x

Chapter 2: The Promised Dawn

x


Link's POV—


Zelda gave me her Ocarina! Well, maybe gave isn't the right word, she threw it over her shoulder as she and Impa raced away from the castle and it splashed into the river then directly sank to the bottom, but still. This is what the Royal Family passed down and its really important for opening the Sacred Realm and some other stuff she said that I don't remember –don't blame me for my lack of memory, I was too busy trying to not be distracted by how pretty she was. Sure, I'm seven years old, but I know it is still safe to say that she is the prettiest girl I have ever seen…

Shaking my head I come back to reality, just as a big, black horse pulls up next to me, I get a crick in my neck looking up to see who it is, though I can tell just because of the presence he gives off. Ganondorf, his name gives mea bitter taste in my mouth. I don't hate him, but I don't understand how something so evil could be allowed to live in Hyrule. It's not like a human to be so evil that it radiates off a person like heat from a flame. He is like the sun giving off heat. It makes me almost nauseous being this close to him.

He looks at me condescendingly, mockingly and asks if I saw which way the horse with a young girl and older lady riding went. I glare back with a fierce look in my eyes but he laughs. Makes fun of me for being a little kid, even his compliment is an insult. I think I see a flash in his eyes for a second but couldn't be sure. He raises his hand and shoots a ball of black…energy? Not sure if that is the word I would use to describe it but who cares. It hurt as I fly backwards and land hard on the ground a few feet back from where I was just standing a couple minutes ago. He laughs and then shortly after, kicks his steed into motion again and races off into the darkness.

After he's gone, I turn and dive into the river, swim to the bottom and grab the Ocarina. I feel a power flow through my hands as I grip it and swim back towards the surface. As I climb out, it feels as though I am being drawn to the Temple of Time, so, not paying any attention to the soaked sate of my clothes of the coolness of the night on my wet skin, I begin walking across the drawbridge, through the town center and then up to the Temple, leaving a trail of puddles along the way.


Zelda's POV—


I wake to the sound of wood crackling and a smell of stewed meat and vegetables carried on a soft breeze. As my eyes adjust to the brightness outside, I look around, Impa hadn't bothered setting up a full camp, and she got me as comfortable as possible and then, as far as I could tell, sat awake, watching our surroundings and me. Apparently at some time she pulled out some of the rations she packed for us and began making lunch.

I had slept more than I thought I would be able to, a whole five hours, but I still felt half dead—the thought pulled me up short and I had to fight to regain composure, I still did not keep from shedding many tears and my shoulders being racked by silent sobs. Impa once again came over and wrapped me up in her arms. I knew she cared, but I had never experienced her showing it this freely and openly. I looked up at her and could see my pain and loss mirrored in her eyes. She was my guardian, but she had been around the family longer than I had in all actuality. In this moment, she was my sister.

Once my breathing became normal once more, I began eating the stew that had been steeping while I cried and relived my loss from the night before. I still couldn't accept it, my parents couldn't die, they…they had to be around…they had to be a part of my life, they couldn't die and leave and…I broke down again. Even Impa couldn't calm me down again, I pushed her away, not out of anger, I knew she had other things she needed to take care of for us to be safe, she wasn't hurt by me pulling away, she understood and started getting things ready for us to move again, but if she passed me while getting ready, she would let her hand brush my shoulder or hair or cheek, just small, quick and simple reassurances that were given just to remind me she was there. I couldn't hold myself together for anything.

Ultimately Impa lifted me up onto the horse and as she climbed up behind me I leaned forward and began soaking the mane of the horse with my tears, Impa's arms wrapped gently around me holding me over the horse. I fell asleep again, eyes red and my tears exhausted. As I slept, I saw their bodies, in the court, lying close to each other, the tears streaming freely down my face in my dream, then, the scene shifted. There was blue light, not blinding, but it was surrounded by darkness so it stood out. It the middle of the blue light, a figure laid, not broken or dead, but peaceful, as I got closer to it, my spirit was calmed and I drifted deeper into my dreams.

