The Legend of Zelda: Echoes Through Ages
Episode 1: The Trial of the Gerudo
Link sits up in bed, the sounds of the bustling Gerudo city filtering in with the hot sun allowed the young man to stir awake. He yawns and stretches his lithe young body and slips from the sheets to dress for the day, after pulling on his veil he steps out into the living area of his caretakers home. Laborra, the aforementioned caretaker, was still asleep as Link looked about the living area. Deciding he'd make breakfast for his caretaker, he took his meager funds and went out amongst the moving masses in the early morning.
Link had always gotten looks from those that knew he was a Voe from just rumor and hearsay, and those his age really couldn't take their eyes off him. It honestly brought a small smile to his face, he kind of liked the attention, but also that it didn't really extend past just glances and stares.
The young man picked up some boar meat and salt and returned home to cook meat sticks for him and Laborra. She was awake by the time he returned;
"Good morning my little desert Flower. What did you bring in today?" She smiled down at him, rustling his hair as he moved to the kitchen area.
Link struggled to speak, he was always a quiet lad, but for more than just one reason, "M-Meat." he stuttered. For all of his courage and confidence, he was insecure about one thing… His stutter.
"Well work your magic little flower." She replied sitting down at the stone carved table in their abode.
As he began to work on their salted meat, Laborra stared and contemplated the coming event, Link was thirteen now, In Gerudo society this means they are able to take the test to become Warriors of the Gerudo.
"Do you think you're ready, link?" She inquired as he placed their plates in front of their individual spots.
He nods as he begins chomping down on the juicy meat on a stick.
"You seem confident?" She raised an eyebrow and smirked as she pulled the piece of meat off and popping it between her lips "Wonderful as always" She said after she swallowed.
He smiled and nodded. Link was a natural born fighter, it makes sense, he was literally born for combat. Laborra couldn't think of a better person to be recognized as a warrior in the eyes of the Gerudo.
They finished eating, and Laborra stood "I will go talk to my sister, gather your things."
He nodded and ran off, returning in a modified version of the traditional Gerudo clothes, with some leathers protecting his body, yet still the veil and cotton. A mix of combat and beauty, summed up the Gerudo as a whole. With him was his Moonlight Scimitar, radiant shield and golden bow. Things he could use as expertly as any warrior, in addition to his inherent skill, Laborra also had Link study for the various stages of the trial.
There would be three stages:
An athletic stage, where the hopefuls show off their physical prowess in lifting, pushing and cardio challenges.
A Weapon stage, where the hopefuls show off their prowess and skill with various weapons from swords, polearms, heavy weapons and bows.
Lastly is a hunt, Where a group of hopefuls must work together to go about the Gerudo territory in search of a creature to kill and bring back for the Chief to evaluate.
How Link will do on these trials will certainly be left up to fate, but he is the hero of time after all, fate has always been on his side.
Laborra left ahead of Link, informing Chief Labaugo that he would be joining in this year's Trial of the Gerudo. Some of the elders voiced concern for a Hylian Voe of any kind being allowed to participate…
Labaugo stood up and stared down the elder in the eyes "Need I remind you this is the Hero of time. We have a duty to Hyrule to Cultivate the greatest warrior this world has ever seen, especially with the return of Ganon. Regardless, He will be Link of the Gerudo by the end of the trial."
Laborra smirked, proud of her sister and relishing in the submission of one of the elders. Not many dare stand up to her sister, only her and their mother in her prime were stronger than the Chief.
"I do worry Laborra. I am uncertain Link will be able to keep up with the other Gerudo children he will be participating with." Chief Labaugo sat back down.
"I have no doubt he will do just fine. His muscles developed finely, his skill matches an adult-" Laborra began to reply
"He's only thirteen. Even the average Hylian soldier wouldn't be able to match the average Gerudo warrior. I have no doubt his skill will be unparalleled, but if I remember history correctly that is due to his muscle memory from previous lifetimes. And advantage only he possesses." Labaugo interrupts. She was nervous, even if only Laborra could see it.
