Dislaimer: I don't own the Legend of Zelda franchise. Also, introduction author notes will be replaced with disclaimers unless there's something of importance for me to warn you guys of, such as tragic and/or sexual content in the last chapter… That said, there is none this time around :P

Chapter VII

Shadow Warrior

The King of Hyrule reclined idly in his seat, fingers interlocked in rest over his gut as he waited patiently. During this time, his thoughts swam through the subjects he was to introduce to his company today. Ten long years had passed by without any major crisis as Castle Town and the citadel remained unscathed by recent attacks that surrounded them. Sure, the events were anything but ideal, but his tension was eased due to reports coming in telling of successful counterattacks against the legions. To add to his comforts, Labrynna and Holodrum forces remained inactive, though their presences still graced Hyrule's borders. Perhaps the countries were at a mutual stand-off, carefully planning their next move. Truth be told, invasions from either country never had really been too critical in the past, but he decided it would be better to play on the safe side.

His biggest concern lay in the cancerous growth of the demonic creatures that swept Hyrule's regions. The one to suffer the most casualties, he noted grimly, were those of the forest people and the western plains. Scanning through the reports that sat before him, he counted five villages abandoned in ruins in just the past week alone, including that of Kokiri. News traveled fast across Hyrule, and he could hear the whispers upon the citizens of Castle Town about the massive fires that engulfed the forests. The flames destroyed nearly every home in the village, only put to permanent slumber by the powers of the Great Deku Tree itself. Had the old spirit not acted so rashly and drained its power considerably in order to protect its people, the whole forest would have suffered from the calamity. Despite all of their valiant efforts, fighters across the land reluctantly admitted to their exhaustion resulting from futile combat with the denizens. Some waves of the beasts were taken care of with no real issues, only to be replaced by countless more in their wake, their forces seeming to be unlimited and growing ever more powerful.

King Yorrick sighed, running his thumbs along his temples in thought. It's been ten years of this madness now, and yet I still have no leads, he inwardly groaned, nostrils snorting out a puff of air in discontent. He was fully aware of the rumors taking place, and, truth be told, he couldn't help but put a fair amount of trust in the talk that floated around the whole of the castle. His head shook to clear himself of the notion for the moment. Those are only rumors. There's no viable evidence proving them, he mentally chided. It was the truth. As it stands, he had nothing to show for the Gerudo's part in the entire picture, other than their unusual silence and that the demonic invasion initiated from the southern borders of the desert. Investigations during these dire circumstances were considered to be next to impossible to carry out, especially if the rumors were true. No, he would not sacrifice any of his people to interrogate the desert society on the whims of idle gossip.

Then, he leaned forward to rest his elbows on the table, settling his chin on firmly clasped hands. There was yet another addition piling onto his troubles. The king clenched his grip, knuckles whitening in competition to his pale complexion. He hadn't gotten enough sleep these past few months, plagued by more recent matters concerning civil unrest. Cerulean eyes narrowed to mirror his obvious disdain. Despite his better efforts, he lacked the resources to take care of this new issue, especially considering the fact that he couldn't bring this topic up among his councilmen. For almost a year now, he's become increasingly aware of questionable acts taking place within the kingdom, and every fiber of his being led him to believe that the crimes were being directed by one of his own men. The King's mind immediately flitted through several faces that rose suspicion. Truth be told, he couldn't place accusations on any one person as there were several suspects, but he knew that not all of them could be held responsible. The organization was much too small and stealthy. King Yorrick had every intention to begin investigations within the kingdom, and had the means to do so, but there was no easy way to go about it. His opponents were crafty, to say the least, and any error in his decisions could spell ultimate disaster. The only information that he was sure of was that the parties involved were related to Labrynna. Treacherous spies, he thought, discontent written on his face.

Though this issue in itself was one plenty enough to worry over, his prior concern was directed to the effects it had on his daughter. He had no doubt that one of the lords was behind this operation, considering that the whole process would require authority of the highest tier, which means that they surely had other motives. It was very likely that their intentions involved the Princess's hand in marriage, whether it be through traditional means or through force, in order to have complete control over the kingdom. With Hyrule at the disposal, and Labrynna connected to these events, King Yorrick feared for the future of his people should this ploy ever come into fruition. And it will not come to pass, so long as I can help it, he snorted once more. The first thing he intended to do was find a guard to monitor his daughter at all times, should anything ever happen when he was preoccupied with other matters. And I think I know just the right person.

