It is evening as Aloy and Link are back in Kakariko Village. Returning to point A from point B actually takes a shorter period of time than it does to get from point A to point B because the path has become familiar to prevent any stopping to take note of the scenery-along with there being no enemies to get rid of.

The duo approach Impa's house, with Cado and Dorian still standing guard on either side. There is a somberness to their expressions.

"Link, Aloy," Cado said in a tone to match. "We were standing guard the whole time, and yet this awful thing still happened. How could we have let someone sneak right past us?"

"What happened?" Aloy asked.

"Someone snuck in and stole Lady Paya's most prized possession," Dorian answered instead. "I'm sure Lady Paya would feel a little more at ease if she saw Master Link and Aloy's faces."

Link urges Aloy to follow and the duo enter Impa's house. There, Impa still sits upon those cushions, but Paya is near her kneeling on the floor with her head bowed and hands covering her face as she muffles her crying. The place where the Sheikah heirloom is suppose to be is now empty space.

"This is awful!" Paya muffled sorrowfully through her hands.

"Hey Paya, we heard from Cato and Dorian," Aloy said as she and Link walk up to her.

"Aloy, Master Link," Paya sobbed as she lifts her head to show her sorrowful tear-streaked face and reddened eyes. "I swear I only took my eyes off it for a second! What should I . . . What should I do?"

Link asks her what is wrong.

"The Sheikah heirloom," Paya sobbed. "The heirloom has been stolen!"

Aloy scans the spot where the heirloom used to be with her focus to see if she can find anything incriminating, only to find nothing of the sort.

"And just when I had finally discovered the heirloom's secret," Paya moaned pitifully, then lowers her head and cries into her hands once again.

"The heroes, as chosen by the Sheikah heirloom, will be gifted the blessing of antiquity," Impa quoted. "Paya thinks, 'the heroes as chosen by the Sheikah heirloom' are you two, so she stayed up all night researching the heirloom. She came to the conclusion that 'the blessing of antiquity' refers to one of those ancient shrines. And that the heirloom is the key that opens the shrine. And just before we were able to tell you this, the thing is stolen!"

"I had been cleaning the heirloom regularly every day from morning to dusk," Paya sobbed. "Someone must have stolen it during the deepest hour of the night. This place is off-limits to outsiders . . . And no one from the village would do such a thing! Would they?"

"You may be right," Aloy said. "At least directly."

"Wha-What do you mean, Aloy?" Paya sighed with a sniff.

"Even if the thief was an outsider, it means they managed to steal it because they knew about it and when to take it. And in order for them to know that information, they needed to learn it from someone. Whoever that someone was . . . they needed to know the details well enough in order to confidently pass it on to the thief. Impa, who else knew about the Sheikah heirloom?"

"My dear, everyone in this village knows about it. It could have been anyone who careless told someone about it. Or someone with malevolent design who overheard that conversation and then relayed it to the thief."

"I see," Aloy said as she clasps her own chin in thought. "That makes our job harder. Hmmm." As she thinks about it.

"Someone with evil intent came into this sacred place," Paya said uneasily. "I'm glad Grandmother is safe, but I still feel so . . . violated."

"Link, Aloy," Impa said. "Paya is afraid that the thief may still be nearby. Would you please stay by her side today?"

"I think we can do that," Aloy said. "Although I might have to do a little investigating when night comes on full. But I guess Link can keep you company when the time comes."

"Really, thank you both," Paya sighed.

They stay close to Paya for the rest of what remains of the day. As the sun sets, they follow her back inside and up to her room, where there is a bed in one corner and a desk further down from the foot of it. Lamps light the room up.

"Aloy, Master Link," Paya said. "Thank you for staying by my side for the whole day. I see now that crying and feeling scared won't help us get the heirloom back. I checked with Dorian and Cado, but they said they didn't see anyone other than villagers around. I'll try again to remember all I can about the night the heirloom was stolen, but the thief may still be hiding nearby. I have a bad feeling."

