Zelda's POV:
The sun had lowered when we arrived at Hateno, this place must not get many visitors because there was a villager who looked at me cautiously even when Link greeted him, standing watch over the village. I wave gently towards him, and give him a small smile hoping it would deter his gaze. He looked as though he quickly analyzed my face, his eyes scanning my every move. After a moment his body shifts,
"Hey lady!" I feel my throat fall to my gut because of his sternness. Link looked behind with a panicked look, "Y-Yes sir?"
"You seem alright! Welcome to Hateno," he said confidently, I sigh in relief, did he have to be so brash? "T-Thank you," we continue trotting through the village when Link points to a peculiar looking home atop the overlooking hill.
"That's where the Director lives," he says mischievously, he has an evil grin on his face,
"Come again?" I thought we were searching for Purah, he chuckles at my confused look and continues going riding through the village. There's a young woman who's waving to Link and I, three small children chasing each other, playing a game of tag it appears. They then stop in their tracks when they see Link approaching, "Hey Mister!" The small boy waves to him, Link turns his head to the kid's attention,
"Is she moving in with you?" he points to me with the stick in his hand, the girl near him adds, "Are you going to marry her?" she asks excitedly. What in the world are these kids talking about? I feel my face flush, Link nearly falls off Epona and catches himself just in time. He exhales and gives them a calm smile,
"We're not getting married Karin, honestly, where did that even come from?" he scratched his head bashfully.
"Nice save," I tease. He laughs nervously. "You're so lame Mister!" The girl pouts,
"L-Lame?" Link has a slightly worried face, why does he care? I can't help but chuckle at the sound of desperation in his voice, "W-Why am I lame?"
She points at me, and her chest puffs up, "Because you aren't marrying such a beautiful lady!" I want to faint, "He's not lame! He has such cool weapons all the time! Right Mister?" the boy says,
"That's right!" Link perks up, "What's that one on your back this time?" Link looked over his shoulder and he grinned. He unsheathes the Master Sword slowly, building up tension for the young kids, "The coolest one of all…" he says cooly, the children's eyes light up as they see the Master Sword in its full glory, glowing a brilliant cyan color, "Wow!" they both say, I feel a small grin grow on my face, in the children's moment of joy, Link looked over to me so quickly, catching a quick glimpse of my grin, and smiles back to me, the light of the Master Sword accentuated his ocean blue eyes, I feel like I was stuck in a moment in time just staring at them, just seeing him like this…he quickly looks away turning his attention towards the children once again.
"What'd you think of that one Nebb?" Link asks, the boy has an excited outburst, "That was definitely the coolest one!" he booms. I hear two Hylian women behind us gossiping about something,
"That's the mysterious Hylian that bought that old home…"
"He must have spruced it up nicely if he decided to live here,"
"And bring a girl here…"
"You think they're together?"
"Why else would they be here?"
Link…bought a home? I'm not sure if I should turn around and ask what in the world they're talking about or ask Link myself, he didn't mention that to me on the way here, the little boy, Nebb I believe was his name. Grabbed my attention,
"Hey lady!" he shouts, "U-Umm" I can't believe these children are making me speechless,
"Are you moving in with Mister Weapons Guy?" how forward,
"Uh, p-perhaps?" I shrug, what am I supposed to say to that? "Okay! We've got to get going kids, see y'all around," Link announced and clicked his heels, I quickly take the opportunity to follow suit, I hear the kids teasing us as we quickly depart and cross the bridge, we pass by another Hylian leaning against a post who takes notice of me right away. Link has his face glued to him, I can't see his expression, but it's clearly unsettling the Hylian. He shrugs his shoulders and looks down to his feet.
