Link couldn't quite remember when he had fallen asleep, but at the moment he didn't really care to know. After all he's been through, he needed the rest.

But the nightmares he was starting to have seemed to tell him otherwise...

All the nightmares were different from each other. And they would have a moment of black void between the before the next nightmare would start. Or at least, it felt like a moment to Link. He was still asleep, so it was hard for him to tell. And the nightmares were never really frightening enough to wake Link with shock. They were just... disturbing to him.

The first nightmare was of what had already transpired; the attack on the castle and the town by the dark and undead forces. The nightmare focused specially on a red-eyed black clad knight that Link had seen fighting alongside the forces. Considering the nightmare pointing this individual out in particular, maybe the black clad knight was the leader of the forces?

The second wasn't anything like Link had ever witnessed in his entire life. Purple was always the background color, and the buildings were colored and built in ways that Link could never imagine. The visuals transitioned between locales with almost paint-like movements, like it was being washed away, but the purple color always remained. One locale was a snowy mountain. Another location was a vast ocean by the beach's edge. Another was that of a swamp with undead by the campfires. And yet another was of a vast desert held back by jagged mountains. However, what made the strange dream a nightmare was what happened in the last transition. The dream had changed to a large tower with a massive clock-like structure on its sides. No numbers, just the hands and some symbols representing sun and moon. Just then, the moon itself fell and destroyed everything. Link only saw the moon's horrid and angered face before everything went to flames, then nothing. Link felt himself jolt inside from the sudden destruction, but it wasn't enough to wake him.

The third nightmare was of what Link assumed was of Zora's Domain. It seemed peaceful, but almost immediately after the nightmare started, a large white energy ball struck the domain, turning everything to ice. Even Link's view was frozen! That nightmare was one of the shortest ones out of all Link ended up having.

The fourth was of a mountain, possibly Death Mountain. Everything was calm and normal at first, but then the sky slowly started being clouded by a storm. Then the mountain's top exploded as lava rose and flew across the sky. A massive fiery dragon of obsidian scales and serpentyne body rose from within the spewing mountain and burned everything in sight, including Link's vision.

The fifth was technically a nightmare, but it felt so somber or melancholy even. A winged individual came into sight, but Link could only see their silhouette. The winged being pulled out two blades and slashed down multiple monsters within seconds. But then the silhouette of a elegant woman with a long gown came and danced with the winged being. But all of a sudden, she pulled out a fencing blade and mercilessly killed the being, but it was with some amount of honor in the manner he was killed. Link didn't know how he knew how it was with honor, but he just knew.

The sixth was of ship at sea. It would bob up and down with the calm waves. But then the waves began to get rougher and rougher. The sky began to darken as a storm was striking. The ship still withstood the harsh weather until a massive wave, five times the ship's size at the very least, came out of nowhere and absolutely blanketed the ship, sinking it.

The seventh was, at first, of Hyrule Field. Everything was calm and peaceful, like it always was and as it should be. But then the sky slowly started turning a dreary orange as a pitch black substance began to cover the land. The pitch black infection continued to spread over Hyrule as strange creatures of darkness started rampaging around, slashing and kidnapping everyone in their path...

The last... or maybe it was the last two close together... was threatening on multiple levels. Two individuals rode in on separate horses and charged at eachother. One individual was tall and large built, but he was clearly experienced in his ways. The other was either the black clad knight from before, Link himself, or another individual entirely. Link couldn't tell specific details besides the background, which was obviously the fields of Hyrule. The two individuals clashed their blades fiercely until the knight tripped the larger individual and stabbed him in the chest, killing him...

But what came up next was the most threatening part. Only two seconds after the scream of the larger individual cried out, everything went black. But then there was a slight, slight amount of light from the center of the vision, and then... the silhouette of a small Hylian boy with bright red eyes and a maniacal smile. The boy stared right at Link's line of vision as he crawled closer to Link. And then...

"You shouldn't have done that..."

Then nothing.

That was the last nightmare Link had for the time being, but they never really left him.

Finally, after what felt like nearly half the day gone by, Link felt himself stir awake. And once he opened his eyes, he didn't feel like closing them again.

