Link pushed himself up from the ground, grabbing the handle of the Master Sword. The blade was completely unresponsive, dull and powerless. Link frowned. The Master Sword had put itself to sleep, recovering from its loss of energy. Link slid the sword back into its sheath, allowing the blade to rest peacefully on his back. He looked over at Tarrey Town, the smoke billowing from the town becoming thinner. He didn't have much time.
Link looked over to where the Yiga Blademaster had vanished, noticing the curved, white glowing blade of the Wind Cleaver resting in the grass, now masterless. The Knight limped over towards the blade, picking it up as he inspected it. While the sword felt normal for the most part, deep inside did Link still feel the dark essence of Calamity's Malice still imbued into the blade. Link gripped the sword tighter as he turned towards the Akkala Tech Lab, now limping towards the makeshift building.
"If that's you, Yiga Scum then- Link!" Robbie called out as soon as he noticed it was the Hylian Champion that had walked into the lab. Link, using the Windcleaver as a crutch, leaned against one of the tables as he held the sword out for Robbie to take.
"Robbie, quickly, take this," Link said, shaking the sword a bit to give Robbie incentive to take it. Robbie, stumbling over to Link, took the heavy blade into his grasp as he inspected it.
"He was able to control Malice," Link said as he noticed Jerrin running down the stairs with a pale pink bottle in her hand. "Maybe you can use that blade to find any information that may help us..."
"If there's actual Malice within the sword then yes, quite possibly," Robbie said, setting the sword down on his work table. "Dare I say Link, you and Zelda must hurry to the next Divine Beast! If the Calamity is to return-"
"No," Link said, taking the small bottle of fairy tonic from Jerrin. "Zelda, needs to go to the next Divine Beast. Tell her to head to Divine Beast Vah Rudania, just up Death Mountain. Tell her not to instantly warp there. She needs to go to the Foothill Stable down near the Lanayru Region first. If she travels to Lanayru Tower and takes the north road, Foothill Stable is just up the road."
Link chugged the fairy tonic before turning towards the staircase that led to the second floor, where all of his own and Zelda's belongings had been set out, however Robbie and Jerrin quickly followed him up the stairs.
"W-What!? Link, you can't be serious. You want Princess Zelda to travel alone!?" Robbie hollered towards the Knight, who was now grabbing whatever few things he thought he would need. "You just fought against one of the Yiga Clan! Once they find out Zelda is awake-"
"They won't," Link said quickly, throwing one of the remaining travelers shields he had taken out the Sheikah Slate onto his back. He silently thanked himself for being too lazy to put them back after showing Zelda how to block Guardian lasers. "I've, at least for the most part, ensured that I'm the only one awake. If that Blademaster believed me, then they currently think Zelda is some random traveler I have with me."
"But even so! Where will you go?" Jerrin asked worriedly as Link grabbed a few loose arrows that remained stashed on Zelda's backpack. He quickly adjusted his Lynel bow as he turned towards Jerrin and Robbie, now giving him looks of fear and worry.
"The Yiga are currently following me. I thought that after the Calamity had been defeated, they wouldn't be a threat. But if they are messing with Malice," Link tightened the belt he had around his chest, noticing the large bloodstained tear that ran down his Champion Tunic. "Then I need to get them off Zelda's trail. Currently I'm the one they're after, and that's how it's going to stay, at least for now. The further I am away from the Princess, the better."
"Link, you're avoiding the question," Robbie said, piecing together the Hylians plan. "You don't plan to challenge the Yiga Base all alone in the desert do you?"
Link stood, the now dull Master Sword and now worn down Lynel Bow on his back, a few loose arrows on his belt, with his torn raggidy blood-stained Champions tunic barely held together. Dried blood still covered his face as he nodded with determination.
"That's exactly what I plan to do," Link said as he pushed passed Jerrin and Robbie. Robbie and Jerrin looked at each other before rushing after the Knight.
"Link, that's madness!" Robbie said as soon as they caught up to Link, who was heading out the door. "It was one thing when they were regular Yiga, but now they are manipulating Malice! It took all you had to defeat that one Blademaster! You're walking right into your death! You don't even have the Sheikah Slate with its abilities or the rest of your gear! Even your shield is gone!"
