Chapter 18
If one thing I learned while reading Hyrule Historia, it was that Hyrule had a long, complicated history deeply imbedded in folklore and magic. Had I been back in Phoenix, I would have thought this was the stuff of fairy tales. However, after experiencing my own magical abilities, I didn't doubt the stories I was reading. Hyrule had a bloody, messy history with an usurper trying to take over the land. Most of the time, the Hero of an era prevailed, stopping evil from seizing control. That wasn't always the case, though. The Hero of Time, whom Zelda had mentioned earlier, was unsuccessful, and was killed during his final battle. The book called it the Great Fall; Ganondorf was able to obtain the pieces of Courage and Wisdom, taking over Hyrule and turning it dark to reflect his heart and desires.
Even though the Hero of Time had fallen, he was still looked at with great respect and revere. It had taken eons for Hyrule to escape the darkness, with a continuous cycle of the Triforce splitting, heroes and princesses cleansing the land with the Master Sword and Light magic, and evil being thwarted. The last hero, the Hero of Champions, fell during a battle, only to be revived after 100 years of slumber. He successfully defeated the Calamity Ganon, and since then, Hyrule has been at peace.
The book never mentioned the trials and hardships that the Hero, Princess, or anyone else had to endure, but I imagined they were brutal. I gave a small shudder thinking about what Link would have to go through to obtain the Master Sword, also known as the Blade of Evil's Bane. Some of the creatures highlighted in the book were down-right horrifying. Link's success was imperative to keeping Hyrule and the surrounding realms safe. I began to wonder what my role would be in all of this. I opened the book that talked about important musical instruments and found the fabled Ocarina of Time.
The Ocarina of Time had been lost when the Hero of Time fell. There was mention of a flute used by a hero that could transport him to various locations, but it was unclear if it was the same instrument. I wondered where the ocarina could be, and if Zelda's premonitions would lead us to it…or maybe Link would find it during his adventure. I had a feeling this ocarina was pivotal to my role in everything. I sighed, closing the book in frustration. I hated not knowing what was going on or what I needed to do. I picked up the rose Wally gave me, twirling it in my fingers. It was beautiful; I had never seen a blue rose before. I wondered if it meant anything, or if Wally was just showing off. One more thing to look up…but unfortunately, it would have to wait; I had too many other things to research. Maybe I could make Wally tell me later, though I highly doubted it.
As the sun started to set, I felt my stomach grumble, and decided it was time to get something to eat. My body was sore from training with Link, and all I wanted to do was have a small dinner in my room and head to bed. I gathered my stuff and headed back to my room, not bothering to stop at the dining hall. When I arrived, I was pleasantly surprised to see Luigi there with what looked like dinner at our small table. He smiled, and after putting everything away, I gave him a squeeze. I still had the flower in my hand, and when he pulled away, he gave me a confused look.
"Where'd you get this? I've never seen a blue rose before."
"Wally. Neither have I. Do we have a small vase for it? I'm not sure if a magical rose will need one, but just in case." Luigi found a small glass that worked, and after filling it with water, put it in the middle of the table. "This food looks amazing! Thanks for bringing it up."
"Actually, I didn't. I just got here, and it was already there when I arrived." He snapped his fingers and went to the couch area. When he came back, he held out a small envelope. "This is for you, from Zelda." I opened it up, carefully reading the handwritten note.
Dearest Jelina,
I am very much looking forward to our training session tomorrow. Please meet me in my study quarters at eight am. You need not bring anything with you; however, I recommend getting a full night's rest and coming with a clear mind.
Yours,
Queen Zelda
Luigi had looked over my shoulder as I read, then kissed my cheek. "Looks like another early morning. Better get to bed soon. You're going to be extra tired from physically training today."
Luigi was right; when I awoke the next morning, my body felt like a rock. I had difficulty getting up, and even after Luigi gave my back a small massage, I was dragging. "Do we have any ibuprofen? I could really use some." Luigi handed me the bottle, and I gladly swallowed a few pills before I dug into breakfast.
