Chapter Ten: Residue
It felt as if, only for a second, that the world hadn't been about to collapse around her. She felt calm and a sense of peace.
Then a horrible sensation. Fear mingled with pain. Flashes of Ganon raced through her mind as she tried to fight them off. It was like the images were holding her down, keeping her from staying still and calm. Her breathing was ragged, like she'd just run a race through the whole of the endless Sacred Realm. Her body was assaulted by the whip of an invisible wind, and her stomach lurched.
She guessed that was why it was called falling asleep.
The night was plagued by Ganon, by the Divine Beasts, by Yiga. All the while, her hand burned hotter than it would have if it had been in a flame. She could almost see each Champion fall, and each time, she felt herself cry out. It was all she could bear and when she felt herself jolt up, she was back in her world, covered by a heavy blanket as she laid in bed in the now-familiar bedroom in Link's house.
She blinked awake, but she felt weak. Groaning, she rolled away from the light in the window, still reeling from the pain in her head.
Purah's face was inches away.
Zelda gasped and sat up with a start.
"Purah! What are you doing?"
Purah barely reacted, unsurprised. "Making sure you're alive, of course. Gosh, Princess, what a fright you gave us! You'd think Robbie would have had a better solution by now. He's supposed to be the expert."
Staring at her hand, she really took in the device. There was a ring around each finger and a clasp around the wrist, all keeping the device in place. There was enough give in each section to allow her to move her hand freely, but that wasn't where the pain came from. Zelda sighed.
"I thought this would get easier. But when would I be gifted with an easy time?" She shook her hand out, as if that would make the pain fall away. "How does this work, exactly?"
Standing, Purah shrugged. "Ask Robbie. I deal almost exclusively in the Sheikah Slate now. Symin and I have been working to create more, but none are as effective as Link's. Or… yours, I suppose."
"It's Link's. I barely used it." Zelda hugged her hands under the covers, trying to resist the urge to pull at the device. "Why did you never go back to the other Ancient materials?"
Purah started shuffling through papers on Link's desk, not really reading anything. "I worked with Robbie for years. We're old, Princess. I might look fabulous, but we are old. If I've been working on the Sheikah Slate for 30 years, I still have 70 years of working on other things. But really, I haven't kept track. Don't count that number!"
"Do you plan to return to your true age?" Zelda secretly hoped she would age herself back up only slightly, so they might be true friends again, as they once were when they were much closer in age.
Purah laughed. "And give up this body? I doubt it. Unless science calls, I'd rather live a whole second lifetime." Closing the book that was in her hand with a loud thud, Purah all but skipped down the stairs. "I'll go let people know you're alive. I'm supposed to make sure of it. Job well-done!"
Zelda could hear the door close downstairs and sighed. Purah was very unlike the woman Zelda had once known. Was it really possible for someone to change that much? She barely recognized her. Sure, Robbie had gotten more eccentric, but he was still the same person at heart. Even Link, though he lost his memories and had changed a bit still was unflinching in his sense of unwavering duty. He was still funny, caring, courageous. He was still Hyrule's Champion. But Purah… it was as if she truly had become a new person. There wasn't much of her old self left. Not even how she spoke.
Of her four friends from before the Calamity, she only had one left. One had died before she'd set herself to holding Ganon, Purah and Robbie aged and had long lives, and Link… who didn't remember her. But she was beginning to realize that what they once had was starting to build once again. He was all she had left.
She pushed the thought aside. She wasn't alone here.
There was an outfit folded up on the chair that had been aimed out so she could see. Zelda inched her way out of bed and picked it up. There was a long-sleeved shirt, a green dress, an apron, and a belt. It was very similar to what she'd seen many of the female villagers wearing yesterday. She changed into it as quickly as she could, unsure if Purah was going to come back anytime soon and folded her other borrowed outfit neatly into a similar pile that replaced her new clothes. It still felt weird to constantly be wearing someone else's clothes.
Zelda crept down the stairs and looked around. She was alone in the house. She took the opportunity to study the weapon displays more thoroughly. Though there was some signs of aging, the weapons were almost as pristine as when they were wielded by the Champion's themselves. It was clear that no one, not even Link, had used them since their glory days.
She moved on to look at his kitchen. It looked about as used as the weapons. She was surprised, given how he liked to eat, but it wasn't that shocking when she thought about how little time he must have spent here so far.
Under the stairs were several boxes, and Zelda couldn't resist the urge to take a look inside. She peeked her head in and saw armor. The entire top box was filled with different pieces of unique armor. There were dents in the metal, rips and tears in fabric. This was recent.
"Hand me the blue armor, Princess."
Zelda whipped around and saw Link and Paya in the doorway. Link had come inside and was leaning against the table, but Paya hovered anxiously inside the frame.
"I'm sorry, Link. I just… I was curious."
Link shrugged and came up beside her. He reached deep into the box and pulled out a skintight blue material that was laced with hard Zora scales. Reaching back in, he pulled out a pair of pants and a helmet that looked like a matching set.
