The first chapter of the sequel is out as I'm posting this! As said in the previous chapter, it's called Heart of a Wild Hero!
I've enjoyed writing this, despite the...unexpected breaks in between some updates.
Chapter 13: Despair
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I turned 17 today. That means from this day forward I will finally be allowed to train at the Spring of Wisdom.
Tomorrow Lynk and I will set out for Mount Lanayru. A part of me wished the other Champions would be allowed accompany us there but I know they all have their commitments.
I have not seen my father since he last scolded me. Things are too strained now... I will meet with him when I return.
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I had a dream last night... In a place consumed by darkness, a lone woman gazed at me, haloed by blinding light.
I sensed she was not of this world. I don't know if she was a fairy or a goddess, but she was beautiful.
Her lips spoke urgently, but her voice did not reach me. Would I have heard her if my power was awoken?
Or was my dream simply a manifestation of my fears? I am sure I will know the answer soon, whether I wish to or not...
Actually, I've had a horrible feeling ever since I awoke. No one would believe a failure of a princess, but...
Right now, for no particular reason, I am filled with a strange and terrible certainty that something awful is about to happen.
I hope it is simply my nerves about today.
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She stood in quiet speculation at the edge of the Shrine of Wisdom with truthfully little faith that praying within this spring will do anything to aid in unlocking her magic.
Lynk had not spoken a word since they had arrived at the top of Mount Lanayru; a comfort, Zelda finds strangely. There will never be any judgement from her friend as Lynk was a blunt woman, she had no problem stating her intentions and thoughts when she thought it appropriate. Zelda envied her for that. She wishes she had Lynk's confidence and belief.
…Still, Lynk had made it clear before their journey had been planned that she was not convinced praying was the solution for Zelda. It never was, and it made Zelda want to sob in frustrations because she didn't know what to believe.
'Intent, Zelda,' Lynk had offered, 'is a great thing. Devotion and belief. I know Mipha struggled when she was younger. Mipha is driven by emotion, by love and the possibility of loss, the desire to help.'
Zelda found some solace in Lynk's words despite her frustration.
But Lynk would join her, even if she finds the action of praying pointless for Zelda.
Lynk admitted in a quiet moment between them when they had visited the Temple of Time once before, that she did not pray often. Admitted she never felt the need to, unlike most Hylians. Sacrilege to some—Zelda can't help but wonder what the nobles would whisper and gossip about if they learnt the Chosen Hero did not pray every morning.
But Lynk explained that she had always believed action and intent show her devotion better than words ever could and that way of thinking was something Zelda found… germane, strangely. She'd been raised to pray every morning and every evening and she did so because that is what she was told to do.
(She had questioned it when younger and everyone said it is what you are meant to do. Forgetting to was disrespectful to the Goddesses.)
Zelda silently watched the spring and the Goddess statue that watched over it for a moment longer, shaking off her thoughts, before stepping into the freezing waters.
Lynk couldn't miss the shiver that wracked Zelda's body at the temperature difference. For a while, she was respectful; back to her, pretending not to hear her pleas for help. When the second hour rolled around, however, and her trembling becomes severe, that she struggled to get words out without stuttering, she cast aside the respect.
"Zelda, come out. You're freezing."
She sniffled, "No. I mustn't leave until my power has awoken."
"You'll catch hypothermia."
"So be it."
Lynk clenched her teeth, "Don't be foolish."
"I'm not being foolish!" she snapped, slamming her fists into the water with a splash. "I cannot return empty-handed!"
"You can't awaken your powers if you're dead."
She turned to see Lynk extending a hand but once more Zelda just turned back to the Goddess statue, intent on continuing no matter what.
"If you do not come out on your own, I will get you myself." Lynk's voice left no room for debate but still—Zelda refused through grit teeth that threatened the chatter.
Without hesitation, Lynk cast aside the necessary clothing and her nerves jolted in objection; however, she waded through the water until it was waist high and took hold of Zelda's arm.
