It has been two months, but Before the Wild is back as I finish up another big story. Since this will become my primary story starting next month, expect more frequent updates as we explore Hyrule 100 years in the past.
Now, I have completed Breath of the Wild twice, but why is it that I had never, ever found the Royal Labs until I did a Google Search for a map of the northeastern Hyrule Field. Immediately, I formulated this chapter. Since the labs are on route to the Rito Village (the second memory in the game), why not include some origin of the Sheikah Slate and its abilities. Pretty much all functionality except the towers are included.
Of course, we have to get Link and Zelda to know each other, but they aren't on good terms yet. That won't be for a while.
Without further ado, enjoy Chapter 10!
Link
72 hours ago, Link Ordon thought his new job would be eventful. As the Appointed Knight to Princess Zelda Nohansen Hyrule, it would require him to be on his toes at all times, leaving him not a moment to lost concentration or rest his eyes. He thought it would be a job that'll have him up early in the morning and late at night. He thought, like his father, freedom would come sparingly.
The last 72 hours for Link Ordon have been the complete opposite of what he expected. He had his freedom to do as he pleased, which he took with great gratitude. He got more sleep than he would have expected, which he was really grateful for. Most of all, he barely was around his "boss," for one. He remembers the first morning as clear as the Regencia River the pair is crossing now.
"Princess." Link knocked twice on the door to the Princess' chambers, getting quite aggravated for not being answered. He knows she's awake: once he came into her wing, he saw her maids leaving. She knew he was there as well, as he heard her curse much louder than she would've prefered. He sighed as he waited a few seconds before deciding to either knock again or, a special power as her personal knight, barge right in. He decided that she could be getting dressed. "Princess, this is the last time I knock. Answer the-"
"GO AWAY!" Link rolled his eyes. She knew he couldn't do that. Maybe that's why before he responded with that fact, she said three magic words. "You are dismissed."
She could do that. Link sighed and turned away, deciding to head outside to the courtyard. Maybe he'll get some time with the Master Sword today.
The following two days proceeded as such, but now that Zelda was in Hyrule Field, neither she nor Link had a choice. They would have to be together. At least Zelda warmed up to his presence. She went from "GO AWAY!" to "I call for you when you're needed" before this trip, now the girl riding Gaepora hummed in quiet serenity, Link riding Epona right behind her. They were an hour out from their destination, the Royal Labs, where Zelda was to meet Purah for some technology update. It was a quiet, peaceful ride on a quiet, peaceful day.
Until they crossed the Carok Bridge into a desolate, lifeless canyon, a stark contrast from Hyrule Field on the other side of the bridge. Link's natural instinct was to slow down Epona and watch for danger, but Zelda kept her pace. Now she was being foolish, and since Gaepora hasn't trusted her fully yet (and she didn't put much faith in the horse either) she could put herself in more danger should it appear. "Princess," the appointed knight said commandingly.
Zelda, stopping Gaepora, turned to Link with an equally as annoyed countenance. "What?"
"Slow yourself and be on the eye for danger. I don't like this place." The Princess rolled her eyes, then put a hand to her forehead. Link cut his eyes away. She was facepalming at him doing his job? Link so wanted to just drag her back to Hyrule Castle, lock her in her room, and...What would he do pass that? Probably get hung by the neck. Okay, new thought process. Shut her up, take lead, get them to the laboratory safely, then to Tabantha. Much better.
"No, there's no danger. Just because it is called the Breach of Demise doesn't mean we'll see the demon king show up here." Zelda lowered her hand, mocking Link with a smirk. "So on edge."
Link glared back at her. "How do you know?"
Zelda turned around, snapping Gaepora back to trotting. "I am trained in various areas of magic, including the Sheikah's shadow magic. If there were monsters around, I would sense the dark within them. If there were humans or natural animals, I would sense their light. Like I can feel Epona and you coming closer to me...and you're angry. Oh, there's now confusion...now you're feeling invaded, and wishing me to stop."
"Can you stop?!" Zelda giggled as she took point again. To satisfy Link, she did slow down, but not because of danger. Link, on the other hand, took a part of Zelda's rein in hand. She tried knocking his hand off, but he wouldn't budge. "Let go!"
