matre pulcha, filia pulchrior (daughter more beautiful than beautiful mother)

- Horace


The black knight withdrew his sword—a ghostly girl emerged from the darkness. They stood silently.

Luna whispered, "Umm... Thanks, mister."

The black knight sheathed his blade. Luna stepped back and faded away. The knight walked forth but couldn't find her.

The sounds of rowdy guards echoed. The black knight made his own disappearance...


"Is it safe?" Sheik's voice cheeped from shrubbery.

"I think so, I sure can't see anything," Blondie replied from branches.

"Is that scary grown-up gone, too?" Sam asked.

"Yes, Aram, he's gone."

"I asked that, not Aram," Sam remarked.

"Maybe the monster is hiding somewhere? You sure he's not anywhere here?" Zelda asked.

"We would have heard him breathing, or at least the Wolfoses barking at him," Luna commented.

"Hm, good point."

Sheik popped out the bushes like a Deku Scrub. "Alright, we should be able to sneak back home, now."

"Are you kidding? We'll be grounded for life!" Zelda warned.

"No, wait, I mean... OK, I have an idea. I'll tell Mom I saw you in trouble with the Keeses, so I went to save you..."

"Oh, yeah, so all the trouble gets put on me? Because obviously, you did nothing wrong?" Zelda snapped. "A better idea is that I saw you wandering around with your friend, so I took my sword to save you but we got lost."

"What? No way! I'm not telling Mom that!"

Zelda rolled her eyes.

"Let's just go, I'm bored," Aram whined. He and the other Skull Kids ruffled themselves.

"Alright," Gödel said, "let's check it out over there..."

Luna looked at the rising sun, relieved by the young light and how birdsong replaced violence. She went to Sheik. "What do you mean telling Mom?"

"Hunh?" Sheik made a weird face.

Luna returned one, too. "What does... Mom... Mean for you?"

"You don't know what a mother is? Oh! Right, as a fairy child, you don't have parents. I apologize for not explaining this properly. Ahem... We are born from mothers. Bigger versions of us...y'know, grown-ups, and, well...they create smaller versions of themselves, who are their children."

Luna raised an eyebrow.

"It's...hard to explain."

Zelda materialised with a mischievous face. "Luna, I think what Sheik's tryin' to say...is that he wants you to be his wife."

Sheik blushed. "Zelda! Nnno!"

His sister cackled, Luna perplexed.

"Hey! You guys coming or what?" Tara called from afar. "See, if you want to go back to the castle, we can take you there. It's easy for us but only if you use your feet."

"Yeah, that's what you wanted, right?" Gödel added.

"We're coming, don't worry," Zelda replied.

The royals and Luna followed the Skull Kids.

"We need to think of something to not get in trouble," Sheik repeated.

"I know!" Zelda yelled. "Just, just, just... OK, wait a sec, actually, no..." Zelda placed her hand under her chin, devising a great plan, then looked at Luna and smiled.

"What?" Luna asked, staring back blankly.

Zelda looked at her brother. "We say we saw your friend, lost and alone, chased by the werewolf. So, we quickly went out to save her! Ha! That'll work perfectly!" She balled her fists. Oh, yeah!"

"Sis...do you know how silly that sounds?"

"Hey!" Zelda yelled, leaning into her brother, who reared. "You're the one acting like a hero all the time! You wanted to be her hero!" She calmly gestured to Luna. "So, y'know, let's pretend we saved her or something. I have a good feeling about this, because Mom was also friends with a fairy child! We gotta connect to her...sensitivities..." The princess made a sinister little smile. "Now that's wisdom, my dumb little brother."

Sheik frowned. "Fine, whatever, I guess we have to try... I hope Mom won't be too mad."

Luna looked worried. She pushed her hand through her hair, rather confused of her friends' plotting.

"Alright, let's go! It's not that far, maybe half an hour or so," Gödel spoke up ahead.

The children traveled, sometimes checking their backs. Thankfully, no monsters, but unbeknownst to all but one of them, the silver Wolfos kept her eye out on them, concealed in the forest. Luna smiled at her.


