Following Purah's very sudden announcement, both Hylians dismounted from their horses and came over to take the Sheikah Slate being offered to them, urgently. Staring at the Slate's screen, Zelda and Link could see that the usually blue icon for Mipha's Divine Beast was now bright orange and blinking slowly on the map of Hyrule. It was still situated where they had last seen it, and none of the other Beasts seemed to be behaving similarly.
"I don't know what's caused it, and I haven't received any messengers from the Zora so I can only assume that this is recent. I was deep inside the programming, so when I finished and checked all it's basic functions that gave me a bit of a surprise. It would probably be best if you two were to make your way there as soon as possible," Purah advised, as she walked past them both. Despite looking like a child and wearing a lace trimmed puffy dress, she exuded an air of responsibility and experience. "I will send word to my sister to let her know what's going on, and she can send correspondence out to the contacts in the other nations. It could be that the other Divine Beasts will start to show similar problems soon."
"Oh, shit," said Zelda, succinctly.
"I really need to find out where you're learning these words. People are going to think it's me..."
The former Princess ignored Link as she was already deep in thought. As it was, she had actually been picking up the odd word here and there around the village, but mostly it was the Bolson construction workers. She found the words to be incredibly effective at expressing her feelings with as few syllables as possible. While she still enjoyed a good rant now and again, a short expletive was bizarrely satisfying. As for the matter at hand, Zelda had a theory.
"Link, what order did you free the Divine Beasts?" She asked, thinking fast.
"Ruta, Rudania, Medoh, and then Naboris," he answered immediately, counting them up on one hand.
"Then I would estimate that each beast would start to encounter problems in that order. Once we're done in Zora's Domain, we should come back here to tell Purah what we've found, if anything, and then we can proceed from there."
"I agree," said Purah.
Zelda nodded, before inclining her head toward her partner. "Link, do you think we need to grab anything before we leave? I don't think we have time to warrant taking a scenic route."
"I second that statement," Purah added.
"We already have everything we need, extra stuff is in here," Link said, tapping the Slate with his augmented hand so it clinked against the surface. "We're ready to go."
"Alright then," Zelda took a breath and then gave Purah a short wave, "We'll report back soon. I hope."
The fatigue from their trip was wiped away by the adrenaline of this new predicament and both were filled with guilty excitement. They were built for this, identifying problems and solving them so that others needn't trouble themselves with it. A new challenge lay before them. With a final nod and a exaggerated 'snap' from the Sheikah Researcher, Link tapped on the Shrine icon in the heart of Zora's Domain.
They reformed on the platform of the Shrine beneath the Throne room and not two seconds later they were greeted by Bazz, who was practically skipping down the water covered stairs towards them. He was waving at someone behind him and gesturing upstairs as he splashed across the water surrounding the Shrine.
"I knew it, I knew you guys would come," he exclaimed, slightly breathless. "They're still upstairs debating about whether to send for you two or not, as if you wouldn't as soon as we asked, but-" Skidding to a stop Bazz became flustered suddenly and then coughed into his fist. "Excuse me, thank you for coming to Zora's Domain. I take it you're here about Vah Ruta?"
Link and Zelda looked at each other. If the situation hadn't called for their full attention and a serious demeanour, they would have found Bazz's haphazard introduction amusing. As it was, clearly that there was something physically amiss with Vah Ruta too.
"Yes, we are," Zelda said, deciding to take the lead on this one. "If you could take us to His Majesty and Prince Sidon while explaining what you know on the way, that would be most appreciated."
"Yes, of course! Please, follow me," Bazz snapped to attention and pivoted around to walk them up to the Throne room. "Following the attack made by Vah Ruta on the Castle, which scared the scales off of us by the way, she has been standing guard up there completely silent." They walked past Mipha's statue and all three of them turned to look up at her for a split second, admiring the way she glowed in the afternoon sun, before continuing up the east staircase. "Then we noticed this morning during our patrols that her glow would dim and then lighten again. So far, it's been doing this continuously since we first spotted it, I have guards stationed up there looking out for any trouble. They've been told not to approach Vah Ruta under any circumstances and any change in her behaviour they are to leave and report back at once."
As they reached the second tier landing of the Zoran Palace, a large, bright red Zora came running out of the Throne room, followed by a harried looking guard.