He forcefully cleared himself of his thoughts when a knock resounded from the main oak doors. The man returned to his regal appearance, naturally straightening himself to appear both respectful and authoritative as he called his company inside. His councilmen, a mixture of lords and military generals, entered the room and seated themselves upon his command. King Yorrick had to refrain from eyeing two of the lords that fell heavily upon his suspect list as he initiated their meeting with a casual air.

"Good afternoon, gentlemen. I'm pleased to see you all could make it today because I have an important matter to discuss," he began. In his mind, he rehearsed his stratagem over and over, confident in his ability to not only provide an answer to their current problems, but also to secretly construct a trap for the spies to fall into. Earning their undivided attentions, the King pressed on. "As you all must be aware, the entirety of Hyrule is being ambushed by these forsaken, albeit formidable, creatures. Our knights are sadly being reduced as we speak, and they're in need of reinforcements now more than ever. Now, I've put a lot of thought into this matter, and I've come down to a solution. I want your honest opinions. Let's say I divide some of the troops at our northern borders and send them as remedy to our weary knights."

King Yorrick paused to gauge their reactions with expectancy. As he figured, his five generals were the first to express their views, some arguing that to do so would weaken their lines in the north, though he was already aware of this side effect. He simply wanted them to consider the concept, which a few others in the council did. These members sat quietly, their faces twisted with both surprise and concern as they pondered carefully. While it was true that his idea was risky, there was also some merit to be had. Loathe to admit it, they knew the knights would not be able to handle the demons without support, and none knew of any better solution themselves. The King also expected their solemn response. What he was looking for was the wayward spark of mischief behind the eyes of the suspected lords. His suggestion was created as a means to fake desperation, though his act wasn't completely staged, and he had hoped that it would give rise to traitorous plots anew in the lord's minds. Pulling troops from the borders would make the perfect opportunity for Labrynna to invade, after all. He forced an annoyed grunt surfacing from his throat at their lack of shifting expressions. The lord's surprise was there, but none of their features betrayed their thoughts. Crafty as always, he mused. He would have been more impressed by their wills had their actions not been a threat to him.

My web is spun. Now it is time to drop the bait, he thought. King Yorrick pretended to acknowledge their opinions, giving them the reassurance that he'll be contemplating more about the matter, before he switched topics. He knew exactly how to play in the lords' favors through experience. "I hope you all have been raising your sons diligently these past years, considering my daughter is to turn twelve soon," he announced, wiggling his eyebrows in good humor should he be suspected by the nobles in return. The statement did not fall on deaf ears as their eyes lit up, attentions perked. A few smirked confidently among each other, aware of the implications. "The boys will need to be every bit ready for the courting tribunals that will take place upon her sixteenth birthday. Remember, I have high standards for her suitors."

He watched bemusedly as his words reeled in a bout of casual debate amongst the lords, each man and woman claiming to have the future victor in his or her family. Honestly, the King cringed at his own suggestions, berating himself for stooping so low as to use his own daughter as bait. He'd much rather imprison those who thought of her as nothing more than a prize, especially those suspected of criminal acts that would use her for their own gain. But, at the same time, he knew that if he had not made the wager, he wouldn't get any closer to finding out the spies' identities. In fact, if the King wasn't confident in his connections with reliable sources, he wouldn't have risked the Princess's security in the presence of the tricky wordsmiths. I certainly am glad that I can trust somebody in this castle, at the very least, he thought idly, his mind wandering to shadows hugging the corners of the room. How ironic that the ones you can trust most make a habit of hiding truth from the light.

The meeting concluded without repercussions and he dismissed his company with a final announcement. King Yorrick decided that it was due time to find new recruits to fill out the knight academy, mostly in assurance to the councilmen and himself that the reinforcements would be a godsend in the near future. All seemed pleased with the choice, but were unaware of the King's other agenda of doing so. No one's mentioned that potential suitors were to be limited to those of noble birth after all. The lords only assumed this to be the case. Indeed, sons of veterans were also to be considered if they could successfully prove themselves in the upcoming trials, no matter their blood.