At first he felt somewhat numb (he blamed it on the nightmares), but he eventually felt all there. He felt that he was in a bed with a damp cloth on his forehead. The blanket covered him entirely, and went all the way to just under his chin. He almost didn't want to move since he knew that one wrinkle in the blanket would ruin how comfortable it was (You're laying in bed, most comfortable person in the world, and one movement screws the whole thing. Anyone agree?), but he had to look around to see where he was. The interior was wooded and inviting, warm and welcoming. It was a fully furnished room, so this had to be someone's home for certain. Link and Ben must've made it to Kakariko, or at least close to it.

Link then realized there was someone in the house with him. He could hear them walk down the stairs. He also picked up the scent of something cooking, and he felt his stomach rumble within seconds of thinking of what food was made. He eventually saw the person heading towards the stove and taking the bowl that was cooking off the fire. He could see that the individual wore mostly ocean blue and white clothes from where he was, and they looked quite fit and well built. Eventually his hunger got the best of him as he spoke out.

Link: E-excuse me sir?
???: (turns to Link)...
Link: F-forgive me for startling you sir, but I couldn't help but smell your food and I am just simply starving.

The individual walked somewhat hurriedly over to Link with what must've been a bowl of soup. Gods above, that smelled so good. Link also got a look at the individual's face. Well, sort of. Their head was mostly wrapped in white cloth, and what the cloth didn't cover, the person's yellow hair did. All Link could see of the person's face was just above their nose and their right eye. The other eye was covered by the person's long bangs.

Link: I-I thank you kind sir. Out of curiosity, mind if I-

The individual suddenly put their hand over Link's mouth. Not in a gentle way either. Quite the opposite in fact. They held tightly to Link's mouth to keep him from speaking much more, and they looked quite mad from what their face showed through the cloth and hair.

???: Call me "sir" one more time, and I swear- even if you ARE the Hero of Courage- I will break you😡.

Link realized immediately from the sound of the individual's voice that they were actually a woman! No wonder she was mad at him!

Link nodded weakly and with that, the woman let go of him. As he rubbed his sore cheeks, the girl opened and closed her fist as she was trying to calm herself. She even looked away from Link for a moment before speaking to him.

Link: I-I'm so sorry miss! From a distance I was certain you were a male. Forgive me please.😦
???: *sigh* I know. Sorry for my outburst there. Many people from outside Kakariko mistake me for a male. For Nayru's sake, why can't they just see past the muscle for once and see me as I am? I swear, it has gotten to the point where every time I'm called a male my blood boils.
Link: Um, well, maybe if you showed more of your face or wore a little less then-
???: 😡...
Link: 😕...I-I'll stop. Hey wait, did you say Kakariko? We're in Kakariko?
???: Yes. My name is Sheik, Kakariko born and raised. Your friend brought you in unconscious, so I suppose it would make sense you didn't know you had made it here. It's quite a miracle you're still alive given your injuries. This may come as a shock to you, but you've been out for a few days now.
Link: 😲Wh-what!?I-I was!?
Sheik: I know, I know. But it was so your injuries would heal ovee faster. We placed a small spell on you to make sure you would stay put while we gave you doses of healing potions. Please understand that it was for your benefit.
Link: ...O-okay, that's good to know, I guess. Nice to meet you by the way Sheik. And thank you. I suppose I don't have to tell you my name being Link. It wouldn't take an owl to figure that out since many men in Hyrule are named that. (Stomach rumbles)
Sheik: Ah yes, you said you were hungry?
Link: Oh absolutely! I feel like I haven't eaten in quite some time!
Sheik: Of course. Before I give you anything though, let's go ahead and give you another dose of medicine for you. You take the medicine now and the soup can wash it down.

Sheik placed the bowl onto a nearby dresser and opened a drawer, pulling out a bottle of pink-red liquid. Link immediately recognized the liquid and grew uneasy. I mean, who would be excited to take medicine? It always tasted so bad!😝

Link: D-do I have to take it😟? I-I mean, I feel just fine! Really! *groan*
Sheik: Please lay down Link. Your injuries still haven't healed enough for you to be walk, let alone fight. I know the potion doesn't taste so good, believe me, but we feel you must take this to allow your body to heal faster. Besides, I have a little trick to make it a little better. Lay down, and I'll be right back okay?

