Chapter 2: Silence Like a Cancer
The steady rain that pelted Link as his horse trotted along the hilly terrain chilled him to the bone, a far cry from the burning heat he had endured atop Death Mountain mere days ago. And yet it seemed as if an eternity had passed since he'd fought his way up the massive volcano and freed Daruk's spirit from the clutches of Ganon. The numbness he felt currently, though indeed heightened by the cold rain, had been clinging to him long before the clouds had gathered above.
As with Mipha, upon setting foot in Goron City and gazing at the statue of the fallen Champion, sparse memories of his time with Daruk rose from the fog that obscured his past. Heartbreaking as it was knowing that such a friendly and confident individual had been lost a century ago, Link had refused to allow himself to dwell on the depressing thought, instead burying it alongside his grief of the Zora princess until a more appropriate time. While nothing could truly have softened the blow, after coming face to face with Mipha's spirit, he had mentally steeled himself for the moment a softly glowing Goron appeared before him. It had been agonizing, receiving yet another generous gift before his body was forcefully removed from the Divine Beast, the last smile he would see on Daruk's face fading away. But that was a reality he had prepared himself for. The events that followed, however, were not.
The scorching heat inside the very mouth of the volcano had been suffocating despite his special elixirs and armor, and this made properly navigating Vah Rudania all the more difficult. Not only had it taken a toll on him physically, his throat unquenchably dry and cracked while his skin was so tender that the slightest touch was akin to a jab with a hot poker, but the mental strain was far greater as well. Even a second's lack of focus could have tripped him up and sent him hurling into the molten lava and a most assuredly painful death. His plan had been to continue moving forward as quickly as possible, his constant progress making it easier for him to ignore his bottled up emotional turmoil. But his weak body ill-suited for spending hours in the heart of a volcano had not allowed him to leave Goron City without rest, and thus he had spent a long two days in bed, a restless Yunobo constantly hovering at his side. And while not ungrateful for the care, the last thing he had desired was company.
Link couldn't help but feel overcome with his comparatively frail body's inadequacy. Even in his few memories from a century ago he was being healed by Mipha or protected by Daruk. The confidence he had started this journey out with was waning with each new trial he endured and past event that came to light. Every time he proudly reminded himself of the fact that he had already defeated two hideous monstrosities created from Ganon's own Malice, a sinister echo in the back of his head would grow louder, making sure he was aware that these were merely minions. Barely defeating them only to pass out shortly afterwards was an ominous sign that the outcome against Calamity Ganon himself would be much different.
As soon as he had been sure his legs could carry him, Link was on his feet, using every ounce of his willpower to appear healthy and steadfast in his decision to trek back down the mountain so that Yunobo would allow him to go without a fuss. It had, however, been surprisingly easy to win the young Goron over.
"I believe in you, brother! You're so strong and brave, just like Lord Daruk. And maybe someday I will be too, goro!"
He had politely accepted the compliment, but the words rang hollow as Link slowly made his way toward the base of the volcano. Wishing for nothing more than some solitude, he had avoided the path that would have lead him to the Southern Mine, instead choosing to traverse the rocky terrain to the west of it. The new route had been treacherous, but the air wasn't quite as unbearable, and he didn't have to worry about whether or not the cracks in his stoic mask were showing as there had been no one to notice.
A few hours into his descent, a splash of light pink had caught the corner of his eye. To the southwest of the volcano sat Hyrule Castle, the view of it from the mountain sending shivers down his spine. But farther north lay an island covered in trees and shrouded in mist with only the top of a large, blossoming tree clearly visible in the center. He had stopped, the itch of familiarity causing his heart to race, and as he stood still, mesmerized, he could suddenly picture the entire rocky area immediately surrounding him covered in the blood and bodies of dead monsters. In the center of all of it were two nearly untouched Hylians.
Link's breath had caught in his throat. The carnage was his doing. He had single-handedly defeated an entire army, everything from the common red bokoblin that had already been reduced to a minor annoyance in present day to vicious looking white maned lynels, a species he actively avoided out of fear in a color he had never even seen. He could remember Princess Zelda warning him to be careful, that being brave did not equate to immortality.
Recalling his past strength had been a somber yet joyful experience. Though his current, weakened state paled in comparison, the memory and scenery before him had caused an important detail he had been overlooking since King Dorephan first tried to bring his attention to it to finally come back to him.
The sword.
A century ago he had wielded what others now whispered to be a sword capable of sealing the darkness, though he himself could not remember it. Everyone who spoke of the blade seemed to be in awe of its power, and just before he left Goron City, their leader, Bludo, had mentioned that it was hidden in a forest to the west of the volcano. Link had been struggling to maintain his emotionless expression during the goodbye, and therefore had practically forgotten the advice. But with its strength fresh in his mind and what had to be the forest in which it rested in front of his eyes, a renewed vigor had filled him with hope, propelling him down the mountain. It took one, single day for that hope to dissolve into despair.
It was no longer simply his own feelings of inadequacy that tormented him. The sword itself had decided that he was no longer fit to wield it.
