SPOILER WARNING: This chapter contains references to the DLC Champion's Ballad Memory & the photo from Kass.

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Title: It All Must Start With Us
Chapter 2: We Might As Well Begin Somewhere
Author: Sailor Song
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"We're going to have to talk about last night at some point, you know?"

"I know," he replied to her as they cleaned up the last of their breakfast. The majority of his food stores had been used up in the fight with Calamity Ganon, so they'd had to forage for nearby plants. A doe had stumbled across their path in the early morning hours, and while he had no problem hunting animals, the thought of taking a life at the Sacred Grounds churned his stomach. Charred greens, baked apples, and roasted nuts had been filling enough temporarily, but he was already planning a feast as soon as they could find a cooking pot.

A hand rested on his arm, pulling him from his thoughts. "Link? Where did you go?" She asked so kindly, but her voice was full of pity.

"I… um…"

"Oh, it's okay if it's too difficult to say. I just wondered-"

"No," he chuckled, "I was just thinking about food."

She let out a hearty belly laugh which in turn caused him to laugh a little harder. Though nothing was particularly funny to him, the tension that had been building since their reunion was seemingly lifted as they shared a moment of mirth together.

"You were thinking about food?" she finally managed to say as the laughter began to wind down. "What a relief."

"How so?" he asked.

"I was beginning to believe that you might be a completely different person, but I think somewhere, deep down, you are still the Link I knew before."

The lightness of the mood completely disappeared as Link felt himself retreating inward. So much time spent on his own had made it hard to have deep conversations with others. Save people from bokoblins, no problem. Talking to strangers about how annoying the rain was, easy as breathing. But having an in depth conversation with his Zora friends from one hundred years ago caused him to go mute. He wanted to hear whatever pieces of his life's puzzle they could provide, and he worried he might say something that would interrupt them from providing more detail. Or they might realize something was wrong with him, which my cause them to lose faith or belief in him.

There was no fooling her though; he'd have to come clean. "Princess, I… I think you need to know there's a chance I may never be the Link you once knew. Too much has happened. Too much has been forgotten."

He looked at her, really looked at her, hoping to convey his sincerity. She didn't seem surprised by his confession, more a mixture of disappointed and weary, the latter of which was completely understandable considering.

"My father changed after my mother died. He was still a good king, but there were times I suspected he no longer loved me as his daughter, but instead, thought of me as a tool, a weapon." She sniffled and rubbed something from her eyes. "I just needed to know the same hadn't happened to you."

"He was correct though. You are a weapon," he replied solemnly. "We both are, or at least we were. Now, you and I get to learn how to be human."

He wasn't sure if his words made her feel better or worse, but he sensed it wasn't enough. There had to be some way to prove it to her.

"Come on," he said extending his hand as he realized he knew just the thing. "I want to show you something."

… … …

Back inside the castle walls, his senses were on high alert. The last time he had done an interior assault, there had been lizalfos and moblins lurking throughout the hallways, stairwells, and rooms. Most likely they still were trapped within the ruins, for their one time allies, the guardians, were glowing blue with each deadly eye pointed at every entrance.

It had been a long but quiet walk through the castle town, most of which he spent trying to shield her from unpleasantries. He had wanted to try travel directly into the castle using the Sheikah Slate, but he wasn't sure if it could transport them both. It never worked with his horse, and this was not the time to do a test run. If he was sent to the shrine alone, she'd be left in the middle of Hyrule Field. Worse still, if she was the one who went, she'd be at the docks, potentially with several lizalfos waiting for anything to attack. No, he'd thought, better to walk in together and leave the science experiment for later.

The malice that poisoned the grounds was gone, but he still had to dispatch the lynels cowering in the each of the gatehouses. It would have been easier to simply scale walls and waterfalls like the last time, but that wasn't an option for him with the princess in tow. He relished in the fight, telling the guardians to stand down to make it fair. After the final event that was facing down Ganon, he saw a couple of lynels as nothing more than a simple sparring exercise, and oh how his muscles loved the workout.

With a final swing of the sword, he defeated the second lynel with a mid-air attack and landed a little ways away from the beast before it disappeared. Not used to an audience watching his feats of strength, he turned to see Zelda's response to his efforts. She seemed less than impressed, much to his disappointment.

"Is that what you wanted to show me?" she asked. "You taking out a lynel?"

