The ground quivered and shook at my feet. Impa could not stop me as I ran out of the house. I stared up at Death Mountain, watching as everything grew bleak. The laughter of Ganondorf spread throughout the land.

I ran out of Kakariko Village altogether. Impa finally stopped me before I could step a toe on Hyrule Field. The castle was clouded in darkness. It didn't look the same as it once did. Tears filled my eyes as I stared at the only home I knew. Not only had Father been taken away, but the entire kingdom as well.

"Impa, what's happening? This isn't right!" I said, turning to her sharply.

She had no idea what to tell me. "I don't know, Princess."

Suddenly Ganondorf's voice rang in my ears. Both Impa and I winced in pain as all of Hyrule heard the hideous voice.

"Welcome your Demon King! The land is mine! Don't test me. Anyone who dares will perish by my hand. The sacred power is mine! It would be foolish to go against me." He paused, and then his voice spoke directly to me, "Princess Zelda, you will soon join your father in his grave. That is your destiny as the Royal Daughter of Hyrule. Will you die bravely? Or let me hunt you down like prey?"

Impa's hand gripped firmly on my upper arm, stopping me from storming to the castle to find Ganondorf on my father's throne with a smirk on his face. I clenched my fits, never feeling that much hate towards someone. One of my age shouldn't have the desire to kill, but emotion plagued me. He took everything. Link might be dead as well.

I struggled to get away from Impa for a minute, but then an image of my mother came into my mind. Once she had told me how amazed she was at my kindness and self-control. How I could turn any situation around and hope for the best. I sank to my knees, the simple dress Impa had given me soaking in the water on the steps. Impa's grip turned soft.

"I will not be hunted down like prey," I finally stated, standing back up.

Impa's grip tightened again. I knew she was afraid that I do something irrational. She should have known that it simply wasn't my style to charge into battle without a strategy. I wasn't ready to face Ganondorf, but within time I was sure my power would grow.

I turned to look up at Impa. Seeing my confidence, I watched her uneasiness die. She pulled her hand back down to her side. As always, she was ready to listen.

Before I could speak, however, I felt a burning sensation on the back of my hand. I gasped as I held it out in front of me. Impa blinked in awe as the Triforce glowed on my hand. I noticed that one of the three sacred triangles was brighter than the other two.

I stared back at the castle, "So the legends are true. The Triforce was split into three. Ganondorf doesn't have all of it!"

A smile came to my eyes. Impa returned the favor, but I could tell she was consumed with new worry than before. It was understandable. Ganondorf was already on the search for me. With the Triforce of Wisdom on the back of my hand, it only made me more valuable.

"We must go back inside," she said, leading me to the house she lived in while she grew up.

I sat down on an old creaky chair while Impa locked the door and closed off all the windows. Then she paced around the room. I waited, wondering what she wanted to say.

"Princess, you can't stay here forever. It's too close. And dressing as a commoner isn't enough to hide your identity," she got out, her mind set in stone.

"I know. I was thinking the same," I glanced at her, debating if she would go along with my idea. "I think if I am to wait this out while still being of help to Hyrule . . . I need to . . ."

I sighed, standing up from the chair. Impa's restlessness had gotten to me. She waited patiently as I collected my thoughts. I decided that the real reason I didn't want to bring my idea up wasn't that she wouldn't go along with it but more that I knew she would.

"I need to dress as a boy. Ganondorf is searching for a princess. With my magic, I could even change my skin tone and eye color. It would work perfectly," I looked Impa in the eyes, "I would also like to learn the skills of the Sheikah."

She closed her eyes for a moment, "I'll do my best. Just remember, the training will be brutal. You'll need a new name as well."

"Sheik," I said instantly, recalling the legendary figure who bore the name.

Impa nodded, "Let us begin . . . Sheik."

* * *

I landed with a thud on the ground. It wasn't easy mastering such a high jump, especially after jumping from roof to roof. I could have puked right there.

Impa's shoe came into my vision. "Get to your feet, Sheik!"

I glared up at Impa with red eyes. It had only been a week since I began training and became Sheik. It was hard enough to deal with layers of fabric wrapped tightly around my upper section, however, I knew that as I grew older, it would only get worse. I would have to go through everything as a girl while making people believe I was a boy.

After a long stare back from Impa, I shoved myself back up. She had warned me what I was asking for. I knew that I had to go along with it to the end. Right then, Hyrule didn't need Zelda. They didn't need a symbol. They needed someone that would push them until the time was right to strike. They needed a hero. Sheik seemed to be all they had.

