Chapter 75 - Aldora's Mission
Summary: Sheikah scientist Aldora gets a special assignment from Chief Saldon.
As the sun rose over the North Hyrule Sheikah settlement, Aldora sat down for her breakfast of sliced fruit and a cup of strong tea. Her Tab lay open on the table before her, and she scrolled through news articles, meeting minutes, and finally, Bab's Babble Bubble while enjoying her meal. Being in positions of trust with secret knowledge, the Sheikah of her land were forbidden to contribute information to Bab's gossip column. But they were free to read it, which sometimes yielded useful information.
Whenever there was a lull in current gossip, Bab would fill the void with a new spin on old news. She would write an article with a headline like "What happened this week X years ago," then describe the event, sometimes adding fresh updates. This was invariably followed by a request for more reader submissions and a reminder of how generous the reward was for providing her with the juiciest gossip.
Today was one of those light gossip days, and its filler news was titled "This Week Thirty Years Ago: Legendary Cross Currents Formed." This highly successful Zora music group gained popularity by remixing traditional Zora love ballads with their unique beats. They were already famous by the time Aldora was born, and she had enjoyed listening to their music growing up. It was hard to believe thirty years had passed since they burst onto the scene or made their big splash, as a Zora would say. Of course, much of their music was written from a Zora perspective, and while she enjoyed the melodies, she sometimes struggled to comprehend the lyrics. She chuckled as she recalled a song called "Echoes in My Heart" that had initially made no sense to her until her friend explained it was about two lovers using echolocation to communicate in deep water.
But thinking of echolocation reminded her of something closer to home: her former mentor and senior scientist, Grendon, whose final words, "It won't fool a Zora…" had been the first clue he had developed a way to make objects invisible. Her eyes drifted up to a picture hanging on the wall of her modest dwelling. It was the customary photo taken of an apprentice and their mentor when first assigned, a significant event in a Sheikah scientist's career. She remembered how thrilled she had been to be assigned to Master Grendon, a recognized genius in many fields. In the picture, she looked ecstatic, grateful for what she felt was an exciting opportunity to study under someone so esteemed, and looking forward to learning much under his tutelage. But looking now at the picture, she could read the boredom in Grendon's eyes. She later learned that Grendon only reluctantly accepted apprentices, considering them a burden imposed on senior scientists and a distraction from his much more critical research. As a result, she had learned very little from him.
She sighed before sipping her tea and thought about how naive and unworldly Grendon had been, unaware of the nature of true evil. His research on invisibility had been used for malicious purposes by their enemies, causing the deaths of quite a few people, including Hyrule Queen Zelda's husband. It led to Grondin's untimely death as well, which was a tragic loss of someone who, even today, could be making valuable contributions to society through his work.
The only positive outcome that emerged from the incident was the unique opportunity for her to work closely with Chief Saldon. He had taken her on as his apprentice after Grendon disappeared, and now that she had graduated, he relied on her to serve as science liaison to Hyrule. There, she met and worked with some fascinating people, including Dr. Purah and two of Mipha's and Link's children, Lapha and Midon. Of course, liaison was a polite way of putting it: her role felt more like a benevolent spy and protector. Her job was to look out for any dangerous technology in Hyrule, created out of recklessness, think Purah, or found buried underground. Then, she would need to alert Master Saldon in time to prevent any harm. So, she spent a good deal of time in Hyrule. And it wasn't as bad as some people from the north had led her to believe. She had heard stories growing up about how backward Hyrule was, but thanks to their help, it was doing quite well now.
Aldora took another sip of tea and finished her fruit just as her Tab buzzed with a message from Chief Saldon.
There have been further developments. Please see me at once.
This could only refer to what she and Master Saldon had recently discussed: the portal to the other Hyrule timeline. She took a last sip of tea, finishing the cup, then left her cottage and began the short walk to Master Saldon's residence.
"Ah, Aldora, good morning. Thank you for arriving so promptly," Saldon said when she arrived and gestured to come in. "Let's sit together over here. Some tea, perhaps?"
"Good morning, Master Saldon. And thank you, but no - I just finished a cup," Aldora replied as she sat down.
He wasted no time in getting to the point.
"Well, as luck, or maybe fate would have it, last night the scientists monitoring the timeline portal intercepted a Tab message from Mistress Astra in the Calamity Timeline, addressed to her sister, Mistress Zelda, in the timeline we openly share with Hyrule, the Victory Timeline. This brings up an important topic for discussion as it has far-reaching consequences. As the science liaison to Hyrule, I need to involve you in this."
