Seven Years Part 23.5 and 24

Sorry about the long delay... but major computer problems held back production.

“Of course Impa… See you around!”
Turning Shiek jogged happily out of the village. She desperately wanted to get some alone time to clear her mind, so Shiek pulled out her harp to warp to Lake Hylia.

The evening was beautiful. The air was cool, the setting sun shone like red gold over the cliffs on the western side of the lake, shining on the water and causing Lake Hylia to look as though it burned with fire. Shiek sighed, feeling something almost akin to content run through her. Hyrule was a beautiful land, and it was her land. She could feel evil’s grip slipping, and that was cause for much comfort. With every sage that Link awakened Shiek felt strength growing in her. Gannondorf was big, dark, and terrible, but right now he seemed far away and weaker then ever. Sighing happily, Shiek smiled again, continuing to stare out over the reddened, still waters of Lake Hylia.

She was just staring to feel relaxed when the air in front of her shimmered slightly, and Link formed in front of her. He was looking out the same way she had been, his back to her, staring out at the sinking sun. She was about to say something, when Link began talking to Navi, who had just zipped out from under his hat.
“Wow. I mean fricken wow.”
“LINK, JUST THINK ABOUT WHAT SHE HAD SAID WHEN YOU FIRST MET HER… IT WAS ALMOST PREDICTABLE…”
“Well, she might have implied something, but were did she get that I said yes?”
“JUST BE GLAD YOU HAVE A FIANCEE,” Navi sniggered, “I HONESTLY SURPRISED THAT ANY ONE WOULD WANT YOU THAT BAD…”
Shiek felt an arrow thunk into her heart. Link had a fiancée? How the heck did that work?
“Whatever Navi, I personally have no desire to marry a psychopath… Zora or otherwise…”
Marry? Shiek decided she needed to get a clearer picture of what was going on.
“Hey Link, beautiful night, huh?”
He glance surprised over his shoulder, but it was clear the relaxing night was mellowing out even the uptight hero.
“Oh yeah, it is… you have no idea how much I’ve missed seeing things like this over the years.”
“I thought you were asleep?”
“Oh yeah… guess I didn’t miss it all that much after all…”

The two laughed a quiet chuckle that trailed off into sighs.
“So what’s this about you getting married?” she was finally able to bring herself to ask.
“Oh that,” Link started laughing again, “apparently when Princess Ruto gave me the lake sapphire to give to Princess Zelda she thought it was engagement promise.”
“But you’re not?” Shiek tried to keep a hint of worry voice but from Link’s odd glance, she must have let it slip.
“Um, Shiek, I hate to bring back up a touchy subject, and I really don’t care if you’re gay, but I hope you aren’t like getting jealous, because I really, uh,”
“Oh no… nothing like that!” Shiek lied desperately, hoping to cover her tracts, “it’s just I’ve met her, and I know what a psycho she can be.”
“You have no idea,” Link sighed, rolling his eyes skyward in a gesture of patience, “but actually it’s ME that should be jealous. She mentioned you twice by name… you two get close while I slept?” he ended, smirking.
“Not. At. All.” Shiek replied, shuddering involuntarily in response.
“Dang, that’s almost a shame…” Link laughed, stretching expansively. Pausing he sighed again, looking out over the lake.
“Hyrule is so beautiful, Shiek… we have to take it back. We owe it to everyone to give them a batter life then the ones we had to lead… we have to-”
Shiek suddenly found Link’s voice drowned out by a voice shouting telepathically in her brain.

“So, you actually ARE still alive… more’s the pity. Don’t think that this redeems the Hylian race in my mind. You still are the ruler of an empire built by totally disrespecting good Zoras like my father.”
Shiek sighed. Having Ruto as a sage was going to get old fast.
“Look, Ruto, could we forget about how you and I hate each other and deal with larger enemies for a moment?”
“Well, I suppose for the sake of killing that-”
I forgot the cursing, Shiek thought in a back corner of her mind.
“-I could temporarily forget what a total-”
WHAT? What did she just call me?
“-you are and join forces… but this doesn’t change anything.”
“I’ll keep that in mind…”
“Oh and I used a spell to free the Zoras and thaw the fountain. Most of them should have lived through the ordeal… they were only under for about a day, and under the icy conditions most of them could have lived a few weeks.”
“Good… I’ll have to check it out.”
“Oh, yeah, and slut… stay the hell away from my boyfriend…”
Shiek was left so flabbergasted, that she couldn’t think up a single thing to say.

