Chapter three
Legacy

'When one suddenly decides to leave one's home and therefore must make one's way across a vast dessert and many miles of land beyond that dessert, then one must surely remember to bring food and water if one wishes to survive.' Ashra said in a fatigued tone.
'And one must definitely kick one's self if one forgets!' The young Gerudo runaway had been on the road for three hours when her growling stomach had alerted her that she had forgotten to pack any provisions. She'd decided to stock up on goods at Hyrule Castle Town. After another hour or so, Ashra finally arrived at the Town gate. Or at least what was left of it. The heavy, wooden doors lay in ruins and the drawbridge had been reduced to firewood.
'What the hell happened here?' Ashra asked no one in particular as she stumbled though the moat into what was left of Hyrule castle Town.

What Ashra found was nothing short of a disaster. Crumbling walls, beat down doors, and even dried bloodstains. No doubt there had been a massacre here…
As Ashra was taking in the scenery, she was suddenly startled by a high pitched shriek that filled the air around her and immediately found herself frozen solid. Something that looked like a dried corpse was making its way towards her.
'Shit! Re-dead!' Ashra thought, while desperately struggling to get free. Meanwhile, the creature kept coming closer? She failed to free herself in time and felt the Re-Dead' shriveled arms grab her tight. Somehow she didn't think it wanted to give her a big welcome hug…
When the creature grabbed her, however, she felt the paralyzing power of gaze, fade and she immediately took advantage of the situation to start prying herself loose. To the young girl's great contentment she succeeded and fell to the floor.
'I have to finfish it before it freezes me again!' she thought as she desperately searched for something she could beat the thing with. Her hands passed over a large piece of wood. And with one swift blow she knocked the vial disgusting creature out. Ashra sprang to her feet, her makeshift club still in clasped in her hands, and ran back to the front gate. When she heard the icy screech of the Re-Dead again she turned left, without hesitation, grabbed the doorknob of the guardhouse door, turned it, thanked the Three it was open and fled inside. Once inside, however, she really had to resist the urge not to run outside again. The small room was Dark, the only light from two torches on the far end wall and three colored swirls of mist which Ashra recognized as Poes. The Poes were trapped in a cage which hung from the ceiling. Beneath the cage, sitting on a bed placed against the wall was a…ehm…something. The creature was small, with short legs dangling over the side of the bed, and it was wearing a black cloak. Ashra could clearly see, though, that it wasn't human. 'Well!, It's about time you got here! I've been sitting here waiting for you for so long, I can't feel my butt anymore!'
When the creature suddenly spoke, Ashra startled and staggered back.
'Don't be scared Ashra. I'm not gonna eat you!' the creature said and its one eyed gaze fell upon Ashra's hand, which was resting on the doorknob.
'But that Re-dead out there will.'
Ashra looked up at the creature, confused.
'How do you…'
'How do I know your name? That's a question for later. Now I shall give you my name and your instructions.'
'What instru…'
'Shush!' Biezzal's the name and Guiding's the game! I…am...a Guide! You do know what a Guide is, don't ya?' Biezzal's interruption had offended Ashra, but she remained polite and shook her head.
'No I don't know what a Guide is.'
'A Guide, such as myself, is hired whenever someone needs guidance, duh. We help people on whatever quest they may be on. And I am here to guide you.' Biezzal said.
'Guide me? But why? I never hired you.' Ashra's confusion had grown even more now.
'No, you didn't. But a lady did. Seven years ago. Told me to wait for a girl named Ashra. So I've waited, you're here, I'll give you your instructions, you can go on your quest and we'll all be happy.'
'Wait…this woman…what did she look like?'
'Geez kid, it's been seven years! And I'm no good with faces either. But I do remember her eyes. They were red, like yours. So by using simple deduction I'd say she was a Sheikah, them being the only people in the land with red eyes, ya know…
Ashra's face had suddenly gone pale.
