Hyrule Castle Outskirts (Moat), 3:06 P.M., Mid-June
Chapter 8: Influx of Missing Memories
What's happening? What's going on?
Zelda found herself in a daydream-like setting- hues of pastel blues and pinks surrounding her entirety. Her emerald eyes worriedly searched for Prince Sidon and the man who had saved her, Link, but was simply alone in such a wondrous world. She had felt herself on the ground, so she pressed her hands around her, feeling what felt similar to… grass!
Then, suddenly, a little girls laughter was heard very nearby.
Zelda looked over at the source, seeing a small opening that led into what looked like a part of the castle. Quickly rising, Zelda rushed over to it in the hopes that she'll return to where she had been previously. But instead, she halted to see widen her eyes and see where the little girls laughter had been coming from.
There she was; young little Zelda in her fuschia dress. The expression of joy on her face was undeniable as she bounced contently on the pillar pointing towards the castle. Present Zelda couldn't help but watch with awe, sensing an overwhelming amount of familiarity. Right next to her younger self was the boy from the true-to-life image, charging up his fishing rod before throwing the line over into the moat. The two waited to hear the plop! sound as the bait safely floated on the water.
"Do you think you'll catch a fish?" Little Zelda asked curiously, having the boy look over at her and shrug. Using his free hand, he waved it towards her and then back at him, gesturing to be patient. She crossed her arms and suddenly sat down on the pillar with her long dress covering her crossed legs. "You're going to take forever to catch one! Tell the fishes to see the bait!"
The boy couldn't help but snicker at her while his eyes excitedly gazed down at the water. He seemed so determined to catch a fish upon her impatience and desire over it. Zelda could tell that he wanted to prove himself to her, but clearly her younger self didn't seem to buy it much. She frowned at her youthful reflection, curious as to why she ended up to be much more patient and willing to wait.
"Zelda!" A voice called from a distance, having the present Zelda crank her neck over to look at the new character entering. Her eyes widened to see Impa, much younger than her current self, wearing the Sheikah attire. Her white hair was long and loose, dancing in the wind. And Zelda noticed that she held the Sheikah Slate with her as she jogged over to catch up with the young ones. "How many times must I tell you not to run away on your own?"
"But I'm okay!" Little Zelda insisted, pointing over at the boy, who was watching his bait attentively. "Link is here with me. He promised to protect me forever! Isn't that right, Link?"
The Queen felt her heart stopped as she looked over at the little boy. His hair… his eyes… He turned over to meet eyes with Impa and gave her a confirming nod. Impa couldn't help but smile, seeing the boy have a proper soldiers stance. "You look just like your father, you know. I bet you'll turn out as handsome as him, yes?" The little boy, Link, nodded shyly with his full cheeks tinted pink.
Those blue eyes… Zelda studied the little boy. They were just like his… She realized right then that the Link she had just been saved by moments ago had been the Link who Purah showed her a very long time ago upon her return from the darkness. She couldn't understand why she didn't recognize him right then, seeing as Impa and her young self knew of the boy quite well.
"Zelda, we should be going soon," Impa suggested calmly, in which the young Princess closed her eyes and refused.
"Link hasn't caught a fish yet!" The Princess points out. She looks over at Link and nods, "until he catches one, I'm not leaving this spot!" This caused Link to worry as he began mentally praying for this fish to hook on. And luckily, as soon as Impa finished her annoyed sigh, the line of the rod had been pulled.
Zelda looked over and stood up quickly to watch Link reel the line. He rushed it, refusing to let this fish go with all his might. With his persistence and strength, he pulled the rod behind him and watched the fish he just caught fly right over him. The two turn to see the fish crash into the grass, flipping and bouncing from the lack of water. The two youngins run over, having Zelda watch as Link unhooked the fish from the bait.
"Link, how can you touch that?" Zelda exclaimed as Link held the fish in his hand. "That's disgusting!" She crossed her arms and leered at the boy, who was in utter shock that he had accomplished the goal. Impa couldn't help but laugh at the two, having her think up an idea before holding up the Slate.
"Good job, Link!" Impa compliments kindly. "You'd be a very good fisherman if you wanted to be!" And upon hearing that, Link couldn't help but smile so widely at the Sheikah, his body bubbling up with joy. He felt so proud of him and present Zelda couldn't help but smile at his well-deserved pride. And her much younger self, all the snobby, expressed a warm glance through the disgusted face of hers.
And, without another second to waste, Impa pressed a button on the Slate and snap! A true-to-life image had been taken of the moment.
"Beautiful," Impa stated, walking over to the young kids to show them the image she had captured. It was then that the memory was slowly dissolving and Zelda could no longer see the younger versions of Impa, Link, and herself.