She was riding on Links success as much as Laborra was, and wasn't as confident in basic biology for Link to stack up to his peers.
"I've watched him grow Labaugo. He will do fine, maybe not the best. But by the time he's an adult, he'll match any warrior in their prime." I reassure her.
She nods and takes a breath, "Well then, General, break up the Children into groups and bring them in. Let the Trial of the Gerudo begin."
The children from all across the Gerudo land have gathered in groups of four. Link was in the first group, specially picked children that have shown exceptional skill and are to be overseen by the Chief herself.
Link was the shortest of the group, standing next to the biggest, Fital, who stood an entire foot taller than him with short hair left messy and wild. Next to her was another young lady, slimmer and lean, Sigun, who seemed a bit skittish and nervous with long hair she stroked like a nervous tic. Lastly was a rather balanced looking girl, much like Link in some ways, just a tad taller with medium length hair that was tied back in a basic style, Rinom was her name.
Labaugo would address all the hopefuls first and all the groups would take the first two trials together, albeit slightly separately allowing for the proctors to independently gauge how each child is ranked, if they fail the first two, they are not allowed on the hunt and are prompted to take the Trial next year.
"Welcome children to the Grand Plaza." The chief said standing at the top of the steps just before the palace. Her voice boomed as she let her greatsword fall with her hands on the handle, standing much like the great guardian statues of the famous warriors behind her. "Today you are tasked with a rite of passes passed down since the just after the Great calamity. Ganon has returned and while he is in hiding, the monsters that come with his rise have slowly dotted our land. Since rejoining the fold beneath our Hylian friends and lovers we have been tasked with regaining the respect lost to us from an era where Ganon turned us into Thieves and Marauders. We are more than that… We are Gerudo warriors, and guardians of Hyrule. Whether it be the sand, snow or dirt we will persevere and fight whatever challenge steps in our way. Our skin is as touch as a Goron, our wisdom is as great as a Zora. Our ambition reaches as high as the Rito. Our culture is as rich as the Kokiri. And our hearts are as courageous as the Hylians we take into our arms. Today you will prove yourself as a warrior, or back out and prove yourself in another skill. No matter what. You are of the Gerudo. Now let the Trial begin!"
She lifted and dropped her greatsword into the stone to announce the beginning of the Trial. The first part of the Athletic trial was a race, a track has been set up for several groups to race in a one hundred meter dash and a mile long run. Link did quite well. He got second, just behind Fital in the Hundred meter dash and first place in the stamina based mile long run.
The second part was a swimming section, a long oasis pool had been prepped for months to allow a race for the groups to swim in. No one swims better than a Zora, but Link once again did quite well despite his apparent physical disadvantage of the bigger Gerudo girls. He gained 3rd at the end of this part of the trial.
The third part was a climbing section. Stone walls carefully carved by great goron artists to replicate the natural terrain of the Gerudo Valley, which would have been too far of a trek to test for real. Link gained the first place spot rather handedly, it was actually quite impressive how easily he took to climbing.
The final parts were the lifting, pushing and pulling challenges involving heavy stones for the hopefuls to use. Sadly link is limited by his age, the Hero of time may have no overall limit. But he is only a child at the moment, and a thirteen year old Hylian cannot match the strength of his Gerudo peers. He gained third and fourth during these challenges. Still nothing to sneeze at, but expected.
The Sunset on the first Challenge and Link returned home with Laborra who treated him to meat and eggs, as well as a tight embrace.
"You did quite well, little flower." Laborra smiled as she held Link before bed.
Link sighed, and softly spoke "F-F-F" He struggled to speak.
"Take a deep breath and take it slow." She smiled at him
He did so and managed to say. "Fital k-k-kept st-st-staring at me."
