock. Clearly the Hyrulean knight had confirmed with the Sheikah that the wolf would not be a threat to the cows, and the cows didn't look fazed at all that there was a large wolf right next to them. The same as the horses and cliff elk had never been phased by the wolf. All the animals looked pretty content, including the wolf, though this was probably due to the fact that he sat on the driver's seat and who was enjoying a good scratch from Faris.

Which could only mean one thing.

"Faris," Zelda greeted, coming up behind the knight, who stopped petting the wolf.

"My lady? That was fast. I expected that you'd be in there for hours talking about magical things."

"Lady Impa said that it would be better if I rested and ate first."

"Well, that Lady Impa does make a good point," Faris admitted.

Zelda came up beside him and looked up at Link, but the wolf seemed to be happily panting and wagging his tail and looking around the village.

"What… have you two been discussing?" she asked in a low voice, keeping things casually.

"Nothing, really," Fairs said with a shrug. "I think he just likes a good scratch once in a while."

"Don't you think that's a bit odd?" Zelda asked, looking between them.

"A bit," Fairs admitted, before reaching up again to scratch Link behind the ears. "But, a dog is a dog, even if this one is a-"

Faris stopped talking when Zelda jabbed him in the side and her stern look only roused a grin from the knight.

"I'm teasing, my lady. Of course he's been… talking."

"And?"

"Ask him yourself, that's what he's saying," Faris said with another shrug.

"We have to limit how much we… speak… to him."

"I know, but… a good scratch behind his ears helps with his guilt. He needs you, my queen. The last he really saw you was when you were emerging from your snowy chat with an evil version of him and before that it was when a mountain fell on you."

Zelda leaned back at Faris' candidness and she felt a blush rise in her cheeks.

"Forgive me, my queen, but… he needs you more than a quick scratch behind the ears. Take your time. I'll make sure that folks stay away."

Faris began to move away, but Zelda stopped him by touching his arm.

"Thank you, Sir Faris."

"Enjoy your time and then, when you're done, we'll eat, hm?"

The man flashed her a grin from behind his large, blond moustache before walking away towards a group of gawking children, who ran away gleefully when he waved at them. The woman he left alone with a wolf tapped her fingers together, before she glanced at the beast and moved to climb onto the wagon. Link moved aside to make room for her and he was no longer panting like a regular dog, but had returned to being a stoic spiritual wolf.

"I…" she began, before she took a deep breath.

Where to begin?

The wolf surprised her by lifting his large paw in the air and held it there, waiting for her. Zelda looked at him, smiled, before slowly taking his paw to hold it with her hand. His paw felt huge in his hand, and it was.

'Faris means well, but he can't communicate with me the same that I can with you.'

"Oh? Why is that?" Zelda asked subtly, keeping her voice low and was watching the horses, cliff elk, and cattle to be less obvious that she was speaking with a wolf.

'Because… we have a lot in common, being bearers of the Triforce being a big one.'

"Hm…"

'He can understand me and may get glimpses of what I'm feeling, but… not like you can…'

"I see. So, does that mean that you don't feel guilty…?"

'That's because I'm not-'

"Don't lie to me, Link."

The wolf growled lowly when she spoke his true name but let it slide. He was a spirit, his emotions wavered in and out and he could control what he wanted to feel, but all the same she was right. He shouldn't lie to her, but that didn't mean that he was going to open the floodgates of his feelings and drown her with his guilt.

'I didn't save you, Zelda. You almost died and I was right there beside you, but I did nothing...'

"You weren't the one, true, but… another you did-"

'Don't give me that!' the wolf chastised, growling and huffing that was the canine equivalent of a scoff. 'And don't compare me to that bastard.'

"We only talked. He did not hurt me."

'Oh? Did you discuss the weather and matters of state?'

Zelda side-eyed a glare at him before dropping his paw, moving instead a hand to the back of his shoulders to idly scratch his thick fur.

"Dark Link has as much a chance of hurting me as you do."

'On a first name basis, are we?'

"If I didn't know better… I'd say that you were jealous."

Yet another wolven scoff.

'No, I'm not. I just… don't trust him. He did kill me, after all… don't forget about that small detail. And he nearly possessed you to kill me twice over, and-'

"And he saved my life-"

'Which I was about to do!'

Zelda flinched away from Link's shout in her head, but she didn't let it bother her and continued to scratch his back.

'Sorry…'

"It's fine, just… explain to me, calmly, if you would."

'I was going to save you!' Link explained, him focusing on allowing his rampant emotions to fade in tangibility. 'I mean, I was going to try, of course I was. I was just about to reveal my true form and shield you, protect you, when that… psychotic murderer appeared and kicked me out of the way. I should've been the one to save you, not him!'

"Okay… so you are mad that you weren't… the hero? It's not a contest."

'Do you honestly think that I'm that narcissistic?'

Zelda shrugged at that, and now it was the wolf's turn to give her a side-eye glare.

'Really, Zelda? You think that I'm that petty?'

"I think…" Zelda began, sighing first, "that… you were worried. I was beyond your reach and that scared you, and now you're trying to rationalize your feelings. For that, for worrying you I mean, I'm sorry, Link."