Sheik patted Link's chest lightly before walking back to the kitchen corner of the house. Link hated he had to wait for the food, especially with the dreaded medicine coming before the food. But he was running on empty and he knew Sheik had a point about his wounds. He could feel the bandages wrapped tightly around his leg and waist, so he knew Sheik had a point. Sheik returned was a small cup filled with the potion as she stirred it.

Sheik: You've heard some brewers say that "a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down" yes?
Link: Eh, the phrase seems vaguely familiar from somewhere. I don't go to bazaars much so I wouldn't know a brewer from a witch really😓.
Sheik: I suppose that makes sense. Knights like you seem to be all work and little play nowadays. Here, drink this and I'll give you the whole bowl of soup if you want it.

Link took the cup with naturally uneasy feelings, but he eventually took a breath and began to drink the medicine. The sugar did help make the taste more tolerant, but the potion was still bitter to his tongue as it went down his gullet. Finally Link finished the drink, shaking his head in disgust from the dreaded after-taste. Sheik took the cup and helped Link sit up in his bed so he could eat the soup proper. She took a spoon and stirred the soup to even out the heat.

Sheik: That's a man. Here, the soup will help get the taste out. Careful though, it is still quite hot to the touch.
Link: *gag* Thank you. (Takes a spoonful of soup) Mmm😌. *gulp* What kind of soup is this? Cucco?
Sheik: Tomato soup. It's a special recipe only we in Kakariko have. I was told to make something for you in case you woke up today.
Link: *gulp* You're the best cook I've met Sheik.😊
Sheik: Thank you, but you should really tell that to the one who taught me how to cook. Impa always did care for everyone and always took time for them...
Link: *gulp* Wait. Impa? You know Impa?
Sheik: Um, yeah? You?
Link: Eh, not too personally. We've talked a few times. Most of the time though she was either with Zelda or King Hyrule himself, or dictating something to all of us knights. How is it you know Impa?
Sheik: Uh, did she not tell you? Kakariko is her home town. Of course I know her so well. All of us here in town know Impa.
Link: Wait wait wait, that can't be right. Impa comes straight from the Sheikah Tribe and only goes to the Sheikah whenever she's away. She can't be from Kakariko.
Sheik: 😐... I know it isn't some huge secret we have, but you seriously don't know about the people of Kakariko? Really?

If Sheik was implying what Link thought she was implying, then that meant Kakariko was the home of the Sheikah Tribe. But that can't be right. Right?

Then Link happened to notice something about Sheik's attire. At her center, over her chest, there was an enlarged symbol woven into her blue and white clothes. It was an eye with with three triangle eyelashes and a massive teardrop leaving the eye, as if it was crying. Link had seen the symbol before from somewhere... Wait. Impa wore the exact symbol on her clothes! She had explained that it was the insignia of the Sheikah. If Sheik was wearing the symbol, then that would mean...

Sheik: Is something wrong?
Link: ...*gulp* Y-you're a Sheikah aren't you!?
Sheik: ...You're just now figuring this out? *sigh* Yes, I'm a Sheikah, and so is a majority of Kakariko. Kakariko is a Sheikah tribe in itself. Did your friend never tell you?
Link: N-no he didn't. All he said was that the people here would let me help them save Hyrule and that they were likely to convince me that I'm the Hero of Courage. Thinking about it now, I guess I should've known he was referring to the Sheikah. If anyone knows the legends of old and would do anything for Hyrule, it'd be you Sheikah. 😓
Sheik: Why wouldn't we? ...Heh.
Link: Wh-what?
Sheik: You're still not convinced you're the hero we've been waiting for. Even after seeing the Triforce of Courage with your own eyes in your own hands.

Sheik pointed to Link's left hand as she referred to the sacred object Link had. Link's ears drooped slightly since the conversation was going in a direction he wasn't so thrilled about.

