The next chapter is on the 24th of January.
Hope you enjoy!
[Words: 2281]
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Chapter 7: Zora Royalty
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1) There is such a thing as a Blood Moon, created by Ganon's presence.
2) Said Blood Moons resurrects all Monsters previously slain.
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She stepped off the lift to see a pool around her—it was a flowing pool, a river, Lynk realised. There was a feature akin to a waterfall opposite her.
Cryonis is her next thought.
Slate in hand, she created three in a row before leaping and climbing onto the first. She hopped to the third, then created another, listening as the first was destroyed. Lynk leapt and pulled herself up onto the horizontal block of ice that didn't feel like ice. Despite the way mist escaped it, one would think the Cryonis block was freezing to the touch, however, it was the exact opposite—it was completely fine to touch and climb.
Now that she had scaled the waterfall, Lynk immediately caught sight of the small Guardian and whipped her bow off her back. A single shot sent it skidding off the centre island. A smirk tugged at her lips.
These ones were tiny and easy to deal with. An arrow to the glass eye was most effective, her weapons could slice through the legs with enough force….so yeah, unlike those bigger ones though…thankfully she's only encountered one of them so far, the one by the remains of the Temple of Time.
Lynk knew, realistically, at some point she was going to have to go up against ones that were not decayed or ruined to the point of being unable to move.
It struck fear into her very soul.
Made her scars tingle and burn.
Lynk didn't need to spend time thinking about why that might be.
She really didn't want to spend time thinking about it, in fact. Because she knew exactly why her body reacted like that even if she didn't remember, didn't have it confirmed. She just knew.
The chest contained an Ancient Core—which, that was useful. Lynk made a mental note to check up in with Purah about what exactly she wanted to agree to upgrade her Slate further.
Lynk snipes the two other Guardian Scouts into the water, listening to the way they exploded at the exposure to water.
If only the bigger ones worked like that, she mused, then fighting them would be an easy feat. Those damn lasers are as annoying as they are dangerous.
Lynk paused her motion of creating a path of Cryonis when that thought hit her, huh—at least subconsciously she was beginning to remember somethings, even as minor as how dangerous those Stalkers really were.
Again—Stalkers, that name was one she was unfamiliar with but knew without much effort. If only her actual memories worked like that, she groaned aloud at how unfair it is.
Still, Lynk got a good quality Royal Broadsword from the second chest. She twirled it in appreciation.
Lynk glided down to the Monk and readied herself for the same repetitive speech, as much as she liked these Shrines, the Monks always said the same damn thing!
This was her third Shrine today! C'mon!
At this rate, Wolfie wasn't going to let her carry on—he'd make her stay by the Stable for the night.
(She was right, darnit. Wolfie was such a party-pooper)
(At least she got to explore the surrounding area more.)
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She could check off Sheh Rata Shrine from the list now too.
Goddess was that Shrine annoying, it was a good thing she could swim well—even if she couldn't even remember that. but what was new.
Wolfie and Lynk then wad through the wetlands, dealing with annoying monsters called Lizalfos, courteous of the Slate, to Daka Tuss Shrine.
Then to Lynk's surprise, she came across a…fish person—Zora, her mind supplied. Her eyes stung for a moment, a flicker of an image, a woman, flashed through her mind. Mipha? Lynk wondered.
"Ah! I knew it! You're Hylian, aren't you?! Yes, you must be!" the pink scaled Zora beamed happily, "Otherwise you're one unfortunate-looking Zora!"
Lynk cracked a smile, Wolfie snorted, a sound Lynk had come to know was him showing his amusement.
"Your timing couldn't be more perfect if you tried! I was ordered by Princes Sidon to find a Hylian!" the Zora explained, clapping in excitement, "I've been searching nonstop!"
Then the Zora turned, pointing off in the direction of the Sheikah Tower.
"Princes Sidon is a member of the distinguished Zora royal family. He's waiting at the Inogo Bridge, which is on the other side of that tall tower. I do hope you'll agree to go there and meet with him! Ah!" She turned back around, looking quite sheepish, "You must be confused by the sudden request."
