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The Legend of Zelda: Routine Rewritten
One of The Legends

Act I: Aftermath

Chapter VII:
"Finale; Part II: Hope
(For A Better Tomorrow)"

Zelda stared in dismay as black smoke billowed into the sky like a rising storm.

The flames below popped and crackled as the wooden frame of the stables acted as perfect kindling. The tall horse caricature bled the fiery inferno from its eyes, mouth, and nostrils; resulting in a hellish display. You'd think she would've become numb to such scenes, having witnessed the destruction of the kingdom she loved and would one day inherit.

But she recalled Castle Town in flames, caressing the buildings and the land like a lover's touch, bringing ruin and demise. Her breath rattled in her throat, a chill snaking around her lungs and burrowing into her gut, cementing her in place for the several precious moments required for reaction. It felt like she couldn't breathe.

The Champions, unhindered or spurred by their greater constitution, sprung into action immediately. Link was off of Epona and sprinting towards the inferno. Mipha, Daruk, and Revali were close behind him. They rounded about the stables, calling to anyone inside. Perhaps encouraged by them. Her shock lessened and, while still on edge and trembling, Zelda dismounted and hurried to join them. Urbosa, who she hadn't realized had stayed behind to keep an eye on her, followed her.

"Hello! Is anyone here!?"

"Careful!"

"You see anyone, Mipha?"

"Not over here!"

"Hey!" They quickly snapped to the sound of a hoarse voice calling them. "Hey, kid! Over here! We need help!"

"Right side!"

Where the horse pens were, a man and two kids were hunched over another man, whose right arm was trapped under a fallen beam of wood. It was Rensa and his sons, trying to help his brother Tasseren. Zelda moved to help, but the heat forced her back, smoke stinging her eyes. Sheikke grabbed her shoulder and pulled her back while Link pressed on, grabbing onto and trying to lift the smoldering beam. But he found that there was more debris weighing it down, more than they'd hope to clear in time. So he whipped around, calling Urbosa and Daruk to the plate. While his name was unspoken, Arthur also joined them, the ancient hero's face stoic as he idly adjusted the golden gauntlets on his arms, the red gems decorating their centers glinting.

"Ready, big guy? Arthur?" The Gerudo asked as the three of them took Link's place, wincing from the flames close by.

"Always!"

"Yep."

"One, two, three..."

"Heave!"

They lifted with all their might, and it was more than enough as Tasseren scrambled clear with his freed arm before they let it drop again. With collective sighs of relief, they moved away from the blaze. Mipha was quick to check the wounded stable co-owner's arm. "It's fractured and badly burned." She determined, her healing hands roaming over the damage. "Hold still, you'll be good as new."

"Thank you, little lady." Tasseren said with relief.

"It is my pleasure."

"Sorry, folks." Rensa coughed. "Looks like you got here too late."

"What happened, Rensa? Was there anyone else here?" Link asked, frowning as he looked to the torched stables, then to Revali. "Hey, see if you can use your gales to get some water on this."

"Sounds like a plan." Revali, surprisingly, nodded without question before taking off.

As they moved a bit further away to allow the Rito to work, Rensa answered Link's question. "It was just us for today, don't worry."

"Only business we had was your friend over there asking for your horses and the wagon." Tasseren, his twin brother, added.

"Then these two men came!" The boys, Rensa's kids, piped in. "They had weird short ears and started yelling mean things! They threw Dad against the wall and set one of the tables on fire!"

Rensa calmed them. "Yeah, that about sums it up. It just escalated from there, whole place went up in flames. While we were trying to save what we could, they made off with the horses."

"Did you see which way they had gone?" Zelda asked, watching as water from the river, guided by Revali's Gale, was poured onto the stables from afar, smothering the flames. Only the charred skeleton of the structure remained, along with any ruined furniture inside.

"That way, I think, towards Hyrule Field." They pointed past Dueling Peaks. "I think I saw them arguing with a third man. He had a wagon full of barrels, looked like explosive powder. Rode off in a huff though, maybe you can find him?"

Link nodded and called up to the fire-fighting Rito. "Revali!"

"Yeah?" He called back from the riverside.

"Fly up! See if you can spot a camp down through the Peaks!"

"Sure, just make me do everything!" That sounded more like the Revali she knew. Regardless, he followed the order and shot off to scout ahead.

"Those men were outsiders, weren't they?" Tasseren mused, looking at his now mended arm. He was stating a fact, embittered by what had happened. "We've had hundreds of travelers come through here, ain't seen their kind before. We'd heard the wind barrier had diminished...Seen those Ordonians and their caravan, but they didn't have those pointed, short ears. Like a stubbed-hylian's."

"They were Marshmen, from the Marsh Kingdom." Arthur informed them, then rather bluntly added. "They have a history of shit like this."

"Hrm...Well, the Ordonians left a far better first impression."

"They're gonna build an trading outpost, at the old ranch south of Castle Town." Link informed them after a brief pause. "You could come with us and settle there, if you want, given the state of the stables."

"Sounds nice, but we'll have to decline."

"Are you sure?" Mipha asked softly.

"We've ran this stable for years, little lady." Rensa waved. "We've had Guardians blast it with those eyes of theirs, had moblins smash the walls in, once even had wolves and such swarm it looking to eat us for supper, tore the place asunder. But we always built it back up."

They turned around just as the giant horse caricature gave way and crashed down into the main room, leaving the whole building as a soaked, smoldering heap of charred wood. "Though..." Tasseren mused thoughtfully. "This is a bit more than we're used to fixing."

"I know a guy." Link offered.

"Appreciate it, on top of you lot coming by to save us." The stable owner frowned. "But we do need our horses back."

"We'll get 'em, don't worry." Arthur said, as Revali landed next to them. "Anything?"

"Plume of smoke on the other side of Dueling Peaks, across the river from the tower."

"Let's go check it out then."

"Oh, wait!" They looked back. "I forgot something, something the two men said."

"What is it?"

"They said they were looking for someone, a Hero. With blonde hair." He nodded to Link. "Said his name was Link."

"Let's see, fifty pounds, sixty pounds, seventy..."

Tarin of Marsh looked across the river expanse, to the tall tower made completely of Sheikah Technology, ripe for the taking. His lip curled as he went through the numbers in his head. He'd brought enough powder barrels to level a mountain - okay, maybe a small hill - so estimating how much he needed to bring the bastard down was all the trial he had at the moment. Hopefully, he could get it to fall just right enough so the majority of it didn't fall into the water. He knew the components were resilient, but he didn't want to have to swim today.