"Unhand me!"
"No deity would demand you kill yourself to earn their trust." Lynk snarled and with her body weakened by the cold, Zelda was helpless to Lynk throwing her onto her shoulder and moving her back to the shore.
Zelda kicked and shouted but went deathly still as soon as Lynk set her on the stone floor.
"Get dressed." Lynk's voice was clipped and Zelda has flashes back to the time when they hadn't been friends. That anger, that disappointment.
Zelda conceded silently.
The travel down the mount is slow, neither eager to push the other or make any sort of conversation. The silence is…tense. Lynk hadn't been so clipped with her since before they had become friends.
Their horses were waiting loyally at the bottom of Mount Lanayru for them and they mount, heading through the arch along Lanayru road.
Finally, Lynk breaks the silence. "Anything can be the thing that sparks your power, Zelda. We just have to keep looking but it is clear you won't be finding it by praying."
Lynk made a promise to herself to speak to King Rhoam when they returned. She refused to allow this to continue; to continue to let the King press Zelda like this. It would bring her nothing but harm. Be it either mental or physical.
"I…" Zelda swallowed, "I understand."
Rumbling.
The ground shook and spooked the horses, causing them to neigh, rearing back onto their hind legs.
"Easy, easy!" Lynk soothed Myth, a hand reaching out to grab Amber's reins as Zelda fumbled.
The rumbling eased off, but the loud noise in the distances didn't—to their horror a red-purple haze begins to rise up around the castle, swirling lazily and taking shape—a snout, horns—it continued to circle the castle, roaring loudly.
"Fuck." Was all that escaped Lynk. She whistles for Myth to run. "We have to hurry!"
Zelda kicked Amber to run after Lynk and Myth, eyes wide with fear—fear for the people, for the knights, for her father, the other Champions and most of all: fear of the beast known as Calamity Ganon.
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They rush into Castle Town and everyone had, thankfully, seemed to have already evacuated. Only Sheikah and knights were left behind in the chaos.
Zelda dismounted Amber before he'd even pulled to a complete stop, rushing over to a duo of Sheikah and Lynk began to untie Amber's gear, dumping it onto the ground before smacking his behind, causing him to run off and straight back out of the city the way they had just come.
Two horses would only, in the end, slow them down if they needed an escape.
It began to rain, Lynk sneered skyward, ironic.
"Your Highness," a knight questioned hesitantly, "Are the Guardians supposed to be purple when inactive?"
"Pardon?" Zelda, and everyone else present, turned in confusion to look at the Guardian that stood up on his own, twisting to face the crowd and began beeping. A red laser coming to life from it eye, before firing.
People shouting and screamed, running away from the rogue Guardian.
The sound startled Myth who threatened to buck but Lynk cooed softly, offering Zelda a hand to quickly yank her on behind.
"What are they doing!" She cried in horror, "This can't be happening!"
Four low roars filled the air, which the duo recognised immediately as the Divine Beasts. In the far distances, they watched as the four great Beasts were tainted the same sickly purple hue.
Corrupted.
Calamity Ganon had corrupted the Divine Beasts with the Champions likely inside.
Lynk didn't hesitate to whistle, sending Myth running from Castle Town—to stay was a death sentence.
Zelda sobbed into her back, "This can't be happening."
But it was.
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They went flying off Myth's back as the horse hit the ground.
Lynk couldn't help the anguished yell at the death of her companion but she didn't linger long, branding a shield, she was ready for the Guardian that approached. She recalls how she had deflected the laser beam all those months ago to protect Zelda.
And she'd had a pot lid then.
Teeth bared, Zelda safely behind her, Lynk returned the laser fire right back at the Guardian, watching as its head exploded.
Then Lynk turned, grabbing Zelda's hand and they ran. They needed to get to Kakariko Village.
They didn't know if there were any other Guardians around and they couldn't risk lingering in a place to long that they knew wasn't safe.