"Two lynels," he corrected, a little miffed. "And no, but we're almost there."

He led her along the path that continued up to the entrance to Sanctum until he found a break in the wall that looked out in the direction of the Korok Forest. He was a little higher up than he'd meant to go, but this would do.

"Princess, if you would put your arms around my neck." A raised eyebrow was his only response, and he realized how very odd the request sounded. He pulled out the paraglider and pointed downward. "Pardon, I'm not used to have to explain myself."

He thought he heard her say something like "I'm used to that" under her breath, but she quickly figured out his plan and stretched out her arms towards him.

After a testing a few positions, they decided that the easiest was to have her behind him. With only a "Hold on tight!" he jumped and prepared for whatever came next. The first level down wasn't that far, so if it couldn't hold them both, he would cushion her fall and hope he still had a fairy to quickly heal him. But to their great surprise, it held as if there was no additional weight. From behind him, Zelda's initial gasp turned to an exclamation of glee as they floated downward. He smiled, and continued on, guiding them down in through the open roof of the library when suddenly let out a curse to himself.

Lizalfos. He'd forgotten about the damn lizards who were inhabiting the library.

Too late to turn back now, he guided the paraglider towards his destination, knowing full well he had attracted the attention of nearly every one.

"Take this," he said, grabbing out a torch and flint from his pack. Timing was everything now. The second his feet were firmly on the ground, he grabbed the Sheikah Slate and pulled the bookcase out to reveal the small hidden room. "Go!" he exclaimed as an arrow grazed his arm.

She didn't hesitate, and once she was safely inside, he replaced the shelf so the attackers couldn't get near her.

"That's the only shot you'll get," he said through gritted teeth. One by one they were defeated, and as the last tried to make a run for safety, Link threw a boomerang one of its comrades had left behind. It made contact and the creature let out a death moan before disappearing like all the rest.

With a sigh, he tended to the cut, and after doing one last look around to make sure it was indeed clear, he headed toward the hidden room. Her father's study had a sense of familiarity to it when he'd first visited, but there was nothing inside that helped him recover who he had been. Sure, the rupees and shield had helped, but the journal he'd found had more value for the princess than it did for him.

"Princess," he said softly. "I'm going to open the room if that's okay." Hearing no reply, he once again used the Sheikah Slate to move the shelf out of the way. He found her inside, leaning against the wall with her arms wrapped around her legs, and it was quickly apparent that she had made use of the torch to read her father's journal.

He sat beside her, not wanting to push her into speaking or leaving before she was ready.

"His last entry," she said, her voice quivering slightly, "it was the day the Calamity struck. He was going to make amends when we returned."

Link nodded and carefully tried to piece together the words to express his thoughts. "I think he realized that weapons cannot keep hacking and slashing at targets or they will eventually break. But he did still love you, even if he had trouble showing it."

She grabbed his hand and gave it a soft squeeze. "Thank you for doing this. I hope they didn't hurt you."

"They tried," he replied with a shrug to let her know it was no big deal. "I don't want to rush you, but whenever you are ready, I thought we could go to your room. Since books somehow survived one hundred years, perhaps your clothing or travel bag might have as well."

As they neared her quarters, they were greeted by a stationary guardian, whirring around as it kept watch. He felt Zelda slow beside him, and though he wasn't sure if it was timidity or curiosity, he positioned himself between her and the machine and pressed on ahead. After quickly defeating the moblin who took up residence in her rooms, he led her inside with a sigh of relief.

"What a mess," she muttered as she looked at her destroyed bed, and then turned her gaze to the corner where her desk and books were stored. "Link, did you read my diary?"

He scratched his head embarrassed, and bolted from the room saying he was going to keep watch. Of course he had read the diary in the search to find himself. He'd read her research notes too. From the stairwell to her room, he looked up to the bridge connecting her room to her study and remembered the memory he'd found there.

"Princess?" He looked around, but she had disappeared. How was that possible? He'd only been outside for a minute or two.

"I'm changing!" she called from behind the screen and he saw her white prayer dress draped over it, covering the holes that may have made their uncomfortable situation worse. When she emerged, fully dressed in her traveling clothing, she exclaimed, "You did read it, admit it!" He could only nod, embarrassed. "I can't say I blame you, but I hope you know you mean more to me than the rambling thoughts in a book."