"You looking forward to doing some actual training with your magic?" Despite feeling exhausted, I couldn't help giving a goofy grin. I was ecstatic to learn what I could do, and more importantly, how to control my powers, whatever they were. "I much prefer this type of training to your defense training. I know Link doesn't hurt you, but I hate seeing you all bruised up. And under Zelda's care, I know you will be safe."
I sighed, which came out a little more frustrated than I intended it to. "Well, it's better to learn than to assume someone will always be there to protect me. Besides, it's not that bad. I've been through worse. I can handle it."
"I know. You know me, I can't help but worry." I reached over and squeezed his hand.
"You are a worry wart." He chuckled, and we resumed our breakfast in peaceful silence. I looked at the clock, noticing that it was almost time for me to meet Zelda. "What are your plans for the day?" Luigi stood up, stretching.
"Mario is going to call, and we are going to start planning how we'll send people over to the neighboring areas to help protect them. Hyrule can't spare too many soldiers, as Link thinks we'll be needing reinforcement here soon." He groaned. "He thinks we should put as many people on the comet observatory, but some species can't survive on it…and the observatory isn't that big. We may be sending some folks here, but then Hyrule may not have enough resources to accommodate everyone. Mario mentioned relocating some to the outskirts of Hyrule, like more remote areas, but some creatures don't want to leave their home. It's a headache." I rubbed Luigi's back, and he shook his head. "There is no easy option. Somewhere, people are going to have to make some sacrifices, and that's a hard concept for some individuals to grasp." I changed into comfortable clothing, and while I was tucking in my pants into long boots, there was a knock at the door. Luigi opened it to see Wally standing there with several rolled-up pieces of paper.
"Hey, Wally!" I waved as he came in the room. "Why are you here?" He handed some of the parchment to Luigi, who looked confused.
"Nice to see you, too." I rolled my eyes, and he smirked. "Maps. For planning where to send troops, where to relocate people, and all that fun stuff we have to discuss with Mario soon." Luigi nodded, and tucked a few under his arm. I got up and grabbed my two pieces of jewelry, putting them on as Wally and Luigi started discussing some strategy. I approached them, and remembered the blue rose.
"Hey, Wally, what does a blue rose mean?" He smirked.
"Hm? How do you know it means anything?" I scowled. "If you want to know what it means, if it even means anything, you'll just have to find out yourself. Look it up. You know how to read a book."
"But I already have enough things to look up! That's not fair!" Wally shrugged, chuckling a little.
"Well, I can't tell you all my secrets, toots. Some you just have to figure out yourself." I rolled my eyes, and Luigi just gave us a confused look. Deciding not to comment, he shrugged, and we all headed out the door. Wally and Luigi began to turn left, while I stood there, unsure where to go.
"Where exactly is Zelda's study?" I bit my lip, and one of the guards stepped forward.
"I'll escort you, Lady Jelina. You are going the opposite direction of Sir Luigi and Sir Wally." The guard laughed a little, and Wally groaned, apparently not like being teased.
"Thanks. I'll see you two later." I quickly gave Luigi a peck on the cheek and lightly punched Wally's arm.
"Hey, what's that for?" Luigi laughed at Wally's reaction.
"For not telling me what that rose meant! Bye!" The guard motioned for me to follow him, and we left; I could hear Wally griping to Luigi in the background about how I was abusing him and hurt his feelings.
We walked down a long hallway, passing a few nobles on the way. One lady tried to stop and chat, but I politely kept walking, telling her I had an appointment to get to. As the guard and I walked, I looked at him and recognized him from the previous day. Since it seemed we had a way to go, I decided to initiate some friendly conversation.
"How was the tavern? Did you enjoy your brewskies?"
"Hm?" The guard looked confused. "Excuse me, my what?"
"Your beers. Brewskies." He scrunched his face in thought, then laughed in understanding.
"Ah, yes, Meghan and I had a nice evening." He smiled. "Thanks for asking."
"I don't think I ever got your name, or the other guard that is constantly stalking my door." He grinned.