A low whine escaped the wolf's maw and Zelda heard Link sigh in her head.

'I… knew that you were alive, but that was all. Dark Link… he shut me out. I couldn't hear you, I couldn't smell you… I couldn't reach you. I had no notion what he was doing to you-'

"He never touched me."

Zelda spoke it, but perhaps when she did she momentarily forgot that she was currently mentally linked to Link. He knew that she was lying and she knew that he knew.

'Zelda…'

"Okay, fine. He... kissed me."

Link looked at her sharply with his ears perked forward: the wolf equivalent of the classic 'are you freaking kidding me?' expression.

"It's fine, don't…" Zelda sighed and shook her head, "overreact. It was fine-"

'It was fine?!'

"Not like that! He didn't hurt me."

'So you're just okay with dark entities kissing you?'

"The kiss was nothing. Really, all we did was talk, Link."

'About?'

"Lots of things," Zelda admitted, rolling her eyes at Link's sarcastic tone. "He… explained to me his age, for one, and how he's technically millennia old."

'And you believed him?'

Zelda looked over at Link and considered his blue eyes for a moment, before gently stroking his long ears.

"You would know, wouldn't you? Being a spirit now… was he lying?"

When Link hesitated to speak, Zelda felt his response when the truth seeped through their connection.

"So… he was telling the truth," Zelda breathed, thinking of the ramifications of that.

'Yes.'

"Wow…! He spoke of… the Goddess Hylia! Of your ancestors... His connection to you, your shared memories, how-"

'He… is not me…!'

"I know that. No one could ever replace you. You know that, right?"

Link raised his head and looked at her. His tail wagged briefly before he continued, albeit with a softer tone.

'What else did you discuss?'

Zelda met his gaze, but with a shift of her hand, she broke her physical connection with him to sweep a hair behind her ear. She took this moment to glance around and saw Faris now playing with the Sheikah children while the villagers mulled about as they did their daily routines; however, today was not routine. Zelda could see Simin speaking with one of the Sheikah, Balin was standing with Vahlymor, and Arvid with Ashei were watching Faris and pointedly not looking in Zelda's direction. She couldn't see the twins anywhere.

That meant that Zelda had a moment to consider Dark Link's words about his feelings for her… and, more importantly, of Link's supposed feelings for her. She wasn't sure what to do, what to think, anymore. Dark Link had told her, promised her, that he would never lie to her and Link had just more or less confirmed that, to an extent. So if Dark Link was telling the truth...

"Maybe you two aren't so different from one another, hm?" she asked softly, though she was more so talking to herself.

Link, however, did think she was talking to him, but since she wasn't currently touching him she couldn't hear his sarcastic reply concerning that some stolen blood, appearance, and history didn't make them the same.

"I miss you, Link…"

Her words just sort of spilt out and were barely audible, barely a whisper, but they were easily heard by the wolf. Link sighed through his nose and whined softly, prompting Zelda to look at him and smile, her eyes glistening ever so slightly. With tender fingers she reached up and cupped his furry cheek to pet it gently.

'I miss you too, Zelda, but I'm right here.'

"Then tell me: why won't you leave the wagon?"

She felt his smile through their connection, while she watched the wolf open his jaws and pant happily, his tail wagging to reflect his amusement.

'The Sheikah… are truly skilled with their shadow magic. There's a sort of forcefield around the entire village-'

"I know, well… I mean, Lady Impa told me that we were well protected."

'And she wasn't lying. I am a spirit of light, I can easily see through the Sheikah's cloaking magic, but the defensive shield is very strong. However… the Master Sword is even stronger. I don't think that on my own I'd be able to step through the barrier, but by remaining close to the sword, I'm able to be here without being forced into the Underlayer. It also means that your new buddy-best friend won't be able to cross the barrier either. Different shadow magic, you see. True evil is not allowed here and, trust me Zelda: that poor imitation of me is evil, don't you forget that. No matter how many pretty words he says or stolen kisses he takes.'

Zelda felt her irritation bristle at his 'buddy-best friend' comment, but she understood the rest of his words, that they came from his heart and from concern, and she sighed.

"Stolen kisses seem to a commonality between you too..."

It was now Link's turn to bristle in irritation, or rather chagrin, though his fur actually did floof up. He also stopped his panting and tail wagging.

'I guess I deserve that low blow. But, you still haven't answered my question.'

Zelda glanced at him and it took a moment to realize that he was right, she hadn't answered him, and even more surprisingly she realized that she wasn't sure that she wanted to answer him. If she did that, then he may feel her feelings, or tell if she were trying to lie or only give half-truths. She didn't want any of that… not now. She just wanted this, talking with him: being with her best friend.

"We… talked about me saving you."

'So you admit it,' Link stated, his feelings wavering along with his thoughts. 'It's why you are here, out of Hyrule, after both myself and the Hero of Time warned you not to.'

"If it's possible... then yes, I will try," Zelda relented softly, hearing Faris' loud guffaw in the distance.

'I still think that you should return to Hyrule. You've found the Sheikah, quest completed. Don't go any further. Please, Zelda.'

Zelda considered his earnest pleading for a moment before she replied.