"I don't have anything to hide. You already found out that I was reading up on you. Look around all you want." He tucked the armor under his arm and went about folding each piece neatly. "We'll be going to Zora's Domain. I have to at least look the part." He packed it into a travel bag and let it rest on the table. "Paya, come in," he added, seeing her still half outside.
Paya inched her way into Link's house, visibly uncomfortable. "Your home is lovely, Link."
"Thank you," he said reaching over Zelda again to pull out more clothes. "Make yourself comfortable. I'm just grabbing some things for the road. I don't even know why I put them away."
Link tossed everything into his pouch, and Zelda had to blink a few times, almost forgetting that magic existed outside of herself. His enchanted bag allowed him to carry far more than he could on his back.
The door burst open again, and Zelda was glad she'd changed when she did with all the company.
A Gerudo woman, Dorrah, quickly made her way over to Link, whispering in his ear before leaving.
Zelda waited, her face easily readable. Link's was almost as clear as hers. Bad news.
He grabbed a weapon from the corner of the room and showily swung it around in his hand. "Duty calls," he said as he walked towards the door.
"Wait, is it bad? Is it something dangerous?" Zelda waited, needing to know this much.
Link hesitated, debating something in his head. "I'm not sure yet. I'm going to check it out. Just stay in sight of a guard and you'll be perfectly fine."
And for most of the day, that's what Zelda did. She explored Hateno with Paya as a villager named Seldon gave her the grand tour. She spoke with almost every single villager, played tag with the children, answered every question, and fell easily back into her role as Princess that she'd always played so well.
When they asked her about the Calamity, the Sacred Realm, anything at all, about the past, she'd take the time to explain it again, and again, and again. She explained about her powers, the device on her hand, the Goddesses. She talked about how she'd met Link: their local hero, Purah: their local hermit, Robbie: their eccentric neighbor. They wanted to know how much Hateno had changed, and what she'd do for them in the future.
The entire day was question after question.
By the time one of the Purah had called her and Paya to share supper, Zelda was completely exhausted.
Everyone but Link was there, sitting around a table that looked like it had gathered some dust over the years. A Zora guard had swapped in for the Sheikah who'd been with them, and Zelda could feel herself practically falling asleep as she reached for her meal.
"She's been a real sport," Paya said to someone. Zelda could barely figure out who.
"How's the device treating you?" Jerrin asked.
Zelda's head snapped to hers before looking at her hand. "It hurts. It's like the power wants to come out, but it can't. How was this made? It was done so quickly."
Robbie grinned and placed his hands on the person on either side of him. One was Jerrin, and one was Symon. He nodded to Purah as well. "We have four of the greatest minds in one room, all working on making your life livable. It's only offensive that you doubted us." He winked at her. "I'm joking. Well, only partially. It's made of an ancient core that's running though microscopic wires on each of your fingers. The wires are bottling the energy and then dispersing it before releasing it slowly. The pain you feel is that slow release. Your powers are being used, but they're being forced to hold a tremendous amount inside. I'd like to create a version that's not as large, and that can quickly redirect the energy in a harmless way."
Granté snapped his fingers. "She wears rings and bracelets. There might be something worth exploring about putting the core into a gem. A diamond, perhaps?"
Robbie looked impressed. "Good work, son. Now we just have to make it. Are you staying?"
Granté looked out the door longingly, though there was nothing to see but wood. "I'm not sure yet."
"What's her name?" Jerrin teased her son.
Granté blushed, but didn't answer. Instead, he changed the topic. "Paya, how are you enjoying life away from Kakariko?"
"I—" she started when the door opened.
Link stepped inside covered in dirt. He looked like a young child who'd been playing outside all day. There wasn't a scrape on him, and Link tried to walk in as if nothing had happened all day.
"No, no, no Mister!" Purah shouted. "You're going to tell us everything."
Link's eyes flickered to Zelda's. "A minor problem. It's been taken care of. You're all set."
"What?" she hissed as he tried to keep walking. That was all he was planning to say?
It was very obvious that he didn't want to, which could only mean one thing.
Yiga.
"What have they done?" she demanded.
He grimaced. "There was someone pretending to be a villager yesterday and they were spotted this morning. I took care of it. It was a Yiga Clan member trying to get information. Probably to do with how many guards you have."
"You killed them?"
Link just nodded, saying nothing.
The entire room went silent, trapped by the awkward tension that had filled the air.
It wasn't until several hours later, when Zelda woke from Link's bed again, where he'd offered her to stay, that she even spoke to him again.
A nightmare had woken her. This time, it was another vision, one of her time as the first Hyrulian, partner of the Hero of the Sky. She watched as a great beast, Demise, threatened to ravage the land and slaughter her and the hero.
When she woke, her forehead had a fine sheen of sweat on it and she needed a moment to steady her breathing. It had been quite some time since she saw a vision of a true past life.
