Chapter Fourteen:

Losing Faith

Kakariko Village had always been a small peaceful community. It had begun with a small house Impa had built for herself when she had left her family to settle nearer to the castle and close to an ancient temple, sacred to the Shadow Folk. Sheikahs had the reputation of being noble warriors and that their presence alone warded off evil from approaching. Perhaps that was why they were often chosen as guardians to the royal family. However it had been many years since a Sheikah had been seen and it wasn't long until word spread that a Sheikah had settled near the castle. Rumour claimed that something had happened to the Sheikahs, leaving Impa to be the sole survivor. Impa had never claimed otherwise and so she became known as the last Sheikah.

It wasn't long until Impa found herself with neighbours. A year later a small community had formed around the Sheikah's house. The people declared that Impa indirectly became the founder of the village. The name of Kakariko eventually was inspired by the cuckoos that the majority of the villagers raised.

Impa had left the village when the princess was born and had never returned, her house had became a sort of attraction over the years and thus the house was maintained. After years of wandering Hyrule in hope that Zelda had survived her injuries and somehow had managed to evade Ganondorf's minions, Impa returned.

Her return had crushed the villagers hopes that Zelda was still alive and would come back to challenge the Dark King for the throne. Having Impa back only confirmed what Ganondorf had been boasting for the past seven years.

Impa settled in her old home and the daily activities in the village resumed, for a while. Impa learned that Ganondorf's minions often came to Kakariko demanding tribute. The villagers were poor to start off with and eventually wouldn't be able to meet the demands of the Dark King. When that day came they would surely face destruction.

The Sheikah was outraged and the warrior within her demanded revenge. Thus began her new mission, protect the people she had become fond of. She raised a resistance group, and with strict training they were eventually able to throw off the attacks of small bands of Gerudos and send them off without even a rupee for tribute.

So it came to no surprise when yet another group of Gerudos showed up at the village's gate, early one morning. Impa and the resistance movement stood guard a short distance away, as usual. However the Gerudos did not advance as usual to make their exaggerated demands, leaving Impa perplexed and worried. When the first moblins and dark knights began to arrive, Impa was alarmed by the sudden change in strategy. Was this the beginning of a full fledge attack? If this was the case the rebels lacked the manpower to hold their ground. The village would be destroyed in a matter of minutes. Impa ordered the rebels to fall back to strategical points and wait to see what the enemy planned to do.

What little hope was left was annihilated when Ganondorf made his appearance. Why had he taken a sudden interest in Kakariko after seven years, Impa couldn't think of a reason. Impa stood her ground and drew her katana as Ganondorf approached, followed by three dark knight. Ganondorf snickered and ignored her bravado.

"Why are you here? " asked warily Impa.

"That is none of your business, " he replied walking past her and heading towards the inn. His three dark knights followed close behind, giving Impa a menacing glare as they passed.

Impa sheathed her katana and signalled to the nearby rebels to circle the inn. She then went to stand in front of the inn, watching the doings of the rest of Ganondorf's minions.

It wasn't long until a young red headed woman with tears in her eyes came running out of the inn. Impa recognized her as Malon, the Lon Lon Ranch owner's daughter. Impa grabbed her arm to stop her.

"What happened in there? " asked Impa.

"Ganondorf took the ranch away from my father and gave it to Ingo. He's also come to take Epona away! " sobbed the maiden. "I won't let him," and with that she ran to the public stables.

Within minutes she had emerged from the stables on a horse that Impa presumed to be Epona. Impa silently prayed to the golden goddesses that the girl would have enough sense not to rush off towards the village's gate where the rest of Ganondorf's minions would eagerly take her down. Impa's prayer was answered when she saw the girl heading for the graveyard.

Ganondorf eventually came out of the inn, grinning smugly. He had completed his objections. He had scarred the villagers enough that the next time he sent his followers to collect tribute, the villagers would stop the rebels for fear that he would return. Not to mention that word would soon spread that Talon had been cast out of his ranch for having deliberately hidden his horse. The rebels' spirits would soon be crushed. As for his horse, he knew that Talon's daughter would eventually return to the ranch with Epona. He would simply have to make another unexpected visit to claim what was his.