I woke up the next morning in a building; there were windows with the wooden shutters pulled to on the outside letting in just a few rays of sunshine. Impa was lying in a bed next to me though once again, she was awake, Goddess, did she ever sleep? My movements apparently alerted her to my being awake and looked over, a small sad smile offered.

"I'm glad you slept as long as you did, for a while you were still crying even after you started drifting, but then you quieted down and slept peacefully," she offered

"All I remember is I had two dreams, well one was a nightmare, the other was strange, but I don't remember either of them" I replied groggily.

"Well we can rest easy for a while now, we are at my house in my home town, Kakariko. We need to keep you hidden all the same though. It will be very dangerous for you. The Gerudo apparently wanted badly to kidnap you at-that night…" she amended before mentioning the castle, "We need to find a disguise for you that allows reason for you to be with me, but not look suspicious to anyone around."

"I could be your niece" I offered, "That wouldn't make me being around you a lot look suspicious."

"True," she mused, "However, we need to change your appearance. You may say you're related to me, but you still look like Princess Zelda. Even a fool could tell it was you." She sat thinking for a few moments then glanced at me cautiously, " You may not appreciate this idea but I'm not sure we have a better way to go with this. You need to become my nephew, a Sheikah, I can teach you how to alter your appearance such as eye color, hair color, skin color and the like, and then we can put you in a Sheikah outfit. Your name will be… ummm…" she looked at me again and chuckled lightly "Your name will be Sheik." she stated simply

Apparently I wasn't listening too well because I gave a start at the name Sheik. "Wait!" I said, "Sheik is a boy's name"

She looked at me for a minute like I had lost my mind then said, "That's why I said you would be my nephew" raising an eyebrow in a questioning glance then laughed humorlessly for a second and said, "I wondered why you didn't object to that as soon as I said it. Looks like you still need a little more sleep, Princess" she ended with a wink.

I gave a half smirk back though I wasn't too sure what I thought about becoming a boy, but it would most likely keep me the safest and most hidden from Ganondorf, should he come knocking. At the thought of his name, everything from the past two days rushed back over me. Looking the part would be easy, not sure how I'll do acting like it if I keep randomly crying like this. Boys are supposed to be tough, they aren't supposed to cry or show fear or let emotion through other than anger right?


The next morning I awoke with red and puffy eyes once again, it was an occurrence I was getting tired of to be quite honest. This morning however, the puffy eyes and irritation came with an attitude shift. Me crying did nothing to bring my parents back, it did nothing to get closer to destroying Ganondorf and making him pay for what he stole from me. One thing I learned well from the short time around the noble's sons and other common folk boys was that if another boy did something to you, you struck back, you got even, but not just even, you got them back worse.

Vengeance. That was a word I could relate to, it was something I desired. Deeply. He hurt me, it was my turn to hurt him back, I would find Link, or work to lead him to me without tipping my hand to Ganondorf. My hatred rolled over me at the thought of his name, I wanted to deal the last blow, but I knew I wouldn't be able to do much right off the bat without his help.

Impa had been gone since I woke up, she still was not back yet so I stood up and began pacing back and forth, continuing on my thoughts and planning for how to get at Ganondorf. He still needed the Triforce to do much, surely it was just the fact that our guards were surprised that they beat us, surely there was nothing else behind him. He is just a man right?

I shove my thoughts aside as Impa slowly opens the door and shuffles into the room. One look at her face, which still held a haunted look on it before glancing up and getting it set firmly back in place looking as smooth as a calm lake, just one glance at that expression and I knew something else had gone terribly wrong. She hadn't let her emotions be that clear on her face since my parents died, what could be worse than that?

Sitting down on the bed, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees, she looks at me and says, "Ganondorf has entered the Sacred Realm."

