Week 7
A/N: DONE AT LAST! I am so sorry. It's been months since the last update, mostly because I typically only wrote 3-5 pages a week and the whole chapter is over 45 pages long. I've also been busy with a new fic I uploaded onto ao3 called The Spring Litter, part of a series I started. But that doesn't mean I'm giving up on this fic, hopefully, once I reach chapter nine or ten they will be shorter.
Someone also mentioned to me once that I should write a longfic on the First Hero and the Goddess Hylia based on the manga. I'm torn between that and writing a Zonai!Link fic about the events 10,000 years ago in BotW. So let me know which one I should do. Please Review!
Zelda sighed heavily, wishing the feeling to go away before giving up and rolling out of the way too comfortable bed and heading into the bathroom to relieve herself. Several minutes later she turned to stare at her reflection in the ornate mirror, scowling t her worn appearance. Despite the fact that she had gotten over 7 hours of sleep, she still felt (and looked) horrible. She was overly tired and ache in places she didn't even know she could ache.
A rapid series of knocks at her door startled her out of her reverie and she raced out of the bathroom to go open the door. She took a quick moment to correct her appearance in hopes that she wouldn't look like she'd been run over by a herd of rabid squirrels. Opening the door she was greeted by the face of one of her guards, Rueli.
"Lady Iglesha wanted me to inform you the group is leaving at 10 o'clock sharp. You have 30 minutes."
Zelda tensed at those words, already feeling time start to slip away. Curses. Did she really sleep in that late? An afterthought, at least she didn't notice my haggard appearance. Rueli then headed out and without turning around she said loudly,
"Oh, and be thorough with your makeup, you look like you've been thrown around in a sandstorm!"
Quietly, Zelda said all the curse words she could think of under her breath.
She paused in her dressing fumble to inspect herself in the full-length mirror hanging from the wall. She had been given traditional Gerudo clothes to wear as they would keep her cool (And help her look less like a walking corpse, Rueli's opinion) Her golden hair was done up in a voluminous ponytail, side bangs hanging free. A deep blue swath of cloth was wrapped securely around her chest and cut off just above her waist. The same material hugged her hips and flared out just above her ankles. Her light sandals were gold, the outfit itself adorned in several jewels which she suspected might be real.
She thought it was too much at first, but looking at it now she could see why the Gerudo wore this manner of clothing. It made you feel . . . powerful- and feminine. Thoughts of Link suddenly popped into her head. I wonder what he would think of me wearing something so . . . exposed.
A frown tugged at the corners of her lips, when had Link been able to slip into her mind so easily? And for such pointless matters? Fortunately (or unfortunately) a closer inspection in the mirror presented a new problem to distract her. Have I . . . gained weight? There was a slightly protruding curve on her stomach, unnoticeable at a glance.
When had that happened? It could have been anytime in the past month, honestly. She had been thrown off her usual schedule and hadn't taken time to exercise and pre-plan her meals like she usually did. Not to mention she hadn't been careful with Mrs. Gangreen's decadent cooking or the Gerudo cuisine.
She sighed, embarrassed with herself. She would have to deal with it later, for she had to head to the throne room where everyone was waiting.
She hoped she didn't look self-conscious as she hurried into the throne room. All eyes turned to her as she made her way to the group, where Iglesha was discussing the mission plan that they had developed over the course of the week. If it had been her decision, they would have left earlier in the week, but Iglesha wanted a whole squad to go with them and the more people were going, the preparation was needed. Including Iglesha, there were five other members in the squad besides her and Link.
Firstly, there was Haeda; Iglesha's personal bodyguard, who took her role very seriously. According to Haeda, she'd been watching over the young chief since she was born.
"I do not approve of Lady Iglesha coming on this mission," she said with a sigh. "But if she is going, I'm going with her."
Second, there was Sulri, who seemed far too trigger happy to be on an espionage mission.
"Just let me at'em," she'd said with a maniacal grin, "They'll all be dead before you can say ambush."
Next, there was Liza, who might've been the most dreary person Zelda had ever met.
"The chances of even one of us making it out of that snake's den alive are so slim I don't even think we should try." she said dully.
Lastly, there was Mindy, and from first glance Zelda could tell she was a rookie, always deferring to everyone else, seemingly eager to prove herself.