"Norman. Other guard stationed with me is Harold. How are you liking Hyrule?"
"I enjoy it…magic is pretty cool. I miss some of the more, uh, modern things I had from home. Some of the people are nice, some…well…" The guard grinned.
"Sometime you'll have to visit Thelma's, get a real feel for Hyrule." He looked around, making sure we were alone; we were the only two in the massive hallway leading to Zelda's study. Still, he lowered his voice when he spoke. "Get away from the aristobrats and meet some of the, what they call, lowly peasants. Sometimes even His and Her Majesty come, disguised of course, but it's always a treat. If you're anything like Sir Wa…well…a 'hem…I think you'd have a great time."
I gave a toothy grin. "I'd love that! Honestly, if most of the fancy people met me in Phoenix, they probably wouldn't give me a second glance. A few aren't bad, but most…I don't care for them. Too snooty for my taste." Norman laughed. "Plus, I hate the dresses. Yuck. Give me a pair of pants and shirt any day!" We continued to walk down a long hallway until we reached a large set of wooden doors guarded by highly decorated looking soldiers. One of the soldiers put his arm across his chest, slightly nodding his head. Norman imitated the gesture.
"Sir Bringham, what brings you to this part of the castle this morning?"
"Good morning, Sir Graham. I'm escorting Lady Jelina to Her Majesty's study." The two guards glanced at me, then turned to open the massive doors. Norman turned to me. "Welcome to the Royal Wing of the castle. Her Majesty's study is the first door on the left. Would you like me to escort you, or would you like to go alone?"
"I think I'll be ok from here…thank you, Sir Bringham."
"Then I shall see you after your training. Best of luck, Lady Jelina." He motioned for me to continue forward, and I nervously walked through the doors to the Royal Wing. I heard the wooden doors shut behind me, the noise reverberating down the hallway. I gasped, admiring the beautiful scenery before me. Elaborate, rich tapestries hung from the walls, depicting what I assumed was Hyrule's history. Several depicted a man dressed in a green shirt, holding a large sword, with a woman kneeling next to him. Crystal clear windows let the morning sun shine in, and golden sconces lined the walls. I could see traces of smoke from the candles being recently extinguished. The floor was lined with a long, plush purple carpet, silencing my footsteps as I approached Zelda's Study. When I arrived at the door, I hesitantly knocked, unsure what to expect.
"You may enter," I heard Zelda's muffled voice through the door. I opened the door, and my eyes widened in shock. Thousands upon thousands of books lined the walls; the study looked like a library! A round table with towers of books sat to the right side of the room. Straight ahead was a small fireplace with two plush couches, also covered in books. I turned to the left and saw Zelda sitting at a large wooden desk covered in parchment and, surprise surprise, more books. Crumpled papers and opened books littered the floor surrounding the desk. Compared to the pristine hallway, Zelda's study had a haphazard appearance. "Good morning, Jelina. I was just doing some research while waiting for your arrival." As I approached Zelda, I noticed she was not wearing her usual gown, but instead donned a shirt and pants, similar to what I was wearing, except more elaborate. Delicate flowers were embroidered along the hem, and her pants looked tailored. She looked up, pointing to a chair beside her. "Please, have a seat."
"Good morning. Decided to ditch the gown this morning?" She laughed.
"Ah, yes. I am not required to meet with counsel until after midday meal, and those gowns are so cumbersome!" I smiled. "And, it seems that many of the ladies of the court have requested embroidered tunics and breeches. I was correct in assuming that you would be starting a new clothing trend." I blushed as I sat down beside her. "Tea?"
"Yes, please!" Zelda rose from her seat, walking over to the small fireplace. I hadn't even noticed a small tea kettle hanging over the fire. Zelda placed the small kettle and a few mugs on a serving tray. "Um…would you like me to get that?" Before picking up the tray, she waved her hands.