My heart gives a start, that's impossible, it would only open if…oh, Link, he went for the Master Sword after putting the Spiritual Stones in place in the temple of time and playing the Ocarina. Once he pulled it from the pedestal it must have opened the way to the Sacred Realm!

My voice quivers as I start to ask, "Did he-"

"No, he did not take the Triforce. He couldn't. One such as he cannot control the complete Triforce, there are defensive barriers put in place that make it so if someone with unbalanced Courage, Wisdom, and Power attempts to take the Triforce, it separates and the piece most like the one to touch it becomes its bearer. In Ganondorf's case, he now bears the piece of Power. You…"

Once again, at the sound of Ganondorf's name a huge emotion rolls through me, not one of loss, something more…. promising and satisfying, a determination to see him brought to a horrible end, a desire to watch him cringe, I'm only vaguely aware Impa has continued talking,

"… Wisdom, and the one who bears Courage, as you can probably guess, is Link."

Here my attention snaps back to Impa. How much did I miss?

"Though I have information on him also." She says, looking down at her hands in front of her. She pauses for a few moments, returns her gaze to me and says flatly, "Link is missing."


Link's POV—


I step inside the Temple of Time. There is something…a feeling of powerful, unsettling, welcoming, distant…to this place for most people, but it feels like home to me. Others come and then go quickly, but for me…home is the only way to describe it, like, I was created to be in here.

As I walk forward, I see a surface jutting out from the stairs that go up around either side of it with three indentions on the flat part of the surface. Once I reach a point halfway between the doors to the Temple and the surface, the three Spiritual Stones, float out of the bag I have them in and over to he surface, each settling over an indention. There is something like a small vibration from the Ocarina, and so I pull it out and play it. The doors behind the surface that the stairs lead up to slide open after I finish the song.

In the room there is darkness except for one shaft of light that partially lights up a pedestal in the center of the round room, there, in the middle of said pedestal is the Master Sword.

I quickly walk into the room and almost run up the steps to the sword. As I lay my hand on it, I hear a laugh start from behind me. Low, gradually rising into a loud cackle that echos multiple times off the round walls, bombarding me with overlapping rolls of dark laughter. With my hand still on he sword I turn around. Fear begins to sneak in as I see that it is Ganondorf standing behind me. Duh! Creepy evil laugh that slowly builds until its just downright scary, what other guy fits the mold?

An evil glint still in his eye, he thanks me for opening the passage to the Sacred Realm, claiming though he could have made it in on his own strength in his own time, it was much easier and nicer to just let me do all the hard work and then wait for me to come and make the foolish mistake of opening it.

Frustration at myself tears through me, I pull the sword free from its resting place and try to set my mind into racing towards Ganondorf when blue light shoots towards the ceiling all around me from the floor. And then…nothing…


Zelda's POV—


"No one has seen him or heard of anything about a young boy dressed in green clothing since they saw him heading through Castle Town leaving a trail of water behind him. One person followed it to the Temple, but they saw nothing once they reached it, no one inside and no other trail leading away from the Temple from what they said." Impa explained.

Maybe no one has seen him because no one noticed him or was looking for him, I was about to say as much but she must have seen the look of hope that went across my face and shook her head slowly. "No," she said, "its one thing to not notice a kid running around with toys, its quite another to not notice a little boy dressed all in green with a fairy flying around him with a small sword and shield over his shoulder… No, he did not leave the Temple, of that, I am sure. But there is deep magic there, I doubt he has not been seen because he is…" she hesitates, not out of uncertainty, but because she is not sure if she should use the word around me.

I take care of her hesitation by steeling my resolve and saying quietly but firmly "…because he is dead. And no, I agree, the Goddesses would not allow the Hero of Time to fail so near the beginning." Surely they wouldn't allow him to fail at all, what would become of Hyrule?

I notice Impa covertly looking up at me without fully raising my head. From what little I can see of her face and eyes there is concern there. I look and steel myself more a disgusting taste rising in my mouth but a feel of power rising from within me, the time for mourning is done, I must have my revenge, and I must have my justice… I must prepare….


