The Legend of Zelda: Return to the Wild: Chapter 1

When the Princess and the Hero made it to Kakariko Village, Zelda looked around the village.  She smiled at everyone doing their daily routine.  As they walked to Impa’s house, some of the Villagers looked at Zelda strangely like they had seen her before.

When Link and Zelda made it to the house, they got off of their horses and were about to go up the stairs.  But they were stopped by two Sheikah Soldiers.

“Hold it you two”,  The Soldier on the left said.  “What business do you have with Lady Impa?”

Link stepped up in front of Zelda.  “Dorian, Cado.  It’s alright, this is Princess Zelda”,  Link said to them calmly.

The Soldier on the right who Dorian said.  “Really?!”

The other Soldier who is Cado.  “The Princess Zelda of Hyrule?!”  He asked.

“In person”,  Zelda said to them.

Cado and Dorian looked at them with shock.  “If you’re here right now, that means you defeated Calamity Ganon!”

“That’s right and peace is back in Hyrule again”,  Zelda said with a smile.

Cado and Dorian went on knees to bow to Zelda.  “Princess!”  They said.  “We’re honored to have you back in Kakariko Village.  Please go see Impa.  She’ll be very happy to you again.”

The Princess smiled down at the Sheikah Soldiers.  “Thank you both”,  She and Link went up the stairs to see her old friend.

When they went through the door, they saw a young woman cleaning the floor and a older woman meditating on three stacks of pillows in the room.

“So, you’re finally back”,  The older woman said to them without looking up.  “And you both brought back peace into Hyrule”,  The woman looked up at them.  “It has been a very long time Princess, but I know you remember me”,  She said with a smile.

Zelda knew who she really was, it’s Impa herself at a very old age.  The young woman got on her feet and looked at Zelda with shock.

“T-T-Th-Th-That’s the P-Pri-Princess Grandmother?!”  The young woman said with surprise.

Impa looked at her granddaughter in a calm look.  “Of course my dear Paya”,  She looked back at Zelda with a smile.  “Welcome back home Princess.”

Zelda smiles at Impa.  “It’s good to be back Lady Impa.”

“So what brings you two here to Kakariko Village?”  Paya asked them.

“We were on our way to Zora’s Domain to check on Divine Beast Vah Ruta.  So I thought we could pay you a visit while we’re heading there”,  Link answered her.

Paya’s face became red as an apple when she looked at Link.  She covered her face with her hands and went on her knees.  Everyone around her sweatdrop.

Zelda went closer to Link’s ear.  “What's wrong with her?”  She whispered to him.

“She's just shy around me”,  He answered her.

Impa shook her head.  “Paya, would you be a dear and bring something for our guests to eat?”  She asked her granddaughter.

Paya stood back up.  “Oh, yes of course Grandmother”,  She left the room.

Impa looked back at the Princess and the Hero.  She noticed something wrong with the Princess.  “Is there something on your mind My Princess?”  She asked her.

The young Hylian Princess looked at Impa.  She took a deep breath.  “I was thinking about getting new Champions for the Divine Beasts.  But I feel I’m replacing the old ones who are also my friends”,  She told the old woman sadly.

Impa understood what she meant, it was sad with old Champions gone.  “I know it’s hard my child.  But I’m sure they understand what’s best for Hyrule”,  She told Zelda with a sad smile.  “By the way, does Purah and Robbie know that you two brought peace to Hyrule?”  Impa asked.

Zelda and Link looked at each other and looked back at Impa.  “No”,  They told her.

Impa laughed softly.  “Why don’t you two stop at Hateno Ancient Tech Lab to see Purah in Hateno Village.  She’ll be happy to see you again and might help you with the Divine Beasts”,  Impa said to them.  “I think Robbie will be on his way there too, something about an experiment I think.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea Lady Impa.  We were on our way to Zora’s Domain to see what’s wrong with Divine Beast Vah Ruta”,  Link said in a worried voice.  Zelda and Impa were a little confused.

“I don’t mind Link, I would love to go see Purah and Robbie again”,  The Princess said to him.

“Indeed, I think the Divine Beasts can wait a little longer for you two”,  The old Sheikah woman said.

“Are you sure about this Zelda?”  He asked the Princess.