“Hey man? Yo, you still there?”
“What?” Shiek shook her head to clear it, returning to the people and places at hand, “Oh, sorry… I just was, uh, thinking…”
Link cocked his head to the side, blue eyes displaying skepticism. Turning back to look at the sinking sun, Link stared out over the lake. A stiff breeze had started, and pulled through his yellow hair, blowing the strands in front of his face around. The near constant evening winds had always been Shiek’s favorite part of Lake Hylia, and this was definitely reminding her why.
“Zora Fountain will soon thaw,” she intoned, stepping next to him, “The Hyrule River will flow again, and Lake Hylia will swell with water once again. The Zora nation will awaken, and Gannondorf’s regime is just that much closer to destruction.”
“How much more do you think there is?” Link asked, barely audible, “how long before things get better…”
“Soon I guess… but not all of that is in our hands.”
“Yeah, guess so…”
Shiek glanced over at him, surprised at the melancholy she heard in his voice. The blue eyes that stared out over the lake held a faraway look that held a strange look of longing. He looked so heroic, noble, and strong. But he also looked very tired.
“Link,” Shiek began, placing a hand on his shoulder, “when was the last time you slept?”
Link glanced down at her, a flash of anger in his eyes.
“No, seriously,” she quickly went on, realizing it probably sounded like she was jabbing at Link’s sore spot, “you look absolutely exhausted… have you rested even once since you started this quest?”
Link shook his head, a blush actually creeping across his face.
“Link! You’ve been awake for over three days? You seriously need to get some rest!”
Link turned and glared stubbornly out over the lake, crossing his arms and absently tapping his foot.
“I don’t have time for that! I need to fight Gannondorf and-”
“-and if you fall asleep while fighting him, he’s going to end up killing you! Seriously Link, for everyone’s good, I think you need find a place to lay low and sleep, or at least chill!”
“Guess you might be right… it’s just I’m so worried about Princess Zelda. I need to get this all done so I can see her.”
Oh, Narue… he’s talking about me! Please, please, please Link, I’m here waiting!
“I could never forgive myself if something happened to her… I mean, yeah, she can be annoying, but she’s really the only friend from the past that I haven’t seen yet,” Link punctuated the thought with a frustrated sigh.
Goddess, if I don’t get out of here I’m gonna end up saying something I’ll seriously regret.
“And hey, wouldn’t mind rubbing her nose in it a bit… I told her the whole Temple of Time thing was bad idea.”
Shiek sighed. Link really had a way of killing the mood. Sighing, she pulled out a Daku Nut.

“Get some rest, Link. You’ll need it soon.”

Throwing down the nut, Shiek quickly scaled the tree. Link revived and glanced around. Grunting in frustration, Link turned to the bridge.
“Goddess Navi… why the bloody heck does he do that? Couldn’t he ever just say ‘so long,’ ‘see you later,’ or heaven forbid ‘goodbye’…”
Shiek watched Link leave and sighed. As soon as the hero reached the shore, he swung up onto the large horse he had apparently picked up somewhere and struck off north across Hyrule Plains.

