The change in mood was obvious. To him, at least.
He had to tell the others something was off to make them believe it. Soon enough, they all knew there was something wrong with their Commander, and they intended on finding out what was wrong.
At first glance, it would seem there was nothing wrong as she would place a forced smile over her usual frown and calmly explain how she was merely thinking about something important, sending you on your way while she went back to having all sorts of emotions crushing her down inside. But to him; he was able to see through that fake smile, but she wouldn't let him know what was happening.
Whenever he tried asking her what was wrong, Zelda would always push him away and treat him with an icy cold nature, and each time it would take him aback; had the stress of leading the Champions already got to her?
It seemed like King Rhoam didn't even notice his own daughter's change in mood as he began to take up all of his time working on possible safe routes out of the castle for them just in case Calamity awoken much sooner than they expected; it was under Impa's request that he study every possible route, numbering them from safest to most dangerous. He would never use the most dangerous one unless there was no other option left to use.
The only one who seemed able to get the truth out of Zelda was Urbosa. But even then, when she got close to knowing the truth about the sudden mood change, the princess would close off and demand the Gerudo chief get back to training.
The others were just as confused as Link was throughout this experience. Whenever they had training, which was really just the first week, Zelda would welcome them before heading off to clear her mind; only returning for an hour or so before she would see her father and get angered.
So, that's what it was.
It was something concerning the King of Hyrule again.
Link had tried questioning her about it. He honestly wanted to help her through this one but instead she gave him a look before harshly telling him to stay out of her business as she stormed away when King Rhoam had called her over to speak about the Champions' progress thus far. Link sucked in a harsh breath as he watched from a few inches away, and he could hear every word the King was saying; nothing stood out that would make Zelda mad. It sounded like he was just genuinely curious about the Champions and how they got along with each other; did the King really have something to do with her newfound frustration?
When the Champions tried asking Zelda about the sour mood she displayed during their first meeting, she merely waved them off.
She said it was nothing and they shouldn't be worrying about her, but they all exchanged a look before Revali huffed, folding his wings over top one another as he glared heavily at his Commander.
"You should know by now that won't work," the Rito huffed angrily as he eyed his Commander. Zelda stiffened slightly underneath his watchful gaze.
"What do you mean?" she stuttered out, swallowing thickly as Revali stood up and began working his way over towards her. She flinched back as Revali lowered his head so they were looking each other in the eyes; the other Champions watching this conversation intensely, looking for any signs of the truth.
Zelda tried to make up an excuse in her mind, but she couldn't as the Rito snorted, leaning back with a smug smirk before pointing a feather at her. She felt a wave of anger wash over her at the action.
"Something is wrong with you, Princess. It wouldn't happen to do with anything those Sheikah sisters told you, would it?" Revali questioned and they all watched as Zelda's eyes widened; bingo.
Revali had hit the center dead on.
Link slowly walked up to her, taking one of her hands into his own. "Princess," he whispered softly. "What happened? What did they tell you that day of our Ceremony? What's got you so upset?"
"Nothing has got me upset," Zelda repeated, insisting they let it go.
"Little Bird," Urbosa hummed gently. "We all know there's something wrong."
For a split moment, it was just her and Urbosa in the room. She could hear every little word those eyes of the Gerudo was saying and instantly she felt her body relaxing as her mind began to say it was okay to spill their feelings; the feelings of not being able to win like everyone said they would; to unlock that special power Impa and Purah said she had deep down inside.
"It's… it's just stress from what I was told," Zelda finally admitted with a heavy sigh, slumping down into her seat. "Both told me I have a power deep down that can help with Ganon; they said I need to unlock it before he awakens for the final time."
"And you're afraid you won't," Link mumbled out, understanding completely.
Mipha gave her friend an encouraging expression. "Don't worry. I'm sure you'll be able to awaken your power. We have plenty of time before Ganon awakens." despite the reassuring tone in the Zora's words, Zelda couldn't help but feel like she wouldn't.
"You can't possibly know that for sure."
Urbosa placed her hand on Zelda's shoulder. "Little Bird, you'll awaken it. You'll see."
"Urbosa…" Zelda tried but Revali cut her off with a huff as he narrowed his eyes at her; it instantly made the Hylian halt her sentence.
"You're not allowed to think you won't," he hissed out. "Thinking negatively won't get you anywhere now, will it?"
