Chapter 3: Of Heroes, Sages, Demons, and Champions
Link
Thanks for the introduction Rev., Anyways…
I swung to face the assailant with a scowl burned on my expression.
He simply scoffed, "Well now, long time no see. Have you finally learned not to telegraph your attacks?"
I simply shifted my stance. He pointed his newly acquired Feathered Edge at me.
"Let's see how good this blade your so-called brother wanted to use against me is."
Before he was able to do anything, I hooked the hollow part of the blade with my sword before flinging it out of his hands.
"More like are you good enough for it? Cucco Brain." I said.
He was shocked to hear me speak and even more shocked to hear the insult, but just smirked before materializing a sword of his own, more fitting to what he looked like.
"My, my, it appears you have functioning vocal cords after all. Let's hear them scream, shall we?"
With that, he swung his blade which I quickly met with mine. Quickly, I withdrew my blade and prepared for his next attack as I prepared to throw my own. He wasn't hard to predict and I was able to block dodge, otherwise or negate his attacks easily. He sadly had the tendency to teleport away or block my attacks easily. Gah! I couldn't land a hit on him! He always seemed to have a counter measure for my attacks and seemed to almost see them coming as if he had fought me before. I grit my beak as I blocked yet again another blow. Argh! I could only think of one last thing that could end this battle so without a word, I sheathed my sword on my back, staying in stance but also relaxing. My opponent was initially offput by this.
"Surrendered have we?"
Mipha was about to step in before Revali stopped her with an arm and a glance, he knew what I was doing.
To goad my opponent into attacking me, I took a step towards him in a threatening manner.
"Well if you have a death wish, I am happy to oblige!"
He charged toward me blade outstretched in a stabbing motion, at the last second, I sidestepped slightly, drew my sword and slashed with both hands with a cry, dealing a fatal blow across his chest, or at least it should have been fatal. He reeled back to show that where I had struck him this black material had replaced his skin. He breathed heavily.
"Where did that come from? You're stronger than I thought."
He shook his head, "It doesn't matter, my Master will return again! I will make sure of it!"
I launched myself at him with a cry in a jump attack, only to hit nothing as he teleported away. I looked around to see where he would reappear only to see no sign that it would be anywhere nearby.
"That was amazing Link, I've never seen anything like that." Said Mipha.
"Thanks Mipha." I went back to my own thoughts, "Who was that?"
"What do you mean, I'm sure that you've encountered plenty of Ganon's goons, surely there would be some you don't remember." Mipha said.
"Unlikely Princess, as of this moment. Link has literally perfect memory of his past." Revali then became more concerned, "Are you sure you've never seen him before?"
I shook my head.
"At least, not in this life."
"Not in this life? What do you mean by that?" Mipha said.
Revali, Zelda and I stood silently.
"What am I missing?" Mipha said.
Revali spoke up, "Well Princess you see…"
"I see…" Mipha said.
Revali had explained it all as it was revealed to him by the Triforce. The curse, the reincarnations, how he now played into it, everything. During that time on my recommendation, we had quick traveled to the Shrine of Resurrection which we were still inside at that moment, our final destination being that of the Temple of Time, as I knew that I needed to talk to my other selves about who exactly had attacked me in Zora's Domain. I stepped out into the light then suddenly stopped. As I took in the scenery, I was suddenly a Hylian who didn't even remember he was once a Rito, who didn't remember anything save it be his name and only because he was told it. With little more than the clothes on his back and the Sheikah Slate at his side. And now here I stood, a Rito once more, clothed in my ancestor's Green tunic, with The Master Sword, Hylian Shield and my kind's bow on my back. My how far I'd come from that scared, amnesiac Hylian. Everything had changed now, even my race. How long had it been, I honestly couldn't remember, but now standing here, it seemed like just yesterday.
"Hyrule to Link. Are you ok there…?"
"Yea… It's just that, this is the first thing I saw after I came out of the Shrine so long ago. Seeing it again, it takes me back to the beginning."
"Well once you leave memory lane, can you help us know where we are going as I've never been to this so-called Temple of Time before."
I nodded in understanding.
"Of course, this way please."
