Link was hesitant to admit it, but in the two weeks that had passed since he had awoken in the Shrine of Resurrection, he had come to a realization: Great Fairies creeped him out.
It wasn't that there was anything inherently bad about them. But their enormous size combined with the overtly sexual overtones in their conversations led him to maintain a certain reticence towards the fairies.
So when he returned to Kakariko Village the second time and was informed that he would need to search for the missing ancient relic that had been stolen from Impa's house, Link winced when she suggested beginning near the fairy fountain. It was far from being his favorite place, despite the general kindness and pleasantries that were offered by Cotera, the fairy who resided there.
But he didn't protest. What was the point? He was on a quest to regain his memories, and if that meant temporarily enduring the company of beings who intimidated him, he would do so. One of the few memories he had regained reminded him of the naturally quiet tendencies he still employed. That alone was a blessing that he clung to.
Keeping his thoughts to himself, he adjusted the Eightfold Blade in his hand while he crested the hill above the sleepy village. The weird thing was, in addition to the missing orb, he'd heard more rumors circulating about a mysterious girl who was reportedly seen wandering around Kakariko at odd hours. 'Pale as a ghost, with long white hair and pink eyes' was the description he kept hearing over and over again.
Nobody had any additional information for him about her origins, or if she was anything more than an apparition. Link couldn't dwell on it though. The orb had to be recovered.
It took him two days to finally catch on to Dorian acting strangely and follow him late at night. Much to Link's chagrin, the path the Sheikah guard took led him close to Cotera's realm. He made a face to himself but didn't slow, slipping into hiding when the man paused by a pedestal… A Sheikah design he'd come to recognize. If he placed the orb there once he recovered it, a shrine would be revealed.
Movement out of the corner of his eye distracted Link for an instant. Was that a deer? No. It didn't move through the underbrush like a deer, he thought to himself.
"Show yourself!" Dorian barked, and Link had no time to linger on the movement to his right because he was now staring up at a Yiga Blademaster who was attempting to intimidate Dorian.
Fighting Yiga Blademasters wasn't one of the blond's favorite activities. Far from it. They were usually head and shoulders taller than he was, at minimum, and heavily muscled. This one was armed with a Wind Cleaver, making it doubly challenging to get close enough to land a slowing strike.
Link grunted as the magic-sharpened wind cut across his face. He didn't react to the blood now streaking down towards his chin. He could patch himself up once the Blademaster was defeated. It took him a few minutes, but in the end, Link was able to use his lightness of foot to obtain the upper hand and knock out his opponent.
"I can't believe I was being followed," Dorian said with a sigh as he stared down at the prone form of the Blademaster. "I'm sure you've figured it out, but all of this was my fault… There's no point in trying to hide it. I am... a member of the Yiga Clan. Or, I used to be, anyway. But then I met the most incredible woman who blessed me with two amazing children. And so I tried to change my ways. Tried to leave the clan. But the Yiga... they took my wife's life as punishment. I couldn't let them hurt my children, so I used my position as gatekeeper to gather information for the Yiga. I told them about you and about the village in exchange for safety."
Link stared at the guard in silence, a slight pitying look crossing his face.
"But my grief over losing my wife consumed me, and I finally decided to cut ties with the Yiga completely! I decided I could protect my children from the Yiga. I wasn't afraid of them. But the Yiga are pure evil! They told me they would kill both Impa and Paya if I didn't play along!"
The blond's face hardened. Was there no end to the atrocities the Yiga Clan would commit?
"Paya figured out that this heirloom was the key to opening an ancient shrine. We were not able to make it work, but Paya thinks that maybe you can."
Link nodded. The movement in his peripheral vision returned, and he only half-heard what Dorian said after that. There was definitely a person lurking in the edge of the clearing, much as he had been before the Blademaster had appeared.
"In any case, I'll leave you to that. See you back in the village." Dorian turned on his heel and walked back over the bridge, seemingly oblivious to the figure that had caught the Champion's attention.
"I know you're there." Link wiped off his Eightfold Blade and slid it into the sheath. "If you were a Yiga, you would have attacked by now. Who are you?"
The person moved from the shadows into the moonlight, allowing Link a chance to see their full silhouette. The figure was small, shorter than he was, he discovered as he slowly walked toward them. They were dressed in a simple gown that seemed to reflect the very moonlight with a faint iridescent glow. He swallowed back the surprised sound that rose in his throat when he caught sight of long, wavy platinum blonde hair that went down to the middle of her back.
"Oh no! You're hurt! Will you let me heal you?" The figure asked as she paused several paces away from Link. Worry filled her soft soprano voice and he watched her dig through a pouch she produced from a hidden pocket in her gown.