Laborra giggled slightly, "She might have a crush. Or be surprised that a little hylian can keep up with a big Gerudo like her." She ruffled his hair as she spoke.
Link blushed deeply as she did so, "n-no. She lo-o-ked Jealous."
Laborra laughed heartily. "I would too! All children are emotional. She's probably seen herself as the biggest and strongest around. And while she is the biggest, she isn't the best. That goes to you my little flower."
He smiles and hugs her back "Good n-n-night." he whispered.
"Goodnight my little flower." Laborra whispered back.
The next morning Link awoke to Laborra making more salted meat and eggs. Protein too keep his energy and stamina up for the day.
She walked with him to the challenge area for today and walked over to stand next to her sibling and watch as the groups were separated.
It is almost comical how much Link dominated the weapon based skill challenges. With dozens of lifetimes of muscle memory and experience, whether it be a spear, greatsword, scimitar, and so on; he ranked first amongst every group.
There was one moment during the archery challenge that made Laborra laugh loudly amongst the elders.
Link would draw his bow and land a perfect bullseye in the target, the next shot would split the arrow, and the third would split the wood stand holding up the target.
Laborra got a lot of evil eyes from many of the parents and elders, but even Labouga saw the humour in testing the Hero of time in the one thing he was born to do.
Link finished the skill challenges early and Laborra treated him to desert at her favorite place, before letting him drift off to sleep before the great hunt.
It was clear the others in his group grew a tad resentful of him because of his advantages in such challenges. Which would make the hunt more difficult for him as they would be the ones he has to work with.
Link thought a lot about where and what he would suggest they hunt. He had his ambitions high, he had a lot to prove to the elders who looked down upon him.
The next morning the Grand Chief met Links group privately just outside the Gerudo city, the morning sun beginning to beat down on the young hopefuls as Labouga spoke up, intimidating most of the children. Link seemed more focused than nervous.
"Welcome children. The final challenge stands before you. You all are tasked with working together to capture a creature of some kind. You will be given weapons if you don't have any already. And now you will say to me what it is you will hunt, and what I expect you to bring back or attempt to bring back. There is no shame in failure, only learning. Don't get yourselves killed because you think you can kill a Malduga. There are moblins, bokoblins and lizalfos in these dunes. You would be doing the Gerudo people a great service by bringing the heads of any of these dark creatures. You will have a week. So tell me what will you bring me?"
The girls looked around at each other.
The nervous one, Sigun, who did quite well in the agility based challenges and is fleet footed in her own right spoke up. "Perhaps its best to start small. A bokoblin doesn't sound hard."
"It will be rare that you find a single Bokoblin on its own. They travel in packs of five to ten. Lead by a stronger Bokoblin." Labouga informed, seemingly scaring the girl.
"Maybe not then…" Sigun replied
Fital spoke up, "I agree with trying to find a singular target. But we must think bigger. Like a Stalnox! They're always alone!"
Labouga chuckled, "They only form at night beneath the moon, your visibility would be low, and it would crush you between its boney toes."
Rimon spoke up, "Lizalfos. They rarely travel in packs, if they do they're stationed somewhere, or travel in threes. We would have numbers. But generally they're camouflaged and scouting something alone. Their natural Camo would be all we have to worry about."
Labaugo looked impressed, "Smart. Link, what creature would you think is best to hunt?"
Link looked around at the group and took out a map, taking a small charcoal and circling an area in the peaks of the Gerudo Valley. He turned it around and showed everyone "L-ynel" He slightly stuttered.
Everyone was speechless.
"Why on Hyrule would you want to fight a Lynel?" The Chief spoke up.
Link scratched the back of his head and pulled out long metal stakes and held them out. "I-I-I have a-a-a P-p-plan." he replied
Fital crosses her arms and smirks "I'm all for this."
Sigun nervously scratches her arm "I dunno, we would have a better chance actually fighting a Stalnox."
