We arrive in Kakariko village where the atmosphere has changed from the last time I was here. People were armed with weapons and we're led to a cellar where there's a secret room. I see a shadow on the other side of the room,
"Zelda!" I call out as she sees me and her face lights up. he runs over and hugs me.
"I was so worried the we were too late." she said
"But... Link disappeared," I said
"I know... unfortunately I realized it too late to stop it..." she said
"I don't understand..." I said
"Link is the Hero of time, he is sleeping until he is old enough to wield the Master Sword... unfortunately the rest of us must wait for him." she said
"How long..." I asked
"Seven years..."
"You must be joking..." I said as she shakes her head,
"We can't wait that long... Ganondorf will surely find you." I said
"That is why I will also go to sleep..." Zelda said
"Princess what are you saying?" Impa asked
"Pura is right, we won't be able to hide from Ganondorf forever. This is the best plan." she said
"How do you plan to do this?" Impa asked
"I will turn into a boy." she said and we both just look at her.
"What?" I said
"Link is now sealed in the sacred realm by the power of the master sword.. but he will surely return as the hero of time... until he returns I will also seal myself away." she said
"But you said turn into a boy... how is that possible?" I asked
"The Sheikah tribe has many types of magic, one to change genders is a simple task... Sealing Zelda's consciousness and creating an artificial personality will be the hard part." Impa explained.
"Once our new member has joined us he'll need a job, that's where you come in Pura," Zelda said
"Me?" I said
"You're special, I knew from the moment I saw you." she said with a smile,
"I'm not special... I...I'm just a normal girl..." I said trying to get myself to believe that as well,
"A girl with the mark of the Triforce on her chest." she said as I instinctually cover my chest.
"H... how?" I asked looking embarrassed
"I had another dream... not long after you and Link set of on your journey; the Triforce was surrounded by the three goddesses. then the Triforce changes into the shape of a girl with the mark on her chest... the daughter of the Goddesses." she said
"What?"
"I don't understand anything else about it but I am sure that Ganondorf is after you as well." she said
"But he doesn't know it's me he's looking for, Link and I ran into him shortly after you fled the castle and he didn't recognize me." I said
"That could work to our advantage." Impa said
"When I take on my new form he will need purpose, being the protector of the Goddesses daughter is a fitting job. you just need to keep an eye on him for me." she smiles at me.
"Okay..." I said
"I know it's a lot to take in but I know you will survive," she hugs me again, "We will see each other again Pura, stay strong." Zelda said as Impa escorts me out of the room,
"This will take a while, you're more than welcome to explore this area, Lupin will be watching over you until we're done." Impa said with a smile then she goes back into the room with Zelda. an young man walks up to me and smiles,
"Hello there," he said
"HI..." I said
"I'm Lupin," he said
"I'm Pura,"
"It's nice to meet you, you're probably hungry. Let's go over to the bar and get you some food. " he said
"Okay," I said and we head over to the bar and I get a cup of milk with some fish,
"you're pretty important huh," he said
"I don't feel important... I just want Link to be back." I said
"I think it's silly that we're just supposed to wait for this Hero of time to come save the day." Lupin said
"Link is a hero! We saved the Gorons and the Zora princess! don't ever insult him!" I said and he looks at me shocked
"Sorry, I didn't mean to hit a nerve." he said as the door opens and another man approaches us.
"Lady Pura, Impa is waiting for you." he said as they escort me back to the hidden room where Impa is waiting inside. Impa looks at me, she looks exhausted.
"Pura I'd like to introduce you to Sheik." she said and out of the other room walks out a young boy who looks very similar to Zelda but his hair is a bit shorter, skin was darker and his large eyes were red. "You two will be working together from now on." Sheik bows to me.
"It's an honor to meet you." he said
"No!" I blush then quickly bow, "The honor is mine." I said.. if felt weird to have the princess talk to me like that... and his voice was very different than Zelda's.
"Keep in mind Pura that Sheik is not Zelda, he is a different person completely." Impa explained.
"I still have all of the princess' memories, but I am just here to hide the princess in plain sight and to protect you." Sheik said
"This will take some getting used to..." I said
"Just erase Zelda from your mind and think of Sheik as someone you just met." Impa said
"Okay," I said as I smile as Sheik and he smiles back.
