CHAPTER 7

The Champions' Ballad

Link and Makar lay under a tree outside of Hyrule's walls. As the sun centers in the sky Link and Makar watch as the leaves blow in the wind. The sky is so blue as the grass is so green. "Link," Makar says softly, "Zelda told me that the sword is able to talk. Does it?" Link looks at Makar and shakes his head. "Strange. Maybe you're not ready yet. Like… Maybe you need to train more or something, heh." Makar teases. "I'm trying my best." Link says as he chuckles. "That's all we can ever do." Makar replies. The two lay in a moment of silence as the grass blows and rubs on their clothes. Makar starts to think about his time with Zelda in Goron City. His face turns red as his eyes close imagining Zelda in her white lace pajamas. "Makar?" Link says breaking Makars trance, "You ok? Your cheeks are red." "LINK!" Makar shouts as he sits up and pulls on his shirt, "I had the best time ever with Zelda!" Makar stands up as he lets go of Links shirt. "I got to spend time with her! Like it was just me and her! It was everything i've ever imagined, her beauty, her grace, her everything Link!" Makar emphasized. Link raises a brow and asks, "Why do you call the Princess by her name?" "Because, Link!" Makar paused looking down at Link, "She asked me too." Link's eyes widen. "Right?! I think me and her are really hitting it off!" Makar smirks. Link holds his chin and thinks. Komali and Medli pop around the corner and see Makar waving his arms and shouting about something. "Hey, guys!" Medli says as they walk up. "Medli! Komali!" Makar shouts as he holds their hands, "How do you know if a girl likes you?" he asks. "What?" Komali replies. "Tell me!" Makar demanded. "Well," Medli replies, "Really, it all depends on the girl but from my experience the signs are if she touches you a lot, looks at you a lot, laughs at your jokes, and all that type of stuff." Makar puts his head down as he tries to think, "Did she ever look at me? Touch me? Does her hugging me in her sleep count?" Lost in his thoughts he sits down and gets put into a trance tracing back his memories. "What's gotten into him?" Komali asks Link. "The princess." Link replies. Komali jumps in shock "W-What!? What do you mean the princess?" "Makar and the princess? Have you gone mad?" Medli asks Makar. "What is that supposed to mean?!" Makar shouts. "You just...don't seem like her type." Medli says jokingly. Makar jumps up and swings his arms, "I mean I don't know?! How would you know!? I could be her type if I wanted to be!" Medli laughs as Komali is stunned, he sits next to Link and asks, "So...what did they do?" Link shrugs his shoulders. "Medli, tell me more!" Makar shouts as Medli slowly backs away. "Ok, let's go Komali. Makar's got to deal with his little crush on his own." Medli says poking fun at Makar. Komali gets up and they walk away. Makar, stunned, watches them walk away and turns to Link. "Ok, Link." Makar calms down as silence fills the valley. Link stands up and puts his sheathed Master sword on his back. "Promise me something." Makar says. The wind blows through their hair as the sound of brushing leaves is heard. "Tomorrow is when you'll be appointed as the Hero of prophecy, the one that wields the sword that seals the darkness. It'll also be the day where you become Zelda's appointed knight. So promise me Link…no matter what," Makar grabs Links shoulders, "you will always protect her." Link's eyes widen as he smiles and he replies, "I promise." They both smile at each other and head back inside Hyrule.

At night, the princess sits her room and writes in her diary for the coming day. Zelda, in her white pajamas, sits at her desk and writes,

"After meeting with the Champions, I left to research the ancient technology, but nothing of note came of my research. The return of Ganon looms—a dark force taunting us from afar. I must learn all I can about the relics so we can stop him. If the fortune-teller's prophecy is to be believed, there isn't much time left... Ah, but turning over these thoughts in my head puts me ill at ease. I suppose I should turn in for the night.

P.S. Tomorrow my father is assigning HIM as my appointed knight..."

Zelda closes her diary and tucks herself into bed.