Sheik: Link, as hard as it may be to believe, you ARE the Hero of Courage. Us Sheikah and the Royal Family have been waiting for you for over two centuries. A great evil has returned, and you have come to stop it just as your ancestors and previous incarnations have for their ages of darkness. That's why we insist on your healing so soon and quickly Link. We need to lead a resistance against this evil, and we need you Link. Please.
Link: Look, I'm just a Hylian knight for Gods' sake. I'm just a Hylian. I tried to defend the castle from the attack, and you've heard how that went I'm sure. Just because I somehow have this Triforce piece, that doesn't just immediately make me different from anyone else. I don't care what you think, I'm just a Hylian knight for Gods' sake. I'll do what I can for Hyrule, but I'm sure I can't live up to your expectations as some hero.

There was silence between the two for a while. Link went on and eventually finished the soup that definitely helped wash down the taste and memory of the medicine. Sheik seemed to stare at the wall the whole time. Link figured that, her being a Sheikah, she clung to the legends and hearing this from the "living legend" himself may have shook her some. Link wanted to say something, but what do you say to someone who saw you as the strongest person in the world? Finally, Sheik broke the silence for him.

Sheik: *sigh* Well, as long as we're on the same side, I suppose. After all, you have the Triforce of Courage. But please, for everyone's morale and for everyone's sake, at least look the part of the hero for us. It's the least you could do for Hyrule.
Link: *sigh* Well, that much I can do. Alright, I'll look the part for you.
Sheik: Thank you. I'll return to tend to you soon. Please, go ahead and sleep so that you can recover faster. You'll need all the strength you can gather for what lays ahead of us. Link: Alright. Hey wait, do you know if my "friend" is still here or did he leave? Do you know?
Sheik: Um, I'm not sure. Last I saw him was when he was telling us about how moody your horse can be. He may be around still, but that was days ago when I last saw him.
Link: Oh. Well, thanks.
Sheik: Just get some rest. If you do need anything, call out for me.

Sheik stood up, straightened the blanket over Link, returned the chair to its table, and eventually left the room and building. Link laid back to process these events. He prayed Ben would be alright, wherever he was now.

Welp, might as well do what the Sheikah says. What's the point of not catching a few Zs?

A few days later

Sheik finally gave the go-ahead for Link to get out of bed and finally get a look of Kakariko village. Link was given some new clothes, and it didn't take him long to see that he was given a green tunic. Of course. The Hero was always seen wearing a green tunic throughout all of time. Sheik really meant it when she said "look the part." Well, Link agreed to this and he wasn't going to disappoint them now.

As Link walked out of the building he was in, he felt the whole town's eyes on him at once. He started walking briskly away as he suddenly realized that he didn't like everyone's attention on him at once like this. Couldn't they see that they were making him nervous?

Sheik had told Link to meet her in Impa's house. He was told that her house was built on a small hill and it overlooked the rest of the village. Though it wasn't the tallest in the village; that went to the town windmill with said building being so large it could block out the sun. The village seemed surprisingly like Hyrule Castle Town to Link, minus the market place and the many people and dogs of course. Kakariko was essentially built between "a rock and a hard place" so to speak, with part of the Lost Woods behind the windmill a ways and a veiw of Death Mountain in the distance. None of the buildings seemed particularly special, not even Impa's.

Eventually Link came to the building he assumed was Impa's home. He knocked on the door and heard Sheik inside telling him to come him, telling him that he had found the right place. He went inside and immediately noticed the multiple drawings of things on the walls and tables inside. Link didn't pay them much attention and shut the door behind him, but then he noticed the last person he would expect to see. A Gerudo, sitting at the table in the corner! Link was naturally worried about the Gerudo being here, remembering all too well about the Gerudo forces assisting in the ambush at Hyrule Castle. Sheik must've been upstairs since he couldn't see her around.

