Chapter 17: Remembering Old Friends

Shortly after Impa's burial, the village convened into Impa's place. Tables were set up, with food. And positioned on where Impa once sat, a painting of Impa was in her place. The party was eating food with the rest of the villagers. Link, Zelda, Hilda, Prince Sidon, and Paya were looking at the painting of Impa. Prince Sidon eventually walked back to the tables, as he wanted to speak to Uten about something important. Sidon chose to start eating, but didn't want to startle Uten because he knew she was quite skittish. Link, and Zelda went back to the tables, with Hilda having her hand held by Zelda. Paya was left looking at the painting, crying her eyes out even more. She couldn't take it anymore and walked upstairs to be alone.

The only sound that existed in the room were light sobs and the munching of food. The food being served was Pumpkin Soup, Veggie Cream Soup, Pumpkin Pie, Honeyed Apples, and Meat Stuffed Pumpkins. A 15 year old girl served the food, as she made it with the help of her sister. "Thank you, Koko." Zhago said to the girl serving the food.

"You're welcome, Zhago." Koko replied. She kept serving food to the other tables.

Eventually, Sidon managed to break the ice with Uten. "So, Uten, how have you been holding up?"

"I've been alright." Uten replied after eating some pie.

"That sounds great!" Sidon said with some enthusiasm. He looked around at the villagers and how sad they were and quietly sipped some soup. He didn't like hurting others' feelings, and also hadn't been to an event like this in a long time. The only person who he truly lost in his life was his older sister, Mipha, and she died when he was a small child then, so he didn't have a good recollection of what it was like during the time of her death. Also having the burden of being the Zora Champion of Hyrule meant keeping the representation of the Zora Tribe in a positive standing, and while although he himself is a positive person, he knows about respecting the boundaries of others. But he really needed to say something important. "Uten, what do you plan on doing after this?"

Uten finished her slice of pie. "I plan on going back to Zora's Domain and staying there. I have a new friend right here named Tipa, and I want her to stay with me." Uten showed the Hylian girl with horns on her head to Sidon.

"That's very interesting. How did she get horns on her head?" Sidon asked.

"It's a long story. Did you want to tell me something, Prince?" Uten replied.

Sidon took his eyes off Tipa's horns and back to Uten. "Oh yes, I have something important to say about my father."

"King Dorephan?!" Uten exclaimed.

"Yes, he has caught a rare disease, and he's been sick for a week. When Zelda was with us, she identified that this disease could be cured by something found in the Gerudo Region."

"So who's going to retrieve it? Surely enough none of us Zora can deal with even existing in the Gerudo Region. That place would dehydrate us in a moment's notice." Uten quickly understood why Sidon was speaking to her about this. "Wait a moment, you don't mean you're expecting me to go there, right?"

"Precisely, I believe you would be the best person for the job. I've heard of your travels so far and while none of them have brought you to a place as hot as the Gerudo Desert, you still managed to pull through in each of your adventures." Sidon said this and smiled greatly at Uten.

"I haven't done anything amazing or as cool as you, Sidon. Don't make me blush." Uten said sarcastically.

"You traveled through the Lost Woods, correct?" Sidon said.

"Pardon?" Uten replied.

"You made it through the Lost Woods and lived. That's a place that has eaten whole lives and you survived going through it, and here you are, alive and well! Not even I have bothered entering the Lost Woods!" Sidon grabbed a Meat Stuffed Pumpkin and started eating it.

"Well to be fair, I would've died without the assistance of my friends and Link." Uten said.

"And that's where your friends come in. Zelda told me all about your quest for dealing with the monster colonies across Hyrule. She said that you had some friends along who helped you out, and there even is a monster colony in the Gerudo Desert that Zelda wants you to deal with."

"Hold on now, I'm still not going to the desert, even if it means that there's a monster colony there for me to deal with. I've already dealt with two of them, and I even have enough money to go off and live by myself if I want to. That third monster colony is something that I don't want to be involved with." Uten wolfed down another slice of pie. "And by the way, about the rare disease that can be cured by something in the Gerudo Desert, why don't you yourself deal with that? You are Prince Sidon, Champion of the Zora after all."

"Uten, I can't risk myself to the desert. Hyrule needs me because we have lost contact with two of the other Champions of Hyrule. As I'm sure you've seen by now, the Yiga Clan hasn't been easy on the people of Hyrule as of late, so I am needed in places where I can be most effective. Also, I am much bigger than you. The resources needed for a new suit would be wasted on me because of how large I am. You are much smaller and the new suit can be used by you the best."

"Wait a moment, new suit? What are you talking about?" Uten said as she stressfully stuffed a Honeyed Apple into her mouth.