With a smile, he assured her, "I know. I mean, I understand." He cleared his throat and continued, "That dream we had last night… there's a memory on the bridge to your study if we wanted to see it while we're here."

"Oh... I don't know, Link," she said almost at a whisper as she laced up her boots. "The memory of my father… if it was our last exchange, I already relive it almost every time I think of him. I don't think I can watch it play out before met right now."

"Fair enough," he said. "I only wanted to mention it."

He had turned to leave again, when she called out to him. "What do you think this quest is about?" she asked. "Did you recognize the voice from the dream?" He replied only that he didn't, which prompted her to ask, "Then why do we have to revisit these specific places and the memories attached?"

"I'm not sure. They're your pictures, so I thought you might know more." He handed her the Sheikah Slate to let her look through the album.

"I have no idea why only these were saved," she said as she shook her head. "I took more than these nineteen while we traveled together. I had a variety of plants and creatures, but I know I had others like one with you and your father-"

"My father?" he asked blankly. It was then one of those strange overlaps occurred, and he remembered a past version of the hero having an uncle, another having a grandmother and sister, and one having adopted parents, but there was a block in his mind when it came to a father.

"You don't remember him at all?"

He shook his head. "I only have memories of you and the champions, and even reliving those felt like I was watching someone else's life. I didn't even remember the living Zoras or Sheikah researchers, even though they all recognized me."

"I see," she hummed. After a couple of last sweeps around the room for any overlooked supplies, she took him by the hand and led him out of her quarters.

Not far from her tower was a platform that had been the remains of a garden gazebo. As the pair approached, a familiar golden circle appeared and began to glow warmly, beckoning them into its light.

"This is the first one," she said, pointing to the album. It was a new image that had been added after the dream, and for the first time, Link realized that the photos had rearranged themselves into chronological order. "Do you know what this one is?"

"I think so," he replied. "If I had to guess, I'd say it's the Champion's Ceremony and the photo we took together after."

"Shall we?" she asked.

"If you're sure." He couldn't remember anything bad that had happened, only that there was tension between them on the day.

"We might as well begin somewhere."

Hand-in-hand they stepped into the light. It washed over them, and they felt themselves being pulled into the distant past.

The memory did not start at the gazebo, but instead inside the Sanctum. They stood beside the past Zelda in her fine gown. High up on the dais, the king looked down as he gave his speech to them and the crowd.

"Look, Link," Zelda whispered, although it was clear the people of the past could not see them. He followed her gaze, beyond his past self to the man standing at attention in a Royal Guard uniform. He felt a lurch in his heart and stomach as she confirmed his suspicion. "That's your father."

"My fa-" His thought died away as he walked towards the man standing in the row with the other supporters of the champions. He could see the resemblance, in fact, Link would be a near exact duplicate of the man if he were only a few inches taller and tamed his wild, unruly hair.

He ignored the ceremony and stared at the man. He'd had a father once. He didn't just emerge from the forest; he had a family. Maybe more. Maybe he had a mother, a sister or a brother, grandparents. Maybe he'd been newly married, although that seemed unlikely given the sword and his destiny.

And then he realized, he had none of that. That version of himself died when the Calamity appeared, and whether or not his family died in the attack one hundred years ago, they were certainly dead now.

"Hey, are you okay?" Zelda whispered, touching his arm gently.

"Yeah," he replied as the king wrapped up his speech. Outside, fireworks could be heard exploding all around the castle. "The next part is funny, if you ignore how much you hated me."

To his surprise, instead of the scene shifting as it had before, they remained in the Sanctum, watching as the gathered crowd dispersed. The champions and their witnesses huddled together, awaiting the king's descent from the dais. All of them, that is, except for Link and his father, who stood back and watched the group.

"Link, where are you going?" he could hear Zelda call to him.

"This is different," he muttered, not even aware he had moved away from her as he followed his past self.

"Your unit wanted to cheer for you, so I had to threaten them with a month's worth of extra exercises," his father was explaining. "We're all proud of you, son."

"I'm a fraud," the past Link said so quietly that the present Link almost didn't hear it. "I'm not a knight, I'm not a champion, I'm not… a hero."

"Yet. You're not a knight yet," his father reassured. "You'll get there; you just need to keep training. You're almost of age to take the trials, and I have no doubt that you'll be the first in generations to earn the ancient shield."