???: You gonna be alright Mr.Hero?
Link: Ummm, I-I g-guess so...
Sheik: Relax Link. Nabooru is with us. She tried to lead a resistance against this evil force while you were resting. They tried to take back Hyrule Castle, but the battle went south- literally and figuratively- and well, her and her resistance had to retreat while they still could. Us Sheikah, seeing as how they were on our side, opened our services to them. Nabooru and the other Gerudo here have given us some valuable information about the forces taking Hyrule.
Nabooru: Believe me Link, many of us Gerudo were shocked at how our own were fighting with the dark forces. I seriously thought Shadow Link would have given up, but I guess that "sign" of his came after all...😔
Link: I'm sorry, "Shadow Link"? Who in Hyrule is Shadow Link?
Sheik: According to legend, Shadow Link is a servant of the darkness and takes the shape of the Hero. This Shadow Link must be from the previous age that his master tried to take over Hyrule. He's apparently been waiting for this for over two centuries.
Nabooru: Actually he's called Dark Link, but he calls himself Shadow Link to show he is still inferior to his creator, his master. 😒
Link: Oh. Well, who's his master?
Sheik: A great evil Link. The one that brings on the beginning of the Cycle of Destruction in nearly every age of darkness.
Nabooru: To think he was once one of us Gerudo... I'd give anything to see that evil man suffer for corrupting the Gerudo name!😠
Link: 😕 Ooooookaaay... Um, mind if I sit down?

Nabooru shook her head no and pointed to an empty seat. As Link sat down, Sheik hopped down to floor level where Link and Nabooru were and checked on the tea that was brewing. She eventually handed Link a fresh cup which he was thankful for. He could tell that it was herbal tea since he could taste and smell the lemony flavor. Link finally noticed that Nabooru had bandages wrapped over her arms and her waist, so what Sheik said about the fight going south must've been true.

Sheik: By the way, it's good to see the tunic fits.
Nabooru: Yeah, looking sharp Link. (Chuckles)😉 
Link: Y-yeah, great. Speaking of which, it wouldn't hurt to tell everyone around here to NOT stare at me whenever I'm out about town. It really makes me nervous whenever everyone has their eyes on me.😓
Sheik: Okay okay, we'll tell them to leave you be Link. No need to make a big deal out of it. How are you feeling?
Link: Pretty good. I'm still kinda sore in some places, but it'll pass. I hate to say it but the medicine really helped.
Nabooru: Don't worry Link, you aren't the only one. I'd hate to admit that the medicine helped me heal up too!😅
Sheik: So I noticed.
Link: So, to get back to the point, Shadow Link is in charge of the dark forces at the castle right?
Sheik: Correct.
Link: And I'm also going to assume that he wants to revive his master, right?
Sheik: Yes.
Link: Okay. So how exactly does taking over Hyrule fit into his criteria here?
Nabooru: Right now, he's not necessarily taking all of Hyrule. He seems to be putting everything on lock-down at the moment. His forces are preventing most of the travel in Hyrule, but they haven't actually killed anyone as of yet. That's because all Shadow Link wants right now is Princess Zelda. He's probably saving the bloodshed for his master.😒 
Link: Princess Zelda? She hasn't been captured? That's a relief I guess, but wait, why does he need Zelda specifically?
Sheik: He wants the Triforce of Wisdom. And just as you are born with the Triforce of Courage, Zelda has always held the Triforce of Wisdom. He finds Zelda, and he can us her Triforce piece to reactivate the Triforce of Power's energy. And the Triforce of Power belongs to the Great Evil of all Hyrule.
Nabooru: And if the legends still have any merit, we all know what happens if HE has both the Triforce of Power and Wisdom...
Link: Hold up will you? You two are doing a little too fast for me!
Nabooru: Well sometimes the ladies like to go fast on the handsome ones Link~.
Sheik: Nabooru!
Nabooru: I'm joking! Sort of.😜

Link rolled his eyes and laid back to process the information. Shadow Link wants Princess Zelda for her Triforce piece so he could revive his mster, who obviously wants all of Hyrule. And he was supposed to either find Zelda first or just fight the Great Evil, whichever comes first. Everyone sure does have a lot of faith in him. But then he thought of something that he just noticed...