"But we'll have to cover your face in public, even though you look different your resemblance to the princess could be dangerous." Impa said and I look around and find a white scarf lying on a pile of boxes. I grab it and walk back up to Sheik,
"Here," I said and wrap the scarf around his neck, "You can pull it over your face easily." I smile,
"Thank you." he said
"You two will be learning how to defend yourselves, be prepared we'll start in the morning." Impa said as she leads us to another room, "You two will share a room for now, try to get some rest." she said and we both walk into the room and she closes the door behind us, "Keep a guard on watch at all times!" I hear from outside the room,
"Let's get some sleep," Sheik said as I look around the room, it was a simple room with two beds and a large chest. we both climb into a bed.
"Is it weird having someone else's memories?" I asked
"I'm not sure, those memories are all I have at the moment so there's not much to compare them to." he said
"oh... well then we'll make memories of our own.
"Okay," Sheik smiles and we both fall asleep.
The next day Impa wakes us up and takes us to a room with a large table, she calls it a war table. But today it holds a huge assortment of weapons.
"Choose a weapon, you will learn to master that weapon starting today." Impa said and I look closely at the weapons, most I've never seen before. Sheik does not hesitate and grabs a pouch holding knifes with no guard at this hilt.
"Those are called Kunai knives, it's meant for very close combat but can also be used as a throwing knife." Impa said
"This will work," he said adding the pouch to his belt. I felt embarrassed that I haven't found a weapon yet and begin to frantically look. I'm pulled back to the fact that we were being prepared for war... I might have to fight other people besides monsters and I don't know If I'm ready for that... Then a small crystal ball catches my eye. I pick the crystal ball up to get a closer look.
"That is a magic crystal ball, beginners of magic use it to channel the energy around them," Impa said , "Experienced mages can heal serious wounds." she said
"Really?" I said and she smiles,
"I knew that would get your attention, You're afraid of fighting aren't you?" I look away from her,
"I fought a little bit with link... but I didn't enjoy it like I thought I would." I said
"Is that the weapon you choose?" she asked
"Yes," I hold onto the crystal ball tightly, "Even if I can't fight strong enemy's I want to be able to help even if it's just a bit... Hyrule is my home now," Saying it out loud felt like closure, I've accepted my fate.
"Good answer, then let's begin training." Impa said and for the next three months we both train every day. Sheik was a natural, he has mastered fighting with Kunai knives completely in both close combat and far away. He's also mastered to use throwing needles and now he's learning to use music to project magic attacks. I'm still struggling to make a proper ball of fire...
"What's wrong Pura?" Sheik asked sitting down next to me,
"I'm not very good at this..." I said
"You're just not good at offensive magic, You've already got healing magic down." He said
"Only minor cuts and bruises, anything more than that is too much for me." I said
"It's because you aren't strong enough to contain that amount of magic yet, it's going to take time." he said
"You say that but you're already a master of two different weapons.." I said
"I'm a fast learner?" he shrugs and I pout at him. "Besides it's fine if you can't fight, you have me to protect you."
"That's true... it's just frustrating... it doesn't help that we've been cooped up for months." I said
"Maybe when Impa gets back we can take some time away from Kakariko village." Sheik suggested.
"Maybe..."
That night I a thought popped in my head about the place Link grew up, Kokiri forest... Links friends must be worried about him, and they should know that he's alright. I sneak out of bed and take a small dagger and my crystal ball and leave Kakariko village.
"Where are going?" I'm taken by surprise and fall over, I look over to see Sheik sitting on a fence looking down at me.
"You scared me!" I said standing up,
"You're no very good at being sneaky." he laughs,
"I got past the guards didn't I?" I said
"True, now... where are you going?" he asked again
"I want to see Kokiri forest..." I said avoiding eye contact with him.
"You can't go alone." he said
"I just want to see if it was what Link described! I ... won't be long." I said
"I didn't say you couldn't go," he said jumping down from the fence, "Just that you can't go alone," he said I could tell from his eyes that he was smiling from under his mask,
"really?" I said
"Why not? we'll just count it as training, as long as Ganondorf's lackeys don't find us we'll be fine." he said
"Thank you." I smile and then he looks away from me,
"It's my job remember?" he said holding out his hand and I take it. We take our time walking through the plains and make it to the entrance of the forest at sunrise. "This is it," sheik said
"It looks dark in their..." I said holding onto Sheik
"Use your crystal ball as a light." he said, I take out my crystal ball and focus light energy into the crystal and it begins to glow.