"So Zelda and a few Zora researchers have been working on finding out ways to hydrate the Zora Tribe in hot climates. After many failed attempts, we came to a prototype suit that fits on a Zora that is capable of hydrating us with water tanks while we're out and about away from any body of water." Sidon saw Uten's eyes lighten up at the idea of this suit.

"That means that I can freely visit anywhere I want in all of Hyrule without having to rehydrate all the time!" Uten stopped stress eating her Honeyed Apple.

"Well, not really." Sidon replied blankly. Uten's optimism went away.

"What do you mean?"

"The current suit that we made is our 3rd test suit. The other 2 had critical flaws that caused them to fail in our testing runs, and we didn't even bring those suits to the desert. The suits are really expensive to work on and maintain, so like I said earlier, making a suit for big old me at the current state of the suit's functionality would be catastrophic. That is why you are chosen, because you are one of the most experienced and smallest Zora in the tribe. The current suit should be capable of hydrating you for an amount of 5 hours at a time, and that is the best amount of time any of our suits were able to achieve."

"Why can't we wait for the suit to be better and fit you?" Uten replied.

"Because we don't know how long King Dorephan has left to live with that rare disease he's carrying. As of right now, I'm in charge of Zora's Domain since he is ill. He is in a health center built just to the west of our Domain in order to keep the disease from spreading to anyone else. If we wait any longer, he might just die, so we need you to retrieve the cure as soon as you possibly can." Sidon looked at Impa's painting and started feeling his optimism going away, knowing that his own father could suffer from the same fate.

"I'm in." Uten said.

"Huh?"

"I'm in. As soon as I get that new suit, I'll go to the Gerudo Region and retrieve the cure. This is really important and I understand now why you are so desperate for my help. As soon as the sun is up, my friends and I will arrive at Zora's Domain." Uten said this with certainty.

"That's great! We will go there together in the morning!" Sidon continued eating his food with Uten.

Tipa and Poump were both curious about Paya's emotional state, so the both of them walked upstairs to check on her. A cat that was sitting in the corner of the room noticed the two of them go upstairs and followed them up the stairs. Tipa and Poump saw a single door that was closed. Poump put his ear up to the door and heard some loud sobbing coming from inside. The cat walked through the cat door at the bottom of the door and walked inside meowing. Poump and Tipa heard Paya speaking to the cat with sniffles in her voice.

"H-hello Amo…" Paya blew her nose on a handkerchief. Poump looked through the crack of the door and saw Paya sitting on her bed petting the cat. The cat looked straight at Poump. "What is it, Amo?" Paya said to the cat. Amo leaped out of her lap and walked up to the door and pawed at the door handle. Paya opened it up and saw Poump and Tipa. Paya looked miserable. Her eyes were watering up so much that they were red. "What are you two doing here?" Paya said, sounding really tired.

Poump didn't expect her to discover them so fast. "W-w-we came up here to check on you. We wanted to keep you comfortable." Tipa nodded in agreement.

"Come inside then." Paya went back to her bed and sat on it. Amo jumped into her lap and she continued petting her. Poump and Tipa chose to sit on the floor. "It's nice that you two decided to check in on me. I'm fine just so you know. Just-" Paya started bawling her eyes out some more. Amo looked up at her and decided to stay curled up in her lap, knowing it would keep her at ease. While Paya was crying, Tipa turned around to look at the other side of the room and he saw Link's Hylian Shield and Master Sword. Paya opened her eyes and saw Tipa looking at the weapons. "A fascinating artifact, the Master Sword is." Paya said recovering her voice. "It is said that whoever is pure of heart can be able to touch the Master Sword." Poump looked at the sword and knew immediately he wouldn't be able to use it. He knows about how bad he's been over the years, and he didn't even want to toy with the idea of holding all of that power and the responsibility of being able to wield it.

"Hey Tipa, do you think you can use it?" Poump said to Tipa. Tipa looked at Poump with a look of discovery on her face and walked up to the sword and reached for it. All of a sudden she heard a Malicious voice.

"NOOOO! DO NOT TOUCH IT! IT IS OUR ENEMY!" The Malicious voice said. Poump and Paya were also able to hear the voice. Tipa kept reaching for the sword but then felt a sharp and painful sensation tingle through her veins. A purple eyeball emerged from Tipa's arm and looked at her with great anger. Amo arched her back and hissed at the sight of the eyeball. "WE MUSTN'T DABBLE WITH THE POWER THIS SWORD POSSESSES! IT IS MEANT TO KILL US, NOT HELP US!" Tipa took some steps back away from the Master Sword and she felt fine again.

"It must be that purple stuff inside of you." Poump said.

"She possesses Malice." Paya said as she was petting Amo on the head. "The Master Sword is said to be the Blade of Evil's Bane, and seeing how she reacted to the sword, it appears the Malice doesn't want her touching it."