"We shall see, I guess. I still need to discuss everything with Lady Impa. I was told that the Sheikah would have the answers that I've been seeking."

'And if they don't?'

"Then… I shall return to Hyrule."

Zelda glanced suddenly at Link when she felt a spike of anger stab at her consciousness and she recoiled her hand away. Confusion creased her brow and she gave him a questioning look.

"What's wrong?"

The wolf growled threateningly and shifted in his position, head high, but he once more had returned to his distant and unreadable beastial nature. Zelda bit her lip and looked around her but nothing had changed in the village; cattle and mounts grazing near them hadn't so much as looked up if there was any danger.

Hesitantly, Zelda replaced her hand onto the wolf's shoulder and flinched when Link's voice filled her mind once more.

'Don't you think it's odd that you were able to leave Hyrule at all? Have you ever stopped and considered that at all?'

"What do you mean?" Zelda asked, still trying to keep her voice down.

'What I mean is… don't you think it's strange that Dark Link didn't try to stop you? Sure, there was the avalanche, but how can you be sure that it wasn't him who caused it? Only to then swoop in and heroically save you, before letting you continue on your merry way? Though, not before conveniently being able to talk to you, and only you: spinning tales of ages gone by. Possibly to fuel this sense of adventure of yours.'

"I… hadn't had the chance to think it over," the queen admitted, seeing Link's point but not understanding where his flair of anger was coming from.

'Maybe… maybe Dark Link wanted you to leave Hyrule. He certainly hasn't done anything to convince you to turn back, right? He shielded you, let the others dig you out, and then… what? Nothing? Let you go? It just doesn't make a lot of sense.'

"But why? What does he gain?"

'Maybe,' Link continued, and once more his hackles bristled with irritation, 'it has something to do with the fact that once you return to Hyrule… you'll be getting married. Maybe he wants you to continue onwards because if you do, you remain unmarried. I told you before that his very existence is built upon a twisted sense of my loyalty to you, which has festered into a sick obsession with you. You say that his stolen kiss was nothing, but what if it wasn't? He did try to possess my body to-'

Link stopped with his words, but Zelda knew what he was implicating.

Once more, Zelda drew back her hand, though this time it was accompanied with a flush in her cheeks. She stared at him, slightly biting her lower lip, but the wolf just gazed back without a visible expression. Taking a deep breath, Zelda let her head fall into her hands before she swept them over her hair and she stared at the ground below the wagon. There was no point in denying it. If Link hadn't known before about her being engaged, Dark Link had blatantly told him with his impassioned rant with his 'soon-to-be-King' comment.

"You think… that Dark Link would actually aid me in my quest to possibly reach even as far as Noruidia and the ocean, all because he doesn't want me to get married? Because of his… obsession with me?"

The wolf snorted. Zelda sighed and sat back up and reached up once more to idly pat his shoulder.

'I think that you need to be more careful, Zelda. You cannot trust him! No matter what half-truths he's told you. He exists to end me and to covet you. However, I think this goes beyond just your royal obligations to be married, though. Still, I admit that I think the bastard revealed that tidbit of information just to annoy me. Not that I care. As I said, it's your obligation. You were to be married eventually: the suitors lined up in Hyrule are evidence enough of that. The fact that it's a prince makes even more sense.'

"You don't care?" Zelda asked incredulously and veiled hurt. "I told you not to lie to me."

'No, I don't care that you're marrying the prince,' Link answered bluntly, his emotions nonexistent. 'Whom you choose or arrange to marry is your business as queen. What I do care about is Dark Link's thoughts on the matter. If... you don't return to Hyrule, you don't marry, and the kingdom stands without its ruling monarch. It seems to me… that Dark Link wants you to not return to Hyrule. Whether this be purely out of personal gain or because of other unknown motives, that isn't clear yet.'

"But… why?" Zelda asked again, though it was beginning to dawn on her the possible gravity of the situation. She also wanted to dig more into Link's apparent sudden disinterest in whom she married. However, she had to remind herself that as a spirit... he wasn't entirely present when it came to his feelings, so asking him about it would be pointless.

'Don't forget that there are darker forces at work here that go beyond Dark Link. Someone summoned him in the first place. Someone concocted the Atishokull that enabled him to be freed with my blood, and don't forget that that poison takes time to produce. Someone planned all of this, and I believe that it is this unknown player who is probably the one who doesn't wish for you to return to Hyrule. The puppeteer behind the Dark Link puppet, so to speak. Someone... unleashed him.'

Zelda stared at Link before turning to gaze out at the village, but her thoughts were too busy reeling to consider the scene she saw.

"But what does this have to do with me getting married?"

'Possibly nothing,' Link admitted, 'or possibly everything. I don't know, I'm just speculating. All the same, I think that Dark Link revealed that truth to me on purpose. Someone as clever and scheming as him wouldn't reveal something like that unnecessarily. If it was only to goad me into action… no. He's my imitation, and I wouldn't stoop that low, so why should he? Or… maybe I would… I have a hard time recalling my nature sometimes, what I was like when I was alive, I mean.'

"You… didn't know?" Zelda asked tentatively, turning back to him. "That I was getting married, I mean."

'No,' came Link's blunt reply. 'If Dark Link simply said that to annoy me, well… it's possible, but… I'm not so sure.'

