Deep in his sleep, his eyes suddenly opened. The noticed the lit candles that were lighting up the room. His comrades were sound asleep; he got himself up, and strapped his sword to his back. He heard horses trotting outside in the cold night. He walks over to the opened window. He sees three guards on their horses but behind them was another person, but looked like he was a higher ranked than the guards. They had a weird conversation with some of the villagers here, Shade was curious, so he stepped out of the window, and stepped on the very short ledge. He then sees a huge pile of hay; he quickly falls onto the pile of hay.
He sees them continue on with their conversation;
"And what of the counsels, have they agreed on their decision on letting the princess present and demonstrate the power of the winds" the higher ranked person said,
"With all due respect Mr. Leon sir, I have been notified multiple times of their decision making. But they ordered that I should not tell anyway, until further notice" a villager reported,
"The princess has been practicing day and night on her training with her abilities, but yet the counsels choose to delay, and waste her royal energy"
"I'm sorry but there isn't much we can do, we're trying everything but nothing so far!"
"*Sigh* Then there is no deal! We cannot just stand here and let our princess's hopes be dashed by our counsels of the island!"
Shade got so interested in their conversation; he began fidgeting around in the pile of hay. It got their attention at first, but ignored it.
"But wouldn't that be my decision" another voice interrupted their conversation.
"And who would you be" the higher ranked man replied
"Someone you had to be talking to" the womanly voice from a purple clothed robe that covers her face.
"Who are you?...What right do have using your tongue for the princess herself" he pulls out his sword. Shade knew who it was obviously and sprang into action.
"SPY!" he yelled. His horse was frightened, but he swung his sword toward Shade. He immediately tried to block to protect the person in the robe.
"Out of my way!" he kicked Shade to the ground. He got of the horse,
"You must be Satar's followers, one of his demons that are able to turn to human kids" he prepared to fight Shade.
"I will not allow no fighting" the person in the robe ordered,
"Hold your tongue! I shall prove that I am capable of protecting thy dear princess!" he said.
"*Sigh*" the unknown person took a sigh. Shade got ready to attack,
"Come on!" he called him out. Shade ran over to him, beginning to strike. The man saw his motions, as soon as Shade struck his sword, as quick as a flash, the man deflected Shade's sword, and so hard and so quick that Shade lost his guard, and was immediately kicked him down. The man pointed his sword to his neck,
"Die you worthless piece of magic!"
"As your faithful princess I order you to lower your weapon!" the unknown person shouted.
"Under whose orders!" he triumphantly yelled.
"Under Princess of the Nebulan region "she reveals herself. The most beautiful girl in all of the Nebulan and Hylian regions. She is known for her reactions with the wind. Her parents have also died by Satar's cruel ways as well as Ganondorf's. Her powers of the wind have helped her maintain balance and defending herself against the demons that come to their world.
"Pr-Pr-Princess Talim of Nebulas Castle!" he was so shocked and dishonored. Shade had a feeling, but was also taken by surprise. He watched her come closer to the man,
"Zeke I question your comments on behalf of me present my powers to the public authorities",
"But Princess Talim, please forgive me, but why waste your time practicing for something that our counsels choose to delay much longer!"
"That's my decision! I have the right to decide my own feelings" she ordered. Shade was honored to meet her, but he was still on the ground. He picked himself up, dusted himself off.
"Excuse me" she called him,
"Um?." he looked to her,
"Hello I haven't seen you here before…are you new to this region?" she asked,
"Yea I am actually" he scratched his head.
"I'm from Green Forest Island, an isolated island that has no region" he said,
"Interesting…..Anyway I apologize for what my personal protector has done to you. You seem like a brave swordsman, would you mid coming with me",
"But Princess Talim, surely you can't allow a peasant child to walk on royal grounds" he commented. She looked back to him.
"Let that me my burden, it is I you shall decide who is going to enter in my presence and who doesn't"
"Yes My lady!" he bowed on one knee. Shade hitched a ride with one of the guards, and one by one left towards the castle. Morning came, and Shade was taken up to a higher elevated part of the regional island. They enter the town market and notices the villagers acting like something amazing is going to happen. Shade then looked over where a temple was present, his shadows inside began to calm itself down, like something was making it react like this.
Finally they've arrived at Nebulas Castle, where the guards have crossed the bridge over the moat and onto the grounds. They let Shade, Talim and Zeke off here.
"So how was the view riding all the way up here?" she asked,
"Oh not so bad really, I mean I saw some things that look familiar to where I'm from" he replied,
"Mhmhm" she giggled,
"That's good to here. Please follow me to my garden" she walked on ahead. Zeke looked back to Shade, he could tell he didn't trust him, but there's nothing he can do but protect Talim with his life. Shade walked on ahead, he followed her along with Zeke. She stopped at a door on the side of the castle,
"Here we are. I come here to avoid all the commotions that my step parents go through" she said,
"Really? I mean it has to be kind of cool going through crowds that adore your every move"
"Rarely! And besides what I'm about to show will make you wanna do the same" she opens the door to some stairs that lead underground. Shade follows her along with Zeke. While walking down the tunnel with torches hanging on the walls, Shade secretly looks over to Zeke thinking about that deflection attack he did on him. Was it luck? Was it planned or was it a mistake? Those questions popped in his head, because a true swordsman has to learn from his mistakes to get even stronger.