After supper, he immediately went to commence the next step of his plans before retiring to his lounge. Determined footfalls echoed in the otherwise silent halls of stone, carrying him further into the shadows of the castle. Once he made sure no one else had followed him, the King produced a small object from his pocket. It as a smoothly polished stone that settled into the palm of his hand, devoid of any decoration save for an engraved pattern about its face. The expertly crafted design curved delicately over the surface, flawless and intricate as it mapped out into a simple outline of an eye with a single tear. He gripped the stone lightly when a light blue glow emanated from its contours. Somewhere unseen by him, he caught the faintest sound of a mellow lullaby echoing through his mind as the light pulsed in his hand. In moments, as if answering to the stone's call, the shadows warped, breaking off from the rest and shaping into the form of a person. A portion of the rising moon had peeked through the rolling clouds outside in curiosity, its light giving definition to the stranger.

Before the King stood a still being, both feminine and masculine in appearance altogether, though its gender weighed more prominently to the former. She was garbed in deep navy, tight-fitted clothes that blended well with the hues of the night. Likewise, her skin was tinted dark enough to meld into the shadows. Wispy, pale hair contrasted her shady appearance, trimmed short and slicked back save for the long braided lock that was pinned to one side of her face, its length stretching about to her elbows. Her fierce crimson eyes, piercing and intimidating as they were, were relatively calm with a hint of wisdom flickering through, emphasized only by the lone tear drop tattoo that adorned her left eye. The woman was relatively tall, easily reaching his height of 6' 2", and lithe, slender limbs curving about in as she drew in a deep bow. Her body was adorned with masterful weapons dissimilar to traditional warrior standards. Hidden daggers and needles were strapped to her hips, upper arms, and in her boots. The only blade visible to the public was that of a short, curved sword – a kodachi – resting against the small of her back, attached to her belt. Few armor pieces clasped to her form, the light metal merely covering the most important vitals and only visible through her tan mantle that draped loosely across her right arm. To complete her look, a symbol was painted in crimson onto her tabard, mirroring the same emblem on the stone he carried.

The stone ceased pulsing in light with the arrival of his guest, and he lofted it before him for her to see, offering his peace. "Welcome, Shiekah. I'm honored by your presence," King Yorrick started, wasting no time to explain his summons. She simply nodded, silently rising from her curtsy. "I'm in need of your skills, as one of the people who walk amongst Hyrule's shadows. To put things briefly, and as I'm sure you're already aware, there are spies hiding within our walls, and I fear for my daughter's safety as of late. Her suitors will be put to the test for the next four years, resulting in a golden opportunity to make their move. I've already set the trap into motion, but I need assurance to Princess Zelda's safety, and I found you to be the best qualified for the position, as our private royal guard. Needless to say, I also intend on utilizing your information gathering abilities during this time."

"I understand, Your Majesty. I, Impa of the Shiekah tribe, lend you my services willingly just as my ancestors before me have," the female responded, curling her slender fingers into a fist and bringing it to her breast in another bow. "I stand by my oath to keep the Princess under my surveillance."

Pleased with her reply, King Yorrick raised his hand to dismiss her. The Shiekah expertly slipped back into the embrace of the shadows, vanishing from his sight completely even as the moonlight shone brilliantly within the halls. He allowed himself to relax, the second phase of his own operations underway, and made his way to retire to his chambers.


Light, slow footsteps shuffled through lush green patches of grass, deviating from normal routes to hug against the outer castle walls. A lone figure tiptoed carefully around brush and statues, pausing only to check the surroundings before proceeding once more. The person was lithe and short in stature, making detection incredibly difficult for the guards patrolling the parameters. Lips pulled into a triumphant grin as aquamarine eyes landed upon her destination. Princess Zelda pulled her makeshift cloak of bedsheets around her tiny form, hoping the faked tatters created a convincing servant disguise, and rushed forward before the guards made their return trips. Her fevered feet carried her into the large vine-laden patio at the center of the royal gardens. Only when she reached safety from watchful eyes did she permit herself to replenish her air supply, soothing her burning lungs and throat.