If his so-called friends hadn't ditched him, this would go a lot quicker...They had ridden past him a minute ago, leading a bunch of horses. He tried to flag them down, but they just jeered at him and kept riding. So that left him alone and wondering where they even got all those horses.

Reaching into the wagon to retrieve another powder barrel, he carried it over to the other side of the track and set it down. There was a raft on the riverside, but he'd have to make several trips to get all the barrels in place. He walked back to the cart, leaning against the side with a sigh. He let himself slide down into a sitting position to allow himself a quick break, reaching into his bag for his smoking pipe and a match.

Once it was stuffed, he was just about to light it when he paused and glanced back at the wagon full of highly flammable powder. With a grumble, he put it away before letting his arms fall into his lap. After a moment of listening to the river flow, he heard horses approaching from Dueling Peaks. He turned to see the sizable group of eight approaching; four on horses, another four on a wagon.

"Hey!" The lead rider in blue called, waving to him.

"Howdy, folks." He returned the gesture, resting back a bit. "You all Hylians? Or native to Hyrule? This is some good land you have here."

Another rider, a young woman wearing a red tunic, looked to his wagon, to the barrels on the opposite side of the road, to the raft on the river, to the tower across the water, and finally back to him. "What are you doing?"

Tarin pointed to the tower. "About to float some of this powder over to that tower, try to blow it onto its side and not into the water."

The woman seemed alarmed. "You're going to destroy it?"

"Nah, 'course not." He grunted as he stood up, dusting himself off. "All that old sheikah technology is quite valuable back home. I've made a living off stripping sheikah machines ever since the mines I worked in dried up."

"How much are we talking?" The rider in blue asked, sounding interested. This earned him a scolding look from the girl.

"Depends on how much you bring in." He chuckled a little, scratching at his beard. "That tower...Hrm...probably enough to afford me a nice house in the Capital, maybe even noble titles for my family. Though it sounds kinda boring, I prefer working with my hands, but my family living in comfort is all I need."

"And you plan on leveling one of the peaks while you're at it?" He nodded to the barrels.

"Well, the stuff is resilient as is. Pfft, this might not even be enough to knock that thing down." He folded his arms. "Then I'll be out of powder and luck."

"Hm." The rider exchanged a look with his female counterpart, before turning back to him. "Sorry, my name's Link. This is Zelda, and back there are our friends Mipha, Revali, Urbosa, Daruk, Arthur, and Sheikke."

"Quite a lot of you, then. Charmed." He tipped his sun hat. "Tarin, to my mother and them I call friends. What can I do for you?"

"You know two men from Marsh? Come from that stable back there?"

"Three Goddesses, I do." He chortled, grabbing a barrel from his cart. "My friends, in the loosest of terms and from the lowest of places. Sooner spit on me, then help with this excavation work. They rode off when I started unloading, then came back through with a bunch of horses."

"The stable's horses." Link said. "They attacked the owners and set fire to the place."

"Din...You sure?" He grimaced, setting the barrel down on the road. Hands at his sides, tracing the rim of his pockets, he shook his head. "Ah, I knew they were trouble. Kept giving people on the road nasty looks, kidding to one another that they should choose someone to rob."

"Did they say what they were coming to Hyrule for? Where they could've gone?" Mipha, the Zora girl, asked from the horse she shared with the Gerudo.

"Just that they were looking for someone, nothing more than that. Someone called..." He paused, brow furrowed as he glanced to Link. "Link. Say, that's what you said your name was, wasn't it?"

"Yeah." Link matched his expression. "They give any reason they'd be looking for me?"

"None that I know of, I'm afraid. But it didn't sound nice."

"The list of nice reasons I can think of is slim enough." Arthur clicked his tongue.

"Indeed." Tarin looked away from them, pointing west towards the bridge leading to the Great Plateau. "But they rode across the bridge there and made a right. Their names are Mikeal and Zeke. One's got the face of a overgrown keese, and the other of a moblin, easy to tell which is which. But they've both nasty tempers, so watch yourself."

"They're heading to Hyrule Field then." Link mused to his group. "Think they'll run into the Ordonians?"

"They might try to sell the horses to them." Urbosa said. "Maybe we can catch them there."

"Or to any stable they come across." Arthur added. "Though that only applies to two by my memory."

"Outskirts and Riverside, hmm." Link closed his eyes in thought.

"Are you suggesting we separate?" Zelda inquired, sounding worried.

"Most likely." Link glanced back. "Revali can fly over to Outskirts stable to check with them, and Mipha can swim to Riverside stable and do the same there. The rest of us can follow the main road up to Castle Town. If you see them, come and get us as quick as you can. We shouldn't risk our lives over some horse thieves."

Revali harrumphed half-heartedly, before spreading his wings and launching into the air with a great gale trailing behind him. Mipha gave a small nod before she hopped off Urbosa's horse with her trident and dived into the river. They were both past the horizon in a matter of moments.

"Supposed horse thieves, but they're looking for you, kid." Tarin pointed out.

"I'm aware."

"Hmm." Tarin lifted up the barrel he'd dropped, carrying it over to the raft. "Well, good luck to you, folks. Hope you catch 'em."

The blonde girl gave him an odd look, one of worry and contemplation.

"Are you sure you will be fine out here?"

"Eh, probably." He set the barrel down with a stale smirk. "I've worked this trade from some years, young lady. I know how to take the losses and the victories. So if this is a loss, a fool's errand even, so be it."

"...Well, how about an offer then?" Link looked at her with a puzzled expression, but she continued. "Rather than risk all your supply trying to bring the Sheikah Tower down, why not take it to the Ordonians? Use it to help them?"

Tarin paused and looked over to her, single brow in a querying manner. "For what? A mine?"

"Uh..."

"Sure." She peered back as Arthur answered for her. "There are plenty of workable spots around here for one or several."

"Oh yeah! There are minerals here even back home on Death Mountain doesn't have." Daruk nodded earnestly.

"And plenty of pristine, deactivated Guardians to scrap." Urbosa added.

"Guardians?"

"The autonomous soldiers made by sheikah." Zelda supplied, as if that made any more sense. Sure enough, he still looked confused.

