Chapter 3: The Arrival

**At Hyrule Castle**

"Where's that girl?" Impa wondered. "Always late...she's always late. I wonder if she ever sleeps at night." It was almost noon and there was no sign of Zelda...at least in the kitchen. Impa was tired of climbing up the lengthy stairway just to wake the sleeping princess.

"Everyday, the same thing happens." Impa stopped what she was doing. Toast, bacon, muffins, and other scrumptious food filled the air with a tasty aroma. She enjoys cooking for the princess and loves seeing the look on Zelda's face when she sees her delightful breakfast. When Link came it was double the pleasure in seeing them both so happy and hungry.

"Looks like I'm going to crawl up these stairs, again." She began climbing the steps when Zelda came rushing down almost running directly into Impa.

"Impa! I'm sorry I'm late." Said Zelda who was a little out of breath. " I just haven't been sleeping well. The weirdest thing happened yesterday. I was just about to sleep when this strange blue light appeared out of nowhere. It lit my whole room and I can't figure out what it was."

"Hmm...you don't say. Princess, you must have been dreaming." Impa said.

"Maybe, but it was so real. I don't think it could have been a dream." Zelda looked down dismayed. She wasn't sure anymore if the blue light was real or not.

"Princess, I told you to come early. Today is special."

"Why? Is it not like any other day?

"No, today I have a gift for you."

"Oh...Impa! You need not give me gifts. Besides what could you possibly give me that I don't already have? You've given me so much," said Zelda seemingly uninterested in receiving the gift. But with a quick change of attitude, those blue orbs of hers glittered like stars. "Sooo, what is it? And why today?" she asked with much enthusiasm. She was now thrilled to see what Impa had for her.

"I'm not telling you, yet. First, you have to eat breakfast before it gets cold," replied Zelda.

"Oh, all right," pouted Zelda.

"Is Link coming?"

"He should be coming a little after noon. We're supposed to have a competition in archery. He wanted ANOTHER rematch." Zelda giggled, her voice chimed like bells.

"Is that so?"

"Uh huh." She laughed again.

"Okay, enough. Eat." Zelda started devouring the hearty feast. Soon, she was finished, her stomach satisfied with the delicious meal.

" For a slender girl, you sure do eat a lot," said Impa. Zelda smiled. "That is what exercise is for, dear, dear Impa." She grabbed a hot muffin

and munched. The soft warm muffin melted on her moist tongue. "Yum...heavenly. Anyway, I exercise therefore I stuff myself with this glorious food." The nursemaid laughed at this. Then to Impa's surprise, Zelda grabbed, yet, another muffin.

"Aren't you full? Zelda, I swear you eat more than that young lad."

"Who? You mean Link? Don't accuse me of such a thing. You have not seen him eat until he's out of your kitchen. He just doesn't want to be rude and gorge up all our food. You should see him eat at an inn. He's always running around so he stuffs himself with trice as much food as I do."

"I'll believe it when I see it."

"Oh...so you won't take my word for it? Have I lost all my credibility? Oh no!!" dramatized Zelda. She plopped to the floor pretending to cry.

"You're so silly. Now about today. Why is it special you asked? Every year on this day the Sheikah celebrate The Coming. It is-"

"The Coming of what?"

"Well...I was about to tell you. No more interruptions, please. The Coming is a day when the eldest child of a family becomes of age. In other words, the eldest child becomes 17, a young adult. When he or she becomes of age or is of this age on this day a special heirloom is given to him or her. And now I present this gift to you." The Sheikan woman handed Zelda a large golden box. A red silk ribbon held the box securely.

"Go ahead and open it, Zelda."

"Oh...Impa," Zelda said, almost a whisper. "I-I can't accept this. I'm not a Sheikah and this is a Sheikan holiday."

"Zelda, I have no children and you're the closest to one I'll ever have. You're like a daughter to me. Please, take it or the tradition will end here." pleaded Impa. Tears streamed from Zelda's eyes. She was overwhelmed with love for the woman.