The Princess settled down onto one of the marble benches that was hidden by thick vines creeping through the pearly white lattice walls. Her slender hands released the guise to reveal the canvas she had toted with her during her escape from her previous lecture. The tutor droned on about world politics, only taking break to enjoy the refreshments her maids provided her. While the man was helping himself to earl grey tea and mint scones, she made a beeline for freedom. She had wanted a moment of fresh air, unrestricted by the stuffy atmosphere her study room and multiple tutors had provided, and what better way to enjoy her free time than to doodle in her sketch canvas. Granted, Zelda much preferred to practice her harp, but bringing the instrument here was not an option if she wanted to avoid being caught so soon. It truly came as a surprise to her that no one's seen her yet.

The guards are quite lax this morning, she thought, a bit annoyed. Though, she couldn't blame them too terribly much. After all, the day was beautiful and serene. The Princess deeply inhaled the scents spring had to offer upon tiny gusts of wind, soaking in the sun's kisses through miniscule cracks between vine leaves. She reclined in her seat slightly, enjoying the moderate temperatures resulting from the shift in seasons. Not too cold from the dreary winter, but not hot and muggy like Hyrule's summers either. It was the perfect balance and brimming with new life, unlike the melancholic autumns. She could not deny her favoritism towards spring, owing all credit to the glorious season for the inspirations it gave her.

Her eyes shifted about, determined to catch the best model for her newest sketch. Unfortunately, her pages had already been filled of what she could see in her peripherals. Though never exactly identical because of the passing seasons, her usual motifs of the patio and its dressings started to bore her. Even the unique paintings decorating the patio's ceiling gave her no interest this time around. Princess Zelda's face twisted into a grimace. I'll have to leave the patio to find something, I suppose. She lowered herself onto the floor, crawling to one of the two entrances to the enclosure, and craned her neck to peer around outside of her safe haven. Luck be with her, no guards flanked the eastern face of the terrace. The Princess spared a passing glance to the shadows on the grand sundial just past her refuge to gauge how much time she had before lunch break, provided she was not found and returned to her lectures before then. Good, I have a full hour all to myself! Her eyebrows furrowed when she saw a slight shift in the shadows cast by the wall she hid behind, her heart momentarily skipping a beat before she assured herself that her eyes were playing tricks on her.

Princess Zelda clutched her canvas close, pulling the ragged bedsheets around her shoulders out of habit as she stepped out of her hiding spot. Though she was positive she was out of line of sight for any who passed by, the young girl kept her stance as low to the ground as she could manage comfortably. The Princess wandered about the eastern gardens stealthily, her pristine blue eyes flickering about until she came upon something of interest. There! Her gaze snapped over to a nearby tree, her focus drawn in towards the canopy of branches and an arrangement of brilliant blossoms, a multitude of hues ranging from white to pink. Inspiration kicked in when her eyes settled upon an abandoned bird house upon one of the branches.

Rosy pink lips pulled into a fine line upon her features as she pulled a face. There was only one issue that prevented her from beginning her sketch. Her subject was too high up to be able to see clearly. She chanced another glance around the gardens in precaution before hiking her skirts and tying them into a tight knot, careful not to damage the fabric through the stretch. Placing her canvas and pencil in her sheets, she created a makeshift satchel to loop around her shoulders and studied the tree to carefully map out her route. Her hands patted away at areas, flexing and relaxing to test for footholds, until she found a suitable grip. Zelda climbed her way to one of the neighboring branches level to her subject. The ascent was straightforward, met with no real problems save for a couple of higher ledges, to which she had to spend some extra time stretching in order to reach. Luck be with her once more, the princess made it to her destination without falling, all the while careful not to scrape her dress along the bark for fear of ruining the material and risk a scolding.

Finding purchase, she settled onto a thick, sturdy branch and now faced her subject with no obstacles to prevent her view. She pulled out the canvas, equipping her pencil, and began sketching her draft in accordance to her whims. The princess inwardly groaned at her lack of colored pencils, for the scenery was much too perfect to be depicted in such bland, neutral tones. Though, she realized with despondency, if she had the whole set on her person, she would not have been able to attempt the climb in the first place. Before her fevered hands, her drawing came to life regardless of being devoid of color. The branch of vibrant green leaves, earthy browns, and pink and white buds mirrored its monochromatic doppelgänger spreading across the page. In addition to the landscape, the simple bird house was redesigned intricately in the foreground, accompanied by a miniature figure of a person.

