Daruk rubbed his hands together, examining the interior of the castle with awe as he stood beside his companions, "I guess it isn't so bad. I thought we would be treated like criminals."

"The Princess is right beside you; what exactly made you think we'd be imprisoned?!" Revali inquired with disbelief, not noticing the jingling at his wrists as he remained enchanted.

Poignantly enough, Daruk's eyes fell toward Revali's bindings, the Rito glibly scoffing g as he turned away knowingly, though Daruk still offered his suspicions, "I mean, they did put you in-"

"I know, I know!" complained Revali with a heated breath.

The Champions had been taken through the castle and into the main hall, where King Bospheramus was to arrive shortly, leaving the group with little more to do than examine these new surroundings, given that they were still underneath the watchful eyes of Ruzoll and his men. Daruk had been the most astounded, having never been within many houses, much less a castle, and his head remained upturned as he followed the endless columns and buttresses that held up the mighty ceiling above, almost in defiance of the gravity itself.

He turned toward Zelda for further questioning, "Hey! What kind if rock comprises these walls?"

Still deftly annoyed by the situation, Zelda her best to oblige in a kind enough tone, "I'm not sure; you'd have to ask one of the historians."

Daruk snapped a finger in defeat, earning him a scoff as Revail's eyes rolled into his head dramatically, "Why don't you just lick it and tell us?"

For a moment, the Goron remained remiss, though as the idea mulled around in his head, his face narrowed determinately, leaving Urbosa to sigh, shaking her head, "Please don't ."

"T'would make for an interesting party trick. Perhaps those buzzards over there would be impressed," Revali shrugged, shooting his upturned beaks toward the nearby soldiers.

With a sigh, Urbosa plead behind a sarcastic voice, "Let's at least maintain some decorum. I know this crew couldn't be any more of the motley variety, but perhaps we can give Zelda something proud to defend."

Zelda grotto her teeth, her lips tensed with determination, "I would be proud even of a band of cuckoos if they were in service to the future of Hyrulr."

Her face immediately falling with shame at the sight of Daruk, the Goron scratching the nearby wall only to bring it up for a taste, nodding to himself attentively as though tasting g a fine wine, Urbosa turned to Zelda with a dismayed expression, "Could you go less than a pack of cuckoos..?"

Groaning, Zelda turned away from the others, strolling away to where Mipha had planted herself, seated against the wall. The Princess grumbled to herself something unintelligible, though still vitriolic, as she fell beside Mipha, crossing her legs in her seated position while frowning.

"I'm sorry about all this," Zelda confessed, still with anger in her voice, "I don't mean to bother you. I just needed get away from the others. I know they mean well, or at least Urbosa does, but I'm in no mood for a lighter mood at the moment."

From one Princess to another, Mipha shook her head, "No, you're fine. I understand."

Zelda dropped her head back against the wall, shutting her eyes in some attempt at serenity, if only for the moment, still tormented by her father's blatant distrust of her and her intentions. She thought of her mom; how she had always been in Zelda's corner, even when her eccentricities came to the fore. The woman had always been protective of her daughter, though not for fear of Zelda's safety, but of the world doing what it often did to dreamers. She loved Zelda's quirks, and wanted them to last, well into both of their later lives.

Of course, Zelda's mother wouldn't make it.

"That's the Master Sword, isn't it?" Mipha asked quietly, forcing Zelda's eyes open as her head dropped forward.

Across the room in an ornate alcove of the main hall, surrounded by stained glass depictions of the heroes of old, sat a small, non-descript altar, upon which lay a mighty sword, resting atop pure white fabric. That's where it had been sat millennia ago, a testament to Hyrule's perseverance; though it's continued presence also suggested a rather ominous, foreboding reminder: that for all the years that Master Sword had remained here, it was all the same time that no Hero had been at the vanguard of Hyrule's destiny.

Zelda replied, "Yep. The legendary blade. The Sword of Evil's Bane. among other titles."

"The Goddess Sword," Mipha added, leaving Zelda to nod in reply, "That's what it's called in the book you gifted me."

Zelda continued, "You have to read a bunch into history to come up with that one, and even then, the sources are so few and far between, we can't be entire sure of its origins. Still, from what we know of the blade itself, that it's very old and very storied, it's not a leap to believe it to be associated with the Goddesses."

"How can you tell that it's so old?" Mipha wondered.

Her frown gradually growing into a smirk, Zelda pushed herself up, waving for Mipha to follow her to her feet, "Well, I suppose that requires some examination, doesn't it? Come on."

Unsurely enough, Mipha shakily followed along as Zelda and she crossed the room, slightly afraid of approaching a blade that Link had already told her had a history of being a detriment to the unworthy. Still, she put on a brave face, her bare feet pattering atop the marble floor as she matched Zelda's gait.