I set into the training Impa put before me like a fierceness that would give Gibdos and ReDead reason to pause. My anger and thirst for vengeance driving me forward, I learned any techniques and knowledge she gave me with a speed and precision that amazed her. She figured it just me working hard to help me play my part as her nephew better. Growing up, even outside of a Sheikah community, I would have learned a fair amount, Impa is a top leader in the Sheikah race now, she knows their history and fighting styles perfectly and she even helped make some of them so me knowing at least the basics is a must. Something that would usually take a few months to learn took a few weeks instead.

My cover story is my father lived on the outskirts of Hyrule Field near Lake Hylia raising me on his own as my mother -Impa's sister- had died a month after I was born; her immune system still weak after giving birth she caught a sickness and died. Better than being struck down by an evil man that has no heart! I think acidly. My father kept to himself after that -it makes it easier for people to understand why they didn't know Impa had a nephew- leaving only when he had to, but one night our house was broken in to, my father tried to scare the intruder away but was killed. I was only five at the time, and I ran out of the house and went to the building at Lake Hylia looking for anyone to help me. They supposedly helped me reach Impa though no one could go question if it was true as the people who "lived there" at the time hadn't been seen for years. It was not fool proof by any means, but it was enough that no one would question it, it was Impa after all! With no one else questioning it, the rumor would spread and it would give enough authority that no one would second guess the truth or think I am actually Zelda.

I devoured everything that Impa could teach me, battle strategies, fighting stances and techniques, how to use all sorts of weapons ranging from swords and staves to mastering throwing knives and daggers and even setting traps. Often times, I would sneak out of the house to work through the night without letting Impa know, though I think she started guessing at it when she woke the next morning and there were busted crates and broken broom sticks scattered across the back yard that couldn't last long as practice dummies. My archery improved as well as horseback riding. I had a wider range of abilities and skills that I knew, but they were all still at the same level or just above what other kids were my age knew who focused on half as many things as me. Growing up, they would learn most things, but would focus on one or two to start off with and then move to more things as they mastered the ones before.

With my background and cover story worked out and in place and a firm grasp on most of the basics that can be taught by the Sheikah, we left the area we had been training in hiding near Impa's house and met up with a constantly traveling group of Sheikah on the southeastern edge of Hyrule Field, not too far from the entrance to the Kokiri Forest.

I fell into my role perfectly, Zelda was locked away, sometimes I surprised myself at how well I was playing the part of Sheik, other times, it scared me. Am I losing myself? I questioned the first few weeks with them, as time progressed however I asked myself that less and less often as my answer came stronger and stronger. No, this is who I was made to be, strong, brave, and the bringer of justice. Not some weak princess who breaks down every few minutes because someone says the words death or mother or father. Not even the name Ganondorf makes me cringe anymore, just that feeling of anger and hate. Your time will come Ganondorf!


Sheik's POV—


Over six years, almost seven now, since the day Princess Zelda died, or disappeared or was captured or ran away…whatever the running story was nowadays with the nobles and any still talking about that day. I laugh darkly to myself, if they only knew the truth; if they knew the one to step in after waiting in the shadows for something to go wrong and protect their sorry, worthless, ungrateful lives was the person that used to be Zelda, the one they spoke so scandalously and flippantly about, gossiping and spreading lies that could only come from their wildest dreams, there might not have been as much said, but shortly after they say Zelda disappeared, she did, only in a different way than they describe it.

I had heard just about everything now though I think, anything from me being killed in a part of the castle that collapsed, me running off to the other side of the mountains in fear, me being caught up by the Goddesses to be protected until this all blew over. Yeah, they were way out there, but the most recent I heard topped them all.

I was walking past a vendor's stand that gets set up through the day in Kakariko, one of the few to actually make it out of Castle Town before the Re-Dead moved in. There were a few ladies gathered in a tight circle whispering standing just off to the right of it. I usually don't pay much attention to the stories passed here more often than not it was nine parts rumor, one part truth. The rumor caught my attention though because it must have been birthed from a twisted romantic fantasy was cast out upon any ears ready to listen.