"I too have a feeling," Aloy said as she looks toward the wall directly across from the entrance to see the heat signatures of people that her focus reveals through the walls. She notices one of those pair of guards by the entrance leaving his post. "Listen. It's time for me to get to work finding clues. Link can keep you company. But if I need any help, I'll come back for you, Link."

Link nods and Aloy turns to leave.

"If you spot any suspicious movement at night," Paya called, causing Aloy to give pause, "don't approach."

"Right," Aloy said, then hurries down the stairs. She turns to acknowledge Impa. "I'm on the trail of a potential lead."

"I understand," Impa said.

Aloy carefully opens the door into the night with a partially clouded sky with a waning moon that should provide some light for her to see by, especially since the Sheikah wear light colored clothing. There is also her focus that can see the body heat of her target. She casually walks down the ramp, having to be casual about it since the other guard is still present. For all that she knows, the other guard might have gone off merely to use a latrine.

Aloy turns to acknowledge the other guard, who turns out to be Cato making the other one Dorian, and nods. She half expects Cato to try and make small talk, but since he is on guard duty, that is not the case. Aloy continues to walk casually while watching Dorian up ahead as he is now running up a hill toward where that shrine and the Great Fairy, Cotera, is located.

I have a pretty good idea where he's going. Aloy mused inwardly.

As Aloy reaches where the hill is, she breaks into a full run, though is careful to keep quiet about her stalking. She rounds the corner where the Shrine is located and catches sight of Dorian's crest hat for a brief moment before he disappears out of sight. Aloy hurries up the trail and then down the path toward where he and Cato had captured her yesterday morning. She slinks down the trail and through the trees, seeing Dorian further ahead. At one point she had heard him say, what was that, then ducks down behind a tree, crouching down to make herself as small as possible as she watches him through her focus. She next hears him faintly say, must be imagining things, then continues onward.

Quietly, Aloy gets up and follows him. Sure enough, she can see him cross that narrow bridge and stop before that round platform where he and Cato had captured her. His back is still to her as she keeps stealthily walking ever closer. She can hear him demanding that someone show their self, making her wonder if he now knows about her.

"I know you're there!" Dorian next yelled as he takes a sword out. "Show yourself?!"

It looks like he knows about me so- Aloy thought, only to have her thoughts interrupted as a puff of smoke and a flurry of red notes heralds the arrival of a Yiga man. He is bigger, more muscled, and wielding a larger sword. He reminds Aloy of Helis.

"You don't have to shout," the Yiga said in a mocking wit. "I'm right here."

"So you're the ones who stole the heirloom!" Dorian grated.

"Such anger," the Yiga chuckled. "It seems this thing is truly special to the fools of this village."

"Why would you steal it?" Dorian demanded.

"Don't play dumb, Dorian," the Yiga said sardonically. "You knew what you were getting yourself into when you decided to leave the organization. You forfeited your life the moment you left. You did well to tell us about the heirloom."

Dorian used to be a Yiga?! Aloy thought angrily. So he was the one who told them about the heirloom!

"Unfortunately, your usefulness has come to an end, as must you," the Yiga continued in a sarcastic tone. "But first . . . It appears we have an audience!"

As the Yiga looks directly at Aloy, who had managed to creep across the bridge.

"Ah . . . Hi?" Aloy twiddled her fingers.

The Yiga swings his sword downward to launch a crescent blast at Aloy. She is quick to dive out of the way. Although her Shield Weaver could resist it, that blast looked like it could send her flying back into the water, giving that Yiga time to escape. Aloy takes out her spear and rushes the Yiga.

"Be careful, Aloy! He's a blademaster!" Dorian shouted.

Aloy and the Yiga lock blades. Given that he is stronger, she understands that she cannot beat him through strength alone and is quick use momentum to shove his sword aside as she also sidesteps him. Aloy instantly twists toward her opponent while swinging her spear toward him in the effort to take off his head. But the Yiga proves to be both cunning and quicker than his size belies as he dives low and lunges toward Aloy, using his upper body as a battering ram. Aloy gets knocked back off her feet. Dorian tries to help as he attempts to rush the Yiga, only to be forced to throw himself backward and stretch outward to avoid getting cut in half by that huge sword as the blade passes over him.