As they closed in with no objection, Zelda turned to find Ruzoll's eyes on them, though he turned away soon after, signaling his approval, allowing them to work their way up the two steps that lead up to the altar, Mipha growing more anxious as Zelda reached the ornamental table of marble, the Zora remaining atop only the first step. Zelda turned to her in confusion, only giggling as she goaded her on.

"Come on!" Zelda instructed, only to Mipha's nervousness.

Mipha replied, "B-But won't it-"

Answering quickly, Zelda admitted, "If it was going to hurt you that much, you'd have been thrown to the ground already. Now come on!"

This did little to quell Mipha's nerves, though she readied herself once again, taking a soft step to the top of the marble enclave, taking in the mighty sword with awestruck eyes.

"This was probably the first thing that I really got into learning about," Zelda affirmed easily, "Especially later on. I, uh- I'm supposed to have magical powers, you know, but- I don't, so- It frustrated me so much growing up, thinking I was defective; I didn't think I was meant to have it easy simply due to my royal birth, but-"

She shrugged, "I liked the idea of fate being so concrete as to be merely lifting a sword, you know?"

Mipha lowered her head respectfully, feeling as though Zelda had revealed quite the personal bit of information, though the Hylian Princess quickly returned her attention to the sword, "In any case, by observation, we know it's of a divine origin. Not only that, it seems to have something of a consciousness behind it. It hates some people, and likes others."

Zelda lowered her hand toward the sword, much to Mipha's astonishment, and gently dropped her fingers to run their tips along the sword's shining edge, "See? I can't lift it, but this is closer than most people can get."

Her eyes resting atop the blade for more than a moment, Mipha's awe overpowered her as Zelda watched with growing sadness, smiling lightly as she spoke up, only quietly, "This is about Link, isn't it?"

"W-What?!" Mipha exclaimed, quickly covering her mouth as her eyes jolted around to ascertain who all might have heard.

Zelda giggled, shaking her head, "So how long have you- you know..?"

Her nerves quelled by Zelda's secrecy, Mipha's brow furrowed regretfully, fearing she now owed Zelda back for her story from a moment before, quietly explaining, "W-Well, I mean- He was in Zora's Domain often as a child, I guess, so I knew him. We grew older and- I don't know, he just- I don't know. But he was so short- shorter than me- and it was already bad that, at the time, I was the sole heir to the throne. It wouldn't do for me to find attraction in a Hylian. I told myself, if he returned and I remained taller than he, I would forget about it all."

"Ahh," Zelda mused with gossiping ears, "And he met that challenge?"

"I-I- I mean, he didn't- know- but I just…" Mipha stuttered, bringing a fist up to cover her lips as her eyes averted, "Maybe it just seemed to me like he knew and just decided to have a growth spurt or whatever. It's silly, I know."

Zelda shrugged, "Seems more cute to me, really."

"But-" Mipha paused, dropping her head sadly, "He must not feel the same way. I would have thought he'd rush here to join us, but-"

Her own face curling with uncertainty, Zelda replied, "I mean, in my time with him anyway, he's kind of a tough nut to crack. Hyrule's been his love for his entire life, really. If he feels the same way, it might be even more difficult for him to admit that to himself than to you."

Grinning, Zelda continued, "But if I have any say, we will need him once we get this journey kick-started once again. Regardless. There'll be plenty of time to get you two togeth-"

"W-What?!" Mipha cried out in embarrassment, turning her face away to hide the blush that wasn't there, "I-I-"

Zelda giggled at her reaction, turning back toward the Master Sword, "So, what, you want him to try to wield this so he can be more worthy of your affections?"

"No!" Mipha retorted without hesitation, quickly reining herself in, "I mean- I know he's such a kind person, so- I'd love him even if he was a mere farmer. I just don't- He's just that kind of person who is destined for so much greater things. I hate to see him so pained, being torn between his love of duty and his longing for more."

She felt her heart throb in time with her gills as they were sent aflutter, "I promised him long ago… I would protect him- keep him safe. If that means keeping him safe from himself in his dogged determination to remain in flux, that's what I'll do. Even if it mean-..."

Her voice trailed off, not wanting her heart to tremble at such an idea, though Zelda completed the thought which hurt all the same, "Even if it means him choosing his knighthood over you?"

Mipha nodded lowly.

Zelda sighed, turning toward the Master Sword with a certain longing in her heart, "Well, take it from the heir of the Hyrulean Royal Family who cannot possess magic. Our only fate that is set in stone remains, solely, to be our deaths."

The two of them remained in quiet solitude as the massive doors at the opposite end of the main hall opened, two guards at each door pushing them open as King Bosphoramus strode in behind them, pushing his hand against one of the doors to assist the men until they came to a halt, signaling his attention to rise toward the newcomers. His face wore exasperation and contempt, more so due to his daughter, though there was a sense of regret of having allowed her to leave in the first place.