The sentence was met with silence as the princess took in Revali's words. After a moment, she nodded slowly; he was right. Deciding to place away the worries for now, Zelda took a deep breath before telling them the meeting was dismissed and they could all head off to train or head back to the Divine Beasts and figure out a more easy way to control them for the time being. The Champions only hesitated for a moment before scrambling off to do what they needed to do for the day.
Link stayed behind in hopes to speak with her, only for her to send him away so she could be alone for now. His hopes fell slightly but they also stayed up.
He would just speak with her another time.
…
As it turns out, 'another time' translated into 'not at all,' as Link had a hard time in trying to get Zelda alone so they could speak with one another. She would always push him away or he would be dragged into a training session by his Captain. He could feel himself starting to fall apart at the steams if he wouldn't get to speak with her soon, but what could he do? It wasn't like they could speak with each other 24/7; both had separate duties opposed to their Champion ones.
Everyone of the Guards and the Knights could easily see how angry Link was becoming but he somehow managed to control the temper that was rising deep down; he got his anger out by slashing at dummies after all. There was no way he was going to explode again— it would be so much simpler by lashing at the dummies than lashing out at everyone else about how pissed off he was becoming simply because he could have the talk he desperately wanted to have with Zelda.
They would have questions if they ever knew why he was pissed.
"What's up, squirt?" Tora asked as he walked up to the Hylian Champion, watching as he slashed harshly at the dummy before him; wincing as he watched a large cut appear. That sword certainly was sharp… it could cut through just about anything.
"Nothing," Link huffed out as he swiped his forehead from the sweat forming. His arm was exhausted but he wasn't going to stop; he couldn't stop. If he couldn't keep slashing, then he would do push-ups.
"Alright look, we all can tell you're pissed off," Tora explained as he leaned against the wall. He had the urge for a smoke but he couldn't smoke around Larkin's son— the knight would kill him if he did. "The question is; what got you like this?"
"It's just…" Link sighed heavily, lowering his arm, feeling the ache in his bone.
Tora arched an eyebrow as he watched the younger boy. He looked physically exhausted; his arm had to be aching by this point and his mind just was screaming for a quick nap before they went back to training to keep up their skills. But he knew the likeliness of it happening was very low. Either Larkin or Dovina would have enough before angrily demanding their son to allow his body some rest or else he would collapse and cause a panik.
"Just what?" Tora repeated when Link didn't continue with his sentence. "What are you so angry about, squirt? None of us like seeing you like this."
"I'm pissed about Princess Zelda's behavior!" snapped the Champion. "I've been trying to speak with her and yet she tells me to leave her alone while she's trying to figure out this secret power alone— but doesn't she understand we're supposed to be a team?! We all want this to work and the only way it can is if we all work together, yet she insists on doing this alone."
"How do you know she's trying to do it alone?"
Link frowned heavily as he recalled the many times he tried helping along with the Champions, only for Zelda to push them all away; saying it was for her to do alone and that was that. The power wouldn't appear unless she did alone. It was her secret power, not theirs.
It frustrated him to no end.
"She told us straight out; it was her duty to awaken the powers alone," Link grunted.
"So if you don't like her trying to awaken them on her own, just silently try to help her out," Tora replied back.
Link stiffened as he thought about Tora's words. If he were to do what he suggested, then how would he be able to do so? Zelda would be able to sense out what he was doing, and she would, no doubt, give him a stern scolding. But then again, they were friends which meant he had to make sure she wouldn't push herself too far.
"I would, but she would be able to know if I was," Link laughed out softly.
"Worth a shot," Tora pointed out.
"I guess so…"
Tora gave him a quick pat on his back before heading off to head back to his duties. Link took a deep breath as he glanced back at the dummy. His arm was aching terribly and every inch of his body was pleading for him not to start lashing at it again; wishing for some rest for the tired limb. But in his mind, he wasn't strong enough, not yet. Anything could happen when they were out walking around Hyrule to ensure everything was up and ready for Ganon's incoming return.
Carefully, he unlatched the sword's resting place and placed the Master Sword within it before resting it against the wall. He stretched his arms for a moment, before dropping down onto the ground and started doing push-ups. His arm was aching with every push he did, but he couldn't stop. Not yet. As the Hylian Champion, he had to be strong.
By the time he had done twenty or so, Larkin had come by to see if he was ready to head home for lunch. Instead, he found his son doing push-ups, looking like he might pass out at any moment with how red he looked. The Champion Tunic was on the Master Sword to keep it from getting dirty as he did his push-ups. The knight took a deep breath as he ran a hand through his hair; his son was really getting serious about his duties.