We continue climbing to the top of the hill, until we reach the strange home residing there. I instantly recognize the Sheikah technology posted outside the home. It looks like it appears to be an unlit furnace, "That's strange," Link whispers, he dismounts Epona and offers his hand as assistance to get me down. I oblige and take his hand, trying to not to put too much weight on it. Link looks at me, trying to hold in a grin, until a small chuckle comes out. I feel flustered, "What's so funny?" I pout, "Haha! You'll see, just don't freak out," and opens the doors exposing the inside and we both walk in. I see two Sheikah, both their backs turned on us. One appears to be a little girl, and the other an older male. But no sign of Purah. The small girl exhales loudly and starts waving her hand in the air nonchalantly.
"Sorry, the Director is not seeing anyone else today," she says in a bored voice.
"It's just me Purah and—"
"LINKY!" The child booms, the moment she hears his voice, she turns around with a sparkle in her eye, but immediately sees me behind him and gasps, dropping the book she was holding in her hand.
"Zelda," Link finishes quietly. I naturally look over to him in attention to my name and quickly revert the focus back to the child.
"P-Princess…? Z-Zeldy? Uh I-I mean…Princess!" she stutters. I can't tell if she's excited or nervous, it could very well be both.
"You are…the Princess!?" the older Sheikah male says who's in the back finally reacting to the child's erratic behavior. I nod my head to him, and I am immediately brought back to the child's reaction, "O-Oh my goodness I can't believe you're finally here! Y-You look great!" the child says happily, her eyes are slightly glossed over, it appears she's about to cry.
"Y-Yes," I simply say, the title princess, just doesn't sit right with me anymore. "Is the Director, or Purah here?" I ask, "TH-THAT'S ME!" she points to herself, I stare at her blankly until her words settle in, how cute, "I-I'm afraid there's no way you can be Purah," I try to say carefully, "O-OH Snap! I'm telling you it's me, Zeldy!" she pouts. The older Sheikah walks up to the child, and tries to soothe her, "D-Director, calm down," Wait…did he just say?
"Why do I have to be like this? Ugh!" she stomps her foot on her books she is standing atop. She looks past me, and squints her eyes and aggressively points her finger towards Link.
"LINKY! You didn't tell Princess Zeldy what happened to me?!" she places her hands on her hips, Link busts out in laughter, "It was a surprise," he chuckles. "You're so mean Linky…, you bully!" Wait, so that really does mean—
"Y-You're Purah?" I ask her, she nods her head excitedly, "Snaap! You got it!" she jumps happily. "But how?" Purah is supposed to be Impa's older sister right? How is it possible that she is now a child? "Weeell it's hard to explain—" the older Sheikah starts and Purah quickly interrupts, "A minor set back from some research on reverse aging!" "Are you serious? How is that even possible?" She begins to boom with laughter and says with pride, "With this!" She raises her hand and in it, is a Sheikah slate, and points to what looks like a guidance stone, "Dun-dun–dun-na-naa!" "Incredible…" Even after 100 years, Purah is still yearning to advance the Sheikah technology, I suppose that's why she's a genius, and now a child somehow. "Can it be reversed?"
"Workin on it, actually Linky–since you're here…" Purah asks sweetly, "What is it?" he asks. "I need you to get me a BIG part!" "Director Purah, isn't this too big of a request?"
"NONSENSE!" she boasts, "If he can defeat Calamity Ganon and save our Princess Zeldy-I mean Zelda! He can get us a giant ancient core!" She argued back to the older Sheikah, judging by his reaction, he answers to her here. "You need a giant ancient core?" Link asks, "That's oddly specific, and such a hard find, why would you need something like that?"
"Duuh, did you not just hear me?" she says sassily, I can't help but chuckle and look towards Link, "C'mon, don't be…lame," I say slyly, "Oh snappity snap!" Purah says excitedly, Link looks to me embarrassed, "I-I am not!" his face slightly pouted, I almost wanna pinch his cheeks. "For me to get to the age I want to be, duh!" she rolls her eyes, as if we could have any possible understanding on the basic understandings of age reversal and use of Sheikah technology. Link clears his throat and looks to the Sheikah slate, and at that moment, I remember why we came here.
"Purah!"
"Princess!"
