Disclaimer: I do not own any of the material appearing in this story.
Zelda lay in her bed, looking at the ceiling and looking like she hardly got any sleep… but how could she? Last night felt like such a blur. She could vividly remember that watching the queen falling to her death, someone having the guts to assassinate her right after King Rhoam was murdered. That someone being Aryll.
But that didn't make sense to her. Ayrll is a sweetheart and she would often deliver flowers to her, not to mention she is good friends with Agitha, the self-proclaimed bug queen in Castle Town. She wanted to get to the bottom of this last night, but some of the guards decided to escort her home for her own safety, where she had tried to fall asleep, but recalling the traumatic event of watching the queen fall proved to be much more difficult than she hoped.
Not only that, but the thought of Ayrll being the murderer and trying to kill Link last night wouldn't leave her mind. Link was all alone in the castle now, all by himself with no one but servants and guards. She still recalled that Link was out of it after Rhoam's funeral. She knew he was out of it, but the look on his face and the way he said those words: "There's a change in the air, Zelda… and we all need to be ready for it." Followed by him giving her a nasty glare and telling her to leave him alone.
What did Link mean by that? Why was he giving her the cold shoulder? Did he know something that no one else did but didn't want to tell anyone? These were the questions that bugged the girl, and she needed to get to the bottom of this.
She got up from her bed, and walked out of her room and straight out of the house, not even caring about breakfast or the paper. There was something that needed to be answered… and she hoped Aryll would be allowed visitors.
"Princess Aryll." The warden walked up to the miserable girl in her cell. "You have a visitor."
"I do?" She quietly asked as the warden turned his head and motioned the visitor to come, which was none other than Zelda. "Zelda!"
"Princess Aryll, I'm glad you're okay." Zelda smiled.
"It's good to see you too!" She exclaimed, forcing a smile.
Zelda could see the bloodshot eyes from Aryll, along with a forced smile. It occurred to her that people have been treating her badly ever since she was falsely arrested. Seeing such a beautiful young princess in such a horrid state broke her heart.
"Aryll, I want to ask you something."
"If it's about me killing my parents, then no, I didn't do it. People have come and visited me, only to treat me like dirt the minute they see me. In fact, some old man literally spat on me because of what I "did"."
"Good Hylia…" Zelda whispered. "Everyone's jumping to the same conclusion… but not me."
"I know."
"But I want to know something. If you didn't kill them, then who did?"
Aryll frowned. "Who do you think?"
Zelda's eyes widened. "…No, it couldn't be."
"If you're thinking of my big doofus of a brother, you're exactly right. He threw me in jail."
"Link wouldn't do that! Sure, he's a dork, but he wouldn't go that far."
"That's what we all thought… and then the test happened." Aryll growled. "I'm sure you're familiar with it. How the Goddesses turned him away because his heart wasn't in balance."
"I was there." Zelda nodded. "But… I know your father and Link argued but I never thought of Link as a murderer."
"That night changed him. He killed father in cold blood, followed by mother the next night. I learned of what happened when I saw the blood on Link's sword. I don't know what caused him to snap, but that's not the brother I used to know."
"No, this doesn't make sense. He's my best friend… I know him very well. He's a kind Hylian!"
"Obviously, you don't know him enough." Aryll turned her head away. "He wants the throne, and he got it. I have a feeling his coronation is bound to happen at any time. He's a tyrant."
"Aryll, you're speaking nonsense. Link would never-"
"Zelda, your best friend is gone. You may not see it now, but you will eventually." Aryll folded her arms, looking angry. "He's no brother of mine…"
The change of tone in Aryll's voice nearly broke Zelda. She never saw her this angry before.
"Aryll, how can you say something so horrid?"
"It's the truth." Aryll quietly said, seeming to be sad now. "Zelda, listen to me carefully. Link is very dangerous and is highly unstable. Don't even trust him. He's a mad man."
Zelda clenched her fists, and then looked away. "Link is my friend… he would never do this…"
"Look, I know you're having a hard time believing that Link did this, because you two are really close, I get that. I'm having a hard time believing it myself… but I've come to grips with it. The fact that I'm wrongfully in this cell speaks the truth. Zelda… you have to stay vigilant. He's changed, and not for the better."
Zelda took a deep breath, not sure what to say. "…Thank you for telling me this." She said and then walked out, not sure what to really say. She wanted to believe Link is truly a good person, but what Aryll said to her just wouldn't leave her alone.