"No."
"I slowed down, just so you wouldn't get all pissy!"
"I worried about Gaepora, not you. He doesn't trust you yet. You don't trust him. So, even if you're right, if you had looked at Gaepora, you'll know he's nervous. Animals can sense danger before we can, but even these surroundings can trigger fear, even if it's false."
Zelda's eyes downcasted. "Oh…"
Link softened his tone, dropping the reins. "Don't worry, one day he'll trust you. To speed things up, be sure to take time to soothe your mount. That's the only way it will know how you truly feel." Zelda nodded, and test Link's words, patted her hand on Gaepora's neck. The horse responded with a low grumble, causing the Princess to retract her hand. Link smiled as he turned away. "Like I said, it'll take some time."
It was another hour or so, a little after one pm when the pair reached the Royal Labs. Once they had arrived, Zelda immediately jumped off her horse, commanding Link to take care of the horses. It was like he hadn't said anything at all back at the Breach of Demise. However, he couldn't blame her. Although he hadn't spent a lot of time with the Princess, his father had, and Link learned from him the desire Zelda had for knowledge of the ancient technology. Entering her study one day, Link would say his father underestimated his words. If she wasn't spending so much time praying, she could be a real asset to research. Seeing her watch the scientists and mechanics work on a Guardian, recreating ancient weaponry, or studying how the darn things got their energy, Link could tell that she was excited. It was similar to his days as a kid watching the knights.
Once he finished tying up the horses, Link walked towards the lab. Zelda had gone inside by now, which Link followed immediately. He wasn't afraid for her safety, no. Sheikah dominated the facility, and Link knew only a few knights who managed to beat one. Link was not one of them, nor was his father.
The interior of the lab was just as busy as the exterior., though less crowded. Link shifted through the lab, hearing the thrilled voice of the Princess in the back of the lab. He found her with a familiar looking Sheikah-Purah, Impa's elder sister-talking to the Princess. They were standing in front of a terminal with a huge stone handing over them.
"I believe that, with the Sheikah Slate inputted, the Guidance Stone can do something with it. I'm theorizing it can insert some functions into the slate, but we'll have to test for it first. Oh, hello Hero." Purah reached out for Link's hand, probably not noticing the slight uneasiness he had shaking it. It has only been a few days since Link was declared "Hero of Hyrule" and everytime someone would make mention of it, he would become uncomfortable. "Sir Link" had no effect on him, but "Link the Hero" or just "Hero" brought him on edge. "You remember me, don't you?"
"Purah, lead researcher of the ancient technology."
Zelda acknowledged Link for a quarter of a second, then turned back to Purah. "Can we get to it?"
Purah nodded, "Your honor, Princess. But you know what you must say first…"
Zelda nodded. "SNAP!" The Princess then implanted the slate in the terminal, watching it flip over and automatically insert itself deeper into the terminal. The blue stone above glowed, as symbols appeared and hovered over. They all floated to the tip of the stone, forming a teardrop that hung from the stone (which formed the Sheikah symbol) for a second before dropping onto the tablet.
Seconds laters, the slate was ready for removal. It returned to the position Zelda placed it in, and the Princess took it back. Before she turned it back on, Purah halted her. "We should go outside for this, Zelda dear." Following the researcher, the trio ventured outside, then to a staged area with many other scientists near a small body of water. They stopped their, with Purah turning to the Princess. "Now boot it up."
Zelda did just that, turning the Sheikah Slate on. Purah looked over the maiden's shoulder, pointing at a new feature of the slate. "Ah, they are there! See those symbols?"
Zelda nodded. "Yeah."
"Good. Try that one, with the snowflake, Cryonis. Use it on the lake." Zelda selected the image, then faced the lake. She thrusted her hand forward, and almost immediately, a large block of ice rose from the water's surface. Everyone began clapping, cheering, or writing notes down, however Link focused on the Princess' elated face. She seemed very proud of herself, that she finally contributed to the goal of knowing what the people of 10,000 years prior knew. It was quite good to see that on a normally dismal creature.
