Link listened in to the splashing of mud and water as Epona's hooves trotted down the muddy roads of Hyrule field. The Hylian Knight sighed as he pushed wet hair out of his face, looking up at the dark, moon covering rain clouds that loomed above him. It had been a day and a half since he had left the Akkala Tech Lab, leaving Zelda behind in order to take on the Yiga. Link shivered as he continued down one of Hyrule Fields paths, his burned and torn Champion Tunic drenched in rain water. He couldn't help but hope that Zelda would fix the tunic once they met in Rito Village. If they met in Rito Village...
Link shook his head, shoving the thought of Zelda not making it to the meeting point away. She had to make it, and she would. She was strong. He had trained her himself, even if she wasn't ready. Sure she could be a bit reckless, but it was usually only because she cared. Everytime she had gotten reckless was because she was trying to help Link, or he was unconsciously provoking her. Maybe he was a tad bit too hard on her.
Link sighed as he tiredly looked around the dark void of the night, only able to get darkened outlines of hills and the looming Hyrule Castle, no longer circled by the Malice of Calamity Ganon. Though, in the distance Link could still see tiny specks of pink and orange light roaming the fields of Hyrule. The Guardians of the field were still awakened.
Link's eyebrows rose just a bit in curiosity as he bumped in his saddle along the path. Where did the Yiga obtain Malice? Did they retrieve it from the Guardians still affected by the influence of the Calamity? Link shrugged, assuming he would find out once he got there. What he needed to focus on now was making it out of the camp alive.
The bright blue yet tired eyes of the knight looked forward, noticing the fork in the road. Link reared Epona to a halt, looking left and right. The right would lead towards Outskirt Stable, while the left would continue him down the path towards the Gerudo Canyon. Link rubbed the tired out of his eyes as he pulled on Epona's reins, signaling for her to go left, however the horse jerked her head to the right as she trotted towards Outskirt Stables. Link frowned for a moment, before sighing. Epona had made the executive decision to rest, whether it as for herself or her owner. He couldn't blame the horse. They had been riding non stop for over a day.
The duo soon reached the stables, the shadow of the wooden and fabric made horse structure looming over them, dripping with rain water as the darkness of the night covered it's usual vibrant colors. Link reared in front of the stable desk, the owner having to lean in just a bit in order to see through the rain.
"Link! Is that you, boy!?" The stable master called through his open window. Link, jumping off of Epona as he raised an arm to shield himself from the wind.
"It is Embry! Can we stay a night?" Link called out through the rain. The stable master known as Embry nodded as he waved his hand, signaling the young knight into the stable. Embry turned towards a few of the Hylians in the stable.
"Trott! Go and put the lovely horse away!" Embry called out, signaling towards the brown bodied horse, now shaking her white mane free of soaked water. Trott, a rather skinny limbed Hylian with a bit of a belly from meat consumption, adjusted his hat before dashing into the rain. Embry nodded as Trott ran out into the rain, turning back to face his customer.
"Well Link, it's been a few months! I thought you had- Heavens boy, are you alright!?" Embry called out, noticing the ragged remains of Link's Champion tunic. Link sighed as he pushed wet hair back with his gloved fingers.
"It's been a rough few days Embry," Link said. "The Yiga... One regular bed please."
"Those lanky bastards," Embry said angrily, ruffling through his under desk to find his scheduling book. "They defected so long ago from that old Sheikah race, and they still have a grudge against us Hylians? What happened was over ten thousand years ago! Maybe it wasn't their innovation we limited them for, but their aggression!"
"We don't know that for sure Embry," Link said cooly, currently getting his wallet out. "For all we know they may have a valid reason to be angry with us. Not valid enough to attack innocent people and support Calamity Ganon, but valid enough to hate us. I know a person who would have a lot to say on that matter..."
"Well you should introduce me sometime. Twenty rupees as usual," Embry said casually, taking the red rupee from Link. Link nodded, turning his back towards the Stable Master as he headed towards the beds. Setting the purple sword next to the bed frame, the knight sat down on the feather mattress. With a stretch, Link laid his aching body down in preparation for sleep to engulf him.
However, sleep hadn't come as fast as Link had wished. In fact, it didn't seem to be coming at all. Link, his eyes still closed, furrowed his brow. He rolled over, adjusted his blankets, squirmed to get comfortable. Despite all attempts, Link couldn't help but feel strangely... cold? The hero groaned as he sat up in bed, placing a hand to his eyes. He had done this countless times before, what was so different?