"You came! Oh, my tiny friends, I'm so glad you're here!" Sidon swooped down to embrace them in a crushing hug with one arm each. "We were just discussing if we should bother you about our predicament, but really it is without question that you two together have the most knowledge about these Beasts. I take it Bazz has already informed you of our situation," at this Sidon looked up at the Captain and beamed. Link, who had wiggled enough to be able to turn around in Sidons hold, was able to catch the slight flush on Bazz's complexion as the Zora snapped into a salute and uttered an affirmative. The Prince's grin only grew, "excellent, I knew I could count on you! Now, if you two would follow me, we can relieve the guards standing beside Vah Ruta and myself and Sergeant Seggin will take their place."
Sidon straightened up and beckoned to the old Zora making his way out of the Throne room at a much more sedate pace than the Prince had displayed.
"Calm down, my Prince. I'm getting there, and I seriously doubt Vah Ruta is going anywhere. Excitable.." The rest of the experienced Zora's words trailed off as he finally reached the congregation of Zora and Hylians.
He continued to walk past them and Sidon fell into step beside him, encouraging both Zelda and Link to follow with a hand at their backs. Before they stepped onto the bridge to leave the Domain, Link turned his head back to watch Bazz, who had stayed behind. The dark coloured Zora became decidedly nervous when he saw what Link was signing to him.
[You. Me. Talk later] Accompanied by the smirk on Link's face, Bazz knew that conversation was going to be an experience.
It wasn't until after the group had crossed the bridge that Zelda brought up the fact that at least Link and herself could teleport directly to Vah Ruta's position. She did offer to take both Sidon and Seggin with them but warned that, admittedly, they had not tested the Slates travel function with more than two people yet. Nor had she tried with two people of different species.
While Zelda got lost in some more potential experiment ideas, Sidon was debating whether or not to take her up on the offer. He was most definitely curious, and he did not have the same knee jerk reaction of fear and distrust towards Ancient Sheikah technology that other older Zora had. However, his decision was made for him as Seggin eyed him with a judgemental stare.
"Don't be lazy," the Sergeant reprimanded, heading toward the lake and the waterfall which would take both Zora straight up to the Reservoir.
"Oh, alright," Sidon conceded, in a rare display of petulance, before his positive aura was back and he waved his two Hylian friends good bye.
"We'll be seeing you in about two minutes, Sidon," Link reminded, grinning at his friend overly dramatic parting gestures.
"Two minutes too long my dear friends!"
As promised, two minutes later the group had reconvened in the shadow of the colossal beast, looking up at the impressive structure. It's glow was indeed shining only intermittently, and it's trunk was still raised with it's tusks extended; battle ready.
While the Prince and the Sergeant told the previous Zora guards to take a break in the reservoir below them, Link and Zelda approached Vah Ruta. Taking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly, Zelda reached out with her senses, trying to decipher any hidden malicious entities or any fiendish nature that may be residing within the Beast. Nothing. This prompted her to shake her head at Link and usher him forward, but he had barely taken a single step before they both felt the world fall away and a voice sounded within their heads.
I am Maz Koshia. I address those who wish to master a Divine Beast.
Link, who was quite used to this by now, settled himself as he waited to hear what else this new Monk had in store for them. Zelda, on the other hand, was thoroughly surprised and her body jerked with the shock. With one hand she blindly felt around for Link, finding his wrist to latch onto.
If this is your goal, proceed to the Shrine of Resurrection.
To tame these Divine Beasts you must undergo challenges
that reflect the Trials of the Champions one hundred years before.
But first, you must prove you are still up to the task...
While the presence had descended upon them suddenly, it left more slowly, perhaps aware that one of the people it had been speaking to had been unsettled by the intrusion. As the voice faded, the ambient sounds of the Zoran cliffs returned, and the Hylian pair felt connected to their bodies once more. Turning away from Vah Ruta in unison, they saw Prince Sidon and Sergeant Seggin were awaiting their response.
"We need to go the Great Plateau."
After saying their good-byes to the Zora, and promising that there was nothing malicious about Vah Ruta's state, they went to check-in with Purah. Link had assured Zelda that what had occurred was nothing particularly unusual. At least, not for them. The name Maz Koshia didn't ring any bells with the de-aged Researcher once they told her, but then again none of the other Monks, that Link had mentioned in passing, were familiar either. She did agree, however, that it would probably be in their best interests if they made haste and followed instructions.
"Clearly, this is a prompt for you two bestowed from on high, best to see where this goes," Purah encouraged.
While Link was all for it, Zelda was still having trouble truly accepting the fact that an ancient acolyte of Hylia herself had spoken within her head. How long had she tried to get even one word out of the statues she prayed to, even just a murmur? Now, here she was, slowly taking in what she had just experienced. She felt a hand at her elbow and focused on her partner who was watching her with a patient smile. Bless him. Gradually, she managed to cast these frustrating thoughts aside and instead welcomed in the prospect of a new adventure.
