"Have at you!"
"Let's go, you filth!"
I glanced below me at the commotion, just in time to see two Bokoblins fighting two travelers. They were backed up against some ruined buildings and it looked as if the Bokoblins had effectively caged them in. Both parties were equipped with shields and swords, but if the fight drew on any longer, I suspect that the monsters would win. Instantly, my savior complex triggered, and I swooped low to assist them.
With the paraglider, I always had the advantage of an airborne assault. I waited until I was positioned directly between the Bokoblins and at a safe enough height to drop below. In one motion, I sheathed the paraglider and brought out the broadsword. I inverted the grip so that the tip was facing straight into the earth. Once gravity took hold, I landed with a deafening thud, causing a mini shock wave to displace both Bokoblins.
I took my position between the two travelers as the Bokoblins took a moment to right themselves. Unhooking the traveler's shield from my backpack, I poised it in front of me in a defensive position.
"What the—? Who are you?" The one to my right asked.
I cautioned a glance to look her over. She was a girl a bit taller than me, tanned and had white hair tied into a low bun. Before I could answer her back, she shook her head and raised her shield as well. "Nevermind, I can ask you later. We've got a real situation here!"
The other one, to my left, merely sighed as he brought his sword tip higher. He was a bit on the scrawny side, with a mop of blonde hair and paler skin. "Gah…why is this happening to me?" He groaned.
The Bokoblins stood up and let out their guttural squeals. Both of them launched into the air and brought their swords over their heads. I jumped out of the way, feeling the familiar sensation of entering bullet-time. I watched in slow motion as the boy parried his shield forward to counter the swing, pushing the Bokoblin back. However, the girl held her shield steady – absorbing the blow. I would help her first.
I landed behind the Bokoblin and began hacking away with the blade. When time resumed as normal, the monster slumped forward before disappearing in a plume of smoke. It left behind the weapons it had as well as some purple guts and bones.
The other Bokoblin saw what happened to its partner and deemed me as the bigger threat. It completely ignored the boy and sets its sights on me, bringing the blade across its body. Expecting the cross slash, I pushed off the ruined pavement into a backflip. A flurry rush opportunity presented itself and I had no issue closing in and slashing at the monster.
When the world went back to its normal pace, it fell over before disappearing in a puff of malice. I sheathed my weapons and began gathering the spoils left behind, especially the new weaponry. After my fight with the beast on the plateau, I needed to stock up my inventory again – especially shields and one-handed weapons.
"You've got a way with a sword, don't you?" the girl complimented. I turned around and saw that she stood with her hands on her hips, a playful smile spread across her face. "I'll admit, I was maybe in a little over my head there." She held out a hand in greeting. "I'm Mina. Thanks for the assist."
I accepted her greeting and returned it with a firm shake of my own.
The boy jogged closer and, in the process, removed his backpack. I saw that his shield was attached to the top and he held the sword's scabbard around his waist. He kneeled before us as he unzipped the biggest pocket. "I'm Mils, Mina's brother." Mils dug into the pack's contents before fishing out a small bento box. "We would be no where good if it weren't for you. Here, you should have this."
I accepted the bento and already felt the warmth of the meal radiating through the wood. Opening the lid just a crack, the amazing smell of spice and meat wafted into my nostrils. If I hadn't eaten before leaving the plateau, my stomach would have been rumbling for sure. I thanked him and placed the meal into my own backpack.
"So…uh, not that I'm one to point out a person's appearance upon our first meeting but," Mina motioned to my face, my clothes, and honestly, everything about me, "what happened? Who are you? Where'd you come from?"
As I answered her, I tried to surreptitiously wipe off the dirt and blood caked along my cheeks, her observation embarrassing me a bit. "Hi, I'm Zelda. I came from over there actually." I pointed to the plateau behind me.
Mina raised an eyebrow in skepticism whilst Mils' jaw dropped. "The Great Plateau? No one has ever been there," he said. "The entrance was sealed off one hundred years ago!"
My hunch had been right. Looking at the imposing stone walls, where the stone birds sat above, there had been the remnants of a large gate. Rubble and debris blocked it. In addition to the dirt and water from rainfall, the earth had probably hardened – making it impossible to dig out the entrance without the help of explosives. Bombs, or canon fire, were probably what caused the obstruction in the first place.
"And this bow," Mina pipped up, her voice holding a tone of fascination. She stood close to me and ran her fingers over the steel bow. It was one of the two weapons I earned upon defeating the beast, the crusher was hidden beneath the sledgehammer slung around my back. I took the bow off and gave it to her. Mils drew in close to inspect it as well.
Suddenly, they perked up, stars in their eyes as they spoke their astonishment in unison. "You fought a Lynel?!"
I tilted my head. "What's a Lynel?"
"It's a huge half-horse, half-lion type of monster." Mils waved his arms around to exaggerate the size. "It has a bow just like this that fires multiple arrows! I heard there was one that lived on the plateau and that's why they sealed it off. They're extremely territorial."
That sounds very much like the beast I just defeated not even two hours ago. I nodded my head as I sheepishly ruffled my hair. "Yeah, I, uh, just fought one. Explains the appearance, really."
They were silent, rendered in shock at my humbleness of this feat. It was starting to become awkward without them saying anything so, I prepared to part ways. Suddenly, Mina broke out into a wide grin and strolled up next to me. She looped her arm around mine and pulled me along, towards the ruined buildings and past Mils. "I like you. You're definitely coming with us."
I heard Mils snort from behind. We stood against one of the half-standing walls and I watched dumbly as the two continued their previous activities. Apparently, Mina had been scoping the place while Mils was keeping watch before those Bokoblins attacked. She reasoned that they should switch rolls and Mils protested. Eventually, Mina dropped my arm and returned the Lynel bow. The two bickered a bit more before Mils resigned and started searching the rubble. Mina took her place beside me and leaned against the wall, hands bracing the small of her back. She kicked at the stones and gave me another charming smile.
"My brother and I are treasure hunters, searching for a one-in-a-million payday," she said. She then motioned to the settlement remains around us. "This was once an up-and-coming place with lots of folks moving here but then the monsters drove everyone out. That means there's plenty of treasure to be had! Of course, the real gold mine is Hyrule Castle, but you would have to be an idiot to go there."
My ears tuned in the minute she started talking about the castle.
Mina sensed my interest and steered the topic of conversation to the abandoned citadel. "It's protected by things called Guardians. If they spot you," she shook her head, "all bets are off on whether you survive."
Mils paused in his search to add his input. "They say once you're in a Guardian's sights, you don't have long to live. I get nervous just thinking about 'em." He shivered and wrung his hands together.
Mina huffed haughtily and pushed off the wall with her foot. She placed her arms on her hips and yelled at him. "Alright, you, go find some treasure or I'll give you something to be nervous about!"