"That would be the stupidest fight ever, one blow and were dead." Rinom replied with a face palm.
"B-but we w-w-w-would win… right? Chief?" Link inquired.
Labaugo blinked and thought for a second. "Yes. Assuming your peers didn't bring back the head of something stronger than a Lynel, then yes… the total points accumulated from an enemy as difficult as that beast would ensure all of your passing the Trial. But as your teammate pointed out.. One strike… would kill any of you."
Rinom thought for a moment. "How badly would it reflect on us if we failed to bring back a Lynel head by the end of the week and instead brought back something else, like a moblin?"
"It would reflect poorly, but not as poorly as being dead or bringing back nothing." She replied.
"Then we can at least scout it out and try, and hear out Links plan." Fital butts in.
Sigun sighed and nodded "fine…"
Rinom sighs "we are going to die… But fine! Its worth a try." she said, tighten her grip on the bow.
Labaugo takes a deep breath, "Then go young ones. And bring me the head of a Lynel from the peaks of the Gerudo Valley!"
The four nod and take up rations and extra arrows for the journey, Link specially requested ropes to tie to arrows. Rinom was beginning to piece together Links plan.
Laborra stood next to her sister and smiled "Gotta say they're ambitious."
"If they pull this off, those girls will make great generals one day. And Link… Well he will live up to his title as the Hero of time." Labaugo replied. "How did he know there were sightings of a Lynel in the peaks?" She inquired.
"Must have read it in the books… or the monster sightings in the papers…" Laborra shrugged and smirked.
"He's a studious kid too?" Labaugo sighed
"He's a puzzle solver. Killing a Lynel will be his greatest puzzle yet." Laborra smirked.
-Meanwhile, with Links group.-
On the trail to the entrance to Gerudo Valley, Fital was the first to speak up to the young Hylian. "Sooooo what is the plan? I don't think I've figured it out yet."
Rinom spoke up first. "Well, if Link read the same books on Lynel's I did. They're easily stunned if struck in the head. And given Link and I are exceptional Archers, it will not be hard to daze the beast. The stakes are for you and Sigun. Your strength and agility would make it easy to drive these metal spikes into the weak joints of the beast, and tying up its legs to give us the chance to deal real damage to the creature by making it immobile.
Link gestured to speak as well. "After w-w-we stop it f-f-from moving, f-f-f-f-"
Fital interrupts, "Can shoot like a Rito marksmen but can't talk worth a damn."
Link sighs frustrated.
"Let him finish fital." Singun meekly says.
Link points to Fital "disarm t-t-the lynel. When i-i-its stunned and tied up."
Rinom ponders "Its weapons are generally devastating, it would be easier to kill it with its own weapons rather than our own."
Sigun sighed. "If it looks too powerful or we can't take it by surprise, we can't take it on…" she meekly put her foot down.
Fital groaned "I hate to agree but I'm not dying any time soon. I do want to kill a Lynel one day.
"Agreed" Rinom said.
Link simply nods.
Just as dusk begins to set, over a dune they hear a commotion, a small group of individuals were being accosted, seemingly by bandits. The group was of a Goron and three hylian individuals, they were carrying jewels on a cart that was now busted.
There were five bandits, two of which were Gerudo's who dishonored themselves. There was a Zora among them and two hylian men. One of which was wielding a crossbow.
Immediately Links group got down to hide amidst the sand dune… But something was welling up within Link.
"Alright Goron, Dump all the jewels you have and start fixing that cart or one of your softer friends dies." The crossbow user threatens.
"Please sir, there is no reason for this… I'll fix the cart.. Just be careful with that." the Goron spoke nervously.
Sigun spoke up, "we gotta wait for night to sneak past them…"
Fital scoffed "sneak past? We gotta help?"
Rinom replied quickly "We're kids and they're adults. Not to mention they have hostages."