Aloy attempts to get up, but the Yiga is faster as he does another downward swipe to send another crescent blast at her and this time it connects with her. The blast is indeed powerful as it sends her flying into a tree behind her, turning her shield orange. Again, her Shield Weaver saves her from serious injury, but does not prevent the wind from getting knocked out of her.

Damn it! This guy's tougher than Helis was! Aloy snarled with frustration.

Aloy struggles to rise just as the Yiga lunges toward her with sword held high once again. She doubts her Shield Weaver could take another blow like that before having to regenerate its forcefield. And she doubts that he would allow her the time for that to happen.

An arrow gets stuck into the Yiga's chest. Then another. And another still. Aloy glances back to see Link running across the bridge taking out another arrow while glaring at the Yiga. He nocks it and releases it into the Yiga, further wounding him. With a yell and a burst of energy, Aloy jumps up onto her feet while raising her spear and stabs the Yiga through his chest just underneath his sternum so that the speartip travels at an upward angle into his heart. She savagely pulls her spear out as she kicks him back. The Yiga falls to the ground. A red glow appears around him in the form of the Yiga Eye, an inverted Sheikah Eye, and he disappears in a flurry of red notes.

Aloy breathes a sigh of relief as she doubles over to catch her breath. Link walks up to her and she looks up to see his look of concern.

"Great timing, Link," Aloy sighed, then straightens and clasps his shoulder. "Thank you."

Link smiles. A groan gets their attention and they look to see Dorian getting up and sheathing his sword. He gives them a somber look, then sighs and sniffs. He looks down to one side and sees something, then bends over and moves it out of the bushes. It turns out to be the stolen heirloom.

"So that's where that thing was," Aloy mused.

"I can't believe that you had followed me, Aloy," Dorian said. "I'm sure you've figured it out, but all of this is my fault." Again he sighs. "There's no point in trying to hide it. I am . . . a member of the Yiga Clan. Or used to be, anyway."

"So when did you have a change of heart?" Aloy asked.

"It was when I met the most incredible woman who blessed me with two amazing children," Dorian answered. "And so I tried to change my ways. Tried to leave the clan. But the Yiga . . . took my wife's life as punishment. I couldn't let them hurt my children, so I used my position as gatekeeper to gather information for the Yiga."

Just like the situation Olin was in. Aloy thought sadly.

"I told them about you two and about the village in exchange for safety," Dorian continued. "But my grief over losing my wife consumed me, and I finally decided to cut ties with the Yiga completely! I decided I could protect my children from the Yiga. I wasn't afraid of them. But the Yiga are pure evil. They told me they would kill both Impa and Paya if I didn't play along. Paya figured out that this heirloom is the key to opening an ancient shrine. We weren't able to make it work, but Paya thinks that maybe you two can. Paya . . . and all of us are devoted to helping you two in your quest. Now, please restore this heirloom to its pedestal."

Link and Aloy each take hold of it and lift it up. They carefully carry it onto the pedestal and lower it into the indentation. The heirloom glows blue and disappears, causing the orange pulsating markings on the pedestal to turn blue. A rumble is heard causing a slight tremor that is felt through their feet. Next to the pedestal, a shrine slowly rises from out of the ground.

"The shrine!" Dorian gasped. "So the heirloom WAS the key to opening the shrine. Incredible."

He next faces Aloy and Link in a shamed manner. "Master Link, Aloy, I . . . I'm very sorry for all of this. I know it's a selfish request, but do you think you could keep what really happened a secret? I truly don't deserve mercy, but I don't want my children, Koko and Cottla, to suffer anymore. I know it doesn't make up for what I've done, but I pledge to protect the village and my family from now on. No matter the cost."

Link and Aloy glance at each other and nod.

"We'll keep it a secret, Dorian," Aloy said empathetically. "I've dealt with people in your position before." Then looks at the shrine. "Now then," and looks at Link, "I do believe we have a shrine to enter."

They walk up to the Sheikah Shrine and Link opens it.