Zeke on the other hand, secretly gazed upon him without him knowing. The questions that popped in his head were very straight forward; who is this kid? Why does he have the courage to do the unthinkable? What is the unusual feeling I get when I'm around him?
The stairs out of the underground tunnel appeared in front of them,
"Here we are" she said walking up the stairs. Zeke went up, his eye was on Shade, and he couldn't take it off. Shade followed last, and finally entered the door.
(Zelda's Lullaby theme- Ocarina of Time)
Shade entered the royal hidden garden of the princess. He walked to follow them, looking around at the flowers that were healthy. The sky that lit up the morning, the windows that appeared along the walls.
"How do you like it?" she asked,
"I can see why you stay out here" he walks and looks at the little river path.
"Hmm…..I never seem to catch your name?" her curiosity caught up to her,
"Oh uh?.." he walked closer to her near the main window.
"Shade…" he responded,
"Shade huh…..hmm…wait a minute" he eyes widened. Shade took a step back,
"Don't be alarmed" she giggled,
"You must be the forest dweller I dreamt about"
"What do you mean?"
"Oh I'm sorry where are my matters? I am Talim princess of the Nebulan Region, I have asked you to come with me because of the weird feelings I had when you first showed up"
"How do you do?" he bowed
"Mhmhm no need for that all I ask if you hold both the Time Emeralds correct the one of Fire and Forest right."
"In fact I do" he responded
"As I thought" she giggled.
"Shade I ask that you please do me this one favor before we go any further",
"Shoot"
"Come and look through this window, and see if you have seen this man before",
"I don't know…." he looked downward kicking a stone,
"Oh please! If you don't you'll miss him"
"Ah what the heck..." he walked over to it. Shade looked through the window, and sees a man walking on the red carpet,
"Do you see him? Isn't he gruesome looking, I mean you can tell he's lying to my father's face!"
"…." Shade knew who he was, but kept it quiet,
"Hmm?...I guessing you have"
"…yea".
"Personal conflict?"
"I guess you can say that, but most definitely I have been in combat with his minions"
"Really? Are you hurt?"
"No. Haha I'm fine just that, he was the reason why my parents were killed" he said in which shocked her,
"Are you serious? "She looked downward,
"He's one the same on who killed mine also". Shade grew a little furious,
"I'm going to make sure he's never going to hurt anyone else again" he stated. She touched his hand,
"Me too". They blushed,
"Let's vow here and now! That we both shall stop him in his tracks, that way we can overpower him". Shade nodded,
"You're right!" he agreed,
"Now let me tell you something on how everything got started." She began,
"Now both the Hylian and Nebulan regions weren't two separate regions. It used to be one single who region in which the people who together in harmony. When the three goddesses crafted the world, they made everything perfect, peace was throughout the land. By that time a castle named Hyrule came to existence. Ever since that unknown certain evil came upon Hyrule, everyone began being concerned about whom and what was higher than the other. Then a war broke out, and it resulted in total chaos. That certain evil causes that one region to split into two. And so from then on, the Hylians and Nebulans were mortal enemies and never saw eye to eye. That man in there, is one the ones responsible for that happening. Knowing he has a brother in which is just as strong as he is, made me think that they won't stop at nothing but claim the Triforce for their own evil purposes. I'm afraid that the day might come, when there's nothing but wasteland, and the evil dead rising from their graves and conquering all the innocents."
"Now I'm asking you, will you help me ceasing his doings and save Hyrule and Nebulas?"
"Yes I will. You can count on it!" he promised,
"Thank you! Before you go off I need you give a certain something. This right here will show them that your part of the royal family" she said,
Shade received a piece of cloth. (A cloth in which Princess Talim actually slept in as a baby. This should be proof that you are part of the royal family)
"Alright I'm sure it will help" he said.
"Okay I wish you luck. You must collect the third and final emerald and return it back to the Sacred Chamber of the Gods. Please do be careful" she warned,
"You got it!" Shade nodded.
"Now go on! My personal protector Zeke shall lead you away."
"Alright thanks for everything" he said his goodbyes and turned and slowly walked over to Zeke.
"*Sigh*" he began
"I seriously don't know what Princess Talim sees in you"
"….."
"Look peasant! I know you just got lucky but don't let it get to your head!"
"…."
"Oh so you're a stubborn one aren't you! *Sigh* BAH! Enough! If you're going to save the world, you might as well allow me to teach you some new sword techniques"
"What kinds?"