"Of course, I will help any way I can, Master Saldon. Was Mistress Zelda able to receive the message?"
"No, the scientists did not retransmit it to her and reached out to me for direction instead," Saldon explained. "The time portal is not set up for message transmissions between timelines, and its bandwidth for such things is limited. But I promised Queen Faray and Mistress Tila that we would take action if contacted, and I believe this qualifies."
"I agree," Aldora nodded.
"We need to establish boundaries for how much contact we can have while still keeping our activities secret from the general public," Saldon explained. "But, as history has shown us, even the most well-thought-out plans can overlook unforeseen events."
Saldon paused and took a sip of her tea before continuing.
"When the time portal was first created, we also developed a rune that could transport someone back and forth in case of emergencies. It's a large and complex rune since it has to bypass the temporal barrier we put in place. Once installed on a Tab, it allows for travel between any Sheikah Travel Gate in either timeline. Of course, no one currently has this rune installed. It's ironic, though, that the scientists thought about using travel as a way to troubleshoot issues but never considered messaging across timelines - they assumed no one would permanently cross between them."
"Still, that is incredible!" Aldora exclaimed.
"But as I said, we need to establish some rules governing its use," Saldon continued.
"What rules did you have in mind, Master Saldon?"
"To avoid creating any unusual difficulties, I propose that only someone who does not currently exist in a timeline be allowed to travel there. We don't want two of the same person in the same timeline."
"Why is that, Master Saldon?"
"For at least a couple of reasons. The main one is that if two of the same person were seen, the secrecy I mentioned earlier would be compromised. Second, we have run simulations of what allowing such a thing to happen might do, and it led to what you might call timeline jealousy and even violence. Individuals who suffered misfortune in one timeline would sometimes resent their other selves whose lives turned out better and feel it was unfair. They would be tempted to replace their other self. It seems best to avoid any issues like that. Does that make sense?"
"Yes, it does," Aldora replied. "So, for example, Mistress Astra would be permitted to return to her former timeline since she is no longer there. But I assume someone like Queen Zelda, for example, could not since she likely exists in both timelines. By the way, how can we tell who exists in each timeline and who doesn't?"
"We would have to investigate and verify before permitting them to travel," said Saldon. "But I have been speaking in the abstract, Aldora. I do not foresee this being used by other than a small handful of people. We want to keep this as secret as we can."
"Understood," Aldora nodded and then paused before continuing. "But if you said this process will depend upon a Tab rune, as far as I know, the only person in Hyrule's other timeline who has a Tab is Mistress Astra."
"Yes, precisely," smiled Saldon. "So initially, this will be limited to her use. Afterward, we can consider who else would qualify."
"I can think of a few people," Andora said thoughtfully.
Saldon paused to take another sip of tea and mentally prepared himself for the next part of the conversation, which was the main reason he wanted to see Aldora.
"Aldora, did you catch onto something else I mentioned and the potential consequences?"
"It feels like I'm being tested, just like my apprenticeship exam," Andora chuckled. "Just give me a moment to think."
Saldon took the opportunity to sip his tea while he patiently waited for Aldora to respond. He was well aware of her high intelligence and exceptional academic achievements, which is why she had been chosen as apprentice to Grendon, their most esteemed scientist at the time. After a few minutes, Aldora finally spoke up.
"You said the rune was large and complex," Aldora said thoughtfully. "And you also said the bandwidth through the time portal we created was limited. So, the implication is that it would take a substantial amount of time to push this rune to Mistress Astra's Tab. Therefore, a good deal of patience will be needed."
"Brilliant!" Saldon exclaimed. "You recognized the issue right away, Aldora, just as I expected."
"Thank you," replied Aldora, feeling a slight flush spread across her cheeks.
"However, your thoughts on the possible consequences were too narrow," Saldon added.
"In what way, Master Saldon?" Aldora asked.
"Because pushing the rune onto Mistress Astra's Tab via the portal would take too long and is unreliable, the consequence is that I would like you, as our science liaison to Hyrule, to physically travel to the other timeline and install the rune on Mistress Astra's Tab in person," said Saldon.
Aldora's mind went blank momentarily as her stomach twisted into a knot at this unexpected request, leaving her speechless. After a moment, she stammered, "I-I think I would like that cup of tea now after all, Master Saldon."