Silence ensued as Zelda looked around at the interesting room she's found herself in. But it suddenly intrigued her even more when Hylian letters began going up and down in rows, seeming to be formulating some code similar to what the Sheikah Slate is programmed to do. She had been in a trance, watching as her surroundings suddenly became bigger. Small balls with a gold outside began to expand. When she looked at one well, she could see herself in the same attire she had worn prior to the Calamity.
And then there was Link right behind her, listening attentively as she ranted on and on about how revolutionary the Sheikah Slate was. How is that possible? Zelda thought. I couldn't remember Link at all! Who is he?
She turned to see another memory, watching as Link practiced his swordsman skills before her under the safe shade of a tree. It had been raining that day, and they decided to wait a bit so the rain could subdue and they may resume their travels. He had stopped practicing as soon as she began to speak, but Zelda took note of the words she had said to the main regarding his skill.
"...I see now why you would be the chosen one."
Chosen one? Zelda looked around for another memory. She widened her eyes to see the Four Champions side by side with her and Link in the middle in what was similar to a gazebo. Link had been kneeled before her as Zelda, swallowed up by that familiar blue dress, had been speaking.
"Hero of Hyrule, chosen by the sword that seals the darkness…"
Hero of Hyrule? Isn't that what Sidon had called him when we were being attacked? Zelda's head began to hurt but her eyes kept searching through the memories.
"Tell me the truth." Zelda looked into the memory attached to her voice, noticing that it was her with her back turned to Link. She glances back at the man, "how proficient are you right now, wielding that sword on your back?" Zelda watched in awe as her pre-Calamity self spoke, "legend says that an ancient voice resonates inside it…Can you hear it yet, hero?"
Another memory went right up to Zelda and ensued. "Return to the castle," the Princess ordered Link, "and tell that to my father, please." But all the persistent, Link jogged closely behind her, which had Zelda fuming. She turned instantly and frowned, "and stop following me!"
Zelda felt sick in the stomach, the intense urge to vomit poking at her tummy. But Zelda had to look at one more, but how could she choose from the many voiced memories calling out to her? It seemed that Purah had been right about one thing; her memory was almost perfect. But the memories that were missing were indeed significant.
Zelda looked around, her mind practically spinning at the memories before her. But her attention spotted a small one, causing her feet to move on their own to check it out. Looking through it, her eyes began to quickly well up in tears.
Before her had been herself in that familiar white gown and golden necklace of hers, but she had been covered up in muck and dirt. A corrupted Guardian had spotted them within the reckage of all the defeated Guardians that could only be explained by the very man that was kneeled before her.
Link was wounded and hurt, but his heart kept beating. Zelda watched herself cry to the boy, urging her to leave before he got any more hurt than he already was. She was pleading for him to escape, but Link ignored her. He pulled the darkness sealing sword from the ground and rose again, but had been very unsteady on his feet. The Guardian targeted him, but Link was ready to give it his all once more in order to protect the Princess.
But Zelda had moved in front of him and released the power of Goddess Hylia, the power she had been desperate to find before Calamity Ganon reigned. The Queen watches through her tears as the dark memory showed how surprised her younger self was. But her surprised disappeared when she turned to see the Hero on the ground, weak and losing consciousness. She rushed to his side and held him close, watching the man weakly cough before her. It was clear that he had fought hard and valiantly for her, and he wasn't intending to let even a feather touch her. But he knew that his body wasn't willing to continue fighting for that very reason and his mind slipped into unconsciousness. And that's when the Princess began to weep into her knights chest, her heart throbbing from the assumption that she had lost him.
The Queen suddenly felt that feeling as well and held her chest, her cheeks still guiding tears down her face. That's when she had realized something very important. The only reason why she was able to finally conjure those powers was because the person she loves ever so dearly- more than anybody- had been close to death.
Zelda then watched her hands begin to ash away, confusion rising as the memories surrounding her became louder. But as her body began to disappear, a few sentences from herself caught her attention. "Take Link to the Shrine of Resurrection. If you don't get him there immediately, we are going to lose him forever!"
The thought horrified the Queen so much that she began screaming, "no, no!" As her sight went pitch black, she felt two hands grip on her shoulders and shake her violently. Immediately, her eyelids rose and she saw the blue sky once again. She sat up quickly and looked around. "Huh?"
"Queen!" Prince Sidon's voice sounded, having her turn to see the crimson Zora look at her worriedly. "Are you alright? Are you feeling unwell?" She was breathing quickly and heavier, her face covered in cold sweat. She looked down at her hands, watching them as they trembling ferociously on her lap. But she nods, ensuring the Prince that there was nothing to worry about. "Did you have a trauma attack?"