"I'm... sorry, that I didn't tell you," Zelda relented. "I thought you had known-"

'Do you recall what Dark Link said?' Link inquired abruptly, interrupting her apology or simply ignoring it.

"What? When? After I was pulled out of the snow?"

'Yeah. He blamed me for failing to protect you-'

"Link-"

'- but he also kept saying how much easier it would have been if I had just stayed dead, but because I didn't, it meant that you were out here in the mountains and, consequently, outside of Hyrule.'

"So, what? He blames you that I'm here? For the avalanche?"

'No…' the spiritual knight admitted, turning to meet her gaze, 'it sounded almost like... like he was trying to make a point that you were here, as in outside of Hyrule, and as if he was drawing attention to that fact.'

"Okay…" Zelda began, thinking hard, "but… if Dark Link wants me out of Hyrule, why would he be pointing out that I'm out here at all?"

'That's what I've been wondering about,' Link admitted, turning away to stare hard into the distance. 'If he wanted you out of Hyrule, why would he then bring it up? Does he want you out of Hyrule or not? It… I'm just trying to make sense of things, so I can protect you properly.'

"So, does this mean… that the avalanche was just that? An act of nature? Or, do you think Dark Link caused it to… what? Make us turn around?"

The wolf sighed.

'I can't be sure… I didn't sense him being near when the avalanche began but, then again, I was pretty preoccupied with trying to get you to safety. All I'm trying to say, Zelda, is that you cannot trust anything he says! Even a promise not to lie can still be a lie.'

Zelda only nodded, both in agreement, and to more to keep herself contained.

"So he wasn't lying to me, but I still can't trust him. And... he protected me from harm, but only so that I can continue forward, but possibly he wants me to turn back? None of it makes any sense, Link, but that is why I came out here. To find the Sheikah and to get some answers."

'True,' Link replied evenly, 'but you are also the queen who should turn back and marry your prince.'

"And just give up trying to save you?"

Finally Zelda's words broke and her tone was raised enough that one of the nearby cows lifted its head out of curiosity. She stared at a wolf, but in her mind and in her heart, she saw Link, and she could practically visualize his expression of disapproval and hurt. In that moment she wished that she had the Lens of Truth so that she could raise it and actually see Link, see his face, see his expressions, rather than trying to discern a wolf's maw.

'Yes. I'm dead, Zelda, and you will have to accept that fact one way or another. However this isn't about me. It's about you and your safety. Don't risk your life for me-'

"I set out from Hyrule to find the Sheikah," Zelda declared, this time cutting off Link. "In exchange for the Council's approval to do so, I offered my hand in marriage to Prince Vahlymor and upon our return, we will wed."

The woman paused to reach up and subtly and swiftly wipe her eyes, thus removing her hand from Link's pelt.

"I have found the Sheikah, as I set out to do, as was prophesied that I would do, being the Queen of Hyrule, so that they may return to our kingdom after their two centuries of self-exile. But, the main reason why I came here was for you, Link, and to get answers. I admit that now. To ask for their help, and to see whether or not it was true that you could be saved. You say that you are dead, but that isn't the truth, is it? Your body lives, even if it's in stasis, and there's still the possibility of rejoining your spirit to your body. There's still a chance! I was told that the Sheikah may be able to locate the lost second gate to the Twilight Realm. If so, then perhaps they may also have a clue to the evil behind Dark Link as well. Don't be so fast to dismiss my actions to save you when you have saved me so many times now."

Zelda sniffled a bit and stared forward: her expression set in hard determination as she fought against her tears.

"And I will ask them, and if they say it's possible to save you…"

The woman paused once more and looked directly at him as a few tears fell from her eyes.

"Then… I will save you, whether you like it or not. Even if there is some evil force waiting for me, I will try! I will save you! So stop telling me to let you die because I refuse! I refuse to let my best friend die when I could save him! I refuse because… because it's you, Link! And I-!"

Zelda stopped herself in time, before turning away from him.

Dark Link had been right, he knew he had been right, but so too had Zelda. She was doing this for Hyrule, but she was also doing it for Link, and Hyrule needed its Hero alive just as much as its Queen did.

Zelda just didn't know to what extent the kingdom needed Link just yet. Hyrule was in need of both its Queen and its Hero… it was only a matter of time.

"Look… I don't want to fight, or argue, or anything. We… we never get to talk anymore, so please, just... " Zelda sighed, suddenly tired again, "just drop it."

Link watched her the entire time and even as a spirit, he felt the full blows to his heart by her words. Then his guilt returned, different from before when he felt that he had failed to protect her. Now, he felt bad for pushing her. He already knew her resolve, yet he still had tried to dissuade her. Now she was unhappy, stressed, and wiping back tears. That's not what he had wanted or intended. Zelda rarely cried, though these days it seemed more common, and he hated seeing her cry. He wished he could wipe them away and make her smile again.

Flattening his ears against his head and looking down, Link whined, catching Zelda's attention. He looked down with sadness, remorse, and regret, enough for even Zelda to recognize what he was trying to express to her.

With a sigh, Zelda reached out to pat his head.