"Look like an upside-down pot?" Link ventured.

"Oh, yeah." He nodded with understanding, scratching at his short, yet sharp ears. "Ah...Let me think about it."

"Trust me, friend. It's far better than sailing a bunch of powder barrels across a river to and blow up something that may or may not be too strong to be blown up by conventional means." Arthur said. "And you could probably make a better living off it for your family."

"Hmm." He looked between the barrels, the river, and the tower. "You got a point there." He waved his arms. "Ah, why not? I'll head over and see about it."

"That's wonderful!" Zelda beamed brighter than she probably intended. "They're settled at an old ranch, just south-east of the Castle. You can't miss it. We'll be with them, but if we're not there, ask for Lord Royer."

"I will, thank you for telling me." He gave one last wave. "I'll get all this loaded back up and head up there as soon as I'm ready."

"You need help?"

"Nah, nah, I'm fine."

They exchanged goodbyes, with Tarin watching them ride away. He looked back across the river to the tower one last time. For a long moment, longer than intended, he considered throwing caution to the wind and going ahead with his previous plan. It was tempting, oh so tempting.

But he quashed the mere thought, turning to get everything packed up.

"Thank Hylia, that went well." The Princess gave a great sigh of relief, hand over her heart. "I feared I had pushed my luck."

"You have to start somewhere." Link responded with a encouraging smile. "Even then, there's no shame in failing once or twice."

"Exactly." Arthur drove the wagon alongside them. "You're learning. And you did well. A kind heart and outstretched hand is a good start to being a leader." He looked to his sheikah co-pilot. "What're your thoughts on the matter, red-eyes?"

Sheikke's gaze narrowed, trying to gauge the ancient hero's intention in asking him. "As you say, it was a kind gesture." He answered stiffly. "But I feel as if we shouldn't be too open about the Kingdom's reconstruction effort, it could bring prying eyes and unwanted attention."

"Technically, it's not a reconstruction effort." Daruk pointed out. "Of the entire kingdom, that is."

"Yes...Even then, I'm still uncertain I want to rule Hyrule yet." Zelda tucked her hair behind her ear. "But I want to lay down a foundation for something to rise from the old kingdom's ashes, a legacy of what my family always held reign over."

"And there's nothing wrong with either of those things." Arthur's eyes flashed at Sheikke. "Is there?"

The Sheikah blinked, slightly unnerved. There was something in his stare that bothered him.

"No."

They went on across the bridge, waving to Bringo, one of the many, yet few combat-capable guards across Hyrule, and through the various outpost ruins leading to the Great Plateau. As they rode through, Link borrowed the Sheikah Slate, and would periodically hop off Epona to grab old, rusted weaponry and other armaments. With a tap of the slate, the collected items would vanish into it as blue wisps of light. He later explained that he had made a habit out of gathering old weaponry to use before acquiring the Master Sword, with Arthur eventually teaching him how to care for, maintain, and restore them, along with the legendary blade.

While Zelda could not see him wielding anything but the sword that seals the darkness, he quickly pointed out that the Master Sword, while a fine weapon, had only so much reach compared to a traditional long-sword or spear. Which led to an amusing exchange between him and his ancestor on if the Master Sword counted as a long-sword, given its somewhat shorter length.

That debate lasted long enough for them to reach the Central Sheikah Tower. Lucky for them, nobody was attempting to destroy or otherwise seek to damage this one, so they continued onward after a cursory exploration of the area. Soon, they approached the ruins of Mabe Village, directly adjacent to the Ranch Ruins the Ordonians had settled in. It was obvious they had spread out just a tad bit into said village. They had constructed a small checkpoint on the road, manned by two Darknuts and one Ordonian soldier, who gave them curt nods as they passed by. Many non-combatants were otherwise about working; picking up debris from the both it and the old ranch, carrying it off to dump or scrap.

Over at the ranch, more workers could be seen as they approached, a half-dozen busy reconstructing the fence of the corral, another were using horses to haul a pristine, but deactivated Guardian Stalker away beside what was once either a tower or storage building. Some had set up work spaces beside their wagons, others did the same with tents. All around, using a ramshackle perimeter, Darknuts and Ordonian soldiers patrolled, ever vigilant.

"Zelda, watch out!"

There was so much activity, so many unfamiliar faces walking to and fro, Zelda missed the yells and cries from others that preluded a small group of stallions barreling towards her. For a moment, time seemed to slow as her gaze met that of a rider flying past. His face was contorted and stout, like a moblin made human. His short, yet sharp ears marked him as a Marshman. Chain-mail armor chinked and damaged, blood-spattered weapon held tight in his grip with his horse's reigns in the other.

She met his eyes for a little under a second. They were emeralds, like her own, but dull and bleak. Disguised apathy and loathing, bitter contempt. Then he had the boldness to smirk at her, a nasty, smug grin, with hollow meaning and yellowed teeth. It surprised her, so much so, that she didn't even attempt to steady herself as Rhoam reared in surprise as he sped past. She tried at the last second to grab the saddle horn, yet it slipped through her fingers and she felt herself falling.

Something solid hit the back of her head and the world drowned in darkness.

Link recognized the Marshmen on sight and had the perfect opportunity to knock at least one of them off their horse. But Zelda's horse had reared in surprise; Not that it surprised him much, Rhoam had always been skittish. He figured she'd be able to hold on. But next thing he knew, he was watching the Princess fall backwards, watching every intimate detail of her head smacking against the corral's fencing, before her limp body embraced the dirt.

His mind ran a blank for the longest time, even as the Marshman and his accomplice rode past him. He heard Arthur and Urbosa yelling something at them. Several Darknuts and Ordonian soldiers hurried past and after them. But whatever trouble they had wrought here, he cared little for it. When he finally came to his senses, he was off of Epona and by his Princess's side in seconds.

"Hey...Hey! Princess, Princess!" He rolled her onto her back. Her head lolling, golden hair covering her face. He shook her by the shoulders. "Come on...Zelda!"

"Wild! Easy, son!" Arthur grabbed him by the wrist and shoulder, pulling him back as Urbosa knelt by Zelda's side and checked her over. "You'll hurt her worse if you keep that up."

"But-"

"She just took a knock, she'll be fine." The old Hero said firmly.

"Hey! You folks alright?" Royer's friend, Valenzuela, came running up. "Oh hell, is that the Princess? She alright?"