Just as they were about to leave for the Great Plateau, the young Sheikah stopped them, waving her arms frantically. "Wait! Zelda, I need to give you this."
Pushing various boxes out of the way from the back wall of her lab, she produced a long and hefty black box. Sliding it onto her desk, she gestured for Zelda to go ahead and open it. After flicking open the catch and lifting the lid, she could see some sort of instrument, clearly of Ancient Sheikah origins, placed inside with fabric moulded around it. She took it out by the handle and admired it's construction; it looked like a sword, with a hilt and cross-guard but no blade, just a support running up the one side. There was a note in the box that read; You're not alone, but it's still dangerous. Here take this. She eyed Purah, puzzled as to it's purpose.
"It's a gift from Robbie. He intended it to be a Birthday present and sent it ahead of time so I could give it to you, but he also said that should you have need of it before then that I was to hand it over earlier. I reckon you're going to need everything you can get," she explained, trying to look optimistic but Link could see the worry that she was trying to hide. He couldn't help but agree.
I really shouldn't have slacked off, he whined inwardly regretting his complacent habits that he had cultivated over the better part of the last year, who knows what this is going to call for. Turning his attention to Zelda he saw that she was still looking at the device in her hands with confusion.
"Flick it."
"Excuse me?" She asked, raising an eyebrow at him.
Link responded by making the motion of flicking something in his hand down quickly with a snap of his wrist. She repeated the motion and gave a cry of delight as an energy blade formed instantly out of the instrument in her hand.
"It's a sword!" She announced, pleased with this new discovery and beaming her thanks at Link, while she swished the weapon around, listening to the sounds it made. "Oh this is beautiful, I really must thank Robbie in person."
"When you sheath it again, the blade automatically powers down," Link said, pausing for a moment, looking thoughtful. "Do you have any experience with bladed weapons?"
"Poke your enemies with the pointy end?"
"So glad you can boil down my years of training and discipline into a single concept," Link deadpanned, while Zelda held a hand over her mouth to hide her guilty smile.
"Alright then, Master swordsman," and Link would absolutely never tell her how much he liked the sound of that in her voice, "I suppose this means you will just have to teach me."
"Oh? What makes you think you can learn?" Normally, he wouldn't have teased her and instead just agreed, but he was feeling playful and he knew she secretly liked it when they challenged each other.
"I am nothing if not a determined individual, you know this."
"Maybe you just can't be taught."
"Wouldn't that just make you a bad teacher?"
As their banter had continued they had stepped closer to each other, until their faces were bare inches apart, wearing matching taunting facial gestures.
"Hey!" Purah broke into their conversation by slamming her hands down onto her desk, causing them to break apart, "cut out your weird flirting and go to the Great Plateau! Honestly..."
Feeling duly reprimanded, they took the Sheikah Slate in hand between them and selected the travel point for the Shrine of Resurrection.
Appearing in the atrium adjacent to the Resurrection chamber, Link immediately started off towards the room he had woken up in, with Zelda trailing behind. She had been distracted by the architecture of the room for a moment, having only visited the place once before. As they entered the room, her eyes were instantly drawn to the stasis pod at the far end. While she was trying to imagine what it must have been like to wake up and not know of anything, it took her a minute to recognise what was currently floating there. A small woodland spirit.
"Oh, is that...?"
Link, who had been about to place the Sheikah Slate into the terminal within the room, turned around to see what she was referring to. The little Korok, suspended by his leaf turbine, waved at him with a jingle and he smiled back at it.
"That's a Korok. They're hiding all over the place, leaving little puzzles for me to find and solve, then they would come out of hiding. Sometimes they just hid under rocks... and sometimes they would wake me up by leaving flowers in my hair."
He eyed the Korok hovering over the pod with a judgemental air but the little sprite simply giggled at him. Link rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to the pedestal, while Zelda approached the Korok to inspect it further. The increased jingling noises seemed to indicate that the Korok was pleased by this development.
The Slate was placed into it's slot, sinking and turning into the terminal, orange light turning blue, and Link saw the map screen light up. On the zoomed in part of the Great Plateau, four new orange locations sparked to life and began to pulse.
"New destinations; four places spread across the plateau," Link called back over his shoulder, and he heard a hum of acknowledgement from his partner.
Checking that these locations were not tied into landmarks he was already aware of, he pressed for the Slate to be ejected out of it's holding so he could take it back. No sooner had the Slate returned to his person, the chime of materialization sounded to his right, also catching Zelda's attention. They both watched as the streams of light descended down and formed a bizarre looking instrument, floating untethered above a cradle on the floor. The floating object had a red-tasselled handle that connected directly to what looked like the head of a trident, only it had four points instead of three. Upon closer inspection, Link realised that each point ended in a design that reflected the heads of each Divine Beast. The instrument was silent and benign, yet he had an overwhelming desire to grab it.
