Chapter Text
Rapid thumping beats of galloping horse hooves and heaving snorts of the beast beneath her echoed in Impa’s ears, as the countryside rushed past. Ignoring stiff and aching muscles, she gripped the reins in her hands tighter and urged the horse to go faster. Impa could only think about the day and a half she had already lost, moving to fulfil a seemingly impossible mission.
She had left the castle as soon as she was given the task. Travelling through the secret passages and tunnels out of the castle, through the lower city jail. Taking a horse that was always kept prepared for the secret agents of the King’s use, Impa had ridden out of the lower city, through its back streets and out of the Castle City. Speeding over the less travelled roads, skirting around busy settlements and farmland. In an attempt to be seen by as few civilians as possible. The only thing stopping the few soldiers she passed from forcing her to stop, was the cloak that she wore, which displayed the blue Sheikah symbol.
Having already travelled for a day and night, Impa was beyond exhausted. But the end was in sight. She had already veered from the wetland’s road and entered the hidden pass of Sahasra Slope. Impa did not have to worry about any hapless Hylians walking on the road, as the hidden pass was only known to those of the Sheikah. As it was one of the many hidden entrances and exits to the only land given to their people. The hidden village of Kakariko.
Impa and her horse thundered up the narrow pass, past inscribed warding seals, travelling under the red tori gates, under the ever-watchful eye symbols of her clan. She could feel her horse starting to tire, but she once again urged the horse on up the climb. She had no time to waste. She had already forced what was usually a 3 day ride into a day and a half. But even that was time she could not afford to waste. Time was of the essence.
Seeing the entrance to the village up ahead, Impa did not slow down, instead she forced her horse to gallop into the village. Ignoring the cries of her fellow Sheikah as they dived out of the way. The King’s mission preceded all else.
Weaving her horse through the village streets, she finally made it in front of the largest building in the village. Jumping from her horse, trusting the village guards would take care of her mount, Impa rushed up the main stairs and burst into the main hall.
Inside, Impa ignored the lingering quiet and darkness, curls of incense that made the air inside hazy and sweet. Her red eyes were able to make out the figure of the chief of her people in the gloom. Seated, as ever, on her platform.
“Impa,” the aged voice spoke, the figure, face shadowed by the wide brim of the chief’s hat. “What is this commotion?”
“Mother – I mean – Chief Edla,” Impa panted, trying to catch her breath. “I bare an urgent mission from his majesty.” She raked her eyes quickly over the interior. “Where is Purah?”
“Purah?” the chief of the Sheikah puffed on the long pipe in her hand. “Whyever, would you enquire after her?” The shadowed Sheikah tapped the ash from the pipe. “Should you not focus on your mission?”
Attempting to withhold her impatience with her mother’s habitual attitude, Impa insisted. “This is a mission for her. I need to find her.”
“Her? A mission?” a wry chuckle rasped out of the chief. “Surely you jest?”
“I believe she is the perfect one for this mission.” Impa insisted, stubbornly. “The only one who could –“
“The girl lacks any martial expertise. Her head is full of flights of fancy,” the chief of the Sheikah scoffed, waving her pipe dismissively. “Better off that you choose from one of our many other girls –“
“This is a mission given by his majesty.” Impa narrowed her red eyes. “I am in charge of vetting and selecting those that directly serve the royal family.”
“… And I am the one who safeguards our secret village and protects our people. Very well, daughter,” the chief softly nodded her head slightly, causing the metal charms hanging from the brim of the chief’s hat to chime and tinkle. “I will leave the royal business in your capable hands.”
Relieved that her mother wouldn’t keep her for an hour, debating and arguing, Impa bowed. “Thank you, Mother –“
“But let it be known.”
Impa froze in her bow.
“That any consequences of your decisions, will be solely yours.”
Impa raised her head slowly to stare at her mother through the gloom.
“You will not allow your actions to bring down the Sheikah.” The chief brought the pipe back to her thin lips. “Nor will I.”
Lowering her head again, Impa bowed. “As you will it, chief Edla.”