Link: Wait. Impa was with Princess Zelda before all this started right? Wouldn't Impa have brought Zelda here by now? And come to think of it, where is Impa?
Sheik: ....😔
Nabooru: You haven't told him?
Link: Told me what? Did something happen to Impa?
Sheik: ...Um... Link? A-are you familiar with the Yiga Clan?
Link: The what?
Nabooru: Anti-Sheikah in a Deku-nut shell. They were once dedicated Sheikah, but when the people began to doubt and fear the Sheikah for their dark practices and shady ways, well, they rebelled and began to worship the Great Evil. Shadow Link has them all over the place in secret.
Sheik: Link... The Yiga Clan has told us that.... that...
Link: What? Told you what? For Gods' sake Sheik what's wrong?
Nabooru: Pretty much everything would be wrong if you were in any Sheikahs' shoes right now Link. Who can blame them since-
Sheik: Impa has been captured by Shadow Link's forces d**mmit! 😡
Nabooru: Yeah, that. 😞 
Link: 😨 Wh-what!? Why didn't you tell me that before!?
Sheik: We basically just found out Link! Besides, the Yiga Clan is the least of our concerns right now! Impa always planned that, if something did happen to her and the dark forces were still threatening Hyrule, then Princess Zelda and/or you would lead us until peace returned. We need to lead a resistance against this evil, and we need you Link. Please! I don't want to push you into this whole Hero role as much as you don't want to be pushed into it, but a person that's very close to me- To all of us Sheikah- is in danger, possibly dead! We need you to lead us to victory. Link, all of us Sheikah need you to help us and lead us! Please...

Sheik seemed very distressed all of a sudden. She had practically preached and pleaded for Link's help. Link could somehow tell she was trying as hard as she could not to fall to pieces in front of him through the cloth and hair that covered most of her face.

No one saw this war coming... Not even the Sheikah were fully prepared for it...

Nabooru sat in her seat looking on with a concerned face on her. She knew Impa was an important individual in not only the Sheikah Tribe, but the legends of old too. Nabooru had been in Kakariko long enough to know that many of the Sheikah were trying not to panic under the pressure of their leader being captured. Everyone knew that the Yiga Clan only told them that much so the Sheikah would psych out and give the dark forces an advantage. Nabooru eventually stood up and went over to Sheik, placing her hand on the Sheikah woman's shoulder. She had to at least try to remedy the situation.

Nabooru: Look, I know no one here is exactly leader material. But we can get through this if we just keep our heads between our shoulders and stick together during these hard times. I had to take leadership of my Gerudo when Shadow Link took our people to the castle. We may have took a loss, but we've only begun the fight!
Sheik: ...
Nabooru: Sheik, honey, just try to calm down okay? It's hard on all of us about what's happened to Impa. Believe me, I know.😧 A majority of Hyrule could relate with Princess Zelda missing. But we can get through this if we stick together.
Sheik: 😤...
Link: ...Sheik?
Sheik: ...Y-yes Link?
Link: You're right. I may not have much experience being a leader, but this has become so much bigger then us and we need to do something. I'll do what I can for Hyrule, and I will try to be the Hero you all need me to be.😏
Sheik: 0.0 Link...
Link: But listen, I can't do this alone. If I'm going to lead the Sheikah, then you're going to have to help me Sheik.
Sheik: 😕M-me?
Link: Well yeah. You're the most capable Sheikah I know- not to mention the only Sheikah I know in this town right now- and you've managed to put up with me and handle everything up until now. If I'm going to lead, I'm going to need someone who knows all the Sheikah tricks and trades.
Sheik: Link... I'll do my best to lead us to victory. Link, thank you.
Nabooru: Don't forget us Gerudo! We're behind you both, 110%! 😆 With Sheik's knowledge, Link's might, and my people's brawn, there's nothing that can stop us!

Nabooru put both her arms around Link and Sheik with glee and enthusiasm written all over her face. Link chuckled slightly at how well the three of them were getting along so far while Sheik just let Nabooru be Nabooru. The two of them knew though that if they were going to pull this off, they both were going to need Nabooru as their corner stone.

---

Finally done! So sorry for the wait, but a bug or something caused half this chapter to be wiped out just after I finished it, so I had to rewrite a majority of this. As my way of making up to you all, I'm going to work on the next LoZ chapter all I can so you guys can enjoy some more of this book's nonsense. You'll be happy to know I've already begun working on the next chapter, so it shouldn't take forever to write. I'll also probably gonna come back to this chapter and work on it a little more since there are a few holes here and there. Sorry for the inconvenience. 😖

If you have any questions about this book, feel free to ask me. See you later!🐉