Although he had just woken, Link could not help but feel like he was having some type of nightmare. Before him stood his best friend, the Princess Zelda, now in a cold stone form all thanks to that unbelievably powerful mage from the festival. It was futile to attempt to receive a response from her, Link was not even completely sure she could hear him in her current state, but the young boy still tried his best to bring her back. He grew more depressed as he realized that no matter how he tried, the life would not return to her eyes.
How could this have happened?
How could he have allowed something like this to happen?
Link felt as though he failed. He was the only one who could protect the princess in that moment, and he was unable to do it. The princess had trusted him, even gifting him a shield that day. Though, to him, she was wrong to trust him. How could she trust someone that let her become a statue?
"Now, if anything happens, you can protect me with that shield!"
How could he call himself a friend of the princess when he let this happen?
Link looked back on the scene, trying hard to come up with a situation in which he could have found success. If he could have promised that the princess's faith was well placed. If he could have done more than stand there stupidly with his useless shield.
Maybe if he had used the sword for the Picori Festival? His grandfather probably would have forgiven him. It was to protect the princess, of course!
"Zelda is the princess of Hyrule. You watch over her. Don't let anything happen to her."
But did it really matter?
Sure, things could have been different, but the reason why Zelda is a statue now is because of what he did decide to do. And what he decided proved to be ineffective.
Stupid.
What was he to do? Would restoring the Picori Blade even do anything? Link was unsure if he would ever see his friend again. He found that he already missed her and her overly cheerful personality.
He would never speak to her again and he would likely be on bad terms with the entire kingdom of Hyrule as the boy who let the princess be turned to stone. He felt so bad, he wanted nothing more than to apologize. But even if she could hear him, he was sure that a simple apology would not be good enough.
Sorry I failed to keep you safe and let you become a statue? How could anyone respond positively to that?
No matter how he looked at it, the situation was grim and it was uncertain if it could be resolved. Link seemed sure that the future would be especially dark without the princess around.
"You should be going soon, hm?" Link had completely forgotten about the King's presence, and so he jumped in surprise when he heard his voice. However, Link did not respond. He knew of the task that he had been given and of its importance, yet he found it difficult to leave the castle. Something just felt wrong about abandoning the princess after what happened. After what he did. Link gave him an apologetic look, the same one he had given to the statue of the princess, hoping it would suffice as a way to say "Sorry that I let this happen."
King Daltus exhaled a heavy breath, audible throughout the entire room. "Link, I understand how you must feel. But I know for sure that no one in this kingdom blames you for what happened."
Link listened well to his words, but he knew they could not heal his sorrows. Even if it was true, if no one would hate him, Link still felt as though he deserved every bit of the hate he should receive once he left the castle.
This happened because of him.
"Surely you must know…" he began again. "...she blames you the least."
These words caused Link to look up. Did he truly mean that? She trusted Link to protect her! How could it be true?
"Link…" He kneeled down and placed a hand on Link's right shoulder before he continued speaking. "I know you know my Zelda well, perhaps better than even I. But even I know that she would not want you to feel responsible for this."
Link wanted to believe him. He wanted to believe that his friend did not hate him. He wanted to believe that she would return.
Yet he could not find it easy to do so.
"The only thing she wants you to be responsible for now is saving her life."
Save her life?
Of course. Why would she want to be a statue forever?
"This is something that only you can do, Link." He said to strengthen his courage. "If my belief or the belief of all living in this kingdom is not enough for you, then let her belief be your guide."
Her belief?
She believes I can help her?
Link believed in her belief. Zelda was always able to push him to do stuff, he admittedly found it a bit funny that it was no different even now. He knew it seemed a bit heartless now, but when she came back at least then they could laugh about it together.
Link looked back to the statue. He stared into her eyes, hoping somehow he could convey some sort of message like "Don't worry." If she was even conscious enough to see it.
But he had to believe that she was.
Suddenly feeling determined and hopeful, Link quickly exited the castle to find the Picori. He knew the sooner the blade was restored, then the sooner he would see his friend.
Started writing this over a year ago and decided to finish it up recently. I love Link and Zelda's relationship in Minish Cap. I wanted to write something about it for a long time.
Sorry if there's any details I got wrong. It has been a long time since I actually played Minish Cap. If you notice anything that needs to be changed, let me know and I will make a quick edit.