Aldora's hands quivered as she gratefully accepted the cup of hot tea from Saldon. She took a small sip, relishing in the warmth that helped calm her jittery nerves.
"Journey to the other timeline? I… I'm not sure I'm the most suitable candidate for such a task. I've never even used a Travel Gate before. Are we convinced it's safe … to travel there and back?"
Saldon's expression softened. "I understand your hesitation, Aldora. This is no small task I'm asking of you, as it has never been done to my knowledge. But contrary to your belief, you are uniquely qualified for this mission. Your scientific expertise and knowledge of our secret, combined with your experience visiting our timeline's Hyrule, make you the ideal candidate. And travel back and forth should be entirely safe - just don't lose your Tab, or we will have to send someone after you with a replacement."
Aldora nodded slowly, her mind racing. "What exactly would this mission entail?"
"You would travel to the Calamity Timeline using the rune I mentioned. Your objective is to contact Mistress Astra and install the rune on her Tab, informing her how it works. The rest is up to her."
Aldora furrowed her brow. "And how long would I be there?"
"We would only ask you to stay a day. But if you found something interesting to investigate, it is up to you if you wish to stay longer," Saldon answered.
"Is the passage of time there the same as ours? I mean, if I stay there for one day, will only a single day pass here as well?"
"Yes, we know that is the case," Saldon replied.
Aldora paused and took another sip of tea, concern written all over her face. Saldon felt he should try to help ease her anxiety.
"But please, Aldora, I am not trying to pressure you into this. If you do not feel up to the task, we can find someone else," Saldon said in a comforting voice.
"It would be good to know in advance what to expect there, such as are there enemies I need to be wary of," Aldora continued thoughtfully. "But I suppose that would entail meeting with the only person who would know, namely Champion Link. And that would violate the secrecy you wish to maintain."
"Yes, and besides, Link has been gone from there for almost twenty-five years now, so much has certainly changed since then," said Saldon. "And if you stick to well-traveled locations after arriving, I can't imagine you will have any problems."
Aldora took another sip of tea, then put down her cup.
"Very well, I accept the assignment, Master Saldon, and thank you for showing confidence in me. What are the next steps?" Aldora asked.
"I'm glad you agreed. Leave your Tab with me, and I will install the rune on it. It should be ready in about an hour, and you can return and retrieve it then. Afterward, when you're ready, you should travel to a shrine not far from Hyrule Castle, but somewhere your arrival will not draw attention. I would suggest the Noya Neha shrine just west of the castle since it is inside a cave and concealed from view. Once you arrive, message Mistress Astra and agree on a place to meet. You should choose a place she will not be nervous to meet you alone. You must also be prepared that Astra may well be in a mild state of shock over everything and consider how to deal with that."
"That will be easy, Master Saldon, as I am in a mild state of shock myself," said Aldora.
"Once you begin the mission, I am sure you will shake that off. When you meet with Mistress Astra, you can connect your Tabs using an attachment I will provide. I'm sure our network strength there is not adequate for rapid wireless transfer. The process should take no more than an hour. After that part is done, you are free to do as you see fit."
"Very well, Master Saldon. I will leave my Tab here and return in an hour, as you requested."
Aldora left and began walking back to her home, her mind wandering as she thought about the upcoming mission. She was proud to be trusted for something so important, but the idea of being dissolved into energy before being reconstructed from energy back into matter frightened her. Sure, she had experienced creating items from her Tab, which was the second half of the process, and it had never failed. Still, doing it to oneself was different.
When an hour had passed, she returned to Saldon's residence, where he handed her back her Tab with a new rune clearly displayed on it.
"As I mentioned before, Mistress Astra will likely be both surprised and thrilled by this, though probably cautious as well," said Saldon. "She may inquire about her family. Instead of giving too much information, simply assure her that they are all doing well and leave any further details for her family to share should they meet."
"Understood, Master Saldon," acknowledged Aldora. "Is there anything else important I should be aware of?"
"I believe not," replied Saldon. "I have faith that you will handle everything well, Aldora."
"Then I will return home, prepare myself, and be off," said Aldora as she rose to leave.
She walked back home, quickly changing into her Sheikah Stealth outfit, which seemed most appropriate. Her hand trembled as she picked up her Tab and pressed the new rune. It offered her two maps to choose from: the familiar Hyrule she had visited many times or the unknown alternate timeline. She selected the latter and hovered her finger over the blue symbol indicating the Noya Neha shrine.