"It's an honor alongside Lady Iglesha, I will defend our chief till my last breath!"
"S'vei!" Iglesha called out. Attention.
Everyone quieted down and turned toward her as she stood upon the dais leading up to the throne. Once she had everyone's eyes on her she began to speak.
"As you all are aware, this mission is top priority, we are on the verge of exposing the Yiga and getting one step closer to ending them once and for all. As the files on Ganondorf's flash drive revealed, the Yiga have made their main base here; in the Northwest part of the desert; Thunder Crevice."
Iglesha's calm visage suddenly vanished, her face lined with anger, eyes blazing.
"This is an outrage! To think our greatest enemies are here, in our own home, like a Molduga, lying in wait for its unsuspecting prey!"
Zelda could feel the tension and rage in the air from the Gerudo next to her, even if they didn't show it visibly. The Gerudo Chief then began to relay the plan for infiltration into the Yiga base and the formation they would be traveling in.
Zelda peered around the room, trying to locate Link, and found him staring at the floor, fists clenched, rage radiating off him. His manner gave her pause, she'd always known he was dangerous (that's why he's her bodyguard after all) but she'd never seen him as intimidating- until now.
"Link . . ." she called uncertainly, hating how nervous she sounded.
He was alert in a second, his eyes on her before she could blink. In that singular moment, she could feel fear strike her heart from the way he stood there, hatred filled eyes looking through her, undeterred.
Then he blinked and the anger was gone in an instant, leaving a confused Link in its place.
"Zelda . . .?"
She tried not to appear shaken, pushing down her fear. Hiding it beneath a facade of half scolding half teasing.
"And here I thought that Sheikah were supposed to be constantly aware of their surroundings."
He seemed to try for an easy smile, "Sorry, this mission just brings back memories . . ."
He shook himself, "Anyways, we're about to head out, are you ready?"
"Yes, I'm ready, let's go." She took a step forward them stopped.
"On second thought, I think I have to use the bathroom."
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It was still early in the day, yet the sun beat down hot on his face as Link raced alongside the rest of the squad on a sand seal. The walrus-like creature swam through the golden sand like it was water while he was pulled along from behind, astride a surfing shield. The experience itself was similar to the time he had gone water skiing at Lake Hylia.
He watched Zelda dangerously on her surfing shield before righting her tentative balance. It had taken all his willpower to hold back a teasing remark, she most definitely would not have appreciated it, especially from him. Zelda, for all her many skills, was not a sand surfer. She turned her head to the side and gave him a suspicious glance, almost as if she knew he was thinking of teasing her.
He then heard Iglesha call out ahead of them, "We've reached the Thunder Crevice, we're going to have to go on foot from here on out if we want to keep the element of surprise!"
Zelda looked relieved when everyone dismounted and began to discreetly make their way up the side of the rocky outcropping lading into the crevice. As they moved further in, Link could feel himself tense up and the steadily increasing sight of pennants adorned with the Yiga symbol didn't help with his growing anxiety.
Half of the Gerudo scouted on ahead, and every once in a while, the sounds of a quiet scuffle would ensue. Iglesha turned to Haeda and gave her a slight nod, this was it. He tried to remember the meditation technique Impa had taught him. Letting himself be overcome by emotion in the middle of a mission made him a liability.
Iglesha signaled for everyone to climb down as they reached the main entrance. They then headed down into a small circular cavern with high walls. Giant, sandstone statues of swordswoman lined the sides of the room, their faces covered by banners bearing the inverted eye.
Mindy and several of the other gerudo made noises of outrage, "They have desecrated the image of the Seven Heroines in an ancient place of worship! I will have their heads-"
"Calm yourselves," Iglesha said quietly but sharply, "It will do us no good to lose our head in the heart of enemy territory. Rest assured these criminals will pay with their lives."
She then turned to Zelda,"Where to now miss Lorule?"
It had been agreed that Zelda would lead the way,as she was the only way who could decipher the strange Yiga language. She looked at each of the statues, studying the characters that were inscribed on each. She then halted her observation and walked up to the statue just left of the center and felt around at the bottom of the statues's robes before finally pulling down on a slab of sandstone hidden in the folds of the statue's robes.