Yes, yes she was—but, did it have to do with all the dark clouds?
"My apologies. For us Zora, this is our top priority right now. So I must beg of you to grant my request. Oh, and if you do meet Princess Sidon…" that sheepish grin widened to reveal her sharp teeth, "Perhaps don't tell him I was splashing about and playing in the water. Deal?"
Oh my Hylia, that's adorable, Lynk nodded with a smile and gestured to Wolfie to follow as she took off running.
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Fighting against a group of Lizalfos was better done at a distance, Lynk discovers as she kneels over, hands on knees in an attempt to catch her breath. At least when it comes to a handful of them anyway.
She groaned and stood up straight, Lizalfos were by far the smartest monster she'd come across yet. Their bodies made for quick movements and long-ranged attacks. However, Lynk had noticed almost immediately that their quick movements were not easily stopped if a sudden obstacle appeared before them; it was a disadvantage Lynk used to the fullest.
After collecting the loot left behind when they had burst into puffs of smoke upon their deaths, Lynk turned to admire the Sheikah Tower that sat in the skeletal ribs that littered the mountainside. She also knew immediately at just the sight of the area this would be an ideal monster location.
"I suppose," she started, turning to Wolfie, "We b'est deal with the Monsters before mh'oving on, right?"
Wolfie nodded, giving a toothy grin, Lynk matched it.
Monster loot, both normal and fire arrows, a shield…
Lynk scaled the Tower, slipped the Slate into the pedestal and as the Tower activated, was startled by the sound of someone else up there with her.
She turned, blinking as she spotted a blue Zora who stared nervously over the edge and was completely oblivious to Lynk having just climbed the tower and activated it.
…huh.
When the Slate popped back up, she grabbed it, taking a note of the new area—Lanayru Region—before tucking it to her belt and slowly approaching the Zora.
Lynk cleared her throat and it startled the Zora who jumped, eyes wide as he turned to look at her.
"I can't believe it!" he coughed sheepishly and composed himself, "Excuse me. I am Gruve of the Zora. It is apparent that you are a traveller, but can I ask what brought you here?"
Lynk hesitated a beat, wondering if a Zora would know sign, [I could ask the same.]
"Hm…how very astute of you! An excellent query indeed!"
Lynk breathed a sigh of relief as Gruve did indeed know sign and could therefore understand her.
"I, by order of Princes Sidon of Zora's Domain, am searching for a Hylian," Gruve trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck, "Or I was…but then I fell asleep. I awoke to a loud noise and awful quaking, and now here I am. I'd like to get down and be on my way, but I'm simply too high up! I need to figure something out."
Gruve glanced over the edge again, Lynk followed his gaze to a canyon far below.
"Princes Sidon is down at the bridge below, but for some reason, I cannot seem to catch his attention! But you are a Hylian, yes?!"
Lynk nodded, an echo of her earlier conversation with the other Zora came to mind.
"Well then! My luck is improving!" Gruve turned and tried shouting down towards the Princes, but like all his previous attempts, failed to gain any sort of attention.
Lynk supposed they were a bit too far up, especially when she looked down—spotting another Shrine—and to the gorgeous looking blue bridge. It was quite far down.
Gruve wilted, "Seems Princes Sidon doesn't notice my struggle…perhaps I should swallow my fear and jump to the river below. Then I could return to him! He must be worried sick."
A second went by, a third and fourth.
Gruve grimaced, "Nope! Can't do it! I'm too high up! I'll likely meet the gods of the ever after before I ever see Princes Sidon again…" he turned to Lynk, "Miss Hylian, I must apologize. It will be some time before I can get back to Princes Sidon. Please, you must leave me here and go on ahead."
Lynk tilted her head, wondering why Gruve didn't use the ladder but shrugged. Alright then, she mused and began to climb back down to Wolfie, it seemed she had a Princes to meet.
Before her toes could touch the ground, Wolfie had already made an inquisitive noise. Lynk knew she'd been up there for a short while, she had activated the Tower straight away afterall—so why had she lingered?