Merely touching the hilt of the divine blade had filled his head with a blur of scenes from the past and Princess Zelda's commanding voice entrusting Hyrule to him, causing a wave of varying and confusing emotions to crash into him. So taken aback by the sudden onslaught, he had released his grip on the weapon resting in the stone and gasped loudly as he stumbled backward, accidentally waking the dozing Great Deku Tree who informed him that he'd been tasked with watching over the darkness sealing sword - the Master Sword, as was its true name. The gigantic tree had at first seemed pleased to see him after one hundred years of waiting, but it hadn't taken long for his tone to take a foreboding turn.
"The sword stands as a test to anyone who would dare attempt to possess it. As you are now, I cannot say whether you are worthy or not..."
The warning had shaken his already fragile confidence, but he had refused to be deterred. If the Master Sword had truly once been his, then he had to try and take it up again. Princess Zelda's words had echoed in his head as he took a deep breath and reached for the hilt once more. She was counting on him, and though he could barely remember her, deep down he knew that above all else he desired to be useful to her and deserve her faith in him as the Hero of Hyrule. But as he had struggled to pull the blade from the stone pedestal in which it sat, it felt as if his very life force was being sucked from his body. Despite his moment of panic, he had refused to let go until the Great Deku Tree commanded it, but as soon as he had, he found himself panting and sweating, the Master Sword staying stubbornly where he had found it, silently mocking his incompetence.
Link had left the forest only moments later, the mere sight of the holy weapon too cruel to stand. Stumbling around the misty woods in a daze, it had been a miracle that he'd managed to emerge safely back on the other side. But as he had trudged along the path, his mind not bothering to care about his next destination, he noticed through the trees a tall tower glowing a bright orange. Below it sat a vast enemy encampment completely surrounded by a bubbling bog.
The map on his Shiekah Slate was still far from complete, but he knew at least that he should eventually make his way west toward the Divine Beast shaped like a bird that circled high in the air, a route that took him directly through territory that would be unlocked on his map if he were to activate the heavily guarded tower.
He rushed in without hesitation.
Whether out of foolishness, anger at his own weakness, or a sudden need for self validation, he was still unable to explain exactly what drove him to run straight into the thick of battle in such a deadly arena without a second's thought. Lizalfos and octoroks shot at him from the murky pond while bokoblins and moblins engaged him in melee combat. As he drew closer to the base of the tower, a wizzrobe caught sight of him and began hurling fireballs in his direction. With cries of frustration, he had slashed wildly at them all, his own wounds piling up to match his body count, until at last he had reached the base of the tower. Adrenaline surging through his bleeding body, he raced to the top as fast as his limbs could carry him, and once there, he approached the terminal and waited as his Shiekah Slate received the new map information. Retrieving it, he tried to study it only to realize that his eyes refused to focus. His breathing had become ragged, and his legs gave way beneath him, his arms barely able to cushion his fall.
He couldn't remember how long he lay there, his mind, for once, completely blank. But eventually he had managed to push himself up and look around. The Woodland Stable was close enough to the south that he could paraglide down to it, which gave him somewhere to rest and a horse for his travels as well. Given his current physical and mental state, he had deemed it wise to at least start the next leg of his journey on horseback, an insight now proving advantageous due to the harsh rain, the slick grass and thick mud being far more easily navigated by his sure-footed steed.
The daze he had found himself lost in since his failure to procure the Master Sword was only just beginning to lift. Since leaving the stable over an hour ago, the patter of rain and sloshing of hooves had been strangely soothing despite the cool temperature and his soaked clothing. Intent on regaining his focus, Link did his best to keep his eyes forward, though the misty forest to his right and the foreboding castle to his left were impossible to ignore completely. He would head toward Salari Hill as there was a road nearby, and as his map indicated a steep cliff not far beyond it, he would take that road south, hopefully leading him toward one of the towers he saw in the distance so he might receive a clue as to where to proceed from there.
But as the rain continued its relaxing fall and his horse clopped steadily along with barely a nudge of guidance needed, he found he couldn't keep his thoughts solely on plotting his course. The crumbling Hyrule Castle, surrounded by Guardians and swirling Malice, kept stealing his gaze, vague shadows of memories from time spent inside when it was bright and welcoming trying to claw their way out of his subconscious. Above all else, though, he could picture her.
While no specific memories sprang to mind, images of Princess Zelda roaming the castle halls in a regal, blue gown forced their way through the cloud concealing his past. She was beautiful, moving with grace, head held high, but somehow the only expression he could imagine her wearing was that of anxiety and disappointment. Even with his scarce few vivid memories of her, it wasn't hard to guess what the cause might be considering whatever power she had been trying to harness had alluded her up to the very hour of Calamity Ganon's return. But somehow she must have gained control of that power as her spirit fought on inside the castle even now. By means he would probably never understand she had continued to fight for one hundred years while everyone around her failed, leaving her utterly alone. That could only be done by someone with great strength and confidence. So perhaps the real reason he found it impossible to recall even the smallest smile was not due to the disappointment she felt for herself but the disappointment Link felt his current self would surely be to her.
