Chapter 12: The Little Princess
The next morning came along and all of the party members went out of their guest rooms and walked downstairs. Alphie walked up to the party. "What would you like for breakfast, our honored guests?"
"Just about anything, please." Poump replied.
"I'll prepare something you will all enjoy." Alphie said as he walked towards the kitchen. The party sat in the dining room and marveled at how elaborate the interior of this house was.
"Hey, what's up with the chicken?" A little kid said to the Zora as she was at the table.
"This is a cucco, and she's our friend!" The Zora said to the kid. "Who are you?"
"The name is Richard." The kid replied. "I've been training to be an excellent fighter, just like Bruce."
"That sounds wonderful." The Zora replied.
"Yeah. I use my talents to their best. There's someone I know in Castle Town that really likes my moves!"
"Who are they?" The Zora asked.
"Why would I tell you? It's a secret!" Richard replied. He then ran out of the room motioning his hands as if he was on a motorcycle.
"What a funny kid." The Zora said as she started eating again.
"So what's the plan guys?" Poump asked.
"Here's what we'll be doing." The Sheikah said. "We will walk around Castle Town and ask around to see how the public views Aghanim and if they know about his actions. We will also go to Hyrule Castle and ask the guards what they know about Aghanim, and if he has any weaknesses."
"Sounds like a plan." Poump said. "I'm going to try and disguise myself as a new guard and walk around the castle to see if there is any chance of finding a weakness from inside the castle itself.
"That's a good idea." The Zora said. "The most important thing is that we need to be careful. Make sure we're on Aghanim's good side, until we know for certain what we can do to defeat him without much loss."
"Backaw." The cucco added.
The party finished eating. Bruce appeared. "Since you are done eating, make sure you go back to Castle Town through the cave. Aghanim still wants you within the town's walls, so it's better that you don't risk going in through the front."
"Got it." The Sheikah replied. The party went through the secret entrance and walked their way back through the cave to the lift that brought themselves back into the alleyway they went in.
"We'll split up now." The Sheikah said. "Just be natural." The team split up.
Poump made his way towards the Hyrule Castle gates. "Hello there gatekeeper." Poump said. "Zelda said that she's fine with me roaming the Castle."
"How do I know you're working with Zelda?" The gatekeeper asked.
"Because I have this Sheikah Slate." He brought up the Slate.
"Good. Very well, you may pass." The gatekeeper opened the gate for Poump. "There are a few more places you can visit in the castle while you're wearing our special uniform. If you want to gain a uniform, speak to the smithy in the courtyard."
"Thank you." Poump said, and he walked into the castle.
The Sheikah and the Zora asked around the Castle Town for knowledge about Aghanim. Most of the citizens replied saying that they hope that he would enforce good rules, while some citizens didn't even know that Zelda wasn't in the castle. A handful of citizens even responded by saying that they don't have a good feeling about Aghanim's rules, saying that they put too much faith in militarism. When asked about the difference between Zelda's rules and Aghanim's rules, most of the citizens say that they prefer Zelda's rules.
"From what I gather here, it seems like Aghanim is already pretty shady to the average citizen." The Sheikah said to the Zora.
"That is agreeable. I mean, his name sounds like 'agony'. How are we supposed to trust someone like that?" The Zora added.
Meanwhile with Poump, he found the smithy, who was working on some swords and armor. There was a shop set up behind the smithy. "Hey there mister uh.. what's your name?" Poump asked the smithy.
"My name's Smithy. Funny coincidence, eh?" The smithy said as he put his hammer down. "What is it you need?"
"Oh uh, I'd like to have a guard uniform. To wear."
"How could you be in the castle grounds and yet you haven't had a uniform yet? You even have a Royal Broadsword and a Royal Shield on your back! Well guess what man, you came to the right place. A single uniform is 1,000 rupees. That's a very good price for this set of armor, as it used to be 3,000 rupees a while back."
"I'll take it." Poump said and he handed the 1,000 rupees to Smithy.
"Thank you!" Smithy said.
"Hey by the way, do you know anything about a guard named Roldi?"
"Roldi? You're a new guy, huh? She's usually stationed in the Hall of Heroes. Tell her I said hi." Smithy replied.
"Thanks again, Smithy." Poump said. Poump went into the changing room behind the armorer and changed into the guard armor. "Alright, Hall of Heroes." Poump noticed that there were signs around the castle. He followed them towards the Hall of Heroes.