They aren't even running for ten minutes before Zelda slipped on the mud, hand falling free from Lynk's grasp.
Lynk stumbled to a stop as Zelda fell to her knees and sobbed, "How?"
Lynk sighed softly, chest aching desperately, eyes threatening to tear up but she forced it back as she knelt before Zelda.
"How did it come to this? The Divine Beasts…The Guardians… it turned them all against us…" She raised her head, voice trembling as she met Lynk's eyes. "And everyone—Mipha, Urbosa, Revali and Daruk…they're all trapped inside those things…and it's all my fault! Our only hope for defeating Ganon is lost all because I couldn't harness this cursed power! Everything—everything I've done up until now… it was all for nothing…
"So I really am just a failure! All our friends…the entire kingdom…I tried, and I failed them all… I left them all to die."
She threw herself into Lynk's arms and sobbed. Lynk buried her face into Zelda's hair, her own tears falling.
The despair, the pain, the horror; neither had witnessed or felt the sort before. Couldn't have felt before…
…and there was nothing either could have done to stop it.
There was mechanical movement in the distance and Lynk tenses.
"I'm sorry Zelda but we need to move. Now." Lynk pulled Zelda to her feet quickly and they spared only a brief glance behind them to see Guardians beginning to get closer to their location.
"Come on!"
Lynk pulled Zelda along again but—they quickly found one leaping in front of them. Zelda hit the mud, skidding and Lynk nearly followed. Fumbling for her shield and deflected, once, twice—third time was the charm. The machine exploded.
"Up, now! Get behind me!" Lynk barked, Zelda stumbled to her feet as another Guardian quickly replaced the last.
Again and again and again.
The shield finally broke under all the strain the blasts had put it under. Lynk went flying, arm burning as shrapnel from the metal shield pierced and sliced skin.
"Lynk!" Zelda helped her up and the sword-bearer heaved for breath, lungs burning.
She drew the Master Sword.
"You need to get back, Zelda. Far back, I can't risk you getting injured."
"What about you!" she cried, "You're exhausted! You're injured!"
Why couldn't she use this cursed power!? Why must she be so—so useless!
"So long as you're safe, my life does not matter," Lynk pushed her backwards and straightened up once more. "I don't have any another shield, I can't deflect those lasers anymore. So no matter what, Zelda, you stay back. Do you understand?"
"Lynk, you—!"
Lynk grabbed Zelda's arm tightly and forced their eyes to meet, demanding: "Do you understand?"
Zelda gasped, trembling before wilting, knowing Lynk wasn't going to relent, "…I understand."
"Now: get back."
Zelda moved, slipping and stumbling in the thick mud. Behind her, she listened to Lynk's cry of war, listened to the slashes and hits of the Master Sword to metal. A laser was fired, a tree exploded.
A Guardian went down.
Another replaced it.
An explosion and a cry—Lynk!
Zelda stopped, almost colliding with a tree as she flailed about to catch her balance. The Princess turned, eyes wide to see Lynk forcing herself back to her feet, a chunk of her chest piece missing, blood slowly spreading across her Champion's tunic.
But it didn't stop her.
Zelda felt like her breath had been taken from her—felt like the world moved in slow motion as Lynk charged with a yell, using one of the spider legs to jump, thrusting her Master Sword into its glass eye.
The explosion sent Lynk flying one more and Zelda refused to leave Lynk.
Teeth gritted, Zelda ran—ran back to her friend's side—her friend who wavered, tilting ever so slightly to one side as more and more blood was lost.
"You idiot!" Lynk snapped as soon as she spotted Zelda, "Leave!"
Another Guardian, one Lynk didn't spot until it had already locked onto her, "Behind you!"
Fear, horror—please Hylia, no! Not Lynk!
BOOM!
"NO!"
A blinding light. Long dormant power surged to the surface.
The field was engulfed with golden light.
