Fan Fiction Friday: The Chosen One Chronicles – Chapter 4

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Chapter 4

The Captain of the Gerudo squadron that’d chased Kiyoko and Dalal made her way into Gerudo City. The sight of her towering form on top of the towering stallion was striking. As she made her way down the entry road to the chief’s building, everyone stopped to look, child and farmer alike. Murmurs spread throughout; she ignored them.

She dismounted her horse when she arrived before the building. She now stood before the long steps leading up. The doors at the top opened, and a tall, muscular woman with light skin and white hair braided into a long ponytail that draped over her left shoulder  stepped out, arms on her hips, and a naginata on her back.

“Arya,” she spoke.

“Impa.”

“You are not welcome here,” Impa stated, stoically. “Why have you come?”

“What, I can’t come to see an old friend?”

“I would hardly call us ‘friends.'”

“Ah, well. I guess things change with time.”

“You certainly have.”

“You’re right, I have. I’m one of the Gerudo’s most respected captains, and have been entrusted with a mission of no small weight.”

“Have you now? And just what might that ‘mission’ be?”

“Why don’t we discuss it over some tea? It’s been so, so long since I’ve enjoyed the refreshing nourishment of a Kakariko Green.”

Impa was cold as stone as she ran this proposition, this… ploy through her mind. “Very well. Come.”

As soon as she’d said that, she turned around and reentered the building. Arya shrugged.

“Don’t mind if I do,” she said, before making her way up the stairs to join Impa for tea. She entered to see Impa nowhere in sight. “Invite me in, then disappear. How very unbecoming of you, Impa.”

“In order to serve tea, one must first brew it,” Impa retorted as she descended the stairs that lead to the upper loft.

“Why had you not prepared ahead of time? You know how much I love this tea.”

“Would that I had known you’d show, I’d have even prepared some poisin to enhance it.”

“A shame. That would have been quite interesting. Nevertheless, I’ll enjoy it just as much with out the extra… flavor.”

“That’s good to hear– take a seat, why won’t you?”

“I’ll sit when I have my tea.”

“Ever the stubborn arse, aren’t you? Well, suit yourself.”

“You’re one to talk.”

“I guess that makes two of us. Now, why have you come?”

“Ah- ah- ah, we agreed to discuss it over tea, if you recall.”

“Well, then.” Impa stared outside the window as Arya inspected the décor. A strained silence filled the room, creating a parallel with the tea until it began to boil a violent scream.

“I do believe you should get that,” Arya taunted.

Impa grimaced before going to get the tea. She came back down a few long moments later carrying the tea set– pitchers, plates, cups, and sugar. The china had an intricate design of  of trees and Sheikah eyes in earthen tones.

When she came back down the stairs, Arya was, much to her surprise, sitting, waiting for tea.

“Ah, it’s finally time,” Arya said.

Impa set the set down in the middle of the table, followed by setting the ups. She poured Arya’s drink last.

“Careful not to burn yourself,” she taunted.

“But it’d be so fun if I did.”

“I’d certainly enjoy it.”

“I’m sure you would.”

“Right, well– our matter of business. Tell me, why have you returned? What is this ‘mission’ all about?”

Arya took a long sip of her tea as though to make Impa wait in anticipation. “Ah, yes. I’m simply tracking down a couple of old friends and thought they might have come through– is there a chance you’ve seen them?”

“I don’t believe I know who you’re talking about. Sorry.” Impa lifted up her cup to sip her tea.

“Oh, but I think you do.”

Impa firmly set her tea down.

“If you mean Kiyoko and Dalal, you’ll have no help from us. Besides, they’ve been nowhere near here.”

“Unfortunately, the facts would disagree. See, I saw them over at the Dueling Peaks not long ago. They were gone when we arrived, but they were there, and we – I – have reason to believe they may be in your custody.”

“As I said, we have not seen them; nor would I tell you if we had.”

“What a shame. I was hoping you, of all people, would help me. A small favor for an old mate you know.”

“I would never betray those to whom I call my friends and allies to their enemies. Were I to do so, I would not be worthy of the tile of ‘Impa.'”

“How dogmatic. Seriously, how can you carry through life when honor and code and culture dominate your every decision.”

“Funny, coming from one who’d kill a newborn the moment it popped out if it were a boy.”

“How offensive. Such generalizations are hurtful, you know.”

“But that is your mission, to find and bring the pregnant mother and this child back to the Gerudo so that it may be executed should it be a boy. And one, I might add, that you speak rather enthusiastically about. Truly, there is no generalization associated with my previous remark.”

“Oh, Impa, you are mistaken. It is not that I want to take the family back to the Gerudo, not at all! See, we actually believe they may be in the custody of your sworn enemy, the Yiga Clan.”

“Just a moment ago you thought they’d fled here, and now you claim the Yiga have them? Even if they were with the Yiga, better that than with the Gerudo.”

“But surely you’d prefer them here.”

“That much is obvious, but even if they are with the Yiga… the moment they’re out of their custody, you and your lapdogs will pounce.”

“So, that’s it, then?” Arya asked, opening her following statement. “Leave them in the hands of the Yiga? Leave them to feel abandoned by those they trusted the most?”

“Dalal trusted you.”

“A flaw the two of you seem to have in common. Nevertheless, do you really intended to let them suffer?”

Impa was silent for a long moment. She took a sip of her tea, then spoke.

“It would seem that you are telling the truth about them being in Yiga custody. That is unfortunate. I wish to get them out, yes, but I haven’t a plan, nor would I share it with you if I did.”

“Ah, but what’s to stop us from working together? Surely a team of our clans’ best soldiers could save the day; mayhap even the two of us alone could do it.”

Impa again grew silent before speaking again.

“Fine. We’ll work together. But only if you beat me in a duel.”

“Sounds like a plan to me. Let’s duel.”

To be continued…

John Piland is a writer and editor for Zelda Dungeon. He’s been working on this story for a long time, so he hopes you enjoy it. He enjoys fiction and writing screenplays, stage plays, short stories, novels, and poetry. He’s been an avid Zelda fan for years, and loves the hit MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV just as much, so hit him up if you play and would like to go adventuring together. Follow John on social media @John_Piland_.