"I…" she begins softly, attempting to collect her thoughts through the sudden throbbing headache. "I was sent to some sort of memory bank…of memories I couldn't seem to remember…"
"What did the memories consist of?" Sidon asked gently.
Zelda looked down at her hand, noticing that her Triforce marking was glowing brightly at a pulse rate. She narrowed her eyes, wondering why it had been illuminating. "It was me but… I wasn't alone. They were all with memories of-" she looked around, searching for Link. "Wh-where did he-?"
A whistle called out to her, having Zelda turn over to see Link by the moat. He had been bent down, dragging what appeared to be a cloth while glancing back at her. She noticed that he was a bit pale but still gave her a sweet, kind smile like the boy in the image. Or rather, his younger self.
"Y-you," Zelda started with a whisper, having Link stand up and walk over to her. She noticed that a bit of his shirt towards the bottom had been ripped, exposing his defined v-line as well as his lower abs. But Zelda, trying to stay focused, forced contact with his eyes. "You were in my memories! You are… the Hero of Hyrule. Is that… right?"
Link stared at her wistfully, bringing himself down on the grass with her with his legs crossed. He then nodded, confirming all the memories addressing him as such. Her eyes widened, watching him as his cheeks went pink and he brought a hand to the back of his head to scratch it awkwardly. With his eyes closed and smile wide, she realized how much he didn't change from when they were younger and he was just as content with catching a little fish.
"You saved my life before," Zelda begins quietly, "countless times, it seems. My father assigned you as my appointed knight- you were the best of them all!"
"I mean," Sidon interrupted, "I wasn't old enough to enter, but I probably would have been your appointed knight." Link glared at him, causing the Zora to look away as Zelda resumed her revelation.
"You were there through it all with me!" Zelda began, her voice cracked and strained. She began guiding her shaky hand towards his, noticing that his Triforce marking, too, was glowing. She didn't hesitate this time, taking his large hand in her small, petite one. Link wanted to melt, seeing how long its been since he touched her soft skin. "You were there to listen to me, search with me, protect me… and almost die for me." She swallowed harshly. Tears began to well up in her cheeks once more as she met with his eyes again. "And somehow… I couldn't remember you."
Link remained silent, giving her hand a light squeeze before offering her the wet piece of cloth for her cold sweat. She took it gratefully, dabbing her face with the refreshing cool moistened cloth before putting it down and allowing her face to naturally dry. She couldn't help but stare at him, noticing his face warming up to show off his beautiful caramel skin. He was absolutely handsome, but Zelda didn't doubt that she was the only one to think so.
And Link watched her as well, his heart threatening to burst to be in the presence of his favorite girl again. It had been so long since he had seen her, and he counted the days since he last saw her in that infirmary room, recovering from the 100 year confinement she had to suffer while waiting for his rescue. Link felt himself wanting to cry, but tried his best to keep it in for her sake… as well as his own since Sidon would probably not let him forget it.
But Link was so happy. He began mentally thanking Goddess Hylia a million times over for this moment, as he held his best girls hand in his. He wanted desperately to hug her and hold her and claim back what was rightfully his. This moment had him forgetting what Purah had done to him and the awful feelings that came with it.
"Are you guys close to kissing yet?" Link wanted to shoot an arrow at Sidon for his deadpanned words. Zelda looked up at Link at awe, not thinking much of Sidon's words as Link violently shook his head no. But she was amused of it right then, giggling while still keeping her eyes on him.
"Sidon," Zelda begins, having Sidon look over at the Queen seriously. "Why did you keep Link a secret from me if you knew about him and his significance in my life and my land?" Sidon could only sigh, looking back at the castle.
"That answer could only be told by one person," Sidon begins, "and she's currently in your castle, My Queen."
Zelda blinked a few times, looking over to see the Master sword sprawling about in the grass. It had been coincidentally pointed over to the bridge that went over the moat and led directly into the front entrance of the castle. Without another thought, Zelda squeezed Link's hand and asked for him to help her up. The two rose with ease, with their hands still joined together. She kept her eyes on the castle but Link kept his eyes on her, waiting for any order she may spew from her lips.
"Pack all your things, Link," Zelda commanded. "We're going back to the castle. Together."
-W-
Welp, there we go! 3 Chapters in a row because I was feeling extremely inspired for you guys to read what goes on next! As usual, thank you all for the support, the favs, the follows, and the reviews (my favorite)! I am so happy this story is getting a good response and I can't wait to see you guys in the next chapter! As always, please do leave reviews and I hope you all enjoyed this!
-Darrion
