Kingdom of Power, of Courage, and of Wisdom

Zant's War - Aftermath

-Impa/Zelda-

-Kanyou, Capital of Qin-

The black wall disappeared. What was revealed behind the black curtain was nothing short of a battlefield. Walls were gone or collapsing, fire was rising, the stone stairs leading down to a dungeon had collapsed, and more of the palace was on the verge of collapsing.

Zelda was midst the rubble trying to lift a beam.

"Princess!" Impa rushed in to pull her away from the fire.

"No! Get her out!" Zelda pointed at a girl who had fallen in the rubble.

The soldiers rushed in to help while Impa lifted her princess in her arms and carried her away, despite Zelda's protests. The soldiers lifted the beam up and pulled a girl out. They laid the girl out on the floor where it was safe. Immediately Zelda removed herself from Impa and checked the girl. Impa did not resist her... she was too stunned. She had never seen Zelda like this.

"Who is she to you?" Impa wondered.

Zelda breathed a sigh of relief. The girl was bruised and most likely had a broken arm, but was otherwise fine. She was young. She would heal given decent care.

Zelda stood and hardened herself. "Captain, there are men down in that tunnel. Allies, Zant's followers, and Kei Ki. Have men dig out the stones, capture Kei Ki the Beheader, and flush out what remains of Zant's men. How is the situation around the palace?"

The captain said. "The losses due to the bandits are few."

Impa explained. "They had killed the guards at the gates to allow entry for the distraction, while they took the Sheikah entrances to go after you themselves."

"I want all Sheikah entrances destroyed and redone in a layout that the commander of my Royal Guard would know!" Zelda ordered.

"I understand... in my time, they were put to good use, but these repeated usurping of the throne has shown problems in the palace security. I intend to change that..." Impa hesitated. "If you will allow me."

Zelda looked to her curiously. "Why would I not? You are Shadowmaster of the Sheikah. You know more of the passageways than anyone."

"Seems the messenger did not make it. Your highness... I have stepped down as Shadowmaster."

"What?" Zelda gasped. "Why would you do that!?"

"There were fears my loyalties were divided." Impa replied heavily. "And... their fears were justified. I could not be Shadowmaster of the Sheikah and minister of Qin, both. By trying to be Shadowmaster I abandoned you... A mistake that has left me many sleepless nights."

Zelda could barely dare to breath. She stared wide-eyed at the older woman. "What are you saying?"

Impa knelt to be at Zelda's height. "Your highness. If you will accept me back, it would be my honor to be your minister once more. Not in part this time, but in whole."

Zelda fidgeted, and for a moment she looked like a child, uncertain and afraid. Not that she did not understand formality, but the implications of what Impa was saying had an impact on her. She was not prepared for a moment of feeling. She was exhausted, hurting, covered in blood, was shaking from adrenaline, had nearly died multiple times for different reasons, the world was spinning from her head injury until Zelda could barely stand, she was worried about Sarah and Link and Ganon, and suddenly her first friend was back... Back and swearing loyalty. Back after Zelda had been alone carrying the weight of a kingdom on her inexperienced shoulders for months, scrambling to survive each day as if she was back in Zhao again.