Zelda focused most of her concentration on this individual, her model invisible to the public as she heavily relied on the depictions of fairies she had once read about. She's never seen one in person, but it was a lifelong dream of hers to meet one of the mythical beings. From storybooks she's read, her impersonations of the creatures were that fairies had forms like that of humans, but on a much smaller scale. Their mode of transportation they bore on their backs, thin glass-like wings splayed into the air, so fragile in appearance that one would fear shattering the extensions with an exhale of breath. A fairy's very essence was that of exuberance and freedom, an existence the princess couldn't help but envy a bit. As the creature took form upon the page, poised in a graceful waltz through the breeze that encircled the girl, Zelda marveled at her work.

The princess took pride in herself upon her accomplishments, always the one with the keen artistic and musical talents. They were her strongest suits, followed close by foreign languages and social studies. Her peers often praised her for her unique ability to comprehend some of the most advanced subjects considering her age, most bragging about her intelligence and natural-born leadership skills. Though she's only learned Zora and Goron speech, she was becoming ever more fluent with her knack for understanding the complexities of each syllable. Through tomes, she was also secretly tutoring herself with ancient speech and other foreign languages, though the libraries were severely lacking in subjects relating to Yetish and Gerudo. After all, not many scholars had any luck in researching the two cultures due to the troublesome extremities.

The icy plains and cliffs of Snowpeak were imprinted with a history of failed attempts to traverse into its borders. In fact, had it not been for the Zora's knowledge, no one would have known about the Yetish race and culture nestled deep within the snow-painted mountains. Many who have dared travelled into Snowpeak met their fates under avalanches and permafrost, if not to the unpredictable nature of the artic wild. Very few made it back, all of which endured heavy injuries from wolves and bears or from tragic falls upon the slippery slopes. No one's dared to return as of late, not even those with adventurous urges, too fearful for their lives to even consider it.

Likewise, the Gerudo desert has proven just as brutal as far as its environment is concerned, the polar opposite to Snowpeak. Venomous creatures lurked about in its dunes, claiming nearly as many lives as the wildlife in the tundra, their toxins so potent that no antivenin had been able to cure. Arid and lifeless as it were, the desert proved to be impossible for the Hylians to find comfort and sustenance on their journeys that any further endeavors have been cancelled. The overbearing sun and swirling sandstorms of the region threatened to bury them in sweltering heat, sapping them of their stamina and greedily stealing away their means to stay hydrated. To add onto the list of dangers, the Gerudo people also had a reputation of aggression against the Hylians, so much that any interest in the desert culture had all but faded away. Every now and then, the princess was struck with intrigue of how both races could adapt to such environments, but her thoughts were always whisked away by the subjects that her mentors worked to ingrain on her.

Princess Zelda was busying herself with a mistake in the position of the fairy's dress, determined to perfect the piece so that she may show it off to her mother later, when a strong gust of wind took her by surprise. What might have been a comfortable spring breeze on the ground was a tempest that shook the very branches she sat upon. She had no time to scowl at the fact the blossoms had changed positions during this occurrence, ruining her masterpiece. Instead, her attention was more concentrated on the feeling of weightlessness that began to take hold of her as her form was removed from its support. The momentary floating sensation was instantly replaced by a strong pull and a feeling of dread. She was hurtling toward the ground, too stunned to comprehend what was going on. Her instincts failed her as she grazed past branches she could've latched onto to catch herself. Rather, she did the only thing she could think of, pulling her limbs close to brace herself for the impact, hoping against all hope to prevent extensive damage from the fall. Her eyes clenched shut, anticipating the crash as the ground before her seemed to rise at an alarming rate to meet her.