Link nodded, not trusting his voice. She looked… angelic, almost radiating an ethereal aura. Moonlight caught the edge of her pink eyes, creating a sparkle effect that had Link's knees going weak. He'd never seen a girl as beautiful as she was, if she was even real. He couldn't be sure that he hadn't stepped straight into a dream.
"I saw the entire fight with the Yiga! You were so brave! Is the mark on your cheek the only injury you earned during the fight?" She procured the item from her bag and held it up with a bright smile. "Here it is. Let me clean and bandage your face. I'm Az, by the way."
"Link. But you knew that already. "
She nodded happily. "Of course! Everyone around the village has heard of you now."
Link froze when her hand came up to touch his face, examining the depth of the wound before she bandaged it. She was real. Real enough to touch his face. To bandage him. If this was a dream, he didn't want to wake up.
"It won't need stitches. It should be good as new in just a couple days," Az informed him. "Are you heading back to the village?"
Link hesitated then shook his head. "Not immediately. I'm going to unlock the shrine, then camp for the night."
"Camping out here? Are you leaving early? Where are you going?"
Her curiosity reminded Link of an excited child, but her pink eyes betrayed something more. Something deeper. Link couldn't put his finger on it but he could sense there was something unusual with Az. "I'm on a journey of sorts," he admitted. "To regain my memories and free the Divine Beasts so I can save Princess Zelda."
"And defeat Calamity Ganon!" Az clapped her hands in excitement. Her platinum hair shone in the moonlight. "Where have you gone so far? Will you tell me about your adventures? I would love to hear all about them!"
"I'm afraid it'll take more time than I have tonight." Link peeked at the sky. The moon had already crested in its path across the sky. If he was going to leave at dawn, he needed to set up camp and get some sleep.
"Can I come with you?" Az asked, her voice heavy with hope. "I won't get in the way, I promise! I can help too! I can help bandage you when you get hurt!"
Link stared at her for a long moment. Was she serious? Did she understand the danger he was facing? "It's not for pleasurable purposes. Surely you have more fun things to do with your time and energy."
Az shook her head. "No. Besides, Hylia spoke to me. She gave me a simple task: when her Champion appeared, I 'must accompany him wherever his journey might lead.'"
"For what purpose?" Link asked, the question escaping before he could stop it.
Az clasped her hands behind her back and simply swayed, a secretive smile on her lips. "I'm not permitted to say."
Not permitted? His brow furrowed as he mulled over her words. The young woman intrigued him, as did the notion that she was tasked with accompanying him for a reason she couldn't disclose. "Very well," he said slowly. "We'll meet here at dawn. I have to make my way west, towards Tabantha from here."
"Okay!" Az chirped, her face lighting up with excitement. "Rest well, Link. I'll see you in the morning."
Link nodded and grabbed the forgotten orb to go through the motions of dropping it into the pedestal to activate the shrine. He didn't watch her leave. Part of him silently wondered if he had chosen to do so he might have seen her simply vanish away like the dream he initially thought her to be. People didn't look like she did. Platinum hair was natural to the Sheikah. But those eyes… as pink and bright as blooming cherry blossoms on a tree, warm and familiar.
Sleep didn't come easily to the Champion that night despite his exhaustion. He tossed and turned on his bedroll, plagued with the sound of Princess Zelda's voice in his head, urging him to make haste. But how could he do that when he lacked his memories prior to waking up in the Shrine of Resurrection, not to mention the skills to face the fearsome terror that was Calamity Ganon?
He had freed two Divine Beasts already. Vah Ruta was the first, granting him the comfort of Mipha's Grace when he would have ordinarily fallen victim to a monster's attack. The second was far more difficult due to the rocky, treacherous terrain of Death Mountain. But Vah Rudania offered Daruk's Protection and memories of another Champion, one that felt more like a friend than the subtly flirtatious undertones of Mipha's touch from a hundred years prior.
Link finally arose just before dawn and splashed water from the small creek nearby on his face before dressing and packing up his tent and bedroll. The Eightfold Blade and Knight's Shield were easily secured into their proper places on his hip and back respectively. He leaned over the edge of the creek and used the reflection to ensure his hair was free of tangles. The worn, woven blue tie to bind it off his neck slipped easily off his wrist and into the long, damp locks of blond hair.
"Were you able to sleep at all?"
Link startled and tripped backwards, catching his heel on a rock. He lost his balance and fell into the small creek, landing with a faint splash.
"Oh no! I'm so sorry! Did I scare you?" Az clapped a hand over her mouth. A faint sound escaped her, and it took Link only a second to realize she was stifling a giggle.
He grinned up at her and shook his head. "Go ahead and laugh. I deserve it."
Her hand came down as she slipped into a fit of giggles and Link got his first full view of her in the early morning light. Az had the platinum blonde hair he'd seen the night before in the moonlight. The ethereal-looking dress was gone, replaced by the more traditional Sheikah style kimono in a pale shade of pink, and paired with white leggings. Her boots came up to her knees, and she carried an oddly-shaped bulky beige pack across her back.