Information had apparently just been found to suggest that Zelda had hired Ganondorf to come execute her parents so she could take over the throne and that while she waited for the plan to come into fullness, she fell in love with Ganondorf and decided to secretly marry him.

The idea alone made me have to fight back a gag. He is revolting beyond measure, a few years ago I would have almost said as much, but I have become much too fixated in being Sheik to let such things upset me too much. As for the man standing deep in the shadows of the building nearby as the sun set, looking shifty and like he was up to no good, that it something that upsets me. Is it not enough for one bad guy to be alive and causing problems in the world?

I slip from view and then double back across the rooftops and settle on an edge, keeping the man just in view. After five minutes or so of watching he finally moves forward slowly, looking left and right before walking directly towards the younger ladies till left standing around, as he nears, he reaches into a side pocket and slips out a small knife. It wouldn't do much, even if he was holding it right, but the way he had it in his hand was too loose.

He gets the girls' attention and they gasp once the knife comes into view. He motions at them to hand over anything they have, and I've seen enough. I usually wait for a bit before stopping people because most people don't follow through or have a reason to be in the shadows. It's not common knowledge, but nobles would hire men as bodyguards and then have them act like common day muggers so it would lull any would be attackers into a sense of false security and then make the stop when needed. More than a few of the people I used to try to stop before they moved from the shadows turned out to be these hired hands, but this guy just stepped from that realm of possibility so I move into action.

I run to the edge of the roof nearest to him, jump, and land silently in a kneeling position, one knee just off the ground the other foot firmly set underneath me, hands on either side of my body. My movements caught the eyes of one of the girls, the rest too caught up in looking at the knife. I stand swiftly and move just behind him then reach around to take hold of the arm holding the knife; I grip his wrist and twist harshly. I feel more than hear the pop as I break his wrist and watch as the knife falls harmlessly to the ground. I yank his arm and twists his body around so I can look into his eyes. They are not ones filled with evil, of hate, but with need, desperation. I give a half glance to the girls and gruffly tell them to hurry home, I know they won't stick around or question when I address them in this tone. Impa taught me well how to adjust my voice in different situations. The more authority you can put behind your words, the better and more responsive people around you.

As they scamper off breathing sighs of relief, I turn back to the would-be robber. He looks at me with fear and pleading. He has, no doubt heard, about the "Brother of The Shadows", Sheik is how most of the people in Kakariko know me, but my other nickname has gotten around here also. Tales of rescue, protection, harshness, mysteriousness, though that comes with the territory of being a Sheikah, I have apparently taken it to a new level, not speaking hardly at all, talking just above a whisper if I do or firmly as I just did. The only frustrating thing sometimes, and problem solver other times, is that there is no stories of my makes me sound unyielding; I seek justice, but if a person is driven to acts against others out of desperation, I know many ways to help them get out of their current situation and into a better one.

This is the route I decide to take with this man who I can now see is in his late twenties, maybe early thirties. I deftly snap his wrist back into place, another cry of pain from him, and then pull out a red potion and tell him to drink. Once his wrist has been fully mended, I grab him by the arm and pull him out of the main traffic areas. He's still terrified, but bewilderment is written across his face now also. I turn him towards me once again once we get away from the majority of the crowds.

Quietly but firmly, I say to him, "That was a fool thing to do and you know it. Your needs do not condone your actions I don't care how dire they are. You do not react to things like that; you identify the problems and then act on the starting point for the problems. You." I say jabbing a finger into his chest, "You, are able to fix your current problem without resorting to scaring a few girls into giving you things that will not solve your problem in the long run.

"If it's money you need, get a job, if you cant find a job, tell me now, I have strong connections with many people who need good workers. If you can't hold a job, work harder, it's not your employer's fault, it's yours. You need the money, you do the work for them they require," I finish a little louder than I started.

