A slip of the tongue

So, I've been reading Rose Zemlya's extensive Zelda fanfiction. It is really quite wonderful - and I'm not usually one to read fanfiction. Honestly, go give it a try --> [link] The first is tLoZ: The Return, and the just-as-good-if-not-better sequel-in-progress is tLoZ: Reconciliation. It's OoT Link, but he's lost his memories from before he changed time.

This was one of my favorite conversations from The Return. I spent all yesterday doing it instead of homework... XD

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"Neesha's fine," Hunter says. "At least . . . she's in good hands. Zelda's with her."

"Who?" I ask in surprise as we start back towards the exit to the Quisrol.

"Sheik," Hunter says, raising an eyebrow at me. "You going deaf or something?" I blink at him.

"Sorry," I say. "I thought you said Zelda."

"I might have," Hunter says. "They are more or less interchangeable. It doesn't really matter does it?" I stare at him in confusion.

"Why wouldn't it?" I ask. "You didn't hit your head or anything did you?" His eyebrow goes higher.

"I'm starting to wonder if you didn't," he replies. "Sheik, Zelda . . . why do the names matter so much? It's not like they're two different people or anything." I stop in mid-step and gape at him. He freezes at my expression and his eyes widen suddenly. "Uh-oh," he says, turning to face me. He winces visibly. "Please tell me you knew that already . . ."

"WHAT?" I cry. He buries his face in his hands.

"She's gonna kill me," he moans. He looks up suddenly. "We should . . . uh . . . get going," he says quickly, turning around and starting off again.

"Woah! Hold on!" I cry, catching his arm and spinning him around again, my expression dark. "Explain." He looks at me pleadingly.

"Link . . . don't . . . she'll probably never speak to me again as it is . . ." I glare at him.

"You said there were no secrets between Sheikah," I say. "I'm a Sheikah, aren't I?"

"I . . . well . . . yes . . ." He says. "But . . ."

"Hunter, please," I practically beg him. "I'm tired of having no clue what's going on . . . I'm beyond tired of it. Don't leave me in the dark . . . please . . ." He sags in defeat.

"Sheik and Zelda are the same person," he says with a sigh. "Before you changed Time, after your spirit was imprisoned in the Sacred Realm, Zelda was forced to take on the guise of a Sheikah in order to hide from Ganondorf. Impa took her here and kept her protected for a while, disguised as a Chosen Sheikah named Sheik, until Impa disappeared into the Shadow Temple . . . I . . . she kept the disguise after you changed time. She . . . never told me why."

"Zelda is Sheik?" I ask. He nods.

"Yes," he says. I frown at him.

"Zelda is Sheik?" I ask again. He raises and eyebrow and nods.

"Yes, Link," he says. "Zelda is Sheik. Sheik is Zelda. They are one and the same. They are the same person. There is no difference between them." He pauses. "Mentally speaking. Physically speaking, I dunno . . . don't really think I want to go there."

"Zelda is Sheik . . ." I repeat.

"Yes, we've covered that," he says. "Can I have my arm back? I'm gonna need it when Sheik tries to take my head off for telling." I let go of him and start off towards the exit again.

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For some reason when Link says "EXPLAIN.", I can't help but think of a Dalek. XD

COMMISSIONS INFO: [link]

Art(c)Melissa M. aka *ZulayaWolf.
Story(c)Rose Zemlya aka ~KA-Rose.
The Legend of Zelda and Link(c)Nintendo.