"Dad, the king... just before the ceremony, he pulled me aside and told me that he's appointing me to be the princess's personal knight." Despite the news, his face looked like he had just announced a death. "He won't announce it today because he didn't want my news to overshadow the others, but I have to report for duty starting tomorrow."

"He's elevating your status? That's great! That's what you've been working towards your whole life. It's all your mother and I have ever wanted for you."

"Don't you get it? I didn't earn the title. I didn't earn…"

"What?"

"The sword," he whispered. "I mean, I pulled it out, sure, but I've never felt connected to it. I thought it would be more than any other weapon, like an extension of my arm, but it's just extra weight. If anything, it's been nothing but a burden."

"Link!" called Daruk from the huddle with the others. "We're going out to the garden so we can make a grand entrance at the banquet. Come on, little guy!"

"Go on, son," his father said. "Don't worry about the sword right now. I'll look through old defense reports and see what I can find. I'm sure there's something about it in the historical records."

"Thanks, Dad," Link said as he started to walk away. "I'll see you at the feast."

"Oh, and Link?" his father added. "I'd advise you to not share your feelings about the sword with anyone else, most especially the princess. We all know she has her own struggles trying to awaken her power, so hearing your doubts might put more pressure on her. Besides, there are so many people who see you as our only hope. I think it's better to let them believe in you."

With a nod, the past Link turned and quickened his pace to catch up with the others. The memory faded and the present Link and Zelda found themselves outside of the castle, which glistened in the sun in its pre-Calamity glory. The rest of the memory was exactly as Link had seen once before, but he couldn't focus on his comrades. His mind was still reeling, not just from witnessing a past conversation with his father, but in seeing his doubts about who he was. Never once, from the time since he had woken up in the Shrine of Resurrection to now, had he felt uncertainty about himself or his abilities. The voice, Zelda's voice, had given him a task and he had followed through: like a weapon.

The memory ended, and the pair found themselves alone in the ruins of the garden. From behind him the Master Sword let out a reassuring metallic chime.

"She's right," the present Zelda said. "We can't change the past. We just have to learn from it; painful as it may be for both of us."

"You can hear the voice?" he asked, pulling the sword from its scabbard.

Zelda nodded. "For one hundred years, she was my connection to you. As long as she healed and spoke to me, I knew you would return. You and the sword are one. You were right to think there should have been more of a connection."

"I should have confided in you," he sighed. "Or maybe not. My father may have been right and it would have caused you more stress."

"What did your instincts tell you?" she asked, and then added, "If you can recall back then, I mean."

He thought about this, considering the memory as it began merging with his own as a real and substantive experience he had once had.

"Honestly? I was fighting the urge to run. I don't think I wanted to go into hiding, but I knew in my heart that something was not right. Something was missing."

They heard a ringing from the Sheikah Slate, and upon opening it, they saw that the main quest objective had updated.

** Mysterious Voice - Sacred Grounds **

A strange yet familiar voice has tasked you and Princess Zelda with reliving memories of your past. By figuring out the mistakes you both made before the Calamity occurred, you can create a record to guide Hyrule in the future.

** Memories revisited: 1/19 **

"One down," he said wryly as he wondered just how much more would be revealed from these memories. "Shall we go? We could go back to the Sacred Grounds or-"

He stopped mid-sentence at the sudden change in Zelda's appearance. She looked down to see her entire body had begun to glow with a golden aura, just like it had when she emerged from Calamity Ganon. "Link..." she began, her voice trembling. As her eyes rolled back and she began to fall, he lunged forward to catch her before she hit the ground. In the ruins of the garden, he held her unconscious form in his arms.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Finally! My intention was always to add to the original memories and fill in the gaps, so I'm happy to have gotten into that part of the writing. I may also take liberties with what we know from the game. For example, while it is not canon that the man behind Link during the ceremony is his father, I decided it was a good possibility (I also think the Zora behind Mipha is a younger Muzu).

Shoutout to the snow and cold weather last week! Thanks to the crazy weather, I had a good four solid days of writing and BotW gameplay (let's call it "research").

I also wanted to say thank you for the feedback thus far! I was very happy to see encouraging comments! I have this story plotted out (give or take a chapter), so it's just a matter of writing it. Giving myself a weekly deadline seems to be helping! :)