'I'm sorry…'

"Yeah…" Zelda replied simply.

'Zelda... I only want what's best for you. Always.'

With another sigh and another swipe from her sleeve, Zelda was sure that her face was clear enough that she could return to her companions without evidence of how upset she'd become. She'd only been sitting with a Sacred Beast, after all: what reason would she have to be upset?

"Did you know that I can see you, the real you I mean, through the Lens of Truth?" Zelda asked, clearly changing the subject.

'Yes,' Link replied simply.

"Good," stated Zelda. "It was good to see you, standing there… That's what I'm trying to get back, Link. I'm trying to get you back. That's what's best for me."

Glancing at Link, Zelda flashed him a smile and hopped down from the wagon.

"I'm going to get something to eat. I'll come by later maybe."

And with that, Zelda walked away from him and as much as he wanted to pad along after her, he couldn't leave his body. He did see the irony in this… or hypocrisy or whatever it was. All Link could do was lay his head down onto his front paws and try to slip into his sleep-like state. Except… he couldn't. Every time he tried to allow his consciousness to drift away to follow after Zelda, it was drawn back to his wolven form like the strap of a slingshot being snapped back.

Link rolled his eyes when he understood why this was. He had to remain near the Master Sword to remain within the Sheikah Village, but that also meant that his consciousness was drawn to its power like a fly to light.

The Sheikah really understood their shadow magic, he gave them that much. As much as he hated having to be separated from Zelda, he knew that while she was within the Sheikah Village, she was probably safer than even being in Hyrule.

Dark Link could not follow them here, but neither could Link follow after her. For the first time in a while, Link missed having a physical body so he could hold Zelda once more.

/

"I trust that you rested well, my lady?"

"Yes! You and your entire village have our deepest gratitude. The accommodations are lovely and the food has been amazing."

"I'm glad that you've been enjoying your time here," Impa spoke with a smile. "And you have my thanks for your patience. I needed to speak with the other elders of my village and we were in agreement that whatever you need, whatever questions you may have, I shall do my best as Chief to help you."

"Thank you," Zelda replied with a relieved smile, "you have no idea how relieving that is to hear. I do have so many questions."

The dim light within Impa's house was a comfort and the burning scents of incense swelled the entire interior of the space with a calming feeling. Dusk was deepening outside after Zelda had spent the rest of the day following her conversation with Link resting and catching up on meals as Impa had suggested. Everyone else in Zelda's entourage seemed to have enjoyed the break from traversing the mountains as well, although Zelda had noted that the twins were unusually quiet. Vahlymor had pulled Zelda aside and explained that Crevan felt responsible for being so easily overwhelmed by the Sheikah and thus unable to warn the others. The prince reassured the queen that the brothers would be all right and that Crevan would get over it eventually. It wasn't really his fault, anyways, considering the nature of the Sheikah. He had zero chance of reacting any differently, and Vahl assured Zelda that he had said as much to the younger man.

"Please, ask your questions," encouraged Impa.

"Right," breathed Zelda before pausing, suddenly overcome with hesitation.

Where to begin? After so long she finally had the opportunity to get some answers, but all of her questions suddenly seemed to be absent and she blanked.

Impa must have seen this and only smiled and gave her an encouraging, coaxing gesture.

"How about you telling me what has befallen and occurred in our Golden Land that has led to you seeking us out, Young Queen. From there, the questions will surely come."

"Okay…" Zelda began, taking a breath, before meeting Impa's eyes. "Well… it all started about six years ago now. My father died suddenly and I was to ascend the throne, but that all changed when forces from the Twilight Realm attacked my coronation rehearsal. Many died during the first few days early days and the darkness of Twilight spread over Hyrule like a shroud..."

For the next hour or more, Zelda unfolded her story. She began with Zant's Invasion and everything that followed. Unlike with previous versions of this tale that she's told to others, Zelda did not skip any details. She told of Midna, of Link's imprisonment, his transformation into a wolf, how he ultimately saved Hyrule, and how eventually he became a Hyrulean Knight. It felt good, if Zelda paused to consider this, to be so candid and honest with all that had occurred, especially in the last six weeks or so. Goddesses… it really only has been that long since Link and Zelda had been out riding and Link had been struck with the Dark Arrow. From that single event, everything else followed: Link's near-escape from the Dark Realm, the attack by Dark Link, Link's apparent death, and Zelda's nightmares.

Zelda revealed to Impa how she had visited Impaz. She explained how the last resident of Old Kakariko Village had honoured her duty as one of the last Sheikah bloodlines to remain in Hyrule and had passed along the knowledge to both Link and herself in their individual journeys before finally passing. Impa was most pleased to hear this, but did not interrupt Zelda as she continued. The queen spoke of Dark Link's attack and his possible intentions, how she had coerced her Council to allow their queen to journey into the mountains, and finally she described as best she could up to the moment when the Sheikah scouting party had ambushed them the previous night.

Once she was finished, Zelda sat back and took a deep breath only to let it out slowly. With everything laid out before Impa, the young Hylian woman now had to allow the Sheikah elder to process all of the information. Admittedly, there was a lot. Having finally spoken it out at length in one go, it truly dawned on Zelda just how much had happened since her father had died. She prayed silently that he was still proud of her, even with all of her decisions and arguably selfish motives. Just as she had said to Link when he had first pledged himself to her to become a knight: she had to trust in herself and her choices. The Goddesses were with her and she had to trust that if she felt that something was right, then that was their will.