I was appalled at her sudden change in disposition. They were definitely siblings if they're actions with one another can attest to anything. Mina definitely radiated the older sister aura and Mils was complacent in her demands. Or maybe it was Mina who was younger, and Mils still submitted to her orders despite him being the older brother. I began to feel bad for him, but he just rolled his eyes and turned back to the pile of rubble.
"Ugh…Family," he huffed out. Mina smirked at him.
I let out a small laugh. These two were definitely entertaining, but I reminded myself that I couldn't stay.
"As much as I would love to hang out with you guys, I'm actually on a quest of my own." I brought out the Sheikah Slate and showed them the blank map. "Do either of you know how to get to Kakariko Village? I have business there."
Mils came closer and inspected the Sheikah Slate with fascination. Meanwhile, Mina pouted to show her displeasure in us parting. "Aw, I guess we can't force you to come along. Here, we'll escort you there since you protected us here."
She whistled and two horses came galloping from the nearby thicket – one calico and the other a slate grey. Mils handed the Sheikah Slate back to me and steadied the grey one before climbing on. Mina copied his actions and mounted her own horse. She gazed down at me.
"Do you not have your own horse?"
"No, uh, do I buy one? I don't really have any money at the moment."
She shook her head with a small laugh. "No, silly. You tame a wild one, then register it at a stable." She looked at the path ahead and then back at me. "There are these big monsters called Moblins up ahead, super strong and real nasty. They sorta took over the Outpost Ruins. Instead of fighting, we'd rather just race past them."
Mils spoke up from the front. "She can get a horse past the Dueling Peaks. There's a stable and a whole pasture of wild horses there."
Mina nodded to acknowledge his suggestion and walked her horse closer, moving it parallel to where I was standing. She leaned down and held out her hand. "I guess for now, you're riding with me."
I grasped it and hoisted myself up. Swinging my other leg over the side of her horse, I sat behind Mina and wrapped my arms around her. She nodded at Mils to take the lead before kicking her horse into a gallop.
We rode along the outer walls of the plateau. Whilst Mina focused on the road in front of her, I gazed upon the magnificent architecture. The walls looked just as sheer and imposing from the ground as they did from the top. I can't help but feel that the destruction of the plateau's entrance and the defensive height of the region was intentional. If what Mils said was true – that the plateau was sealed off 100 years ago – was it because I was sleeping there? I remembered how the Shrine of Resurrection was hidden. Was my survival that important to the safety of Hyrule?
We approached the entrance to the Outpost Ruins, marked by a set of flagpoles flying the distressed flag of Hyrule Kingdom. Behind one of the flagpoles, I saw a hulking monster – not as big as the Lynel, but still sizeable. It had an awkward long nose and thin limbs. This is what Mina had called a Moblin. It carried a large, wooden club.
"Hang on! We're gonna go fast now!"
Mina whipped the reins, urging her stead to go faster. Mils, a few feet in front of us, did the same. We had caught the Moblin's attention and it began to run after us. I held on to Mina as I turned my head to keep an eye on it. Meanwhile, I tried to keep an eye on our surroundings as well.
We were approaching the ruined town square. There were turned over wagons and more flags bearing the kingdom's emblem. Several ruined husks of machinery littered the whole area. At one point, our horses had galloped past a cliff. In front of us, a boulder had rolled down and almost ran over Mils. He fought to calm his horse and in turn, Mina had to stop or else we would have run into him.
I turned back and the Moblin was drawing closer. Eventually, Mils had gotten his horse to listen and galloped forward. Mina followed.
There was a fork in the road that led to the east. Mils and Mina ignored it and kept moving north, but I kept the landmark filed away in my mind. Up ahead, more Moblins patrolled the area but in the distance, I saw swinging flames that marked a bridge.
Mils shot forward, moving farther ahead. He had taken out his sword and held it out as he approached the Moblin. Making an opening for Mina and me, he injured the Moblin with a quick slash – effectively stunning it for brief moment. Mina seized control of the opportunity and urged the horse to gallop faster; it whinnied in protest before obeying. However, the Moblin recovered too fast and was soon on our tail. On the other hand, Mils was working to stun another Moblin that had strayed onto the path.
This is bad. If either of the horses get scared, we'd be surrounded.
"Hey, Zelda," Mina called over her shoulder. "Could you use that bow to keep 'em off our tails? Khan's not used to carrying two people."
I nodded and turned so that our backs were to each other. I fought to steady myself on a full-galloping horse, hoping that the sheer strength of my thighs and core would be enough to keep me on. Nocking an arrow onto the Lynel bow, I drew the bow and aimed for the Moblin's wide head.
Like all other headshots, it stunned the monster – making it flop onto the ground and briefly losing consciousness. Thus, we developed a system. Mils would injure the Moblin ahead just enough for Mina and me to ride by. Then, I'd shoot the Moblin to further increase the distance between us.
However, the plan reached an impasse right as we reached the bridge. A group of three Bokoblins were hiding behind the adjacent buildings and ambushed Mina and me whilst Mils rode right past them. Mina's calico horse was effectively frightened and had frozen in place, bucking wildly to avoid the pig monsters.
Mina began to panic as she fought to soothe her horse. The Bokoblins began to swipe at the stead's legs with their weapons. The horse, in return, started to buck in order to avoid the hits but that meant Mina and I were in the danger of falling off. On the bridge, Mils forced his horse to stop and pivot back to assist us, but his horse was not listening either.
The Moblins from before began to approach us.
There was too much happening at once. I knew that I could stun or maybe even kill some of the monsters with the Lynel bow, but the problem was that there was too much time in between drawing the bow and firing.
Well…too much time normally…
I wondered if launching myself in the air via a horse was enough to enter bullet-time. And as fast as I thought it, I executed it.
I steadied myself on my feet as best as I could on the horse's back. Then, I backflipped high into the air. At the apex of my jump, I drew out the Lynel bow and the world slowed before me. The whinnies of the horse and Mina's cries slowed down too. For a brief moment, I could think in the chaos. I nocked an arrow and watched as five rained down on the close enemies. I managed to do that a total of three times before bullet-time stopped. I landed on my feet – Mina and the horse had shot forwards once the Bokoblins were stunned. I composed myself and stood straight, the Lynel bow poised in front of me with an arrow ready to be drawn.
After killing three Bokoblins and one Moblin in the span of a second, the other monsters got the idea and retreated. I shouldered my bow and turned to assess the state of Mils and Mina. Mils had gotten down from his horse and was comforting Mina's stead by stroking its nose fondly. Mina sat on her saddle, breathing out sighs of relief.
I ran up to the two, intending to ask them if they were okay. However, another man had already asked, running towards us from the opposite side of the bridge.
"Are you three okay? I heard the horses and immediately came running. I swear, those Bokoblins have figured out how to strategize."
Mina was coming down from her horse, Mils assisting her, as she answered. "Yeah, Brigo, we're okay. Zelda, over here, is a god when it comes to fighting apparently."
The man named Brigo turned to face me. He had chocolate, brown hair styled into a bowl cut and he held a spear in one hand. Like all travelers, a backpack like Mils and Mina had was swung around his shoulders. He raised up a hand in a friendly greeting.