However, the impact was different from what she expected. Instead of ramming into a solid, flat surface, she felt a light breeze below her form that appeared to slow her fall, replaced by the grip of lithe arms. The princess's eyes fluttered open weakly to figure out what had happened. She wasn't even aware that she had fainted for a few seconds, her senses returning to her slowly and pushing the numbness away. Her gaze rested on her rescuer then, studying the taller woman who looked as if she had emerged out of nowhere. Zelda's attention flickered briefly to a shadow wavering nearby before returning to the stranger. Aquamarine orbs darkened behind narrowed eyelids, suspicion crawling across her features. Ignoring the blatant rudeness she offered her savior, the princess muttered under her breath, "Who are you?"

A momentary pause occurred between them as surprise sparked behind Impa's own crimson gaze. Then she offered a gentle grin to respond. "I'm no one suspicious, of that you can be assured, Your Majesty. Though, I'm genuinely befuddled that you do not know of me. I am Impa of the Shiekah, a shadow clan dedicated to serving the Royal Crest and its forebears. Your father, His Majesty, has left me in charge of your well-being as of today."

At hearing these words, Zelda scrunched her face into one of displeasure, no attempt of masking her obvious distaste as the Shiekah before her further explained her line of work. How come she has never heard of the Shiekah before, and yet this Impa claimed her heritage to serve over the past generations? And how was she only learning this now, that she was to be chaperoned, when she was already at the age of twelve? Were the other guards not suitable enough for the task all of these years she was raised? The last answer came to her readily as she pondered their lack of attention earlier while she was sneaking about. Realizing then her position within the strange woman's arms, Zelda pushed herself to stand and gain a bit of distance.

Impa gauged the girl's reactions with calm, amusement well hidden behind her cloth mask. The princess had yet to thank her, and what's more, suspected her of misguided information it seemed. Such a shame that, had it not been for the girl's reckless behavior resulting in vulnerability just moments before, the princess would pass of as rather attentive and trusting of her own well-being. Still, the Shiekah thought it best to provide evidence of her claims. Impa slowly rose from her crouch and shifted into a kneeling position before her new ward, determined to remain level with the princess to settle any tension between them. A warm smile crossed her features in a tender way, almost motherly, as she tucked her hand into her mantle. The wary flinch from the princess did not go unnoticed.

The Shiekah slowly retracted her hand after her fingers wrapped around the object hidden away in her breast pocket. Her crimson eyes carefully watched those of the princess's, whose aquamarine gaze never strayed from her movements. As her hand pulled away from her mantle, the object began to take form. Its size was just small enough that, if she so chose, could be completely engulfed and hidden from view in her lengthy hand. A polished grey surface rest smoothly in her palm, despite the faint blue engravings winding into an eye-like pattern. Zelda's cerulean orbs widened in slight as her shoulders relaxed slowly. Affirming her own safety once she realized it was not a weapon, the girl chanced a gaze to the Shiekah before her, taking note that the woman had been watching her the whole time.

"What is it?" she hesitantly asked, brows knitted in partial confusion. The stone seemed harmless in perspective, but she still wasn't sure of Impa's intentions as of yet. For all she knew, the stone could be a tool of cursing her or for trapping her in some kind of prison spell. That is, if the Shiekah's claim to shadow magic was true. Begrudgingly, Zelda mentally admitted her lack of knowledge as far as magic was concerned, so she had no way to distinguish between its different spectrums. Still, she couldn't help but feel something from the object produced by the woman, almost as if it was calling out to her.

Momentary shock and wonder came over her features as Impa's reply didn't come from the lips but rather from the rock itself. "This is called a Shiekah gossip stone, a sending stone if you will. With the magic of our clan, it can be used for communication across distances, as well as a means to collect privy intel. My people have used these for countless generations to aid in our servitude to the Royal Crown of Hyrule. Just as it was given to use by the Goddess Hylia herself, and passed onto the Zeldas of past, I now bestow this gift onto you. Should you ever require my assistance for anything, you need only search out my spirit," Impa ended her explanation with a raise of the hand holding the rock, though her speech reverted to normal halfway. With a soft smile, she added, "King Yorrick carries a similar stone. If you still doubt me, you can always confront him about it. If you're ready to accept this gift, I'm willing to teach you its secrets and how to utilize it."

