You can find more of this on by Subscribe/Star (dot adult slash KajaWilder), it's posted past Ch. 110 there. You can find the same on my new (via Discord per their ToS), under /WildErotica. The DISCORD is at h-t_t-p_s-:_/-/_discord-._g-g_/-N9yDASt6Cw (taking out hyphens and underscores, 'cause FFnet). If you prefer direct links, go to my Discord and follow the 'links in general' section to find the ones you want. All of my fics are well ahead of what I post here, often 10-30 chapters ahead.

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Enjoy!

Chap. 83: Reunited

While the climaxes she had worked herself to, seven in all, had helped, Zelda still fell asleep in the Shut-Eye Inn with her womb still feeling hungry and needy. Thankfully, by the time the Cuccos started crowing the next morning, a round with her phallic substitute, the Ancient Screw that she now suspected was forever tainted with her juices, was enough that she felt she was in control of her faculties.

Thus, after consuming a delicious egg-and-carrot curry for breakfast in the small marketplace half-way up Kakariko's bowl-shaped space, she headed to take care of the business she'd come to the Sheikah village for in the first place: visiting Impa.

She found the woman, as always, sitting upon her usual pile of cushions beneath the colossal wide-brimmed had so like those of the Ancient Sheikah Sages, with the ornamental, yet she suspected razor-sharp, blades hanging from it on their chains. "Impa," Zelda greeted with a smile, "I'm back."

"Ah, Princess," the old woman smiled and pushed away a cup of half-consumed tea, "It's good to see you. Can I assume you're the real reason for Paya's outburst last night?"

There was a squeak and a thump from upstairs, but Zelda only glanced briefly before she nodded, "Yes, I happened to come across her while she was bathing, and decided I could use a bath myself. Apparently she didn't hear, and was quite surprised by my arrival."

Impa laughed, "She would be… the sound of the waterfalls masks a great deal else, however. She's as sharp-eared as any of us. Isn't that right, dear?"

There was another squeak, but Impa's grin only grew before she turned a more serious expression on Zelda. "So you've now not only visited my sister, but you've saved Hateno from an army. Almost single-handedly, by the sounds of it. Yet, I sense there is more news than what even Purah relayed."

Zelda nodded and sat down with her legs crossed on the floor before her old friend, "A great deal, in fact. She mentioned that I… gave myself up, when there was a Blood Moon during broad daylight?"

Impa's frown was sudden and severe. "Yes. I can understand you might have been compelled to such foolishness, Princess, but please, never, ever do that again. If the Calamity got a hold of you, if we hadn't been able to rescue you in time…"

"I didn't have a choice," she said quietly, "it was that, or all of Hateno died… and everyone else after. That army would not have stopped. At the very least, even if I'd been captured, it's my belief that a few days while the Bokoblins… had their fun with me, was a small price to pay for all of Hyrule living a few days longer."

The old woman was silent for several seconds, then she nodded, sounding suddenly very tired despite it not being midmorning yet. "I suppose you can feel that way. I don't agree, mind. Perhaps it is a matter of perspective. In many ways, you are still very young. To me… there is little I would not sacrifice to save Hyrule, that is true. But you are that thing. Paya is that thing. And perhaps it is selfish of me to think so, but I also knew Link very well. He was my lover for a time, as well, after all."

There was another squeak upstairs, and a larger crash, but this time both of them ignored it.

"He would have preferred to watch the world burn than for you to be in the hands of those beasts. I have no doubt of that."

Zelda nodded, and let her eyes drift closed for a moment. "I… understand. However…" Then they flashed open, full of steel, or so she hoped. "However, it is my choice. I respect your input, Impa. I respect your views on my Champion's wishes. I understand them: that was his duty, if nothing else. But I will, with respect, vehemently disagree. If it is a soldier's place to die for their nation, is it also a nation's place to die for its people? If I am the Princess of Hyrule, then it is my place, and my decision, to sacrifice myself for the good of all. If that situation comes up again, I am afraid I will make the same decision. Time and again."

For several long seconds, there was silence, and Zelda wondered if she had gone too far. Offended the old woman terribly, or caused a rift between them that might never heal. Then Impa laughed and slapped her knee rather harshly, "Hah. There's the Princess I remember, coming through. Obstinate. Stubborn, even. Short-sighted. Wise beyond her years. Goddess, I missed you, Princess."

