Chapter One: Messages
The dark clouds approached at an alarming rate. Silence fell over the kingdom, even the birds were silent. The calm before the storm. Then the darkness came as a thunderstorm broke out. A storm so violent that it was as if the Goddesses were fighting. Perhaps fighting an unknown evil that threatened to destroy everything the Hyrulians had accomplished since the dawn of time.
In the midths of the storm a man sat upon an imposing black war horse. His red cloak flapped in the wind. His laughter could be heard over the howling of the wind. The wind soon died down and the screams of the Hylians could now be heard as they fled their beloved town. The girl, paralyzed with fear, stood a few yards away from the town's gate. She could see the people fleeing to the nearest village.
Suddenly she felt His presence behind her. An unusual concentration of hatred and greed. Even then, she did not flee.
Then the clouds suddenly parted as the world was bathed in a green light. A light warm and pure as if sent from above. Had the Godesses won? He man's expression was of defeat and anger as he rode away. The storm was gone and the light faded.
A young man stood where man and beast had been. A fairy hoverd above the green lad's head. Smiling he held out his hands and in them was a green stone. His smile faded and a look of sorrow replaced it.
The fairy hovered around the girl lying on the grass. That's when she saw herself...dead.
The girl woke screaming. Having difficulty catching her breath, she sat up. With trembling hands, she managed to light the candles on her bedside table. The soft glow of the flame made the room even more eerie than when it was dark. Sh held on tightly to the blankets, and looked around the room, half expecting to find a dead body.
The door connecting the room to her nanny's suddenly opened, as the tall middle-aged woman rushed in. Relieved the child started to breath again, realizing that she had been holding her breath in anticipation.
"It's alright Impa. I'm okay," said the child eyeing the unsheathed katana. "It was a dream...only a dream, although very realistic."
"It must have been more than just a dream to have her highness screaming in the middle of the night," the silver-haired woman said as she sheathed her sword. "Care to tell me what happened until the palace guards get here?"
Impa sat beside the child, listening attentively. When the dream had been told, mpa stayed silent and in deep thought, before finally speaking.
"Remembr what I've told you about my people the other day? We believe that some dreams are more than just dreams. Unusual dreams happen for a reason, especially reoccuring ones. It is up to the one with the gift of foresight to figure out the prohecy in it. You must analyze every detail of the dream and how it made you feel...There is a Sheikh saying that reoccuring dreams are sent by the Goddesses to warn of what is to come. If you have that dream again I want you to tell me as soon as possible alright?"
"I will," said the girl.
Impa was about to tuck in the nine year old when the palace guards finally arrived, sword in hand. The Sheikah woman turned to face them.
"It's about time you showed up," scowlded the nanny.
"We're sorry Lady Impa, but our post is quite a run from here," answered angrily one of the men. "If you have a problem with our timing you'll have to speak to our captain."
"Very well gentlemen, just count yourselves lucky not to have found two corpses on your arrival. Imagine having to report that to your captain!"
The guards sheathed their swords. The one who spoke, glared at Impa before leaving. The others did the same.
Impa sighed. The princess knew better than to ask what was wrong, she simply stayed quite.
"Go back to sleep now and don't worry about the incompetence of your father's men. I won't let anything happen to you Zelda as long as I live", Impa said.
Zelda looked up to the woman who she admired more than her own mother. "I know...and appreciate it. Goo-night Impa."
"Good night Zelda." Impa bent down and kissed the girl's forehead. She then got up and looked one last time at the child before closing the door behind her.
******
Impa stood before the king and queen and the royal council. Here was gathered Hyrule's highest ranking men for the wekly report. If Impa had cared about such matters as rankings and hirchy, she would have felt out of place. But none of that mattered to her. He had been hired nine years ago to watch over Princess Zelda as a nanny and to be her teacher, guardian, and substitute mother. Impa, as the last of a warrior tribe, had gained the respect of many men for her combat skills, but today they would respect her for what she had been hired to do. Her voice must be heard.