"Hello, there! I don't think we've met. I'm Brigo. How'd you end up meeting the treasure-hunting twins?"
Mina rolled her eyes at the nickname whilst Mils chuckled. Mina ended up answering for me. "She saved us back at the Gatehouse Ruins over there. We decided to escort her to Kakariko Village as thanks."
"Oh, you're heading to Kakariko? It's that way," he pointed in the distance where the twin mountains stood, "On the other side of the Dueling Peaks, there's a stable. Stop there and ask Rensa for further directions."
"Kay, thanks Brigo! We owe ya one!" Mina quickly bid, already mounting her horse and preparing to leave.
Brigo sighed out, deflating at Mina's sudden farewell. "Geez, Mina. It gets lonely patrolling this bridge. All I ask for is a little conversation."
I chastised Mina's rudeness and she sputtered, blushing furiously at being called out. Mils laughed at the expense of his sister and the two began bickering again. Meanwhile, I moved in closer to Brigo. He wanted someone to talk to and I wanted more information as to the state of the kingdom. Not to mention, we're both the same in that we just wanted someone to hang out with for the journey.
"You patrol the bridge?" I ask.
At my question, Brigo brightened instantly. "Yes! Proxim Bridge is an important route. I keep really busy making sure monsters don't nest here by chasing them off and stuff." He raised his chin and puffed out his chest, clearly proud of his job. Suddenly, he straightened as if just remembering something. "By the by, those strange things that popped out of the ground…Did you see them?"
I furrowed my eyebrows and tilted my head, unsure what he was referring to. I thought he meant the purple mushrooms that grew along the cliff we just rode past, but he laughed heartily at my answer.
"I'm not talking about mushrooms here! I'm talking about those towers!" With his spear, he pointed to the Great Plateau tower in the distance. "They seem to have popped up all over the place!" He changed my sights by pointing to the glowing shrine next to the bridge. "And that's not the only strange thing that's happened. Those long-deserted shrines suddenly started glowing."
Oh wow, I hadn't even noticed that. I'll return to it when I'm alone, so I don't waste Mina, Mils, and Brigo's time.
Suddenly, Brigo gripped me by the sides of my arms and shook me fiercely. "You know what this means, don't you? The end is near!"
I smiled sheepishly. I didn't want to tell him that I had been the one to activate both the towers and the shrines. It was already suspicious of me to come from the Great Plateau, but to know that I was also the one who set those things in motion? I'm not trying to get ostracized before I step foot into a village.
Mina came to my rescue and pulled Brigo away from me. "Calm down, Brigo! You're freaking her out. If it really was the end of the world, we'd be dead already. These things are everywhere, and they haven't done anything, yet."
"Yet! The key word is yet! That's why I've been keeping an eye on that thing. Just to see if it suddenly starts moving, ya know?"
"Hm? What thing?" I ask.
Mils takes my arm gently and guides me to the side of the bridge. He points at a familiar husk in the distance, its mechanical limbs stuck in the sand and its body covered in rust. "See that thing over there? The one shaped like an overturned urn? That's a guardian."
Guardians…That was what the king was talking about. These were the machines that got possessed by Calamity Ganon and turned on the kingdom. They were the ones that caused the downfall. The ones I've encountered had all been stationary, but according to those tentacle-like limbs, these machines could move if they weren't rusted over.
Without realizing, I had climbed up and stood on the bridge's bearings to get a closer look. It only took Brigo yelling at me to snap out of my trance.
"Wait a minute! Please, think about what you're doing!" He yelled out. I was puzzled at the urgency in his tone. "You won't change the world by jumping carelessly to your doom. That would only do one thing…and that's…Drive me batty!"
Mina and Mils were also standing on guard. It was then that I registered my actions and what they implied.
Oh…They thought that I…oh…
"Oh no, I'm not…I, uh, don't think like that," I say sheepishly, slowly climbing down. Mina then ran up and pulled me closer to the middle of the bridge. Mils stood on my other side so that I was sandwiched in between them.
Brigo heaved a sigh of relief. "Phew! You had me worried there. Don't mess with people like that!" He quickly tried to change the subject. "So…Guardians, right? One of them chased me down before."
I turned to face him, my interest piquing. "This one here?"
He shook his head. "No, it was a different one. That one was closer to the castle, but before the forest…When they spot you, they shoot blue beams of light at you! Man, I was so sure that was the end for me. I was prepared for the worse. But I somehow managed to escape into the nearby woods."
"Woah, how'd you escape?" It seemed Mils was also interested in Brigo's story. Mina payed no attention at all and was standing off to the side, tending to the horses.
"You think it was my lightning-fast reflexes that saved me?" Brigo snorted at the implication. "Ha! I wish. Truth is, I just got lucky. Anyway, I hear Guardians like that still wander around Hyrule Castle. Be careful."
Mils nodded along. "It's a good idea to watch those things. After all these shrines and towers popped up, who knows what we can expect?"
"Do you know other directions besides Kakariko?" I ask.
Brigo shrugged. "Only this area. You'll get a lot more information at the stables."
"What about Hyrule Castle?"
He sighed in great exasperation and pointed an accusatory finger at Mina. "Mina, what did you tell her? Did you start going off about the treasures there? Gods, you are such a bad influence."
"No! I told her that she would have to be an idiot to head to the castle! What do you take me for?" Mina shouted indignantly.
Brigo shook his head disapprovingly at her. Mina pouted and crossed her arms. He then pointed across the bridge and to the citadel in the distance. From here, the trails of malice could still be seen twirling around the spires and steeples. "You can see it in the distance. Honestly, I think you're better off just looking at it from here."
I noted how he didn't directly answer my question. Well, if he wants to keep people away, why would he tell you how to get there?
Nevertheless, I thanked Brigo for his time and answers. He merely waved off the appreciation. "Don't worry about it. I don't meet a lot of new people around here and the loneliness gets overwhelming sometimes. Thanks for taking the time to talk with me."
Mils had mounted his horse and Mina was pulling me up onto hers. Brigo had walked us to the other end of the bridge before waving us off.
"See ya. Let's wish each other good luck, eh? We'll need it!" He shouted in farewell.
And with that, our temporary trio began moving towards the Dueling Peaks. We passed the fallen log of a large tree and moved parallel to the river. There was a small forest the trail cut through and within the thicket was a traveling merchant named Giro.
Mina and Mils stopped briefly to barter with him. Since I had little to no money, I simply stood off to the side and waited, going over the Sheikah Slate. When I noticed that the pin I marked for the Sheikah Tower was nearby, I excused myself to go activate it.
Mils only warned me not to go too far and Mina told me that they would finish soon.
I exited the forest and came upon the bank of the river as well as a sign pointing out nearby landmarks. Its arrows were directed towards the bridge Brigo was guarding and past the mountain pass – Dueling Peaks Stable was just on the other side.