Roughly shaking his head, he urged his horse to go faster as if it were possible to simply outrun his own thoughts. He could not afford to be overtaken by his emotions again. His recklessness in pursuit of scaling the previous tower could have killed him. Being a living disappointment meant there was still a chance to change his fate; being a dead one would doom an entire kingdom.
Refusing to so much as glance to either side of him, he drove his horse onward at breakneck speed. The sooner he reached the next Divine Beast the sooner he would be too preoccupied with not falling from the sky to dwell on such dark and distracting thoughts. The rain finally stopped shortly after the castle at last lay behind him, and up ahead to his left he noticed a small pond not yet visible on his map. Feeling slightly guilty for pushing his horse so hard for so long, he decided to rest there for a short while, just long enough to allow his mount some food, drink, and a chance to catch its breath.
As he dismounted and handed the horse a bright red apple, Link's eyes slowly swept over the area. The gently sloping ground was covered in wildflowers that glistened with fresh moisture in the sun as it peeked through the retreating clouds. A soft breeze tugged at the leaves on the trees and his own damp hair. It was serene, a stark contrast to everything he'd experienced in the last week. And yet as his gaze drifted back in the direction of Hyrule Castle, that now familiar sense of recognition that whispered to him of a moment one hundred years ago had him clamoring for the Shiekah Slate at his hip. Sure enough, the view from where he stood matched one of the photos near exactly, and once more a memory from his past came rushing back to him.
Princess Zelda was holding the very same Shiekah Slate, chattering on about the wildlife and its various scientific uses. One flower in particular caught her eye, one that made the speed of her words slow and voice reverent. But then, without warning, she was excitedly holding a green frog out to him, willing him to taste it, of all things. More important than all of that, however, throughout the entirety of what he could remember, she was smiling.
With a true, warm smile, her face lit up like the sun. The golden hair falling over her shoulders and framing her cheeks almost appeared to glow, a shimmering halo accentuating her bright green eyes and pale pink lips. Even as a mere memory Link could have sworn that he suddenly felt warmer in her presence, the pure delight radiating from her transcending time itself. And after a grueling three weeks without the slightest twitch, the corners of his own lips at last curled upward as well.
Time seemed to stand still as he stood there, his eyes unfocused on the present. Of the far too few memories he had recovered of the princess, this one felt different. Or perhaps it was more accurate to say that this one made him feel different. It wasn't just the pure delight from seeing her smile. No, this went much deeper. Not a childish flutter in his heart or a blush on his cheeks one might normally get from having the attention of a pretty girl, but instead something closer to devotion, a fierce need to keep that smile protected at any cost. This was how she was meant to be, deserved to be.
Of course, he knew that it was a hundred years too late for that. The most he could hope for was to see her spirit smile upon him one last time, as Daruk had. As Mipha had. But there was no use dwelling on such thoughts. If he could only live up to the faith she had in him, someday she would be free, and with Ganon gone and her own duties fulfilled, perhaps she would go on to a better life where she would be able to smile amongst the flowers for all eternity. If it was in his power, he wanted nothing more than to give that to her.
The vague ache he had felt upon first remembering her face nearly a month ago seemed to grow with every passing moment. The more he thought of her, tried to force himself to remember her, the more his chest tightened. And yet he found himself unwilling to completely push any thought of her aside. It was painful, but he couldn't help wanting - no, needing to know every lost detail. He was drawn to her in a way that was like no other from his past. Perhaps it was due to how many days and weeks they must have spent together, him being her appointed knight and bodyguard. Maybe he had been privy to a side of her she kept hidden from others. But unless he regained all of his memories, he would never know, and thus it didn't matter if it would be an agonizing task, reliving the life of one whose physical body had already returned to dust. He would do whatever he had to in order to face the princess with a full understanding of everything they'd been through together.
The sun hung low in the western sky as Link finally remounted his horse. He was sure he'd seen a stable nearby, and though he wanted to reach the next Divine Beast as soon as possible, it seemed wise to rest for the night while the monsters were most active, especially since he was quickly running out of map. He guessed that he would be able to reach the next tower tomorrow, however, and as most so far were fairly well guarded, he wanted to be well rested and sharp in order to avoid another reckless assault.
With one last, longing look around the small pond, Link took a deep, calming breath and urged his steed forward. As much as his newly regained memory further saddened any thoughts of the future, he was aware that it had come back to him exactly when he most needed it. He couldn't let it matter that the Master Sword rejected him. The princess deserved better than someone lacking focus and self control. She deserved a knight, strong and confident, and while he believed he was currently neither of those things, he must have been once. That was who she was counting on and that was who he would force himself to be again.
A/N: This time I would like to thank everyone responsible for helping create the interactive map available on Zelda Dungeon. I cannot stress enough how helpful this has been in helping me plot out Link's path through this story!
Thanks for reading, and as always, critics and grammar police are appreciated!