Before Zelda could even work out why things like 'obstinate' and 'stubborn were said with such fondness rather than judgment, Impa had risen to her feet and crossed the small distance between them on dainty little steps, then knelt before her to fold Zelda into a hug.

Suddenly, she found herself weeping, though she did not know why.

Impa had once been her lover, if only briefly. Her friend, far longer. A trusted compatriot and guardswoman longer still. Even an advisor to her father, the king, if Impa was to be believed, and she had no reason to doubt her, or Purah. Yet at the moment, all she felt was the tender embrace of a grandmother holding a child who was hurting.

Slowly, between sobs at first, Zelda told her about Celessa, and Bubmin. Sending the Bokoblin to help guard the beaches from other Bokoblin intrusions, while the warrior-woman climbed up Mount Lanayru at her side.

Impa pulled away, her eyes shining with amusement, when Zelda described what had happened after they'd survived the Hinox' ambush. "Oh… so you took part in the Ritual of Purification, did you? Yes… I remember your father and mother were both glowing after they rejoined the retinue. I was not there for you and Link, but… I imagine you both rather enjoyed it."

Zelda felt her face heat rapidly.

Impa only laughed, "Ho, ho! Yes, I remember that well, though I was young at the time, just in training still. There was a time when your father suggested I might be the one to accompany you, if another, more suitable person had been found. That… would have been awkward, since it had only been a month or so before you began journeying to find the Springs and their Altars that we… well, I, decided that duty must come before friendship and love."

Zelda blinked, wiping tears away in amazement, "I remember that… parts of it, anyway. When- when I first arrived, I saw your eyes and- and I remembered. That."

"You did look like you'd seen a Poe," Impa replied softly, wistfully. "I don't regret that choice, mind you, but sometimes I wonder if things would have been different if I hadn't made it. Still, as you know I eventually married, a man named Goben, Hylia rest him. We fathered just one child, Paya's mother, who died in childbirth. Goben and her father, Holdir, were killed just after Holdir's child from his first wife, Ollie, turned twenty."

Zelda blinked, "Ollie? The innkeeper?"

Impa smiled, "Yes, he's Paya's half-brother. Goben and Holdir were much alike. Brave, skilled… they were still overwhelmed, when the Calamity's forces stormed up Sahasra Slope. They were both at the last gate, and fell defending us during the final defense. Ollie… well, he and Paya are alike in one way: they are Sheikah."

"And nothing else," Zelda giggled.

"Precisely," Impa replied, giggling herself, a strangely childish, joyful sound coming from her aged lips. "At any rate, Zelda, please, continue."

So she did, telling her of the stupidity she'd displayed while sledding down the mountainside on her shield, the Shrine that followed and escorting Celessa through it. The depression and anxiety, the fear, that began to overwhelm her as they climbed the next day, and then the psychic assaults and visions. Zelda spared no detail, not even the more explicit ones, and how her corrupted self had not just gone along with the dark king's commands, but reveled in them, in submission.

"Those, you cannot believe," Impa told her when Zelda paused. "I do not dismiss them, but you should, Princess. The Calamity may have given up much if its sentience and intelligence to become the beast the Castle and your Champion barely contain, but it has lost none of its cunning or malevolence. It tries to twist you, to make you succumb to base desires. There is no reward, not from it. And any pleasure it might be able to bring, you could find other ways."

Zelda nodded, "I know. That… was my conclusion, as well. There's more, however. After… after that third vision, we had reached the top. The Altar was there, shining despite being surrounded by darkness. And the dragon, Naydra, the Spirit of Wisdom… only foul."

Impa's countenance darkened as she described the corruption, the boil-ridden Malice that had all-but consumed it. It grew fierce as she described the battle, what she knew of Celessa's lonely stand against a small horde of monsters, and her own high in the sky around the frigid peak, and down below over the snowfield they had once sheltered in.

And, like a good audience, she whooped and cheered when Zelda described the last arrow… and then gasped as she told her that she'd passed out.

Only to return to herself on the snow near the Altar, with a tired, but successful Celessa and a dragon both keeping watch.