I pulled up the fabric of the white scarf that surrounded the top of my head so that it covered my nose and soft lips. Using any sacred power would alert Ganondorf of my whereabouts. I had to learn to adapt. To focus.

I bent my knee down, getting ready to jump. When I trained all thoughts in what I was doing, I leaped into the air. It wasn't by any means graceful, but what counted was that I finally made it to the top of the tower in a single jump from the ground.

My eyes trained on the speck of Impa down below. Pride swelled inside me. For years my main job was to do whatever my father asked of me. That normally didn't include outdoor activities. The courtyard was the closest I got most weeks. Unless a festival came to Castle Town.

Thinking of my home, I made the mistake of looking towards the strong walls of the castle in the distance. It seemed as though Ganondorf had already turned it into his version of beautiful. Looking out at the rest of Hyrule, I took back the pride I felt in making it up to the tower. The view was amazing as the sun rose. It should've been dark and bleak. Instead--without counting the castle--it remained as lovely as ever even with Ganondorf on the throne.

Dropping down back to Impa, she complimented me on succeeding in the jump. I had grown bitter as I continued to walk past her. Roughly, I pulled the fabric down from my face.

"Sheik!" Impa yelled at me before I could get too far.

I stopped, angry with myself. "It's pointless. All of it!"

Impa's steps crunched down on the wet grass. "What's pointless? The training! I'll have you know you have already done far better than any other--"

I turned on her, "What if it doesn't matter if Ganondorf rules Hyrule?! Besides the castle, everything looks unchanged! There are still people living happily in Castle Town!"

My eyes squeezed shut as I realized how idiotic the statement was. Of course, Hyrule needed saving. Within time, Ganondorf would transform everything just like the castle. The holder of the Triforce of Wisdom should be smarter than that.

"I'm sorry," I said quickly, "I didn't mean that."

"I know," Impa responded, taking my shoulder as she whispered, "It isn't right for any young woman to grow up this way. Things will only get harder."

Smiling, I nodded. "I guess I'll have to accept that."

That very night I was brought into another divine dream. Before that, I had assumed the worst had fallen upon Link because I couldn't feel his presence in Hyrule. It brought me peace along with regret.

I stood in what was called the Chamber of Sages in the Spirit Realm. Water tumbled down and I stood in the middle of all of it, standing on the symbol of the Triforce. Around me were six different platforms with designs etched into them. Designs I knew.

Standing on the yellow one was a man dressed in an orange robe. He reminded me of my father in many ways. He had the same kind of manner about him. One of respect and truth.

"Princess Zelda . . . my name is Rauru . . . the Sage of Light."

"So the legends are true. This is real?" I asked as I studied my surroundings closer, but then I caught sight of a crystal above me. I gasped, "Link!"

He was in what appeared to be a deep sleep. I didn't understand. I looked towards the man, Rauru. His expression didn't change in the slightest. He knew that I would soon notice, and it would be my first concern.

"He is safe, Princess."

"Bring him down! I want to speak with him!" I exclaimed as my eyes stared at Link.

"That cannot be done. The boy must sleep until seven years have passed. It is then that he will be able to wield the Master Sword."

My eyes darted back to Rauru. "You mean . . . I took away his childhood? He'll wake up at the age of seventeen?" I fell to my knees, biting down on my quivering lips.

"That isn't your doing," Rauru said comfortingly, "Ganondorf is to blame. And if I am correct, your childhood is gone just as much as Link's. Zelda, I brought you here to prepare for the hero's return. You are the Seventh Sage. I believe you know what this means."

"Yes. The Sages of our time will need to be awakened. Is that what you ask of me?"

He didn't answer. I looked up at him to see what the matter was. His eyes were trained above me on Link. I understood. The task of awakening the Sages would be placed upon Link's shoulders.

"Find them, protect them, and learn all you can about them. Link has both the Master Sword and the Ocarina of Time. His power will bring the remaining five here."

Standing up, I asked, "Seven years?"

He nodded, "I'm afraid so. Be safe out there. Hyrule needs you . . . Link needs you."

I watched as Rauru faded along with his words. Slowly, everything else around me disappeared into white until all that was left was Link floating above me. Tears streamed down my face as he vanished, leaving me alone in white space.

Ready to begin the journey with Sheik? I am looking forward to it myself. I also didn't realize that Sheik's gender was such a big debate. I'll admit my brother and I debated about it too. Zelda's a girl and Sheik is Zelda so . . . Anyway, vote, comment, and don't get mad at me if you think otherwise. Though I would love to hear your opinions!