He is looking at the ground by this point after having been interrupted multiple times as he no doubt tried to make an excuse for one thing or another. I look at him with pity on the inside but a resolve still set on my face. I snap my fingers near his head and he slowly returns his gaze to me.

As calmly and disarmingly as I can, I ask. "Is there anything I missed?" I want to be sure before I end this conversation I know all the sides, advice is almost worthless if it speaks to the wrong need.

He shakes his head and mutters "No."

I nod my face relaxing some into a softer expression, "Alright then, I want you to go talk to Impa early tomorrow morning, she will have a place for you to report to for work the day after, get home, relay the good news and then have a better night than the one you've had so far."

I turn to begin leaving and say over my shoulder "By the way, this conversation stay between you, me, and Impa."

No one telling stories of my mercy may be frustrating sometimes, but as I also said, it can be dead useful. People fear me if they do wrong, they know I do not hesitate when it comes down to it. Had the man tonight shown any evil tendencies or shown enjoyment in causing fear or pain, he would have found himself waking up back in Castle Town with Re-Dead surrounding him. I don't kill outside life and death situations, but that doesn't mean I always save…

I turn and walk back out of the city's gates to return to the camp the Sheikah I have been roaming with for the past year. Impa and I separated for the time being, she was more help in Kakariko than with me, and I was more help being in the different towns throughout Hyrule. Making sure the peace was being kept, well, the little peace that still remained since Ganondorf came in.


As I stroll back into camp I pass a few people walking between two of the three small fires we normally build, one large fire would attract too much attention; more light and smoke than is safe or desired, but our number is not too great to need more than three small fires, the Sheikah are much reduced in numbers now days, and the number dwindles more each passing decade.

As I come up to the fire I usually sit at, one of the boys, Jared, who became a sort of friend looks up and grins at me. "So, Sheik, how many baddies did you beat up tonight? Save any fair damsels in distress, got any admirers now, do I need to go check and see if she is worthy?" finishing with a wink. Those gathered nearby give a soft chuckle. This is the normal greeting he began giving me since Impa decided to stay in Kakariko, a running joke between us though I usually didn't return the favor for him.

I shake my head and take a seat near the warmth of the fire, soaking it in through my clothes. I swear, sometimes I must be as mysterious to the other Sheikah as I am to the rest of the world. The only person who still truly knows who I was is Impa. These people only know who I have become. I still do not talk much around the Sheikah, though most of them liven up and talk more than they usually do in public. Tonight's discussion just so happens to be on the same topic as the one with the group of ladies, Zelda.

I've only heard of Zelda and maybe caught a glance or two, other than that I do not know her. Another name brought up here with the Sheikah that isn't brought up or even known anywhere else is Link. But I do not know who he is either. I've told myself these things enough the past few years, I'm almost to the point that I believe them and could lie about knowing them with ease.

…Link, that was a name I hadn't thought of in a long while, well, not as to the boy Link, I mean. Darunia named his son Link after the hero of the tribe and Darunia's Sworn Brother. There has still been nothing of boy Link, no sightings, no stories of recent events, not even any rumors, only the Sheikah speaking of his actions in the past. Six years…getting close to seven now, how many more months to go till then? Or is it weeks. I quickly think back, Seven years in one week. Time has flown by, well, dragged by but now that I'm looking back at it, it seems like a short time, almost like I've been waiting for something. Everyday ends in silent agony as it still hasn't come, but what am I waiting for, and why have I been waiting so long? Is there even a point to me still trying to wait for whatever is to come? At the rate Hyrule is going it looks to be best if we just wait till Ganondorf gets bored with us, or dies, or pisses off one of the Goddesses so bad that she ends his – no! That's my job, mine and mine alone. I will be the one to watch his worthless life pass from his eyes, to feel the last rise and fall of his chest, to pull my sword from his gut after twisting it and causing him hopefully even a fraction of what he has caused me…

It must have been one hell of a show of emotions across my face for those sitting around me to glance at each other worriedly. Their movements brought me out of my dark reverie and helped me refocus on the present. Before they can say anything or ask any questions, I stand up, muttering something about not being hungry anymore and move towards a darker area of the camp and reseat myself before laying back and watching the stars.