"I wonder what sort of test is in there this time?" Aloy mused. "Probably something to tax our endurance and wits."

They reach the bottom and to their surprise it is a smaller place. There is water around them, but the monk is simply up two flights of stairs with a chest halfway in the middle. Nothing blocks their path to him. They next hear the voice of someone named Lakna Rokee who tells them telepathically that by entering this place, they have already proven their worth.

"I hope all of the other shrines we enter are like this," Aloy quipped.

Link opens the chest and takes out another brown sword with gold trimming that he now recognizes as another Edge of Duality, like the one he had found in the Ta'Lah Naeg Shrine. They walk up to the veiled monk with hands clasping his knees. Link touches the blue forcefield. The disembodied voice speaks to their minds once again, telling them they have done well to arrive at this shrine and to rise to right the wrongs of Hyrule, and in the name of the goddess Hylia, he bestows upon them a spirit orb, which comes floating out of the monk and splits into two and enters the both of them.

The monk hopes that the goddess smiles upon them both and vanishes into light motes that fade away. Aloy and Link return to the surface, where they find that Dorian is gone.

"Let's go and tell Paya that everything is okay," Aloy said. "Although Dorian might have told her. And of course, we must keep Dorian's unfortunate involvement in all of this a secret. We owe it to his children."

Link agrees and together they return to the village and into Impa's house, where Paya is near Impa.

"Oh . . . Aloy . . . Master Link," Paya sobbed. "Because I wasn't there . . . the heirloom . . . Our precious Sheikah heirloom . . ."

"Don't worry, Paya, we found it," Aloy said with assurance. "We got rid of the thief, a Yiga, and managed to discover that it was for that platform up there."

"What?!" Paya exclaimed. "Oh . . . So that means the heirloom has finally fulfilled its purpose. Thank goodness!" As she breathes a sigh of relief. "It doesn't matter how it happened so long as the object we have guarded preciously for generations . . . So long as it was able to help you out in some way, I couldn't be happier! I pray that the protection of the gods of old follows you both wherever you go . . ."

"Now that this problem is settled," Aloy said, "Link, I think it's about time we told Impa about our meeting with Purah before we get some sleep."

"Huh," Impa said. "I heard Purah was giving you the runaround," as she momentarily slaps her thigh in amusement, "but you both seem just fine. Now then," as her tone turns serious once again. "Let me see."

"See what?" Aloy asked. "And how did you know that Purah was giving us the runaround? Or even how did you get into contact with her for that matter."

"I want to see the pictures that are stored on the Slate," Impa answered. "And as for our communication . . . ? That, is a Sheikah secret. Now then, Link, the pictures."

Link takes out the Sheikah Slate and shows Impa.

"Aha!" Impa exclaimed. "This is, without a doubt, the camera that Princess Zelda used one hundred years ago . . . It could be that if you visit the locations within those pictures, you will be able to restore some of your lost memories. Come back here once you have tried going to at least one of those locations. There is something I wish to give to you. You may not remember your last meeting with Ganon, but it did not end well for you. If you want a different outcome this time around, you'll need to be properly equipped."

Link asserts that both he and Aloy won't fail.

"You got that right," Aloy agreed. "I've faced Hades and destroyed him."

"Princess Zelda is fighting Calamity Ganon all alone. You are the only two who can save her-the only two who can save Hyrule. No go. You must!"

"Does it have to be right now?" Aloy quipped. "Why not first thing in the morning?"

Though she had traveled and even fought during the nights back in her world, mainly it was machines as they are not as cunning as living adversaries. Living adversaries are opponents that one would not want to fight during the night.

"Very well," Impa said. "There is an inn near here."

"I can show them," Paya said. "Follow me."

They follow Paya outside and up to a building that is across from Impa's place at a diagonal, near the other exit.

"Here is the inn," Paya said. "I hope you both have a safe journey and succeed in destroying the Calamity Ganon."

"Hopefully we will, Paya," Aloy said, with Link agreeing with her.


Note:

Even though one must do a number of sidequests before getting the missing heirloom sidequest, I decided to change that in this fanfiction.