"There was a Zora," she explains, amusement coloured her voice "Suck. Told me to see the Princes also."
Wolfie chuffed, he'd no doubt be raising a brow if he could, Lynk knew.
Then they were on the move again, finding the correct path that led to Zora's Domain because—Lynk wanted to get to that Shrine and nothing was going to stop her.
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"Say, hey there! Young one with the wolf!"
Lynk stopped short at the voice.
"Up top! Above you!"
Two sets of blue eyes darted upwards and the Hylian and wolf duo see red—was this?
The red Zora leapt from the platform and dropped down before her, and Lynk bit back a noise of shock at just how much larger he was in comparison to the previous three Zora she'd met.
Was this Princes Sidon?
He was built larger, looked different from the previous Zora she had met. The garbs he was wearing were subtle, but it was clear this Zora was someone important. Royalty.
Soft amber eyes invaded Lynk's mind; phantom feeling of silky red scales beneath her fingers.
The Princes—because this couldn't be anyone else—stood upright and peered down at her, "Pardon the entrance, but you're Hylian, aren't you? I was hoping perhaps…" He trailed off, eyes wide, "I—Lynk?"
Lynk blinked, eyes slowly widening in mirrored shock and disbelief because—this Zora knew her?!
She choked on her words but nodded and in response he grinned widely, revealing razor-sharp teeth. Then before Lynk could realise, she'd been snatched up into a hug, "I can't believe it! It really is you!"
Lynk made a soft inquisitive noise, more worried about the fear of being crunched than anything else in that moment, "…C—Care—ful."
"Oh! My apologise, my friend!" She was set on her feet and the Zora fret over her, "Sometimes I forget Hylians aren't as strong as Zora."
Lynk wavered on her feet, Wolfie propped her up with his head.
The Princes stilled, "I must ask, how are you here? It was confirmed you were deceased! You haven't aged a day!"
Lynk swallowed, dread filling her stomach—did this Princes have any relation to Mipha? Oh Goddess, Lynk suddenly felt faint.
"I—" she choked on her words, but was desperate to get these words out, "Died. I did. I died."
The Princes stared. A hand subconsciously clutched her stomach, clutched at the scarring.
Then, hating this, dreading this question but knowing it was necessary. Lynk asks: "Who are you?"
The Princes takes her face into his hands, "Oh Lynk," he murmurs softly, eyes soft and sad and mournful, "I'm so, so sorry."
He exhales and releases her face, hands falling limply to his sides, "My name is Sidon, I am the Princes of Zora's Domain. What knowledge do you have, my friend."
"Pieces," she whispers, fingers threading into Wolfie's fur, "I—I was told about—about—"
"Mipha," Sidon finishes and Lynk nods, eyes burning.
"I'm sorry."
"No, no," Sidon cradles her face again, "Do not apologise, Lynk, you fought until you could no longer. You were not here, nor anywhere close. Mipha's death is not on your hands and it never will."
She squeezed her eyes closed in a failing attempt to stop her tears and failed to bite back the choked sob—because it was, in a way, because she was not strong enough, because she died, because—
"Lynk," Sidon's voice made her open her eyes to meet his amber—the same shade as Mipha's, she realised absently—eyes once again, "Listen to me, yes? Everything that happened one hundred years ago was horrible, there is no denying, but it does not solely rest on your shoulders."
Lynk nodded and shoves that self-hatred deep down for now, knows the feeling will only weigh her down when she has things to do, has Divine Beasts to retake, has a world to save. Later, when it is only her and Wolfie, Lynk will allow herself to hate herself, will allow herself to cry and scream and wallow in her misery.
So, Lynk takes a breath, composes herself the best she can and meets Sidon's eyes with new confidence and asks: "Where am I needed?"
Sidon, once the little brother, is now the big brother lmao. Also, completely weak for a soft Sidon
Lynk is a total bi disaster and yes, Lynk is not wearing any shoes. Currently, since she doesn't yet have the Barbarian outfit, Lynk is wearing the dyed orange Hylian tunic.