Footsteps approach from above my head, back in the direction of the fire I just left, Jared settled to the ground beside me.

"Feeling alright there, mate?" he asks quietly

"Fine" I lied smoothly, "Just a lot on my mind right now, I think tomorrow I will go on one of my rides, I need to be moving for a little while, moving but not productive, my mind needs to clear. I would go tonight, but I don't trust myself to stay aware enough."

"So, something is wrong," He says seriously, though a small smile is fighting at the sides of his mouth to show itself.

Once again he showed that Sheikah were always more open around other Sheikah than when in public. They laughed, they cried, they joked. They acted as normal human beings. It came with the code of no secrets between those of our race and community. I was breaking one of the biggest codes every time I was around them; my mere existence broke their code. One more time wouldn't hurt though.

This is the reason I consider I consider him sort of a friend, Jared never dug too deeply, he knew I was holding back, but he didn't press it. He chalked it up to me not being raised in their ways as a child and he could respect that. He however had no such inhibitions. Being one of the only other "guys" his age, we had an extremely open talk, and awkward for me, when he was going through puberty. I didn't really care to hear at all, but what do I say, sorry, I don't want to hear about that? Talk about blown cover as a guy…

Pushing aside those thoughts I hear him chuckle to himself and grunt as he stands. "I will leave you then, know I'm open to listen if you change character and decide you actually want to talk." Looking down, he winks at me before turning and walking back to the fire.

I continue my watch of the sky. Seeing nothing there of use or interest after a couple hours, I get up and go to the tent I sleep in alone. For the first time since that dreadful day almost seven years ago, I am relaxed, my mind is at ease and I have a feeling of peace. My quieted mind quickly drifts away and sleep's warm and welcome arms embrace me.


Grey mist swirls around me…

A bright light hangs over my head by its not from the sun….

I hear many voices whispering, but all are too soft to hear what is being said…

The mist starts pulling away from me and I am standing in what looks to be the inner part of the temple of time, the pedestal in the room behind the main area when you walk in the doors, a beam faint blue light rises around the inner most part of the pedestal where the Master Sword used to rest, a dark mass is in the middle though I can't see well enough to see what it is. The scene looks vaguely familiar, like a dream I had many years ago

I am standing over a marking, one of the many markings that go around the inner part of the pedestal. I follow the markings with my eyes from my right counter clockwise until I notice the one right next to me on my left is glowing faintly, as is mine as, I now realize.

There is a strong presence of light to my left, almost as if the lit up marking is giving it off… before I have time to make sense of everything, I hear a louder whisper than those previously surrounding me…

"Zelda…"

"Zelda…" louder that time

"Zelda." Louder still.

It's coming from behind me… I slowly turn around and the bright light that was above me when I first looked around was now right before me, I could see a faint outline of a being. It looked female though I couldn't be sure.

"Yes?" I answered finally.

"Long has it been since I first tried to meet with you here, your mind was never as it needed to be to accept my invitation. You have been troubled for quite some time?"

"No, I…"

I feel a rebuke emit from her, I can lie to many, but not to her, she knows I have been troubled, it was a request for me to explain. Its like her emotions are being put directly inside me.

"Yes, I have. I have lost so much in a short time. I have had none to turn to; I have had to hide behind a mask for six years. All the while watching hope leave the place I used to call home, watching evil flow freely over everything I love, everything I am to protect." I laugh humorlessly, "How can I not be troubled? The only one who can truly do anything to help has disappeared or has fled or has been killed." An edge forming on my words at the hurt and loss being brought back to my mind, Link left when I needed him most, when Hyrule needed him most. He did the small, simple task willingly enough but Ganondorf got ahold of a part of the Triforce and apparently he tucked tail and ran.