An impatient sigh, followed by a cloud of sweet smoke proceeded the leader of the Sheikah’s next bored words. “If you insist on making any use of your sister, you will find her messing around somewhere near the Lanayru Promenade.”
“Thank you, chief Edla,” Impa bowed once more, before turning to leave.
“Goddess knows what use you will get out of that fool.” was the irritated mutter that followed her out.
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Once leaving the outer boundaries of Kakariko village, it was not that hard to locate Purah. There were the sounds of explosions that echoed in the air, which usually led Impa right to her sister. She knew that her sister had been forced to move her experiments outside of the village, after the fourth time she had set fire to one building or another.
Reaching the promenade, and making her way passed the waterfall, Impa could see her sister, once again poking around with the strange ancient relics, left by their ancestors. This one was theorised to be a shrine of some kind, and Purah had been trying on and off for years to find some way to activate it. Find a way to open it and discover all its secrets. Impa could see that Purah had resorted to using bombs this time.
“Purah,” Impa chose to call out to announce her presence, as she did not want a repeat of the last time she had surprised her sister in the middle of experimenting.
“Oh!” Purah still jumped, dropping the, thankfully, unlit bomb in her hands onto the cave floor. “Don’t do that!” Purah cried, pouting. “You know I hate it when you sneak up on me!”
“I wasn’t sneaking,” Impa smiled slightly, in wry amusem*nt, slowly shaking her head. “You know … if you wore proper protection gear while you did this? Your hearing would not be so bad.”
“WHAT?”
Continuing to shake her head, Impa reached into her pack and brought out a potion, which she handed over. Purah sniffed the bottle, then proceeded to guzzle it down.
“If you just took the proper precautions, Purah, I wouldn’t need to keep bringing you these potions.”
“Thanks, Impa,” Purah wiped her mouth on her coat sleeve and wiggled a finger in her ear. “Maybe I should invent quieter bombs …”
“We don’t have any time for this,” Impa reached out, grabbing one of Purah’s wrists, and started towing her out of the cave, “Come on.”
“Whoa, whoa, wait,” Purah whined. “Why do I have to go with you?”
“Because you have a mission,” Impa replied, pulling her along.
“What?” Purah scratched at her temple. “Who would bother giving me a mission?”
“I did.”
“What?” Purah stared at the back of her sister’s head, stunned as she continued to allow Impa to pull her along. “Why would you do that?”
Impa replied plainly as she continued, “Because I think you are the perfect one for the job.”
Stunned into silence for a moment, Purah followed Impa out of the Lanayru Promenade and a good distance toward the village borders.
“… Do you need something blown up?”
“What?! No!” Impa stopped, turning on her. “Why would you automatically assume that?!”
“What?” Purah sulked, “It’s what I’m good at.”
“It’s not the only thing you're good at,” Impa argued with a frustrated sigh. “Pull your head out of your tinkering and inventions for a moment, and take this seriously.”
“My research into ancient Sheikah technology is serious!” Purah argued, crossing her arms huffily.
Rubbing at her aching temples, an exhaustion headache throbbing behind her eyes, Impa had to physically restrain herself to not yell at Purah. She still needed her help. And Purah would 100% put all of her energies into doing the complete opposite of any of her requests if she gave in to the temptation and they started to fight.
Taking a deep breath, Impa enquired, “Do you know who the founding father of Hyrule Kingdom was?”
“Pfft. Of course,” Purah scoffed. “Everyone knows that.”
Impa continued to rub at her temples. “Who, Purah?”
“The First King of Hyrule. The first Hylian King, King Rauru,” Purah replied sarcastically.
“And when was the founding of the kingdom?”
“… In the Era of Chaos?” Purah blinked.
“When was the last Great Calamity?” Impa continued, glancing up at her sister.
“About 10,000 years ago.”
“How many champions in the Great Calamity, 10,000 years ago, were there?”
“Four,” Purah scratched at her chin. “Impa, where are you going with this? You know all of this as well as I do. You were forced to learn from the stupid tapestries, the same as I was.”