Links fists balled up, and his teeth grinded against one another… The goron individual took no time at all fixing the wheel. He was then bound and the placed next to the other bound Hylians with his sledgehammer tossed away from them.
Dusk fell as the bandits were loading up the cart and attaching oxen to said cart. They seemed uncomfortable with their surroundings but probably all they could afford.
"What do we do with them now?" The Zora asked.
"Kill them, Can't let them tell the guard which way we went, we'd be too easy to track down." One of the gerudo said, picking up the Gorons sledge hammer.
Rinom sighed and looked away as Singun covered her face.
Link bolted up while fital whisper yelled "Link?! What are you doing?! Shit!" Fital exclaimed as she rushed with him, with her greatsword drawn.
Rinom mildly freaked out for a moment as Singun froze up. The Girl gently grabbed Singun by the shoulders and said in a calm tone, or as calm as she could, "Listen, It'll be alright, Just run down there, and get the hostages untied, and if you can, get the hammer to the goron. I'll cover you, I promise." She smiled.
Singun took a deep breath and nodded, rushing after her teammates.
Link took initiative and rushed as fast as he could, running for the crossbow wielder, leading with a jump slash, with his scimitar drawn. A mighty "HYAAAT!" filled the air as he broke the crossbow in the man's hand. Then a swift slash up the chest of the man as he was staggered, bringing him down to his death.
The Hammer wielding Gerudo rushed the boy, but was intercepted by Fital and her greatsword, it was a brief struggle but before Fital lost the strength battle with an Adult Gerudo, an arrow from Rinom in the back of the woman's head sent her to the ground immediately.
The Zora, and other hylian circled Link, as the other gerudo got in another strength battle with Fital, this time interposing Fital between the bandit and the archer.
Just as the Zora and Hylian man moved in, Link infused as much strength as he could in his next attack, the famed spin attack that was ingrained within his muscles. So much so it knocked the two off their feet as deep slashes appeared up their midsections. The skinny, weak Zora remained down, dying in the sand. But the Hylian drew his blade again and lunged for the boy. Blocking his onslaught with the jewel encrusted shield, this bided enough time for a sudden appearance of the Goron hammer to come down upon the assailant.
No one had noticed Singun sneaking through the battle, undoing the binds on the hostages and retrieving the hammer from the dead Gerudo thief.
The last bandit began to run away when she realized the hostages were free and drew their own blades. But an arrow from Rinom and Link brought her to the ground.
Rinom retrieved their arrows as the travellers thanked Link and his group.
"Is there anything we can do to repay you?" One of the travelers mentioned.
Link thought for a moment and gestured to the cart and ox, whom still looked uncomfortable amongst the sand.
"Link we can't take their cart away!" Singun exclaimed
The goron laughed and patted links back "Actually we don't mind, We were carrying our gems on us to sell to fill the cart. But we should have enough to get a camel and a new cart that will fit our purposes better. What do you all need it for?"
Rinom looks at link and thinks "Well Lynel heads are heavy… and we wouldn't have to walk for a week." She rationalized.
Link nods happily.
"You kids are hunting a Lynel?" One of the other Hylians goes wide eyed.
"YUP!" Fital smirks.
…
There is a brief pause "Well good luck with that!" the Goron man said as they gathered their things and quickly left. Not wanting to be caught up in that.
"A-Actually w-we could u-use the O-ox as a-a Distraction." Link replied.
Rinom shrugged "that works too… Any of you good with- Link you're good with animals to aren't you?" She groans.
Link nods and mounts the ox, soothing them and quickly getting it to move with them.
...
"Of course he's good with animals too." rinom sighs as they get in the back of the cart.
...
Two days pass before they reach the real entrance to the famed Gerudo Valley, its more like a canyon with its rocky inclines… However there is a path that leads up to the ridges, and high on a sheer cliff they could see a small glimpse of their quarry.
Link points out on the ridge as the sun reaches noon, the glimmer of the mane and silver weapons high above them.