"You accuse us for picking the wrong Hero of Time? For choosing the wrong bearer of Courage?" she leveled bluntly. Once more, it was not a true question, but an invitation to expound on my statement.

She is a Goddess! I realize in utter horror over what I just said.

"Forgive me, Goddess, for my rudeness and offence. I am merely frustrated by so little having been done to get back what has been stolen from everyone in Hyrule. Surely you have seen and know, Peace and Joy no longer reside in our lands, and we mortals can only do so much against one with such power and resources…"

The full weight and helplessness of our situation struck me in its completion for the first time. There was nothing I, the Sheikah, the Gorons, the Zoras, or even the Gerudo could do to change our fate.

"It is as you think, there is nothing you can do as mortals against one such as Ganondorf. Only by uniting the races and divine help can you even hope to accomplish bringing Ganondorf to his end. Your task is to help the Hero of Time in his quest."

I shake my head and reply "Link has not been seen since the night my parents were killed and Hyrule overthrown. How can I help one I cannot find?"

Her confusion swept towards me like a wave, "Have you forgotten and lost yourself so much that you cannot even recognize the one you are searching for?" She looks pointedly behind me and down towards the floor.

I turn and see the thing I mistook as a dark mass, was actually a person, dressed in green, sprawled out on the ground as though dead. Fear and dismay gripped at me until I saw the rise and fall of his chest and heard his deep breathing. Not dead, sleeping. His face…even while he was asleep, he had a look of determination, resolute…but still boyish, still naïve, still pure and kind hearted. The Master Sword lying on the ground still clenched within his hand.

Link…seeing him again causes the same feeling to rise in me as it did when I first heard his name. So strange, for five years I have hardly felt any emotion, only logic and analysis direct me now and now, just looking at him, emotion stirs inside me. I watch him, amazed at this for a few moments before I shut the feeling down once more and turn back to the Goddess. The feeling has been stopped, but my mind has not.

Would he still want to be my friend? I have changed so much. I am not the kind girl I once was, or anything close. Years of being Sheik have left me hard, calloused, calculated, and decisive. I may not be proud of who I have become, but I have no false misgivings. Hate, grief, disappointment and most of all, vengeance, are the things that drive me now.

"I am not sure I am the one to help with such things. As you have said, I have lost my way, I'm not even sure I want to find it again though. I would cause more problems than I would help solve. What is his task anyways?"

"You are the bearer of Wisdom. Whether you use it or not will decide whether he succeeds or fails. Any fool can have Courage or Power, just as a Coward can have Wisdom or Power or as one who is weak can have Courage or Wisdom. If he stands alone, he will fall, it is the reason he will need you. We, the Goddesses, are the bow, he the arrow, and you the finger that steadies the aim.. Those he surrounds himself with are the cord; they will back him and help throw him into the fray they will not break under pressure. They must hold until it is his time to be released. We have given him the ability to be victorious; you must help guide him as he is launched into the fray. You must be sure that he chooses to call friends are true friends.

"As to his task, Ganondorf has captured five of the six Sages that stand guard and take up residence in the six temples scattered throughout Hyrule. Rauru is the only one who remains free, the one who stands on your left. Link must visit each temple and destroy those of evil within the walls and release the Sage. For Ganondorf to be defeated, all the sages must be freed.

"The first he must visit is the Forest Temple. The Sage there is a young girl he knew when he lived in the forest with the Kokiri. You know the songs for each temple; only teach them once he has arrived so if he must leave he can return quickly. He must travel to each on his own power. He must earn the right to enter each Temple before actually going in and he must defeat those who have wrongly inhabited the Temples by his own strength for the Sages to be released"

Her voice began fading as she finished speaking. The grey mist flowing in once again, the last thing I hear before falling into a deep sleep for the remainder of the night is

"Meet the Hero in the Temple of Time, his seven year slumber is almost at a close."