AN: Hi everyone. I'm sorry you've had to wait so long for this update. I've been struggling with a lack of motivation to write for some time now, and I slid into a mini hiatus of sorts. But I'm trying to break out of whatever this phase is, and I fully intend to complete this story. As always I hope this new chapter doesn't disappoint, especially after a long wait. Thanks so much for your patience and support. :)

— CLARITY —

His eyes shone in the firelight, more indigo than blue, and his face bore an unspoken longing, one mirrored in her own gaze. Time slowed as a wordless invitation passed between them, a silent plea to abandon caution, to defy convention…

.

A spray of water soaked her back, and she whipped around to meet his playful grin. Feigning offense, she approached the bank and kicked up a splash of her own, shrieking when he caught her foot and pulled her in…

.

Fierce, icy winds whipped about her, veiling the dark pines in swirling gusts of white. Again and again she called to him, too focused, too terrified to heed her numbing toes and aching lungs…

.

He turned from the window, his bruised face shifting from annoyance to absolute shock at the sight of her. Raindrops streaked the glass behind him, obscuring his view of the mourners below…

.

She left the temple with heavy steps, her face a somber mask beneath the circlet which newly adorned her head. He waited at the base of the stairs, as close as the priests had allowed, beaming with pride as he moved to embrace her…

.

He lay on a black altar in a shadowy chamber, chained down by heavy, rusted manacles. His hair clung to his forehead, damp with sweat and blood, and his dirtied face twisted in pain as he labored for breath—

.

Zelda woke with a start.

The images retreated, scattering like dust on the wind. Only fragments remained, all of them dim and distorted. The emotion was gone, the significance lost.

Slowly she sat up, blinking as a tear slid down her cheek. She brushed it away in a daze, taking slow, deep breaths as she waited for the sensation to pass. The fog soon began to clear, allowing her most recent memories to surface...

Link.

"Oh, thank the Sisters…"

Zelda looked up to see Impa rush to her bedside. Gently she felt Zelda's forehead, her face drawn with motherly concern.

"How are you feeling?" she murmured. "Any pain?"

"No… I'm all right."

She did have a rather nasty headache, but she barely noticed it. It was nothing compared to the deep sense of loss she felt inside, as though some part of her had been pried loose and torn out.

"Where is Link?" she asked, meeting her guardian's unwavering gaze.

Impa sighed. "He isn't here. He'll be away for several days, I'm afraid."

"Away?" Zelda breathed. "To where?"

"He didn't say. He was… beside himself."

Zelda stared at her, slowly piecing together the gravity of the situation. Guilt churned in her stomach as she remembered her confrontation with Link.

"This is all my fault," she whispered.

"Ne'lear, no," Impa soothed. "It was inevitable. This is something he must face alone, in his own way."

Zelda shook her head and threw the covers aside. "No, I can't leave it like this. I must go to him."

Impa caught her elbow to stop her. "You're not going anywhere until Maddox has examined you."

"I don't need an examination, Impa. He didn't hurt me. He would never…"

That, she realized, was the strongest revelation she had gained from her exposure to the bond: the truth of his love for her—or rather for his Zelda. It was tender and fierce and pure… Her recollection was vague and dreamlike, but she ached to feel it again—to receive such love and return it, without the burden of uncertainty or regret…

"You were out cold when Link brought you to me, and he was beyond shaken. You will not leave this bed until I understand what happened between you two."

Zelda glanced down at her hands, saddened by the thought of him in such a state. Gently Impa lifted her chin, her face reflecting Zelda's sorrow.

"I want to help him too," she murmured. "I want to help both of you. Watching you struggle through this… it hasn't been easy for me either. Please... tell me what happened."

Again Zelda hesitated, wondering how she could possibly find the words.

"We… connected. Our minds were… joined somehow…"

Impa's expression did not change. "Can you describe it?"

Zelda closed her eyes and focused on the memory, trying to extract more detail.

She remembered feeling lighter, as though some unknown burden had fallen away. Another presence caressed her own, warm and hauntingly familiar. She had rushed toward its source, sighing with elation as their spirits joined together…

But the pleasure vanished as soon as it came, smothered in a flood of anguish and disjointed memories. It was a consequence she had failed to consider, and one he had dismissed. With the bond, there were no defenses, no separation.

Only truth.

"It was so brief," she said, her voice little more than a whisper. "But… in those few moments, I knew him. I knew everything, felt everything, as though I were him—or a part of him. I can't remember much of it, but I know it was incredible and painful and… just so much all at once…"

"Too much," Impa murmured. "I did not expect him to go this far. He's shown such control until now."