“Positive!”  She answered with a smile.

Impa smiled at them.  “Then it’s settled.  Why don’t you stay here for the day?  You need your rest for the road”,  She told them.

“That’s not a bad idea Impa, where do you want us to stay?”  Link asked her.

Just then Paya came back with food and drinks for the Princess and the Hero.  “H-H-Here yo-you g-g-go Pr-Princess and M-M-Mas-aster Link”,  She offered to them nervously.

“Thank you Paya”,  They said to her as they took their food and drinks.

“S-So wh-what did I miss Grandmother?”  Paya asked.

“We were just talking heading to Hateno Village to go see Purah and Robbie”,  Her Grandmother answered.

“Oh, how exciting!”  She looked at Zelda and Link.  “C-Could you say hi to A-Auntie Purah for me?”  She asked the Princess.

“Sure”,  They answered with a nod.

Impa looked to her granddaughter.

“Mmmm, Paya why don’t you go to Hateno Village with the Princess and Link.  So you can say hi to Auntie Purah for me too”,  Impa said to her granddaughter.

Paya looked to her grandmother with surprise and shock.  “W-Wh-What?!  Me?!  Go with them?!  For what?!”  She said.

“To go see what Auntie Purah and Robbie are doing for me, my dear”,  Impa answered her.  “Also I think it’s time for you to go see Hyrule and help the Princess and Hero to balance the kingdom again.”

“Lady Impa, are you sure it’s okay for her to come with us?”  Zelda asked.  “I don’t need the help if Paya is needed by you.”

“Yeah, I agree with Zelda.  She can wait till she's ready to become a Sheikah warrior”,  Link agreed.

Impa shook her head.  “Nonsense, I can sense it in her.  She's more than ready to help you with your research Princess.  She’s into ancient technology much more than you are”,  She looked at her granddaughter.  “Beside my dear, I'm old Paya.  I can't live forever.  And I don't want you to stay here in Kakariko Village forever”,  Impa smiled at her.  “I want you to see the world my little Papaya.”

Paya blush.  “Grandmother!  I thought I told you not to call me that when we have guests!”  She shouted to her grandmother.

Impa laughed softly.  “I’m sorry child, I couldn’t help it”,  She said.  “But I mean it, you are ready.  You may not see it in you, but I can see it in you not as your grandmother, but as your Leader.  You just have to go and see it for yourself.”

Paya sighed.  Her Grandmother was right she would have to be ready for all of Hyrule, but she would have to find out by herself.  She looked at the Princess and Hero.  “How long are you staying?”  She asked Zelda and Link.

They looked at each other and looked back at Paya.  “Maybe just today”,  Zelda answered.

She looked back at her grandmother.  “I’ll do my best Grandmother.  I’ll try to help the Princess and Master Link as best as I can.  I’ll go pack my things for the road.”

Impa, Zelda and Link watched her leave the room.  Impa looked back at Zelda and Link.  “I hope she’ll be a great help for the both of you on your journey ahead of you.”

Zelda and Link smiled at Impa.  “We’ll keep an eye on her for you Lady Impa.  We’ll also let you know when the castle is rebuilt as it was before”,  The Princess said to her old friend.  The old woman smiled in return.

“So do you want me and Zelda to sleep in the inn or we can sleep here?”  Link asked.

“You and the Princess can spend the night here.  Paya will help you to make yourself comfortable”,  Impa answered.

_____TLOZ:RTTW_____

Night came in Kakariko Village.  Zelda, Paya and Link were upstairs getting ready for bed.

“Are you sure you want us to sleep here, Paya?”  Zelda asked the young Sheikah woman.  “Link and I can sleep where-”,  Paya stopped the Princess from finishing her sentence.

“No no Princess, I don’t mind the company.  I get a little lonely sometimes”,  Paya said with a sad smile.  Zelda smiled in return.

The Princess of Hyrule looked at Paya carefully.  Paya noticed what the Princess was doing.  “What is it Princess?  Do I have a bug on my face?!”  She asked nervously.

Zelda shook her head.  “No, it’s just you look so much like your grandmother”,  She told Paya.