"Then," she concluded, "I was given a scale- the very scale of Naydra- and told to offer it at the Altar, which I did. A Shrine appeared behind it, while Naydra flew off into the sky, and… I went in. There was a wondrous weapon inside: a spear, which I think was forged from the mane of Naydra herself. It's certainly cold enough."

"A Frostspear," Impa exhaled as Zelda removed the weapon from the shrunken state at her side and showed it. "Those… we've lost the ability to make those, hundreds of centuries before. Not Naydra, perhaps, but this one may have been. If not, certainly some of the ice from the peaks of Hebra, which never thaw even in the warmest of summers. It's a spectacular weapon, Princess. Use it if needed, but consider it precious, for it is."

"I will," she replied reverently as she put the weapon away, then finished her tale with separating from Celessa, the blue Hinox, meeting Kass and riding the Stag to finish that Shrine, too. Erika, and the Yiga Assassin, her brief visit with Cotera, and returning to scare the daylights out of Paya.

"Hah… it sounds like you've had quite an adventure, Princess," Impa said after a few moments of contemplation once she had finished. "And it sounds like you're stronger for it. That is good. Because the last time you met Ganon, it did not end well for you."

"I know," Zelda replied quietly, and found herself with a fist in front of her chest, her heart burning with resolve as she looked steadily at the old woman who was still kneeling before Zelda as she sat on the wooden floor, "But I will not fail. I'll die first."

"That is what I'm afraid of," Impa snorted, then slowly pushed herself to her feet before offering a strong hand to Zelda as well. Once both were standing, she kept the princess' hands in hers as she said softly, "Link is fighting Calamity Ganon on his own, Princess. You are the only one who can save him. Who can help save Hyrule. I believe in you. We all believe in you."

"Thank you," Zelda whispered, then daringly pulled Impa into a hug of her own, which the woman returned happily.

Once they separated, she asked, "What advice can you give me? What should I do next? Are there any places desperate for aid, for example?"

"Everywhere," Impa snorted, as she turned to shuffle back to her cushions. "Perhaps the most pressing need is in Zora's domain, but I am not sure you are ready. I would suggest gathering a little more strength. Perhaps… Hm. Seek out memories. The more you remember, the more you will grow in strength of mind and spirit, as well as body."

"That… makes sense," Zelda agreed. "Any advice on those?"

Impa grinned, "Slate?"

After she'd shown it, Impa frowned, "It's changed so much, and been so long… my memory isn't what is used to be, sadly. This one, I know: There's an altar, said to be where Hyrule's ancient kings were crowned. Certainly, your father and mother were crowned there. You performed one- just one- ceremony there yourself, a knighting."

"Link?" she asked, near whispering.

Impa's eyes shone with mirth, "Yes, that's the one. You were less than thrilled at the time, as I recall… you were not so close with him, then. Near enemies, in your eyes, though from what I remember him occasionally saying he never thought of you as such. You were something of a bitch, at least to him."

Zelda recoiled as if struck, "Impa!"

"What?" the woman laughed dryly, "You were. You were jealous of his skill and the respect he was shown… but never saw the work he did to earn it. You were working hard yourself, of course, but never got the respect from the one person, then, you felt you should have: your father. But Link always respected you. I couldn't speak as to how he felt about you then… on a more personal level, but more than once he confided in me on our rare shared days off, or between shifts, that he wished your father had shown more care for your needs and desires. He wanted you to be happy even then, when you treated him like trash."

"I… I didn't…" Zelda whispered, "Did I?"

"You did, for a time," Impa nodded, but reached out to touch Zelda's hand again gently, "But you learned, and changed. Don't be too hard on yourself. Many relationships- in fact, all relationships- change over time. You learned, and so did he, and eventually you grew close. Very close. There were whispers you'd be with child before you even went up Mount Lanayru, you know… of course, no one had proof. The two of you were fairly discrete, and as far as I know, never met up within the Castle. And I would know, as I was spymaster for your father most of that time."

Zelda gulped.

Impa laughed, "Relax, Princess! As I said, I would have known, I think. And I knew you were lovers, but I never said a word to your father about it… though I suspect he knew anyway. He still never ordered Link to stay away, did he? At least, not that you can recall, heh. Yes… Go seek out that memory. Only be wary, for there are a great many Guardians that still roam the plains and forests around the Castle and Castle Town. It will be perilous. Maybe seek out others… this lake is Lake Kolomo, for example. That one is in the Lanayru Promenade, on the road to Mount Lanayru."