Later, the children reached the edge of the forest. They beheld the eastern side of Hyrule Castle, guards absent—quite a rarity.

"Looks like all the guards are gone. I bet we can climb back to my room easy!" Sheik stated. He leapt out the bushes and a piercing whistle rang through the air; Sheik jumped, Zelda screamed, Luna covered her ears, and the Skull Kids were curious.

"What's that? A new song?" Blondie chirped. She fluted the highest note possible; Luna slapped it down and scowled. Blondie shrugged.

"There you are!" the guard captain exclaimed, picking up Sheik by the back of his belt, the prince trying to run away on all fours. A few more castle guards seemingly materialized from nowhere.

"What? Have we been spotted?" Aram asked cluelessly, he and the other Skull Kids popping their heads out the bushes as the guards neared.

"Hey! We don't like grown-ups!" Gödel threatened.

"What are you gonna do? Blow your flutes at us?" one of the guards mocked.

"Um, yeah, that's actually exactly what I was thinking, actuallly..." Blondie mumbled as she picked up her flute.

"You won't take us alive!" Aram loaded darts and blew them with all his might; everyone watched the darts bounce off the guard's armor.

"How's that working out for you?" Luna asked.

"Not as good as I thought..."

"What are Skull Kids doing here, anyways?" a guard asked.

"Go on, get lost you brats!" A guard brushed his spear against the bushes, scaring away the Skull Kids.

Zelda's head popped out the bush, eyes almost aflame with rage. "Hey! Watch where you point that thing!"

The soldier reared. "Oh! Uh, my princess, sorry about that..."

Zelda stood tall, fixed her mitre, then proudly stepped out the bush. "If only I was not so regal, I would court-martial you all for your inelegance."

The guards stared, googly-eyed.

The captain lifted his visor. "Hm? Oh, there you are." The guard captain let his arm drop, still holding puppy-eyed Sheik, his feet touching the ground.

"Yes, here I am," Zelda assured, then faced the Skull Kids. "Thank you for taking me to the castle as instructed. I no longer require your services. You are free to go home."

"OK, we'll get going, then," Tara said, and the Skull Kids went back into the bushes, but did not actually walk away.

Zelda slowly turned to face the guards. Chin up, she partly closed her eyes. "Now, could you kindly escort me to my residence, good sirs, quite immediately?"

"And here I was expecting you would just flee... We thought you two got kidnapped or ran away or something," the guard captain remarked.

"Me? Kidnapped? Oh, plllease, Captain Krin..." Zelda clasped her hands behind her back, slowly walking past the captain. "You, sir, are the one who is more likely to get kidnapped...and I would have to be the one rescuing you." Zelda stared up the castle. "Oh, and you can put my stupid brother down? He's quite a hassle, but won't scurry away while I am here."

The guard captain dropped Sheik, who landed with a huff.

"Alright, come with us. Let's get you back to your mother before she has a heart attack." The guard captain gestured to his men.

"Wait! What about Luna!?" Sheik cried as he got up. He turned around but Luna could not be seen. "L...Luna? You there?"

"Who's that?" the guard captain asked.

"My friend. She's from the forest."

"Only royals and those with official business are allowed in the castle," the guard captain stated. "Come on, let's go, or I will carry you back home."

Sheik's heart dropped, head and shoulders lowering. He lifted his chin and looked for Luna, but she could not be seen.

"Luna!" the prince called.

No reply.

"Sheik! Let's go, now!" the captain barked. Sheik walked away. "Prince! Get over here!"

Sheik found Luna by a tree, staring blankly. He held her hands. "I'm sorry, Luna, you're not allowed in the castle...but we'll still be friends, right?"

The albino softly smiled. "We better."

They chuckled.

The captain stomped through shrubbery. "Dammit, boy!"

"I have to go now, Luna. I just don't want Mom to be worried sick about me."

"It's OK, Sheik." Luna leaned forward to whisper. "I'll try to meet you again tonight."

"I'll be grounded, but I will try to meet you too, if I can..."

Luna smiled. "I will find you."

They let go and Sheik went with the guards and his sister. "Bye, Luna!"

Luna waved. "Byyye!"