"Here goes," she muttered under her breath, hoping that this process wouldn't be too unsettling.
With a deep breath, she pressed her finger onto the symbol.
The sensation of being converted into energy and then back was not at all as terrible as Aldora had feared. In fact, once the process started, she completely blacked out, felt nothing, and only opened her eyes once it was over.
Just as Saldon had foreseen, she stood on the threshold of a shrine located in a small cave carved into the cliffside, with a narrow opening facing out toward a branch of the Regencia River that merged with the castle moat. The air was musky and smelled different, but the weather outside was sunny. She still had the map open, and a glance at it indicated where she was in relation to Hyrule Castle and Castle Town.
A short climb down from the cave opening brought her to a forest thick with old trees and tall green grass that swayed in the breeze. She stuck close to the northern shore of the Regencia River until she reached the Moat Bridge and then was startled by a noise behind her. Stepping to the side, a rider on horseback trotted past her with a friendly nod, which she returned.
"Horses," she muttered after the rider was out of hearing. "How quaint!"
As she walked further, the sounds of bustling activity grew louder and more chaotic. The vibrant colors of Castle Town greeted her, its streets lined with merchants selling all sorts of wares. She made her way to the central square and then to the beautiful fountain that stood at its center. Finally finding a spot to rest, Aldora settled down on a nearby bench and took a moment to take in the sights and sounds around her.
But almost at once, the enticing aroma of various cooked delicacies filled the air, making her stomach growl in protest. Realizing in all the excitement, she had not eaten since breakfast, she contemplated joining the line at a nearby vendor for a quick snack. But when she saw the people paying, she let out a disappointed sigh.
"They still pay with Rupees here, not Tabs," she groaned to herself. "How stupid of me not to realize that."
Anyway, it was time to send her message to Astra.
Meanwhile, earlier that day at Hyrule Castle, the rain had finally ceased, leaving a fresh, earthy scent in the air behind. Astra awoke, her mind still buzzing with the possibilities that Purah's visit had brought to light. She reached for her Tab, hoping to see a response from her sister, but found nothing new. Disappointed but not discouraged, Astra dressed and prepared for the day ahead. She made her way to the family dining room, where Purah was already seated, nursing a steaming cup of tea.
"Good morning, Dr. Purah," Astra greeted warmly. "I trust you slept well?"
Purah nodded, her eyes bright with excitement. "Indeed I did, Your Highness. Though I must admit, my mind was racing with theories and possibilities most of the night. Her Majesty has already eaten. I spoke briefly with her when I arrived and took the liberty of explaining what we had learned."
"What was her reaction?"
"She said such a thing was amazing and added she would love to learn how Link is doing if we ever get the process to work," said Purah.
"I'm glad you told her, as it saves me from needing to explain it myself when I see her. By the way, there was no response to my message to my sister, but I remain hopeful."
"It's possible that the connection between timelines isn't instantaneous. Or perhaps there are other factors at play that we haven't considered," Purah replied, wishing to keep Astra's hopes up.
Astra nodded, taking a seat at the table and pouring herself a cup of tea. "You're right, of course. We're dealing with technology and phenomena that are largely unknown to us. Patience will be key."
As she helped herself to some eggs, Astra's mind wandered to the implications of what they were attempting. If they could establish reliable communication between timelines, what other possibilities might that open up? The thought both thrilled and unnerved her.
"Dr. Purah," Astra began after swallowing a bite. "I've been thinking about the broader implications of this. If we succeed in establishing communication between timelines, do you believe it could lead to more… substantial interactions?"
"It's entirely possible since we know objects like the page from Mila's book traveled here from there," Purah replied.
They continued discussing matters until Astra felt she needed to go to her office.
"Do you have any plans for today, Dr. Purah?"
"I think I will take some time to re-visit the Hyrule Castle Museum. It contains a number of interesting artifacts, including the Kokiri Emerald, one of the three spiritual stones used by the hero of his day to unlock the Temple of Time," Purah replied.
"Well, enjoy yourself, and now I have to get to work," said Astra.
Queen Zelda was in a meeting when Astra arrived and wished Myra good morning before entering her office and sitting down at her desk. Her thoughts turned to Fallon for a moment. He was busy today, visiting his old orphanage to give a motivational speech to those living there. He wanted to encourage them to work hard and inspire them to realize that one can achieve success in life despite a tough beginning. His induction into the Royal Guard was in a few days, and the list of successful candidates had been made public by now.