Link removed his hand, now looking around at the bed. Why was he not in the center? Link sighed in realization: He had gotten used to Zelda sleeping next to him. He hadn't believed the girl not being around him would affect him so much. He left because he didn't want their emotions getting in the way of something so important or dangerous, so why did it feel like this was affecting him more? He was used to this. He was alone for almost a year without her. This should be nothing. So why wasn't it?
Link fell back into his pillow as he took a deep breath in , his hands covering eyes as he tried to come up with some other reason than the truth. However, Jerrin's words kept replaying in his head:
What about Zelda's feelings!? What about your feelings!? Weren't you going to tell her how you felt?
Link exhaled as he turned his head on his pillow, now staring at the now dull purple of the Master Sword. The sword had been silent, no energy coursing through it as it restored itself.
"I really hate when you go away..." Link said to the unresponsive blade. "It's bad enough when you don't speak to me. It's even worse when you really aren't here."
Link adjusted himself until he was on his shoulder, now focusing in on the gold diamond in the center of the purple winged hilt.
"Tell me... What was I supposed to do? If I took her with me she'd be in more danger. But, she probably wouldn't feel like I abandoned her. Am I over reacting to what happened on the Akkala Islands? She almost got herself killed... but maybe I'm underestimating her?"
Link stared at the sword, hoping the sword would answer. However, unsurprisingly, the sword did not respond. The teen frowned, continuing to stare at the sword as he gathered the courage to ask his real question.
"Is it okay for me to be in love with Zelda?"
Even while knowing the sword wouldn't respond, Link couldn't help but feel anticipation for an answer that never came. Link sighed, closing his eyes. Of course his guilt and his questions wouldn't go away that easy...
"Why is he talking to his sword?"
"Look, some travelers are crazy in the head, don't go bugging him about it. It's proven that if you encourage it, it'll only get worse..."
Link frowned as he sat up and turned towards two Hylians in the corner talking, two female workers of the stable, one younger and one older and plump.
"Sorry if I'm bothering you," Link said, a bit monotone. "Sometimes a sword is the only one you can trust these days. It wouldn't listen into personal conversations."
"Oh... Link... sorry love, we... we didn't know it was you..." The younger woman said, clapping her hands together in apology.
"I'll make you a good breakfast tomorrow to make up for it, how's that?" The plumper woman asked. Link raised an eyebrow before turning back into the bed.
"It better be a good breakfast, Myti. And Epona gets some too, Canni." Link said, closing his eyes.
"Yeah..." The two women said guiltily.
...
Link and Epona whizzed through the Gerudo Canyon, the tan grass and oddly stocky trees of the canyon growing more and more rare as the land turned from field texture to canyon rocks. Epona narrowly avoided the falling boulders from the high cliffs as they raced around the bends of the dirt road, dust flying behind them. Link looked up as he bobbed on the saddle, watching as they passed under the natural rocky overhead arcs of the canyon. Eventually the natural structures began to turn to wooden, hand made structures with pathways climbing the sides of the canyon walls and thin bridges connecting the canyon's cliffs. Every time Link passed through these Canyons and mines, he couldn't help but admire the beauty and the progress created here. He couldn't wait to see Zelda's eyes when she saw the view, vowing that next time she would be with him when he passed through again.
In only a few hours, Link made it to the Gerudo Canyon Stable, immediately jumping off the horse as he walked over towards the Stablemaster.
"Hey Piaffe! Can you board Epona for me?" Link called out in a hurry, now heading towards one of the rock-like structures that littered the canyon, this one in particular only a few meters away from the stables.
"Sure thing, but why in such a big hurry Link? Rushing to get to the Gerudo Desert? Most people aren't that eager to head into those weird weather changes!" Piaffe called back, signaling one of the workers to fetch Epona as Link walked off.
"Yup, and I'm not either, but it's important," Link called, searching behind the pillar-like rock. "Ah... there it is."
Link reached behind the pillar-like rock, pulling out a large hammer like weapon. The knight nodded as he put the Iron Sledgehammer on his back, knowing another traveler would once again conveniently leave one there once again for anyone who needed it. The sledgehammer wouldn't do much, but Link didn't have much of a choice with the Master Sword being out of energy and Zelda with the Sheikah Slate.