"Your Majesty, I'm sorry to interupt the meeting but I am concerned about your daughter's safety..."
"Lady Impa now I not the time, We are buy," the king flatly stated.
"Your Majesty has been avoiding the issue all morning."
"We apologize but e are very busy this day. You'll just have to wait until we can arrange for an appointement. Ambassader of the Gerudo tribe you may begin your report."
"Yes your Majesty. To conclude the trade agreement with the Gerudo, the leader ould like to organize a banquet in your honor," said the fat man. The leader in question wasn't able to come so an ambassador had been appointed since the rest of the tribe were only females.
"This cannot wait and is more important than a trade agreement,"interupted Impa. "Just last night something could have happened and it took a good ten minutes before the guards showed up after rincess Zelda had screamed."
"We are informed of what happened...Please go on ambassador."
"Due to the circumstances that the Gerudo tribe live in the desert, the leader wishes to know if your Majesty would prefer having the banquet here in the castle".
"Your Majesty is aware yet chooses to do nothing?" interupted again Impa.
"Listen Lady Impa. Just because you are the last surviving member of the Sheikah tribe, it doesn't give you the right to keep interupting people with a higher rank than you!" the king angrily said. He then turned towards the ambassador. "You may tell Lord Ganondorf that he can have the banquet here, a week from today."
"I thought your daughter was more important to your Majesty than that! He is your only heir after all," Impa said. He then looked to the queen. "She is your daughter, your only child. Must I also remind you of the intruder we had two days ago. Don't you realize that anyone who is angry at thee can sneak in and kill your daughter? If she had been a boy I bet you would have at least two guards guarding that child."
Annoyed the king stood up. "Fine, I'll have some guards posted near her quarters and tighten security on palace grounds for my security. But may I remind you that this is a time of peace and not of war! Now I order you to leave!"
Very well then your Majesty, I thank thee," Impa said. Pleased with herself she made her reverences and left the throne room.
The dark clouds approached at an alarming rate. Silence fell over the kingdom, even the birds were silent. The calm before the storm. Then the darkness came as a thunderstorm broke out. A storm so violent that it was as if the Goddesses were fighting. Perhaps fighting an unknown evil that threatened to destroy everything the Hyrulians had accomplished since the dawn of time.
In the midths of the storm a man sat upon an imposing black war horse. His red cloak flapped in the wind. His laughter could be heard over the howling of the wind. The wind soon died down and the screams of the Hylians could now be heard as they fled their beloved town. The girl, paralyzed with fear, stood a few yards away from the town's gate. She could see the people fleeing to the nearest village.
Suddenly she felt His presence behind her. An unusual concentration of hatred and greed. Even then, she did not flee.
Then the clouds suddenly parted as the world was bathed in a green light. A light warm and pure as if sent from above. Had the Godesses won? He man's expression was of defeat and anger as he rode away. The storm was gone and the light faded.
A young man stood where man and beast had been. A fairy hoverd above the green lad's head. Smiling he held out his hands and in them was a green stone. His smile faded and a look of sorrow replaced it.
The fairy hovered around the girl lying on the grass. That's when she saw herself...dead.
The girl woke screaming. Having difficulty catching her breath, she sat up. With trembling hands, she managed to light the candles on her bedside table. The soft glow of the flame made the room even more eerie than when it was dark. Sh held on tightly to the blankets, and looked around the room, half expecting to find a dead body.
The door connecting the room to her nanny's suddenly opened, as the tall middle-aged woman rushed in. Relieved the child started to breath again, realizing that she had been holding her breath in anticipation.
"It's alright Impa. I'm okay," said the child eyeing the unsheathed katana. "It was a dream...only a dream, although very realistic."
"It must have been more than just a dream to have her highness screaming in the middle of the night," the silver-haired woman said as she sheathed her sword. "Care to tell me what happened until the palace guards get here?"