The Hero of Twilight was surprisingly waiting for us in Wolf form when we got there. And after I contacted my ancestors, I was also surprised that they let everyone in the room see them. Revali primarily was the most shocked to see thousands of years' worth of heroes clad in green. When I had described the opponent that I had faced. Their eyes all widened in shock with the Hero of the Sky in particular looking worried. It didn't take a scholar to see which era this monster or whatever he was came from.
"Ghirahim." Was all he said.
"Ghirahim?" I said.
"Yes, Ghirahim a servant of the Demon King Demise. Ganon's true form before he became Ganon and now he serves his master in another lifetime as he is imprisoned with an almost unbreakable lock."
"Is there nothing he won't do to make sure his Master is free?" I said.
He put his hand on his chin in thought. "In my time I used the Triforce to destroy Demise, he simply took my Zelda and prepared to sacrifice her in a time when Demise was still alive. And he almost succeeded before I sealed him away but not before he cursed me and Zelda."
"I know, I am a result of that curse remember? And I'm assuming he will stop at nothing to get the Triforce right?"
"If that's what he believes will free his master, he will stop at nothing to retrieve it."
"And to make matters worse, the three of us each have a piece in our possession." Revali chipped in.
"Is there a place we can put it where it will be safe?" I asked.
The Hero of Legend pondered before answering "There might be one, but it will need a stronger seal than what was there before as Ganon was easily able to trick The Hero of Time into breaking it and The Master Sword is still your best chance against his forces. And even when it is in place, it still falls to you, possibly the princess, and now your brother to guard that seal. But first you will need to find the 3 remaining swords of legend, one with the power of the spirits, one capable of slaying that which is not living, and one that grants the power of many."
"Can you tell us what each of these swords are in English please?" Revali asked.
The Hero of Legend simply continued, "To fuse the swords into one and use their power as a seal, you will need the power of the sages of old. But fear not as some already walk among you, where there was once 7, now there are 5 and all once more draw breath."
"Again, English!" Revali protested.
"Where there once was seven, now there are 5." I muttered to myself, "And all once more draw breath, by why is that part important?"
Then I saw Zelda's Blue Tunic, the same color as Revali's Scarf and Mipha's sash. 1, 2, 3, counting Daruk and Urbosa, 4, 5. And they were all now revived through the powers of the Triforce and there was no denying each one of them had a unique power as they each gave me a gift. It was so clear now.
"The Champions,"
"What?" Revali said.
"You're talking about the Champions!" I said standing up.
The Hero of Twilight Smiled. "Still sharp as ever by solving puzzles I see."
"I'm afraid I don't quite understand." Revali said.
"There is not much to understand here, Master Revali," The Hero of Legend said, "The 5 Champions were each given unique gifts when the goddesses chose them to be the successors of the champions over 10,00 years ago. All of them were chosen at birth, except you. Like the Hero of the Wind, you worked hard and proved yourself worthy for the Goddesses gift. After all, who else could master such a Mastery over the wind as Revali's Gale?"
Revali stood up proudly "No one of course."
"Unless someone else was chosen, Master Revali. And they have been, should an unfortunate fate befall you, your successor has already been chosen after proving themselves in battle alongside the Hero of the Wild. However, as of this time, you still are the chosen Champion of Wind even if your powers had not been fully awakened."
He turned to Zelda.
"I'm sorry Princess but had you had the Champions true powers awakened Ganon would not had been able to take over the divine beasts. It is truly sad what knowledge can be lost or corrupted over time, and how cunning Ganon gets overtime as well."
"What about the guardians?" she asked.
He closed shook his head, "Unfortunately, it wouldn't have affected the guardians, but the divine beasts and their Champions at full power are much more powerful than the entire might of the guardian army combined."
He turned back to me. "In order to awaken the Champion's true powers you will need to play their song at the main console of each divine beast with the Ocarina of Time." He said tossing me the instrument, and to help you get there, the Hero of Twilight has called back an old friend."
The Hero of Twilight howled a familiar song in response which was soon followed after a neigh as an all-to-familiar and previously deceased horse ran up. I mounted her quickly and turned to see that most of the Heroes had already faded.
The Hero of the Sky Smiled, "May the Goddess Smile Upon you."
I nodded as he vanished, leaving us alone in the Temple.