"She's unconscious. Hopefully, she'll just have a headache and a nasty knot on the back of her head." The Gerudo reported with a suppressed sigh. "Though a concussion isn't out of the question."

"We should probably get Mipha then." Daruk said.

"I'll go." Arthur declared, standing up. "You got the Marshmen?"

"Hopefully." The blonde Ordonian-trained-Hylian watched the fading dots of the bandits in the distance. "Got some men after 'em, but more hands are welcome."

"I'll join." Daruk thumped his rocky chest. "About time I get in on some action!"

Sheikke knelt down beside Zelda. "I will stay with the Princess."

"As will I." Urbosa said.

Link looked between him and her for a moment. He trusted Urbosa, sure, but it was taking a while for the sheikah to earn any semblance of that. If it were any other situation, he would've stayed behind too. But with how much strife these Marshmen had wrought, just two of them at that, he felt he had to make an exception. Hopefully, Zelda would understand.

So he took a deep breath, steeling himself as he stood. "Keep her safe."

"I will protect her with my life, you have my word."

"Alright." Link turned to Valenzuela. "Daruk and I will head after them, you going to ride with us?"

"I'll go get Royer, we'll mount up and catch up to you!" The other blonde said, backpedaling away.

"As will I, should finding Mipha not be too much of an issue." Arthur mounted Urbosa's horse, giving a slight nod to his descendant. "Be safe, Wild."

He rode off eastward to collect the Zora Princess, while Link turned to mount up. Before he did so, he passed by Rhoam and snatched the Sheikah Slate from his saddle. Securing it on his belt, he climbed onto Epona and, with a shout, tugged the reins and had her whirl around, galloping off in pursuit of the Marshmen. Daruk was right beside him, curled up and rolling to keep up. Heading in the general direction of the Marshmen bandits, and their Ordonain pursuers, had gone.

Link drew the Master Sword, grip tight as he and Daruk made haste along the rode. They blew through the Garrison Ruins just near the Central Tower, and would've blown right past that too, had an Ordonian soldier not waved them down. About three of them, plus two Darknuts, were hunched down on the outskirts of the tower.

"Careful! One of them's up in the tower!" A crossbow bolt glanced off his helmet just as he spoke, sending it flying and him sprawling for cover. "Ack! Get down!"

Link snatched his bow off Epona's saddle as he dismounted, sending her off so she wouldn't get hurt, and he and Daruk joined the small group. Another bolt whisked down seconds after the last, far quicker than one could wire up a conventional crossbow. It struck Daruk, sticking in his rocky hide. The Goron champion looked at his new accessory with surprise.

"Ordona, you okay?" One of the Ordonians balked.

"Of course! You underestimate a Goron's durability!" Daruk chuckled, ripping the bolt out without issue or injury. "Though this guy is quite the marksman."

"Yes, he is." Link narrowed his eyes, looking at the tower closely. He held up the Sheikah Slate with one hand, using its zoom function to get a closer look. Sure enough, on one of the scaffoldings that went up the base of the tower, he could see one of the Marshmen. A man of average build, wearing a chestplate of steel without sleeves. He guessed this one was "Zeke", but that left out...

He saw him loose a bolt and winced at it whistled past and nipped his left ear.

"Ow!" Link ducked his head, hissing and reaching for his ear at the close call.

"You alright, brother?"

"Yeah, he is a good shot with that thing. He'd give Revali a run for his money." Luckily, his ear just had a scratch on it and not a full-blown notch like he feared. That would take a lot of explaining. "Alright, that should be Zeke. But that leaves out Mikeal."

"You think he kept riding?"

"Maybe, did any of you see the other one get away?" Link looked to the Ordonians.

"No sir, both their horses are over there." They pointed across the way to two dapple-grey stallions beside the tower.

"Alright, keep an eye out for him." Link looked to his rocky companion. "Makes me wish we had Revali right now. You think you can give me some cover, Daruk? I'm going to shoot a bomb arrow up at him. It'll either take him out or flush him out. If it's the latter, we should try to get close. He'll have to expose himself to shoot straight down on us."

"Bomb...what?" The Ordonians looked at them like they were crazy. "Are...are you nuts!?"

"Ha! If you knew most of our plans, you wouldn't be as surprised." Daruk bellowed.

Link gave a brief smile, riffling through his quiver for a bomb arrow. Nocking it in his bow, he took aim at the Marshman's perch. He let out a breath and loosed it, watching it sizzle as it flew towards its target.

BOOM!

And blew up about halfway there.

Link blinked. "Did he just-"

tink!

The question of whether or not the Marshmen had shot his arrow out of the air was interrupted as another bolt embedded itself in the wall beside them, a paper bound around its center grinned at them with a drawn-on smiley face, as a fuse burned up to its base. His reply, it seems. Just before it went off, Link wondered just who the hell were these guys. Run-of-the-mill bandits, little more than monsters in human form?

And they were looking for him.

He found it increasingly hard to believe.

BOOM!

Link threw his arms up, giving a shout of warning. Daruk stepped in and shielded him from most of the blast, though it still sent him and the Ordonians tumbling from the shock wave. Shattered stone and debris shrouded them, giving them all a fairly even coat of dust that stung at the eyes and lungs. Sensitive ears ringing, Link groaned as he rolled over, chest and arms throbbing from the blast. Daruk lay to the side, rocky shell smoking. Winded, but otherwise okay, he was already making to stand up. At some incoherent yelling from the direction of their resident marksman, Link pushed himself to his feet.

tink! tink!

Just in time for two more sizzling bolts to land just next to his foot. The Ordonians and their Darknut allies, a resilient bunch all around, scrambled up and away, as did he and Daruk. They sent him sprawling first-face into the dirt. He was slower to recover this time, before Daruk pulled him into the cover of a large section of the ruins, blocking the crossbow's line of sight. While the Goron may be tough, he knew his ally wasn't in comparison.

"Thanks, Daruk."

"And this is just one guy? Where do you think the other one's gone?"

"Alright, which one of you is Link?"

A foreign voice back where they'd been interrupted the respite, followed by sounds of battle. Link and Daruk glanced at one another, drawing their respective weapons and peaking around the corner. The other Marshman, Mikeal, stood engaged with the Ordonian group. That last blast had sent them all to the dirt, but they had risen to the challenge.