He arrived in a large corridor with really tall statues. He observed each one. One of them was Link, holding his Master Sword in his left hand, with his Hylian Shield in the other hand. The other statues showed a Goron named Daruk, former Champion of the Gorons. There was a statue showing a Zora named Mipha, former Champion of the Zora. There was one showcasing a Gerudo named Urbosa, former Champion of the Gerudos. And then finally one depicting a Rito named Revali, former Champion of the Rito. He tried reading the plaques, but he started thinking about the Hylian Yiga again.
"New recruit?" A feminine voice said that almost startled Poump.
"Uh, yeah." Poump replied. "Are you Roldi?"
"Why yes, that's me. Do you need something?" Roldi asked.
"Yeah, Zelda herself told me to find you so that way you could show me a secret."
"You wish to find a secret? The castle holds many secrets."
Poump looked around. He whispered into Roldi's ear. "The Princess."
Roldi looked back at Poump. "Well, that makes it very important then. Follow me." Roldi lead Poump down a few halls. Despite the fact that Poump had been in Hyrule Castle before, it seemed like with each visit, the castle itself became bigger and bigger.
Roldi arrived at a wall. "Watch this." She walked through it as if it weren't there." Poump followed through.
"I've seen this before." Poump said.
"No way!" Roldi replied.
"Yeah, it's freaky."
"Ain't it always."
"Say, why does that wall lead to another wall made of bricks?"
"Because we have to remember the combination." Roldi pulled out her sword and tapped on four different bricks on the wall. The brick wall opened up and inside looked like a small room for a child, with a bed, some books, some toys on the floor, and a window. "Hilda?" Roldi said as she walked through the room.
"Boo!" A small girl, about 8 years old pretended to attack Roldi from behind. She had purple hair and a small dress.
"Oh you silly little girl." Roldi said with a smile on her face.
"Are you going to take me on that walk again?" The little girl said to Roldi.
"Not today Hilda, he will." Roldi pointed at Poump.
Hilda walked up to Poump and circled around him examining him. "Who is this imbecile?"
"Oh goodness Hilda. Don't be so judgemental. His name is Poump and he will take good care of you because your mom trusts him. Also where did you learn that word from?"
"I read books because that's all I can do in this room." Hilda replied with a hint of frustration.
"You do know that right now is a time where you need to keep you safe? Trust me little one, in a few weeks, you won't need to be holed up in here. Right now the country is at a civil unrest, and we can't risk you being found. Do you have any idea how bad my punishment could be if I lose you? If I lose you-"
"The Queen will sentence you to a 5 hour map making lesson from Tingle the Map Maker. Yes, I know this, you told me 12 times this week."
"Really I told you 3 times. I just want you to know the importance of why we're keeping you in this room for now."
"Well I know that. It doesn't mean that I am obligated to like it here." Hilda looked at Poump. "So, funny new guy, what will we do today?"
"Whatever Roldi tells me to do, young one." Poump replied. He had no clue what to do with Hilda.
Roldi looked at Poump. "Do whatever you want with her as long as you don't leave the Castle Walls. You have looked over children, right?"
"Sometimes, yes." Poump replied.
"Rule number one is to just keep her near you at all times." Roldie said with great seriousness in her eyes.
"Alright, you got it boss." Poump said feeling slightly intimidated.
"She's all yours." Roldi said gleefully and then she exited the room.
Hilda looked up at Poump with an impatient aura. "So, what are we going to do, new guy?"
"Whatever you want, Princess." Poump said.
"Alright, then read me a book." Hilda replied.
"Which book?" Poump asked.
"This one!" Hilda handed Poump a book titled 'Paper Mario'. "I finished Chapter 7, so read me Chapter 8." Poump opened up the book and started reading.
As for the Sheikah and the Zora, they came to the conclusion that most of the citizens in Castle Town didn't like Aghanim. "They don't enjoy Aghanim's obsession with control and order." The Sheikah said. "We need to make sure we put Zelda in power soon."
"The only way we can do that is to kill Aghanim. But it would be suicide to do that right now." The Zora added. "Zelda might not like it if we kill him, but we have no other choice."
"Let's buy some items at some shops that could help us with the worst case scenario. From what I remember, Aghanim apparently had electrical abilities, and you Zora are weak to electricity."
"That we are. Let's start shopping." The Zora and the Sheikah started shopping for items and weapons. They mostly ended up buying health and magic potions, but never came across a weapon that looked like it could be particularly useful.
Poump finished reading Chapter 8. "The star spirits were reunited and Mario and friends went back to their normal lives. The end." He closed the book.