So, he did.
"Link, wait-!" Zelda's caution rang out across the room but he had already seized it.
Immediately, he felt his health drain from him and he let out a gasp, curling in on himself slightly. Not only that, but he started to feel lethargic and sore, as if an illness was taking hold of his entire body in mere seconds. Refusing to let go of what he now somehow knew was a weapon, he began to feel weaker and weaker. Bright red wisps of light circled up from his body to wrap around and down his arm into the weapon, which was steadily gaining a bright blue sheen.
Zelda had sprinted over to steady him as he stumbled back and away from the cradle, but she hesitated for a second over whether to touch him or not. Through the hands she placed on his back she could feel his stuttered breathing and trembling muscles. Eventually, after his legs nearly buckled, the instrument in his hand chimed and the weapon exuded a powerful aura. The only reason he did not drop to his knees was because Zelda was practically holding him up by his arms, but he still had to gasp for breath, heart going absolutely haywire beneath his ribs.
Once again, the presence they had experienced at the feet of Vah Ruta came to them again, more gradually this time. Filling their minds like water pouring into a bowl, it seeped into their being allowing both Link and Zelda to become accustomed to this new entity before it spoke, echoing within their souls.
To undertake this task requires unwavering dedication.
That weapon defeats foes with one hit.
However, the reverse is also true,
as it's wielder will also fall to a single strike.
That's concerning! Zelda thought, then cursed inwardly as she realised that this Sheikah Monk could probably hear her. Still, with the state Link was in currently it would be of no surprise to her if a swift breeze took him out. Thankfully, the voice continued as if it hadn't heard her.
You can use this weapon's ability only twice within a set period of time...
Only when it is glowing.
When enough time passes, the weapon will regain it's sheen along with it's power.
So, the weapon couldn't be used to hit everything in sight, it had to be saved for strong opponents that couldn't be dealt with by more creative means. Or beings that needed to be taken down quickly...
At the four marked locations within the Great Plateau...
Defeat all monsters present to prove your power.
Once the presence had said it's piece, it lifted away from their minds just as slowly as it did before. Unfortunately, with the presence now gone Link was left to stagger a little bit in Zelda's now lax arms. She didn't want to imagine how this would have turned out had he been doing this on his own and she tightened her hold on him again. Just as they went to limp back to the entrance of the chamber, the Sheikah Slate lit up and chimed to cheerily inform them that the weapon in Link's hand was called the 'One-Hit Obliterater'.
"This could be interesting," Link muttered.
'Interesting' turned out to be an understatement. The four new locations they had to get to were all in different areas. One was located in the woods, another was up in the mountain, a third was nestled in the birch meadow, and the fourth was right on the edge of the plateau. They decided to tackle the one in the forest first.
Sailing down to the spot on the map, Zelda kept glancing at Link to make sure he still had a good grip on his paraglider, though what she would have done had he fallen she did not know. They both landed safely among the trees, and Link needed to catch his breath for a couple of minutes.
"Remember when I was sick after that trip to Hebra?" He said, holding himself up against a tree trunk.
"Vividly," Zelda said, blithely, deciding to keep an eye out in case any of the monsters they were informed about came out of the gloom. Now that she thought about it, everywhere around her seemed incredibly foggy. It had been a nice day out.
"Well, this feels like that, only I have to be awake during it."
Link coughed after taking in a particularly large gulp of air and then straightened up. He bore a determined expression, though it was marred slightly as he kept sniffing and his eyes squinted as they itched.
"Alright, let's do this."
"Hang on," Zelda interrupted, bracing herself for an argument, "let me sneak out ahead to see what might be out there. I don't intend to be hurt but if I am, I'm currently in a better state than you are right now. I can handle it."
Link took a breath as his instinct to protect kicked in, but then his eyes drifted from her face slightly, clearly thinking it over. Closing his eyes with a deep sigh he nodded. He was nearly bowled over by the strength of her hug that she gave him upon his response, his mind still too foggy to put two and two together. Trying to regain his balance he was further surprised by her gratitude when she grabbed his face to give him a big kiss.