"How do we get into the Divine Beasts?" I ask, a face of confusion immediately falls on her face. "Is that what this is?" she asks herself, and looks down to her personal slate and looks like she is pulling up a map and shows us four yellow dots on the map. Link immediately looks down at our Sheikah slate and we see that they match up with ours. "That's definitely where the Divine Beasts are," Link says, "So the Divine Beasts are possibly sending out these signals to the Sheikah slates…interesting…" Purah notes to herself, she looks like she's thinking to herself and snaps to herself randomly. "I've got an idea…Linky!"
"What?"
"You bring me a giant core, and reheat the ancient furnace, that way I can get to my targeted age, and I'll figure out what these signals mean, see if I can crack a code for yah! Snaap!" She explains. "How generous of you Director!" The elder Sheikah male says in awe. "What happened to the furnace?" Link asks, slightly concerned.
"THOSE ANNOYING BRATS!" She rages, "Director! S-Sorry, some village kids took it upon themselves and—"
"COMPLETELY EXTINGUISHED THE BLUE FLAME! Can you believe that?"
"Did they see you?" Link asks, "No! And they're lucky! Because I would've given them all knuckle sandwiches!" Purah says, punching her fist into her palm, "Violence will not solve this predicament…Director," the assistant says, Purah rolls her eyes, and groans, I am able to hold back a small laugh, seeing Purah act in such a manner. "Princess, this is my assistant, Symin, he's my 'pretend' Director,"
"And researcher…" he whispers, "It's a pleasure to meet you," I say, "The pleasure is all mine Princess! We-We've been waiting for you," he says bashfully.
"A-ANYWAYS!" Purah booms, "There's no time like the present! Linky! Hand it over!" she finishes, holding out her hand towards Link. He looks taken aback, "What do you mean?" he asks, "I know you have one! A giant core! Don't keep me–uh I-I mean the Princess waiting!"
"How could you possibly know I have one?" Link asks mischievously, she stomps her feet aggressively, "Listen! I know you have one! You stormed the castle, I'm sure you have AT LEAST ONE! Give it, NOW!" she argued, "Director! Manners!" Link burst out in laughter and held up the Sheikah slate and began tapping on it, what on earth? He looks up to Purah,
"What's the magic—" Link says, "DO NOT SAY IT!" Purah interrupts,
"Word?" Link finishes.
The two are just staring at each other, just like an older brother teasing his younger sister, needlessly cruel but admittedly entertaining to watch. The room is silent, when Purah sighs in defeat,
"Please…" A tap is heard from the Sheikah slate and there appears a giant mechanical core, how on earth? "Since you were so polite," Link said, handing the core over to Symin, since the core is humorously almost as large as Purah is. "Link, how did you do that?" I ask, "Do what?"
"You conjured that…thing!" He walks over to me and shows me a list of all these items in the Sheikah slate, and…a number next to them, "I still don't understand how this storage mechanism works but we can still hold way more items than what you and I can store on our own," he says, "Will you show me?" I ask excitedly. He nods sweetly, Purah clears her throat, "Ahem! The blue fire Linky?" "It will have to wait till tomorrow," he says bluntly, Purah's face drops, "W-Why?" she pouts, "I don't intend on camping tonight," he says and then yawns, stretching out his arms, "Fine!" she huffed, "Don't keep me waiting," she gave up rather easily on his reason.
"Zelda," I perk up and turn towards Link who is already making his way out the door, "You ready?" I nod my head and hug a pouting Purah, which seems to catch her off guard, and bow respectfully to Symin, "We will see you soon Master Link, Princess,".