She hoped, anyway.

After a few more silent minutes, Impa cleared her throat and began to slowly nod.

"My dear child… Considering the trials you have already faced, I fear the path that you have set out on will surmount to even more perilous ones to come."

"Does that mean-? Are you saying that you know of this Isle of Blights and that it may be the location to the second Twilight Gate?"

Impa nodded once more.

"There is a story that my mother passed to me, the Great Impa you have indicated to have read about. A truly remarkable and strong woman, my mother was. Nurse to your ancestor, the Queen Zelda that ruled Hyrule following the Civil War, the event that revealed both the treachery and shame of my people… As my kin informed you, Impaz, Goddess watch over her soul, my tribe were split into two factions during the war, and those who fell into darkness and who were tempted by dark forces were banished to the Twilight Realm. That was the last act my tribe completed for the king before we left in exile. My mother remained to protect the young princess, and I was forced to leave Hyrule with my people. I never saw my mother again after that, I am afraid. I was very young but I still remember her clearly and all that she told me."

"Wait, please…" Zelda began, taking a moment herself to process what the chief had just revealed. "The war… was almost two-hundred years ago. How could you still be…?"

Zelda trailed off at the look of amusement on Impa's face.

"It is true, my dear, I am very old. Full-blooded Sheikah lived comparatively much longer lives than Hylians, humans, or Gerudo, but even by those standards I am very old. Perhaps, like Impaz, I too have been waiting for you to arrive and the Goddesses have sustained my life so that I may be here to answer your questions and to tell my people… that it is time. Finally, our exile for our shameful deeds has come to an end and now we may return to Hyrule, for the Golden Land's Light, you my dear Zelda, are here now. It is time to return to our homeland and to our duty as protectors of the Royal Family. As you have informed me with your story, darkness is threatening you, O Daughter of Hylia, and we the Shadow Folk will stand by you once more. In the shadows, by your side, where we truly belong"

Tears spilled from the old woman's eyes and their truth as well as her words coaxed tears to also appear in Zelda's eyes.

"Yes. You and your people must return to Hyrule, for our kingdom needs all of its inhabitants within its borders to be truly whole again." Wiping her eyes, Zelda smiled at Impa before shifting slighting in her seat and inquiring, "This story you spoke of… the one your mother told you…"

"Oh! Yes… forgive me, dear. I do have a habit of going on lengthy tangents, or so my daughter and grandchildren keep telling me," Impa admitted, chuckling and wiping away her own tears. "But yes, this story, my mother told me right before our people left Hyrule and she made me promise to never forget it. I have only told it to my daughter, to ensure that I were to pass before the Land's Light seek us out, that it could then be passed to you. I am sure that she also told her children… most likely, anyways."

A small silence spread between them during which Zelda patiently waited for the very old woman to gather her words. Impa eventually did this after another sigh and she began her own story.

"According to my mother, during the war and while the kingdom was being wrought with battles as the various races fought one another, there was a turning point for the Sheikah that brought about the true split of my tribe. It was when it was revealed the true treacherous, power-hungry nature of those who were no longer loyal to the Royal Family. As she told me, in addition to protecting the kingdom and the descendants of the Goddess Hylia, there was another duty known only to the Sheikah and that was the concealment of the location of a great evil artifact. Unfortunately, my mother did not tell me what this artifact was, but from her description and how the Oath-Breakers, or the Interlopers as I believe you know them as, it most likely was some sort of weapon. Whatever the true nature of this weapon was, it was of a great and ancient evil power. It was from this ancient weapon that the Interlopers took hold of the artifact's Dark Power: the Fused Shadow."

"I'm sorry," Zelda spoke softly, gesturing for Impa to pause, "but… I thought that the Interlopers created the Fused Shadow. Are you saying that they used this… evil artifact to do so?"

Impa shook her head.

"No. My mother was clear in that the Fused Shadow existed long before her and that it surrounded this artifact, as if they were connected, but also not. I'm afraid my mother was not very clear and I was too young to inquire further. She said that the Sheikah protected the location of the artifact and Fused Shadow, but individuals were not permitted to be near it in fear of its power. So perhaps my mother herself did not know the true nature or appearance of the artifact. You see, when she told me all of this, time was of the essence, and shortly after she bade me farewell for the last time."

Zelda nodded slowly and Impa sighed softly.

"Many died during the war, from all the races. However, once the Interlopers seized the power of the Fused Shadow and attempted to breach the Sacred Realm to establish dominion over its divine power, they were betrayed by the very power they wielded. They failed in their mission and for their evil deeds, were banished to the Twilight Realm by the Golden Goddesses. This, I trust you know and understand well, yes?"

Zelda nodded: she knew the story well.

"What my mother informed me, however, was something that she said had been held from the Royal Family's knowledge at the time. She told me this was done because in the thralls of the war, such knowledge would have surely destroyed the entire kingdom, so the Sheikah, those loyal to Hyrule, decided it best to keep it to themselves, which in turn only fuelled our shame for how the Interlopers betrayed us all."