But if he didn't give himself a break, then he would be aching all over and would have a hard time getting up in the morning tomorrow. They couldn't have that happening; there was another Champion meeting tomorrow.
"Link," Larkin called out. "That's enough, son. You've done enough push-ups."
His son didn't stop.
"30...31…32… I can't stop just yet… 34... 35...36…" he huffed in reply as he kept going. Up and down; in a perfect fashion. He had to get better at this; he had to make sure he was strong enough to make sure no one died under his watch.
"You have to stop," Larkin instructed. "Do you want your body to be in pain tomorrow? You have a meeting with the Champions."
Link halted for a brief moment, considering his father's words before continuing onwards. "I'll be fine," he huffed out through the pain. "I can handle a bit of soreness."
"Son, do you want me to get your mother?" Larkin threatened. Instantly, Link stopped his actions and fell to the ground in shock at the threat. "She'd be much more meaner than me at getting you to stop this. Consider yourself lucky she isn't there at the moment."
Link took a deep breath as he wiped his brow. "Mum would be much meaner than you," he agreed with a slight smirk. "But that's because her word is law while we have to obey whatever she says. That's why she's always right and the boss."
Larkin chuckled as he patted his son's head. "Let's not remind me of that, kiddo. Come on, we're going to make her worried."
There was a slight huff from his son, but Link didn't complain as he tugged his tunic back on before taking his weapon. His feet ached all the way back home, his arms did as well but he never opened his mouth to say a word about it. He had to get used to the pain because soon enough he would get to experience what it was like when they could head out to explore all of Hyrule.
That's when the pain would intensify if they ran into trouble.
Yet the moment they stepped into their house, Dovina turned to welcome them home before she noticed her son's discomfort; immediately her warm smile was replaced with a worryful frown as she sent him to take a hot bath while she fixed him something to eat as she scolded her husband for allowing their son to overdo his training. Larkin had tried to explain his innocence, but Dovina wouldn't have it nor was she willing to listen to her husband's words.
In the moment he sank down into the bath, his body instantly relaxed and the ache started going away as his muscles untangled themselves. He knew he tore some of those muscles, but they would grow back stronger than the last ones. Perfect; just what he wanted.
His eyes drifted over to the sword and tunic he had in the bathroom and sighed heavily. The huge burden that was placed on his shoulders for merely pulling that sword was starting to become clear as he thought about the truth of his destiny. He was meant to kill Ganon and seal him away for the final time. This defeat would automatically finish whatever curse Hyrule had been under.
They would all be free from Ganon.
It wouldn't just be him playing a huge part either; it would be the Champions, Princess Zelda, and the Divine Beasts. They would all be written down in Hyrule's History Books like many other Legends before their time.
"Just like the wolf hero…" Link hummed as he thought back to the story of the Hero that could transform into a wolf. It was always his favorite. "He went down into the History Books with ease… his tale about the royal gardens is still going strong too."
One of the best love stories is what it was dubbed.
One of the loveliest ones.
Just like him, the wolf hero had a companion to help him with his journey and ended up saving two realms. Theirs and another one. Two villains, but one major one that was revealed to be Ganon; and with ease, did the wolf hero end up taking him down.
That hero's destiny was now his' and he didn't know if he could ever live up to his idol; but he hoped he could.
…
Everyone didn't speak as they stood outside as they waited for Zelda to arrive so the meeting could begin.
They didn't know how to start a conversation with each other just yet.
Link could feel the ache still there in his bones, but it wasn't as powerful as it once was yesterday, but it was still there. Mipha gave him a worriedful look as she slowly made her way over to her best friend, watching as he winced slightly with pain as she gently placed her hand down on his arm; the others watched as the Zora frowned with wonder as Link smiled sheepishly.
"What happened?" Mipha demanded.
Link didn't speak for a full minute. "I overdid it with training," he confessed with a heavy sigh, watching as worry flashed over her expression. "I took a hot bath yesterday, it helped slightly but not a lot; at least it dulled the pain."
"Overdoing training?" scoffed Revali. "And you're the one who'll seal the darkness?"
Daruk nudged the Rito. "Easy there, bro!" he grinned. "Everyone overdoes it sometimes."
Mipha sighed heavily. "Show me your arms," she commanded. "I'll heal you."