The first thing Astra picked up to read was the prior day's security incident report, but she kept glancing at her Tab every now and then as if she didn't trust it to alert her to an incoming message. Well, she had reason to be mistrustful as she hadn't received a message in over two years. And she hoped Purah's examination of it hadn't caused any issues.
She had read through the mostly uneventful report when she was startled by the sound of her Tab loudly playing an excerpt of the upbeat Zora dance song "Splash! Splash!"
She had forgotten all about that new ringtone. It was Tara who insisted she change her message ringtone at her seventeenth birthday party in Zora's Domain.
"You have such a dull ringtone, Aunt Astra! My friend's older sister has something more fun!" Tara told her upon hearing her Tab's message alert after they had danced together.
Tara then insisted on changing it for her, which was certainly not something one could avoid hearing! She was sure Myra had heard it even through closed doors, and if she started receiving messages again Astra thought she should probably change it back to something more professional. Anyway, she eagerly picked up her Tab and checked the message.
Aldora_S_NH:To: Astra_P_H:I have something I need to see you about, Mistress. Can you meet me alone at Castle Town Central Square and bring your Tab?
Astra took a deep breath and attempted to calm her nerves. She couldn't recall if she had ever crossed paths with Aldora before, although the name rang a bell. Seeing an S_NH suffix in her address, Astra deduced that Aldora was a Sheikah from North Hyrule. It was common for people from that region to refer to princesses as "mistress." This must have something to do with the message Astra had sent to her sister. But how did Aldora end up here, and what did it all mean? Astra knew she needed to respond to her message promptly.
Astra_P_H:To:Aldora_S_NH:I will be there soon.
The reply was immediate, and Astra quickly viewed the message to cut short the high-spirited ringtone.
Aldora_S_NH:To: Astra_P_H:Excellent! I am dressed in a Sheikah Stealth outfit. Please be prepared to remain for an hour or leave your Tab with me for that long.
Astra felt a surge of excitement. However, she knew it was wise to be cautious. She decided to swing by her room first and grab her sword, just in case. As she made her way out, she stopped at Myra's desk.
"Myra, something urgent has come up, and I must go to Castle Town immediately. Please inform the Royal Guard so they can meet me at the castle entrance. I don't want to read about my own security breach in tomorrow's report."
"Of course, Highness. I will alert them right away. Is everything alright? If you need any help, please do not hesitate to ask," Myra responded.
"Myra, thank you for your concern, but everything is fine. I have a good feeling that this could be fantastic news."
Astra headed to her room, quickly changed into her Sheikah attire, retrieved her sword, and made her way to the castle entrance, where two Royal Guard soldiers were waiting for her.
"I'm just meeting someone in Castle Town," Astra informed them. "You don't need to follow me closely."
However, one of the guards pointed out, "Your Highness, we noticed you brought your sword."
Astra smiled and replied, "That's exactly why you don't need to stay close."
The guard bowed respectfully and said, "As you wish, we will keep a discreet distance behind you, Your Highness."
Astra's skills with a sword were well-known by now, and the guards understood that she was more than capable of defending herself if needed, probably better than them.
The walk to Castle Town was brief, and Astra quickly spotted Aldora sitting by the fountain. It seemed that Aldora recognized Astra as well because she stood up as Astra approached.
"Mistress Astra, I am Aldora," she said with a bow. "I am here to assist you with something important. Is there somewhere we could speak privately?"
Astra kept a short distance away from Aldora as she sized up the situation. Sheikah often carried a concealed weapon and it paid to be cautious.
"Are you carrying a weapon?" Astra asked. "And no need to address me as mistress."
"No weapon," said Aldora. "If I ran into trouble, I planned to turn myself into energy and disappear to a travel gate. Feel free to search me."
Aldora raised her hands, and Astra checked her for a concealed weapon. Finding none, she stepped back.
"I believe you now," said Astra. "And I have so many questions I hardly know where to begin."
Aldora lowered her hands and felt relieved. So far, things had gone well. Then, her stomach growled again.
"Um … may I ask a favor of you before we begin? I forgot to bring Rupees, being used to paying by Tab. In my excitement I forgot to eat anything since an early breakfast. Could I please borrow some Rupees to purchase a quick snack?"
"I haven't eaten lunch yet either, and will do you one better," Astra smiled, getting to like Aldora, who seemed more genuine by the moment. "We can talk at lunch, and I know a good restaurant where the owner will give us a quiet booth. Do you like fish?"