But the Marshman was good, really good. Holding aloft a war-pick, and wielding it expertly as he blocked and parried their attacks, before brutally slamming his weapon into them. Soon, only a single Darknut remained. And it grunted as it was forcefully slammed into the ground. Mikeal brought his arm down and slammed the sharp end of his weapon right between the armor plates over its shoulder.

"Grrhg!" The Darknut rasped deeply as he forced it back down, bleeding oily blood.

"Ah-ah, I'd stay right where you are, big guy." The heavy-built Mikeal mused, ripping the pick out and looking around. "Well, none of you are Hylians. Where did the..."

Their gazes met, dark emeralds meeting his bright sapphires, and Mikeal's frown lessened somewhat.

"Ah, there you are. You're lucky Zeke was aiming to miss, or else you'd been shot off your horse."

A loud racking sound turned their heads, as the other Marshmen had jumped from his elevated position and made his way towards them, crossbow wired and ready to fire. Standing nearby, but not directly beside Mikeal, you could see the difference in stature. It certainly made Link curious how this friendship came to be, if there was a friendship that is.

"You are Link, correct? The so-called Hero?" Mikeal recited, seeming rather laid-back.

"So-called, sure." Link's grip on the Master Sword tightened. His gaze flickered to Daruk, motioning to Zeke as subtly as he could. "I heard you've been looking for me, could've been a little more subtle."

"Yeah, well, it's not like I'm the best judge of heroics, but you followed our trail easy enough." He made a show of wiping the blood from his war-pick, leaving its silver head to shine in the sun. "So how about you just come with us, hm?"

"Excuse me?"

"Someone would like to meet you, Mr. Hero." Zeke elaborated loosely, aim shifting to Daruk. "So tell your friend to back off and come quietly."

Many questions went through Link's head. He knew these guys were bad news when they burned down a stable, but Tarin said they had come to Hyrule to find someone. He knew they were looking for a hero named Link. But if they did all this, created a trail of chaos for him to follow, hurt people, that did not bode well in any scenario he could dream up.

He had to take them down.

Holding the Master Sword in his left hand, having been quick to grab it and not drawing his shield yet, the fingers of his right hand grazed the Sheikah Slate's screen, unbeknownst to the Marshmen. He hoped Daruk had picked up on his signals enough. If Zeke was as good as a marksman as he had showed, he'd have to be quick to not take a fatal or disabling shot (Not that they seemed to be going for fatal shots).

Yeah, they really had to take these guys out.

"Now!"

Activating the stasis rune, it bound Mikeal in yellow light. Zeke gaped at his ally in surprise, before taking aim again. He couldn't get a bolt off in time, as Daruk gave a yell as he curled up and rolled at him, forcing him to move lest he be crushed. Link took off at Mikeal, thrusting his blade toward the center of mass. The beeping of the slate echoed in his ears, but terminated before he made contact. With a snap and flash, Mikeal's weapon hand twisted, as did his body, to parry the thrust. Spinning his war-pick to the blunt hammer side, he swung down. The wind whistled as Link leaned back out of the weapon's reach. Bouncing on his feet and keeping mobile, despite his body's protests after enduring several explosions.

Mikeal's swings came in hard. If any of those hit him, they would hurt, really, really bad.

Tapping the slate again, the Master Sword vanished from his hand, replaced with a soldier's spear. The sudden transition of tactics and weaponry took Mikeal off guard, just enough for Link to get a nice shot on his abdomen, the gambeson he wore ripping and staining a wet scarlet as the spear tore through. But Mikeal was built heavy, and he pushed on. Link was getting some good hits in, but he wasn't making it easy.

Mikeal's green eyes darkened as he surged forward, too close for the spear's reach and too quick for Link to make some distance. He seized the spear's grip and yanked back, almost pulling the Hylian along with him. Too sudden, Link failed to catch him lifting his war-pick aloft, until he felt the pain of the point dashing through his palm.

"GAH!"

Link pulled back, left hand punctured all the way through, rendering it numb with pain and useless. His spear clattered to the ground as Link backed up, putting as much distance between Mikeal and him as possible. Blood stained his gloves and armguards as he tried to stem the bleeding, glowering at the Marshmen all the while.

"Now, you gonna come with us?" Mikeal snapped.

Crack! His head snapped forward, the clinking of chains in the air.

"He's not going anywhere with you, Marshman." Royer stated, glaring at Mikeal. His chain-whip whirled about before pulling in and wrapping around his forearm. He drew a short-sword as well, holding it in a reverse grip.

"Ah, the Hylian-turned-Ordonian. Thought that little mess would've kept you busy."

"Would have, but I don't take kindly to being misled, Mikeal." Royer nodded to Link. "You good to fight?"

"Pfft, hardly." Mikeal gave Link a passing look before turning fully toward the blue-haired Hylian. "Without his sword-arm, he's pretty much useless."

"I'm..." With a tap of the Sheikah Slate, the Master Sword appeared in Link's non-injured hand, his right one. "Right-handed!"

With a great thrust of the blade, he stabbed through Mikeal's lower back. The Marshman choked out in pain as the razor-edge emerged from his front, stuck all the way through. Royer hopped down and charged across the damaged ground of the ruins, chain-whip unfurling as he thrust it out. Mikeal gave a grunt, dealing with both the pain and the upcoming attack. He kicked backward, sending Link reeling and the Master Sword with him. He winced as the blade was removed and he started to bleed rapidly.

Uneasy but still going strong, Mikeal parried the ball at the end of the chain, turning about just as Link struck again, injured hand behind his back. Despite his wound, the switch to his good hand and Mikeal's new one made this a far more even battle, even barring Royer's involvement.

Mikeal must have realized this, because he soon began to waver in parrying and defending himself, his face draining of color as he suffered from blood loss. Gradually, more cuts and slices appeared on his gambeson, wounds that rent open and led him to bleed further. Once, a gash marred his cheek. Twice, a few strands of his black hair were hewn.

Crack! His teeth rattled and pain shot down his spine as Royer got another direct hit on the back of his head. The tide was turning bad. Mikeal considered his war-pick, stained with the Hero's blood, and made a decision.

"Zeke!" Link's frowned when Mikeal called for his friend, who was pelting Daruk with bolts in a vain attempt to stop him. "Good enough!"

