Rain.

How chilly.

They had just left the Riverside Stable and had begun to cross the Horwell Bridge before the rain began.

They had barely managed to reach a tree for cover, though they'd still end up getting soaked.

Thankfully, Impa packed for them some cloaks. Black dyed ones meant for rain and strong winds.

Though Zelda didn't really like wearing them, unless she absolutely had to. Link felt as ease with it on, as if remembering what it was like to sit by a campfire on a cold winter morning.

Link had kept guard. Though he didn't say why... He always kept one hand ready to pull his sword. Hopefully the rain wouldn't wear it down.

Crossing another bridge, they'd spot a tiny island near them. A shrine surrounded by pretty flowers. Link was immediately interested, and against her reason... She once more indulged him as they crossed a small bit of water to get there.

It was beautiful, with a set of patterns. "Whoever tended to them busy be skilled" she thought.

Her eyes glanced over the fields, only to find a woman huddled by a tree.

Despite the rain, she seemed rather content with herself.

Curious, he let Link do his thing as he approached the Lady.

Spotting Zelda, she smiles and clasps her hands together.

"Look! Aren't they lovely?"

"Well yes,they're-"

"I wanted to see how the shrine would look" She interrupted "With flowers around it, and it's wonderful!"

She nods. Definitely pretty. For sure.

"Please, feel free to take a closer look. Just don't ste-"

Crack.

The Flower Lady looked over at the flowers, and saw Link, stepping on one of the flowers.

"No! You must not hurt the flowers!" She says with an insistent, and slightly frustrated tone. "They are screaming out in pain!"

Link... Very carefully steps out of the garden, and tries to think of a way around this.

"...you seem to really care for these." Zelda notes.

"Oh indeed! I've put a lot of effort into them. They're practically my children!"

She glanced back at Link, who seemed to struggle. It seems his usual need to run as opposed to walking is now becoming an issue as he tries going down a path within the garden that slowly shrinks into a smaller and smaller road.

Though somewhat concerned over the strange flower lady, she was relieved to find him entering it and giving her a minute to relax and enjoy what sights she could. Although admittedly... It was rather drab with such bleak weather.

The skies were a light grey with clouds covering most of the sky. It must've started raining early in the morning for none of them to have spotted such clouds approaching. She was shivering in the cold and felt slight goosebumps. Perhaps she should've joined Link...

...no. No Link. Not now. She can't afford a distraction... Or any more pain.

She'll just sit here. In the rain. Under a tree. And wait...


It all happened so fast.

She tried to recollect her thoughts as they ran on the muddy roads.

Link had left the shrine after a few minutes. He was ready to leave already and thought to simply run through to her for cover, but had stopped after stepping on a flower.

The lady was not happy.

She sounded on the brink of snapping. No, of Insanity. So Link did his best to try and step around. But the rain has made the grass slippery, and he was in a hurry and... Well...

She's never seen someone be so psychotic over flowers. It was scarier than the thought of ending up in the Dark World.

Of course, Link was not about to let either of them get hurt, and made a run for it with her. They're lucky the lady isn't a good swimmer. Though now her everything is wet, and she's shivering hard. The act of running and the adrenaline now coursing through her veinsare the only things keeping her warm for now.

A few minutes passed before they finally slowed down tobreathe. It didn't seem too bad aplaceto bein, but then she saw where they were.

The Wetlands.

She had never liked this. Practically a gigantic swamp where there shouldn't be one. The horse's hooves always get stuck or muddy, and ones shoes are never dry. Damp and hot with insects and other gross creatures.At least, that was originally how it was.

She almost couldn't believe her eyes when she saw it now.

...it was practically nothing but ruins. Burnt houses and buried tree stumps. It was so lacking of any real wild life that it now seemed like a large pond.

Zelda felt a pit in her stomach. It was never really a beautiful place, but, ithad it's charm. And now it's nothing more but mere ruins. She can't even imagine there being skeletons. She Doesn't want to imagine that.

Link seemed un phased as usual. Though this time, he seemed more... Detached. He didn't look at the houses, and often stared at the monsters in the distance. There were many Lizalfos in the area, either swimming or crawling in the mud. Though non seem interested in the two as they tried to pass through on foot.

Their real savior, it seems, are the old wooden panels set up just before the Calamity. Though meant to encourage tourism, they now server as a path through the swamp like land.

What was worse? The rain.

Every drop splashed on the wet pools near their feet and made the wooden platforms slippery. They effectively couldn't run, and we're forced to only walk at a steadily fast pace through the rain already soaking their clothing.

It felt like a new low for her. Her body shook as she felt the warmth leaving her body. She prayed for the rain to end soon, and for sunlight to bless her skin. The only comfort she felt was with Link, who held her hand and guided her through the wetlands.

Hylia be blessed, for she mourns for those lost here.


Monsters.

They were everywhere.

They roamed the platforms made of wood and held up by bones of ancient sea creatures. She'd never seen such huge skeletal remains... And to see them now, being used to help what left ofGanon'smonsters was disgusting.

But, Link didn't even move. He stood still, staring at them, as if devising a plan to get through. He couldn't possibly take them all on his own, could he? Well, perhaps he could. But last time he tried, a single smack nearly killed him. He's not ready... Hecan't be.

And then... Finally, he took a deep breath, clenching his fist and groaning.

He looked at her, and set a hand on her shoulder, scaring her a bit.

"Zelda." He said in a dead serious tone.

"I'm going to carry you in my arms, and you'll need to close your eyes."

She blinked, looking at him for any sign of sarcasm.

...not even a single hint. As if he were one to crack jokes with her. He has done well so far... But, this just sounds... Downright mad!

But then, he held her hand, and smiled. Damn him and his blue eyes. Damn it all... She wanted to trust him. So why not keep doing so?

Though not adamant, she did finally nod and close her eyes as she felt him once more sweep her feet.

"And cover your ears."

She did as he said.

And the next thing she knew... He started running.


It was chaotic. She wasn't sure what happened. She could barely hear Lizalfos and Bokoblins yelling and screaming, faintly feeling their heavy footsteps before something else occured.

By the time Link set her down on her feet, he was out of breath, panting. And next to him, a concerned looking, blue Zora.

"Hey, Hylian. Are you okay?" The Zora asked, hand on Link's shoulder as he caught his breath before looking over at Zelda.

"And you? That was a rather crazy stunt you two pulled back there. If I hadn't done something, well... I don't know What wouldn't happened...'

She's even more confused. What in the name of Hylia Did happen?

"Well... It's good to see you're feeling better!" They suddenly say with a peppy tone.

"I'm sorry if now is not the time to ask, but I beg of you, we need the help of aHylianor two."

While Link catches his breath, Zelda takes up on their offer.

"Oh dear. Help with what exactly?'

"Well, recently our Divine Beasthas goneout of control. At first it was raining hard and the King was worried. Then it stopped. Then, it rained Harder."

They then point up at the sky and the seemingly more heavy rain, plus the water coming from the Zora's home which seems to running more rapidly than usual.

Seeing this... Zelda grows nervous. But before she can say anything, Link interrupts her, and claims they can fix it.

Zeldais surprised, but doesn't say anything when she sees how happy the Zora gets before thanking them, then going back into the river.

Zelda looks back at Link, withan expression of pure confusion.

But then, Link? He grinned.

This was gonna be a hell of a first mission.


YES. Finally back from a Hiatus (That I totally planned. Yeah, let's just say that .w. )Even better news! I finally have all the main plot points of the story ready, and, We're getting into the first main part of the story. The first Divine Beast, heheh.

Well, thank you lovely men and women of the internet. And I'll see you in the next chapter ;)