"Mmmpf, but," Link said, pulling them apart so he could offer some advice, [change into my stealth armour. For my peace of mind, please]
Still wearing a big smile, Zelda swiped through the items in the Sheikah Slate until she found his different sets of armour. Tapping on the navy set that displayed the Eye of the Sheikah, she experienced the odd sensation of clothes disappearing and reappearing on her body instantaneously. She admired the form fitting outfit for a second, adjusting the face mask as she did so. If Link hadn't been on death's doorstep he would have appreciated the view a lot more. As it was, he gave her a thumbs up when she looked to him for approval.
He was left to hold himself up by the tree once more as she darted away to crouch behind clusters of foliage and count the number of enemies in the area. Staring off into space, he slowly registered that the forest seemed denser than usual, and he squinted to discern shapes through the mist. If he didn't have the Slate with him to confirm his location, he would have thought he had been transported to the Lost Woods. He also couldn't hear the usual chatter of birds, or the rustling of leaves caught in a breeze. Now, that he thought about it, there was no breeze. The atmosphere added to his general feeling of uneasiness, his stomach roiling with paranoia and doubt. He felt Zelda's absence keenly and was overcome with the insatiable urge to hold her hand. He thunked his head against the tree bark.
Barely five minutes later, though it felt like much longer to him, Zelda was back with a list of upcoming monsters, their locations and their colouring. Never let anyone say she wasn't efficient. He successfully resisted the urge to cling to her, though whether it was due to force of will or sheer lack of energy he was unsure.
With that in mind, Link was able to creep out of hiding - stealth was useless at this point due to his heavy breathing – and snipe the bokoblins he could see on patrol with the bow Teba had made for him. The mechanical wing motifs curved with tension as he drew back arrow after arrow, taking the time between each shot to let his muscles recover in case he overexerted himself. Secretly, he was astonished that he didn't miss a single target, even if he didn't hit his foes exactly where he'd intended. A bomb arrow had to be used to dislodge the last Silver bokoblin from it's vantage point before it could take a hit from the One-Hit Obliterator to the face, dying on impact. Once its corpse fizzled away into nothing but it's guts and some gemstones, Link felt the ground shake and behind him a Shrine unearthed itself.
The structure shined clearly through the gloom, and they noticed that it was slightly different than the Shrines they were accustomed to. It was taller, with angular protrusions coming out of the top like pillars of crystalline rock. These challenges were no doubt of a different calibre than the ones Link had faced before.
He spotted Zelda peering out from behind a particularly thick tree and he nodded to her to show that it was safe to come out. Even though she still had that Sword gifted to her by Robbie, she did not yet know how to use it effectively and recognised her involvement at this point would no doubt distract Link. While he was grateful for her foresight, it was something he hoped to rectify.
They both convened on the platform of the newly activated Shrine, and she whispered to him as she took his hand. "How are you holding up?"
He responded with a shuddering sigh, and nodded his head in a so-so gesture. He didn't feel any better, but the progress they were starting to make meant he didn't feel worse.
The platform descended down and the pair were soon able to see an open chamber spread out before them. There was a bevel in the floor of the landing directly ahead them and beyond that it looked like objects were raining down from the ceiling. Before the pair could step off the platform, the now recognisable presence of Maz Koshia settled over them again.
These trials are for the Hero alone
They must be completed with out help
"Please," Zelda spoke aloud to the ceiling, unsure if she actually needed to speak with a physical voice. "If nothing else I would like to document these Trials. In doing so, we would be able to prevent future generations from being as under prepared as we were. I promise not to interfere."
This is amenable.
However, as soon as you become involved
these trials will become forfeit.
"Agreed."
Then we shall tell you of this trial.
As soon as the voice ebbed away, Zelda felt herself become weightless and lift off from the ground. She turned to Link to watch as his eyes widened and reflected the blue light she was emitting before she disassociated from his side. She reformed a split second later next to the altar that encapsulated an ancient Sheikah Monk within bars of blue energy. The wizened Monk sat completely still, legs folded in the lotus pose and hands poised in front of him.
So, this is who greeted Link at the end of each Shrine, Zelda thought, finally able to put an image to a description. She was surprised as another echoing voice sounded in her head, yet it was somehow distinctly different from that of Maz Koshia.
Yes, Hyllia Descendant, each of the Shrines we hold dominion over houses a different Monk.
Each tasked with providing a lesson to Hylia's Chosen.
She blinked, looking up to where the Monk's face was hidden behind his hat and suddenly she was somewhere else.
Back at the beginning of the Shrine, Link was trying not to panic. He had rushed forward towards the barred room he knew housed the Monk of this Shrine. He was slightly relieved by what he saw, but only slightly. There she was, standing next to the altar looking up at the Monk still inside, but her eyes were glowing a faint gold. She clearly couldn't see him or hear him as he called out to her. She was lost in a world inside her own head. He leaned heavily against the thick metal bars for a moment longer before he tore himself away and directed his attention to the trial ahead. At least she won't have to watch as I attempt not to get hit by anything in this Shrine... He gingerly took a step forward and the Trial started.