"I'm leaving it all to Zelda," Link called out, bringing a hand up to whistle for his horse. Right after the whistle Link turned towards the two Sheikah Researchers, his face emotionless as ever. "Gear, clothes, and all. She needs everything she can get on the slim chance they still follow her. I'm sure she can handle a regular Yiga. They won't send a Blademaster on a regular Hylian girl if I'm still roaming free."
"Link, I-" Robbie began to argue, however the distant hooves of Epona riding her way cut the little Sheikah off. The moment Epona stopped, Link hopped onto the top of his horse.
"Sorry," Link said, allowing just slight emotion of sadness to come through his tone. "I need to go. Tell Zelda we will meet in Rito Village, by then I'll have taken on all the Yiga-"
"If you survive!" Robbie shouted back as Link reared his horse towards the path.
"Link!" Jerrin called out before Link could ride away. "What about Zelda's feelings!? What about your feelings!? Weren't you going to tell her how you felt? Wouldn't she want to go through this together?"
Link didn't respond, his back and his horse turned away from the two Skeikah researchers.
"That's precisely why I need to go alone this time," Link said quietly, the boulder incident flashing in his mind. "Both of our emotions almost got us killed with a simple boulder. Imagine the harm it could do when dealing with this... I... I can't risk that. I need her safe, and this is the safest option. Sorry, I can't stall any longer..."
With a kick to Epona's side, Link rode off with incredible speed down the path. He heard the two calling his name, however he pressed on. The further he got, the more memories of Zelda came to him...
Put it in the Slate, and DON'T read it again.
I'm staying with you. That's final. It would be more effective to live together than apart.
Yes, what's the first thing I get to learn!?
Link... I'm not a Princess anymore... I really need you... Please?
Link, I know you must not be enjoying these. You always hated copying... Now hand over the journal, I'll take over.
Link... I will not lose you again... Ever...
You'll always be with me, right?
Link gritted his teeth as he buried his face into Epona's mane, kicking her side as a signal for her to go faster. A pain grew in his chest, a pain that had nothing to do with the bleeding gash on his chest, a pain that he hadn't felt since Zelda had been freed over two months ago.
Sorry Zelda, Link thought as he and Epona raced past the orange and green scenery of Akkala. I wasn't able to keep my promise to you...
...
The Yiga continued to point at Zelda as he continued to look down towards the old lady. Monari starred up into the white mask, unphased.
"That is but a Hylian traveler that Link happened to help out," Monari lied, keeping eye contact with the Yiga. "Surely you don't plan to kill every single blonde headed Hylian you see in Hyrule do you?"
"Why of course not, that would take far too much time," The Yiga said casually circling the old woman. "However, Link has the Sheikah Slate. And the only person he would ever entrust that kind of power too, would be Princess Zelda. He wouldn't give some random traveler the Slate..."
Zelda gently tucked the Sheikah Slate further back between her clothes and the Hylian Cloak she wore. The two Yiga leaning off the Goddess Statue jumped down, now walking slowly towards Zelda. Zelda gulped, taking a step back.
"Why don't you take off that Hylian Hood girly," The Yiga near the old lady said. "If you don't have the Slate, then you have nothing to worry about..."
The two Yiga inched closer towards Zelda, reaching their arms out to take the cloak off of her. Grante stepped in front of her, shielding her from the two Yiga clansman, along with a Rito Zelda had seen at one of the stalls, and Greyson the Goron.
"She may not be a citizen, but we wouldn't be much of a great town if we didn't defend our travelers and visitors," The young Rito said, though he seemed to grow more and more nervous as the Yiga inched closer
"I suggest you leave Marin alone, young one," Monari said towards the Yiga circling her. The Yiga cracked his neck down towards the woman.
"And what makes you think we'll-" The Yiga started, however in a crack a short distance away from the crowd, an injured looking large Yiga landed. The Yiga was bladeless, large gashes torn down the center of his torso with an even larger gash bleeding heavily from his shoulder.