He had weighed such options before agreeing, though he had miscalculated the gravity such an expedition might cause. The King had left the idea at nothing more than his daughter's crazy idea- he hadn't expected her to actually recruit help when her connections were so few, much less the help of some formidable beings in their own right. Had he known Link possessed such an influence, he'd have sent a lesser officer and simply ended it at Zelda and Urbosa meandering about. With the names of Daruk, Urbosa, and the Princess of the Zora, most astonishingly, at the behest of Captain Ruzoll, King Bosphoramus was suddenly caught between allowing such an outlandish troupe causing such a ruckus with nothing more behind it than a fortune teller's intuition interpreted by his daughter.

His daughter and her surrogate mother gallivanting around wasn't strange. Zelda, accompanied by a corps of Champions, on a global trek; that was cause for attention.

Zelda quickly left the altar, stomping up toward her father with fury in her eyes, "Father!"

"Daughter," he replied simply.

She threw a thumb over her shoulder, "So what's your explanation for this sort of treatment?! This is how we treat our neighbors?!"

"No it's not. But these are not mere neighbors, child," Bosphoramus warned, "These are people you have deceived with your tales of grandeur, and I will not allow it to continue."

Offended at such deception being accused of her, Zelda stammered, "What?! I- W-"

"Excuse me, Rhoam," Urbosa spoke up, taking slow strides toward the two members of Hylian royalty, "Can I still call you Rhoam?"

The King frowned, "I would prefer you do not when we're around guests…"

"Okay, Rhoam, then," Urbosa replied with a smirk.

"But, then again, you weren't ever one for following decorum," King Bosphoramus muttered drolly.

Revali scoffed, grumbling with ire, "And she has the gall to lecture me on such things…"

"Look, shouldn't that be for us to decide?" questioned Urbosa, "I, for one, haven't a doubt when it comes to this child's validity."

The King's eyes narrowed, "I also know that you've become like a second mother to this child. I wouldn't doubt you would take her side, just as her mother did; both of you have a penchant for such things."

Irked at an insinuation, Urbosa threw her head around, "Daruk! You believe her, don't you?"

"A- Uh- What?" the Goron puttered in reply, "Well, I- I mean, uh, which part? I do think that much can be gained by studying the Beasts, but- uh- about the other stuff, I mean-"

Urbosa's face curled with resentment, searching for reinforcements in Revali before quickly recognizing that as a bad idea, though the Rito took her sudden glance as an invitation, "Pshaw, I don't. I wasn't even made privy to this whole venture until later on; I was told we'd be seeking fame and fortune."

The muscles around Zelda's chest constructed painfully.

Just holding in a curse, Urbosa spun toward Mipha, "Mipha! You believe her, don't you?!"

"I mean, truthfully, I do not presume that she meant any ill will or anything, just-" Mipha began, sadly, "I haven't a problem going along and being convinced as we progress."

Knowing such a thing wasn't going to cut it with this man, this King, Urbosa dropped her head in defeat, groaning with disappointment.

"I'm merely saving them for your wild ideas, daughter," King Bosphoramus confirmed, almost sadly.

Zelda's hands clenched into fists, shooting her head up toward her father to reveal the tears crawling down her face, "Are you so ashamed of me?!"

"Zelda-"

"Or is it because of my inability to wield magic?!" Zelda challenged angrily, "How many nights have you remained awake, wondering how much of a mistake I was to bring into this wor-!"

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Rhoam shouted with a roaring voice that shook the very air within the gigantic room, sending his daughter aback in recoil.

He stepped toward her, "I will not allow you to put words into my mouth, and I certainly will not allow you to accuse me of such wickedness!"

Zelda turned her face in furious resolve, not bothering to back down now, "You're doing the same exact thing to me!"

"Because I'm your father!" he retorted with just as much heat to his tone, "Because I've seen what happens when you upset the natural order of this world! Because I was you when I was but a child!"

"Father!"

"That's enough!" Rhoam continued with spewing instruction, "I won't allow this discussion to go on any longer! You are to make your way to the library, this instant!"

Zelda threw an arm out defiantly, "No!"

"That's an order, child!"

Urbosa's anger suddenly boiled over as she took a step forward, "Hey! You're not about to just cut her off like that!"

His glare turning toward Urbosa now, Rhoam defended himself, "So long as I'm her father-!"

Ruzoll's stare narrowed as Urbosa approached the King, unsure of how the current situation was to progress. His lips tugged together, pursed in expectation as he signaled to his men. Instantly, the majority of his men hurried across the hall toward Urbosa, having already known of her strength, their collective steps catching Urbosa's attention as smirked greedily.