Corruption fled, leaving behind dead Guardians.
Zelda stared at the Triforce on her hand for only a moment—shocked, disbelieving—before her attention was turned elsewhere. Somewhere far more important in that moment.
"Lynk!"
She rushed to her fallen Knight's side, "Please no!"
Zelda—oh gods, oh gods, oh gods, what should she do?—pressed her hands onto the gaping wound in Lynk's side, listening to her moan painfully.
"Lynk," she begged, "Please, open your eyes!"
A cough and cerulean blue eyes opened a sliver. The corner of her lips quirked upwards, "See? Knew you could do it." Her voice was as gentle as ever as she, for goddess's sake, teased.
"Now is not the time!" Zelda cried.
Lynk raised a hand, a hand that shock from the mere effort to move it, and the tips of her fingers brushed Zelda's cheeks, but it only caused the action of spreading her blood onto Zelda's cheek.
"It's okay," she breathed before gagging, throwing up blood.
Then to Zelda's horror, her eyes rolled and Lynk went limp in her arms.
"NO! No, no, no, no! Please, Lynk!" She sobbed, throwing herself over her friend's unconscious body, holding her tight.
Then…
…Your Grace…
Zelda's head snapped up; a woman's voice.
…The Shrine of Resurrection…
Disbelief filling her tone, Zelda questioned, "So she can…she can still be saved?"
"Princess!"
Zelda's eye spotted the Sheikah as they darted towards her. Oh thank Hylia. Zelda almost couldn't handle the pure relief and hope that blossomed at the sight of the duo who knelt before her.
"Take Lynk to the Shrine of Resurrection," She ordered, "If you don't get her there immediately, we going to lose her forever! Is that clear?!"
They nodded, moving to take Lynk's limp and vulnerable form from Zelda's arms.
"So make haste and go! Her life is now in your hands!"
For a long moment, left with only the damaged Master Sword in her grasp, Zelda sits in the field full of dead Guardians, the ground stained with her friend's blood, and weeps, but only for a moment, a moment in which she allows herself a second to grieve.
Then, she's standing, her knees shake but Zelda refuses to allow them to give out on her.
"Please…" she asks, "Show me where I may safely set you until the time Lynk can wield you once more."
…As you command, my Grace…
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She was led through the Lost Woods, the place where people could wander and never return like it was nothing more than a stroll through the gardens.
Had she not been so wound up, so worried and fearful of what she was going to do, she would have found the situation perhaps just a bit hysterical.
The Great Deku tree greets her when she steps into the Korok forest and she takes a breath at the beautiful here; at the dozens of Silent Princesses that surrounded the pedestal just like Lynk had told her all those weeks ago.
Her eyes sting at the reminder of her friend and she approaches, setting the Master Sword down and kneels before it, clasping her fingers together. Prays for Lynk's safety, prays for her life.
Prays for the people of Hyrule.
Then she takes hold of the Sword once more, "Until Lynk's return, may you rest safely here. Although this Slumber of Restoration will most certainly deprive her of her memories, please trust me when I say I know she will arrive before you yet again."
"If I may be so bold…what is it that you are planning to do next, Princess?" the Great Deku tree questions softly.
"The Master Sword…I heard it speak to me. It seems that my role is unfinished. There is still something I must do."
"I sense there is great strength in your dedication."
Zelda swallowed, "Great Deku Tree, I ask of you, when she returns, can you please relay this message… tell her—"
"Now, then…" He interrupted gently, "Words intended for her would sound much better in the tones of your voice, don't you think?"
She smiled, raising the Master Sword and—slid it into the stone.
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Forgive me, Lynk, for not being strong enough to protect you as you did so for me. I hope that one day I will not feel a terrible guilt about what has transpired and that…despite everything that has happened, I could have never asked for a better friend.
My only hope is that, when we are finally face to face once more, that you can forgive me for not being strong enough that I must put this burden on you once again.