A storm ravages the fragile walls of the archaic stone structure; lightning crackles above the steeple as boots thunder through deep puddles which line the way to the Temple's doorway.
Impa shakes the rain from her hair as she enters the hallowed halls of the Temple: gleaming white marble walls and polished tiles cast in darkness. The flicker of lightning illuminates a hooded figure poised over the pedestal at the far end.
"Get on your knees, Imogen!" Faito commands with the point of his spear. "We know you have the Princess!"
The figure hesitates but does not move. Instead, its shoulders shake with laughter. A man's voice speaks:
"You really think I'm scared of you, soldier?"
His hood falls, revealing a tangle of lush blonde curls. Impa gasps.
"Caedis?"
"Impa." the Count greets her with a disappointed groan. "I should've known you'd arrive to pester me sooner or later."
"Sorry to bother you, Sir!" Faito begs for his forgiveness. "We mistook you for someone else!"
Suddenly, Impa notices the bundles of blankets between his arms. It lets out a small, distinct cry.
"The Princess!" Impa yells. "You kidnapped her from the Castle!"
"Kidnapped?" Caedis sneers. "I would prefer to use the term 'rescued'! I've saved her from a life of misery and terror under the hands of His Majesty!"
"I don't know what Her Majesty was telling you in those letters, but the King isn't a monster in any sense of the word!" the Royal Attendant defies him. "I order you to return that baby to where she rightfully belongs!"
"Never!" the Count retorts with a scowl. "She's coming with me, far away from here where she can be safe! She will be raised as one of my own; the new heir to the countship!"
Faito steps forward with his spear pointed at the treacherous villain. "You'll have to pass through me first!"
The Count lifts his arm from beneath his cloak and waves his hand. An unseen rush of wind knocks Faito off his feet onto the floor. He is cast into a deep sleep: sorcery.
"You know magic?!" Impa gapes in disbelief.
"Know it? I was born with it!" Caedis steps from the pedestal and advances towards her. Impa retreats with caution. "My family are descended from a tribe of talented individuals learned in the dark arts."
"As are mine!" a familiar female voice cuts in.
Impa and Caedis turn to find Imogen blocking the Temple's entrance. In her hand, she carries a dark-blue leather-bound book with a weeping eye on the cover.
"Oh, not another oneā¦" the Count grumbles. "Out of my way, peasant!"
He waves his finger once more but Imogen blocks his spell with her forearm.
"This act of betrayal has nothing to do with your concern for the Princess!" she declares, advancing towards him. "Due to your intense infatuation, you were left heartbroken and distraught at the death of Her Majesty and sought to keep one last piece of her with you!"
"It was no infatuation!" Caedis snaps. "It was love! True love!"
"She was a married woman!" Imogen dismisses him. "Now I ask you to return the Princess to the Royal Attendant! Or you shall suffer my wrath!"
Caedis curls his lip. "Bring it."
Zelda's distressed whines echo around the Temple as the two sorcerers engage in a battle of wizardry. Impa dives to the floor as sparks fly overhead. She must fathom a way to reach the endangered Princess and retrieve her from the hands of the evil Count.
She snatches the spear out of the grasp of the sleeping soldier and sneaks off into the shadows. She carefully bides her time, selecting the right moment to strike. Balls of fire ricochet off the walls; Impa grits her teeth in terror as they narrowly miss the baby's head. Imogen appears to be succeeding in driving the Count backwards towards the pedestal. Impa seizes her moment and lunges with the spear.
It collides with Caedis's feet, knocking him off-balance. Imogen disarms him with a bolt of lightning, causing his limbs to flinch. The bundle of blankets soars into the air; Impa leaps forward just in time to catch it. She pulls it close to her chest as Imogen lands the final blow.
The Count retracts into a shivering ball of cowardice beneath his cloak. Imogen looms over him, her spell-book clutched between her fingers.
"Please, no more!" he wails. "I no longer have the Princess! I surrender!"
The mysterious maid observes him with an expressionless gaze. "Take yourself far away from this town, and far away from Hyrule. If I catch you bothering the Royal Family ever again, you shall face the true force of my ancestors' power."
The Count nods. He dons his hood and scurries off into the night. Impa watches him go then turns her attention to the bundle wrapped in her arms: blonde hair, blue eyes and a warm smile that she will cherish forever. She resembles her mother in every aspect. Such a precious gift to leave behind. Never again will the Princess come to harm for as long as she lives.