Gears clanked inside the statue as a slab of stone at the statue's base pulled away to reveal a passage underneath the sandstone swordswoman, dimly lit with fluorescent lights. Iglesha gestures for her to lead on. As the blonde women headed into the narrow passage, a sudden grip of fear squeezed his heart and without thinking he raced over and latched onto her arm tightly.
"Link?" she questioned, her voice quivering slightly.
"Don't you ever head into dangerous places without me here to protect you. Do you understand?"
Deep beneath his Sheikah warrior front he knew he was scaring her, unfortunately, his self control had been overridden by his own mind and body. He could feel the Gerudo behind him go on instant alert, regarding him as though he were a wild animal backed into a corner. It took all his willpower to force himself to loosen his grip on her, taking what he hoped was a more casual position.
Zelda seemed to understand that they needed to appear as though nothing was wrong, but he could tell from the look in her eye that this wasn't over. Zelda spoke up,
"I understand, I will defer to your expertise in the future as you know best in these situations. My apologies for forgetting to alert you earlier."
She was a master of asking her true feelings if he said so himself. Acting as though she hadn't just been grabbed by an unhinged, dangerous alter ego of himself. The Gerudo relaxed somewhat as she began to continue down the passageway calmly with him in arm.
The passage eventually let out into an enormous sandstone cavern, walls lined with more pennant flags, the inverted eye plastered everywhere. Link tried to push down the panic rising inside of him. It looks just like it, even down to the rank smell of sterile labs mixed with blood . . . oh Goddesses, this is the facility isn't it?
His mind began to be bombarded by images. Being strapped to the cold metallic table as their blurry masked faces loomed over him as they plunged the needle in. Eerie, haunted faces staring at him in the dim light. Her desperate screams as she was dragged away calling out to him, blood running down-
"Link, Link!" Zelda was shaking him.
He was here. In the present. With Zelda. And the Gerudo. Not real, not real. He could fight. He was fine. It was fine. Everything was fine.
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She watched, tense, as Link slowly came back, breathing shakily and staring at her confused but aware. She released a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. They were currently crouching on a loft, overlooking what seemed to be a warehouse beneath them, swarming with Yiga. She watched them, in their form fitting, crimson combat suits, inverted eye masks covering their faces as they patrolled the area, guarding the various hallways.
The Gerudo came up behind them, Iglesha sending her a knowing glance from her to Link. Iglesha crawled over next to her, "Perhaps it would be best if I had Haeda keep an eye on him, just in case he . . . drifts off again."
Zelda felt embarrassment creep up inside her. Here was the Gerudo chief, offering a babysitter for her partner, because he couldn't keep it together. Iglesha signaled for Haeda to come over and whispered in her ear before Haeda nodded and discreetly made her way over to Link. Attempting to change the subject, Zelda spoke up.
"I've studied their patterns, there's a route we can take to avoid them and make our way to the upper left door. If we follow along the path the flash drive mapped out for us, we should reach their archives. It may have the evidence we're looking for."
The Gerudo woman listened intently as she explained the route to them, all the while she was trying to keep herself from pulling Link into the nearest corner and demanding answers. Using a rope, they cautiously shimmied down to the ground beneath them, hidden behind a stack of crates.
Sulri and Liza headed out first, thoroughly watching the Yiga's movements before signalling for the rest of the squad to follow. Zelda was in the middle, with Iglesha and Mindy taking up the sides. Link was at the back with Haeda, who was bringing up the rear and carefully watching him as well.
As they reached the door, Sulri and Liza halted, Zelda was confused until she heard the familiar, light footsteps of a patrolling Yiga. Iglesha clicked her tongue softly to get the squad's attention, then grinned as she pulled out a bunch of bananas, to Zelda's bewilderment. She threw the bananas to Liza who then went around the crate they were crouching behind and tossed them behind the Yiga heading their way.
As she watched the event occur, she began to wonder if Link's odd behavior was becoming contagious. Then as the Yiga whipped around at the soft thump and spotted the bananas, his suspicion seemed to turn to excitement (though it was difficult to tell with the mask on). He quickly became enamoured with the fruit and Zelda was astounded as they snuck past and headed into the corridor, the Yiga not sparing them a single glance.