Rinom took a deep breath… "this isn't going to be easy."
Fital smirks "I'm actually kind of excited.
Singun sighed "I'm not."
Link led the way with the Ox up the monster made pathway, and about a half mile before they reached the Lynel, Link gestured for them to sneak on foot. It was a tad difficult with the ox, but the plan was to release the Ox and let them struggle for a moment so that Link and Rinom could line up a good shot to stun the beast. And let Singun and Fital immobilize it by breaking its joints with the metal spikes, and rope.
Slowly they got in place just as the sun reached about three in the afternoon, and on a whistle and a light scare. The Ox freaks out and rushes the Lynel in a fight or Flight response.
Seeing this as just a challenge, the Lynel puts its weapons away and catches the Ox by the horns.
Link and Rinom draw their bows while Singun and Fital sneak around with the rope and rods.
The Ox is overpowered pretty quickly and tossed from the cliff with a sad cry… But Link and Rinom lean up over the stone they were hiding behind and two well placed arrows completely stuck in the eyes of the thick muscular beast. Its red skin glistening as it begins to lash out violently. It pulls the arrows out as the wounds begin to close… But by the time it gains it sight back, it could feel the utter agony as the strength of Fital jabs the bolts into the weakest parts of the Lynels joints, and followed up by a meekish, terrified Singun, loops the rope around its legs to bring it to its knees.
Angry the Lynel roars and brings out a large jagged pole arm. But before it could bring it down on the girls. Link puts another arrow in the eye while Rinom bounces it off the Lynels cheek, still stunning it for a brief moment.
Fital roars and takes this moment to wrench the pole arm from its hands, violently strike out with it, dealing massive damage to its chest.
Singun runs back to Rinom as Link rushes with his Scimitar, leaping off one of the rocks to mount the creature and take violent slashes at the back of its head.
When it bucks link off, and gains its composure, Rinom violently fires another arrow and stuns it again. In time for the raging Fital to drive the Lynel's own weapon into the chest of the violent creature.
The lynel fell, and they all sighed in relief…
"T-that was easier than I thought…" Singun sighed
"That was one of the weaker ones." Rinom stood up and walked over.
Fital took her greatsword and began severing its head, as Link handed Rinom the Lynel bow. The creature was even carrying Lightning arrows, enough to split ten each between them.
"Good Plan Link. couldn't have done it without ya." Rinom patted his shoulder.
"Th-th-"
"I know what you mean." She says curtly, interrupting him
Fital slings the head over her back "alright, Let's get this show on the road!"
They all triumphantly march back down to the main path. They all stop to make camp for the night just as some travellers approach them from the dark.
"Excuse us, young ladies… Mind if we share your fire tonight?" One of them says, a man with a wry smile.
The group looks between each other… "I suppose." Rinom says, keeping her bow nearby…
There were four of them in total, lithe and agile looking Hylians and one bulky looking man with his face shrouded in Cloth.
They sit for a while, and talk about menial stuff until one lays eyes on Link… "Pardon me young man?"
"Y-yes?" Link replies.
"There aren't many men amongst the Gerudo…. What did you say your name was?" The man spoke smoothly and cold.
"L-Link." He stuttered.
The smile dropped…
"I thought so…" the man said darkly…
The four of them poof in a burst of smoke, then standing before them were Four strangely dressed, masked assailants, two with bows, one with a serrated sickle, and the bulky one with a single edged massive sword pulsing with magic. Their masks were of an upside down eye symbol…
These were no simple Bandits
End of Episode 1-
Sorry this one was long, I had a lot to get through and I'm not exactly used to writing in the third person. So let me know if you all think first would be better or not! Anyways, i hope you enjoyed, and any feedback would be appreciated. Also for anyone wondering why the Lynel's eyes regenerated. Think of this kinda like master quest mode. XD
See ya next time.
Next time-
Episode 2: The Yiga Clan's First Strike!