"Now you talk eh?...Argh! *Grumble Grumble!* Please come with me" he leads Shade onto the center of the garden.
"Hey!" Shade called
"What is it?" he turned
"Was it luck when you were able to deflect me attack so hard and so fast that I lost total access to my guard?"
"Nope it's actually a usually known technique that swordsmen are trained to know" he replied.
"Hmm…" he got into position. Shade gazed upon him,
"Now! Allow me to demonstrate it again. Come at me with full strength and speed." he requested.
"Alright" he got ready to run. He pulled out his sword, and charged at Zeke with full speed. Zeke looked at him, while carried his thin long sword with one hand. Shade struck, Zeke touched Shade's sword with his, and deflected it backward, throwing Shade way off his guard, and kicked him to the ground.
"Argh!" he touched his side,
"Mhm you see the key is." He began
"To make your opponent gather all the strength and speed while he's charging at you. Then at the time when he's about to swing, you use your strength to knock his sword back. That will turn his strength and speed against him. How so? Because of the fact that his strength is causing him to thrust his sword to the ground, and his speed is going to affect how fast his sword is going to that direction. If it's fast than it's going to take a long time for your opponent to try to recover, if he's going slow then it's going to be easy, but if his strength is his stronger virtue than you're going to be okay." He explained.
Shade nodded,
"Right I get it now!"
"Do you eh?" he looked so confident,
"Alright then" Shade got into position and gazed upon Zeke's stance. He began charging; Shade stood still, closed his eyes, and saw him in his mind. The shadows aided him to focus onto Zeke. Shade took his sword and quickly deflected Zeke's attack, knocked him partially off guard. Shade quickly took it a little overboard, instead of kicking him to the ground, he cut his arm.
Zeke rolled onto the ground,
"Whoa! Taking it a little too fa…." He stopped and noticed Shade's eyes were demon red. He got up,
"Hmmm…" he began to think. He placed his hand right onto Shade's forward,
"Palm Release!" he yelled pushing Shade far background nearly hitting the wall.
"Ahh!" he yelled,
"Mr. Hero judging from the fact that you have one Satar's creatures living within you. You can't always depend on it to fight your battles" he suggested,
"Haaa uh" he picked himself up,
"That was a low blow" he stood up. He looked back up to Talim watching them as they continued. Shade got back up,
"What did you do to me? *pant pant*"
"I calmed your shadow demon spirit. In other words I caged it, and you won't be able to use its power for awhile. Don't worry it'll wear off" he said.
"(Killjoy!)" He thought. He pointed his sword,
"I'm guessing you're ready?" he said. Shade charged at him with full strength and speed. Zeke and Shade went at it, their swords were clashing together. Their energy was decreasing as they attacked each other more and more, all of their strength turned to aches and pains. Finally after half the day was gone, Shade finished his trained and began departing from the castle.
"Listen I have taught all I could. I'm guessing you have leaned you'll be able to stay alive" he said. Shade walked up to him,
He smiled "Yeah I guess so"
"Alright then but since you have earned my trust, let me teach you this. This lullaby was played when Princess Talim and Zelda were little babies. My wife Impa takes care of her sister Zelda. Although we live in different regions, we still show the same love that we have for each other." he said.
"Alright then" he nodded.
"Listen to this melody!
Left Up Right C stick"
Shade repeated the same notes, and he learned Zelda's Lullaby.
"It's a powerful song in which people will know you're part of the royal family, trust me. You've proven your bravery to me and your truthfulness. I now shall aid you on your journey." He said
"Now come with me! I shall take you to the direction of you third and final Time Emerald" he began. Shade nodded and followed him out of the castle.
Outside from the castle and into a field away from the town,
"Okay now that you're here. We believe that there's a Time Emerald over by Zorathiam's Aquarium, where the Zora's are frolicking about." He said. Shade walked a little bit past him,
"Hmm you may want these, ever since a curse was brought about upon the land, the water has been murky. And not only that their nutritious water is severely dry, and the people have gone through days without water. This needs to stop; I believe it's the monster that's been living there. Parabeam a nasty monster that appeared in their waters, knowing you I bet you're going to do something to stop it!" he said
"No problem! I got this!" he pointed his sword to the air,
"You may want this. It's an underwater sigh tool that can help you with the murkiness"
"Hmm?"
Shade received the Aqua Goggles. (These are actually goggles that will help you see under murky water. Zora's have eyes that can easily see anything underwater, for humans like you, will be severely blinded by the murkiness of the water.)
"Thanks, but how will this help?"
"Trust me you'll be just fine!" he said.
"Alright I'm counting on you" he said. Zeke walked backward threw down a smoke bomb and vanished.
He turned and looked in the direction of Zorathiam's Aquarium,
"*Deep Sigh*" he looked up in the sky and then continued to run towards the river strait.
END OF CHAPTER