The next day, horns blare to welcome the Champions into Hyrule. Hylians stand on the side of the stone pathway and on top of their blue roofed houses to see them and cheer. The day is bright as the Champions come in making their way to the castle. Urbosa, Revali, Mipha, Daruk, and Link come in one by one. Daruk smiles at all the Hylians and waves his big hands, "Well, these people sure are a fun bunch! Don't ya think, Mipha?" Daruk asks. "Yes. They seem to be very happy upon our arrival." Mipha replies as her heart starts to feel warm. Behind the Champions another individual of each race follows along, some are representatives and commanders of the four races. Mipha looks at Link seeing how much taller he's become and tries to take a step back to get closer to him. Link doesn't notice and Daruk pushes Mipha by accident, "Oh! Sorry, Mipha! Didn't see ya there." he apologizes. "It's quite all right, Daruk." Mipha smiles at him. She looks at Link once more and they continue into the castle. As they enter the throne room they pass hundreds of soldiers and see five flags hung on a pole behind the symbol of the Triforce which lays in the middle of the room. On the Triforce, Zelda stands in a blue and white dress holding blue garments. The five Champions stand in front of their respected flags with their plus ones standing next to it. The knights stand behind the red carpet which cuts them off from the Champions. Zelda walks up to each Champion and hands them a Blue garment to wear. They all put on the blue garment in different ways, Revali wears it as a scarf, Daruk and Mipha wear it as a Sash, Link wears it as a tunic, and Urbosa wears it as a skirt. The King atop of the stairs in front of the Champions sits on his throne, Commander Richards stands on his right and Makar stands on his left in Royal Guard outfits.

The King stands and walks up to the fenced edge of his platform. He shouts "Welcome, warriors! I'd like to thank you for joining me here today, and for your bravery in accepting this…fateful task." Link and the other Champions look up to the King as they listen to his voice. "I officially appoint you Hyrule's Champions and bestow upon you this sacred garb." King Rhoam continues, "That blue is a symbol of the Royal Family, one that has been passed down for countless generations. Those garments you now wear were all crafted by my daughter, Zelda." The King looks at Zelda and continues, "Zelda. I trust you with the task only a daughter of the royal family can fulfill. Lead our Champions, Princess. And together, protect our kingdom from the threat of Calamity Ganon." he finishes. The Champions smile and fireworks shoot up into the sky. Loud bangs echo all throughout Hyrule as the Hylians cheer.

As the sun sets, the five Champions along with Zelda stand under an outside altar to get some fresh air. Daruk swings his left arm in circles, stretching it. "I tell ya, those formal shindigs really take it outta me." he says to Link who looks up at him. On the other end of the altar Zelda shows Revali, Mipha, and Urbosa the Sheikah slate. "Hmph. This is the Sheikah slate, eh?" Revali says as he grabs it out of Zelda's hands. It's small in his Rito hands. "It is. Apparently there are more uses for it than we originally thought. Sadly, we've yet to decipher all of its secrets." Zelda replies. Revali hands it to Mipha, it's big in her small Zora hands. Urbosa leans down to Mipha and tells her, "The princess showed me something strange recently. Somehow it can create true-to-life images." Mipha gasps, "Oh, wow." as she examines the Sheikah slate, "I would love to see it. Uhm, Princess…" Mipha wonders, "May I ask a special favor of you?" she says as she looks back at Link. Daruk becomes confused and looks at them then at Link.

As the orange light from the setting sun starts to shine onto them, Purah holds the Sheikah slate ready to take a picture of Zelda and the five Champions. "All right! This spot should work nicely." She turns on the Sheikah slates camera and sees everyone together. Zelda holds her hands in front of her nervously, Link stands to her left, Urbosa on her right with her arms crossed. Standing right of Urbosa is Revali facing his body away and on Links left, Mipha stands a few inches away from him as she stands straight up like a statue and behind them all is Daruk. "Keep your eyes on the Sheikah slate, everyone!" Purah commands as she zooms out. Realizing Daruk doesn't fit into frame, Purah looks up at him and asks, "Daruk, can you crouch down a bit? You're as big as Death Mountain." Everyone looks at Daruk and he sees everyone's faces, "Huh? Oh!" He crouches down and gets into the frame of the picture. "What's with the glum face, Princess? Gimme a big smile!" Purah shouts. Urbosa places her hands on Zelda's back and smiles at her, comforting her. Mipha tip toes her way closer to Link as she stands straight up. "Revali, move your tail closer to the group." Purah demands. "Ugh, fine." he says as he turns his body to face the Sheikah slate. "Mipha, you look so tense. Deep breaths, OK?" Purah suggests. Link looks at her and she pretends not to notice. "Right!" she says as she takes two deep breaths and then stands straight up like she was before. Purah chuckles, "Stay just like that! Here we go!" Daruk looks around the group and gets an idea. "Smiiiile…" Purah gets ready, "Click, snap!" As the camera snaps Daruk pushes the group all together, creating a funny yet warm photo, showing the start of their everlasting connection.