"No, Impa, I asked him to do it—I practically begged him. Don't blame him for this, please."

And I kissed him, she recalled, her heart quickening. And he kissed me back…

It was something she had been waiting for, even yearned for, since her return from Zora's Domain. Yet it seemed so small in retrospect, eclipsed by her experience with the bond, ruined by the pain she never meant to cause.

That kiss wasn't for me, she realized with a pang of disappointment. I should have known better. He was tired… and vulnerable.

"You were not ready for that exchange, Zelda. Telepathy alone is still very new for you, but this…" Impa glanced toward the window, breathing a weary sigh. "He regrets it, that much is certain."

Zelda looked up, startled from her thoughts. "But I don't want him to regret it… He's miserable as it is, and I…"

Her heart sank as she remembered the more intense emotions she had felt in the bond. His emotions. Some had been directed at her—feelings like frustration and disappointment. But the darker feelings, like shame and loathing, he held entirely for himself.

He carries them every day, along with all his uncertainties, all his responsibilities…

"I've only made things worse," Zelda said bitterly. "I didn't understand; I—I thought I could help him move on. At least, that's what I told myself. But now…"

"How could you understand?" Impa soothed. "No one can truly understand another's grief, even with all their memories intact."

"But I've been pushing him… You asked me to consider his happiness when I made my choice, and I… I can't say I've done that. I've had so many dreams, Impa. I've seen things, felt things I can't explain, things I know I should ask him about. But those things scare me, and I… I wanted him to accept me, as I am now…"

Her face burned as she gave her confession, but Impa's gaze held no judgment.

"Even now," Zelda added, her voice thick with sorrow. "Nothing has changed for me. The thought of… yielding to her and vanishing into obscurity… it still frightens me. You said it's irrational, and maybe it is. Link thinks me selfish, and maybe I am. Maybe I have been blind and stupid in letting my ridiculous feelings guide me…"

She buried her face in her hands, unable to hold back her tears. Impa held her close, shushing her gently, comforting her like she had when Zelda was a child.

"You have the right to choose your own path," she murmured. "We will love you just the same. Even Link will make peace with it… in time."

Zelda sniffled, too overcome to speak.

But why? A small voice spoke in her head. Why put your fears above the needs of those who love you?

With that thought, Zelda felt something deep within her click into place. Her tears slowed as her emotions calmed, giving way to a single, profound thought.

Why give into fear?

Slowly she lifted her head from Impa's shoulder, blinking as she processed her newfound clarity.

"...You may be right," she murmured. "Maybe I could stay like this. Maybe it would turn out all right in the end."

Zelda paused to wipe the tears from her face, sobering as she met Impa's gaze.

"But there would be damage. To you, to Link, to anyone who's ever cared about me. You will all remember the person I was, and you would wonder what might have been, had I chosen differently. That sadness would never leave you. Even I might come to regret my decision, when it's too late to change it…"

Determination swelled in her heart, and her voice grew stronger as she sat up straighter.

"All this time, since I woke without my memories, I've been ruled by fear. I did not feel seen, and I wanted control over my life. I can't control my past, so I rejected it."

Zelda sighed, feeling another stab of shame. "...But that was an illusion. And I didn't understand how much pain it caused. Not truly. What I felt last night, in the bond… I've never known that kind of pain."

"You have," Impa said gently. "And your experiences are imprinted on your soul, whether you remember them or not. They will stay with you, one way or another."

Zelda fell silent, considering her words. "But, without my memories," she said slowly, "none of that would matter, not to me. Those experiences might as well belong to someone else."

Impa studied her with concern but offered no reply.

"I can't be afraid anymore," Zelda said. "I need to believe that embracing my past is the answer, even for me. I have to trust in you, in Link, and in the person I was… even if it scares me."

A rare emotion crossed Impa's face, and she drew Zelda into a tighter embrace.

"My brave girl," she whispered.

"I used to be," Zelda said, pulling away with a weak smile. "I'd like to think that much hasn't changed."

Impa shook her head. "It's ingrained too deep, ne'lear. But all of this can wait. You should rest and reflect on your decision, on all that's happened. Meditate on it."

"Meditation won't help me. I was joined to the bond for only a moment, and I gained more clarity than I have from weeks of meditation."

Impa looked skeptical. "Those were Link's memories, Zelda… Link's feelings. You need to explore your own."