I used Cryonis blocks to cross the river and arrived upon the rocks that stood at the base of the Sheikah Tower. Similar to the Great Plateau Tower, and likely every Sheikah Tower I see from here on out, it was designed to be easily climbable. In fact, it took me even faster to climb this tower than I did the Great Plateau one.
Upon reaching the receptacle at the very top, I received a map of the Dueling Peaks area, including a detailed topography of where Kakariko Village was. It was nestled in between the cliff's, surrounded by forests and bodies of water. In addition to the map, I also received the shrine sensor. It was designed to beep loudly whenever I neared a shrine, a tool to help me better locate. However, I couldn't stand the frequent noises. The Sheikah Slate had already detected four shrines within the area and was beeping madly no matter which direction I turned. I knew I wouldn't be accessing them any time soon since I was in the company of other people. It luckily had a vibration function which I quickly set it to. The exploration would have to wait until I was alone again.
But for now, I enjoyed the companionship.
With the activation of the Dueling Peaks Tower done, I paraglided off the parapet and back onto the shore, just in time for Mina and Mils to get back from the merchant. They hadn't seen my feat of flight nor the activation of the Sheikah Tower. As far as they knew, I had been sitting at the edge of the river – marveling at its fast currents.
"Hey, Zelda! I bought these for you. Just to replenish your stock after those Bokoblin attacks," Mina greeted, handing me a quiver of arrows.
I spluttered, not expecting her to buy something for me. I tried to refuse and push the arrows back to her, but Mina is very stubborn when she wants to be. She eventually won out on the reason that she fights with a sword and doesn't even have a bow. Mils knew from the very beginning that I was fighting a losing battle. He just sat back and watched his sister force the gift, enjoying the show we put on.
After Mina fed her horse a much-needed carrot, we cantered off, heading between the Dueling Peaks. There weren't as many monsters in this area – except for a camp of Bokoblins on the other shore – so the ride wasn't as stressful. The horses trotted at a leisurely pace. As we rode, Mina answered all of my questions and gave me more tips on surviving Hyrule.
The ores that sparkled amidst the walls were a good source of money. They carried gemstones and could easily be mined with sledgehammers or bombs. Sometimes, they carried rock salt – an excellent seasoning for meat.
Other monsters I should be wary of are Lizalfos and Octoroks. They lived primarily in the water, but Lizalfos could also travel on land. As far as monsters go, Lizalfos were more deadly than Moblins and Bokoblins. But, Mina reasoned, if I claimed to defeat a Lynel, Lizalfos are nothing to worry about.
Finally, there are monsters that are specific to nighttime. The bats are called Keese and are generally harmless, but sometimes reanimated skeletons of Moblins, Lizalfos, and Bokoblins manifest from the earth. They're called Stal-monsters and if the head is hit or exposed to sunlight, they are easily disposed of.
Meanwhile, the Sheikah Slate's shrine detector was going crazy. I was right to have it on vibrate because if Mina's volatile personality was anything to go by, the constant beeping would have driven her insane. Mils would be more interested and insist we stop to check out every shrine.
Along the way, we met another traveling merchant named Mezer. He specialized in selling raw meat and routinely travelled between the mountain pass and the stables. Since Mina and Mils had just stocked up from Giro and I knew how to hunt, we weren't interested in his wares. However, that didn't stop Mezer from walking along with us. He led our group to the Big Twin Bridge and pointed at the stable in the distance.
"Just remember me if you ever need some raw meat!" Mezer said, turning to make his route back into the mountains.
I smiled as I watched him retreat. So far, the people of Hyrule were a pleasant bunch – eager to help strangers along the way.
"Here we are! Dueling Peaks Stable," Mils announced, descending from his horse.
The building was comprised out of a large yurt with a stable for three horses along its side. There was a large horse head on top of the hut, confirming that this building was – in fact - a stable. The horses were eating out of a feeding trough and there was a shepherd dog chasing after its own tail. Two children played in front of the feeding trough, chasing after a grasshopper. In the back, I recognized a corral that held white goats and sheep. A man with a large backpack sat on the ground, tallying up his sales from the day. There was a girl resting near a cooking fire, nestled between a variety of crates and supplies. She waved at us before going back to brewing her concoction.
Across the stable was another shrine. It was surrounded by a shallow body of water as well as some sharp spikes. Looks like the only way I'd be able to access it would be to paraglide from above. I'll remember that for later.
Mina steered her horse in front of a window. I got my first look inside the tent and saw a couple of beds. This stable also doubled as an inn – a very smart design choice. Inside the window was a man with a large mustache, wearing a hat with the stable emblem stitched onto it. Next to him, on the porch leading up to the desk was an identical-looking man.
They were twins!
"Heya, Tasseren. We've got a new customer for ya!" Mina said, climbing down from her horse. I followed after her. "She's looks a little rough right now, but I have no doubt she'll benefit from your services."
Tasseren – I guess who was the manager of this place – flashed her a quick smile. "Dirt and grime are the marks of a traveler, Mina!" He then turned his gaze to me. "What can I do for ya?"
"Um…I'd like to register a horse, I guess."
Tasseren furrowed his eyebrows before launching into a hearty laugh. "Well, I can't register a horse if ya don't have one."
"Oh…how do I do that then?"
He smiled and clapped a hand on the shoulder of his twin. "I'll let Rensa show you how it's done."
Rensa smirked and played with his goatee. "Well, I did take second place in the Hyrule Horse-Taming Competition."
The kids I saw earlier suddenly rounded the corner, tackling Rensa by the legs in a big hug. One of them gave me a big grin. "Dad taught us everything he knows about horses! He's the best!"
"No! He's the second-best, Darton!"
"I said that!"
"Now, now, boys," Rensa softly chided. He kneeled and I saw the uncanniness between father and sons.
That made two sets of twins living at the stable.
"Why don't you give our newest customer a run of the reins?" Rensa asked, pushing his two sons closer to me. I kneeled to meet them at eye level.
"Yah! C'mon, missus, ask us! What do you want to know?"
I tapped a finger against my lip. "Well, how do I catch one?"
Darton started jumping excitedly and raised his hands. "Oh! Oh! I know this one! Can I answer this one, Shibo?" His brother pouted but acquiesced. "Wild horses get scared easily, and if they notice people near them, they'll take off. You have to be real sneaky, but you also gotta be quick! If you're not, you'll get kicked in the head like this one guy earlier."
"Hehe that was funny!"
I turned to Shibo, sensing that he would throw a tantrum if I didn't give him the same attention as his brother. "Which horses should I try to tame?"
"Horses with spots on them are even-tempered and easy to train." He looked to Rensa for confirmation, to which he nodded. Shibo continued with more confidence. "On the other hand, horses that are one color are a bit more wild and harder to train."
"But a one-color horse has more stamina and runs faster!" Darton interjected.
"I was getting to that!"
