In the morning Link and Zelda immediately teleported back to the Dah Hesho shrine. The goal for the day was simple: Make their way to Robbie at the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab and get as many Ancient arrows and other materials he had available as possible.
They found a path on the road seeming to be headed northeast in the direction of the lab, so they followed it. They easily defeated the many wolves along the way, and they used up the last of the Ancient arrows as they approached Robbie's lab.
They walked inside, and to their surprise nobody seemed to be there except for a large robot-looking device. That must be Cherry, the robot named after his girlfriend. Zelda's thought sent a wave of pain to her heart as Link stepped up close to it, and the robot immediately spoke in a monotone voice. "It's…an…it's…"
"Hey, you!" another voice shouted from above, his footsteps racing down the stairs. "What are you doing here?" Link backed away sheepishly from the robot, and Zelda immediately saw Robbie's eyes squint in confusion at her. He was much older now, of course, but she would recognize Robbie from anywhere. He was still looking at her questioningly, and Zelda quickly realized Robbie didn't recognize her at all. Robbie peered closer at Link with confusion on his face while his eyes widened at the sight of the Sheikah slate on his hip.
"Hey! Where did you get that? Did you steal that?"
Link's eyes grew wide. "No sir, I'm Link!"
"There's no way your name is Link, but if you WERE the legendary Link, there would be something important I would need to tell you. How can I determine with full certainty whether or not you are the true hero?"
"I might have an idea," Zelda said, trying not to smirk.
The two men turned toward her. "What's that, young lady?" Okay, he definitely does not know who I am. Oh, silly Robbie! Works out better for me right now, anyway.
Zelda cleared her throat, still trying not to smirk. She addressed Link, who was staring at her expectantly. "Why don't you take off your clothing…and show him your battle wounds?"
Link smirked and shook his head at her but had to admit to himself that it was a good idea. He couldn't help but grin while she delightfully watched him remove his shirt. Robbie didn't seem to notice as he stepped forward, gazing at the many scars that had long settled into the skin of Link's upper body.
"Ah! Yes, yes! The number of scars on your body…just as I remember. Most seem to have faded, but they do line up with the scars I know you got during the Great Calamity a hundred years ago. Yes, I acknowledge you as the real Link!" His voice was full of sudden enthusiasm, just as Zelda remembered her very expressive friend would act a century ago. He hasn't changed a bit.
Zelda stepped quietly behind Link after gazing at him for a few more seconds, and Robbie's eyes met hers. "Then that means…"
She quickly held a finger silently to her lips as she stood behind Link, and she pointed to herself and then Link and shook her head, signaling to him silently not to reveal who she was. Robbie thankfully got the hint. "Then that means…I can tell you a little about myself! I am the lead Guardian researcher and Director of the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab…." He began rapidly stomping his feet and pointed into the air as he suddenly sang his own name. "...Doctor…Robbie!" Zelda grinned at him, remembering his way of expressing himself in enthusiastic rhythm and song.
Robbie suddenly gaped at them both. "Really, I am impressed you both made it all the way out to this rather remote location. Did you by chance meet Purah and borrow her power?"
"I met a child," Link said, grinning.
"Hmm? Purah? A child? What? She really has a kid? Or do you mean that Purah has aged backward, and SHE is now a child?"
"She got younger," Zelda answered, and Link gave her a strange look. She hadn't mentioned the anti-aging Rune to him.
"Let me guess. She screwed up some experiment."
"Yes, it was an experiment gone wrong, or as she corrected me, one that worked a little too well."
"How did you know that?" Link asked.
"She told me when you left."
Link seemed to let it go.
"Hmm…typical Purah. Sounds as if she's as crazy as ever," Robbie said with a grin.
"Yes, exactly!" Link exclaimed, and Zelda giggled.
"Let's return to the subject at hand, hmm?" Robbie was getting excited again. "You managed to wake up before this old sack of bones gave out on me! THE TIME IS NOW!"
"He's just as crazy as Purah!" Link thought to himself.