Sighing again, Shiek climbed out of the tree and started toward the bridge. She had crossed the bridge and was wandering towards the gated entrance of the lake it when the old telepathic ticking started back up.
“Zel? This is Saria. Can you hear me?”
“Sure can Saria, what’s up?”
“Link called on the Ocarina…He was asking about you and I was wondering if I was supposed to tell him about the whole Shiek thing. He’s really worried about you.”
“Maybe so, but Rauru doesn’t think it will be wise for Link to know my identity. Not yet at any rate.”
“Well, he is probably right. He is very wise and old after all. But I thought I should ask you… you are the princess after all. Well, I guess I will just have to avoid answering then. Thank you for talking Zel.”
“Oh, Saria,” Shiek mentally called before the forest sage cut out, “one thing… did Link mention where he was going to be tonight?”
“Oh, he mentioned he would probably ‘crash’ at Lon Lon Ranch. His old friend Malon told him he could use the barn anytime… I think that is very nice of her.”
Yeah, or something… Shiek thought, hiding the rather cynical thought from the innocent Kohria girl.
“Thanks Saria… I hope I can see you soon when his is all over…”
“Oh me too,” her thoughts were almost too excited, “When all this is over we will be able to have such fun… and Darundia will be around too; he’s so big and fuzzy like a giant teddy bear! I hope the rest of the sages are nice like him…”
“And Princess Ruto?”
“Oh,” Saria tone took on an odd sound, as though she were trying not as much to convince herself of something as Shiek, “She is kind of rough, but I think she means well under it all. She is, uh, very, well, important, so I guess she has had to be really tough on people over the years.”
“I was really important too,” Shiek replied, wondering how the polite girl would back out of this one.
“Oh, yes…” Saria’s tone burst back up to its overly happy ring, “and you are ever so nice. I hope that when we get your palace back I can come and spend the night, and you can come and visit my tree house as well!”
Shiek felt a wry grin tug at her mouth as she said goodbye.

It was time to visit Lon Lon.




Impa glanced with concern at the sky. Hyrule was known to have some prettying nasty storms, and tonight looked like things might get ugly. The evening had been clear, but even as the sun had been slipping away dark clouds had gathered, with almost unnatural quickness in the northwest. A steadily increasing breeze added to the feeling of impending doom, and Impa was will to bet at its current rate, the wind would be gale strength before long at all. Impa felt an uneasy shiver run through her body. Hyrule had storms yes, but something was wrong with it all; this weather didn’t seem natural.

The fact that the major landmark in the northwest was Gannondorf’s Tower didn’t help.

Nodding to the Gorshii brother as they ran for cover in the houses, Impa turned to see to the readiness of her own dwelling. Sighing, Impa walked up the stairs to her house wondering where Shiek could have gotten to. Storms and rain had always made the princess a bit wild and reckless, and that was not what she wanted to deal with right now. The sooner her ward showed up back in the village the better.

It was then she felt the first attack.

It was a grating sensation in her mind, as though a savage beast trapped inside her head was clawing to get out. It was so sudden, so vivid, so strong, that Impa nearly screamed. Taking in a gasping breath, Impa’s hands flew to her temples. She stumbled once, and sank to her knees, a small trickle of blood beginning to seep from her nose.
What in Din’s name, she wondered, letting a hand drop to the ground to steady herself. It had felt like some sort of mental attack, or perhaps something spiritual. To her knowledge Gannondorf didn’t have the power to do either of these things, and certainly not over such a distance. But the sensation returned, this time accompanied by a screeching howl ringing through her mind. If this wasn’t an attack on her, then it was undoubtedly an attack on something, or someone, very close to her.
Princess, what’s wrong? Are you hurt?
This time the onslaught wasn’t slowing. Impa sat back on her ankles, hunching down, her hands pressed hard against her temples. This time she could almost make out a howling voice, screaming in a mixture of pain and triumph.
“Did you really think you could hold me, mind-witch? I shattered the seal of your elders and betters! Your pathetic barrier is a joke! Even without Gannondorf’s aid, it is only a matter of time before I batter it to pieces!”

Drawling on reserves of strength even she had not been aware of, Impa pushed herself up and staggered toward the village well.
Shadow Phantom? Is he breaking the barrier? But why am I feeling the attack and not Jethro? He’s the shadow sage, not I…
Reaching the well, Impa felt the gnawing in her brain intensify. Shaking her head to try and clear it, the shiekah elder peered over the top of the well, down into its dark shaft. A chilling gust of wind seemed to shoot up at her from the well, coinciding with yet another stab of pain inside her head. There was no doubt about it; the Shadow Phantom was attacking her barrier.