"I want to go outside." Hilda said. "I want to go on great adventures just like Mario!"
"Now now, we can't just be going outside right now." Poump said to Hilda.
"I want to go out! I do it all the time!" Hilda replied. She walked up to something draped over a chair and pulled it above her. "Now I have a cloak that disguises myself! Let's go to Castle Town!" Hilda ran out of the room and forcibly pulled Poump's hand to follow her. Poump moved along because he didn't want his power bracelets to accidentally hurt her.
Poump and Hilda walked through the castle's hallway. She seemed to have something in her hand that resembled a Sheikah Eye. "Alright, now we walk through here!" Hilda walked into a wall that revealed a small passageway. As her and Poump continued walking, the wall to their right side opened up. It was Kilton!
"Kilton!" Poump said. "What the heck are you doing here in Hyrule Castle?"
"I tried to make you spend your mon last night but you didn't bother coming into my shop." Kilton replied. He noticed Hilda with Poump. "Oh and it looks like you're taking care of the Princess!"
"Look here Kilton, I like you but if you put your crabby looking hands on her, I will murder you." Poump replied. He didn't like the idea that Kilton knew who Hilda was. Kilton raised his arms as if he was about to be stabbed even though Poump didn't draw his weapon.
"Don't be so mean, Poump!" Hilda interjected. "Kilton is a good friend of mine! He showed me a frog pond the other day!"
"With the supervision of Roldi the guard lady." Kilton added. "I would never be allowed near the Princess, and I wouldn't be near her without someone I know because otherwise I would be killed by an unknowing guard!"
"He speaks the truth Poump! This weakling wouldn't survive if someone like Roldi wasn't there to protect him!" Hilda said.
"I guess you're right." Poump said. "So what is it you want to sell me?"
"Take a look!" Kilton walked into the secret room and showcased his wares. "This right here is a Spring-Loaded Hammer! Gives your opponents a real bounce! Next to it is my collection of monster masks! Use these if you want to blend in with monsters." Kilton walked to something that was covered by some cloth. "And finally, the best item in stock that I have here. A fairy!" Kilton uncovered the item and revealed it to be a bottle with a fairy in it.
"Let me out of here you weirdo!" The fairy exclaimed to Kilton.
"Now now now little sprite, I have a buyer here!" Kilton said to the fairy. "Fairies are very rare and elusive! It is rumored that they can cure death!"
"That's because we CAN cure death!" The fairy replied. She tried to kick the bottle from the inside but it wouldn't budge.
"How much for this fairy?" Poump asked.
"500 mon!" Kilton replied.
"Kilton, how is anyone going to get this fairy if that price is so high?"
"Just bring me more monster parts!"
"There are no more monsters in the land, and as far as I know, the only living monsters left need to be kept safe."
"You have a very good point." Kilton thought to himself for a moment. "Tell you what, here's a bargain. If you can manage to defeat the tyrant in the Castle, I will give the fairy to you for free!"
"That's a deal." Poump replied. "I'll be back later." Poump walked out to the passageway and had Hilda follow him some more. They eventually made it to a door that opened into a small alleyway.
"Follow me! I have a place that I like the most around here!" Hilda said as she hurriedly started running forward. Poump followed behind closely. They ran through the marketplace weaving their way through the crowds. Hilda eventually made it out of Poump's view. He continued walking forward and eventually saw Hilda running across the main plaza in her cloak. She stopped to pet a dog that ran up to her. Poump took this as an opportunity to catch up to her.
"You shouldn't be running this fast, it's hard to keep up with you." Poump said to her out of breath.
"Roldi doesn't complain this much." Hilda said as she was petting the dog.
"Remember Princess, I'm a new guard who is new to this job." Poump replied, still catching his breath.
"Then get used to it, newbie." Hilda said. The dog looked at someone else and ran up to them for some more petting. "Now that the dog has averted it's attention, let's continue!" Hilda started running across the Main Plaza, and Poump tried his best to catch up. He was following her quite well, and the fact that he was wearing a guard uniform made a lot of people in the crowd move off to the side. The commotion attracted Groose and his friends, who happened to be shopping for bread.
"Hey guys, is that Poump?" Groose asked his friends.
"It sure does look like him." Netrea replied. Cawlin and Stritch nodded their heads in agreement.
"Let's see what he's up to!" Groose said as he and his friends followed behind.
Meanwhile with the Sheikah and the Zora, the both of them decided to go into Hyrule Castle. "From the orders of Chancellor Aghanim, we are allowed entrance." The Sheikah said to the gatekeeper.