“Because you do know as much about the kingdom’s history as I do. Possibly more.” Impa took a sip of a potion for her headache. “As you kept to your studies, while I focused on the blade. His majesty needs someone to be the new tutor for the princess.”
“Hey, whoa, wait!” Purah choked. “Slow down. Why would the King want one of us to be the princess’s tutor?”
Impa let out a frustrated sigh. “Have you not been paying attention to the reports I’ve sent from the capital?”
Purah glanced away from her sister guiltily, toe digging into the soil.
“Goddess Hylia, I pray for patience,” Impa growled under her breath, before taking a few more to calm herself down. “Recently, it was revealed to us – revealed to the entire royal court –“ Impa glared at her sister’s guilty face. “That the Yiga had somehow managed to slip into the ranks of Hylian higher society.”
“Oh …” Purah winced.
“Some of whom, had been the princess’s tutors.”
“Oh, Hylia,” the eccentric researcher sweated.
“I have been tasked to organise a squad to hunt down any remnants of the Yiga and their influence. And discover what their plans are.” Impa stared at her with an intense look. “I need you to take up the role of being the princess’s tutor. To teach her everything a royal needs to know, to competently take on the crown –“
“W-why would you give such an important job to me?!” Purah flailed, nearly knocking off the pair of red glasses she kept perched on her head.
“Because you are the only person I trust.” Impa stared directly at her sister, their red eyes meeting.
“… … Oh.”
“Don’t worry,” Impa grabbed Purah’s wrist again and continued to drag her into the village. “I’m not expecting you to do anything but teach. As I have already sent some of my most trusted agents along with Princess Zelda to act as her handmaidens. They will also act as the princess’s bodyguards.”
“Well, I …” Purah stared into the distance, dazed. Overwhelmed at the confidence her sister felt in her. “I … guess I could do that. If I’m not expected to fight.”
“Good,” Impa pulled her into a building, which turned out to be Purah’s own house, at the border of the village. “Start packing. And remember to pack light, as you will be travelling.”
“What?” Purah stumbled as Impa pushed her towards her room, “Why light?”
“Because Lady Urbosa has taken up her sworn duty as godmother to the future Queen. Princess Zelda will be residing in the Gerudo palace, for the foreseeable future. While my agents and I sweep out the infestation that has made the royal capital unfit for the princess to reside. Once it is deemed safe? You and the princess may come back.”
“Wait … you’re shipping me off to the desert!?”
“Only temporarily,” Impa shrugged. “Think of it like … a holiday.”
“Right,” Purah chuckled, slightly hysterically. “A years-long holiday, where I’ll be working the entire time, and glared down at by towering, overly muscular Gerudo women.”
“You’ll be fine,” Impa waved a flippant hand, busy digging through her sister’s draws for suitable clothes. “Just make sure not to say anything culturally or racially insensitive. And the Gerudo should have no problems with you.”
“You won’t be the one having to wear a disguise all the time,” Purah grumbled as she gathered together the books and notes on her desk. “Sweating in the hot desert heat.”
“Make sure it’s that unassuming-looking one. The mousy looking Hylian woman disguise,” Impa pointed out distractedly, as she dug in a box, looking for Purah’s travel bags. “Can’t have an educator standing out.”
Purah groaned petulantly, stomping her foot. “Why that one? You know I hate that one.”
“Because it’s your best one,” Impa replied bringing everything to the bed. “And make sure to keep up the act too. No hijinks or goofing around, or the Gerudo are more likely to slice you in half than to put up with any nonsense.”
The eccentric inventor paled, standing stiffly on the spot as she imagined such a horrible fate. Which Impa ignored, as she continued to help her pack.
“Also, be prepared for a few days of hard riding,” Impa added, hunting under Purah’s bed for her shoes. “As it already took me almost 2 days to get here. The Gerudo caravan left the capital three days ago.”
“What?! Why?” Purah snapped out of imaging her demise at the end of a Gerudo spear. “Couldn’t I just teleport?”