"But there has to be some way he can guide me. The bond is powerful magic… I can't achieve that on my own."

"Link has yet to master his telepathic abilities. Everything he knows, he learned from you. Using the bond might not be the best approach, for either of you."

Zelda gave a resigned shrug. "I won't rest until I try."

Impa sighed. "I don't suppose you plan to wait until he returns."

"Not if I can help it. I assume he took the Ocarina... Is there no way to reach him?"

"I'm sure we can track him down… but we'll need a little help."

xXx

They left the castle within the hour, disguised as ordinary travelers. Heavy clouds had gathered in the night, and a damp chill clung to the air. Zelda cursed the unfavorable weather, praying the rain would hold until they reached their destination. If the plan unfolded exactly as she and Impa had devised, all would be made right in time for supper.

...That was, if Link agreed to her decision.

...And if the bond could actually help recover her memories… within a few hours.

There were countless uncertainties, and Zelda knew better than to form any expectations. Even if Link agreed, and even if the bond could help them, an important question still remained—was a complete restoration even possible?

It was something of a fool's hope, but she held onto it nonetheless.

...Though she did wonder if that optimism would shrivel once she stood before Link.

Don't think about that now. Find him first.

They passed through Castletown without delay, for the main streets and market square were mostly empty. A few guards watched from their posts, and a stray dog crossed their path, but otherwise all was quiet. Several candlelit windows shone in the surrounding apartments, and Zelda saw silhouettes of some early risers—most likely preparing for breakfast. By the time the streets filled with people, she and Impa would be long gone.

The drawbridge was raised when they reached the south gate, but the guards moved to lower it once Zelda identified herself. She watched them reverse the thick, heavy chains, cringing at the metallic grinding of each rotation. The black vastness of Hyrule Field slowly opened before them, a sight Zelda found strangely unsettling. Above her the torches lurched and shed sparks, as though startled by a sudden gust of wind…

Heavy rain doused the torchlight, and shouts filled the air as lightning split the sky… The drawbridge crashed down as their horse thundered across, nearly trampling a young boy who leapt aside, his stunned face illuminated by a fairy's glow—

Zelda jumped when a hand grasped her arm, startled to find Impa looking up at her.

"Is something wrong, your Majesty?" she asked in a more formal tone, a quiet reminder for Zelda to consider her reply. She noticed the guards had also closed in, ready to assist their queen.

Never show any sign of weakness, the Council's repeated warning drummed through her head. Even to the lowest ranking soldier. They cannot suspect the extent of your amnesia.

Zelda exhaled and eased her grip on the reigns.

"It's nothing. Come, Impa, let's be off."

The Sheikah hesitated for half a moment, then nodded and moved to mount her horse. The guards backed away to resume their posts, saluting as Zelda urged her steed across the bridge. Upon reaching the other side they both quickened their pace and turned east, toward Kakariko Village.

.

Kakariko was the second largest Hylian settlement, having prospered over the past decade after Impa founded an expansion project. It could never compare to the wealth and excitement of Castletown, but it held a simple, quiet charm of its own. Shops and inns lined the main street near the village entrance, but the surrounding hills had been claimed for houses, apartments, and small farms. A massive windmill stood behind the market square—Kakariko's famous landmark.

The villagers had no desire to compete with the noise and grandeur of Hyrule's capital. They were content to tend their gardens, feed their livestock, and raise their children in peace. They rose early not to land one more sale, but to sip tea on their porches and watch the sun rise. Life was slower and easier there, and the residents were friendly to neighbors and visitors alike.

Perhaps this was why no one bothered to question Zelda or Impa as they led their horses through the residential streets. Both remained hooded and cloaked to avoid recognition—Impa especially—but the people they passed still offered a polite nod or friendly wave. As they neared the edge of the village, however, Zelda began to notice some curious or suspicious looks.

Can't blame them for that, she thought. I doubt travelers often come this way.

Once the last house was behind them, Impa led them to a rockier area on the outskirts of the village. There they entered a passageway nestled between two cliffs, one so narrow they were forced to walk single file.

As they walked in silence, Zelda felt a subtle change in their surroundings. She noticed that the birdsongs had ceased, and a stillness hung in the air, broken only by the distant groan of Kakariko's windmill. She knew the area was safe, yet she could not shake the feeling of being watched.

Stop it, she thought, glancing toward the tops of the cliffs. You're being paranoid.