Within an area of space, outside of time and mortal limits, Zelda found herself standing on a lone platform in a large domed cavern. Opposite her was the altar she had been staring at, although it now lacked the confining bars of blue. All around was empty void, details glowing intermittently on the curved ceiling above her, and cautiously peering over the edge of her square platform showed that she was in fact standing on the top of a very tall column. The base of which descended down into the dark void below, with no obvious means of support to be found. She became slightly light headed and had to turn away from the edge, focusing back on the Monk.
I imagine you must have a lot of questions
Feel free to ask them while you are here
Now that she finally had the opportunity to speak with a being connected to the higher powers, she could not think of a single one. All of the questions she would have longed to have answered one hundred years previously vanished from her mind. Instead, a more presently concerning matter occurred to her.
"Is Link going to be ok?"
The Hero has already faced many Shrines
All were challenging in their own ways
He did not leave a single one bested by the contents within
While that was reassuring it did not, strictly speaking, answer her question. She decided that it was probably going to be as good as it got, however, and moved on to another question.
"Link once told me of a Trial he had undertaken before. To awaken the dormant power of the Master Sword. During those trials his mechanical arm was disabled. Will you be doing the same for these trials?"
There was a silence and Zelda had the distinct impression that the Monk was considering her question or formulating how best to answer. The tension in her mind then changed abruptly.
No. The arm is a part of him and he has mastered it.
We will not prohibit his use of that limb.
Now that her doubts had been assuaged, it left room to remember age old questions she had once yearned to have answered. She gave a sigh of relief and decided which of her queries was the most burdening.
"How am I able to hear you now, when I was unable to hear … anything, before the Calamity?"
While it is true that you are Hylia's avatar in this world
This land no longer holds the same capacity for magic as it once did
Have you noticed? True mages were rare in your time
That is why the Champions were ultimately chosen
"... their gifts..." Originally, she had thought the Crowns choices for Champions were based on their fighting abilities, but it was true that the reason they had garnered such attention was due to their gifts. She idly wondered what Link's gift could be, or perhaps he didn't have one; simply being the bearer of the Master Sword was probably enough. Although, the Monk had referred to him as something else...
Magic used to be a learned skill but it is now a case of chance
Even your elixirs need to be augmented with the latent power of monsters
The Goddesses have a weak tether to this world
Instead they leave it to the watchful eyes of spirits
The room became illuminated by three ghostly figures, in the shape of large dragons that weaved through the air of the cavernous room. The golden sparks of Farosh, the fierce flames of Dinraal, and the icy mists of Naydra twisted and danced around Zelda and the Monk.
I sense that magic is once more returning to Hyrule, however...
The draconic illusions faded and the former Princess was left to parse these thoughts alone for a moment. She could deduce that it was highly likely that due to such a weak tether it had made conversing with the higher powers nigh impossible, despite her best efforts. Unsure if this made her feel better or worse, she swiftly moved on to her next thought. The Monk had called Link 'Hylia's Chosen', but wasn't that how the tales referred to the original warrior Hylia had favoured eons ago?
Previous ancestors blessed with the sacred light had been able to see through the strands of destiny and time. Some were able to transcribe what they had seen more coherently than others, and that tale had always been the hardest to see. But a few key facts remain; that had been a time before the kingdom of Hyrule itself, and it was the earliest time in history the Master Sword was seen. So, was 'Hylia's Chosen' just another name for bearer's of the Master Sword, said to be blessed by Hylia herself? Zelda had the creeping suspicion that it was slightly more literal than that, and dreaded the time where she would undoubtedly look further into it herself. Such was her nature. Her thoughts were interrupted as the Monk spoke again.
Your Chosen has completed this Trial
I will bring you back
It was a pleasure, Descendant of Hylia
As she was returned to her body, once again whole, she knew that the Monks parting was a literal one. She watched as Link tottered into the room, walked up to the altar, and shattered the barrier with a simple tap. The Monk bestowed a small orb, containing the symbol of Hylia within, to Link where it settled into his chest, and then the Monk faded away. Disintegrating into particles of light like wind blowing across a sheet of burning paper, carrying the embers far away.
Once again, Zelda came forward to help Link stand, receiving a grateful head nudge in return, and they made their way up onto the altar to return them to the surface. Just as they began to ascend to the world above, Zelda heard a distant voice inside her head, as if carried on a light breeze.