"Forget the Hylian brat," The Yiga Blademaster called out weakly. The Yiga quickly stopped their advances towards Zelda, the Greyson and the Rito and quickly disappeared and appeared next to the Yiga Blademaster. "She's just some ordinary nobody for now. The Hylian Champion... He's the biggest threat. We leave. Now."
In a large puff, the Blademaster and the other Yiga vanished. The Yiga next to Monari stared down at the old woman before turning his mask towards Zelda.
"They may be convinced, but I'm onto you girl," the Yiga said, pointing his finger at Zelda. "Watch your back."
In a puff the Yiga had disappeared, leaving Zelda and the townsmen alone, still grouped around the statue. The silence had only lasted a few moments before murmuring began amongst the people.
"Princess Zelda?"
"Wasn't that the Princess of Legend?"
"But that was a hundred years ago?"
"She couldn't have survived... It wouldn't be possible..."
Zelda looked around before catching the eyes of Grantees, who solely looked at her.
"Grante was it? What is it we should do?" Zelda asked nervously. "I need to get back to Link! He could be hurt!"
"I dunno, Prin- I mean- Marin. That Yiga looked pretty messed up," Grantees said, looking back at where the Yiga had disappeared. "I have to guess Link won that fight..."
"Still! I've never seen Link actually injure someone that badly!" Zelda said worriedly, reaching for the Sheikah Slate. "If Link had to injure the Yiga that badly to win, he must've been formidable! Link is probably hurt, I need to go!"
"You can't warp just yet!" Grante said, grabbing Zelda's wrist before it could reach the Slate. "Yiga could still be around these parts. You heard the big Yiga guy! Link convinced him you were just some girl, but if you use the Slate just any way, you could put a target on yourself!"
Zelda looked up with tears in her eyes. Grante, sighing at Zelda's tears, looked around for Monari. However, the only eyes that landed on the two were Greysons and the young Rito that had shielded them.
"You know, we can hear you..." the young Rito said. "You're who they were looking for... You're Princess Zelda..."
The village murmur grew silent at the sound of the Rito's accusation. All eyes had turned towards the young green eyed girl. Zelda took a step back, her hood still over her head as she brought her head down. What was she supposed to do?
"That girl?" A rude, familiar voice sounded. "You can't be serious Fyson! This traveler? The ancient Princess from a hundred years ago?"
"She was with Link, Hagie! Link is from a hundred years ago!" Fyson called out. "At first the elder of my home town, Rito Village said Link was just a descendant of the Hylian Champion. But after living here in Tarrey Town I learned the truth! If Link is alive and well from a hundred years ago, then why not the Princess!"
"And why should I care about the so called Hylian Champion?" Hagie asked, folding his arms. "He hasn't done a thing to deserve my respect."
"Not done a thing?" Rhondson spoke up, her powerful Gerudo voice traveling powerfully across the crowd. "Link helped found this entire town with my husband! He created a home for all of us here in Tarrey Town!"
"Yes. He did," Hudson said simply, yet sternly. "He helped give all of us a place here."
"Not only that, but Link is the reason all of us aren't dead," Monari spoke out, walking slowly towards the Goddess Statue. "The threat of the Calamity would have killed us all had Link not defeated it once and for all. However, he wasn't the only one that saved us. The ancient Princess of Hyrule had been protecting us all this time, keeping its power sealed within Hyrule Castle."
The old lady turned to give Zelda an apologetic smile.
"Sorry Princess... But it seems the people have put the pieces together," the elderly lady said apologetically. Another older Hylian, a hunched over man, came walking through the crowd towards Zelda. The man stared at her in silence.
"Moggs?" Fyson the Rito asked, curious as to why the old Hylian hadn't said anything. The Hylians old brown eyes grew wide as recognition filled his face.
"I may be old, but even I remember the face of the Princess Zelda from a hundred years ago... Your grace..." Moggs said, bowing as best as he could with his old bones. "I was pleased enough to see that the Hylian Champion had somehow survived, but to see the Hylian lineage remain in these lands..."
"Hold on just a second!" Hagie called out once again. "Are we really just supposed to accept this young girl as our ruler!? We've been perfectly fine without any royal overseers in these lands!"