Zelda also waved, and so the Hylians departed, Sheik rubbing his eyes.

Luna sighed.

Blondie stepped next to Luna. "Well! Not that often forest kids get to meet the prince and princess of Hyrule, eh?"

"Hah-hah! Yeah!" Aram said.

"Not that often they nearly get killed by a monster, either," Gödel commented.

"Aw, c'mon Gödel! It was fun!" Tara playfully pushed his shoulder.

"Well, not the fun I'd want to do again anytime soon..." Gödel admitted.

"It would be, if you got to hit the beast with your flute!" Blondie stated, the Skull Kids chuckling.

"Ha! Yeah, I'd still pay to see Gödel hit a monster with his flute," Sam remarked.

"So, Luna, what're you gonna do?" Aram asked.

"Hm? Oh, nothing, just wander around the castle town again, I guess." Stretching, she yawned. "But I'm actually pretty tired from last night."

"OK, but we can't go with you, if you're alright with that," Blondie said.

"I'll be fine. You stay safe too, friends." Luna left.

"Oh, wait! Luna!" Gödel cried, she stopped. "I totally forgot, but we told the Twins we would be looking for you."

"Oh, right, I forgot about that. Heh, heh..." Blondie mumbled.

"I don't really care if you choose to stay or leave Kokiri Forest. But, when we can, we will tell the fairy children you're doing good," Gödel said.

Luna became angry, clenching her fists, but calmed down. "Thank you. Tell them I'm alright. Tell them I'm...on a quest."

Gödel cocked his head. "Oh? You're really not coming back?"

"I have to go my own path, Gödel."

"It's OK, Gödel, we did our part. Now, we'll let Luna do hers, whatever it happens to be," Tara said.

He straightened his hat. "I understand."

Luna nodded. "Keep it a secret from everyone."

The Skull Kids nodded in unison.


While castle guards went back to their patrols, Sheik and Zelda followed the captain into the castle. The guards saluted him as he entered. Inside, the three walked up the stairway.

The castle interior was featured with blue carpets, suits of armor, paintings, and gilded metal torches that burned with smokeless fire. They occasionally passed small groups of nobles, patrolling guards, retainers, merchants, or clerics, most of whom nodded to the prince and princess, or commented they were glad to see them safe.

Once they reached the upper section of the keep, the guard captain stopped before a fleet of stairs. He gestured the children to go on. "I think it's best you see your mother on your own."

"Alright. Thanks for escorting us," the princess said.

He nodded. "You know, she went with us to find you two. Even engaged in combat with the monster even when the guards were too scared. She thought that beast killed you. I can only imagine what horror must have been going through her head. She wept all night."

Sheik's eyes lowered. "Oh, no... Sorry, Mom..."

"Nah, she's alright," Princess Zelda assured.

"Go on, your mother is waiting."

Sheik and Zelda looked at one another, swallowed, and stepped up.

"Oh," the guard captain said as he stopped and turned, the princess and prince doing likewise. "And next time you both run away...could you kindly not terrify the entire castle, please? Leave a note behind or something."

Zelda and Sheik nodded.


"I hope Mom won't freak out," Zelda whispered as she and her brother approached the queen's room.

Contrary to their vast plans, the siblings were awfully quiet. Plotting in the background was certainly easier than approaching the actual problem.

Sheik placed his hand on his sister's shoulder. They looked at each other, pausing.

"Well, it was nice knowing ya," Princess Zelda said.

"Same."

Barely opening the door, Zelda and Sheik silently entered Mother's quarters...

Closed curtains dimmed the bedroom, giving it an eerie look. Suits of armor flanked the unlit fireplace. In front of the stain-glass windows was a big desk, full of books and paperwork stacked high. More paperwork and books were piled underneath and around the desk.

The siblings tiptoed forth, their view gradually going around the piles of papers. Slowly, they saw someone, seated, arms crossed on the desktop and head down. Her long, straight blonde hair concealed her face. She slept, breathing lightly, the papers beneath her face damp. The sleeping lady wore a long, crimson velvet dress and tall leather boots, but no jewelry.