"Ahem. Anyway, the time is now for you to join forces with us Sheikah, yes? We must destroy Calamity Ganon!" Robbie sang the last few words and pointed into the air again.
"Let's do it!" Link answered, only making Robbie more excited.
"Yes! That is correct! You and I are going to join forces to put an end to the Calamity! And on that note, sorry for the long preamble, but I'd like to provide you with some ancient soldier gear. "Cherry…" He was pointing to the robot, and Zelda's heart again broke at the name, and Robbie saw the look on Zelda's face. "Erm…I mean…the ancient oven here creates ancient soldier gear, but I fear she is out of sorts at the moment. I'm afraid someone will have to bring the blue flame from the Ancient Furnace again. Think you two can handle it?" He winked at Zelda, knowing full well they could.
Link picked up the torch that was inside the lab, and they walked outside to find the Ancient Furnace. They walked outside and to the right of the lab, then Zelda took Link's hand and began running through a field of grass that was thickly populated with trees containing orange leaves, typical for the Akkala region.
"Where are we going?" Link asked.
"No idea, I just want to find it fast! I'm excited to see what that ancient oven can do!"
"Me, too!"
They kept running, eventually reaching another pack of wolves. Zelda made quick work of them with her arrows, and Link packed the meat away from them for later. They came to the edge of a cliff, and they could see the Ancient Furnace with the glowing blue flame beyond a chasm on top of a hill across from them.
"How are we supposed to bring that back over here?" Link asked.
"I guess we'll have to take the long way around."
Link sighed and brought out his paraglider, and the two of them soared across the chasm to the hill. They ran to the open entrance to the Ancient Furnace.
"Look, Link! At least there are lanterns along the way so we won't have to come all the way back here if it goes out. We'll just keep lighting the lanterns as we go."
"Yeah, I did that when I got the flame for Purah, but I guess you weren't there."
"I am really sorry about that. I know you wanted me to come with you."
"It's okay, Ari! You're with me now." He sweetly took her head in both of his hands and placed a sweet kiss on her lips, then turned to light his torch.
They carried the blue flame to the first several lanterns, but the sound of enemies ahead stopped them in their tracks. A black Moblin was stomping around and grunting. "Let me handle this, Ari. You hold the torch."
She was about to protest, then thought better of it. "Sure, Link."
He immediately brought out his Ancient Battle Axe, and he performed a Flurry Rush right as the Moblin swung at him with a weapon Link hadn't seen before. He got several successive hits on the Moblin while he was in slow motion, finally defeating it and picking up the new weapon.
"Dragonbone Moblin Club! Looks dangerous!" He grinned as he read the Sheikah slate inventory box.
"That was perfect. That beast didn't stand a chance!" Zelda's heart fluttered as she realized he really was starting to become the knight he once was. All that much closer to remembering me, if Impa's theory is correct.
They continued running, with Zelda lighting every lantern they came to. Link easily defeated every enemy that crossed their path along the way, shooting them with his own arrows and performing hand-to-hand combat or avoiding larger enemies as they ran as fast as they could back to the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab. They eventually found the path up the hill that led to the lab, and Zelda breathed a sigh of relief as Link lit the outside ancient oven, activating the travel gate to the lab.
"Now we can easily come back here whenever we need more Ancient arrows!" Link exclaimed excitedly. "Now let's go see what that robot can do!"
They walked back inside the lab to a surprised Robbie.
"Back so soon? Well, I guess I shouldn't be too surprised! Link! Listen up! My darling Cherry is back to normal! Such is the power of loooooove! My love made Cherry well again!"
"Uh…the furnace is lit…" Link was very confused.
Robbie immediately blushed. "Oh, uh, yes, quite…thank you. Please take this as a gift of my gratitude now that Cherry is well again." He handed Link a bundle of three Ancient arrows.
"Thank you, Doctor Robbie!" Link tried to contain his excitement over obtaining more of the Ancient arrows.