"I never said you weren't allowed in." The gatekeeper said with a hint of sarcasm. "Open the gates." Both of them walked into the courtyard and they saw Smithy working on some metal. This sparked an idea in the Sheikah's head.
"What if we could get that smithy to work on something that could repel magic attacks?" The Sheikah said to the Zora.
"That's a very good idea, let's ask him about that." The Zora added and the both of them walked up to the smithy. "Hello there."
"Why good day to you two and your feathered friend, how may I assist you?" Smithy replied.
"We would like to know if you can make something that is capable of repelling magic attacks." The Sheikah said. "A shield would be preferred."
"Oh I see, you're in need of a Mirror Shield. I can whip that up for you but it'll cost 2,500 rupees."
"That's a deal. Here they are." The Sheikah handed Smithy 2,500 rupees.
"I'll get to work on it." Smithy started smelting some metal and used a tray to get the shape of the shield correct. The metal he was using seemed to be made of an ore that was mostly found in Death Mountain. "May I ask who you plan on fighting?"
"Excuse me?" The Sheikah replied confused.
"No one ever comes up to me asking for a Mirror Shield unless they're planning on fighting someone with magic abilities." Smithy let the metal steep for a bit and looked around to make sure no one was listening. "You plan on rebelling against the Chancellor Aghanim himself, right?"
"Uh… no." The Sheikah replied.
"Of course you are." Smithy replied. "Just know that I'm on your side. I know that Aghanim isn't the best person to be in power right now. There's even been talks amongst the guards of this castle that said they wanted to rebel against Aghanim, however they fear the consequences of doing such a thing. It is well known among the guards that Aghanim possesses great destructive magical abilities. We've been in the middle of coordinating a rebellion against Aghanim. Some castle guards went to Death Mountain to gather these ores so that way we could craft this fabled Mirror Shield. You two managed to come at the right time to have it for yourself, since you bought it after all. Because you're helping us, you can keep this shield after all of this is over."
"Thank you for your help, smith." The Sheikah said. "We really needed it."
"You're welcome, Warrior." Smithy replied.
Meanwhile with Poump, Hilda pulled out her purple Sheikah Eye at a wall and then ran right through it. Poump followed behind really closely. Hilda took off her cloak once she was behind the wall. The other side of the wall was an entrance to a staircase that lead up to the top of a really tall tower. They ascended the rather tall staircase to the tower and arrived at the top. The tower had a full 360 view of the kingdom. "I really like it here!" Hilda exclaimed. "Not many people walk around this area. I can see all of the mountains from here!"
Poump looked across Hyrule Field, looking at the landscape with the Sheikah Towers in the distance. Poump couldn't help but notice the Sheikah Tower that seemed to be standing on a landmass, or a plateau way off in the distance. Despite how significant this plateau looks from a distance, it never really was in Poump's mind as a place of importance, despite its appearance.
"I can name all of the mountains!" Hilda said. She pointed towards the mountains in the West. "That mountain range is called the Hebra Mountains, and that other mountain right there is called Satori Mountain!"
"Very interesting." Poump said. He pretended to be interested as he didn't want to hurt her feelings.
"Can you name the mountains to the East?" Hilda said to Poump.
"Uh." Poump looked at the mountains on the East Side of Hyrule. Poump noticed two peaks in the distance. "Those are the Twin Peaks, right?"
"No they aren't, those are the Dueling Peaks." Hilda said.
Poump looked at the large mountain with a ring above it behind Hyrule Castle. "That's Death Mountain." Poump said as he pointed at Death Mountain.
"Correct! That's an easy one but I can at least give you that." Hilda shifted her attention towards the plateau in the distance. "Do you know what the place is called?"
"Uh, I hear it's called The Great Plateau." Poump replied with uncertainty.
"You are right! They say that someone of great importance was resurrected there. I wonder who that would be." Hilda said.
Poump started sweating. He knew it was Link who was revived on the Plateau, and Link was also the father of this girl. "Do you know about-"
"Link? Yeah of course I do! He's the Great Hero!" She looked across the land once again. "Someday I'm going to climb all of these mountains, just like Link did! It will be a grand adventure, with plenty of danger around every corner!" Hilda gleefully pantomimed herself swinging a sword and shooting an arrow from a bow. "I hear that Link is a really good friend of my Mom's!"
"Of course he is." Poump sweated profusely.