'My mother! What did she say? Where did she go? Where can I find her?!' Ashra had so many questions but was once again interrupted by Biezzal.
'Kid! Calm down! Your tongue's rolling faster than a Goron going downhill! Take a breather!' Biezzal sat up a little straighter, feet still not touching the ground.
'I don't know where she is, or where she went but I'll tell ya what she said. Biezzal paused and started rummaging through the black cloak.
'Now where did I…I could've sworn…no, not here….nope…no not- aha! Here it is!' A faded piece of paper emerged from under the cloak. Ashra recognized it as the same paer her mother had used for the letter.
'Ahem. Now let's see. Have you chosen your path?'
'What? Why should I tell you?!' Ashra said defensively. She wasn't about to share her life's story with a complete stranger, especially not if that stranger wasn't human.
Biezzal sighed.
'Look kid, you wanna know what your mother said, right? Then work with me! This is the first thing I was supposed to ask you and I can't continue unless you answer. Have you chosen?'
'Yes, I have chosen.'
'Gerudo or Sheikah?'
'Sheikah.'
'Light, or Darkness?'
'Light.'
'The Indigogo's or the Swinging Scarecrow?'
'The Swinging Scare…wait, what?!'
The little creature started laughing uncontrollably and almost tumbled backwards.
'Ehehehehehe, sorry kid but I haven't had a good laugh in seven years. Gimme a break, 'kay?!' Biezzal snickered and whipped away a tear.
'Right, so let's see… okay, your instructions: go to Kokiri Forest, find the hero, help him.'
'That's it?'
'That's it.'
Ashra was a little disappointed, since she had hoped her mother had left her directions to find her instead of sending her on a quest.
'Oh, right! Check out that chest over there.' Biezzal said and pointed at a corner of the room.
Ashra approached the chest and her heart started beating fster when she saw the Sheikah crest painted on it in red paint. Her eyes grew wide as she removed it's content. There was a piece of dark crimson fabric that turned ou to be a one-piece uniform.
'Put it on, put it on!' Biezzal shrieked in excitement.
'Eh…could you…please…turn around?' Askra asked politely. She preferred not to undress before the creature since she had not defined it's gender yet. And asking would be very rude.
'Oh crybaby.' Biezzal muttered and covered the one eye.
Ashra quickly changed into the uniform. The sleeves were short, which was perfect for drawing the bow. The legs came to just above her knees. Ashra slipped into the brown lether boots which covered her knees at the front and came to just under her knees at the back. Finally she took out some bandages from the chest and wrapped them around her arms as she had seen her mother do a few times.
'you almost ready?!' Biezzal asked, eye still covered.
'Why? You that curious.' Ashra snickered.
''Oh yes, I'm a-burstin' with excitement.' The creature replied in a manner that had sarcasm written all over it.
'It's okay, I'm dressed.' Ashra said and the eye beame visible again.
'Well? How do I look?' Ashra asked
'why don't you see for yourself? Take a peek in that mirror behind you?'
'what mirror behi – GAH!' Ashra had turned around and jumped up when she she found a tall mirror standing where there definitely hadn't been one before. When the shock had died Ashra gave her new garments a close inspection. She rested her hand on the Sheikah crest that was sewn onto her chest with bright red thread. She smiled and turned to face Biezzal.
'What do you think? Do I look like a Sheikah?'
'Yeah you look like a Sheikah. But that doesn't mean you are one. Take another peek into that chest.'
Ashra obeyed and removed the chest's final content. A long dagger with a curved blade and pieces of black obsidian laid into the silver handle. She put the dagger back in it's sheath and hung it on her belt. She then turned to the last item left in the chest. She took it out with trembling hands as she recognized the shining Deku wood, carved to perfection, the subtle lining, the firm handle, the unbreakable string. Her mother's bow.
The very bow her mother had used to teach Ashra the subtle, beautiful yet lethal art of archery. Ashra felt the tears welling in her eyes again, but she did not permit herself to cry. She swung the bow over her shoulder and turned back to Biezzal.