"Okay, okay! You two run along now," Rensa said, dousing the flames of an oncoming argument. He pushed his sons to tend to the horses in the back before turning to me. "There's lots of horses in the pasture behind the stable. Go tame one and we can register you into the stable system."
Mina and Mils called out from the cooking pot. They had put their horses into the care of Tasseren and were digging into their bentos for lunch. Mina waved her chopsticks at me. "Go ahead, Zelda! We'll be here when you get back."
I dropped my backpack and the weapons I had, trying to minimize the clanking and rustling of clothing as much as possible. Although I kept a shield, paying heed to the children's anecdote about the man getting kicked in the head. Speaking of, Darton and Shibo were nearby and eyed the Lynel crusher and bow with interest. With a firm warning not to kill each other with the weapons, I left them to supervise my belongings.
Running out into the green pasture, it was one of the many moments where I became aware of the amount of freedom I had. There were no borders to stop me now. I had the paraglider and I knew how to climb virtually anything. The plain before me only represented the endless opportunities I had.
Along with the green grass, I noticed a few landmarks on the terrain. For one, there were remains of buildings across the field – stone arches stood isolated from one another as horses weaved in and out of the entrances like an obstacle course. There were turned over and decayed guardians. Some were half-buried husks in the dirt but others at their limbs splayed out. They scattered throughout the plain but seemed to concentrate heavily the farther I travelled away from the stable.
There was no doubt about it. This place was once the battlefield of an epic war between the guardians and an army. However, after 100 years, it had become a grazing field for wild horses. These animals – prey-like and jittery to even the crack of a stick – held no fear as they grazed alongside the rusted machinery. It was peacefully poetic.
I crouched low when a group of spotted horses appeared. They gathered at the knoll before a pile of Guardians, grazing at the vibrant grass there. Slowly, I approached them – balancing my weight on the balls of my feet and careful not to make a single noise.
However, when I was about to mount a gentle looking calico horse, the suddenly perked up. Their ears twitched with the blowing of the wind. The horses then pivoted on their hindlegs, dashing away from their grazing spot. I had to back away and shield myself to avoid getting kicked in the head.
Once they were gone, I stood up feeling slightly defeated. I had done everything right, hadn't I? I was sure that I was quiet and didn't make a single noise.
I heard a high-pitched squeal from behind me and understood. It wasn't me that caused the horses to run away…
Two Bokoblins sprung up from the brush. Although their initial goal was to capture the horses, they turned their eyes to me and were out for blood instead. I quickly turned and ran away, but they were hot on my tail. I had abandoned my weapons at the stable. I was defenseless except for the Sheikah Slate and a single shield.
I ran towards one of the decrepit arches and heaved myself up and onto the apex, balancing on the narrow strip of rock. The Bokoblins chased after, stopping before the arch. They screamed at me to get down, but I'd be an idiot to listen to them. They threw a small tantrum, stomping at the earth before reaching down to grab some loose pebbles. I held up the shield as the pebbles were launched in my direction.
I did my best to parry any rocks that I could, sending them back to the monster that threw them. However, it wasn't enough to do any substantial damage and they simply regenerated their health back anyways. I couldn't spawn a bomb either since they took turns making sure I couldn't lower my shield.
I was definitely in a tight spot. I didn't want to call for help either. How embarrassing would it be for Mina and Mils to come across their savior cowering on top of an arch with Bokoblins – out of all monsters – terrorizing her.
Preparing to make an escape – it wasn't cowardice, it was being smart – I parried one last rock and readied to jump off the arch. There was a whinny and the fast clopping of hooves. I heard the Bokoblins shrieking in pain before one of them flew fast into the distance. When I lowered my shield, a solid brown horse stood below me, kicking the other Bokoblin in the head.
A horse had galloped from the nearby knoll and came to my rescue. If I was going to register any horse today, it was going to be this one.
I jumped off from the arch and landed squarely on the horse's back. It began to flail wildly at my sudden weight. I gripped tightly onto its black mane and began patting its neck with my other hand. Just when I was about to let myself get tossed off from exhaustion, the horse quieted. It snorted softly at the ground before turning its head to face me.
Smiling, I stroked its neck once more before urging it forwards. It began a steady trot towards the stable.
When I arrived, everyone had already gathered around the cooking pot for lunch. There was Mina and Mils, now standing to offer room for those who wanted to sit. They seemed to be in a passionate conversation with another set of twins. The girl who was cooking earlier was stir frying vegetables and meat. A man with dark hair sat on the ground beside her, mumbling to himself. Darton and Shibo were eating some steamed carrots with Rensa, listing off the vegetable's properties and why they were good for horses. The man with the large backpack was sitting on the log across the girl.
"Looks like you found a mighty nice horse." Tasseren observed, coming up from behind me with a crate of apples. "Do you want to register it?"
I nodded. Tasseren quickly placed the crate next to the cooking fire and ran behind the front desk. He pulled out a variety of papers and shuffled them together.
"Let's see…Ooh, you managed to tame a solid-colored horse." He bit his lip and brought out a pen. "We charge a registration fee to help support our conservation efforts. The fee also gets you a locally made saddle and bridle for your horse. The fee is 20 rupees, is that okay?"
I pulled out a couple of the green gems that I had scrounged up from the Temple of Time. I didn't know the currency value of these, so I just held them out for Tasseren to count for me.
He mentally calculated the amount I presented. Then, he clicked his tongue. "Sorry, Zelda. Looks like you're a bit short. You gave me five rupees. You need another fifteen."
Ah…so green rupees have a value of one.
The man who carried the large pack suddenly waved me over. "Hi~! You need rupees? I can trade you for some! My name's Beedle."
Beedle looked like an eccentric figure just from his appearance. He had brown hair that reminded me of a coconut, a long nose, and freckles that dusted across his cheeks. The backpack he carried, upon closer inspection, looked just like a rhino beetle. If I were to guess what his favorite bug was, I would have full confidence in the rhino beetle as my answer.
"I mostly have monster parts. Is that okay?" I ask shyly. I didn't know how sought after Bokoblin guts were; that's why I never really bothered to trade with previous merchants.
"Monster parts, vegetables, fruit, meals, a rock you found; I'll buy anything!" Beedle said, setting down his back and retrieving a locked case. He opened it and different colored rupees were organized by value.
"Don't sell all your monster parts, though!" The girl who had been cooking advised. "You can make some really cool elixirs with them!"
In the end, I sold Beedle enough monster parts and the gemstones from the Lynel to sustain me for the next couple days. I also learned that green rupees had a value of one, the blue ones had a value of five, red was 20, silver was 100, and gold was 300. I went back to Tasseren and handed off a red rupee. He presented me with the stable saddle and bridle, fitting my horse with it and showing me how to attach it.
"Okay, one last thing and you're set. What would you like to name your horse?"
I looked at my newest companion and willed a name to come to mind. It was brown, somewhat fast, and stronger than an average horse. This one didn't lack courage at all if it willingly dashed into two Bokoblins and defeated them both. As I gazed into its kind, brown eyes, I couldn't help but be struck by the familiarity. I had a horse like this in my past life, didn't I?