"What is this knowledge?" Zelda prompted softly.

"Before they were banished, the Interlopers somehow freed the weapon from its resting place and stole it with them to the Twilight Realm. At the time, my people did not know the gravity of the consequences of this. It was only years later, after we had relocated here to the mountains, that we began to hear whispers from travellers who passed from Noruidia of the emergence of a dark island where shadow beasts and figures had been seen roaming its shores. I sent a team to Noruidia to investigate. Of the team that journeyed out to this island, few returned, but when they did they spoke of the island and how they had found a great dark beast that guarded what appeared to be a doorway whose markings upon it resembled the symbols that had been etched into the Twilight Mirror. The Sheikah who had not returned gave their lives to commit their magics to create a storm to eternally brew around the island, shrouding it in secrecy, and discouraging any and all from landing upon its shores. Their efforts were so that the Twilight Realm and the powers and Interlopers banished within, would never be uncovered."

"Amazing…" Zelda breathed, thinking of the ramifications. "So, it's true! There is another way to access the Twilight Realm and the storm that Prince Vahlymor spoke of was created by Sheikah magic?"

"Yes," Impa admitted, but her tone was sad, "and my people also communicated with the people of the sea and it was agreed that they too would do their best to dissuade ships and curious onlookers from venturing near to the island."

"The Tulul? But… I thought that they were a fearsome, warlike tribe."

"They are now, or so we've heard," Impa admitted, "but two hundred years ago, they were peaceful and more than cooperative with my people. Everyone had agreed at the time that it was best that the Twilight Gate not be accidentally found and opened."

"Two hundred… wait. Vahlymor spoke of how his kingdom has been at war with the Tulul for about that same amount of time. Do you think that it's connected?"

Impa sighed and frowned, but gave Zelda an honest and knowing look.

"I believe that there are no coincidences, my dear. The disappearance of the ancient weapon, the creation of this second gate, the rise of Zant and his invasion of Hyrule, this Dark Link creature… they may all be links in the same dark chain rising out of black waters. The problem, as I see it, is that we cannot fathom how long the chain is or what might be on the other end being pulled up from the depths. If you say that the ruler of the Twilight Realm, this Midna, was wise in her words and good in her intentions, only she may have the answers behind these mysteries, but as I said before: to seek her and the island out would be very dangerous."

Zelda remained silent and Impa did as well, allowing for the Hyrulean Queen to consider everything the old woman had told her and the implications there within.

"Do you believe that it's too dangerous to save Link? To go to this island?"

The Sheikah Chief made a pensive sound and closed her eyes as she thought. Zelda truly hadn't held anything back during her story, she had revealed everything, including that the spirit wolf seated on the wagon outside was in fact Hyrule's Hero Chosen by the Gods. Zelda felt that if she had tried to withhold such a detail, that Impa would already have her suspicions. As Link explained himself, the Sheikah were well versed in magic and someone as wise as Impa probably suspected that the Spirit Beast was more than what he appeared to be. Plus, there was also the fact that informing the elder everything only helped frame Zelda's predicament and questions, thus giving Impa better context to provide her informed decisions.

"I believe…" Impa began, opening her eyes and meeting Zelda's eager gaze with her slightly clouded, red irises, "that you being here now goes beyond ending the self-imposed exile of my people. I believe that because you have made it this far with the Hero's body and spirit, that the Goddesses are with you on your journey and that this cursed island, the Island of Blights, is also awaiting your arrival. The darkness that is stretching its hand towards Hyrule undoubtedly bears its roots in the west. For you to go out and confront that darkness, to meet your destiny as one of the Goddess Bloodline, may be another note of your destiny, of your legacy. But, you will not do this alone."

"I know that I'm not alone," Zelda commented softly, lightly biting her lower lip.

"Yes, but I do not speak of your companions or the Hero. I speak of my people, the Sheikah, we are your loyal bodyguards and will not abandon you to face this great challenge alone. On your journey, I can send a team to assist you and keep you from harm's way."

"I appreciate that, Lady Impa, but too large a party would draw too much attention to us."

"This is true," Impa acknowledged, but she had an amused smile on her lips, "but do not forget. The Sheikah can remain unseen if they desire. Well, at least the Sheikah with the skills. Most of my people inherently know to some degree shadow magic, though it comes more naturally to some more than others. They will keep you safe."

"But… what about the rest of the village?"

"Once you depart, I will inform my people to begin packing in preparation for our return home. We will await you at the border to Hyrule, for the Sheikah cannot cross into Hyrule without our Queen to lead us."

"So you'll just… wait for me?" Zelda asked cautiously.

"Those I send with you will be able to…" Impa paused for a moment, "inform the rest of the village when you are within range of us, so within the mountains. I would not worry about such details, my dear. All will be well, for I have faith in the Goddesses as they have faith in you."

"But…" Zelda began, uncertainty creasing her features. "With all these people protecting me, putting their lives on the line for me, what am I to do? Surely there is more I can do than simply…"

The woman stumbled with her words before finally sighing and let her shoulders drop along with her expression. She didn't want to say "being useless," but while she could manage a sword and bow, Zelda knew that she wasn't the warrior like the others were. She wanted to assist more than being the one carrying the Lens of Truth.