"Nonsense! I am capable of carrying a tea tray. This is the one place in my castle where I don't have maids hovering over me, tending to every little need. I consider my study a sanctuary. I rather like performing simple tasks on my own. But, thank you for offering." She snapped her fingers, tucking a few books under her arm before picking up the tray. "Cream and sugar?" I nodded. "And can you move one of those stacks of books from the desk onto the floor?" I moved the closest stack, and she set the tray on the empty space, then dropped the books on the floor next to her chair. She looked a little embarrassed, and I gave her a quizzical look. "Please, pardon my mess. I get rather…messy…while deep in thought."
"Oh, it's not a bother." The phrase chaotic genius came to mind. I fixed my tea, glancing at the various papers and books surrounding the area. "So, what are we doing to do this morning?"
Zelda blew on her tea to cool it down. "Well, there are a few things. I'd like to discuss some findings I came across in my research and begin to teach you how to channel your magical abilities." She shifted through her papers, mumbling to herself. "Oh, where is that note…no, not that…where is it…" I was about to offer assistance, but she exclaimed "Ah ha! Here it is!" She held up a piece of paper. "Can you grab a book for me? It should be on the table over there." I looked at the paper.
"And what book would that be…your note just says golden diary."
"Oh, yes, my apologies. That book will be black with a golden Triforce on the front. It will be old and weathered. And, I daresay, you'll sense it." I nodded and went to gather the book from the table. It didn't take long for me to find it; the diary seemed ancient, and, like Zelda anticipated, I felt magic radiating from it, similar to the magic I sensed in the Temple of Time. I tried to open the book, but it was sealed shut. I brought it over to Zelda, who graciously took it from my hands.
"Did you sense it?"
"Yes…what exactly is in this book?"
Zelda hugged the book, then placed her hand on the cover. A golden triangle flashed on her hand, and the book opened. "This diary contains entries from previous bearers of the Triforce of Wisdom. Prophecies, visions, and even diary entries fill the pages. This book has been passed down since the goddess Hylia gave up her powers and was reborn as a human." She smiled. "Only the bearer of the Triforce of Wisdom can open it." She began flipping through its contents, then pointed to a passage. "I believe I found references to you, Jelina."
"Me? You found me?"
"Well, not you by name, but the situation seems all too familiar. Here, let me read a prophecy that was seen by Princess Zelda during the Darkworld era." I gave her a confused look. "Just listen to the passage." She cleared her throat and began to read.
"As evil grows in power, lands begin to crumble. A haunted forest is silenced, the rivers of the jungle run dry, and dreamlands turn into nightmares. Once proud and majestic kingdoms begin to yeild to the cries of the dark curse. A savior, fallen a world a far, takes their sorrow and their pain, releasing them from darkness and bringing them back to the light again."
She closed the book, then gave me a serious look. "I believe you are that savior fallen from a world afar. At first, I thought the areas were describing areas of Hyrule, but the more I thought about it, the more I believed it pertained to regions outside our country." She shuffled through some papers on her desk, eventually pulling out a map; it looked like the map I saw at Wally's house. She began pointing at various areas. "I think the passage refers to the Boo Forest, DK Jungle, and Dreamland. I cannot determine what the other kingdoms are, but the cries of the dark curse may be referring to the Redeads, which are appearing throughout various realms, including the Mushroom Kingdom and Termina."
"But…how do I take away people's sorrows?"
Zelda opened the golden diary again. "Well, I have a theory…I believe you can absorb essences from others. You absorbed the bokoblin's strength when you took its essence. In the Temple of Time, you absorbed the ancient magic from the Spiritual Stones, giving you knowledge. Your magic goes far beyond just seeing essences." I looked away, feeling a small chill up my spine. That sounded dangerous…what if I accidentally took someone's essence, unintentionally harming, or worse, killing them? Zelda seemed to read my thoughts. "Jelina, please, do not worry. While your magic is great, you have control of what you can and cannot do. Your magic, under your control, will only do what you will it to do." I still didn't feel completely comforted. "Please, do not fret. I will help you train your magical will. As long as your intentions are for good, your magic will follow." I nodded, still not completely convinced; I would just have to trust her.
"Do you think, since I can take from others, that is why Ganondorf wants me? Why he may have brought me here?" She nodded.