"Mom?" Sheik whispered, tapping the lady's shoulder, but she remained asleep. Sheik gently prodded the lady amid soft whispers.

Princess Zelda rolled her eyes. "MMMOMMM!"

The lady groaned, slowly lifted her head, and rubbed her face. She yawned. Her pair of sleep-deprived, blue eyes opened...

A few seconds passed. Zelda and Sheik smiled.

"We're back, Mom," the princess chirped.

The queen placed her hand over her heart, eyes big, and reared. Great weight fell off her shoulders. She slumped in her seat and closed her teary eyes. She took a deep, slow breath, knelt, and held her children tightly, her head between theirs.

"I thought I lost you..." Queen Zelda sobbed, gently swaying in her embrace. She just wanted to be with her children, no matter how scruffy and pesky they were.


Midday ambered the sky.

The black knight reached the castle town, minding his own business. Due to his imposing appearance despite not being that tall, everyone left him alone and kept their distance, even the guards.

After the drawbridge, the black knight noticed a crowd at the market fountain.

"What is that thing?"

"How did it get here?"

"Wasn't here yesterday..."

"Looks like some sort of giant tadpole."

"Maybe one of those talking frogs from Zora's River?"

"I will find out!" a boy said, leaning over the fountain and feeling the water.

"Don't touch him!" a girl squeaked.

"Be careful, you'll scare him away again!"

"Aww, he got away again," the boy whined. He saw the black knight approaching. "Daddy, who's that?"

The black knight made no reaction, walking along casually as his mail jingled. Some mothers pulled their children back. Some people stepped away, a few leaving. The two guards at either side of the path toward the castle kept a stolid watch on the knight, but did nothing, even as he passed them.

One of the bystanders was a long-haired redhead with blue eyes. She wore a bright purple dress, long leather boots, and a cream-colored short-sleeved shirt with a yellow scarf. "Hunh, his armor, it's so different... He's not from around here, is he?"

"Definitely not. I wonder why he's here?" an older, large, overweight lady in a white dress remarked, her mutt lightly barking at the knight. The mutt scurried after the knight, sniffed, then happily trotted off.

The crowd's attention swarmed back to the fountain, murmurs commencing.


The blue tadpole-like creature Luna left swam around, sometimes bobbing and staring back at the onlookers curiously, fins and tail gently swaying. Occasionally, people tossed bread crumbs. As the bread sank, the creature swam over and ate. The citizenry could only wonder what the thing was. More and more people came to have a look at the new attraction...


The black knight continued his walk. He sometimes checked behind himself, felt like someone followed him, but saw nobody.

Up ahead was the gatehouse with a gargoyle atop, who although silent always knew the time though never bothered to talk much. The gate guard was middle-aged, a veteran who was quite experienced at standing by a gate and doing nothing. "The castle's closed to outsiders, official business only."

The black knight presented a letter to the guard, who read it and snickered. He returned the letter, tapped the butt of his spear against the ground, and the gate noisily opened.

The knight carried on. Halfway up the path, he stopped and turned but saw no one. "Hmm..."

The black knight made his way along the flowery path. The guards left him alone once he showed them his latter. He soon reached the stairway leading to the castle drawbridge, where the guards demanded his business. The knight showed them the same letter as before. The guards read it then paused.

"What an old letter, you sure don't see those that often anymore," a guard commented, giving it back.

"I will also inform the herald about you, sir. This will allow you in the castle without any problems," the other guard said, walking into the castle with the knight.


Sheik and Zelda were both sitting in the queen's throne. Before the royal siblings was a big desk, full of paperwork, books and scrolls, as well as a chessboard with scattered chess pieces. At first, it appeared that the royal children were busily managing the kingdom or planning their next ultimate move in chess. Nope. They were drawing pictures with wax pastels while fighting over blank paper.

"Give me that!" Princess Zelda squeaked as Sheik pulled a page away, which had a simple drawing of a boy fighting a dragon. On the other side of the page, was a drawing of a dark, dead forest with a black tower off in the distance.

"No, it's mine! Go away!" Sheik growled, Zelda leaning over him to get the paper back, knocking over several chess pieces, but Sheik managed to keep it out of her reach. The kids continued fighting over the paper...