Impa sat beside the child, listening attentively. When the dream had been told, mpa stayed silent and in deep thought, before finally speaking.
"Remembr what I've told you about my people the other day? We believe that some dreams are more than just dreams. Unusual dreams happen for a reason, especially reoccuring ones. It is up to the one with the gift of foresight to figure out the prohecy in it. You must analyze every detail of the dream and how it made you feel...There is a Sheikh saying that reoccuring dreams are sent by the Goddesses to warn of what is to come. If you have that dream again I want you to tell me as soon as possible alright?"
"I will," said the girl.
Impa was about to tuck in the nine year old when the palace guards finally arrived, sword in hand. The Sheikah woman turned to face them.
"It's about time you showed up," scowlded the nanny.
"We're sorry Lady Impa, but our post is quite a run from here," answered angrily one of the men. "If you have a problem with our timing you'll have to speak to our captain."
"Very well gentlemen, just count yourselves lucky not to have found two corpses on your arrival. Imagine having to report that to your captain!"
The guards sheathed their swords. The one who spoke, glared at Impa before leaving. The others did the same.
Impa sighed. The princess knew better than to ask what was wrong, she simply stayed quite.
"Go back to sleep now and don't worry about the incompetence of your father's men. I won't let anything happen to you Zelda as long as I live", Impa said.
Zelda looked up to the woman who she admired more than her own mother. "I know...and appreciate it. Goo-night Impa."
"Good night Zelda." Impa bent down and kissed the girl's forehead. She then got up and looked one last time at the child before closing the door behind her.
******
Impa stood before the king and queen and the royal council. Here was gathered Hyrule's highest ranking men for the wekly report. If Impa had cared about such matters as rankings and hirchy, she would have felt out of place. But none of that mattered to her. He had been hired nine years ago to watch over Princess Zelda as a nanny and to be her teacher, guardian, and substitute mother. Impa, as the last of a warrior tribe, had gained the respect of many men for her combat skills, but today they would respect her for what she had been hired to do. Her voice must be heard.
"Your Majesty, I'm sorry to interupt the meeting but I am concerned about your daughter's safety..."
"Lady Impa now I not the time, We are buy," the king flatly stated.
"Your Majesty has been avoiding the issue all morning."
"We apologize but e are very busy this day. You'll just have to wait until we can arrange for an appointement. Ambassader of the Gerudo tribe you may begin your report."
"Yes your Majesty. To conclude the trade agreement with the Gerudo, the leader ould like to organize a banquet in your honor," said the fat man. The leader in question wasn't able to come so an ambassador had been appointed since the rest of the tribe were only females.
"This cannot wait and is more important than a trade agreement,"interupted Impa. "Just last night something could have happened and it took a good ten minutes before the guards showed up after rincess Zelda had screamed."
"We are informed of what happened...Please go on ambassador."
"Due to the circumstances that the Gerudo tribe live in the desert, the leader wishes to know if your Majesty would prefer having the banquet here in the castle".
"Your Majesty is aware yet chooses to do nothing?" interupted again Impa.
"Listen Lady Impa. Just because you are the last surviving member of the Sheikah tribe, it doesn't give you the right to keep interupting people with a higher rank than you!" the king angrily said. He then turned towards the ambassador. "You may tell Lord Ganondorf that he can have the banquet here, a week from today."
"I thought your daughter was more important to your Majesty than that! He is your only heir after all," Impa said. He then looked to the queen. "She is your daughter, your only child. Must I also remind you of the intruder we had two days ago. Don't you realize that anyone who is angry at thee can sneak in and kill your daughter? If she had been a boy I bet you would have at least two guards guarding that child."
Annoyed the king stood up. "Fine, I'll have some guards posted near her quarters and tighten security on palace grounds for my security. But may I remind you that this is a time of peace and not of war! Now I order you to leave!"
Very well then your Majesty, I thank thee," Impa said. Pleased with herself she made her reverences and left the throne room.