Link nodded softly as he rolled up his arms, showing off the slight bruising from his push-ups and slashing. Mipha didn't even wince as she hovered her hand over the bruises, a bright glow formed as the bruise slowly left his skin. Urbosa watched with amazement before nodding happily; Mipha would make an excellent healer for them in case of injuries.
Soon enough, Mipha pulled her hand away happily.
"There," she hummed. "Good as new."
"Thanks, Mipha," Link grinned, moving his arm slowly, feeling less pain. It was to the point where he could bare it. He wouldn't even complain about it. "It's better already; another hot bath should ease the rest of the pain away."
As soon as those words left his mouth, Zelda appeared with tired eyes and immediately, Link's concern shot upwards as he moved towards her. But she held up her hand, silently saying she was okay, and he huffed; she was exhausted. She had to be exhausted.
"Apologies for the lateness," Zelda said. "I was dealing with some business."
Revali racked his eyes up and down. "You look like you might pass out," he replied, feeling sure if they should even be having this meeting.
Urbosa could firmly agree. "Revali has a point. Little Bird, are you sure we should even be having this meeting?"
"We should and we must," Zelda stressed out as Daruk pulled her towards a rock big enough for her to sit upon. She gave him a look but didn't protest as she sat down; knowing this would be how it would be for now on. "How are the Divine Beasts working for all of you?"
The Champions had finally been allowed to take the Divine Beasts back with them; Revali having Medoh in the air with a perch for the hawk-eagle, Daruk had Rudania placed on Death Mountain where the lizard could easily take a shot at Hyrule Castle, Mipha placed Vah Ruta in the large lake area a little ways away from Zora's Domain, and Urbosa had Vah Naboris camped near his resting place in the desert.
"Rudania is workin' like a champ," Daruk smirked. "I think a few more minor adjustments and he should be more easy to control."
"Same goes for Naboris," Urbosa agreed. "The beauty has been running smoothly. I've been spending more time trying to get the hang of his controls rather than focusing on my Chiefly duties, but they can wait."
Revali folded his wings. "Medoh is perfect. Though I admit, the Elder was slightly concerned about the others getting near the Divine Beast, but I assured him Vah Medoh won't even harm them."
Zelda glanced over at Mipha. "And Vah Ruta?"
Mipha gave a soft smile. "Ruta is fine— Sidon took a slight liking to him. The last time I went to see if I could handle the controls more easily, he begged me to come; he didn't last long in Ruta though."
"He is a kid," Link replied with a smile. "He'll get used to Ruta soon enough."
"I hope so."
Urbosa turned to Zelda with a look of concern of her own. In Link's eyes, it looked like a mother about to scold her child for scaring her before asking if she was alright with great concern overtaking the anger. It seemed like everyone else agreed when they saw the look on the Gerudo's face.
The princess even shrank back a bit.
"Any luck with the power?" questioned Urbosa. Her voice gentle and soft.
Zelda sighed. "Sadly not," she mumbled. "I can't seem to figure it out."
"Maybe there's places around Hyrule that could help you," Link pointed out gently. "Like the Springs of Courage, Power, and Wisdom."
"Perhaps." Zelda nodded. "When we're much more comfortable with each other, I'll try going there to see if they have any help with this power of mine. But us getting to know each other and becoming more comfortable comes first."
Link knew she would reject him, but he had to try.
"I'll go with you," he blurted out. "You need someone to keep you safe— I'll be the one to do that."
"You don't need to," Zelda replied with a slightly harsh tone. "I'm perfectly fine on my own."
"You say that and I know you are— but I'd like it if I was able to go with you."
She looked like she was about to argue on his words but kept her mouth closed after a moment's worth of silence, turning her attention back to Mipha who tapped her on her shoulder. Link felt his heart twist as he realized what the silence meant; No, and that's final.
Zelda wanted to do this on her own, but he knew deep down it was still his duty to be at her side. King Rhoam had hired him as Zelda's personal guard after all, and their status as Champions didn't affect it. He still had to be wherever she was and she would have to accept it.
Expect this time, he would also have to obey her as his Commander.
… great; this wasn't a hard choice, no, not at all. He totally knew which one to obey and which one to disobey; and he wasn't torn about the decision making at all. No! He was totally and utterly fine with this heavy duty choice to make, and he would make it with a breeze.
Sometimes, life really hated him, didn't it?