"We have not! Without the old government we have had nothing but monsters and the fear of the Calamity threatening us for a century!" old man Moggs turned towards Hagie. "We owe this young protegee our allegiance!"
"You want to start paying taxes to some random girl who hasn't been here in a hundred years!? She's the reason the Yiga were here if she really is the damn princess!"
"That isn't fair! The Yiga have been causing problems for decades!" Grante yelled out. "And what!? Are we supposed to throw Link to the wayside? Ban him from the town because of some politics and the Yiga? That's not even what its about, is it Hagie? You just don't wanna lose money!"
"Oh says the overcharged 'secret shop keeper'!" Hagie yelled back at Grante. "All of you are here because you wanted to make a quick lowly rupee! Bringing the monarchy affects us all!"
"That is not why we are in this town!" Fyson the Rito yelled back. "This is our home! You treat this place as some vacation home! If she's the princess then she has the right to the throne of Hyrule!"
"She did hold back the Calamity," Greyson said, folding his large Goron arms. "And Link has done a lot. We should trust his judgment."
"She's a goddamned girl! Not a Queen! I overheard her at Pelisons stall! She can't even handle money!" Hagie screamed.
"Why is it always about money with you!? She can be trained in the ways of old Hylian Royal tradition!" Mogg argued as loudly as his old voice could go.
"I don't care about any of that!"
Hagie, Moggs, and everyone else in Tarrey Town turned towards the sudden voice. Zelda pulled back her hood, revealing the blonde hair yet again as her watery green eyes turned towards the people.
"I don't care about taking the throne! I just want everyone in Hyrule safe! I want you all safe... I want Link to be safe and okay..." Zelda said, tears running down her face. "I don't claim the title of Princess anymore. I am simply Zelda. And I just want to get back to Link and make sure he's okay."
The people of Tarrey Town watched the girl's tears fall in silence. Eventually, Hudson and Rhondson walked forward to face Zelda. Zelda looked up at the strong Gerudo woman, then down towards the short burly Hylian man.
"You have a fine heart on you... Zelda," Rhondson said. "You haven't done anything to prove that you can lead a new kingdom, but you have shown one thing. You truly care about the people in this land and those closest too you. For that... I think we the people of Tarrey Town can keep the secret that Zelda has returned. It's the least we can do for someone who fought the Calamity for a hundred years."
"Yes, we can." Hudson said with a nod.
Greyson and Fyson, along with everyone else in the crowd nodded. Hagie, however, folded his arms in disgust, blowing his blonde mustache hairs out of his mouth.
"Madness..." He whispered under his breath as he walked away. "She and Link are the reason those Yiga barged in this town..."
"Thank you... Everyone," Zelda said with a smile. "I wish I could stay, but I have to go. I need to find Link so we can solve this. I promise, we will take care of the Yiga! They won't harm you again."
"Be safe out there, your secret is safe here in Tarrey Town. We will ensure no one says that Princ- That Zelda has returned." Moggs said, bowing yet again to the princess. "We believe in you."
Zelda nodded as she rushed out the town as fast as she could. The townspeople watched as Zelda sprinted along the grassy bridge towards as she whistled for her white stead. He needed to be okay. She needed to see him. She needed him.
...
Zelda's horse reared as she stopped in front of the Akkala Tech Lab. Zelda jumped off her horse, the Sheikah Slate bouncing as she sprinted into the Lab.
"LINK!?" Zelda yelled as she slammed the door open. She looked around, only to see Robbie and Jerrin sitting at the workbench. "Robbie, Jerrin, where's Link? Is he okay?"
Robbie didn't respond, not turning back to her as he stared at the Windcleaver sitting on the table. Jerrin did turn to Zelda with worried eyes. Zelda felt a pit in her stomach.
"Where's Link..?" Zelda asked again. Robbie sighed as he slowly spun in his chair to face the Hylian girl.
"Link... Left." He said solemnly. "He said he needed to go take care of something. He didn't want you to come along. Link, is gone."
Zelda's heart shattered as she stood in the doorframe, her eyes wide and dilated as her chest rose and fell slowly. Link left? He left her behind?
I'll always be at your side.
Did Link... break his promise?
...