Seeming to note her surprise, Iglesha whispered in her ear, "The Yiga love bananas. We don't really know why, but it's definitely something we can exploit." She winked at her mischievously.
They continued to head around the maze-like hideout for what seemed like hours. At one point, her phone's signal disconnected, fortunately for them, she had memorized the map. There were no more major incidents in their path (especially with the bananas on their side). The factor she was most concerned about was Link.
Though he went along without any nudging, his movements seemed lethargic, his face blank. He didn't seem all the way there, which worried her, but she told herself it was because of his importance to the mission, not her personal feelings. She breathed a sigh of relief once they reached the archives, an inconspicuous little door that lay in a hidden hallway she'd almost missed.
Link walked up beside her and she involuntarily went stiff. She wasn't sure what to think of him, his episode earlier just made her realize how little she knew about him and the thought only made her more determined to find his background files.
"It's too easy." He murmured quietly, looking straight at the door.
"What?" She turned to look at him directly.
Finally, he looked at her face to face, his expression was blank, but she could see the fire burning in his eyes.
"They want us to be here."
Before she could think of a reply, a beep and a sharp click informed her the door had been unlocked and she was ushered quickly inside, Link following just behind her. The inside was lined with rows and rows of shelves that reached nearly all the way to the ceiling. As they cautiously went along, she was surprised to see how archaic some of the records looked. Old fashioned books and scrolls yellowed with age filled many of the shelves, dust piled high. She was lucky their records were arranged by simple letter alphabet, some of the characters were so old and faded it would have been impossible to make out.
She went through the "D" section without much luck, finding nothing on Dragmire. Link, who had been standing next to her so quietly she almost forgot he was there, spoke up,
"Head to the "G" section for Ganondorf and Goddess Mother, you're thinking too modern, surname's weren't used for a very long time. Your answers lie in Hyrule's past."
She nodded hesitantly, off put by his strange demeanor and hurriedly moved along to the "G" section. At one point she would've been angry and annoyed for him to dismiss her like that. Now though,her thoughts toward him hovered around concerned and suspicious. Moving closer to suspicious.
She knew it was Sheikah nature to act distant and unaffected, but eve since his episode he'd been acting not like himself. Too calm, too detached, not to mention that he seemed to know a lot about this place for only being here once added to her suspicion that Link was hiding something important.
As she came up to the shelves that housed the "G" section, she froze. They were empty. There was no dust to be seen, which meant . . . she felt Link stiffen beside her. In the blink of an eye, there were dozens of crimson suited Yiga surrounding them. Their white, inverted-eye adorned masks gleaming in the dim light of the archives.
She did a double take as one Yiga seemingly melted out of the darkness above them, flanked by two other Yiga, standing on a platform that nearly blended in with the walls, noticeable at first glance. She cursed to herself, had they been watching them from above this whole time? The Yiga on the platform stood out. as he wasn't wearing a mask. His smooth angular face could almost be described as handsome as it was highlighted by his scarlet eyes and midnight black hair that fell to his shoulders.
"I must admit I'm impressed you managed to make it this far." The maskless Yiga spoke.
Zelda surmised he must be a leader of some sort based on his posture and the way he spoke. She felt chills crawl up her spine as his eyes landed directly on her.
"Then again, you are the pre-destined bearer of Wisdom, so despite your upbringing, I suppose I shouldn't be that surprised."
She couldn't keep the dumbfounded look off her face. Is he talking to me? My upbringing? What in Hyrule is he- She heard the sharp click of guns as the Gerudo pulled them out of their holsters, cocked and ready, aimed at the Yiga around them.
The Yiga leader only smirked at the display of aggression. "Cute, but pointless. I now see why Lord Ganon distanced himself from the Gerudo, you're too stuck in your old ways, think too small to see the bigger picture."
Iglesha's eyes narrowed and she clenched her gun angrily and opened her mouth to speak but Haeda halted her, she probably thought it wasn't worth the effort. Zelda felt herself quickly growing frustrated with the exchange. She felt like she was a child again, being talked down to by adults as though she was innocent and clueless.
She tried not to let the frustrated edge enter her voice, "What is your endgame? You say you work for Ganondorf, but something tells me you're not looking for a seat in his council."