"Impa, I'm so grateful to have you. You're like a mother to me. I don't know what I would do without you." Zelda hugged her nursemaid. "Shall I?" The princess's eyes were directed at the box.

"Of course, open it." Zelda gently untied the ribbon and lifted the cover. She gasped at what she saw.

"Impa, this bow, it's beautiful!" She cried. Indeed it was. The bow was made of solid sterling silver. At each end, the silver coiled into a spiral and was tipped with three golden triangles. A red leather grip was centered across the bow. Engravings of names of those who carried the bow where imprinted into its shiny surface. Its silver string was made of threaded silk.

"One problem, though. How do you expect me to lift this with one arm. It's made of heavy silver."

"Things aren't always what they seem, Zelda. You see, I now give this to you, and as its rightful owner, no one else can use it. Pick it up with one hand. Zelda did and was amazed. She held the bow with great ease. She glanced at Impa with a look of confusion.

"How could I carry it so easily? I'm strong but not this strong!"

"That's different? The princess just insulted herself." Impa smiled.

"Answers. I need answers, Impa."

"Okay. It chose you, Zelda, pure of heart and right of age. No one can string it, pull it nor even hold it with as much ease as you. For you, it is as light as any other bow. For others, it weighs as heavy as a boulder. That's not all there is to this bow. Any arrow shot from this bow will become 10 times more powerful. Look at it now. Your name has imprinted itself on the bow. It now belongs to you. I can no longer use it, myself." She then returned to her duties in the kitchen.

"Wow." said Zelda who was so amazed. "Thank you so much, Impa. I love it. I'm going to practice with it in the archery range." She headed for the door. "Okay," said Impa, not paying attention. Soon, she realized what Zelda had said and raced after her to the range. She reached the area but it was too late. Zelda had already release an arrow off the enchanted bow. It shot through the air like lightning and struck its target. But it did not stop there. It went through the target board (which was already thick enough) and through the stone wall. Zelda's eyes widened. She looked at her target for a moment, gazed back at Impa, then back at her target again. She went to the wall and peeked through the hole the arrow had made.

"I hope no one was out there." She was wrong... There on the wooden drawbridge was a familiar green cap. Below it, was a dumbfounded Link or what appeared to be Link.

"Are they trying to kill me? Has my plan been foiled...again? Do they know I am not what I seem?" All these thoughts raced through Ganondorf's mind and his eyes narrowed down to slits. He would just kill her now and look for the ocarina himself even if it took years to find the thing. Just, how did they know already?

"Oh my goodness! Link! I'm so sorry. I hope I didn't hurt you," apologized the princess. She ruffled his hair checking for any wounds. (For those who don't remember, this is Ganondorf who previously morphed into Link)

Ganondorf breathe a sigh of relief. "She doesn't know. This is good! I won't have to search for that ocarina," he thought. Then, he spoke, "I'm fine, Princess. Just a bit startled. What is that odd-looking bow?"

"Huh? Oh, it's my new bow. I received it from Impa. It makes any arrow 10 times stronger. Want to try it?" She smiled and was about to giggle, knowing that Link shouldn't be able to hold it if Impa's words proved true.

"Uh...not really," Ganondorf replied. Zelda frowned at his response. What was wrong with him? She remembered Link was always into new weaponry, especially ones that held great power. In fact, he would be begging to use her bow seeing as to how much damage it could cause. To Link, weapons were like toys. Toys that little children loved playing with.

"Zelda, I was wondering. Where did you put your ocarina?" Ganondorf asked nervously.

"Some place where no one will ever find it," answered Zelda. "Why?"

"I...uh...I sense something's wrong, don't you?"

"Well...now that you mentioned it. Yesterday, I did. I had this weird feeling you were in danger last night but you're here so everything's fine, now." Ganondorf smirked.

"What's so funny?" Zelda asked.

"Uh-Uh nothing." Ganondorf answered.

"Something's funny and you won't tell me. What do you find so humorous? My dress? Well, ha ha," she said sarcastically. "You know what? Today, you have no chance at beating me in archery."