Link stood up and wrung the water out of the hem of his blue tunic. "At least I don't need a bath this morning," he murmured, earning another giggle from his new companion. "How did you sleep?"
"Oh, I'm good! I got some rest, and I'm ready to go. Oh! But first, I have something for you." She dug in her pack for a moment before handing him a leaf-wrapped bundle. "Enjoy!"
"What is it?" he asked even while he opened it to reveal the onigiri. "Did you make these?"
"I did! These have hearty salmon in them so they'll keep you full longer too," Az explained, watching him take a bite of one of the rice balls. "Please eat all you'd like! I made a lot of them, but I don't think we're going to need them all today. They do keep well though!"
Link swallowed before speaking, pausing only long enough to comment on how good they tasted before he was finishing the first one and reaching for the second.
Az beamed at him and circled him slowly. "You're not hurt from falling into the creek are you?" At his headshake, her smile broadened. "Oh, good! Sorry again to scare you. I didn't mean to catch you off guard. I forget how silent I can move when I'm not thinking about it."
"Having stealth skills is a help, not a hindrance," Link commented when his mouth was clear again. "It will come in handy if you are planning on joining me for more than a day or two."
"I'll be with you until my journey is complete," Az said simply.
"When will that be?"
"You will know."
Link's curiosity was only growing the more vague this beautiful girl acted. She spoke in riddles, yet knew who he was, and some of his preferences. At least for a time, their fates were intertwined.
"Have you seen much of Hyrule yet?" he found himself asking as he packed away the remaining onigiri to save for later.
"Some," Az admitted. "But not as far as where we're going. Satori Mountain was the furthest west I've been."
"Satori Mountain is beautiful." Link pulled his Sheikah Slate off his hip and dried it on the upper part of his tunic that hadn't been touched by the creek. "I need to go to the Tabantha Frontier to find the flying Divine Beast."
"Oh, the one you can see from the sky halfway across Hyrule? That'll be fun and exciting!" Az looked with fascination at the Sheikah Slate. "What are you doing?"
"The Slate allows me to fast-travel across Hyule to the shrines that I've activated, like this one." He gestured to the blue glowing shrine behind them. "I think it saves a lot of time so I can continue my journey all the faster. The Princess won't wait forever."
Her face sobered. "No, she can't hold the Calamity at bay forever," Az agreed. "But that's why you're awake now! So let's get those Divine Beasts freed!"
"I don't know how the teleport will work with two people," Link cautioned her. "I can only hope that there won't be any adverse side effects from it taking two of us instead of one."
"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine!"
Link wasn't convinced but he didn't argue. He extended an arm so Az could loop hers around it. He tried not to think about her closeness. Apart from the hug he'd given Impa, this was the closest he'd been to anybody since he had awoken in the Shrine of Resurrection, devoid of memories.
"I'm ready!" Az said with determination. She peered over his shoulder at the Slate. "Whoa! That's so cool!"
Link smiled and chose the shrine he wanted. Runes wrapped around their legs and whisked them away before he could say anything.
He was thankful for his good sense of balance when they arrived at the travel gate a few short moments later. Az clung to his arm and nearly fell, her breath coming in short bursts.
"That… was… strange. But I liked it!" Her legs wobbled then gave out, and she landed on her backside with a soft plop. She looked up at Link and giggled. "Is it always like this? The weird feeling in my legs and stomach?"
He nodded. "But you grow accustomed to it."
Az looked down at the platform she was sitting on then back up at him. "How long did it take you to get used to it?"
"A couple times. After that you don't really notice it anymore." Link offered her a hand back up which she accepted.
"Thanks! Which way is it from here?" Az brushed off her skirt and leggings and looked around, seeing only the hilly edge of Satori Mountain where they stood, and the larger, distant mountains that sectioned off portions of Hyrule.
"That way." Link pointed to the northwest. "We'll take the road down the mountain and around Hyrule Ridge. If we don't encounter too many monsters or difficulty, we can reach the Tabantha Stable by nightfall."
"Where is that? Can we see it from here?"
He shook his head. "Not really. It's a long way off. I hope you don't mind a lot of walking, because the downside of using the gates to travel is that I don't have my horse close enough to call."
"I don't mind! Walking is lots of fun." Az adjusted her pack and smiled up at him.
"Are you from Kakariko?" Link asked conversationally as they started down the mountain and towards the path.
"Yes and no. My father was Sheikah, and my mother was from Lurelin. I grew up splitting time between the two places, though mostly in the village, even though I love the sea." She sighed dreamily. "It's so beautiful. Especially in the early morning or at sunset, when the sun reflects on the water."
Link glanced in her direction while they walked. "Lurelin is in the Faron Region, right? I haven't made it that far south yet. No need to go beyond Kakariko or Hateno. At least, not so far."