They exchanged a look from across the way, Mikeal resolute and Zeke unsure, before the latter nodded solemnly. He wired up his crossbow with inhuman speed, hitting Daruk point-blank with a bomb bolt. The Goron rolled back, stunned, while Zeke backpedaled, calling for his horse, hopping on and starting to gallop to the road.

"Royer! The other one's escaping!"

"Got him-whoa!" The Hylian in question barely dodged a large swing from Mikeal's blood-covered war-pick. But to their surprise, the large arc ended with him throwing the weapon, hard, towards his ally. Zeke turned in the saddle, hand outstretched, and caught it, not stopping once as he made his escape. Royer, seeing that Mikeal was now defenseless, opted to slam the hilt of his chain-whip into the back of his head, sending him to the ground.

Link ran up, placing the tip of the Master Sword at the back of his neck. "Don't move."

"Tenn!" Valenzulea rode up, dismounting and drawing his broadsword. "Sorry I'm late, you got him?"

"Yeah." Royer glared at Mikeal. "And he's got some explaining to do, barring he doesn't bleed out."

"...Heh." The Marshmen chuckled weakly, looking up. He nodded to the distance before him. "Maybe in another life."

Shunk!

Scarlet sprayed over all three of them as Mikeal's head snapped back, a crossbow bolt buried in his eye, happy-face etched on its side, fuse sizzling. All three Hylians stared, astonished, before Link jumped back and Royer dragged Val to cover. When the blast rocked the area, and the dust cleared, there wasn't much of Mikeal left.

Zeke rode away, his back was to them, holstering his crossbow on his horse, the wire un-strung and freshly fired.

He vanished around the bend towards the Great Plateau, while everyone was too dazed to follow.

Zelda's head ached and throbbed like someone had dropped a rock on her skull.

Personally, she felt kind of embarrassed, falling out of the saddle and knocking herself out on a fence. It certainly wasn't a highlight of her life. Mipha worked wonders though and she could at least think clearly, though she couldn't help but tenderly rub at the knot that had formed on the back of her head. The Ordonians offered them a tent to stay in, though Arthur said it wasn't needed.

Apparently, the Marshmen, Mikeal and Zeke had come bearing "gifts" in the form of "freshly captured" horses. This, of course, was just a distraction as they spooked the herd of stolen stable horses and sent them stampeding through the old Ranch and neighboring village ruins. The Marshmen also attacked a few of the Ordonian soldiers, wounding quite a few before riding away on their own horses. That was where they passed by their group, and Zelda fell off her horse.

Hylia, I hope nobody remembers that.

Valenzuela and Royer had both come by, the latter saying that Link and Daruk had gone after the Marshmen. Arthur had gone to retrieve Mipha and, upon returning, went about wrangling the stampeding horses set loose upon the Ordonian, while the Zora Princess tended to her. They both mounted up and went after them. Revali showed up after they'd left. After a while, they heard explosions in the distance. Arthur was just about to head out after them, when they spotted Link and them riding back. She gasped at the sight of them. Both her friends caked with blood and dust.

Link clutched his left hand tenderly and Daruk had a scorch mark on his chest and arrows, or bolts, sticking out of him like a pincushion. Royer and Valenzuela seemed less worse for wear, though they too had blood and dust on them, wearing faces of stone. Behind them was a small group of three Ordonians and two Darknuts, also weary and debris-covered.

But on the back of Val's horse was a bandaged object, resembling that of a body, but oddly shaped. The cloth wrappings had splotches of red on them, dripping scarlet onto the grass as they rode. Multiple people surrounded them, though Royer drove them off with several barked orders. Link slid out of the saddle, saying something to Daruk before they approached.

"Hey, princess. Feeling better?"

"My heads hurts a bit, but Mipha said I shouldn't have a concussion." She nodded to him. "But what about you, what happened to your hand?"

"Stabbed through the palm." He hissed as he held said hand out for them to see, palm shoddily bandaged. "Otherwise I'm fine, if a bit singed and shaken from many exploding crossbow bolts."

"Let me see it, I'll fix you up right as rain." Mipha offered, enveloping his wound in serene healing light.

"Thanks, Mipha." Link sighed.

"So, what happened to our horse thieves?" Urbosa inquired. She looked to the package on Valenzuela's horse. "That one of them?"

"Yeah...he..." Link and Daruk exchanged a look. "It's hard to put into words."

"Yeah, there were two of 'em...One was really good with a crossbow, certainly got me good with an exploding bolt when I was least expectin' it." Daruk stroked his beard, features creased in serious thought. "He was probably a better marksman than Revali."

"Debatable." The Rito bristled at the insinuation.

"Anyway, they hit hard at first, but then they ask Link here to come with 'em!"

"Come with them?" Arthur frowned deeply.

"Well, we already knew they were looking for you, so I'm guessing that didn't happen?"

"No, but they fought rough afterward. I used my off-hand at first, used the slate with the other, then a spear when I should've just switched hands." Link winced as Mipha mended his palm. "Stupid mistake, but then Royer showed up and, after I switched back to my dominant hand, we pretty much turned it around. Had that one, Mikeal, dead to rights. Then he yells to his friend, says 'good enough', and throws his war-pick to his friend while he rides away...Then said friend turns and shoots him."

"Shoots him? With what? A bomb?"

"One of those exploding bolts, yeah." Link sighed. "Right in the eye."

A silence hung over their group. After Mipha finished healing Link's hand, and Daruk pulled the last bolt out of his hide, everyone eventually sat down, stewing in their collective thoughts.

"What was his name again?" Link looked over to Zelda.

"Who?"

"The one who died."

"Mikeal, why?"

"I...I want to say a prayer for him, to Hylia."

This somewhat surprised everyone present.

"You really think someone like him is worth a prayer?"

Adding on to the surprise, Zelda's gaze just hardened. "I think everyone is worth a prayer, a measure of peace."

The Hylian Champion watched her carefully as she bowed her head, crossed her hands, and quietly uttered Mikeal's rites. Part of him was slightly confused she would go to such lengths for a stranger. Then again, that was definitely in her character to see the good in people, no matter how small that goodness was. Beside him, Arthur nodded lightly as he remembered his Zelda exhibiting similar principles. When she finished, silence blanketed them for a while longer, until Royer entered their tent.

"Hey, you all settling in alright?" He was cleaned up but still very disheveled. "I'm sorry about what happened, we-"

"There ain't no need to apologize, shit happens." Arthur waved him off. "People die."