Impa must have guessed as much as to what queen was trying to convey for the old woman reached over, an audible crack could be heard from her movements, and she mumbled to herself as she retrieved the ancient artifact. Without its black canvas, the footlong mirror's surface reflected the soft lights and looked seemingly insignificant except for its simple beauty. Impa passed the mirror to Zelda who took her tenderly and the Hylian briefly glanced down at the reflective surface to glimpse her own unsure expression.

"That Lens dispels illusions, reveals truths, and allows a select few to see beyond the common plane," Impa mused, still smiling softly. "My mother told me of this artifact and how it would guide the Land's Light to us one day. But… she also told me of this artifact…"

Zelda looked up curiously at Impa's words and watched as the old woman once more slowly and possibly painfully reached beside her and took up another object. Zelda raised a brow slightly when the item was revealed and Impa held it between her hands. It was… a mask? A white mask, with a yellow Sheikah Eye painted upon it along with red lines and markings. It was beautiful, but also seeing it gave Zelda the same feeling she had when she used the Lens of Truth. It was the kind of feeling one gets when they're eavesdropping on a conversation, unseen, or watching an event unfold that they had not been invited to.

"This… is the Mask of Truth, a Sheikah artifact passed down through my people and is an heirloom of sorts for my family. It has always been in our possession, though, as I recall, there was one instance when a mask salesman tried to buy it from us… clearly he was unsuccessful."

Impa paused thoughtfully as the memory crossed her wise memory, before she turned her tired eyes back to meet Zelda's.

"By itself, this mask grants its bearer the knowledge of the Sheikah and allows for beasts to be heard. It reveals what cannot be normally seen, just as the Lens of Truth does in its own way. Used together, both objects are known as the Truth in Twain, but they have been separated for so long that it warms my heart to see them be reunited."

"The mask is beautiful," Zelda admitted, matching Impa's smile, "but what use of the mask do I have when I already have the Lens and I can communicate with Link already?"

Impa chuckled and her old eyes briefly ignited with a youthful mischievousness and passion that almost took Zelda aback.

"The truth behind the power of the Interlopers and the extent of their treachery is not the only secret my mother passed to me," Impa mused, chuckling again. "As she informed me long ago, when the two pieces of the Truth in Twain are combined, they have the ability to reveal the true nature of the Sheikah. My dear Zelda, the path ahead is fraught with peril and you venture into a land when it is not safe for one of the Goddess Bloodline. There may be a time when it best to hide your own truth and… your face."

Zelda blinked as Impa's haunting tone, the weight of her words, and the young queen once more looked to the mask.

"You wish… for me to wear the mask?" she asked tentatively.

"It is your choice," Impa replied. "I am not sure what will occur but, my mother told me that: 'if one bears the Mask and gazes into the Lens, they will see truth within truth and hide light within shadows.' I have spent many decades wondering what these words mean, but it is your decision now if you would like to find out. I trust my mother and she remained loyal to your family unto the end. She would not tell me this lightly and only you may combine the Truth in Twain, for you are the owner of the Lens and I give the Mask willingly to you as well. She said to me: "bear the Mask, look upon the Lens, and speak 'Truth!'" That is how you use these Sheikah artifacts as one."

"But-!"

Impa only shook her head, making Zelda stop in her objections, and the Hylian once more watched the Sheikah elder gently place the Mask of Truth upon the Lens of Truth's surface.

"It is your destiny, your quest, and your decision," Impa stated. "But know that now and forever more, the Sheikah are at your service, O Queen of Hyrule, for the Shadow Folk have been the chosen guardians to the Goddess Hylia since Hyrule was formed and we will follow you into darkness and back if that be your will."

Zelda looked up as Impa bowed her head towards her. The Hylian woman frowned slightly before looking down at the Sheikah artifacts she held, now both hers, and she lifted her fingers to gently caress the eye of the Mask.

"See truth within truth and hide light within shadows," she recounted softly, remembering Impa's words.

She had set out from Hyrule to find the Sheikah and to find the truth, and she had, and now it seemed that her heart's desire to save Link as well was within her grasp. Her destiny seemed to be quite literally at her fingertips, all she needed now was the courage to decide.

Without another moment's pause, Zelda lifted the Mask to her face and pressed its smooth wood against her skin before holding the Lens aloft. At first she saw nothing, for the mask bore no eye holes, though her masked image reflected within the mirror. Then she remembered the final step Impa had told her.

"Truth!" Zelda commanded, her voice strong while her heart quivered with fear of the unknown.

At first nothing happened. Zelda saw nothing by blackness and the room was still. Then, a sudden, unexplainable breeze blew through the space and a candle was snuffed out. Slowly the Lens of Truth's surface began to ripple, turning from a mirror to its obsidian surface, and Zelda parted her lips for a small gasp to escape.

Then the Queen of Hyrule began to see… everything, and within her head she heard a woman's distant yet strong voice along with the light notes of a long forgotten song...

"Noble Zelda… We must protect this beautiful land of Hyrule! Now, listen carefully to this melody and lullaby…"