The throne room had a blue carpet and marble pillars. Royal guards stood along the walls here and there, stoically enduring the regal brats' little war.

Each royal guard wore white, gilded armor engraved with Triforces and laurel wreaths. Underneath their armor, they wore long-sleeved mail shirts over purple and white garments.

As the two kids fought, footfall echoed so they paused mid-fight. Standing nearby was Mom, now dressed very elegantly in velvet, adorning bejeweled golden rings on her fingers and ears, a golden tiara crowning her head. She stared at her kids with a stolidly regal look. Then she just sighed.

"Oh, uh...sorry, Mom," Princess Zelda mumbled. She and her brother returned to normal.

"I cannot leave you two alone even for a little while before you start fighting..." Queen Zelda commented. Her offspring said nothing. "What do you think would happen if I told Father?"

"If he were here, he'd probably be angry," Princess Zelda replied. Queen Zelda walked around the table, then stroked Sheik's head, the boy rolling his shoulders to get away. Queen Zelda chuckled.

"Oh c'mon, Mom! I'm not a baby!"

"No matter how old you are, you will always be my baby," Queen Zelda corrected.

"Hah hah!" Princess Zelda teased, sticking her tongue out at Sheik, who dismissively waved his arm at her.

"You, too, princess-me." Queen Zelda patted her daughter's mitre.

"Ha! Good thing I have a hat!" Princess Zelda exclaimed, so the queen pinched her girl's cheek. The princess angrily leaned away, a cat ready to pounce!

Queen Zelda chuckled. She noticed the spilled inkwell, which had obviously ruined several papers and left a sticky mess. The queen sighed. She really did not want to do any additional cleaning today, let alone think about so much paperwork needlessly ruined.

Princess Zelda blushed.

Mother clasped her hands. "You know what? How about we go to the courtyard? Let's take a break from everything."


The Castle Courtyard was at the other side of the southern wall of the throne room. Clusters of pretty flowers adorned the courtyard, bordered by flowing water along a channel adjacent to the walls. The northern end of the courtyard had a small set of stairs going up a raised section, leading to a wall with a window allowing visibility into the throne room, the royal guards there like statues as always.

Princess Zelda lied down amidst flowers, enjoying herself. She looked into the flowing water. "You know what this place needs? Fishing!"

"Fishing?" Sheik asked, who stood with Mom examining various flowers and the insets they attracted. "How could you even fish here?" A Golden Butterfly flew by and landed on Sheik's nose. He paused, mouth open, eyes pointing inwards.

Mother noticed and laughed. "What do you got there, Sheik?"

He was about to push the bug off but didn't want to hurt the benign creature. He shook his face, the butterfly flying away. Mother smiled.

"Well, still, it'd be cool to have some fish swimming around..." Princess Zelda remarked, getting up and brushing her dress. "Mom, will we ever go to the Fishing Pond?"

Mother cocked her head, eyebrows furrowed. "Have you already forgotten about you being in trouble and grounded?"

"Mommm..."

"After what happened, I do not think I will leave either of you out of my sight for quite a while."

"And that's exactly why we sneak away once in a while," Princess Zelda asserted, keeping eye contact with Mother. "Obviously, it will take more than a castle and a spy to keep me cooped up."

"Zelda... A princess has no business roaming the wilderness. A prince having an adventure abroad I can understand...but not a lady like you, especially now when it is so dangerous. Can Hyrule's destiny really depend on such a disobedient girl?"

"Ughh! Mom!" The princess raised her arms in a fit of frustration. "You're the one with the Triforce of Wisdom on her hand, not me!" She showed the back of her right hand to Mother, where clearly there was nothing. "I am not a Princess of Destiny, I'm pretty sure the Goddesses didn't choose me for anything." Princess Zelda dropped her arms and angrily clenched her fists, eyebrows narrowed. "Or maybe you're just too stupid to notice that?"

Sheik's eyes went big.

"Zelda..." Mom leaned over her daughter, the princess crossing her arms grumpily, standing her ground. "This is our lineage and divine duty. We cannot relinquish our destiny. There is evil out there, and you are safest in the castle walls. You are too young...too young to understand."