Is Link truly a good person? Or is he just a maniac?
A few days later…
Zelda had awakened from her slumber, Aryll's words still sticking to her. She hasn't seen her since that day, and she hasn't really spoken with Link for a while, not that she didn't want to. Every day, she would try to ask to speak with Link, but the guards wouldn't let her, which confused her since they would always let her in. Things weren't adding up. She had sent a few letters to Link asking if he was okay, but he hadn't responded.
She walked out of her room and, after having breakfast, she grabbed the newspaper and saw something that caught her attention.
"Public Event: Link to be crowned King this morning at ten AM."
Zelda had to read it again to make sure she wasn't seeing things. Link… being crowned king? None of this was making sense to her, but she also was thankful that it was a public event, so there was a good chance she would be able to speak to Link again.
She walked straight to the castle, hoping she would get the answers that she needed to hear. Was Aryll right, or was she speaking actual nonsense?
As soon as Zelda turned a corner, she noticed a carriage from Kakariko, one of the neighboring villages near Castle Town. She didn't think anything of it, but did find it a little strange that the carriage wasn't near the castle. She shrugged it off and kept walking to the castle where the guards were letting visitors in. Instantly, she wanted to know why she wasn't allowed in the past few days, but kept it to herself, not wanting to make a scene as she quietly walked in to the main lobby of the castle, and found Link sitting on the throne.
For a brief second, she could have sworn that Link's eyes looked different. Instead of friendly caring eyes, they were replaced by dark and sinister eyes. She had to take another look at Link to make sure she wasn't seeing things. Maybe Aryll was starting to get to her.
Link watched everyone come into the lobby, they were all looking at him, but were also chatting amongst themselves. He had spotted Zelda walking in and formed a quick scowl before he hid it from everyone else. Things were looking up, things were starting to go his way, and he will rule the kingdom with an iron fist… nothing would stand in his way!
"Your highness." A guard whispered to him.
"What is it?"
"It's time."
"Good. Close the doors and throw out any stragglers."
"As you wish." He nodded and walked off to tell the other guards what Link told him, and then he heard the sound of protesting and screaming.
"NO! I WANT TO SEE HIM BECOME KING!"
"No! This can't be happening! I want to see him! Please! I'm begging you!"
"Sorry, but that's his final wish."
"Yo, that's uncalled for!"
Link let out a chuckle. Fools, if they wanted to come here, they should have come earlier. He noticed a priest walking up to him, holding a royal staff and King Rhoam's crown and robe. Excellent.
"Prince Link, do you swear to look after your fellow subjects and do them good? Do you swear to be a benevolent ruler just like your father."
"I do."
"Good." He said and then handed him the items, and then turned to the crowd. "Ladies and gentleman, your new ruler, King Link!"
Link stood up from the throne, taking the crown and put it on his head, and with a deep breath, he smiled. Victory!
"My fellow subjects, I will promise to rule this kingdom fairly and to treat you all with respect and dignity! I will be a benevolent ruler just like my own father. I will make my predecessors proud." He declared, to which everyone roared in applause and cheered.
"All hail King Link! All hail King Link!" Everyone chanted.
Everyone but Zelda, that is.
Zelda looked concerned, looking directly at Link. Something wasn't right. He had promised everything that he was going to do, but something about it just made her uncomfortable. They sounded like empty promises, not to mention Aryll's words continued to pound her mind constantly.
No, Link isn't dangerous… he couldn't be. He's a good person… right?
"Your majesty!" An audience member called out to him. "What are you going to do with your sister that attempted to take your life?"
"She will receive punishment for such treasonous actions, but, I will worry about that tomorrow. We have a grand feast out in the grand hall, so please go ahead and dig in!"
"This king knows how to speak to me. Coming through, I got food calling my name!"
"Don't hog all the turkey legs!"
Zelda herself wasn't hungry, but she stayed there while everyone else cleared out to the grand hall, leaving behind only her and the king that stood before her. "What's a peasant like you doing standing around here? There's food out there!"
"You know how much I hate it when you call me a peasant!"
Link laughed. "Your reactions are always a joy." He chuckled and then walked over to Zelda. "So, how was I? Did I sound convincing?"
"Well, you won everyone over… except the ones who you threw out."
"To be fair, I kinda wanted to hurry things along."