Link's POV:
I've kept this confident act up long enough, I'm nervous. How did I do it 100 years ago? Oh yeah, I just didn't speak, that really worked out for me, not. I open the wooden door from my house and Zelda walks inside, what kind of reaction am I supposed to expect from a literal princess? Compared to the castle, this might as well be a shack, "Link this is…your home?" she asks, I rub my head, "Yeah, I know it's not much, but you're welcome to call this 'home' if you want," I wanna kick myself that sounds so cheesy. She chuckles, "I love it, it's perfect Link," she smiles. "Make yourself comfortable, I'll go put up the horses," I wonder if she intends to stay permanently, I shake the thought away, I'm sure she'd get tired living here. Impa said she can live a comfortable life in Kakariko if she wanted, I guess I'll just have to wait and see. I click my tongue and take out two apples and immediately grab the horses attention and lead them to the extended stable outside and give them the promised treats I bribed them with. Epona looks excited to have a bunk buddy. I walk up to her and begin to pet her and the new guest. "What do you think Epona? You think she likes it here?" She just gives a neigh, and pushes her head into my palm affectionately. "I guess I'll take that as a 'maybe'," I chuckle, I hear the door open and shut with soft footsteps coming closer. Maybe she doesn't like it after all?
"Link!" my ears perk up and I turn around to see Zelda walking towards me with…an envelope? "What's that?" she shrugs her shoulders and hands it over to me, "It has your name on it…" she says quietly. Who in the name of Hylia was in my house? The envelope has extravagant calligraphy with my name on the front. I quickly open up and notice a familiar logo, sighing in relief.
Dear Valued Bolson Construction Customer,
There's nothing like a good sitting area in your home isn't there? Especially when you have guests over…I mean…where else would they sit? In your bed?
Unless they're…special…
Please accept this newly designed, installed couch as a gift for your consistent patronage.
Sincerely,
Bolson
I want to facepalm, Bolson. I underestimate the speed at which gossip travels. Wait…did he—? I skim through the letter one more time, installed…couch? Zelda looks at me with concern; I give the letter for her to read and she eagerly takes it. I walk past her and go inside, I look around scratching my head as to where this couch could possibly be. I look over to the staircase and notice immediately. A dark sage colored comfy looking couch, with ivory colored throw pillows sitting on each side, when could he possibly have done this? I have the impulse to…touch it. It looks really plush and soft.
"What are you waiting for?" Zelda asks behind me, how long has she just been looking at me in awe staring at this new couch? I sit down and she sits next to me, we both sink into the couch. I fold my arms behind my back, it feels nice to relax after traveling all day. I wanna…doze…off…Zelda's giggle that grows into a loud laugh wakes me up from nearly falling asleep. I open my eyes and she has the Sheikah slate now in her hands, looks like she's looking at my pictures I've taken, oh no…
"Link! What on earth is this?" she laughs, having a tear form in her eye, and a huge grin on her face. "What in the world were you thinking doing this?" she asks, pointing to the slate, to the picture of me smiling like an idiot in front of a gang of Moblins, holding a Bokoblin in their hands, preparing to throw them. I nervously smile, "Yeah, that one hurt afterwards, you'd think they weigh a lot less," I laugh. She continues to scroll past the pictures, most are just scenic photographs, "You're quite the photographer Link," "You can delete them, make some room for the ones you want to take," She looks at me with a frustrated look, wait what did I do? "Absolutely not! These photos are precious to me!" She swipes to another particular photo, of me…ugh…flexing, "Especially this one," she says with a cheeky smile. "Didn't you want me to show you something?" I laugh nervously, trying to switch the conversation up. She perks up in excitement, "Oh yes! Show me how you conjured that core from before!" "It's pretty simple," I tap and show her the inventory list we have, "Just tap whatever and how much you want of it," She scrolls through the list, "You collected…all of this?" she asks, "Just stuff I picked up on the way," her scrolling stops when her eyes lay on a particular item. I look over to her and see what's piqued her interest, her finger is hovering over it.
Blue Nightshade…
"W-We could have just…" Zelda whispers under her breath. She taps it, and a single stem of the flower appears in her hand. She seems taken aback. Her mood has suddenly shifted, it doesn't take me long to figure out why, when my eyes lay on her bandaged arm, and am reminded of Impa scolding me, telling me that Zelda hurt herself to get Blue Nightshade for me. I reach over to her arm and resist touching it, but my eyes scan her arm. I wish I could help her more to treat it. "How's your arm?"