Epona…Epona…can you hear this song? Singing from in my heart all along…
"Epona. I'll name her, Epona."
Tasseren smiled. "Epona it is! That's actually the name of the song we use to calm the horses down." He finished filling out the information on the paperwork before filing it away. "You're all set! By the end of the week, your information will be passed through the entire stable network. You'll be able to ask for your horses virtually anywhere and we'll deliver it to the stable you're staying at. Thank you for signing up with our services!"
I led Epona into the pasture, near the corral where the sheep and goats were kept. She grazed upon the grass and I left her some apples as well, as a token of appreciation for when she saved me.
When I went back to the stable and joined the others around the cooking fire, Mina took my arm, pulling me beside her. "Zelda! Meet the crowd here." She pointed to the girl who was having a conversation with Mils. "That's Sagessa. She's a shrine fanatic; it's why Mils is talking to her. Between you and me, I think he's crushing hard. Oh, and the one with the dark hair is Hino. He's an astronomer."
I went to go shake his hand, but Hino seemed to be consumed in thought.
"Tonight? No, it's too soon. Tonight should be the 13th Day Moon. Tomorrow night for sure…" he mumbled.
Mina pulled me away from him. She steered us back to where her and her brother stood before. She nonchalantly motioned to the twins talking amongst each other. "And these two are some amateur treasure hunters. Meet Domidak and Prissen."
Another set of treasure-hunting twins?!
The one with the longer goatee snorted. "Jealousy is so unbefitting of you, Mina."
"Can it, Domidak!"
"You can't talk to my brother like that!" The one in blue yelled back in retaliation.
Domidak scoffed and eased his twin. "Relax, Prissen. She's just upset that we know a clue to the Great Bandit Misko's treasure and won't share it for a hefty price."
"As if I'd want to know anyway!" Mina tossed her hair over her shoulder. "Not like you two boneheads can figure out the riddle. I bet Mils and I can find it before you solve the first line!"
Domidak choked on the insult whilst Prissen steadily grew red in embarrassment and anger. I grabbed Mina, tugging her to the side before she can draw us both into a fight. The last thing I want is to be banned from stables the day I get registered into the system.
"So…Kakariko Village?" I ask, reminding her of why we were in this area in the first place.
She adopted a look of concern. "Right now, are you sure? You haven't eaten yet and its past noon now." Mina pulled out a plate with meat skewers piled onto it. "Here, I saved some for you."
I took a couple to placate her worry. "Thanks, but we really need to go. I can eat on the way there."
"Well…if you're sure." She turned to Mils and caught his attention. "C'mon, Mils, say goodbye to your girlfriend. We gotta go."
Mils started choking on his stir fry, prompting Sagessa to pound his back in order to dislodge the vegetables. He gasped in a breath before screaming at his sister in protest. Mina and I shared a quiet giggle before receiving our horses from Tasseren. As Mina confirmed the route with him, I watched as Mils apologized profusely to Sagessa, who had a strong blush blooming over her cheeks.
"Kakariko is just past the Kakariko Bridge. The journey there should be relatively safe. Stay safe and don't be a stranger, ya hear?" He said in a mock stern voice. He gave Epona one last pat on her neck before sending us away.
In a caravan procession, Mina took the lead with me in the middle and Mils bringing up the rear. We came across a fork in the road and a road sign with the destinations written. To the north was Kakariko and the fork led to a place called Hateno Village. I had no business in Hateno Village for now, so I continued to follow Mina across the bridge.
Epona was a pretty obedient horse despite having a wild temperament. She followed the pulls of my reins without question and never once tried to buck me off. Even though we had just met each other not even an hour ago, we've already developed a strong bond. I wonder why that is…
Kakariko Bridge was stable even though the rock that laid the foundation was cracked. There were moments where Epona's hooves slipped over the debris, causing her to panic a bit. With a couple of soothing motions and coos, I managed to get her under control again.
We passed the other half of the bridge. I saw that there was a man standing off to the side, grumbling to himself. He was looking off into the distance, reminding me of Hino's tendencies after lunch. I prepared to steer Epona towards him to ask if he needed any help, but Mils strode up next to me and kept the reins forward.
"What are you—?"
"Not every stranger you meet is as kind. Even I could tell he's a Yiga in disguise."
Yiga? What are they?
"Just keep your eyes forward and don't talk to them," Mils advised.
However, as we passed one of the trees up along the path, I couldn't help but stare at this gigantic tree sprite that was sobbing openly. It reminded me of the Koroks I saw on the Great Plateau. However, it was much larger – like it towered over me even when I was on Epona – and much chubbier. A messenger bag was slung around its shoulders and it cried into its hands, mourning the loss of its…maracas?
How were Mina and Mils not seeing this?
"Hey, uh, you guys go on ahead. I'll catch up in a bit," I say to them, tugging on the reins so that Epona paused in her trot.
Mina looked back at me. "What? But we're supposed to be escorting you."
"You're not going to help that guy back there, right?" Mils asked warily, referring to the guy who sat by Kakariko Bridge.
I shook my head. "No, I just have to check something out. I swear, I'll only be gone for a minute. You won't even realize I was gone."
Mina bit her lip, debating with the idea. I really hope she left so I wouldn't have to explain myself. If what the Korok said was true, then I guess I really can see forest sprites and no one else can.
Eventually, Mina relented. "Alright. But if you're not with us in 20 minutes, we're coming back here." She pointed to the mountain pass up ahead. "Kakariko is just through this valley. We'll be by the gate; it has an emblem like the one on your slate."
I nodded to show that I understood. Then, Mina and Mils went off on their own.
Tugging on the reins, I guided Epona backwards until we were parallel with the large tree spite. It continued to sob uncontrollably, paying no attention to me. I descended from the saddle and reaching out a cautious hand to catch his notice.
"Excuse me?"
"Shalaka?!" It gasped out. I quickly retracted my hand. "You! You can see me?!"
I nodded, my eyes comically wide with disbelief.
The large Korok creature brought its arms out wide and shook his body. I was mesmerized in the jiggliness of his gut to really question what he was doing. "Shala-zah~! Shala-kah~! It's been 100 years since anyone has been able to see me! I'm Hestu, and I need your help!"
Hestu…now why does that name sound familiar?
"Those monsters over there stole my beloved maracas!" It pointed off the side of the trail. "I think they're still there on the other side of those rocks. I can't use my powers without them…shoko…"
Hestu began to sob once more. I quickly offered to retrieve it from them.
"You will?! Shalaka~! Thank you, I'll pay you back, I swear!"
I left Epona right next to the Korok, just in case things got hairy so that she wouldn't be caught in the tussle. I ran up the hill and stood before the rocks. Crouching low so I wouldn't alert the Bokoblin, I scoped out exactly what I was up against. It looked like a camp of three, blue Bokoblins – all holding different weapons. The maracas were probably looked up in a sinister looking chest with a monster lock.