The Yiga leader's eyes glinted with something; surprise? Approval? He chuckled deviously, "Oh you ignorant little goddess, have you truly fallen so far that you cannot see what is right in front of you? Surely you have come to realize that our endgame is you."
Before she even had time to process that information he continued on. "Politics are one of the least stable things in the world, if one wishes to gain absolute authority and obedience- they must utilize the one true source of power in this world."
"You."
Zelda took a step back, mind whirling. Was he referring to her position at L.I? No, he was the one who said how inconsistent such positions could be. So what-
"You, Zelda Lorule, might just be one of the most powerful beings in this world and you don't even have an inkling of it. Though I suppose you have your "mother" to blame for that, Lila was always good at turning people into something they're not."
What?! She had pretty confirmed he was delusional until he mentioned her mother, talking as if he knew her personally. How did he even know her? She supposed he could've just googled Lila Lorule, but stil . . .
He leaned against the railings and tilted his head. "What confuses me is why you're all here together considering-"
He abruptly halted in his tirade as his gaze landed on Link, his eyes widening with shock, then, to her surprise, he began to laugh.
"Well, well, well - you're playing a dangerous game Impa! Never in a million years did I think you'd send him here!"
He continued to laugh as Link stood there, frozen, fists clenched at his sides, countless emotions passing through his eyes as he started ahead, unblinking. The Yiga leader smirked at him, eyes glinting maevelently, "So tell me, how does it feel to be here? Brings back memories doesn't it? Remember listening to her as she squealed -"
In the blink of an eye, a blur shot out from Link's direction and impaled the Yiga leader in his right eye. Everything happened in an instant , one minute they were watching the Yiga leader collapse with an agonizing yell, the next, she was being pulled behind a shelf by Link as the Gerudo and the Yiga opened fire on each other.
Unfortunately, before she could even begin to get a grip on the situation, the sparks from the flying bullets caught fire to the many books and scrolls in the archive, and within seconds the whole room was on fire.
"Wait!" She half-protested as Link dragged her to the exit, the Gerudo following. She wanted to confront the Yiga leader and demand answers but she knew now was not the time nor place. As they raced through the hallways, with angry Yiga hot on their tail, she mentally praised Haeda for having them all memorize an emergency escape route. All the while Link gripped her arm like a life-line, never loosening his grip till they poured out of the back of the hide-out and into the setting sun.
Even so, no one paused to talk, continuing at breakneck pace until they were some ways away from Thunder Crevice. Finally, they stopped to set up camp for the evening beneath the overhang of a large sandstone boulder lying amidst the sand. It was only until they were all seated around the blazing campfire did Iglesha begin to speak.
"We were ambushed, they knew we were coming. My best guess is that they had eyes on us from the very beginning, or . . ." She subtly glanced over at Link.
" . . . or they had someone on the inside."
Whispers broke out among the Gerudo and Mindy spoke up, "You mean like a spy?"
Iglesha nodded, "But the only ones who knew about this mission were among my closest confidants, whose backgrounds have been checked thoroughly. If there's a spy, I doubt it came from our own ranks."
Zelda caught on yo what she was insinuating, feeling anger and defensiveness sweep through her. Likely noticing Zelda's offense, Iglesha pulled her aside after everyone settled in for the night.
"Be wary of your Sheikah friend, Zelda. He is not who he seems, do not place your trust in him."
Swallowing her sudden excess of saliva, Zelda opened her mouth to protest that one, he was not her friend and two, he could be trusted, but the words died in her throat. She couldn't lie to herself, she did see Link as a friend and she wanted to trust him. But the alarm bells going off in her head reminded her of all the suspicious activity regarding him recently, not to mention the fact she hardly knew anything about him.
Iglesha's electric green eyes gazed at her intently, gauging her reaction. "Perhaps it is biased of me to say so, but if my people's history with the Sheikah has taught me anything - it's that you can never trust a shadow."
Sometime later, as she lay in her sleeping bag, her stomach churning from the meal they'd cooked over the fire. She let resolve fill her as she started across the campfire where Link lay sleeping. She was going to discover the truth about him and his connection to the yiga, then she would see who she could really trust.