"Really?!" she asked incredulously.

From across the hall, Revali's eyes lit up as he bowed his head to hide a grin, "Yes, really…"

Eyeing the remaining number of soldiers, Ruzoll and an assortment of three other men, Revali quickly sized them up, shaking his head, "Hylians in a barrel."

At his words, one of the nearby soldiers turned to Revali with a confusion look, not a moment before Revali jumped at him, knocking him to the ground before the Rito readied himself once again, even with his wrists bound, quickly dodging a blow from one of the others and seething angrily before launching another attack.

Taking out another of the soldiers, Ruzoll stomped forward with his sword drawn, sending Revali hopping backward with a fierce look aimed toward Daruk, "Goron! Aid me! Your skin is impervious!"

Already lost amidst the confusion, Daruk simply held his hands up into the air, looking around him with dread at the thought of possibly harming any number of the people around him, "I- I'm not equipped to-!"

"Not equipped?! You're nothing but stone!" Revali reminded as he dodged a blow from Ruzoll, "Just get up there and- GAH!"

The other soldier tackled Revali, sending the two to the ground as Ruzoll joined in the fray, the two Hylians overpowering the Rito as Revali furiously attempted to break free, shouting in strange caws of Rito obscenity as Ruzoll attempted to bind him further. Zelda angrily spun around toward the scrum, beginning to charge, though her advance was halted by the advancing squad of men encircling Urbosa.

"Stop it!" she shouted at the top of her lungs, trying to burst through the line of soldiers, "STOP IT!"

-BANG!-

The entire hall fell silent at the deafening thud of sound that tore through the atmosphere, forcing every action to cease as everybody present eyed the doorway that had just blown open. Zelda slid free from the soldiers, her body shaking from the aftershock of so many emotions roiling throughout her body and suddenly coming to a chilling stop. Her breath ran cold as the body of Link walked in, stopping once his presence could be seen.

Ruzoll immediately returned to Revali, the scrum continuing with the Rito's peckish attacks while the commander shouted, "Link! Get over here and help us!"

The struggle continued until Ruzoll noticed Link's inaction. The Hylian merely stood there, watching the struggle from afar before turning his head back toward the altar where Mipha had remained. Her skin crawled at the sight of Link standing there, almost with a primal determination on his face; as though he'd come for prey far greater than even his rival in Revali.

Link stepped forward with conviction, his heart stopping as he truly realized what he was about to do. The Master Sword bed atop that altar came into view, forcing a shiver down Link's spine, knowing what the sword was all too capable of doing to him. Even worse what was sure to happen to his reputation, were his assertion true- or rather, Mipha's assertion. His breaths grew quick, hollow, as he strode toward the alcove, only allowing his eyes to flinch once to watch Mipha for but a moment as she stepped away from the steps leading to the altar, in awe of the sight before her.

He was truly doing it.

As Link stepped up the round steps, the room had once again come to a sudden halt, with even Revali's attention on the Hylian. He took a deep breath as he stood there, within arms' reach of the blade that had turned greater men than he mad with jealously over not having ownership of it. It had turned greater men's arm jet black with divine punishment for daring to claim it.

He knew all too well, all those great Hylians to come before him, all of whom he couldn't ever hope to hold a candle to. They all took this blade.

By the goddess… how could he hope to do so as well?

Link stared at the hilt of the blade, thinking of Mipha. of her faith in him, of his worthiness. He thought of a life with her, where every day could be better than the last. where the two of them would discover so much, not of just each other, but of that world where the two of them were bound by strands far greater than any material known to Hyrule.

How could such a world come to pass, were there nobody to protect it?

His hand reached over, taking hold of the blade's handle, a collective assortment of gasps echoing throughout the grandiose hallway, of soldiers mystified, having only seen a handful of people having gotten this far.

Yet one test remained.

Link swallowed, almost painfully, through his parched throat. His heart stopped for the briefest of moments, his breathing ceased, his skin crawled.

And his hand raised up.

Immediately, the soldiers were aghast, quickly dropping their own swords in reverence for the Sacred Blade, even Ruzoll, who clawed his way up to his feet with wide eyes, tossing his sword to the ground. Link's own eyes drew amazed at the sight before him; the sword followed his movements, as though he were wielding- Wait, was he truly doing so? It felt heavy in his grasp, not simply due to the material, he was certain, but of the history. of the sheer gravity this most sacred of blades carried atop of it.

Slowly, Link turned around with his arm outstretched, allowing his eyes to fall upon King Bosphoramus, who's eyes were glistening with both awe as well as shock.

"You ask for legitimacy in Princess Zelda's endeavors," Link spoke up with a heavy tone.

He lifted his arm in presentation, "Here it is, your highness."