Then a water droplet splashed against her nose, followed by another. And another. A gentle rain soon began to fall, and despite being cold and wet Zelda thought she preferred that over the eerie silence.

"Almost there," Impa called over her shoulder.

Zelda pulled her hood closer, relieved to see the passageway indeed ended a short distance ahead, leading into what appeared to be a large grassy meadow. A tall wooden fence stood several meters away, concealing most of the area, though a wide archway provided easy access. The weather obscured whatever lay beyond it, but Zelda already knew what they would find there.

Kakariko Graveyard.

It was a very old cemetery, no longer used by the villagers. Some claimed there was simply no room for additional graves. Others said it was a cursed place that should never be disturbed. Both claims were true, Impa had told her, but it was more a sacred place than a cursed one.

Sacred or cursed, Zelda had always thought it a dreadful place. She remembered the solemn rows of crumbling headstones, their faded inscriptions lost to the wear of time. She remembered the dark trees looming above, their branches gnarled and poised to snatch her away.

But, Zelda reminded herself, those are the memories of an eight-year-old girl.

As an adult, she saw humble, well-kept graves separated by narrow footpaths of flattened stone. Some had flowers laid before them, breaking up the dreary greys and greens with warmer pops of color. It all seemed suddenly harmless, even peaceful in the gentle morning rain.

Strange, Zelda thought, how much smaller it seems.

Impa led her to the far side of the cemetery, where they passed some larger, more ornate headstones bearing the emblem of the royal family. Behind them a weathered stairway led to what looked like the entrance to a catacomb, for it tunneled down into the hillside.

Impa started up the stairs, but Zelda slowed to a stop, frowning as she grew increasingly aware of something she could not identify. Something familiar… and ominous.

I know this place…

A name surfaced in her mind, and she felt her body go cold.

Shadow Temple.

"Here is gathered Hyrule's bloody history of greed and hatred…"

Harrowing images flooded her mind, fragments of older, deeply buried memories:

She stood in a small chamber, surrounded by rustic torches. Their flames shuddered in the wind, casting shadows upon a massive stone eye which peered from the far wall…

She stumbled through a labyrinth of dark corridors and filthy chambers, furnished with horrors like rusted bars, bloodied chains, and deadly traps. Eyes peered through the darkness, bodiless moans and whispers filled the silence…

"Zelda…?"

Reanimated skeletons attacked with jagged blades, their bony jaws set in wicked, permanent glee…

Gaping eyes stared behind crude masks, dragging her into deep, inescapable darkness…

"Zelda…"

Their rotting mouths fell open, stretching too wide in horrific, paralyzing screams…

"Zelda!"

She broke from her trance with a small cry, stunned to find herself back in the graveyard with Impa. Rays of sunlight shone through the rain, and she drank in the sight with a surge of relief.

"Thank the gods," Impa soothed, caressing her arm. "You had an episode of sorts. It took some doing to shake you out of it…. Are you all right?"

Zelda gripped Impa's arms with trembling hands. "I saw… terrible things. Evil things… ReDeads and Stalfos… right in front of me…"

Impa sighed, her concern shifting to remorse. Gently she took Zelda's face in her hands, stroking her pale cheek.

"I don't know exactly what you saw," she said firmly, "but I can tell you it no longer exists. That was another time—a very dark time, when evil was allowed to run amok. The Shadow Temple still stands, as it has for centuries, but the evil you saw has been purged."

Zelda stared at her, trying to process her words while the blood still pounded in her ears.

Another time...

She slumped against a nearby tree, her eyes focusing on the distant windmill. She dared not close them for more than a blink, lest the images return in full nightmarish detail.

"Maybe this was a mistake," Impa murmured. "Maybe we should head back—"

"No," Zelda said loudly, shaking her head. "I'm fine, Impa. Really. I'm not going back."

She pushed away from the tree and continued up the stairs, ignoring the heavy, shaky feeling in her legs. Impa sighed but gave no argument as she fell in step beside her.

"We don't need to enter the temple," she assured her. "I didn't think the graveyard would have such an effect—"

"It's all right," Zelda muttered, but she was glad to feel Impa's protective hand on her back.

Moments later they reached the entranceway and paused before it. Inside Zelda saw another stairway leading down into complete darkness. She shivered and turned her attention to Impa, praying she would not endure another flashback.

"Hold on to me," Impa murmured, pulling her close. "This will only take a moment."

It was then that Zelda noticed the stone dais beneath their feet. It was a near perfect match to the one Link had used in the Lost Woods, only it bore a different symbol.