'Take this map of the Kingdom, you look like the type that gets lost easily.' Biezzal said.
'Hey!'
'Now best be on your way!' biezzal replied, ignoring Ashra's insulted look.
'Oh one more thing! On the field of battle, courage is your companion. On the Field of Hyrule, count on Valor. Now shoo!'
'Ashra thanked the creature and left the guardhouse, after making sure the ReDead were no longer around. Finally Ashra left the Castle Grounds and continued across Hyrule Field.
'I wonder what Biezzal meant by "on the field of hyrule count on Valor"? Courage and Valor are the same thing…' she muttered to herself. The young girl was so lost in thoughts that she failed to keep an eye on the road and soon found herself in a frontal collision with something tall, hard and black. Ashra staggered backwards and looked up, dazed, to see what had hit her. Or rather, what she had walked in to.
'Woah!' Her jaw dropped when she saw the beautiful black stallion before her. She'd clumsily walked into it's right flank, which it wasn't too happy about.
'Woops, sorry boy! I guess I wasn't really paying attention to where I was going. Man,…Biezzal was right, I do need a map' she sighed and reached out to stroke it's manes. The horse evade her touch at first, but after carefully sniffing her hand, came closer and let Ashra stroke him. It had calmed down completely as if it had recognized Ashra as it's master. It whinnied softly When Ashra started sratching behind his ear.
'Yeah, you like that don't you?' said Ashra while scratching further.
'He, they say horses are smart. Maybe you can help me figure out what Biezzal ment by "on the field of Hyrule count on Valor."' After that last word, Ashra had to quickly pull her hand back, for the horse had started to violently nod and stomp it's feet.
'Woah boy! Calm down! What's wrong!' Ashra grabbed the rains and got the horse to calm down.
'Geez, and all just becauwe I said….wait a minute…you're…Valor?' Ashra sighed with relief when she saw the horse nod.
'Yes! No more walking for hours on end! Goodbye soar feet!.'
After having inspected the saddlebags, which, much to Ashra's delight, contained food and water, she mounted her new companion and set off on her journey to Kokiri Forest. It was a two day trip from the Castle to the Forest which gave the young girl much time for thought.
'You know, it's going to be strange though.' Ashra said to Valor (she conversed with the horse frequently since she had discovered it could understand her.).
'First time I met him, I tried to kill him. Now I'm on my way to help him.' She sighed.
'I'm gonna have to come up with a good excuse if he recognizes me…'
When she finally arrived at Kokiri Forest the sun was already setting. Ashra hurried inside, for she knew the Kokiri didn't come out after sunset since the place had become very dangerous after the Deku Tree had died seen years ago. When she finally managed to find a Kokiri that was willing to talk to her, she asked him about a young man in a green Tunic.
'Well, a guy did pass by here in a green tunic and he looked like a boy that used to live here and disappeared seven years ago. Only it couldn't be because that boy was a Kokiri, but still, he had the same clothes and everything!' the little boy said, waving his arms in excitement.
'He went into the Lost Woods.'
The Lost Woods. Somehow that didn't sound very…inviting.
'Okay, thanks.' Ashra said and turned to leave.
'Hey, were are you going!?'
'To the Lost Woods.'
'why?'
'None of your business.'
'Sorry I asked. But the Woods are dangerous to outsiders! They got the name for a reason, ya know!'
Ashra shrugged.
'Ill be fine.' She said and walked on, leaving the Kokiri behind. The little boy slowly shook his head.
'Another one for the Skullkids.' He whispered.

Hour hours had passed since Ashra had entered the woods and exhaustion and thirst were starting to get to her.
'Aaaaw man! I passed that rock eight times already!' she sighed and fell to her knees. She was tired and unable to go on.
'Sleep…good…' she muttered as she fell to the ground. The last thing she heard was the wind rustling though the trees as she let herself sink in to the darkness.