Purah calmed everyone down. "Alright, on to the next one. Select the one with the magnet, 's a metal sheet in the lake. Pull it out." Zelda pressed it, then looked towards the lake. She could barely make out the sword's shape, but it was enough for her to reach out for it. Magnesis caught it, as Zelda could feel the slate grow in weight, then began to manipulate the slate to raise and bring the weapon towards her. Once again, Link observed the Princess' nature, this time more focused yet still retaining the thrill. She had the makings of a scientist, if the princess shindig didn't work out. Of course, that was totally out of the question.
Once the trial of Magnesis was done, Purah moved to the next one. "Next is Stasis. Link, we'll need you here. Princess, the metal ball over there… Inflict Stasis on it. That's the yellow lock icon. Hero, once Stasis is activated, hammer that ball with all you got. Preferably out into the field and not into us."
Zelda pressed the icon for Stasis, then looked at the ball. "Ready, Link?" Link nodded, finally happy to be of use. He enjoyed the show, but actually doing something was much better. "Good. Here it goes." Zelda punched the air with the slate, and a yellow glow came over the metal ball, with chains added for measure. Link drew the Master Sword, and as instructed, began hitting the ball. The color changed from bright yellow to orange to red before Stasis broke off, and the ball flew away from Link into Hyrule Field.
"Bravo," Purah cheered. "It seems that the slate is working according to the texts."
Zelda bounced in excitement. "Let's try another! The bombs!"
"Now, now, Princess," Purah calmed, "you'll have plenty opportunities to try the others. They're probably best utilized out in the field, while you're on your journey."
Zelda sighed. "Okay. Thanks Purah… Is there anything else that needs to be tested?"
"Sorry, but we'll leave that up to the professionals. You, however, have to get to Tabantha. I suggest you get on with your travels, the both of you. You don't want to be traveling in the cold at night."
Zelda sighed again, but Link knew Purah was right. "Alright. Princess, I'll gather the horses." Zelda nodded in his direction, and he hurriedly left the crowd.
Zelda
"So…" Zelda looked to the Sheikah woman, who had a weird smirk on her face. She had just denied Zelda her fun, but what could she be purring about now? Maybe it was something secret!
"So what?"
"The young man, Link."
The princess' excitement finally died out. "Oh...him… What about him?"
"What is he like? I mean, Princess, come on, tell me you have been around the knight?" Zelda's quietness answered Purah. "Of course you haven't. You're as stubborn as your father, possibly even more. How is it that the future ruler of the land doesn't attend to one of her duties as heir? Surely you're at that age where you'll be ready to court other young men?"
Zelda shrugged. She didn't want to talk about her appointed knight, definitely not in the way she thought Purah was insisting. True, the boy had his looks, but only a girl would consider looks. "The woman I consider myself and the queen I'll be wants a man of action, someone who represents courage like a warrior, wisdom like a teacher, and power like a king. Someone who, as king, will have Hyrule on his mind sunrise and sunset, with every pen stroke, with every word, with every carriage ride, and with my heir." Zelda paused, balling her fists before planting herself on the ground, pounding her fists against the soft grass. "But why would I think of that when I myself have been neglected as a princess? If we-"
"When we-"
"-beat the Calamity, what if we lose my father? I cannot rule, I don't know how. I was never educated on economics, diplomacy, court, and all I need as a princess, and as queen! Purah, I just turned sixteen. Most princes and princesses are ready to take some charge from their parents right now. In two years, they will be prepared to take the throne. In the next five to ten years, they would have the throne. My father is in his fifties, and he should be ready to relinquish the throne in a few years' time. But I am not ready. I have a country to save, a power ready to vanquish all awakening any moment now, but I am not ready. That has been my whole life, a life full of unpreparedness. But unlike the others, I can prepare myself. How will I do so if my father dies and I am left to rule? Trust the Council? I'll have too, but for how long? How long will it take me to be ready? How long will it be before I marry, and then be with a king? How long will it be before I am ready to rule at his side? And Link… His talent is wasted being my appointed knight. As Hero of Hyrule, he should be doing other things. He doesn't deserve to serve a failure like me. Like the rest of Hyrule… He looks at me as one." Zelda got up, leaving Purah speechless as the young girl stepped away and headed in the direction of the knight and their horses.