Zelda rolled her eyes. "Oh, you." She said with a chuckle. "So, Link… or in this case, your highness, I have to ask you something."
"Can it wait? I'm getting hungry." He said. "Maybe later we can discuss it over dinner tonight."
Zelda's eyes widening, blushing like mad. "Are you… asking me out?"
"Of course!"
"Uh… s-sure! I'd love that!" She said while Link smiled and then walked off while Zelda sighed with relief. Maybe Aryll was insane. This sounded exactly like the Link she knew and loved. Dorky as ever.
Later…
Zelda hummed to herself, grabbing herself some Cucco wings on the table and sitting down at a table while everyone else was lingering around and chatting it up with the king or some of them were on the dance floor with an Ocarina band on stage. She always thought Cucco's were nearly impossible to kill, yet here she was enjoying some delicious Cucco for a meal. Perhaps there was a specialist in the kingdom that knew how to deal with Cuccos without triggering an army of them coming out of nowhere and pecking him or her to death.
However, while she was eating, Zelda noticed some guards walking over to Link and whispering in his ear to which Link went from smiling to having a serious look on his face before he rushed out with the guards. This caught her attention, something didn't seem right.
She got up, and then walked after them, making sure not to be seen by the guards or the king himself. She would be led to the throne room, where she hid behind a pillar.
"Oh sweet Aryll, how nice to see you again."
Aryll?! Zelda thought to herself.
"Screw off, brother!" Aryll spat, who was chained to the ground.
"That is no way to talk to your king!" Link yelled, slapping her across the face.
"Nngh! I can talk to you however I want, MURDERER! If anyone should be arrested, it's YOU! You killed our parents, not me!"
Link laughed. "While it is true that I killed my parents, there is nothing nobody will do and if they find out, well, it'll be too late. Nobody can touch me."
Zelda's eyes widened. Did she just actually hear that right? …No… no, she was probably hearing things. Link would never do this.
"You're already a maniac! People will riot on the streets and storm the castle!"
"No, they won't. Because I already have plans for the people, and they won't even know what hit them."
Aryll looked to the guards. "Can you believe this guy?! He told the truth! Arrest him! He's unfit to be king!"
"Arrest me, and you die." Link threatened, to which the guards shuddered over this.
"F-forgive us, princess…"
"No!" Aryll exclaimed.
'I already have the guards wrapped under my fingers, there's nothing you can do about it." Link smirked. "Oh, and since everyone knows that you attempted to "kill" me, I know the perfect punishment for you. Effective immediately, all prisoners who had attempted to kill me before I gained the throne… will be executed."
"WHAT?!" Aryll yelled. "I didn't even kill you! You were the one who killed our parents and you blamed ME for it!"
"So what if I did! Nobody will ever know. Everyone in Castle Town are a bunch of idiots and it will stay that way, and if they find out, then so be it! I will be their king no matter what!" He exclaimed, slapping Aryll again. "Guards, give me the axe! I'll do it myself! Nobody will stand in my WAY!"
Zelda couldn't believe her ears. No… this has to be stopped.
"STOP!" Zelda screamed, jumping from behind the pillar. "Don't you dare lay another finger on sweet Aryll!"
"Zelda!" Link exclaimed in surprise. "…How much have you heard?"
"Everything." Zelda said. "Aryll told me everything, but I didn't want to believe her! You have been acting strange ever since the funeral, and now… you're planning on executing Aryll?" She asked. "Link… tell me the truth. Did you actually kill King Rhoam and the queen?"
Link clenched his fists and looked away from Zelda, not answering a word as Zelda's eyes widened in horror, her hands over her mouth in shock. No… no, he couldn't have!
"I-it's true… isn't it?" She whispered, and when Link didn't say anything, tears started to fill up in her eyes. "Link…how could you?"
"It was for the good of everyone."
"For the good of everyone?! Have you lost your mind?!"
"The only one who lost their mind was father and the Triforce! I'm GLAD I killed father! He was in my way… and so was mother! Nobody is going to stand in my way and take the throne from me! The Gods are smiling down upon me, that I have taken the throne and will turn this kingdom around for the greater good of Hyrule!"
Zelda's world came crashing down… her own best friend… turning into a maniac right in front of her eyes. She was in absolute shock. "No… I… I can't believe that you would-"
"Now that you have heard everything… I'm afraid that you won't be leaving here." He said and walked up to Zelda who could only back away.