Well, I guess I can't just grab it and go…
I climbed the pile of rocks to get a better vantage point. The Bokoblins set up their camp against a cliff. There was a steep drop off into water on the other side of the edge. My job just got easy.
The Bokoblin with the spear posed as the bigger threat, followed by the one wielding the two-handed club, and then the one with a regular bat. Let's see…I could use the bomb to displace them all, hopefully blow one off the edge of the cliff and into the water. Then, I could use a bow to stun the other, which leaves an easy 1 vs. 1 with whoever remains.
I activated the bomb rune and spawned a circular bomb within in my hands. Throwing the bomb, I let it roll for a bit – catching the attention of all the Bokoblins gathered. They drew closer to the bomb, curious at its spectral blue glow. With a simple tap, the device exploded, sending the monsters flying in opposite directions. The Bokoblin with the spear got blown into the water, effectively drowning.
I jumped from my position, instantly drawing the soldier's bow with an arrow already nocked. One after another, arrows hit the head of the Bokoblin with the heavy club, stunning it until it laid unconscious off to the side.
Landing in front of the Bokoblin with the club, it began screaming at me and brought its weapon off to the side. I launched myself into a backflip and triggered bullet-time. I ran in close with the traveler's sword, slashing the monster until the moment drew to a close.
At this point, the Bokoblin with the bat regained consciousness and ran in to help out its partner. I withdrew for now, looking for the spear that the other Bokoblin had dropped. It was a simple wooden spear, but it would work for the combat I had in mind.
I turned and faced the remaining monsters as they ganged up against me. They flew forwards at the same time, hoping to overwhelm me. However, that was their biggest mistake. I side-dodged to the outside, putting myself in a position where I was behind them. The Bokoblins were now the ones pushed up against the ledge.
With the spear, I began jabbing the monsters in quick strokes, alternating between them. I braced the spear against my stomach and thrusted it forward. The Bokoblin initially resisted but my own strength won out, pushing the monster off the cliff and into the ravine below. I turned to the last Bokoblin and did the same, effectively winning the fight.
The locked chest let out a sound that was reminiscent of a boxing bell. Its sinister eyes glowed a bright yellow before the sound of a lock clicked. I climbed the small parapet it was on and kicked the box open. Within it were the red maracas Hestu described.
I gathered the musical instruments and began walking my way back to Epona and the tree sprite. It seemed Epona could see it too as she tried to chew on its leaf. Hestu shouted in protest, chastising my horse to which Epona replied with a whinny of disappointment.
Epona noticed me, snorting in my direction. Hestu turned and recognized the maracas in my hand. "SHALA-KALA! Those are my maracas! Please giiiiive them to meeeee~!"
And because I didn't have any use for magical, forest sprite maracas, I handed them over.
Hestu celebrated, waving its arms around in celebration. However, that celebration was shortly lived as it deflated once more. "The Korok seeds inside are gone! How am I supposed to dance now?"
Oh! Korok seeds! Hestu!
"You're Hestu!" I exclaim, finally connecting the dots. I fished out the golden seeds the Koroks from the plateau had gifted me. "They told me to give this to you."
I offered up the small seeds in my hand, barely taking more space than the palm. Hestu instantly brightened and gathered them. It funneled the kernels into the red maracas.
"Yahaha! You see, I have the power of inventory expansion. As thanks, I'm going to get rid of that heavy backpack around your back!"
Hestu's maracas began to glow with sparkles following their movements. A funky, tropical tune began to play as it shook them with an elaborate pizzazz. With a flourish, Hestu raised the maracas into the air. They erupted in a shower of bubbles, leaves, and sparkles that rained over me. My shoulders felt infinitely lighter and I turned to see that the backpack – as well as all the weapons I had been painstakingly carrying – had been transformed into a small pouch hanging on my belt.
"Go on! Just think of whatever you need. If you have it, you'll pull it out. If not, you'll pull nothing. Meals, clothes, weapons, shields, bows, arrows, and even materials are all in there! All you have to do is think of them!"
I did as he said, thinking of the Lynel crusher – which was the biggest weapon I had. Unzipping the pouch, I was astonished to pull out the imposing weapon with ease. I didn't even feel the weight until it was entirely released from the magic pouch.
This was amazing!
I turned to thank Hestu, but he suddenly cried out in shock. "Oh! Look at the time! I need to get back before Grandpa yells at me, shoko…Sorry, I have to go! But if you find more Korok seeds, bring them to the Korok Forest, please!" And with a cute bounce to its step, Hestu descended from the hill and into the distance.
I faced Epona, shaking my head with a chuckle as she whinnied in response. Quickly mounting her, we galloped to meet Mina and Mils before the two had come sprinting back. There were more travelers along the road to Kakariko Village. However, I tried to exercise Mils advice and be cautious around them. They seemed like normal people just from their musings. One girl mumbled about Sheikah-enhanced clothing. Another guy sounded like he was a travelling merchant, selling bugs. I wonder if he's met Beedle, yet…
"There you are!" Mina exclaimed. I snapped out of my musings, finding her and Mils resting beside the Kakariko Gates. "What happened to your backpack?"
Oh shoot. I didn't think about that. "I wanted to go minimalistic! Traded it for this nifty lil pouch."
Mina and Mils looked at each other, probably wondering if I was insane. Before they could question my decisions, I urged Epona forward and through the gate. Mina and Mils dropped the topic, to my secret relief.
They were right. It was a wide wooden gate with the Sheikah Symbol – an eye with a teardrop – in the center. There were two banners flanking the insignia; the familiar symbol was stitched onto the blue cloth in white thread.
We passed through the gates together, Mina and Mils sandwiching me and Epona. There were a few more gates to pass through before we finally reached the outskirts of the village. Omamori with the Sheikah Symbol and Sheikah text were strung along above us. They clicked together when the breeze blew, emanating a hollow wooden sound that was very pleasing to the ear. There were several of them at the entrance, where the cliff finally opened and painted a beautiful scene.
"Wow…" I whispered. Mina smirked from beside me.
"Welcome to Kakariko Village, home of the Sheikah," Mils announced.
The first thing that caught my eye were the hills in the background. In the distance, there were tall mountains ascending into the high heavens. Small waterfalls spilled in between them, hinting at a lake in the valley. The falls beautifully framed an ancestral house, sitting at the foundation of the village. Its roof was larger than the rest of the smaller homes and it was decorated with several of the Sheikah Symbols, distinguishing its importance amongst the rest of the buildings. However, it was too far for me to admire its details further.
Kakariko was designed like a farming village. Every house had its own plot of land and the entire settlement was laid out in a terrace pattern that were segregated by natural inclines and unnatural fences. Each roof was bowed and thatched with hay, bearing the eye symbol on their doors. Farm animals roamed freely, mainly Cuccos that pecked at the seedlings that fell from the trees above.