Hilda noticed Poump's behavior. "You look like you're stressed. Let's go back down to Castle Town, you don't seem to enjoy heights like this." Hilda walked back down the stairs of the tower with Poump following behind. Hilda put her cloak back on. They made it back to ground level and walked through the wall. Groose and friends were walking around the alleyway searching for Poump, and turned around just at the moment Poump had fully emerged from the wall.
"Poump! We've been looking for you! What's with the get up?" Groose said. "Have you been promoted to working as a guard for Hyrule Castle?"
"Yes." Poump replied. "And I'm watching over this little rascal." Poump pretended that Hilda was a criminal that he was catching. "They stole an apple."
"That's an awful cute thief right there." Netrea added as she looked at Hilda with her face half concealed by the cloak.
"They come in all shapes and sizes." Poump said with great confidence. "Now move along citizens, I have to take this thief to the cell block."
Hilda started laughing. "You're a terrible guard." Hilda mimicked Poump's stance and deepened her voice. "Now move along citizens, I have to take this thief to the cell block!"
Groose and friends started laughing at this. "She's very funny!" Groose said, holding onto his sides from laughter. "Sorry man, it's just, y'know, that was really funny."
Poump shook it off. He thought for a moment. "Will you guys keep a good secret?"
"Us? Of course!" Groose said. "Anything for my best friend!" Groose's friends nodded.
"Alright, this little girl is actually Queen Zelda's daughter. I've been put in charge of looking over her from her highness herself."
"Whoa that's pretty cool!" Groose said with great enthusiasm. "You're in the big leagues now!"
Hilda looked at all of Poump's friends. "Would you all like to do something with us?"
Poump looked at Hilda. "I'm not sure if I'm allowed to do something like that. What would we do together?"
"We would go ride on horses!" Hilda said excitedly.
"Isn't that against the rules? I have to keep you inside the castle walls." Poump said to Hilda. He did not want to be confronted by Roldi.
"No it isn't against the rules! Let's go horse riding! On the field!" Hilda said to Poump.
"What do you think, guys?" Poump said to Groose and the gang.
"I say you should do it." Groose said. "She looks like she really wants to do it."
"Alright then." Poump looked at Hilda. "I'll go get my horse." Poump, Hilda, and friends walked through the gates out to the stable in front of Hyrule Castle Town. Poump took out his horse, and the others did too. Poump had Hilda in front of him and put her hands on the horse's reins. "Don't let go of these reins at all. You hear me?"
Hilda started to get a little nervous. "I've never ridden on a horse before. It's so high up." She was used to standing on a tall tower that didn't move as opposed to a living animal that did move.
"We're here now. All you need to do is focus ahead of yourself, and know that I have your back." Poump said to Hilda. She gained some courage.
"Okay." Hilda replied. Poump pumped at the reins and his horse started running, with Groose and the gang's horses following behind them. The wind came across Hilda's face in an exciting breeze. Her worries no longer existed as she watched Hyrule Field coming at her at 40 miles per hour. She slowly let go of the horse's reins and spread her arms out catching as much air as she possibly could. "Woo-hoooo!" She screamed, feeling so exhilarated. Her hair blew violently in the wind, getting into Poump's face, however Poump didn't mind the hair in his face as he knew his horse was good at guiding itself. Poump's friends rode up to the side of Poump's horse in formation, making a wonderful display of coordination amongst all of them. The team rode back towards the Castle Town gates, stopped their horses, and then put them back into the stable outside. "That was amazing!" Hilda said feeling extremely excited. "Thank you so much, Poump! I love you!" She hugged Poump's legs with affection.
"This is amazing, Poump! You're doing well in the eyes of the Royal Family!" Groose said feeling proud of him. A few castle guards walked up to Poump.
"You're coming with us." The guards said to Poump. Hilda let go of him. "Chancellor Aghanim wants to speak with you."
"Uh oh." Poump said under his breath.
"And you, Princess Hilda. You're going back to your room." The guard said.
"What are you going to do to him?" Hilda said to the guard.
"Whatever Aghanim wants." The guard responded.
"I have something else I need to do." Poump replied.
"You can do that after you speak to Aghanim." The guard said to Poump.
Hilda slipped something into one of Poump's pockets. "Fine, take us in." Hilda said. Groose rubbed the back of his head. He knew something bad was going to happen.
Poump and Hilda were escorted by the guards back into Hyrule Castle. Just before Poump was separated from Hilda, she quickly told him something. "Use the Eye!" And then Hilda was brought back to her chamber by the guards.