“Purah!” Impa stared at her sister in indignation. “You know we aren’t supposed to use those types of seals. Unless it’s a dire emergency.” She added, almost reluctantly. “Everyone knows using the forbidden artes is … well … forbidden.”
“Darling little sister,” Purah cooed mockingly, with a smirk at Impa’s glare. “Everyone knows it’s only forbidden … if anyone sees it. I’ll be fine. Besides,” the older Sheikah grinned. “This was an order from his royal highness. It is an emergency.”
Impa sighed, defeated. Giving her smug sister the side eye. “… Have you ever used the teleportation seals before?”
“Hmm …” Purah danced around the subject, “Once or twice.”
“Fine … Just be careful,” Impa relented, reluctantly. “Even the best operatives find the seals to be unreliable at times.”
“I am the foremost specialist of ancient Sheikah technology in all of Hyrule,” Purah boasted proudly. “I know how to use the seals, perfectly.”
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Zelda was simply delighted. This was the first time she had ever ventured outside of the capital, seeing the wide and beautiful lands of Hyrule for herself. Instead of only through books and landscape paintings.
This was also the first time, in a long time, that Zelda had been able to ride her horse. He was a Royal White Stallion, with a soft and beautiful blond mane, with a gentle temperament. The stablehands had said that the horse was called Storm, but Zelda couldn’t see it. He had been carrying her at a gentle pace, for the last three days, and showed no ill temper. And at every rest stop, she had dutifully fed her steed apples and handfuls of oats.
The warriors who served her godmother walked around them, as the slowly moving silken caravan made its way towards the Gerudo desert. No one had yet been brave enough to approach, though Zelda had made sure to wave and smile at any peasant she saw.
She felt the safest she had ever been and the freest. For the first time, not locked within the castle’s stuffy walls, or bound down by royal duties. And with an ever-warmly smiling Urbosa walking by her side? She never felt lonely. Or bored. As they always had plenty of fun things to talk about. Even camping outside in the Gerudo silken tents for a night was so exciting.
Today, they were approaching Hyrule’s main trading hub, the Hyrule exchange. Markets and stalls were everywhere, flying colourful banners. Sellers call out for people to buy their goods. It was so lively and bright. Nothing like the boring old castle halls at all.
As she had been watching one of her handmaidens bargain with a stall owner, a call could be heard over the general noise of the markets. Realising it was someone calling out her name, Zelda turned in her saddle.
Waving through the crowds, racing up to them was a fair-skinned, dark-haired Hylian woman. Who looked rather plain, all things told … except she was covered in smudges of dirt and had a couple of twigs in her hair.
Panting as she was stopped by the closest Gerudo, the woman shakily held up a golden emblem of Hylia. The royal symbol.
“So-so sorry for the late arrival,” the thin Hylian woman wheezed. “I – I am the tutor that the King has assigned, to instruct young princess Zelda. I would have met up with you sooner … but I was delayed.”
The Gerudo gave each other looks, as Urbosa moved forward. Crossing her arms as she inspected her. “… Why are you in such a state?”
“I was in a hurry to catch up!” the woman explained, slowly catching her breath.
One of the guards leaned down, ignoring the woman’s flinch, as she took one of the twigs out of her hair.
“Oh …” the woman blushed, quickly trying to brush her fingers through her hair to straighten it out, but only causing more tangles. “I-I’m afraid I may be a little clumsy. I … fell over into a bush on my rush here.”
“A few bushes, by the looks of it,” one of the Gerudo commented.
“Well … we thank you for finding it within yourself to finally catch up to us,” Urbosa stated, her expression showing nothing. “You will now travel with us and stay with Her Royal Highness, Princess Zelda as one of her entourage. Be sure not to make a nuisance of yourself. And keep up.”
“Of course, my Lady,” the Hylian tutor curtsied, shuffling over towards Zelda’s tutting handmaidens, pale face flushed bright red.
Oh well, Zelda mused, nonchalantly, what was one more?