"I've been told," Zelda snorted with that one, "The painter, Pikango, said he recognized that one when I showed him a picture of Cotera's fountain."

"That old horn-dog… you know he hit on me, on Paya's mother, and on Paya? Seems he's got a thing for busty Sheikah… hah. He's a decent man, though, and a good painter. Just don't sleep with him, you might catch something."

Zelda shuddered, "I'll… pass, then, thank you. Not that he's asked. At least, I don't think he has."

"Good. I'd hate to have to castrate someone I almost consider a friend," Impa snorted. "I'm afraid that's all I can recall at the moment, however. I'll try to remember where more are, but for now that should be a decent start. Kolomo, Hyrule Field- I believe it's south of the town's southern gate, which still stands- and the Lanayru Promenade. If you're headed down, you might take Sahasra slope, too. The road isn't completely intact, but it's not terrible, and relatively safe. Just a few roving, nomadic bands of Bokoblins these days… if you stay to the northern side."

"What's on the south?" Zelda asked, curious, "So I know what to avoid."

Impa frowned, "I haven't seen it in some time myself, but my people tell me there's still a Guardian stalking around the ridge between the Slope and the northern Dueling Peak, up on Mable Ridge. There are a couple of Stone Talii there as well… one is very large, nearly twice the size of a normal one. I tried fighting that monster once… nearly killed me, and I was the best fighter the Sheikah had at the time."

"I'll be careful," Zelda promised, "Sahasra Slope… so I'd take the westward road?"

"Indeed. It's not much of a road once you get outside of the canyons, but you should be safe enough if you ride. Make your way to the Central Stable, or the Wetlands Stable as your next stop. Either will be closer, at least, if you choose to go to the coronation ruins. Central for Lake Kolomo, or of course, you'd need to go back east for the Promenade."

"I… I left my horse in Hateno," Zelda admitted, "we didn't think he could brave the climb."

"Yes, Purah said as much," Impa smiled cheerfully, "but guess what free horse was used to courier her last message here? Yours, that's who. He's a beauty, no doubt about it, if a bit feisty. Dorian had a hard time getting him into a stall. Courier said he'd walk back instead of ride him again. Fast, but hard to control."

"Hah," Zelda laughed, "The people at the Dueling Peaks Stable said much the same. But he behaves for me. Mostly. … Some of the time, anyway. Still, Nightmare's here? That's amazing. Thank you!"

"Of course," Impa smiled, "I didn't do much, however, just told you. Stable's a bit northeast of the Inn. Are you going to head out today? Still plenty of daylight."

"I… I think I will," Zelda nodded after a moment. "I wouldn't mind seeing Paya, but since she's being shy I'll let her blush in peace."

Impa's grin widened, and she called loudly, "You hear that, girl? You'll miss saying goodbye to the Princess if you don't get over your blush and get down here!"

"Grandmother!"

Still, a few moments later there were thudding feet as the tall, busty young woman nearly threw herself down the stairs, red-faced. "I- It was g-g-good s-seeing you, P-P-Princess! A- L- Ah- you kn-know, l- last night! And n-now, of course!"

"It was good to see you, too, Paya," Zelda laughed, and crossed the room to hug the taller woman, too, who heated even more. "But I really should be on my way. I'll return when I can. Thank you once more for the advice, Impa."

"Any time, Princess," the old woman chuckled, "don't forget to take care of yourself, though."

"Hey, did you miss me?" Zelda laughed as the large black horse nickered and whinnied the moment Zelda stepped into the darkened stable behind the young woman, Aliza, who had offered to take her to the horse. She'd declined payment, though, "We aren't for profit, just run the place on the side for travelers."

Still, Zelda thanked her again as the girl, who was probably fourteen or fifteen, or at least the equivalent to the long-lived Sheikah, helped her saddle Nightmare and get him ready for a few days' ride.

Then, just as the sun truly broke over the eastern mountains onto the Sheikah's hidden village, she left its outskirts, riding Nightmare through the tall, narrow walls of Sahasra Canyon.