The Secret of Zelda

The Change and Journey

While it didn't take long for Impa to turn me into a Sheikah physically, I would take some work to get me there mentally and spiritually. The Sheikah were a people shrouded in mystery, they were trained to fight and protect the royal family. Elite fighters they truly were, better than any solder in Hyrule, and now I had only a small amount of time to become elite.

"You have lived life as a royal child, as noble and wise as you are, you will face a great challenge with this training." Impa told me. I was worried, what if I was too weak, small or just had no skill? I have to pass as a Sheikah, it's the only way to go back to Hyrule and help Link when he returns.

"Are you ready?" She asked me. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and I thought of how brave Link had been, fighting monsters, solving puzzles, saving people.

Saving people.

Maybe Link and I made a mistake in gathering the Spiritual stones, but Link saved so many people while he did. What have I done? Nothing but bring darkness over the land I love so much. And the death of my beloved father. All of this, it is my fault, I have to do everything in my power to make it right. To stop Ganondorf, and aid Link as he saves Hyrule.

"I am ready Impa." I said with a passion in my voice that I hadn't before known to be there. Impa taught me everything she knew over the course of the next two years. The skills in combat, and the history of her people. I learned to do flips, and throw knives, I learned the secrets that lay beneath Kakariko village and the legends of the banished Sheikah, she taught me how to play an ancient golden harp, that she said belonged to the first Hylains. I learned the location of all the Temples the Hero of time must enter, and all the songs that lead to them.

Within almost three years, I was a full fledged Sheikah, I had changed so much from the day I had fled the castle, then my hair was a long and golden, now it was short and hung out over my face. My blue eyes were now red, and my voice was deeper, I had also grown in size. No one would be able to tell who I had once been, no one would remember Zelda, soon not even I would.

It was soon time for me to return to Hyrule, I was ready and eager.

"Remember the plan?" Impa asked me.

"Yes," I answered, "You said that by now, the Sheikah that had been banished would be seeking entrance into Hyrule, and that I will come as if i was one of them."

"Yes, you will come from the valley beneath Death Mountain and go through the Shadow Temple, as that is the last step in you becoming a true Sheikah."

The Shadow Temple, my last test before returning to my kingdom.

"What is in the temple?" I asked Impa.

"The dark history of Hyrule, it will complete your knowledge, and a darkness will grow in you, one that will truly hide anything left of Princess Zelda." She told me in a serious tone, "Only when the Hero of Time returns will you truly be able to remember who you are."

So, we set out to the west of Hyrule to find the place I would gain entrance to the temple. Along the way, their were many strange people, bandits and the like, but we were left alone. We would be even worse than any criminal here, that is what they were supposed to believe. The Sheikah that had been banished from Hyrule were traitors, murders in the eyes of the common man, but in truth there was a much darker secret, one that was held within the temple.

As we made our way towards it I remembered my training, it's been three years since leaving Hyrule, they've been long and trying but here I was going back home, though not in the way I would have liked. I thought of the first few days that Impa trained me as a Sheikah and how horrible I was at it all. As we walked my mind drifted off to the days of my training, the very first time I held a weapon, the first time I fought.....

Three years earlier.....

"Are you sure I can do it?"  I asked Impa as she handed me a small knife.

"I can only be as sure of you as you are of yourself." She told me.

I thought of Link, how brave and strong he became because he had to, because he had courage. That courage was lead down the wrong path thanks to me and my "wisdom." What good was that? What have I brought to Hyrule but ruin and darkness?

No. I will not give in or give up, I must do everything in my power to fix my mistake.

"I am ready." I told Impa. Whether or not I would be truly able I had to became able, and I won't rest until I do.

"Very well Zelda." She said with a small bow, "I will no longer be able to call you by your name, you must choose another to go by now." She told me.

I thought for a moment, but nothing came to mind.

"We must start now young one, let us begin." Impa said as she drew her weapon.

My eyes widen, I can't fight Impa! She was like a mother to me, and far too skilled a warrior for me to even stand a chance.

"But, Impa..." I said in a weak voice. All the fire and courage I had built up in myself faded away.

"Child, you cannot let emotions affect your actions now. Fear, envy, love, there is no room for it now, you must act on the moment, against what you may feel is right. You cannot let your judgement be clouded."

I felt tears run down my face as I prepared myself and what was ahead of me. I came out of our dual with many cuts and bruises, but I couldn't let it discourage me. The next morning, before dawn Impa woke me up, by carrying my sleeping body to the nearby lake and throwing me in. I was sacred beyond belief by this, being that I don't know how to swim. 

I screamed but Impa didn't help me, she stood and watched me fail in the cold water.

I'm going to drown, I'm going to die, training. Not in a fight, not saving someone. Training.

I can't let that happen, I have to live past this, all of this. I calmed myself and tired to float, and to my relif it worked. I was quite aways from shore, so I couldn't simply float back, I had to swim. I moved my arms and legs awkwardly in the attempt to move, but it was painful since my body became stiff from the icy water. I took a deep breath and thought of Hyrule, of Link, how it was all my fault and how I had to make it right. It wasn't long after that that my arms found a rhythm and I made my way to shore.

"Well done young one," Impa said to me, "Though the screaming wasn't necessary..." she said as she walked away. I sighed, hopefully this isn't my wake up call every morning.....

I nearly tripped from being lost in thought. Not just trip, fall off the side of the cliff. Luckily Impa caught me before I fell.

"Thank you Impa, I was just thinking, I'm sorry." She nodded at me without saying anything. I tired to stay focused as we made our way to the Shadow temple. It was a dangerous road, and the journey would take nearly three days, this being early in the first day of the journey.

I was anxious of what lay ahead, I have been this whole time, but  now I am ready. I may not be the Hero of Time, and I'm not trying to be. I have one thing to do, and that is to right my wrong. The wrong I have done to Hyrule, and the wrong I have done to Link.

I must do everything in my power to fix it.

I must.