"That's okay! You should come visit at some point though. I know you'll love it! Do you have a favorite place that you've seen in Hyrule so far?"
"Temple of Time," he replied immediately. "I felt drawn there. It has a serenity I haven't found anywhere else."
"On the Great Plateau?" At his nod, Az's eyes went wide. "Is there still a hidden path carved up the side of the mountain? The one that allows people to come and go from up there?"
"Not that I saw. But I didn't know where to look for it either."
"That's okay! I can show you next time we're over there. The Great Plateau couldn't be created without allowing people to access it. The Sheikah wouldn't have done that." At Link's surprised look, Az grinned. "They helped make the Great Plateau and keep the Temple of Time from falling completely into ruin."
"That's quite a task," Link remarked. "Have you helped with that too?"
There was a slight hesitation from Az before she shook her head. "No. Not really. Most of my responsibilities have been around the village or in Lurelin." She changed the subject. "Have you been out to Tabantha before? I've seen the paintings that Pikango has done, and it's so beautiful!"
"No, this will be the first time." The blond Champion fell silent. He'd explored some of Hyrule and regained a few memories, but nowhere near enough. How much time did the princess have left? Would he be able to remember everything he needed to if he found all of the locations from the pictures on the Sheikah Slate?
"Rupee for your thoughts? You look so serious."
"Lots of traveling to do," was all Link said.
Az hummed in agreement but didn't press him. The two fell into a comfortable silence for a while, admiring the scenery of south-central Hyrule.
Link occasionally stole glances at his traveling companion. Something about her seemed oddly familiar, though he couldn't quite place it. She was too young for him to have known her a hundred years prior. He had no explanation for why he kept feeling the sense of warmth and familiarity he did.
She had no trouble keeping pace with him, and Link was surprised to find they made a lot faster progress than he anticipated. It was early afternoon when they rounded the bend and caught sight of the Tabantha Stables.
"We might yet make it closer to Rito Village by nightfall," Link said with a warm smile. "If we ride the horse I tamed, we'll definitely make it."
"That would be fantastic! See? All this way and no mishaps! Hylia is watching over us!" Az cheered happily.
Link opened his mouth to agree when he saw a creature on the path ahead that definitely didn't belong. "Az. Get behind me," he said, his tone quiet but fierce.
"Hm? But why?" she asked even as she hurried to do as he requested.
He pointed to the large half-horse monster that paced diagonally across their intended route. "The Lynel."
"But that's a Silver-Mane! What's he doing on the path?" Az covered her mouth in shock. "I didn't know there were any out here! Have you fought one before?"
He shook his head. "Only the Red-Maned up on Shatterback Point in Lanayru, and that was a difficult fight."
"Be careful! Silver is stronger than red," Az cautioned. "I read about them in one of the compendiums that we had in the village. Very dangerous."
Link pulled his sword from the sheath on his hip. "Did that book give you any advice on how to beat one?" he wryly questioned, only half-joking.
"Avoid the fiery breath attacks. If you can hit it from behind, those strikes are more effective." Az put a hand on his arm. "Don't die, Link. Hyrule and the Princess need you."
"I've got Mipha's Grace to assist me. I'll be fine!" he assured her with more bravado than he felt.
Her face twisted, momentarily betraying the worry that she felt before she nodded. "I'll stay back where it's safe."
"Thank you."
Link swallowed back the nervousness he felt. A Red-Maned Lynel was the toughest monster he'd faced so far. Taluses were easy. Most monsters were, if he was honest with himself. But he'd used two bottled fairies he'd caught to save himself from death when he fought the fearsome man-beast in Lanayru. He didn't have that this time. All he had was Mipha's Grace. He hoped it would be enough.
It wasn't.
Three hits on the monster from his Eightfold Blade had the metal shattered like glass against rock. Link hastily snatched the next weapon in his inventory thanks to the Sheikah Slate, but it cost him dearly. Fire erupted over his back and legs, and he fell hard, the Frostblade slipping from his grasp and landing a few paces away.
"LINK!" he could vaguely hear Az's voice past the sound of blood rushing in his ears and the roar of the beast.
He blinked and tried to get up, clearing his vision enough to see her pull a bow from her pack, and send an arrow straight into the Lynel's face.
"C-are-ful," he gurgled, his chest tight and heavy. There was blood in his lungs, smothering him and making it impossible to breathe.
The Lynel roared as the second arrow flew true and embedded through its eye and into the brain, killing it where it stood.
Link's vision blurred, but he couldn't miss the bright flash of light and the silvery wings that materialized behind Az's back as she rushed over to cradle him in her arms.
"Link! Stay with me! I won't let you die. Hyrule needs you!"
"Z-zel?" The name felt wrong on his lips, but the warm embrace from her was comforting nonetheless as Link lost the fight to remain conscious.