Link waved as he passed Piaffe and the other employees of the stable, darting down the road towards the Gerudo Desert. He needed to hurry, he had already wasted too much time resting at Outskirt Stable. He knew he needed to find as much information as possible, and he knew the best place to start looking for it.
...
The young girl sighed as her empty green eyes stared into the overly familiar scenery of the Gerudo throne room. Her eyes darted lazily around, inspecting the jewels that decorated the sandstone pillars and amazingly crafted statues of Gerudo warriors for the thousandth time today. The much larger, and most likely the stockist, Gerudo standing next to the chair took note of the small girl's sigh with a raised eyebrow.
"What seems to be the matter, my Chieftain? I don't wish to see a frown on your face, it's much more enjoyable to see you smile," the large woman asked in a powerful tone, shifting her grip on the massive, gold Gerudo Claymore. The young Gerudo chief shifted her glance over towards the warrior, her resting cheek sinking deeper into her cheek.
"What is there to smile about Buliara?" the Chieftess asked dully. "There's nothing going on. I've got nothing to do but sit on this rather uncomfortable throne here..."
"I wouldn't particularly say there's nothing going on, Chieftess Riju," Buliara said, her voice booming once again. "We have been dealing with those pesky Yiga for the last few weeks. They have gotten rather bold as of late."
"Let me rephrase then," Riju said, lifting her head from her raised hand. "There's nothing going on that I, myself, can do. You guys won't let me go out into the field with you."
"As much as I appreciate your heart in wanting to help, you know it is much too dangerous for you to take on the Yiga at such a young age. If you were to fall, Gerudo Town would be at a loss in leadership." Buliara explained. Riju rolled her eyes, returning to her usual resting cheek position as she closed her bored eyes.
"You just don't want me to get hurt..." Riju muttered. Buliara nodded attentively.
"That is also a reason, a very valid one at that," she responded.
"I wish Link were here," Riju thought out loud. "He at least would have some stories to pass the time. I'd much rather hear his stories of facing down monsters than listen to nothing but the flowing water in here..."
"I believe your wish has been granted, my Chieftess," Buliara said, lifting and clanking her claymore down on the sandstone flooring in response to the much smaller figure appearing in the doorway. Riju's eyes shot up with excitement, looking down the aisle as the fair skinned, light blue Gerudo Vai dressed Hylian came quickly walking down the aisle of the throne room.
"Link!" Riju called out happily. She had begun to get out of her chair to greet the Hylian voe, disguised as vai, however she quickly coughed as she conformed herself to a much more professional posture. "Erm, I mean, hello there, Link. It is a pleasure to meet your acquaintance once again."
"Riju, Buliara," Link said with a quick smile before becoming stone faced again. Buliara, noticing the swiftness in Link's sudden change in expression, immediately responded.
"It seems as though any stories will have to wait, Chieftess," Buliara said in her booming voice. "It seems the Hylian Champion is here for a reason beyond saying hello."
Riju, trying to hide her clear disappointment, looked down at Link from the throne.
"And what seems to be the matter, Link? Things can't be too bad, it seems you have a new outfit," Riju said, unable to hide the teasing smile as she pointed out Link's new bright blue Gerudo vai outfit.
"Had to get a new one on the way here, the other one was left behind with a friend..." Link muttered, adjusting the top of the vai outfit. "In fact, I don't have the Sheikah Slate on me, so I was wondering if you could... maybe hide these in your room?"
Link pulled the Hylian Champions tunic from his back, having been resting in the belt space between the Master Sword, hammer, and his back. Riju chuckled as she slid down off the throne, taking the torn Champion Tunic from the voe. However, a quick inspection of the tunic seemingly alarmed the girl as she ran her fingers along the deep cuts and bloodstains on the tunic.
"Link, what happened?" Riju asked worriedly. "I've rarely even seen a cut on you, much less all this damage. In fact, now that I have a good look at you, your skin has many more scars than before..."
"And it's incredible to me that such a device such as the Sheikah Slate would not still be in your possession," Buliara added, her stance as strong as ever as she watched Riju tuck the Champion Tunic under the pillows of the throne. "What happened, young Hylian Warrior?"
Link's eyes became serious as he looked between Riju and the Chieftess Guard, his blue eyes erupting with flames.
"I need any information you have on recent Yiga activity. They've become quite a problem."
...