"I'm okay with anything right now," said Aldora with a smile.
The Fish Feast restaurant wasn't far, and Astra noticed it was much busier during dinner hours than at lunch. Finra guided them to a quiet booth near the back, away from other customers, and handed them menus. Astra's two Royal Guards took a table near the entrance.
"I think we're ready to order," Astra said, realizing that Aldora must be famished. "Aldora?"
"The steamed Hyrule Bass sounds delicious," Aldora replied.
"I'll have the porgy dish," Astra told Finra.
Finra promptly left to submit their order, and then Aldora spoke up.
"As you must realize, I am from North Hyrule. To make a long story short, we can serve as a connection between this timeline and your former one. I need to copy a rune from my Tab to yours so you can travel between the two. Should we begin that process now? I need to link our Tabs together."
"Yes, let's do it," Astra said, handing over her Tab.
Aldora connected the two Tabs and began the process.
"May I ask about my family?" Astra inquired. "Are they doing well?"
"They are all doing fine," Aldora reassured her. "I was asked not to go into detail because it was deemed best for you to hear such things directly from them."
"And how is Hyrule itself?"
"It is at peace and prospering," Aldora answered.
"I can't wait to visit," Astra sighed with relief, quickly wiping away some tears. "I've missed my family there so very much!"
"I'm glad to bring you good news," Aldora smiled. "Your Tab will be ready in about an hour. Ah, here comes our food!"
Since Aldora could not speak about what happened in the Victory Timeline since the time Astra had left, they spent the rest of the meal discussing the Calamity Timeline as Aldora asked many questions about it.
"I'm glad to hear you eliminated the Yiga Clan," said Aldora. "I'm sure they were a thorn in your kingdom's side."
"Yes, that was quite the adventure," said Astra. "Will you be staying here long, Aldora?"
"Perhaps a bit longer to get the feel of it and report back."
"Then let me give you some Rupees so you don't starve," said Astra. "You can repay the Hyrule Treasury when you return."
"Thank you," chuckled Aldora. "I promise."
Just then, there was a soft beep, indicating the rune transfer process was complete. Aldora returned Astra's Tab and explained how the rune worked.
"I understand," said Astra as she examined it. "It's similar to travel gate journeys I have undertaken here."
"Then my main task here is complete," said Aldora. "I wish you well, Astra, and perhaps we will meet again."
"Thank you from the bottom of my heart," said Astra. "I'm sure we will."
They parted company, and Astra joined her guards as they walked back to the castle. Astra thanked them when they arrived, and then she went straight to her room. She put away her sword, then picked up her Tab. She should probably tell her mother what she was about to do, but her eagerness got the better of her.
"There's no harm. I can be back before anyone notices I'm gone," Astra murmured to herself. "I just can't wait to see how Zel is doing. I feel bad I never got to say a proper goodbye to her."
She opened the rune, selected the alternate timeline map, and then took a deep breath before pressing the blue image of the S'aas Kosah shrine in the heart of Hyrule Castle.
She appeared above the castle dock, but no one took notice. The workers were too occupied with unloading goods below her. She quietly made her way through the passageway and into the library, where the few patrons were engrossed in their books and paid her no attention. Continuing along familiar paths, she eventually reached the living quarters without raising any suspicion.
In this timeline, Hyrule had been at peace for some time and enjoyed the technological advancements from North Hyrule. The royal living area was equipped with biometric sensors that would sound an alarm if an unauthorized person tried to enter. However, Astra's biometric data was familiar to the system, so the sensors did not detect any cause for concern as she walked toward her destination.
"Wow! It's just as I left it," said Astra as she entered her old room. "That's so sweet!"
She went over to the bookcase and smiled as she noticed the book in which she had hidden her farewell note to her sister was not where she left it. So, Zel must have gotten the note after all.
Suddenly, Astra's ears perked up, and she heard footsteps approaching along the hallway. She moved closer to the door.
Princess Zelda walked by and glanced into Astra's room. As she passed, she was surprised the door was open. Then she stopped, and her hands flew to her mouth.
"Hi, Zel!" said Astra.
Then Astra rushed forward just in time as Zelda fainted. Astra caught her in her arms and then carried her to her bed to lie down.
"Probably not a good way to start," Astra muttered as she assured herself her sister was alright and had just fainted. "I'm probably going to get yelled at again."