We passed by an elder woman warming her hands over a small campfire. She met eyes with me. I hoped my appearance didn't startle or disgust her. When she didn't say a greeting, I nodded my head in polite acknowledgement. The old woman continued to stare at me; her eyes were skeptical at first, but then they grew large with an emotion I couldn't distinguish.
Before I could ask her what was wrong, we had already trotted past.
"Kakariko is known for its vegetables, primarily their pumpkins and carrots," Mils spoke as we trotted along carefully.
We crossed over a small, arched bridge that spanned across a quaint stream that was formed by a waterfall. I followed the flow of water and saw that it was irrigated via a water wheel in the distance. It was eventually gathered into a small lake that I assumed everyone in the community had access to.
After the small bridge, the land began to naturally and progressively decline into a slope. It must have been the harvest season as several of the town's villagers were out gathering their crops. Everyone carried baskets full of vegetables: pumpkins, carrots, tomatoes, corn, and even rice.
Men and women wore large hats that resembled the roofs of their houses but were weaved out of a straw material. They had white overcoats with red detailing and khakis for pants with matching tabi boots. Those who were affected by the heat of the afternoon had removed the overcoat – exposing the black, sleeveless turtleneck underneath. Children weaved through the terraces, playing a game of tag or hide and seek. Regardless of age, they all had white hair – gathered into intricate buns on top of their head.
We continued down the path and I began to notice a few frog statues sitting vigil along the pathway. They had the Sheikah Eye painted on their bellies in red. Must be their sacred animal.
Mina, Mils, and I slowed our steads down to allow a gaggle of children to run past. They laughed, pushing each other in an attempt to win their race, and waved at us before disappearing up a hill.
"Oh, Zelda!" Mina called for my attention. I pulled on the reins to slow Epona down. Mina motioned to the shop to our left. "Once you get checked in and take a shower, I'm definitely taking you here."
"Mina, don't be mean! She looks beautiful," the young woman standing in front of the shop came to my defense. I blushed at the unexpected compliment. She then turned her attention to me and gave a friendly smile. "But you should come visit us when you can. We have the cutest items available."
I glanced at the large icon of a t-shirt and took a wild guess at what this shop could be. Although, I'm not gonna lie. Some fresh clothes – fresh, fitting clothes – sounded really nice. But a shower sounded amazing as well.
Alright, first I meet Impa, then I shower, then I get new clothes.
We finally arrived at the foundation of the village, where the ancestral house was framed by the small waterfalls. Another gate and a flight of stairs prefaced the hill that the house sat upon. Several flags adorning the Sheikah symbol hung upon the beams of the infrastructure. Even more omamori were strung in decorations around the ancestral home. Two guards and two blossom trees stood watch before the entrance. To the left of the entrance was a line of the frog guardians. They each had an offering of apples in front except for one.
Parallel to the house was a familiar statue. In stood in the center of a small lake, on an island of its own. The villagers had adorned the statue with a crown of vibrant flowers and a red shawl. Behind the Goddess statuette, four torches lit the shrine with small flames. A wooden dock led up to the goddess; water lilies floated on either side with their white flowers in full bloom.
A man stood off to the side, painting fiercely as a Cucco pecked at his feet.
"Alright, I say you check in at the inn first and wash off all that monster blood. Then, you can do whatever it is you're here for," Mina instructed, dismounting from her horse.
Mils and I followed her lead and dismounted from our steads as well. However, as Mina and Mils walked towards the direction of the inn, I was forcibly halted. One of the men who had stood guard in front of the house obstructed my path. The other, I assumed, was the one poking my back with their blade.
"Halt there, traveler. You don't look like anyone we've encountered before," the man in front of me said.
My hands twitched for the sword strapped around my back.
Mina and Mils instantly came to my defense.
"Wait, Cado. She's not a Yiga if that's what you're thinking," Mils said.
"What business do you have in Kakariko?" Cado asked, hostility bordering the edge of his voice.
Mina and Mils were silent. I forgot that I had kept my quest a secret from them. They, too, were curious as to why I was here.
I stood firm, determination gleaming fiercely in my eyes. "I'm here to speak with Impa."
The blade against my back was pressed harder. I felt the sharp tip digging into my flesh, leaving a sensation close to burning in its wake. More guards had appeared; this time, they wore black, tight suits with the Sheikah symbols across their chest. Their faces were obscured by a mask and a scarf. I hadn't even heard them come close. I cautioned a look at the roofs and saw more crouched hidden behind the beams.
A crowd had gathered at this point. The painter by the goddess statue stopped painting to stare at the scene unfolding before him. Parents held tight to their children, preventing them from running into the middle of what was happening. Several shop keepers exited their stores to play witness.
Mina and Mils looked scared and I immediately regret taking them along.
Suddenly, a shrill cry broke through the tense silence. "Dorian, stop!"
The blade against my back eased its pressure.
We turned our heads to the source of the cry. It was the old woman from earlier – the one who had been warming her hands by the campfire. She slapped Dorian's arm away and I felt the blade disappear. Then, she inserted herself between me and Cado.
"Nanna! What are you—?"
"Did you not look upon the device on her hip? This isn't a Yiga clansman! This is Lady Zelda – the Chosen Knight from 100 years ago!"
A hush spread over the crowd. Glancing at Cado, his expression was that of absolute horror. The guard named Dorian had removed his blade from my back. I turned to face him as he sheathed his weapon, his eyebrows creased in disappointment in himself. Mina and Mils shared identical looks of shock; Mina's held a sliver of betrayal. I willed myself not to look at them for too long.
Suddenly, wood banged heavily against wood – the sound of a door slamming itself open. Everyone redirected their gaze to the ancestral house and its balcony. A small elderly woman stood, a furious expression upon her face. She wore a wide brimmed hat with metallic Sheikah symbols suspended on the rim. The Sheikah Eye was drawn over her forehead in a fading purple ink. Behind her, a timid girl stood dutifully.
"What is the meaning of this? All of you, stand down!"
At her command, the Sheikah ninjas dispersed, leaving no trace of their presence. Cado and Dorian, to my surprise, prostrated themselves towards me. It was an action of deep remorse and apology.
Nanna gently placed her hand on the small of my back, softly guiding me to face the elder. I gazed upon her; my breaths quieting as her eyes met mine. The corner of her lip raised into a small smile as the creases of her forehead smoothed. Her eyes crinkled in delight as the crow's feet deepened around them.
She was no longer angry, but relieved. Her expression was that of clear nostalgia.
"It has been a very long time, Zelda. Come…we have much to talk about."
A/N: Wow, my chapters are getting longer and longer, aren't they? But I hope this will make up for the brief break that'll follow. School is starting up soon, so I'll be taking a couple days to familiarize myself with my new classes.
This chapter was really fun to write. I hope it wasn't overwhelming to read, but I got carried away with all of the character interactions. I didn't realize how much happened in between the Great Plateau and Kakariko. Hopefully, the characters don't sound too NPC if that makes sense.
Please review if you enjoyed this chapter. It'll let me know that you're enjoying things so far.