"How do you know about what's inside of her?" Poump asked Paya.

"Because I have this." Paya pulled out an Eye of Truth. Poump reeled back as he didn't even notice her use it.

"How did you get that?" Poump said.

"The Eye of Truth is an ancient Sheikah relic used to reveal the truth of anyone and anything. As a member of the Sheikah Clan, I have one of my own. Well, it belonged to Impa, but now it belongs to me." Paya almost started crying but didn't. "I see you have one of your own as well."

Poump felt the pocket that his own Eye of Truth was in and brought it out. "Of course I have one. I got it from-"

"Hilda." Paya said, interrupting Poump.

"How did you know?"

"Because she is the only other person I know in Hyrule who has one. Occasionally I would visit Hyrule Castle with Impa in order to discuss things with Zelda, and I got to know about her child, Princess Hilda." Paya looked down at Amo and kept petting her. "I also know that Hilda is Link's child as well. She has his eyes."

Poump sat down thinking to himself. "Wait a moment, Hilda is skilled with playing a harp. What if she could play some music to brighten up all of the villagers' moods?"

"That sounds like a good idea. Let's go down there and set the place up for her to perform." Paya put Amo off of her lap and walked downstairs. The villagers were conversing between themselves at the tables. Paya, with Poump and Tipa behind her, approached Zelda and Link.

"Hello there, Paya." Zelda said, feeling a bit sad herself. "What is it you need?"

"I was wondering if you could have Hilda play the harp for the villagers right now? It could lighten up the place a bit." Paya replied.

"You know how to play the harp?" Zelda said to Hilda.

"Yes, a kind Sheikah lady taught me how to use it." Hilda said.

"She is good with a harp, I've heard her play it before." Link added. Zelda looked at Link.

"I'll take your word for it." Zelda looked down at Hilda. "You may play whatever your heart desires, little one." Link handed Hilda the harp. Zelda whispered into Link's ear. "We'll talk later."

Hilda walked up next to Impa's painting and brought up her harp. "This is a song that I learned from a Sheikah lady that calls herself 'Sheik'." Zhago's interest peaked as soon as he heard Sheik's name. Hilda started playing the harp. The music she played was soft and melancholic. Despite the sad undertone of the music that Hilda played, the villagers actually liked the performance, and found her talent to be a lot of fun to watch. The song ended and Zelda immediately commanded for Hilda to join her at the tables again.

Paya felt much better emotionally. "Thank you for the suggestion, Poump."

"Don't mention it." Poump said. Tipa just stood there and decided to pat Paya's head.

Zhago and Paya both noticed a bright light coming from outside of the window. No one else in the room was reacting to it. Both of them walked out of the double doors and saw something floating in the air. It was Impa's ghost. "Hello, Paya. And hello, Zhago."

"Impa!" Paya exclaimed. She almost burst into tears again but kept it in this time around.

"If you are wondering why I am speaking to both of you, I came here to say that I have become a member of the Sacred Realm. Because I am here, you will always be able to speak to me whenever you are in your greatest need for advice. Zhago, I have arrived to give you my blessing, for saving Kakariko Village from the curse." Impa waved her arms around and then a spiritual orb formed in her hands. She pushed it through the air and into Zhago's body. Zhago felt a great power surge inside of himself. "That is my blessing. With it, you will be able to defeat members of the Yiga Clan much easier. As for you, Paya, I offer this." Impa forms another spiritual orb and pushes it into Paya. "With that, you are given my blessing for looking over Kakariko Village."

"But Impa, I don't think I am fit to look over the village!" Paya replied.

"Yes you are, Young Paya." Impa motioned to Zhago to go back inside and he went back inside. Paya was left outside looking at Impa's ghost. "The future of the Sheikah now rests on your shoulders, Paya."

"But what can I do? What should I do?" Paya said as her mind was racing.

"Do what you think is right. From here on out, everything the Sheikah Clan does is in your hands. And I trust you to make the right decisions." Impa smiled at Paya. Paya felt her own chest. A boost of confidence permeated throughout herself.

"I can do it." Paya said proudly.

"I know you can." Impa disappeared, leaving Paya outside looking at the night sky. She confidently turned around and walked back into Impa's place, now known as Paya's place.

The next morning came. The people of the village slept in their own homes. Zhago and the party slept in his own house. Paya, Link, Zelda, and Hilda all slept in the upstairs bedroom in Paya's place. One of the cuccos woke up and walked around it's pen.

"COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO!" The cucco screamed. It was early in the morning. Zhago walked out of his house before any other villagers were awake. He noticed that Paya was already at the Goddess Statue that was next to the water pond. He prayed at the Goddess Statue next to Paya. Amo the Cat was sitting beside Paya. Poump, Tipa and Uten woke up shortly after and walked outside. Poump noticed that Tipa's hair started becoming red again, with the white hair at the end of it. They walked past Paya and Zhago praying. Amo the Cat noticed them and started walking towards the place where Impa was buried. Zhago noticed the cat walking in that direction and decided to follow it with the party. They saw Link standing next to the tree looking at Hyrule Castle in the distance, with 4 ghosts around him. They were the ghosts of a Goron, a Gerudo, a Zora, and a Rito. Uten recognized the Zora as Mipha. The party stood behind Link in ear shot.

"It's crazy guys, I have a daughter. With Zelda. That means that I'm the King of Hyrule." Link said.

"That must be a huge burden on your shoulders." The Gerudo ghost said.

"When is the world not being a burden on my shoulders?" Link replied.

"The world doesn't revolve around you, Link. You don't need to fix everything you ever see. You act like the whole world is your problem, when sometimes it's someone else's problem." The Rito ghost replied.

"Go easy on him, Revali. Link has seen a lot of stuff. He even has the strength to deal with helping so many other people." The Goron ghost said to the Rito ghost. "No wonder you always go running into trouble when you see it, eh big boy?"

"That's right Daruk. That is why I always feel obligated to fix problems." Link replied to the Goron. "It's like a curse of its own. Being the Hero. It's as if the world calls for me all the time. Being a Hero and a King would be so much worse. The world would be calling for me even more."

"Just know that we have your back, Link." The Zora ghost said. The other ghosts nodded in agreement, even the Rito. "But I also think you should know that the world really doesn't revolve around you. Your actions can and have inspired others to follow in your footsteps."

"You're right, Mipha." Link started rubbing his eyes. "I miss all of you guys. And I already miss Impa. I wish I could spend one more day with all of you again, in the flesh. One more day on the battlefield with you guys would be a dream come true."

"That's a very thoughtful point, Link, but uh, we have some people looking at us right now." The Rito ghost pointed behind Link. All of the ghosts and Link turned around to see the party just standing there, looking at him. The ghosts disappeared.

"How long have you guys been standing there?" Link said, slightly surprised.

"For a minute." Poump replied.

"How much of that conversation did you catch?" Link asked.

"Not much, don't worry." Zhago said. "We won't mention this to anyone."

"That's good, I guess." Link looked at Impa's burial spot. "Well I guess we're back to business. What are you guys planning on doing?"

"We're going to the Gerudo Desert to deal with the monster colony and to find something that can cure a rare disease." Uten replied.

Link's eyes widened when he heard 'rare disease'. "You seek a battle with a Molduga."

"A Molduga?" Uten replied.

"Yes, a Molduga. It's a large sand whale that lives in the desert. It's guts are capable of curing this rare disease that you speak of. I've defeated many Moldugas 10 years ago."

"Wait a moment, so since you defeated all of those Moldugas, wouldn't that mean you have your own Molduga guts in your possession?" Uten asked.

"Well you see here, that's where the big problems come in. First up, the last time I hunted for and killed a Molduga was 9 years ago. Eventually, the Gerudo Tribe declared that the Moldugas were endangered, as we were only able to keep track of one active and alive Molduga in the whole desert. After that hunt, Molduga hunting was banned in the desert for the sake of keeping up research on the last Molduga." Link thought for a few moments to himself and saw the look on Uten's face. "The person with the rare disease is King Dorephan from Zora's Domain." Uten nodded. "Prince Sidon mentioned it to me a few days ago. When he said rare disease, I didn't think it was the same disease that could be cured by the Molduga guts at the time since it has been so long since I've had to deal with them like that. I donated all of my own Molduga guts to a medical facility in Gerudo Town, mainly because that is the only place where the rare disease ever occured. That being said, they probably used up all of the Molduga guts since the last time I brought them a new Molduga gut was 9 years ago."

"So what are we going to do then?" Uten said feeling a bit stressed.

"We might not like it, but we're going to need to kill the last Molduga." Link said, feeling a bit distraught. "I will meet you guys in the Gerudo Desert once you're ready to face the Molduga. If I can't meet you there however, speak to Lady Riju in Gerudo Town. She would know what's best to do with the situation."

"Okay, Lady Riju, got it." Uten said. As the conversation finished, Prince Sidon walked up to the party.

"Hey there Uten, are you ready to go to Zora's Domain?" Sidon asked Uten.

"Yes, I am ready." Uten said. "What about you guys?"

"We're ready to go wherever you go." Poump said, and the others agreed as well.

"To Zora's Domain we go." Uten said to Sidon. The squad got on their horses and rode away from Kakariko Village. Link looked at them ride off into the distance. Zelda walked up behind him.

"Is she asleep?" Link asked Zelda.

"She still is." Zelda said to Link. "Now let's talk."