Zelda's teeth clicked together at a rapid tempo that she thought they would either redefine what types of teeth were within the mouth or that they would be hammered into her gums. As often as she got out of the castle (even when the trips weren't to the Sacred Grounds), Tabantha was unknown to her. She knew it was cold, as anyone can see the snowy region from a good perspective from afar or if they had extensive geographical knowledge of Hyrule (Zelda had both) but the Princess of Hyrule could not describe the region other than being cold. Not even the warm clothing that prevents her from freezing could completely deny the weather. Add in the unfortunate heavy amount of snow falling, you could say the Princess of Hyrule was totally not chill with her trip.
She knew Link was feeling just the same. He hadn't truly spoke since the Breach of Demise (not that he was a chatterbox anyway), while Zelda yammered on and on about the Hyrule Ridgeland and Tabantha region, the Sheikah Slate itself (which she found newfound enjoyment with) and research. She piped down once the temperature began to drop, figuring talking would be a waste of energy, energy her body needed to stay heated.
But they finally made it to the Tabantha Stable, just a few hours away from the Rito Village. If it wasn't for the weather or if they weren't tired (more so if Link wasn't tired-Zelda caught the boy yawning many times), they might have pushed on for a few more hours, but Zelda decided to call it a night. She was hungry, cold, and tired. Now, with the stable paid in full for the beds they will sleep on and for care of their horses, Zelda sat in front of a fire, warming up and watching her food cook in a skillet. Link, stirring the skillet, sat at a right angle from her, possibly compromising between distance and company.
He was a quiet, dutiful one, rarely voicing his thoughts. When he did, they were mostly as a result of her actions. Rarely were they positive. Matter of fact, he never indicated some sort of proudness for her earlier today at the labs. He was stoic as a knight can be. She rarely knew him without the sword, and she didn't want to question his father. True, she still hadn't warmed up (haha) to the fact he will be around her everyday, but she did figure he would leave her to her own devices, as he had his own. He is the Hero of Hyrule, after all. A duty more important than protecting her.
Did he accept his role? He wields the Master Sword, bears the blue shirt of being the Hylian Champion, but even he had to be troubled by his destiny. He would be the one to face Ganon before she would, and risk his life in the hope he can beat the evil. King Rhoam might think his daughter the most valuable entity in the plan, but Zelda sees Link just as valuable. Either one is lost… Game over, return of Ganon. Unlike her though, he was prepared for the most part.
Maybe Link wasn't. Sure, he could wield the sword, but years of training prepared him for it. Did Link fully have control of the bane of evil's blade? From her observations the last three days watching him train, she could hypothesize that he didn't, or maybe he did and she just didn't know what to look for.
"Food is ready, Princess." Link grabbed a bowl, pouring the concoction in and handing it to Zelda. It was a simple meal, gourmet meat combined with milk, goat butter, and Tabantha wheat to create a meat stew. Link proceeded to hand Zelda a spoon, but she declined, deciding that it was too cold to eat as her title would want her. Raising the bowl to her lips, she felt her upper body warm as the meal slipped through her lips and down her esophagus. It was good, no great. If Link ever needed a second career, chef would definitely do it. She finished in no time, her stomach filled. Setting her bowl down, she faced Link, who looked back at her stoically.
"This was great, Sir Link."
Link looked to the fire, Zelda noticing a blush on his face. He smiled nearly unnoticeably. "Thank you, Princess. This was my first attempt at it… Do you want more?"
Zelda declined, then looked into the skillet. There was a lot left, and the two of them had had a bowl apiece. "What are you going to do with the rest?"
"Eat it. I...have a large appetite."
"Oh." Zelda stood up, internally giggling to herself. The boy was full of surprises. She took out the Sheikah Slate, looking at the map of the Tabantha region. "Well, I'm going to retire. We'll have to make it to the Rito Village preferably before it gets dark tomorrow, so we'll resume travel at the tenth hour." She placed the slate back on her waist, then turned back to Link. "Good night, Hero."
Link, after a slight tense of hearing his title, nodded. "Good night, Princess."