Zelda pulled on a robe and went out the front door, desperate for air.
She was surprised to find Link standing by a fire talking to Bolson and Karson.
All three of their heads turned to her. "Are you alright?" Link asked.
She pulled her robe tighter. "Yes. I needed air."
"It was a busy day for you," Bolson added, "but Link here has been apprising me of some potential work. I'd be interested. To think of the promise Castle Town has. To rebuild!"
Zelda turned to Link, astonished. He looked away.
"I love that idea," Zelda said, more for his benefit than Bolson. "It seems that many Hylians were displaced and are living in stables and inns. Rebuilding Castle Town, the castle itself, and the Temple of Time are my three priorities."
"Like I say to your knight here, find me the money, find me the materials, and I'll build you a beautiful new home!"
They sat there for a few more moments before Bolson stood up. "Well, I suppose this is a matter for morning. C'mon Karson, let's hit the hay!"
"Only if the horses aren't in there!" Karson oddly replied as he followed Bolson across the bridge.
"That's a fantastic plan, Link. Getting him to help with the construction."
"His other carpenter built town an entire town with me. Bolson will have no problem with Castle Town. It's cleaning up the rubble that will take time."
"And if the ranch were rebuilt, as well as the Exchange, commerce could begin in Central Hyrule again."
Link finally sat by the fire and he watched as Zelda sat beside him. She huddled close to the flames, her eyes glowing orange in their light. "Nightmare again?"
"This one was different, but yes. It felt like I wasn't myself, but I was the darkness coming from Demise. I don't want to hurt anyone, Link. I don't want my powers to ever get out of control again. I need to control them."
Moving his hands closer to the flames, Link spoke. "I have been dreaming of strange things, too. The Yiga may have me on edge, but last night, I dreamt of you. You ran up a flight of steps, running for your life, and there was nowhere to go. You were with someone, a friend, and two Yiga make a move to kill you. Then I appear, and the dream stops."
Zelda sat up. "That happened, Link. That actually happened. That's the first day we met in person. You saved my friend and I from death. You weren't even my knight then. You remember."
"How?" he asked. "How is it that I remember some things and not others? I remember the Champions. I remember almost everything about them. I remember moments, pieces. But I can't remember my time with you, and I can't remember my family. How come?"
"Perhaps you need the Goddess Springs more than I ever did."
"It's not a bad idea, he admitted.
They drifted off into silence stared at the cackling fire.
Zelda knew she should go back inside, but she just didn't want to.
And when she woke up, outside and curled up and asleep on Link's leg, she nearly had a heart attack.
"I… what?"
There was a blanket draped over her, and Link's hand rested lightly on it. On her.
"You fell asleep," Paya said from across the fire. "And he didn't want to wake you. He said you were finally having a peaceful night. So I brought the blanket."
Link stirred awake, and Zelda sat up, looking between Paya and him.
"Sorry," he said quickly. "I must have fallen asleep and forgotten to take you inside."
Zelda and Paya exchanged a look between themselves, and Zelda nodded along. "That's alright, Link. Thank you."
"You seem well-rested this morning."
Zelda took stock of herself. Despite sleeping in the grass, she didn't feel sore. Despite the previous nightmares, she'd sleep soundly through the night.
"Actually," she said, "This is the best I've felt in a long time."
And she could feel the ghost of a hand where Link had been resting against her. She could almost feel it, like it was still there.
"Good, Princess, I'm glad you got some sleep."
Zelda smiled. She'd said that a thousand times to Link in the past. He'd sleeplessly guard her doors for days if Yiga were around.
He's doing the same thing now, she realized.
So, his memories weren't gone.
They were just hidden in a place that only his subconscious can reach.
A/N: HEYYOO! I don't actually have much to say (shocking, right?)! I will say that I actually forgot what day of the week it is (sorry!). This is a bit of a filler chapter. But some Zelink should make it a tolerable filler! AND I wrote some of the ending of this story out, which is super rare because I never REALLY know where I'm heading. But I think I like this and I'm not near the end yet so don't think this is ending soon. They haven't even seen Hyrule Castle (because I know THAT'S what you're waiting for hahaa!)! So yeah… CLEARLY I like capitalizing random words for emphasis this week too.
Reviews! AddyBOTWfan13: The. Suspense. Is. Killing. Me. Too! I should have just thrown them together in chapter one and called it a day! HAHAHAHA! What a story that could have been! Bladeofthebookworms: "I fell in love with her spunk and her devotion. And when I suggested she use the flowers in her boquet… she beat me up and left me with one heart. That's love." But yeah, what a disservice they did to poor Link by making it second person instead of giving him his moment and making it first. But hey, at least the Japanese translation is technically the true cannon version, so at least there's that. I want Bolson to reveal that he IS Ganon and has been all along. I so wish I had a spoof version of this story where absurd things happen… and it's just Bolson and the Flower Lady causing mayhem. But thank you! And I hope YOU have a great week too!