A sleek shape leapt from roof to roof, always staying in the shadows.
Sheik was back in Kakariko. And she was glad for it. She could use a break... She knew that her work was far from done, but nothing could motivate a tired spirit more than Kasumi's tea and home-baked cookies.
She peeked around the corner of a house and made sure that nobody saw her. She then carefully snuck to the door and slipped in.
Closing the door behind her, she took off her hood with a sigh. "Everyone, I'm back..." she muttered tiredly.
"Welcome back, princess!" came the cheerful voice of Kasumi. "We were just about to have some tea. Would you like a cup?"
Zelda smiled. That was what she needed. "Yes, thank you..." She froze when she looked up at the five people sitting at the table.
The unknown, green-haired girl blinked. "What did you call her?" she muttered. "Princess?"
"Kasumi, you aren't supposed to call her that," Impa scolded her eldest daughter. "We must keep her identity a secret."
Kasumi blushed in embarrassment. "I'm sorry, mother..."
"What... what are you doing?" Zelda blurted out. "Why are you telling that girl who I am? If she tells Ganondorf..."
"You won't ever see that I would help Ganondorf with anything!" Saria said in a very serious voice. "He wanted to sacrifice me in the Forest Temple, so you can tell that he's not a person I like very much."
"Sacrifice... wait a minute... YOU are that girl he kidnapped in the forest?"
"Um, maybe we should introduce you to each other," Nabiki spoke up. "Zelda, this is Saria, the Sage of the Forest! Saria, this is Princess Zelda!"
Zelda blinked. Sage of the Forest?
Saria gasped. "You mean... you are Zelda, crown princess of Hyrule? The very same one Ganondorf has been looking for all those years?"
"Yes... yes, that's me..." Zelda murmured. "But Impa... you were the one who told me that we shouldn't tell anyone about my secret..."
"Well, I couldn't possibly throw her out after my daughter dragged her in..." Impa sighed. "Besides, if what she told us is true, she is the Sage of the Forest."
"A... sage?" Zelda wondered. She had heard the ancient tales of the sages, of course. "But there hasn't been a sage in years..."
"I just awoke to my destiny," Saria explained. She stood up and took Zelda's hand. "I am very honored to meet you, princess! I am Saria, one of the Kokiri!"
Now Zelda was even more confused. "But Kokiri are eternal children!"
"Well, not me..." Saria blushed. "Well, I... I sort of fell into a Jusenkyo spring, you see? The spring of nearly-drowned Hylian woman... the spring you created after your last visit."
"You know about that?" Zelda gasped. "But how..."
Saria grinned. "An elderly owl told me."
Kasumi smiled. "Oh, it seems that we have so many things to talk about... why don't we discuss it over a cup of tea?"
Zelda sat down on a chair and nodded. "Yes, I could use some tea right now..."
While they were having tea, Saria explained everything to Zelda. She told her that Ryoga also has awoken as a sage, and how she had dreamed about being a Hylian, so she could be together with Link when all of this was over.
Zelda frowned. "You do know that in the end, it is his decision, right?"
"I know," Saria sighed. "And I would accept his decision, no matter if he chose another one or if he would need another couple of years... but I don't regret having done this." She smiled as she looked down at her mature body. "Now I can do everything I always dreamt about. I can leave the forest, walk among Hylians, learn more about our world..."
"Well, let's hope that things will change for a better after all the other sages have awoken," Nabiki frowned.
Akane nodded. "Yes, and maybe Link can even put an end to Ganondorf's reign."
Kasumi smiled. "That would be wonderful!"
Zelda nodded. That was her biggest wish right now. Life under Ganondorf's rule wasn't exactly an easy one. Monsters and Gerudos could show up in the village any day, she had to stay in hiding, and everyone that speaks up against Ganondorf will be thrown into prison... or maybe even killed on the spot! She wanted to end this reign of terror to end, no matter how!
"What is the situation in the village?" she finally asked.
Suddenly, the Tendo sisters looked at each other with worry, and a deep frown appeared on Impa's face. "We are... preparing the village for an attack."
Zelda gasped. "An attack? Is it Ganondorf? Is it because of me? Did he find out I am in here? Oh no, I must leave as soon as..."
"Now calm down, Zelda!" Akane said. "It's not as you think. It's just that..." she looked very uncomfortable. "Onox has paid the village a visit a couple of days ago."
"Oh my! Did he hurt anyone?"
"Well, he still thinks that the villagers need his protection, but then he met us, and you know how he feels about our tribe, right? Well, we were just chasing the perverted ghost from the graveyard and followed him into the old well..."
"When Kuno-baby showed up and tried to smash us with his huge morning star," Nabiki grumbled. "And thereby, he released an ancient demon that had been trapped inside the well for years."
"A demon? You can't mean...?"
"I'm afraid so," Impa nodded. "It is the same creature I once imprisoned in there, the Shadow Beast, Bongo Bongo! At first, we thought that we could trap him and Onox in the well, but..."
She sighed. "Looks like we underestimated the powers Ganondorf granted his general. They somehow escaped, and we can just assume what happened afterwards. My guess is that Onox brought Bongo Bongo to his master."
"And just yesterday, a vision appeared in the sky above the village," Akane explained. "It was a huge, glowing red eye, and it spoke with the voice of the demon. He warned us that he would return for his vengeance, and that nobody could stop him this time. So we are now preparing everyone for the gruesome battle."
"But... you are the only ones who can actually fight," Zelda protested.
"I told that to the other villagers," Nabiki sighed. "But a few of them just were stubborn enough that they didn't want to listen to reason."
"Hiroshi and Daisuke no baka..." Akane grumbled.
Impa turned to Saria. "And I'm afraid that's the reason why you shouldn't stay here for much longer. If the demon finds you, you'll be in Ganondorf's clutches, once again. I hope I don't seem impolite, but..."
"No, I understand," Saria said sadly. "I wish I could stay and help, but I know that I am needed in the Chamber of Sages."
"And you should get out of here as soon as you can, too!" Impa told the surprised princess. "If Bongo Bongo is now a minion of Ganondorf, we can't let him find you."
"But I know how to fight," Zelda protested. "You taught me your ways of fighting yourself. And I can't watch while you are in danger."
"The risk is too big, please understand!" Akane pleaded.
"Wait!" Saria shouted. "Maybe she can come to the Chamber of Sages with me..."
"No, they are right, Saria..." Zelda sighed. "I should leave before they come... and no, I appreciate your offer, but I can't come with you. My help is needed elsewhere..."
Saria looked worried. "But... you will take care of yourself, won't you?"
"Of course I will," Zelda smiled. "And it was an honor to finally meet you in person, Saria! Please, tell the 'old owl' that I appreciated his help back at Jusenkyo."
Saria chuckled. "I'll keep it in mind." She stood up. "Thanks for everything... but I think I should leave now." She stood in the middle of the room, ready to use Farore's Wind again.
"And, Saria?" Zelda shouted.
Saria opened her eyes again. "Yes?"
Zelda smiled. "I think out fates are in good hands. I only met your friend Link once in my life, but I could feel that he is the most noble boy I've ever seen, even if he grew up in the forest."
See other episodes by Shritistrang
(Posted Fri, 08 Feb 2008 10:11)
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