"I did it!" I said
"Good job, now let's go look around, stay close." Sheik said
"Okay," I said holding onto his hand and holding up my crystal in the other hand to light our path. we eventually get to a small village but it appears to be empty,
"Where is everybody?" Sheik asked
"What are you doing? Get inside before they see you!" we hear a young girls voice as a plant in front of me wraps around my ankle and I'm pulled to the ground, and a flower shaped monster appears from the same plant.
"Ah!" I scream as Sheik cuts the vine attached to the monsters head and it quickly dies letting go on the grip on my ankle.
"We need to move!" Sheik said as he helps me to my feet,
"This way!" we see a girl with green hair wearing similar green clothing to what Link wears wave us over. Sheik grabs my hand and we run towards her. Just then we see some wolves run towards her, "Hurry!" she ushers us inside a nearby hut and the girl locks the door behind her.
"You saved us," I said catching my breath.
"Are you hurt anywhere?" Sheik asked
"My ankle hurts a bit but it's not serious so I can heal it." I said
"We shouldn't of come..." he said sounding concerned
"Who are you two," the girl asked us
"I'm Pura and this is Sheik, we just wanted to see where Link was from." I said
"You know Link? How is he? Is he okay?" she asked
"I traveled with him for a while..." I said
"My name's Saria, I'm a friend of Links" she said
"It's nice to meet you," Sheik said
"Is Link with you?" she asked
"No..." I frown, "Link... Link is sleeping... " I said
"I don't understand..." she said
"He's gone away and won't be back for a while." Sheik said
"Oh..." Saria said
"W...what happened to the forest? Link told me this place was full of light." I changed the subject,
"The forest has been infested with monsters ever since the Great Deku tree died... he was our protector..." she explained
"How did he die?" Sheik asked
"A dark creature went inside of him and destroyed him from the inside... Link stopped the monster, but it was too late." she said
"I'm sorry," I said
"It's not anyone's fault, but I wish we had a way to get rid of the monsters." Saria said
"Maybe we can! Impa taught me a cleansing spell... it might not be a permanent fix but it will get rid of the monsters." I said
"Can you really do something like that?" Saria asked
"I think so... but I'll need to be connected to the oldest part of the forest to connect to all of the trees." I explained
"Like a web of magic," Sheik added
"I know just the place!" Saria said "I can take you there!"
"C'mon Sheik we can do this!" I said
"It's going to be dangerous."
"I know..."
"Alright, Saria lead the way, we'll clear a path." Sheik said taking out his knives. We exit Saria's house and she leads the way through the lost woods as our path is blocked by a strange looking wolf.
"What is that thing?" I asked
"It's a Wolfo, careful of its claws!" Saria said as Sheik throws some needles and it backs off.
"This way!" Saria said and we run after her "As long as you're with me you won't get lost." we make our way through the lost woods until we make it to a strange gate and two Wolfo's appear.
"Stay behind me!" Sheik said and both Saria and I stand behind him but once he begins fighting one of the Wolfo's the other one circles around and attacks us,
"Stay away!" I yell I focus on wind magic and I create a wall of wind around the three of us which blows back the Wolfo's
"Nice one Pura!" Sheik said as he takes out one of the Wolfo's then starts fighting the other, Sheik was right, I'm better at passive than offensive magic... I didn't even know I had that much power. he defeat the other Wolfo and we make our way through a hedge maze and climb a set of stairs in the middle of the opening is an alter identical to the one in the temple of time, there was an entrance to what looks like ruins above,
"That's the temple of time, the Great Deku tree said it's been here longer than he has," Saria said
"This should work," I said standing on the alter "Cover me until I'm finished."
"I've always got you." Sheik said as I begin calling to the trees of the forest, asking for their help and to give me the strength to make a stand. then I called a healing wind to cleanse the forest.
"Purifying Wind!" I said as the wind around us begins to stir and in seconds light returns to the forest.
"You did it Pura!" Saria said, I could feel all of the energy leave me and I collapse,
"Pura!" Sheik runs over to me, "What's wrong?"
"Just tired." I said
"Rest, I'll keep you safe," Sheik gently said as I drift back into dreams,