Seeing Malon reminded Impa of Zelda, the way that she had always stood up to protect the weakest. If Zelda, had been alive she would have been around the same age as Malon. Impa sighed, in memory of Zelda, Impa went to the graveyard.

She found Malon kneeling down before the Tomb Of Kings with her head bowed. Epona was nearby, grazing. The horse's ears twitched as she heard her approach. Epona's raised her head to look at her, seeing no threat she went back to grazing.

Impa put a comforting hand on Malon's shoulder. Startled the girl looked up, she hadn't heard anyone approaching. "What will you do? " Impa asked. "You won't be able to hide that horse from Ganondorf for long. "

"I don't know…I fear that Ingo will mistreat the animals…I have to go back…I'll ask Ingo if I can stay and work for him. I guess I have no choice but to bring Epona with me…You're right Ganondorf will come back eventually…Please see to it that Papa will be alright, and tell him to stay away from the ranch. "

"I will…Before returning to the village you should wait a while at least until Ganondorf is gone. " Impa then turned around and headed back to the village.

Zelda was startled to see Malon on Epona heading towards her. Zelda stopped her horse and dismounted, waiting for Malon to join her. By the way Malon had Epona advancing slowly and her refusal of acknowledging her presence, Zelda knew that her sister already knew what happened. So Ganondorf had gone to Kakariko, yet he hadn't taken Epona. Zelda somehow knew that this was his way of twisted pleasure. Torment innocent bystanders and prolong the time he would come to claim his horse that he knew was dear to the family. Zelda clenched her fists.

Malon eventually reached her and dismounted, she took a few unsteady steps until she fell into Zelda's arms and sobbed.

"You don't have to explain. I know, " said Zelda trying at the same time to comfort Malon. "Ganondorf came to the ranch a few hours ago, and Ingo…"

Malon nodded to show she already knew. "He is Lon Lon Ranch's owner now…Mina you should see the state my father is in. I've never seen him like that. I asked someone to watch over him. He didn't even react when I told him I was going back to try and claim back the ranch. " She stood up straight and wiped the tears from her eyes.

"Is that what you really want to do, go back there? You know Ingo will never give you back Lon Lon. When I left he was already gloating in his new status. "

"I have no choice but to go back…the animals…for the animals. I know that Ganondorf will be back for Epona, and that I will have to face the consequences for defying him…Oh Zelda what will become of me! Here I was with the perfect life and its all gone now, now I truly know how you felt on that night you fled. "

Zelda was speechless. This was the first time Malon had ever acknowledged she knew her true identity. Malon's grief tore at Zelda's heart. Zelda suddenly put her hands on Malon's shoulder and looked her in the eyes.

"Malon, you are like a sister to me…I'll somehow get Ganondorf to give the ranch back to your father. Even if it means shedding my disguise and turning myself in. "

"But Min- Zelda, Princess, Ganondorf will probably kill you! "

Zelda shrugged. "If that happens then so be it…As long as you get back what is yours is all that matters. Take the horse I borrowed along with you and go back to Lon Lon. "

Zelda turned to face the direction in which the castle was, turning her back on Malon. "By the way thanks for keeping my real identity secret all these years. I somehow knew that you and your father knew. Sorry for the lie. "

"Please don't do his. We'll get the ranch back some other way. You'll see the Hero Of Time will save us! "

Zelda turned her head and looked at Malon. "There is no Hero Of Time. The hero that we used to dream of as children, is just a myth. If he truly did exist he wouldn't have let Ganondorf rule unchecked for the past seven years. " And with that Zelda began to walk.

"He does exist, he'll make his appearance soon. I just know it. And when he does I'll have to tell him to go rescue my foolish sister that thinks that by being a princess means that she has a right to say that he is a myth! " half laughed half sobbed Malon.

Malon watched Zelda go and only after she was far off, did Malon head for the ranch crying knowing that she would never see her sister again.