The Secret of Zelda

The Return to Hyrule

I stood on top of the fence which was between myself and the graveyard. The sun was raising quickly and the shadows disappeared, and with them my chance of an easy get away. But I thought to myself, this is my return home, why not make a grand entrance?

I may not return as Hyrules princess, but I can still return with power. 

I jumped down from the fence, and made my way through the empty graveyard.  Some graves were dug up, no doubt robbed by Greudo thieves sent by Ganondorf. I will most likely be sent to do things like this also, but I have a thin line to walk; To do as I am ordered by Ganondorf, but still not hurt anyone. But if I try to hard to not hurt people, than they will suspect what I am really doing here.

I jumped up, and scaled the side of the windmill. I reached out with one arm and grabbed the windmill blade, letting it take me around to the top. From the top I could see the entire village, and how it has changed. New buildings were almost completed, and there were many more people living here now, likely because every other place is in ruin, overrun with Ganondorfs minions. While things looked different here, life looked normal for these people. 

People began to notice me and many people stopped what they were doing to gaze up at me. I could hear the faint sound of people murmuring as rumors already began to spread. 

"Let the witch be and get back to work!" Someone below shouted. I for some reason took offense to that, I still felt cool and calm, but I wanted that fool to realize who he is talking to.

Not his princess, but a person fully capable of ending his life here and now. 

"You insult me without first making an inquiry of who I am, such as all low lives do?" I asked him from my spot upon the windmill, my voice echoing throughout the village. All eyes were now upon me, and I jumped down from my perch. A few people began to panic when the realized what I was, a Sheikah. The common people have not seen a Sheikah besides Impa for years, not since they had betrayed the royal family. 

"Please sir, let no harm come to us." A young girl said. "We didn't mean to offend you, we were just frightened." The girl was no more than eight, her hair was dark and  her eyes were blue. When I looked into her eyes, I was reminded of Link, and his courage. I took a deep breath, and walked away. No one followed me out of the village, and soon enough I came to Hyrule Field.

The sky was dark, but the grass was still green, roads were overgrown with weeds and grass. It had seen more glorious days, but I was relived that it wasn't in total ruin. There was no one out in the field, probably because it wasn't safe for the common man. Very litte trade would be happening between villages or the Gorons and Zoras, the Hylains were isolated.

The closer I came to the castle, the worse things looked and the darker it got. When I finally made it to the entrance, the gate was shut. There were no guards, so getting in won't be a problem. I took two of my knives and scaled up the face of the draw bridge, the blades slicing into the wood and giving me a spot to hold onto. I climbed about halfway up, before stabbing one knife through and swinging my feet up onto it, I bent my knees and sprang up catching the top ledge of the bridge. From there I jumped up to the top of the wall above the bridge. 

I could see almost all of the castle town from here, and it was empty. Windows were broken, doors were smashed in, and bones were scattered about. Rats crawled around on the ground below, and spiders hung along ledges. I jumped down and made a smooth landing. Dust kicked up from the impact, and a cloud covered where I was and where ever I walked. The sound of old doors creaking as they hung half off their hinges as the wind roared against them filled the square. I went along the back alley way, where I saw the remands of a castle guard.

I knelt down to look closer, and recognized the emblem he wore, he was one of my guards when I was a child. A personal guard, one who would go on walks with me and take me into the market place. He was like family to me, and here he is now, dead in an alley, and in his lap a Greudo blade.

I took the blade, anger building up inside me. I smashed it against the wall next the the head of the soldier, the blade shattered and fell to the ground like dust. The hilt, still in my hand, was slammed into the ground, breaking the stone beneath it, and cracking the center of the hilt.

I stood up, taking a last look at this friend of mine, who was one of the bravest, kindest people I ever known, and he had died no doubt in saving me as I fled the castle years ago. I remember when Link first came to me, the guard knew, but he didn't say anything to my father.

Link and I just made a plan to stop Ganondorf. I was so happy that I had him and his help, I can't do this alone. 

"Princess, were you talking to someone?" My guard asked.

My heart beat quicken a little, like it always does when I try to lie.

"Um, just myself sir." I said quickly.

"And you sounded like another person?" He asked as he stepped into my garden. I couldn't think of anything to say, so I stayed quiet. He chuckled at me. 

"Well, excuse me princess, but no answer means that you were in fact speaking to someone, which I already know anyway, but seeing you try to lie is so amusing."

"I'm sorry sir." I said in a hushed tone.

"All is well, princess. And remember, I do have a name...."

"Thank you Kaefi." I smiled at him. He nodded at me and walked out. "Wait!" I called after him. He turned to face me and I quickly walked towards him. "Can I come with you to the armory?" I asked.

"Of course." He said with a small bow before he turned around, letting me jump onto his back. I laughed as he carried me to the armory. He dropped off and picked up weapons, and as he finished he picked out a helmet and a small knife. He knelt down in front of me and put the helmet on my head and the knife in my hand.

"If a day shall ever come where I cannot protect you my princess, it will be because I already died protecting you, if that should ever happen remember these." He said looking between the helmet and knife. "They could mean the difference between life and death." I nodded slowly at him as he stepped away and lead me back to my garden. 

Nothing bad will happen though, Link and I can save this all, I'm sure of it!

I held the knife that he had given me, and felt a tear roll down my face and fall to the dust covered ground. My actions have ruined so many things, and I've lost so many dear friends. Link is trapped, Kaefi  is dead, and so is my father. Everyone who ever lived here, every solider, I failed them all.

I took a deep breath and tried to calm my mind, I took a step towards the castle, or what was left of it. With each step, this feeling of guilt past. Zelda was the guilty one, I am Shiek. I owe no one anything. Everything I do is for my own gain, and by whatever means necessary.

Zelda is dead.