"No, thank you, Link…and um…?"
"Ari. It's nice to meet you, Doctor Robbie." She gave him a wink.
He saw the excitement still on Link's face. "These arrows were made with ancient secret Sheikah technology, and with the addition of my upgrades, they have morphed into…ANTI-CALAMITY WEAPONS! So to speak. Needless to say, they are an incredibly powerful type of ancient soldier gear. I like to call them…ANCIENT ARROWS!" He sang his emphasized words again and pointed a finger into the air. In addition to Ancient arrows, Cherry can make all sorts of useful things. Why don't you check it out? Just give your ancient materials…and rupees…to Cherry!"
"Rupees?"
"Ah, you heard that. I'm sorry, Link. Ever since the fall of Hyrule Castle we haven't had much in the way of funds for our research. That's why I thought you might be able to help us out…with rupees…lots of them…I BEG OF YOU! Let's do it, then. The three of us! As soon as possible! Conquer Calamity Ganon!" He sang and pointed in the air once more, and Zelda grinned at him.
"Step right up! Don't be shy!"
"One question. Why is your robot named Cherry?"
Zelda took a deep breath as her stomach dropped at his question.
"Cherry…my first love. She shares the name of my first love. She was lost to me during the Calamity."
"I'm so sorry, Doctor Robbie. I wouldn't have asked if—"
"It's not a problem, Link. Talking about her keeps her memory alive."
Link approached the robot, which immediately spoke to him in its monotone voice again.
"Hey, hey!" The robot beeped. "Familiar name missing, insert materials and rupees, and receive ancient equipment in exchange."
Link was able to get fifty Ancient arrows, in addition to an entire Ancient armor set, an Ancient Bow, Ancient Shield, and Ancient Bladesaw before he ran out of materials.
"This is amazing! Thank you so much, Doctor Robbie!" Zelda said.
"May I speak to Ari privately, Link? It will only take a few minutes."
Link gave Zelda a questioning look, but he agreed. "Thanks Doctor Robbie. We'll probably be back soon! I'll just wait out here for you, Ari."
"You're more than welcome, Link. It's so wonderful to see you awake and alive again."
Link left, and Robbie turned to Zelda, and she ran to him and embraced him.
"Princess! I never thought I'd see you! What are you doing here?"
She relayed the story once again and explained why Link can't be told she's the princess.
"Sounds like you have your work cut out for you, then. Looks like you're doing a great job so far, although I never would have expected less."
She smiled. "Thank you Robbie. I wanted to congratulate you on avenging Link like you promised me you would. I know you've devoted so much of your life to finding a weapon that can destroy the Guardians, and it means a lot to me."
Robbie lowered his eyes. "Yes. I needed to avenge Cherry, too. I found out about her death shortly after we left the Shrine of Resurrection." She could tell he was trying not to cry, and she put her hand on his shoulder. "I was so devastated, Robbie. As you know, she was one of my best friends. I'll always remember her, and I think it's sweet that you named your ancient oven after her." She couldn't hold in her tears any longer.
"Thank you, Princess. I'm not sure I mentioned, I did remarry, but my wife Jerrin is asleep upstairs. She's younger than I am, but she helps me out around the lab. I hope to introduce you someday."
"Thanks, Robbie! I look forward to it. Oh, and another thing, I want to thank you for saving Link's life. You not only worked tirelessly with Purah on the Stasis Capsule at your own personal risk, you and Tiko found me all those years ago in Blatchery Field and carried him to the Shrine. I don't know how to ever repay you, Robbie."
"I was just happy I could help. The only repayment I need is to finally see Calamity Ganon destroyed once and for all."
"Yes, Robbie. Link and I will make sure of that."
"Speaking of which, I should probably get back to Link so we can move on. I'm sure we'll be back for more ancient gear in the future."
"Your Highness, I'm so happy you and Link made it here. Please take care out there." He gave her a quick hug.
"We will, Robbie. Thank you."
She left the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab, wiping away her tears before Link saw them.