Shadow.

She wrapped her arms around Impa's waist, willing herself to stay calm when she felt the warmth of her magic. It enveloped them in a faint violet light, and Zelda's muscles tensed when she felt herself tilt sideways—

Then her eyes opened, widening as she absorbed her new surroundings.

They stood in what might have been a chamber, though Zelda could see no apparent walls or ceiling. An otherworldly void stretched in all directions, shrouded in darkness, and it housed what appeared to be several floating platforms. Ethereal streams of light poured down from the nothingness, forming celestial waterfalls along each platform.

The chamber defied logic, as did the strange awareness Zelda felt the moment they arrived. A powerful energy charged the air, humming in her ears and pulsing through her veins. It was a force she knew she could manipulate… but she could not remember how.

"This is the Chamber of the Sages," Impa told her. "We Sages come here to commune and combine our powers."

Zelda nodded, looking around in quiet awe. They had materialized on the largest platform, which featured a large golden Triforce symbol surrounded by six circular emblems, each a different color.

"This place is familiar," she murmured, "as though I've seen it in a dream…"

"You have been here many times," a male voice spoke behind her.

Zelda whipped around, startled to see a stout, elderly man standing on the yellow symbol. Dressed in fine robes of red and brown, he appeared to be of noble descent, and his clothing resembled that of the high priests who resided in Hyrule Castle.

"Greetings, your Majesty," he said with a bow. "Forgive me; I did not mean to startle you. I am Rauru, Sage of Light."

"Hello… Rauru," Zelda said slowly, glancing at Impa and noting her calm expression. "Sage of Light, you said?"

"Yes."

"Are you Hylian?"

"I was. A very long time ago."

Zelda frowned. "What do you mean?"

Rauru gave her a smile, one barely visible behind his thick white mustache. "Long ago I served your family as a high priest. Now my spirit remains here to serve all of Hyrule as the Sage of Light."

"You mean… your spirit is trapped here?" Zelda breathed.

"Oh no, I'm free to pass on my role to another, when the time is right. The spirit realm is not what it seems; trust me. And I can enter the mortal realm if I take the form of an owl."

Zelda stared at him, more puzzled than reassured.

"I did not expect to see you here yet," he added, glancing between her and Impa. "Link had said you needed more time…"

Zelda sighed, pushing her many questions aside. "A lot has happened since then. In fact that's why I'm here—to find him."

Rauru raised his bushy eyebrows. "He left the castle?"

"Yes, but it isn't what it seems. I've decided to restore my memories, and I need his help to do it."

Again Rauru smiled, and the skin—or the illusion of it—crinkled around his eyes in a kindly way. "Gods be praised."

"Come, Zelda," Impa said, moving to sit cross-legged on the Triforce emblem. "Try to summon the others."

"Summon them?" Zelda sat across from her, mirroring her posture. "How?"

"First close your eyes and clear your mind—just as you do during meditation."

Zelda straightened her back and closed her eyes, exhaling slowly.

"Now, picture each Sage in your mind. Focus on whatever images or memories you have. Speak their names aloud if it helps you."

Zelda furrowed her brow, sorting through her limited memories of the Sages. Images of Ruto and Saria came easily enough, since she had met them in person, but Darunia and Nabooru were names and faces from pictographs and profiles. She knew their titles and accomplishments, but she lacked any personal connection to them.

She wanted to change that.

"Darunia," she said, feeling a little self-conscious. "Nabooru."

She expected something to happen, that the energy she felt in the chamber would awaken some mysterious power within her.

But nothing happened.

The silence closed in around her, and the harder she tried, the more distracted she became. Frustration filled her mind like a toxic fume—

Then a cool hand touched hers, and she opened her eyes to see Impa smile.

"It's all right," she said. "I didn't expect this to be easy. Why don't you try summoning Ruto first?"

Zelda sighed, slightly disappointed that she had failed the more difficult approach. Again she closed her eyes and pictured Ruto's face, concentrating until her moist, pearlescent skin and probing violet eyes came into focus.

"Ruto."

She thought about the time she spent at Zora's Domain—the familiar conversation, the sense of sisterly trust… the sadness in Ruto's eyes when she failed to recall a memory they once shared.

"Ruto…"

Then something stirred within her, rippling like a calm pool disturbed by a falling stone. The ripples grew stronger and stronger, extending beyond her body, beyond the Chamber, beyond Kakariko. She acted on sheer instinct, and she knew her voiceless call would reach the farthest corners of Hyrule. For several moments she merely listened, suspended in a peaceful, trancelike state.