"No… get away! No!" Zelda exclaimed as she tried to run, but Link grabbed her wrist and gripped it tightly. "Nnngh!"
"You're coming with me." He snarled, and then suddenly, their wrists glowed to reveal their respective Triforce pieces, both of them looking on in shock. "You… you have the Triforce of Courage?"
"Y-you have the Triforce of Power?" Zelda asked. Now it started to make sense to her… perhaps the Triforce of Power was corrupting him… right? "Link, you need to get the Triforce of Power out of you! You've been corrupted!"
"He's been corrupted before the Triforce split apart!" Aryll told her. "He's no longer here."
"The Triforce will be mine." Link said, kicking Zelda down and then grabbing the axe. "I'll make this quick. Once I gain the Triforce of Courage, then all I need is the Triforce of Wisdom, then nothing will truly stand in my way!"
"No! Link… please! Snap out of it! LINK!" She screamed as the guards held Zelda down. "LIIIIINK!" She shrieked as the axe raised up in the air.
Link smirked, sporting wickedness in his smirk and prepared to end Zelda's life. "Goodbye." He silently chuckled.
Suddenly, several windows were shattered, catching everyone's attention, followed by a smoke bomb that filled the air. "What in blazes?!" A guard yelled.
"Who dares?!" Link asked.
"OOOOF!"
"AARGH!"
Link turned to the source of the voices, his guards sounded like they were getting beat up, and so he quickly swung down to try and impale Zelda.
CLANG!
The smoke cleared, and revealed someone with a big sword was standing in the way, blocking Link's attack. She appeared to have a tattoo under her right eye. "Nngh, who are you?!" Link asked.
"Leader of the Sheikah Tribe. None of your concern!" She yelled, slashing the axe away from Link before kicking him away and then two Sheikah tribe members grabbed a hold of Zelda and Aryll, with Zelda noting the two had silver hair, with one looking shorter than the other. "Let's go, we're out of here!"
"Right!" One of them nodded as they took the two away and into a carriage.
"Sire, are you okay!" A guard yelled.
"I'm fine… go after them! Seize them and kill them on the spot if you have to!"
"Right away, sir!"
Zelda and Aryll were put in a carriage with the three Sheikah. "Go!" She told a male Sheikah.
"Yah!" The Sheikah yelled, as the horse took off, pulling with great speed and outpacing everyone that would try to follow them, leaving them in their dust. "Atta girl, Epona! Good job!"
"That was a close one." The leader said, putting down her mask to reveal the rest of her face to reveal a beautiful young woman.
"Who are you?" Zelda asked.
"The name is Impa, and this is my daughter Paya."
"Hello!"
"And this is my older sister, Purah."
"Greetings."
"What… what were you doing there?" Aryll asked.
"We grew suspicious that the king and queen were killed hours apart, and not to mention that you were thrown in jail and Link became king a few days later. We decided to do an investigation, where we heard everything." Impa turned to Zelda. "You have the Triforce of Courage, correct?"
"I do… but I didn't know I had it."
"Good to know." Impa said and took a deep breath. "There is a storm brewing within Hyrule, and we all need to counter it. If what you said is true, young princess, then Link had gone off the deep end before he obtained the Triforce for himself. There's no saving him."
"Oh…" Aryll quietly said. "Where are we going?"
"Kakariko."
"…You're wrong." Zelda said as everyone turned to her. "Link is a good person, and I know that the Triforce of Power is corrupting him. I'm going to bring him back, whatever it takes."
The plot thickens!
Also, be vigilant, my friends. YouTube, in its infinite wisdom, thinks it's a good idea to shove Avengers Endgame spoilers in my recommended tab. Why are people doing this? This is Infinity War (And let's face it, Smash Ultimate) all over again... and I had to deal with a LOT of spoilers before I saw the actual movie. (Screw you whoever thought that was a good idea!)
This is why we can't have nice things. I plan on watching Endgame either tomorrow night or the matinee on Saturday and I WILL not let Endgame spoilers get the best of me! (Unfortunately, I already saw ONE spoiler in the thumbnail and the title because YouTube's algorithm sucks.
Stay vigilant my friends! We will battle this monstrosity until we see the movie for ourselves! (And for those who have seen the movie already or have seen the spoilers, for whatever reason, please don't share it in the reviews or PM me about it. Don't be THAT guy.)