This Trial you must complete
With nought but a Rune and Bowl
A Hero of great patience
One of a Collected Soul
After that Trial came another by the edge of the Plateau, guarded by Lizalfos and a single decaying Guardian. Link seemed to take great pleasure in swinging the Obliterator at full force around the back of the Guardians hull. Despite the pale complexion and shadows around his eyes, his face had shone with a vengeful fire as he watched the Guardian sputter and fall to pieces with his strike. Zelda decided not to comment on the manic grin he wore as he tackled the remaining foes, prompting the second Shrine to appear.
As before, Zelda was given only a few seconds to view the Trial ahead before she was whisked away to the end to converse with the Monk there. Though what she had seen, did not fill her with confidence.
The Monk of this Shrine was a lot less chatty, formerly greeting her as she re-materialised and then remaining silent. She was also not taken to another realm within her psyche and instead was free to wander around the altar room, taking in the various symbols and patterns that lined the walls. She absently noticed that there was a long corridor that stretched out ahead of the altar, but she had promised not to interfere and she cast her gaze elsewhere. Zelda eventually settled herself into a seated position beside the altar, mimicking the pose of the Sheikah Monk, and although she tried to keep her eyes closed, she eventually found herself sat there with them open but unfocused.
Left alone to her own thoughts was never a good idea, so she attempted to distract herself with what she planned to do once these Trials were over. Write down everything she had been told was an immediate answer, but also more quaint ideas came to mind. Have a relaxed afternoon in Hyrule field with Link, just lying in the grass looking up at the sky, if the weather was still nice. Spring was slowly turning into summer, and with all the flowers in bloom it made the surrounding forests look beautiful. They could collect some plants to take home, or collect some seeds to grow in the garden, pick some flowers, have Link press her firmly back into the grass...
She hummed to herself, coughing and casting those thoughts away hurriedly lest the Monk, who was psychic, started to judge her less than 'pure' thoughts.
Such thoughts had distracted her so thoroughly, she did not recognise what was physically in front of her, and what obstacles awaited her partner. It wasn't until she heard the slide of boots upon the floor that she focused her eyes ahead to see that Link had appeared at the end of the corridor. It was also only now that she realised what was lining the walls of this corridor and what had just been revealed directly behind the Hylian Champion.
"Link run!" She screamed, hauling herself to her feet and making to dash towards the corridor but the deep voice of the Monk behind her stilled her motion.
You promised.
Instead, she could only head her agreement and watch, mouth open as Link ran down the length of the corridor, nimbly dodging protruding obstacles and deftly climbing over blocks in his path. All the while he was steadily being chased along by a wall of the most brutal looking spikes Zelda had ever seen, and yet, he made it look almost effortless. These Shrines aren't just challenging, they're deadly, and he's completed all of the ones this Kingdom had to offer, until now, she realised, both horrified and amazed.
She watched as he skidded into the altar room, not a scratch on him, but severely out of breath as he slumped slightly on his way to 'free' the Sheikah Monk. As he did so, another riddle was presented to her, the very last words she would hear in this particular Monks voice.
The goal is not found through haste
Nor discovered by a strong heart
The end is where it shall stay
So, one must learn to Stop to Start
While Zelda dearly wished she could just write 'Spike Hell' as the description for this Shrine, she would not break her promise to Maz Koshia, and committed this new rhyme to her memory.
Returning to the surface allowed Link to take a quick break, as he rested against the outside of the Shrine.
"Link, I feel like I haven't properly acknowledged your accomplishments," Zelda began, kneeling in front of him and refusing to look at his face. "Seeing even just glimpses of these Trials and how demanding they are for you, it makes me appreciate, all the more, everything you did for me in your effort to find me again."
Link was starting to become increasingly uncomfortable, and for once it was not because he generally felt unworthy of such high sentiments, but because the praise was making him feel very warm. He fidgeted, idly waving a hand about as if trying to brush away the sincerity.
"And to think," she continued, looking at him despairingly, "I used to think you were such an arrogant little sod."
He started choking on a laugh, "Th- that's what you thought of me?!"
"Obviously I couldn't have been more wrong. Who knew you were just incredibly shy?"
The gentle teasing no doubt would have continued if the playful tune of an accordion hadn't reached them through the fog. Both Hylians perked up at the sound. Throwing himself forward, Link sat up away from the Shrine and Zelda caught his hand to help him up. They followed the sound of the music and up on the hill they spotted a well built, blue feathered Rito. The sight filled both Hylians with joy.
"Hello, Kass, what brings you here?"
