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Upon opening the door of the laboratory, we found Dr Mizumi squatted on a plank of wooden boards nailed together. His tongue stuck out as he pressed his thumb against a thick red line painted at intervals to make a numerical scale.

“Eight metres exactly,” he confirmed, before scooping up some water and moistening his lips. “Chalybeate content is palatable. Beetroot combination perhaps?” He looked up as the door closed. “Ah, hello you two. I’ve left some stew in the pot if you’re hungry.”

I wandered over to the fire and ladled some of the brown, sticky gravy into a bowl. “What type of stew is it?” I asked, poking at the contents.

“Nothing untoward,” the Doctor promised. “I suspect you haven’t eaten anything in a good while. I’d make the most of it if I were you.”

The tender beef stew, if slightly spicy, slid down to my stomach without complaint. Kilton sniffed around for titbits, but once I started eating, I couldn’t stop.

Yasei’s eyes widened. “Seconds?”

I thrust out my empty bowl. Mother would have been amazed, as I was always the last person at the dinner table to finish. I used to drive father mad and had no need for extra portions.  A tall glass of Lon Lon milk completed the meal perfectly.

A rap at the door almost made my stew come back up. With lips pursed, I sensed a familiar energy. A hint of recognition about the steely flow, yet I still couldn’t place it. I felt neither queasy or at ease, but something else…

“Open up in the name of the King!”

My eyes narrowed. Of course, it would be about him. The hammering of a fist on the rattling wood wasn’t going away.

Yasei opened the door a fraction, a thin beam of sunlight pierced the gloomy lab. “Yeah?”

“Are you the sender of this?” the low voice enquired.

She dashed out in such a hurry that the doctor’s papers flew off the desk. “Put him down, you’re strangling him.”

Mizumi and I followed her outside, only to be greeted by unfriendly spears and Hylian soldiers in full battle armour. Memories of that time in the army hit full force; the oversized helmet and thick boots that chafed as we marched across the fields.

“General Impa,” I choked.

The Sheikah held a struggling young man by the scruff of the neck. “Let them through,” she said. “I want to get a good look before I slice them up.” As the weapons lowered, she continued, “Which one of you jokers is Ronri Okane?”

An unwelcome shiver jittered down my spine.  “Ahem, that would be me.”

“Come here.”

Those piercing red eyes watched my every move as I stepped forward. Her prisoner was dressed in a white athletic singlet and caligae sandals.

“Let me go,” he pleaded, cycling legs desperate to run away. “This is nothing to do with me. I told you; I only delivered the letter as a favour. I had no idea what was in it.”

Yasei grimaced.

“You sent a message?” I asked flabbergasted.

“Don’t act so surprised. They were your last words, what did you expect me to do?”

I hadn’t appreciated that Elrora would mark my words so, nor that Yasei would actually follow them.

What in Ganon has she written and signed in my name? I hope she addressed the King as His Highness. Oh dear, what unsightly ink blots must have stained the parchment! I put my head in my hands. Goodness, her spelling is atrocious too!  

“So, a shadow beast is about to attack the new born princess?” Impa raised an eyebrow.

“It’s the truth. We both heard him say it in The Spirit Temple.”

“Well, you can both explain yourselves back at the palace then.”

I tugged at my gold collar. “With the greatest respect, I don’t see why. The letter informed the King of what Ganondorf threatened to do. There’s no need to bother him with an official audience, surely?”

“Let me be frank, Mr Okane, this is not a discussion.” Impa set the Running Man down. His knees went crunch on the gravel. Massaging his neck, he glared at Yasei and pointed.

“You promised me a live rabbit, trader. The animal of legend.”

“Yeah, yeah.” She held out her hand to help him up. “I’ll sort it, alright? A Muryō pays their debts, jeez.”


When the reins of a magnificent white mare were handed to me, I blinked at them dumbly. Yasei rolled her eyes and held the stirrup as I hauled myself into the saddle. She soon joined me, with those lovely, but dangerous, legs easily swinging over. Unlike with Kavia, I wrapped my arms around my love’s waist without hesitation. I snuggled my head between her shoulder blades, which made her giggle. We waved farewell to Doctor Mizumi and set off late afternoon. Running alongside, Kilton chased the dust trail left behind by the General.

Having an escort felt strange and some of the guards cast curious looks in our direction. I was used to such things as the residents of Castle Town were never shy when gossiping about others. But I could hear Yasei grumbling under her breath.

“What’s their damn problem?”

We followed their line of sight. With the sleeves of her yellow jumper rolled up, it revealed Ganondorf’s mark. The revered Triforce was worshipped by so many and perhaps they saw this dark triangle as desecration of such a symbol.

“Does it hurt?” I asked.

Yasei tried to wrench the sleeve down. “No, I just feel… dirty.”

“You’re not dirty.” I kissed her arm, which was bold even for me. “You’re beautiful.”

She turned her head away to hide a smug grin. “And you’re as soppy as a Zora.”

As we neared Hyrule Castle, the air shifted, becoming heavy and oppressive. Clouds gathered around the drawbridge to the town with the threat of rain. Impa spurred the horses to go even faster.

“Soldiers, don’t let your guard down,” she warned. “There’s something coming.”

Alison Otwl continues her fan fiction at Zelda Dungeon. She likes reading manga and collecting Japanese wind chimes. Her favorite Zelda game is Ocarina of Time. Check out more of her fanfiction over at: Otwl.

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