Must get back to the shadow Temple, Impa thought, turning and staggering toward its entrance in the cliff behind the village graveyard. If she could make it to the temple, through the endless darkness and danger of the vile monument of death down to the incantation room, she might be able to strengthen the barrier again and keep the phantom at bay. But the Shadow Temple was a dark and foreboding place under the best of circumstances, and in her current state, bleeding freely from her nose and a disturbing trickle coming from her ears, there was little chance she would make it to the inner sanctum of the temple. But that little chance had to be taken… there was nothing for it.

Princess, I never was able to say goodbye… to tell you how proud I was. You grew up to be a lady your mother would have loved, and that I loved. If I could have saw you one last time, I could have told you how blessed I was to have cared for you, how much I wanted everything to work out for you, how much I wanted to see you with your children playing in the palace… mostly to tell you how much I loved you… more then you could even know Princess Zelda. If I had not such a great love for your mother, I could find it within me to call you my daughter…

She stood before the dark tunnel that led to the temple entrance. The pain caused by the phantom hurtling himself at her barrier was becoming more constant; a sure sign the wall was weakening. Even had she been in her physical prime, there would be little time. A dank chill seemed to emanate from the doorway, a warning sign to temple bandits that there were better places to scour for rupees.

I am sorry Princess… I cannot guard you any more...

Steeling herself, Impa, last of the shiekah, stepped into the blackness.





While she had been waiting for Toran to return from the cave, Shiek had left a temporary magic warp point in the barn at Lon Lon. At the time it seemed likely that it might be becoming the team’s headquarters, but of course the events of the next few days had thrashed that idea.
A few days… Shiek thought as she reformed in the dark barn, is that all it’s been? Guess so… it just seems as though so much has happened since then…
Draq and Scela, Toran’s new absence, Link’s arrival, Keef’s treachery, the sack and restoration of Gordon City, Link’s relentless progress in his quest… the highlights of the past week alone were enough to fill several diaries, let alone the details and her feelings; Shiek feared her last green book might not make it to Gannondorf’s fall.

Glancing around the room, the princess let her eyes adjust to the darkness, searching for something. After a moment she was able to discern an old heavy chest in far corner. Shiek had been giving what Impa would probably call “a rash idea” some very heavy thought. It had been started by Saria, though the Forest Sage probably had no idea of the seed she had planted.

“I thought I should ask you… you are the princess after all…”
Damn right I am, she thought walking over to the chest, and it’s time I started thinking for myself…

Digging through the chest, she came out with her thin golden crown and the red dress Malon had loaned her.
Link is risking his life for my cause; he at least deserves to know I am alive, Shiek thought as she shucked off her weather stained shiekah costume and pulled on the dress. She was trying to keep her ulterior out of her mind, but she knew full well that part of her wanted to reveal her secret to Link so that he would realize she was still alive… that she loved him… that he loved her… that he didn’t need Malon to fill the void that she was supposed to be filling…

It took quite awhile to fix the dress properly by herself. Before it was over Shiek had thanked all three goddesses repeatedly for blessing her with a great deal of flexibility. She shook out her long yellow hair, combing out the long single braid she normally kept it in to let it fall down her back. She didn’t have anyone to help her, so Shiek decided to keep to simple. After pulling back most of the hair from sides to reveal her long pointed Hylian ears, she carefully braided the excess in a single braid down the middle of her back. She had left a few locks falling straight down the side of her head to frame her face. Looking at herself in the mirror Malon had left in the barn, Shiek decided she had done the best she could without help. The one thing she couldn’t decide was whither she should go with red eyes or blue. Blue was her natural color, and melded beautifully with her hair, but the red eyes matched her dress and ruby studded crow slightly better. After shifting from one to the other countless times, Shiek finally came to rest on blue. She wanted Link to see her tonight for who she really was, and the eyes were part of that.