"Seriously, Mom? Didn't you spend a number of years outside the castle? Running around and hiding from the evil that you ended up defeating? You did not need the castle walls, they obviously failed you. Don't you think I can do the same?" Princess Zelda spoke hard. "Only difference is that you needed the Triforce, I wouldn't."

The queen's face saddened as she reflected about unhappy memories. Sheik did not like seeing Mom unhappy but kept quiet.

"Ohhh... You are just like your dad," Queen Zelda acknowledged with some irritation.

"Admitting defeat, hmm?" Princess Zelda teased.

"I... Zelda, I just want you to have a happy childhood. You have only one chance at it. Do not waste it, or you might end up regretting it forever." The queen straightened her back. "Hyrule Castle is your home, the place you are supposed to be, the place you are meant to be. When I pass away, it will be your turn to obtain the Triforce of Wisdom...your turn to uphold Hyrule's destiny."

"I know, but... I want to be like you...just without the legend. I'm not living my life to play music, sing songs, or be trapped in castles. I want to be wild and free, I am not some doll part of some celestial scheme," Princess Zelda admitted softly. She frowned. "Why can't you understand?"

The princess' words, although spoken softly, impacted Mom. Eyes shiny, Mother looked like she wanted to say something but...turned away, head low.

"Mom?" Sheik and Zelda asked. Mother stayed silent, walking toward the window overlooking the throne hall.

The princess and prince looked at each other, then went after Mom. She sadly stood before the window, head low, and just thought to herself. Sheik and Zelda approached Mother, wondering what was wrong with her.

"If you end up like me...you will live with guilt and regret for the rest of your life," Mother said as if she admitted a crime. This very window brought back memories of what happened long ago, and the consequences of her actions. Was it all her fault? She heard her children walk to her, Sheik standing by her left, Zelda by her right, both looking up at her.

"You never told us anything about that. Mom, what's wrong?" Sheik asked.

Queen Zelda smiled at her son.

"You know, Sheik, I can only wonder what else Mother hides from us," Princess Zelda asked. Mother's mood dropped again.

Sheik made a pleading facial expression at his sister.

"What?" the princess almost demanded.

"Sis, why do you keep your politeness for new people and not for family?"

"Because I'm not a little puppy like you."

Sheik frowned. "If I were you, Mom, I'd give her a spanking."

Mother chuckled. "She was always quite the little rebel, like Father..."

"Well, maybe you should be more like me? Maybe then you wouldn't feel regret and guilt. I sure don't! Why do you, anyways?"

Queen Zelda sighed. She placed her right hand on her left elbow, closed her eyes, and just breathed. What if her children followed the same road she did? What if the princess just was not meant for destiny? Or was this a repeating, inevitable fate no matter what? Well, all she knew, was that so long ago, she was too young to understand the journeys that awaited her.

"You are...too young to understand." Queen Zelda somberly replied.

"Why are we too young to understand?" Sheik asked, Mom chuckled.

"You will understand the truth when you are older," Mother answered.

"Are you sure?" the princess asked. Mother did not reply.

"Mom?" Sheik asked but she remained silent. He tugged her arm. "M-mom? Who's that?"

Mother partly turned her head, noticing someone approaching with the corner of her eye. She turned around, lightly gasped, raising her hand to her chin, eyes big, eyebrows raised... "Who... Who are you? How did you get past the guards?"

The black knight stood silently before them, black great helm gazing at the Royal Family with a predatory look of iron. He placed his left hand on his hip, saying nothing.

The queen calmed down. Head low and eyes closed, she stepped forth and embraced the knight. He did not return the hug, hands slightly raised, surprised.

Confusion took Sheik and his sister. Nobody said anything.

After a few seconds, the knight finally returned the hug, gently, and they silently remained in each other's arms. Not even armor could hold back the queen's heart. Gradually, the two let go of each other, but Queen Zelda held the knight's hand, looking down sadly.

"How did you know it was me?" whispered the black knight.

Queen Zelda slowly let go of his hand. He took his helm off, revealing an unforgettable face.