Princess Zelda spared another passing glance between the Shiekah and the stone, pursing her lips in thought. Racking her brain, she couldn't think of any reason not to trust the older woman considering all that was said. There was a certain truth that rang about from Impa's words, of that she was sure of though she knew not why. The more she pondered, the more she felt as if she's been through this kind of scenario before. Such an odd sensation it was to put trust in a stranger, though every fiber of her being seemed to encourage her decision, as if she was fated to cross paths with the Shiekah. All the while weighing her options, her fingers twitched at her sides in anticipation. Her curious nature was bubbling through her façade as she felt compelled to take up the stone, overcome with interest towards the secrets and art of magic of the shadow clan. Nodding her head as if affirming her decision was the right one, the princess outstretched her hand to collect the artifact, fingers delicately wrapping around its smooth surface. She elicited a small gasp as a strange wave of energy passed through her body, visible as a soft blue glow enveloped her. Confusion and fear flickered behind her aquamarine eyes, an expression unhidden to the woman.

"Relax, Your Highness. I assure you, this spell is not intended with harm in mind. It's only copying part of your essence into the stone and will end shortly." As soon as the words left Impa's lips, Zelda could feel the magic fading away as promised. Her gaze switched to the stone that pulsed with warmth in her palm, her mouth gaping in awe. The Shiekah further explained that now that her spiritual essence was sealed into the stone, the princess would be able to contact any who were linked in a similar fashion, such as herself or King Yorrick. "By using this stone, you will always know where to find us and will be able to call us at any moment. Likewise, should danger befall either one of you, I shall know and teleport to your side immediately. I swear upon blood oath to always protect the Royal Crown."

With the spiritual contract finalized, Impa bid the princess farewell, but not without warning the girl that she should return to her rooms before someone discovered her in her ragged appearance. Zelda stared quizzically at the woman retreating into the shadows before sparing a glance at her attire. So much for being careful, she thought in discontent. Despite her best efforts, the dress she wore had acquired a few tears from scraping against branches during the fall. Her hair was loosened from its braid and dotted with stray leaves. Thankfully, upon further inspection, she found no damage done to her own body. The princess switched her attention over to the sketching material haphazardly strewn about. Some pages had come undone from the canvas and lay a distance away, beckoning for her to claim them before the wind took them away. Her pencil rested where she had landed, snapped into two halves. She gave it a scowl before focusing on her priority. Though having lost some pages from the fall, the sketch booklet turned out as undamaged as she, the drawing she had been working on before saved from any blemishes. Princess Zelda swept past the discarded pencil to gather her collections into the satchel, taking one last glance towards her latest masterpiece, pride bubbling up inside at how well it turned out considering the circumstances. Her earlier inspirations completely faded as her sensitive ears picked up the sound of the bell tower chiming to signal the lunch hour. The girl dashed across the grounds, no longer caring if she was seen or not, as she rushed back to her rooms to change before she was scolded.

FIN

A/N: Aaaaaaaaaaaand done! Okay, I know this was a long one, but like before, I couldn't figure out when to stop this one. I was becoming too engrossed with Impa's introduction that I just couldn't help myself. Truth be told, I could have written this chapter for ages. (Can you tell she's one of my favorites?) We'll be seeing a lot more of Impa's relations in the future too, as I'm sure some of you may have figured out already. She is a key role after all. As for those wondering, I tried to accurately describe her appearance as being a mix of the from SS and Hyrule Warriors. Her armor is like that of HW, but her hair, skin, and outerwear matches more closely to that of SS. Hope I didn't screw anything up there.

Honestly, this chapter would have been done sooner, but I had a writing assignment, plus two quizzes, plus two tests and I was overwhelmed that I had to take a break. So, sorry for the delay. I hope this chapter's length would make up for my absence. I've also been on a bit of hiatus/writer's block because I feel like I could do better with my writing. Some parts seem a bit monotonous to me. I'm hoping for reviews soon that may inspire me or boost my morale.

And on the subject of lengths… I may have lied when I joked about not making this a novel. It's becoming more likely that this fanfiction will be my longest one yet, and I predict at least 20 chapters if not more. So, you're all in for an epic run. I'm much too fascinated in background stories for our beloved characters. I know that Ganondorf's part seems more rushed than that of Zelda's and Link's, but I promise that'll change soon. We'll be switching back to his story in the next chapter. And don't worry, the time for the main three's convergence is drawing near. Now, with that all said and done, I bid you all adieu.