"Archery?" gulped Ganondorf. He couldn't aim with that weird instrument let alone use one. Why use these useless toys when you can use sorcery?

"What's wrong, Link? Feel a little hesitant? Afraid you'll just lose again?"

"Zelda! Zelda!" a voice called.

"Father?" Zelda replied sheepishly.

"Zelda, where have you been? I've been looking for you. You were supposed to help me with my duties. Remember? Someday, you'll be queen and I want you to be the most loved by our people."

"Father, can we do these tomorrow?"

"No, tomorrow, I'm embarking on a trip to visit Aronia. I'm making an alliance with King Garrius. You'll be staying here to take care of Hyrule's problems for about a week or so. It'll be practice for your reign in the future. So the sooner we start today the better."

"Okay," Zelda said reluctantly. "Sorry, Link. Looks like the rematch will be tomorrow."

"Oh, that's no problem at all." As Zelda turned, Ganondorf's blue eyes glared, turning into it's real sinisterly becoming temporarily black. That would be a day wasted and he could do nothing or else she would sense him. If ever she found out, it would be likely that she would defy him and never tell him where she hid the ocarina.

"Tomorrow, then," he whispered with hatred.

**11:00 PM at Hyrule Castle**

*Yawn* "I'm so tired, " said a sleepy Zelda. The king was leaving tomorrow and it was her duty to fill I for him. She left the library office and headed towards her room upstairs.

"Zelda," said Ganondorf who was still in the false body of Link. The princess jumped at the sound of his voice.

"Huh? Link, is that you?" She wasn't sure his if it him. If it was Link's voice it sounded somehow different.

"Of course, it's me."

"Did you stay here all day?"

"Yeah, looks like I'm staying here at night also. You don't mind, do you?"

"No, just sleep in one of our guest rooms."

"Where?"

"You don't remember? It's down this hallway to the left." Zelda glanced at Link. Something was different about him. She, then, shrugged the feeling off. It was probably nothing. This was her best friend whom she loved for the longest time. He's maybe a little disappointed about not having their little rematch. She turned, walking towards the stairs.

"Zelda, where did you put the ocarina? I really believe there's something wrong. I might need the sword," said Ganondorf, attempting to persuade her.

"I don't sense anything, Link. Anyway, I should be the first to know. You're probably having flashbacks of the past. It was at this time that seven years ago you defeated Ganondorf and your memories of the battle seemed to have enhanced."

"Why don't you listen to me?!!" Ganondorf shouted, his soft whispers replaced by thunderous anger. Zelda stared at him with wide eyes. Link never talked to her, let alone scream at her in that tone of voice. It hurt her to be shouted at this way and it angered her, also.

"You have no right to talk like that to me. Apologize to me, this instance!!" she demanded.

"Zelda...what's wrong" asked a worried voice across the hall. A woman stepped out of a shadow. It was Impa.

"I, uh, was telling Link something," replied Zelda.

"Do you have to shout at him?" asked Impa.

"I-I'm sorry, I don't know what got into me. I just had these terrible headaches and memories of the past," interrupted Ganondorf in false remorse. He bowed his head low because his eyes shone black, again.

"It's okay, Link. I understand." responded Zelda, "Maybe all you need is a good night's sleep. Impa you may go, now. Thank you."

*Yawn* "I'll see you in the morning." Said Impa half-asleep. Zelda headed up the stairs as Ganondorf walked the opposite direction, muttering to himself.

"Foolish princess, if I could just kill you now, I would. But no...she had to hide that stupid ocarina from everyone including that dead boy to prevent wondering ears from hearing where it could be. He laid onto the guestroom's bed, thinking...and soon he slept.

**Meanwhile in Ganondorf's Garden**

A strange event took place...life sprung within the dead earth in the southeast corner. A fresh white rose with lively green leaves laid delicately amongst the dusty soil. Devar keeping watch on the high tower wondered what it could be but was soon overcome with fatigue. Today, had been a long day for him, and he was ready to go to bed, which he indeed did, ignoring this puzzling quagmire.

TO BE CONTINUED...

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