"I-It's fine, really…" she said sweetly, trying to brush off her injury as something minor. She shouldn't have gotten hurt, period. It's my fault she went out in the first place. "I'm sorry Zelda," She shakes her head, "I would do it again if it was to help you Link!" W-What? Why? She turns back to the Sheikah slate, "This is very convenient! It's not just some map, thank you for showing me," she swipes over to where the map is,and looks at the four pin points on the map. She slightly frowns a bit,
"Are you sure…?" She asks, "Hmm?"
"Are you sure…you want to come with me?" What kind of question even is that? Why is she so concerned that I wouldn't want to go? "Positive," I nod my head, she looks at me with a weak smile. "I'm glad…going to the Divine Beasts…to be honest. I don't even know what to expect from the leaders of each region, I'm sure everyone…is disappointed in me…" She bears so much guilt, I'd take the pain onto myself if it meant she could be happy. I shake my head, "Everyone knows none of this is your fault," but it seems to fall on deaf ears. "How can you be so sure?" I sigh,
"If everyone is disappointed, then why are they so happy to see you?" I see a tear falling down her cheek and wipe it away with my thumb, "Link…" she smiles, "I'm so glad you're alive…" she whimpered, hugging me unexpectedly . "Hey, hey, I won't allow you to cry in our house on your first night,"
"Our?" she says bluntly, I freeze, uh, shoot. "You know what I mean," She laughed softly, and began to yawn, "Well I better get going to OUR bed then," she says with a cheeky grin. She jumps up off the couch, is she being serious? I want to throw myself into Death Mountain, how can she say that to me? Has she always been this…taunting? I think back to my dream I had last night, the feeling of her waist on my hands, and her head on my chest…when Impa said that we were close, I wonder how close she meant.
"Uh-I uh…I couldn't do that to you, I'm sure I snore, you don't want to sleep next me,"
"I'm only teasing Link," And suddenly—I'm disappointed. "I'll sleep on the couch!" she said, "Absolutely not," I retorted. I swing my whole body on the couch, "The bed is yours Zelda,"
"W-What?"
"You heard me,"
"Link, I can't kick you out of your bed,"
"So you'd like to…sleep with me?" I tease, she immediately hides her face and whispers under her breath.
"...wanted to…"
"F-Fine! But don't complain to me when you can't get any sleep!" Worked like a charm, it feels good to be the taunting one sometimes. I cross my arms and close my eyes, I hear her walking up the stairs, any second now…
"O-Oh!" she sounds surprised, "T-This is…" she whispers, looks like she sees it, the picture of us and the Champions, she's quiet for a moment,
"It came out beautiful…" I grin hearing her say that, she's quiet upstairs, like she's reflecting on something, but I don't hear her crying, she's sitting on the bed, and I hear her tapping into the Sheikah slate, probably writing down an entry. She should be okay if I just drift off…
"Goodnight…Link,"
…
…
…
Hic…
What? What's that sound…? Must be nothing…
Hic…
Again…?
I sit up and rub my eyes, what time is it? It's still dark out, what is that sound? I hear sniffling, it's coming from upstairs, I walk slowly trying to not make a sound. The moon offers some light upstairs, where I see Zelda sleeping, she's crying and talking in her sleep. I'm barely awake, but I sit down on the side of the bed and brush her hair out of her face, wiping away her tears.
"Everyone…I'm so sorry…make it…make it stop…"
I pick her up, and hold her up to my chest trying to soothe her. What can I do? What can I say to her? One hundred years of contemplation, stuck with your own thoughts and facing the Calamity all alone, what was it like Zelda?
…
She must've been…so lonely…her crying slowly stops, and she sinks into my arms, I hear her breathing slow down, only now sniffling softly. I lay her down and place the cover over her, she unconsciously snuggles into the pillow and comforter, and a small smile forms on her face. I wonder what she's dreaming about now? Well whatever it is,
"Goodnight…Zelda,"