"I believe so. Your magic is, if I may be so bold, powerful. In the wrong hands, it would cause destruction and despair. But you do not have the same intentions as Ganondorf, and instead, I believe will create peace and comfort. Here, listen to this." She pointed to another passage in the diary. "This seems to be a song, sung by the Rito bard Kass. He was well known during the Hero of the Wild era, the last known hero." She cleared her throat and read the lyrics. "The seer of souls, with a heart that's pure, will ease the darkness that hovers above. While not remembered, though some can't forget, she'll bring us back to a time of peace, erasing all evil that tainted the lands. The seer of souls will save will save our souls, will save our hearts, will save the lands." Zelda closed the book, putting it on the desk.
"What does all that mean?" I was thoroughly confused, and honestly, overwhelmed.
"I am not sure the exact meaning, but I believe you will be correcting all the wrongs that Ganondorf created." She sighed. "Until I find more information, or the goddesses bless me with more sight, I am afraid that is all I know. But, if I'm not mistaken, my initial assumptions were correct; you will be imperative to defeating Ganondorf." I began to feel anxious with the thought of so much responsibility, and I felt Zelda's hands grasp mine. "Jelina, do not fret. You are not alone in this journey. And I know you are on the right path. You are here, after all, learning how to control your magic. Have faith, Jelina." She stood up and gently led me to the couch. "I know it can feel overwhelming, but in time, it will all become clear. Now, let's put the thought of prophecies and the future aside, and focus on training your magic."
For the next two hours, Zelda and I worked on how to channel my magical sense, or as I liked to call, my sixth sense. Her first task was to have me see her essence. I was able to describe how I felt with ease but struggled with physically seeing it. I know you can see essences, after what Luigi told me. Don't focus on physical properties…look beyond that. Focus on what you feel, and it'll come to your sight. I had difficulty seeing the ethereal glow that I felt from her being and became impatient. Tap into what you feel. That is your magic. Let your magic overcome your sight. I tried having my eyes grow fuzzy, thinking of those old magic eye posters, but that only gave me a headache. Then I tried closing my eyes, feeling the presence of her aura, only to open them to see nothing. You're concentrating too much on the physical being. Zelda started rambling on about how I needed to let go of physical barriers, rid myself of all my stress, and I began to space out. I closed my eyes, taking deep breaths, and began to relax. I unintentionally tuned out Zelda, and a felt a small tingle radiate through my core. I no longer heard Zelda, and instead heard a ringing sound. I began to concentrate on that ringing sound, imagining what it would look like. When I opened my eyes, I gasped.
"Holy shit, you're gold!" In front of me was Zelda, radiating a golden glow speckled with purple and blue. "I think I finally see you!" Hearing this news, Zelda seemed to glow even brighter, almost blinding, and I shook my head. I lost my concentration and my eyes readjusted; the glow disappeared.
"Jelina, that is wonderful!" She got up, grabbing a small black book and pen from the table, and brought it back to me. "Please, take this. I'd like you to practice seeing others and document your experience in this journal. Normally I wouldn't condone infringing on others' personal beings, but since this is research…just keep the information and findings private." I opened the book and was confused to only see one blank page.
"But, there's only one page…and I already have a journal. I can just use that." She laughed.
"Jelina, this is a magical journal. It will create pages when the need arises. And, I'd like a journal for my personal records. It'll help aide me in my research, as well as fully comprehending your magical abilities. While we have books with interpretations of auras, such as what different colors may symbolize, your magic may yield different results. Please, document everything for me." I shrugged, agreeing to the task. She looked at the clock, sighing. "I am afraid that our session will have to end here. But I believe we have made some progress." We stood up and she walked me to the door. "Please rest and enjoy the rest of your afternoon. You may not feel it now, but you will tire. Until our next meeting," she gave a small bow. I left the room, heading towards the large double doors to be escorted back to my room. I had a lot to discuss with Luigi and Wally, and I was excited to practice my magic. But that would have to wait; my stomach had another idea in mind: lunch.