"True, though I somehow doubt anyone will mourn Mikeal." Royer shook his head. "But, we were taught to respect the dead, no matter how abhorrent they were in life. We're going to send his body back to Marsh, hopefully so any family he has can bury him. Barring that, at least, they can bury him in his homeland."

"Thank you." Zelda whispered softly.

"Though there is the matter of his accomplice."

"Zeke." Link supplied. "He's an excellent marksman, especially with that crossbow. Daruk and I, and the Ordonians and Darknuts that were with us, can attest to that. Though, with the horses they stole in our hands, there isn't much more reason to go after him, aside from bringing him to justice. By the way, can you send someone to take those horses back to the Dueling Peaks stable?"

"No problem." Royer crossed his arms. "Mikeal struck me as the brains of the operation, though"

"Well, they weren't here explicitly for the horses or the purpose of attacking you." Link mentioned. "They were here for me."

"You?" Royer raised an eyebrow. "What reason-?"

"Too many to count." Arthur said from the back, smoking his pipe as he idly tapped his knee. His mis-matched eyes tightened. "Makes me wonder. How many ways can one enter Hyrule right now?"

"Just two ways, actually." Royer scratched his head. "There's a direct path through the mountains into the Faron province from Ordona; the Ordona-Faron Pass. Been there for centuries. Any other way, you'd have to go through the Deadlands."

"Deadlands?"

"It's the part of land where the harsh, frigid gales have been tearing through for the past century. It goes deep into the land, but there are a few treacherous paths that can get you into Hyrule from Marsh or Norvun. We, of course, came through from the former, but we had to blast an alternative path around the mountain."

"And I'm guessing, going by what Tarin said, our Marsh friends came the same way."

"That means there will assuredly be more people coming into the kingdom." Zelda sighed heavily, massaging her temples. "...I don't feel as if I'm ready for this."

"We'll be fine, little-bird." Urbosa assured her with a hand on the shoulder. "Have faith in yourself."

The Princess smiled a little at the reassurance, turning to Royer after. "Lord Royer-"

"Knight Royer for you, Princess." The blue-haired Hylian paused, then shrugged. "While I'm technically a Lord, Knight is just fine."

"Knight Royer, should more people enter Hyrule, no matter their reasons or cause, we should send some soldiers to the stables and towns, just in case something like this happens again."

"A smart decision." Royer closed his eyes in thought. "How many of them are there? Stables and towns, I mean."

They all looked at one another.

"Fifteen stables, right? And Goron City, Rito Village, Gerudo Town, Tarry Town, Zora's Domain, then Kakariko, Hateno, and Lurelin Village."

"Sounds about right, though I can see us only needing people for Tarry Town, Hateno, Lurelin, and maybe Rito Village." Link mused.

"I agree, Zora's Domain and Gerudo Village are well-defended as is." Revali tapped his beak. "And anyone who tries to attack Goron City or Kakariko is just an idiot."

Zelda nodded. "How's that sound, Knight Royer?"

"Fifteen, plus four towns..." The Hylian bit his lip. "Huh...I don't think we have the men for that, even including both my soldiers and the Darknuts. Sorry."

"We could always ask the Sheikah if they can help? And how about the Gerudo? And my people?" Mipha suggested.

Zelda's eyes lit up. "Yes! That's it! We can ask all the people of Hyrule to help patrol and secure the roads and settlements!"

"Nice to see you aren't lacking in enthusiasm." Royer laughed. "You should talk to Valon, over in our main tent. He can help you with the logistics of such a plan." He paused and looked around their not-so-roomy tent. "Say, would you like a larger tent?"

"No need." Link waved, looking to his ancestor. "Arthur?"

"Yeah, yeah."

Royer didn't know what that meant, so he just shrugged and walked away. While Arthur ushered everyone out of the tent and up to the area south-east of the Ranch, near the corner below the eastern road. There was a large, tall tree, which Arthur made a small show of looking at, up and down, gauging and inspecting it.

Zelda was quite confused, and that only worsened her headache, while the rest of the group just seemed bored.

"Good enough?"

"Yeah, it'll work." Arthur huffed, tapping out his pipe and putting it away. Squaring himself, he held out his hand, palm flat towards the tree. Bits of red lightning arced and streaked between his fingers, before dancing from his person and to the tree. The contact points were marked with black dots, rapidly covering the tree. From the base of the trunk, to the tips of the branches, and even the green of the leaves, it was all drowned out in murky twilight.

"Grrr..." Arthur gave a low growl of exertion before thrusting his hand up. "Hya!"

The form of the tree 'shattered' into black squares, expanding out and freezing in place, then slowly regained itself. But, as it returned, it rose, distending and bending unnaturally. Eventually, it no longer resembled the tree once standing there, but a much taller one. instead. And when the cloudy gold-black shade fell away, it revealed a nice little home built into said tree.

"Ta-da~" Arthur said, deadpan, shaking his hand loosely.

"Amazing." Zelda breathed, fascinated. "You can create a home with magic?"

"More like I carry a home around with magic." The old hero shrugged. "Much better than camping or roughing it in a tent, I can tell you that much."

"I thought you liked camping?" Midna said, confused.

"I like the wilderness." He whispered back.

"Yes, yes, it's quite impressive." Revali yawned and jumped up the ladder. "Now if you'll excuse me, I've been flying all day and desperately need a nap."

"I think I'd appreciate one too."

"I agree."

"Some grub would be nice too!"

Urbosa, Mipha, and Daruk followed the Rito.

Link looked down at himself. "I think I would like a bath first, being honest."

"Actually..." He looked to Zelda. "Link, may I ask a favor?"

He nodded without hesitation. "Of course."

"Will you ride with me to the Castle? There's something I want to get."

He was extremely tired from today's events, but he couldn't bring himself to say no. Though he asked if he could have a bath first. A quick visit to the nearby river, nothing extravagant or time-consuming, and he was ready to go.

"You should have her ride with you." Sheikke said just before they left. "That horse could've gotten her killed."

"No, it's not Rhoam's fault. I wasn't paying attention." The Princess rubbed the back of her head, wincing slightly.

"Though, with that bump on your head, it wouldn't do to have you pass out in the saddle, concussion or not." Link agreed. "C'mon, I don't mind."

She looked like she was ready to argue, but just let out a sigh. "Alright."