Ruto...

Then she felt a jolt in her awareness, as though the Zora were right beside her.

"...Zelda?"

Her eyes flew open, and she was startled to find not Ruto but Impa sitting before her.

"Well, this is a surprise," Ruto's voice continued in her head. "Is everything all right? Never mind, I'm on my way."

Impa smiled at Zelda's stunned expression.

"Did Ruto speak to you?"

Zelda blinked. "You didn't hear that?"

"We Sages can speak telepathically to you and Link, but not to each other."

Zelda frowned, then brightened as an idea struck her. "Does that mean I can communicate with Link too? That I can reach past his barrier?"

Impa considered this a moment. "Possibly… but is that really how you want to handle this?"

Zelda considered it a moment, then slumped her shoulders. "No, I suppose not."

Impa gave her hand a sympathetic pat. "See if you can summon Saria."

Again Zelda exhaled, long and slow, and closed her eyes. In her mind she pictured Saria's young face with her kind blue eyes and unique green hair. She thought about her visit to Kokiri Forest—the meal they shared with Link and Shayne, their private conversation in Link's childhood home… the way she had pleaded with Zelda to regain her memories…

"Saria…"

Once more she reached beyond the confines of her body, seeking the vibrant glow of Saria's spirit. Only seconds passed before she felt a sudden shift—

"Zelda?"

Then the connection suddenly weakened, as though Saria had abruptly pulled away. Pushing her confusion away, Zelda reached out again, attempting to reconnect…

"It was you!"

Zelda jumped when a young voice rang through the chamber—louder and clearer than Ruto's had been. And there, standing on the green symbol, was Saria.

"Oh, I'm sorry," she said, noting Zelda's stunned expression. "I didn't mean to scare you. I was already in the Meadow when you summoned me." Her smile faded as she came closer, glancing between her and Impa. "But why did you… Is something wrong?"

"No, not exactly—"

It was then that Ruto appeared on the blue symbol behind Saria, dressed in soaking wet robes and short of breath.

"I came as fast as I could," she blurted out, glancing from Sage to Sage. "Where are the others? Did something happen?"

"It's no cause for panic," Zelda said, rising to her feet. "I am sorry for disturbing you so early—"

"Zelda, it's fine," Ruto cut her off. "No apology necessary. Is this about Link?"

"Yes… I was hoping you could help me locate him—"

"Link is missing?" Saria exclaimed.

"He isn't missing; he's… Well, what I mean to say is…" Zelda paused to release a calming breath. "We had a discussion last night. About my memories. It didn't end well, and he… he left shortly after."

Alarm filled Saria's face. "He ran away?"

"He didn't run away, Saria," Impa said, giving her a pointed look. "He needed time to grieve."

The girl's face fell in mournful understanding. "Oh…"

"Please, it's all a mistake," Zelda said, her face slightly flushed. "Yes, he believes I've rejected my memories. I need to tell him it's not true… and that I need his help to recover them."

Saria clasped her hands in delight. "Oh, Zelda, do you mean it? You really want your memories back?"

"I do," Zelda nodded. "I want to make this right, as quickly as possible. Do either of you know where he's gone?"

"He hasn't been in Zora territory," Ruto said. "Not to my knowledge, at least. I highly doubt he would try to sneak around."

"He hasn't entered the Lost Woods either," Saria said, "which means he didn't go to Goron City. Unless he was able to use the fire portal…?"

"No," Impa said. "He left with nothing but the Ocarina."

"Then he probably went to the desert," Ruto sighed. "It's the most remote portal."

"But it will take days to reach him there," Zelda groaned. "Assuming he stays long enough. Maybe I should keep trying to reach Nabooru…"

"There is a shortcut," Ruto offered. "Come to our Domain. We have a direct portal to Lake Hylia. From there it's a much shorter ride to Gerudo Valley."

Zelda brightened. "Really? All right, I'll do that. Thank you, Ruto."

"No need to thank me. I assume Impa will accompany you? I'll send a few of my guards ahead to rent horses for you from the nearest village."

"Oh, you don't have to—"

Ruto scoffed and waved a dismissive hand. "Nonsense, there's no time to waste. Did you teleport here from Castletown?"

"From Kakariko," Impa said. "We can reach the Domain before noon."

"Very good," Ruto smiled. "I'll be waiting by the waterfall."