Stealing out into the dark barnyard, Shiek felt a sharp breeze pull at the hem of her dress. A storm looked to be brewing, and Shiek was grateful for the fact. Revealing herself to Link would actually take a good deal of courage, and stormy weather had always helped boost her more (as Impa termed it) “reckless” behavior. The barnyard was dark, but the moon was full enough to allow her eyes to adjust to the night quickly. She saw the shape of a figure standing in the middle of the corral and started towards it, but she had not even reached the round-up’s fence before she realize the dark silhouette wasn’t Link. The sound of a feminine voice humming Malon’s trademark song was also a nice tip off. Shiek leaned on the fence and looked at the young ranch maid, who was staring forlornly off at the moon. The princess could actually feel a twinge of pity for her. Link might be hers, but Malon had loved him too, and Shiek knew how much her and Link’s relationship would hurt the girl.

It was then that Shiek noticed the second figure.

Link’s unmistakable half-jogging gate, a bobbing blue fair desperately trying to keep up, massive sword slung over the shoulder; if the Hero of Time ever had to travel incognito, Hyrule would surely be lost…

Shiek tried to get closer without been seen, which given her current apparel was much harder then normal. She didn’t have to get too close though, as the increasing breeze brought the word to her across the corral.
“Hey Malon…”
“Fairy Boy!” the ranch girl practically gushed, “you’re back!”
“Yeah, I am… hey, you’re dad get back in?”
“Yes, he did… and he said you were the one that got him back on his feet in the bar… and Indigo is back to normal. He must have been under some kind of mind control spell or something… he doesn’t remember anything since about five years ago, just before he took over the ranch… thank you ever so much Link, I owe you so much!”
“You don’t owe me anything Malon; in fact, I owe you a great deal.”

They were standing WAY to close… this wasn’t right at all. Navi had zipped inconspicuously back under Link’s cap, apparently realizing she wasn’t needed for this conversation. Malon took a step closer, and not ever the stiffening wind could chill the fire that burned on Shiek’s face.

“Why is that, Fairy Boy?” every time Shiek heard the pet name float over the corral she died a little more.
“Without you, I would have had nothing to dream of for seven long years…”

The words hit Shirk like an arrow to the chest. She wanted to scream, but her throat was too dry to even whisper.

“Fairy Boy,” Malon wasn’t practicing her slower pace with Link anymore. The ranch girl practically threw herself into Link’s chest, and Shiek could only watch in horror as her hero’s arms folded around the small red-haired beauty clinging to him.
“Saria told me tonight that Princess Zelda is alive, so everything is on track. Soon all this darkness will be over and then you’ll be safe. I’ve loved you so much Malon… I still remember the first time I met you outside of Hyrule Palace all those years ago. Remember how I’d come and show you all the Spiritual Stone I won before I’d take them to Princess Zelda back at the palace? You always thought they were so pretty, and your laugh was the most musical thing I have ever heard. I knew even then that I wanted to save Hyrule so it could be a place where you and I could be together.”

Shiek could watch any longer. Turning slightly, she stuffed a fist at her mouth, biting hard on her middle knuckle to keep from screaming. Link loved Malon. Link loved Malon. Link loved Malon. Link loved Malon. Worst of all, Link had ALWAYS loved Malon. When he had spoken of missing someone for seven years, he hadn’t been speaking of her at all… Link, Hero of Time, loved Malon, Girl of the Ranch.

They were kissing now. Why had she glanced back over her shoulder? Why?
“It’s getting cold, Malon,” the voice was clear, yet it seemed miles away, “you should get inside…”
“Would you… would you like to come with me?”

Shiek’s heart froze.
NO! Her mind screamed, NO! NO! NO! NO! THIS CAN NOT BE!
For a few seconds that seemed to tick off an eternity, there was silence.

“Oh Narue, yes…” Malon and Link pressed into another embrace, and Shiek felt her knees give totally out. Sinking down, she curled into a ball, fists grabbing handfuls of the grass as she shook uncontrollably.

This had to be the worst night of her entire life…