The Rito bard turned in place to face who had addressed him, spotting Zelda walking up to his side arm-in-arm with Link. His eyes crinkled as his beak opened in a joyous expression.
"Oh! Lady Zelda, Master Link, how wonderful to see you both, how are you?" It was at this point that he spotted the state that Link was in. His smile faded, and his eyebrows upturned with concern, "this might seem rude, but you don't look so well."
"Cheers, Kass," was Link's reflexive reply, and Zelda poked him in the ribs with a rueful grin before she answered.
"We were on an excursion out here when he got ill, but he refuses to go home until we finish our business here. He's stubborn." She eyed him sideways and withheld her immediate desire to laugh at the incredulous expression he wore; they both knew that she was the more stubborn one out of the two.
Meanwhile, Kass was beaming on the inside. Since these two had visited Rito Village briefly at the start of the year, he had felt proud to know that his songs had succeeded in guiding the Hylian Champion to where he was most needed. It also seemed that the last song he had bestowed upon Link had proved to be most enlightening, if the way the Princess of old and her Knight held each other was any indication.
"Ah, I see that you are in good hands, however," Kass acknowledged, his eyes sparkling a little as he watched them. "To answer your question, Lady Zelda, I am actually following some leads my old teacher left for me in his notes. One such song led me here and I have been wondering how best to complete his piece. I believe I have now done so, would you like to hear it?"
The request was met with enthusiastic nods and verbal encouragements. The Rito puffed up and straightened his posture before the air was soon filled with the rhythmic chords of his instrument and the trilling tones of his voice. The song was very beautiful and the sounds from the accordion mingled with the atmosphere pleasantly, regaling them with the virtues of the previous Champions. However, the part about there being another Beast, besides the four they already knew about, awaiting the Hero had caught both of the Hylian's attention. The song ended and Kass was met with a round of applause, causing the feathers framing his beak and face to puff out slightly with the attention.
"In my teachers notes, there were other interesting songs too... I plan to visit the locations of those as well."
"We will probably see you there along our travels around Hyrule then. Take care, Kass, and thank you again for the wonderful music," Zelda said.
With a parting farewell from the Rito, who bowed majestically with a great sweeping gesture of his wings, he secured his accordion and took flight over the edge of the plateau and away. After watching Kass disappear out of sight, Zelda turned to her partner who was standing less and less upright.
"Come on," she said, with a nudge and a light voice, "let's get you somewhere safe. You need a nap."
[Sleep?] Link signed, even as he leaned further into her.
"Yes, a nap, you need one. No arguments," she forestalled, seeing him raise a hand again, "we can go to the Temple of Time. There shouldn't be any monsters there as it's out of the way from any of the points of interest on the map."
She watched his hand fall to his side once more, unable to form a cohesive argument to her plan and was led up to the Temple without a fuss.
Walking inside the dilapidated building, filled Zelda with a cocktail of different emotions; nostalgia, bitterness, regret, and sadness. However, she had to admit, the ivy and tufts of grass growing here and there over the cracked walls and distorted floor made the place look even more magical. She hearkened back to her conversation with the first Monk and her lips twitched slightly, admiring all the flora growing around her despite the chaos.
Settling herself and Link down in a shadowy corner, she pondered the verses of Kass' song and wondered just how the hell his teacher, the former court poet, had ever discovered the existence of a fifth Divine Beast. Such a thing had been completely unknown to her, then again, with how limited her access to Sheikah research had been it wasn't much of a surprise. Yet, neither Purah or Robbie had mentioned it. A sudden thrill for this new adventure filled her and she was glad that she would be able to experience it alongside Link.
The constant dim light and fog was making it hard to tell the time of day, but a quick check of the Sheikah Slate informed her that they were well into the twilight hours. Wrapping an arm around Link's shoulders, she produced a knitted blanket out of the Slate, and she draped it over the front of their bodies with her free hand. Link hunkered down into the blanket and closed his eyes, curling up slightly at her side.
"Go to sleep, you saw on the way here that there were no stray monsters. I'll hear if anything approaches. Rest."
It wasn't long before Link did just that. Falling asleep with Zelda's head resting against his, and listening to her calm breathes with his ear to her chest.
Ok, so, I said to myself that the following chapters would be kept short - I lied. I ended up writing 16k for this chapter which is why it's in two parts...
I felt like my writing thus far has been a touch lacking in the nitty gritty department, because I wanted to keep it light and fun. But I think I should look into more of the drawbacks they might face and get more emotional. Rest assured Zelda and Link will not be having any drama come between, they are solid, so don't worry.
Remember to comment so I know if people are still enjoying this story otherwise i'm just throwing this out into the void!