Link whistled for Epona, climbing back into the saddle and offering a hand to Zelda. Pulling her up to sit behind him, he eased Epona into a canter, going onto the road and up along towards Castle Town. It was an uneventful ride, with the sunset cresting the horizon and bathing the land in orange and red. They passed through Castle Town's gate and rode through the eerie ruins, nothing but foundations and vague frames of houses left, and the damaged Castle looming over them. Guardians, both pristine and decayed, lay like dead decorations on the landscape, cold husks.

They continued, past the dried fountain and through the grand iron gates, up the winding path until they reached the courtyard. Dismounting, he helped Zelda off Epona, giving his mare a pat on the mane and an apple for her hard work. Together with the Princess, they entered the husk of Hyrule Castle. Once full of monsters and malice, some resemblance of life, it was now completely devoid of it all barring the two of them.

He remembered Ganon's presence like an unpleasant smell, a foulness in the air. It was gone now, the majority of it, sure, but there was still an uneasiness. He knew Zelda felt it too. She kept checking over her shoulder, never looking at him, but past him, as if trying to see something that wasn't there. They ascended a few flights of stairs, taking the occasional detour past ruined stairwells, until they reached a shattered door. Her room.

It was a mess, walls torn down, everything but her bed and desk covered in rubble. She pursed her lips, looking about for...something. She checked everywhere, even went across the bridge to her study, returning with a small book, her diary, in hand. Eventually, she found what she was looking for, a wooden chest. To her dismay, the lock had rusted over the years, if she even remembered where the key was that is.

"Link, can you-?" She gestured to it.

He'd been leaning in the doorway, keeping guard or some semblance of it, despite being rather fatigued from the battle that day. He walked over, looking at the lock carefully, before deciding that it was easier to break it. He lifted his foot and brought his boot down on top of it, snapping it off. A part of the front broken too, but it apparently wasn't an issue. The Princess knelt down in front of it and gently opened it up.

She paused, peering down into the chest with a gaze of melancholy, before she pulled out its contents, presenting them to him.

It was her Champion's Tunic, from all those years ago.

"Not a speck of dust on them, either." She smiled.

"Yeah." He returned the expression.

She stood for several seconds, hugging the garment to her chest. It took him a moment to realize her emerald eyes were misty, and he grew concerned. He took a step forward, but she just shook her head, taking a deep breath.

"I'm not sure I'm ready, Link." She finally said. "I know what you said, what Arthur has said, what Mipha and Urbosa and Impa have all said." She gasped a little. "But to run a kingdom, to deal with all that comes with it alone...I don't know the first thing. And so many things have already happened...It's vexing. Part of me wonders which is better, to know for certain we are doomed, or staring that very doom in the face and not knowing? Like all those years ago, when I failed when it mattered the most..."

He remembered. He did. When she screamed and cried, frustration and sorrow pouring out endlessly, until she could only sob in his arms, and he couldn't do a thing about it aside from rush her to safety. Through the layers of duty and just cause, that was a moment he clung to, that feeling of helplessness, he would remember it for the rest of his days. He felt a bit of that helplessness now, as his Princess stood, again doubting herself.

But he refused.

"Do you remember what I asked you when I woke up, Princess?"

Her misty gaze met his. "Not to regret anything."

"You did your best, and you will keep doing so." He strode forward. "And while these words probably have little merit coming from a former knight. I am so very proud of you for it. Despite all the hardship we have already faced." He clenched his formerly wounded hand. "And all that we may face in these coming days, I'm happy to stand by your side, always. You as my princess, and I as your knight."

He hoped those were the right words. They appeared to be, because she laughed. Such a sweet sound, as she stood rubbing away the wetness from her cheeks. "Ha...You made me cry...You..."

Without another word, before he could react, she wrapped him in a tight embrace.

"Thank you...Link..."

"...Happy to help, Zelda..." Tenderly, he wrapped his arms around her, returning the hug with care, like she was a piece of fragile glass that would shatter should he let go. It was nice, strangely enough. When they finally broke their embrace, they stood at arms' length, not quite letting go. A thought crossed his mind, one that made him want to blush at the mere idea of it. But, before he could step away, he realized there was a warmness on his cheek where her lips had been.

"That's for making me cry."

[Meanwhile...]

He had ridden hard, thinking he was supposed to go back across Ordona's border, but he was stopped on the way there. Just before the pass in the Faron woods. The hooded figure who employed him and Mikeal seemed impatient, hardly batting an eyelash at the absence of his partner, leaning against a tree as Zeke dismounted and approached.

"Where's the other one?" He mused, head cocked to the side.

"He knew the risks." Zeke spoke tonelessly.

"And the Hero?"

"He had friends, but..." He held out Mikeal's war-pick, covered in the Hero's blood. "You said blood will suffice?"

"Hmhm..." The figure hummed, the eye on their mask shining in the twilight. "Indeed, it will."

"Alright, pay me. I'm done here."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, Mikeal got killed because of this...thing...you're doing. I'm out."

They seemed quite upset. "Well then, I'm sorry...Truly I am."

"You'd better b-" Something sharp pierced his back, and his words were lost in his throat.

And with the one-eyed mask with an upside-down tear drop staring at him, Zeke's world was engulfed in eternal darkness.

A/N:

Happy Halloween!

Act I Complete!

I know I said I'd get into a better release schedule...but...eh...Things are happening.

But most of all, the Age of Calamity is coming out!
So the question is, how does it affect OoTL as a story?

Well, aside from a few background changes going forward, it makes me want to take this opportunity of Act-Transition
and go back to earlier chapter and make some revisions and edits, refine the world and characters to
better fit what Age of Calamity has been showing us.

Impa being royal advisor (and a kickass ninja)? Yeah!
Epic battles across Hyrule? How could nobody mention that?

Most importantly, I'm gonna change the term "Remaster" to "Remake",
since while there are shared plot points with Routine, OoTL fits the term of "Remake"
better.

Overall, I'm gonna go through this story at a reasonable pace.
Though I know it's gonna take a while. I've been experimenting with both action-oriented writing
and dialogue-heavy writing. These can both bee seen in this chapter.

So far, neither are my strong suit,
but I'm having fun with it.

While this year has been a mixed blessing,
I know we can all pull through it.
So, I hope you enjoyed this
chapter and hope you're ready
for more to come.

See you then,
peace out!

oXo