"Impa, what happened? One minute a dark sinister man was shaking me and the next I'm back in bed."

Impa put her muscular arms over her chest.

"You were having a nightmare, child." Impa said with a shake of her head.

Impa was the last remaining survivor of the shieka race. How she became the Princess' royal nursemaid, no one really knows. She just suddenly appeared in the Castle one day and told King Harkinhan and Queen Lilliana that there will be a time when little Princess Zelda will need a protector. She vowed to be Zelda's nursemaid.

Then six months later....

Impa watched as little Princess Zelda was clutching her doll for comfort in one hand and wiping away her tears in one hand.

"Mommy is sick," she said to her doll. "but maybe if we're good, she'll be better." she sniffled.

It broke Impa's heart to see such suffering in one so young.

"Lady Impa,"

Impa tore her gaze from Zelda and to a saluting guard.

"Yes?"

"Her Majesty requests that you come to her room."

Impa paused for a moment.

She nodded.

"Yes, of course."

Impa stepped into King Harkinhan and Queen Lilliana's room. King Harkinhan greeted her.

"Hello Impa,"

He had a grim smile on his face. His youthful appearance looked haggard and worn. He looked exhausted which he should be, for her slept on the hard sofa for two months ever since this strange illness struck his dear Lili.

"Harkinhan..." Queen Lilliana barely whispered out weakly.

King Harkinhan rushed to Lilliana's side.

"Yes, dearest?"

"Please bring Zelda in. I need to see her...one last time."

Tears formed in Harkinhan's eyes.

"Lili, you mustn't talk that way..."

"Please, Harkinhan."

Harkinhan sadly nodded and left the room.

Lilliana smiled.

"Come, Impa. There is something i must tell you."

Impa walked over to the bed and sat on the edge. Lilliana grasped Impa's hands.

It was a weak grasp, her hands were ice cold.

"I...I am not expected to live through the night. Impa, I need to ask you something."

"Yes?"

"Please take care of my little girl. She'll need a mother figure when I'm gone. A protector."

"Yes of course, Majesty."

"You have foreseen that this was to happen?"

Impa nodded.

"Impa, I'm glad we found you. I don't know if Harkinhan would be able to raise her on his own. It's such a burden, and I don't want my little Zelda to be a burden for anyone."

"You have my word. I will guard her with my life!" Impa put her hand over her heart and bowed.

A sign of an oath.

"Impa, thank you..."

"Mommy!"

Princess Zelda ran to the bed and looked up at her mother. Tears were running down her cheeks.

King Harkinhan took Lilliana's hand.

"We're all here. Did you ask her?" Harkinhan asked.

Lilliana nodded. She put Zelda's face between her hands and kissed her forehead.

"Mommy isn't going to be better. Mommy is going to be away for a long time." Lilliana half whispered.

"Why Mommy? Where are you going?"

"To Heaven, sweetheart."

"Mommy, if I'm a good girl, will we see eachother again?"

"Yes, dear. But that won't be for a long, long time."

More tears spilled over Zelda's face.

"Now, now. No more tears. You have to be Mommy's Brave Big Girl. Promise me one thing: be a good girl while i'm gone. Always mind Aunt Impa and Daddy. Do you promise?"

Zelda sniffled trying to hold back the tears. Impa heard Harkinhan choking back a sob.

"Yes, Mommy. I promise."

"That's Mommy's good girl..." Lillian's voice was getting fainter and fainter.

"Harkinhan....help Impa take care of Zelda...I love you both...Impa...Protect Zelda with your life...I..."

Then she was still.

Harkinhan bowed his head in grief.

"She's gone." he said.

Zelda, forgetting to be the brave big girl like she promised wept hopelessly. Impa put her arms around Zelda in a comforting hug.

"I promised Mommy that I would be a brave big girl..." Zelda sobbed.

"Shhhh...there are exceptions. I'm sure Mommy will understand."

"Impa?"

Impa shook her memories away from that day and focused her attention on the grown up Zelda.

"Now, tell me about that nightmare of yours."