Paya looked surprised.  “Really, I do?”  But she realized the Princess was over 100 years old since the Calamity.  “Oh right, I forgot you were there in the Great Calamity with my Grandmother”,  She laughed.  The Hylian Princess laughed too.

“It's been so long for me.  I have so much to fix in Hyrule”,  Zelda said sadly.  “But I’ll do everything I can for Hyrule”,  She looked at Link.  “And I know you’ll be there with me Link.”

Link looked back at Zelda.  “I’ll be there for you Zelda, till the very end”,  He said to her.

“Wow, you two are more kind and braver than I thought”,  Paya said to them.  “Grandmother never stops talking about you.  She always hoped you both would come back for Hyrule again.”

Zelda looked at Paya.  “It’s nice to know she never gave up on us”,  Tears started to fall down on the Princess’ face.

Paya started to panic when he saw the Hylian Princess crying.  “Please don’t cry Princess!”

Zelda just laughed at her reaction.  “It’s okay Paya, I was crying with tears of joy.  And you can call me ‘Zelda’ if you want”,  She told the Sheikah woman.  “I don’t mind.”

“Alright Z-Z-Ze-Zel-‘Zelda’”,  Paya tried to say.  Zelda and Link laughed.

“Come on, let’s get some sleep.  We have a big day tomorrow”,  Link said to the girls.

“Right”,  The girls said to him with a nod.

They all went to sleep for the night.  As they were sleeping.  Impa walked into the room.  She looked at the Link and the girls with a smile.  “I’m very happy you are both back safe and sound”,  She whispered.  “But there is still so much for all of you to do for Hyrule”,  She looked at her granddaughter.  “Paya, I know you can do this just like I did 100 years ago.  In the name of Hylia, it’s for you to take off Hyrule in my place”,  She went back downstairs to go meditate for the night.  When she got on her pillows, she sensed something.  “My King Rhoam, I hope you’re proud of your daughter now”,  She said as she went back to meditate.

_____TLOZ:RTTW_____

Morning came to Kakariko Village.  Zelda and Link were getting their horses ready for the road.  Impa and Paya came down from their home.  Paya was in a Stealth Armor set.  Also with them was Cado and Dorian.

“You three be careful on your journey ahead”,  Cado said to them.

Dorian nodded in agreement.  “Yes, there may be still monsters and thieves out there.”

Paya was a little scared of what Dorian said.  “Don’t worry my dear child”,  She looked at her grandmother.  “Link will be there to protect you and the Princess.  Maybe he might teach you a thing or two about defending yourself or Hyrule.”

Paya was a little calm from her grandmother’s words.  She looked at the Princess and the Hero.  “So how are we getting to Hateno Village with just two horses?”  She asked them.

“Well there will be stable and wild horses on the way there”,  Link answered.  “We can stop there to get you a horse.”

“Oh okay, but how are we going to get there with two horses?”  Paya asked again.

“You can ride with Link”,  Zelda answered.

Paya blushed red as an apple.  “M-M-Me r-ri-ride with Mas-Master Link?!”

Everyone around her sweatdrop.  “Maybe you can ride my horse and I can walk.  The stable is not far from here”,  Link said to Paya to calm her down.

The new young Sheikah Warrior calmed down.  “Oh that works too”,  Said calmly.

“Are you sure about this Link?  Or you just don’t want to lose another race?”  The Princess said to tease him.

“Ha, ha very funny Zelda”,  Link said.

Everyone laughed.

Paya gives her grandmother a hug goodbye.  “Goodbye Grandmother.  I’ll miss you”,  She said while hugging her.

“Goodbye my child.  I’ll miss you too”,  Impa said to Paya.

“Paya, you don’t need to worry about your grandmother, she is in good hands”,  Dorian said to her.

“Yes, Dorian and I will guard her with our lives”,  Cado agreed.

Tears started to fall on Paya’s face.  “Thank you both”,  Link helped the girls get on the horses.  “I’ll make you proud Grandmother, I promise”,  Paya said in her last words as she left her Grandmother.

Impa and the two Sheikah Soldiers waved goodbye to them as they left Kakariko Village.  Once they were gone, Impa went back to the house with the Soldiers behind her.  She stopped and took one more look at her retreating granddaughter’s back.  “You already did my sweet Paya.”

TO BE CONTINUED…..