Chapter 4: Override

Mipha eyed Link curiously as he worked with the horses. The Champions had woken up a little while ago, and they were preparing to leave together via covered wagon. Two wagons were necessary, as Daruk weighed as much as three of them by himself, maybe even all of them. While she had said they, it was mainly Link who was preparing for their trip. He deftly hooked up the horses to their wagon, tying down the straps efficiently as the rest of the Champions made their way to the back of the wagon. With one last glance towards Link, Mipha decided to head back and join her fellow Champions. As she climbed in the back, she found herself with Zelda and Revali, as Daruk and Urbosa had gone to the other wagon. As she found a place for her to rest, she eyed her two fellow Champions, who were silently discussing something amongst themselves. Mipha was going to say something, but her question was interrupted by the wagon jerking forward. She looked towards the front, spying Link handling the reigns as he guides the horses forward. Once they started moving, he turned back towards them.

"Journey begun. Estimated time of arrival to Spring of Power: two to three days, accounting for weight, multiple wagons, and equine stamina."

Zelda glanced over to Link, mulling over the information in her head. "Hmmm, technically speaking, the Master Sword is just barely out of the way of the Spring of Power. It might be worthwhile to visit the Sword while we make our way to the Spring of Power...H.E.R.O.!"

"Yes, Princess? How can I be of assistance?"

"Alter our course. Head towards the Lost Woods. We can head to the Spring of Power after we take care of business there." Zelda ordered, pointing at the map on her Sheikah Slate.

Link nodded. "Order acknowledged. Altering course. New destination set: Lost Woods. Estimated time of arrival: one day. Is there anything else?"

Zelda glanced back at her fellow passengers. While Mipha was looking at her and Link with a light smile, Revali scoffed at the robot, clearly annoyed by the sound of his presence alone, let alone his voice. Zelda understood his feelings. She didn't care much for the robot either. While it hadn't done too much to offend her (the stressed comment the other day being the only thing that came to mind), it still gave her the creeps. It was clearly a robot. But not as clear as she would like. It looked just like person. While it's speech was rigid, it sounded like a person. If you were to touch it, it'd feel just like a person. And that's what bothered her. It wasn't a person. It didn't belong in their group as one of them. It was merely a tool, a device to help defeat Ganon. After his defeat, they would shut it down, store it away, and be done with it forever

Zelda looked over to Mipha, her annoyance rising as she narrowed her eyes at the Zora Princess. She and Daruk were not helping the situation. Not only had they called it a "he", but they named "him" as well: "Link." She scoffed at the name. Things like it didn't need names. It only needed to know what to do and to do it. Getting attached to this thing was like getting attached to a wild animal you just found. Naming it, guessing it's gender, and asking if you could keep it. Except she didn't want to keep it, and a pet would be worth more in her eyes. The pet is at least alive.

"Princess? Is something troubling you?"

Her attention snapped back to Link, who was staring at her with a face of simulated curiosity. "Yes, there is. I would like to enjoy time with my fellow Champions, and your presence, with not being a Champion and all, would hinder that. I'm sure my friends feel the same way."

"You couldn't be more correct in that assumption, your highness." Revali said, his voice steeped in resentment towards the robot.

Mipha looked between the three of them. "Actually, I don't mind if Link is allowed to..."

"Then it's settled. H.E.R.O., please close the flaps while we are traveling. Do not disturb us unless it is an emergency or when we have stopped to make camp. If we need anything, we'll let you know." Zelda ordered, before retreating to the back of the wagon with her fellow Champions.

Link nodded. "Understood, Princess. Drawing flaps for privacy. Staying out of affairs." With that, Link drew the flaps of the wagon down, blocking himself off from view.

Zelda sighed, relaxing back into her seat as she looked over to Revali. "Finally, some peace from that thing."

Revali grinned. "I'm glad we share the same sentiment, your highness. I don't care what the Sheikah meant for it to be. It isn't a hero, not even a replacement. Sure, I heard about it breaking the assassin's wrist last night, but that's not very impressive at all. It has yet to do anything, anything, that deserves my respect. Not even my acknowledgment. And when all this is finished, I want to personally be there as we return it to the scrap heap."

Mipha glanced between the two, feeling very out of place amongst her fellow Champions. While she understood their frustrations, she didn't really appreciate the way they didn't even give Link a chance at proving them wrong. While he wasn't a person, he wasn't just a tool to be used either. Even she can see him and appreciate him for what he is. An entity, entirely different from them, but his own identity. He was a part of them, and even though they had only known each other for a very short time, she came to see the robot as a friend, or at the very least a trustworthy being to be around.

"Don't get me wrong, I understand why we need it. It looks like person, and it was designed to take the place of the hero, something we are currently lacking. But what I don't understand..." he turned towards Mipha, his gaze boring into her with viscous curiosity, "is why do you care about it?"

Mipha snapped out of her thoughts, suddenly dragged into the conversation by the Rito Champion. "E..excuse me?"

Revali frowned. "You hear what I said. Why do you care about that thing? You and Daruk both go ahead and name it, and start calling it a 'he', and treating it like it's a person. It isn't a person Mipha. It doesn't have any feelings or characteristics. It can't laugh. It can't cry. It doesn't have any dreams or fears. It doesn't even have preferences. How can you look at that thing and fool yourself into think it's a person?"

Mipha stared at Revali, trying to come up with an answer. It's true, Link lacked those things, and was only ever rigidly robotic with them. It was tough to find an argument against what the Rito was arguing, but she didn't rightly need one. She knew what she thought. Daruk did too. She didn't need an exact reason to see him as his own entity, his own person. Revali was not her, however. Neither was Zelda. Both were cold and calculating, wanting hard proof and facts to back up claims. One being a woman of science, with the other a trained marksman and warrior with an overly inflated ego. Both would need an explanation, or their opinions would stay stone. Mipha frowned as she failed to defend her new ally, her eyes breaking away from Revali's as she looked down at her own feet.

Revali smirked. "That's what I thought. You and Daruk's hearts are just too gullible. That thing has you fooled. But we won't be. We know what it really is. And what worth it holds outside of all of this." He made a zero with his feathers, laughing slightly at his own remarks. "My favorite thing about all of this though? You claim he's a person, then let him stay in your room all night, staring at you. If he is a person, he's a pretty creepy one!"

Mipha's eyes lit up. 'My favorite thing...' That's right! Favorites! Link has one! He told me last night! She looked down at her feet, the red scales a bright contrast to the dull wood beneath them. It's red! Her eyes shot up to meet Revali's, a look of determination now set within them. "He has a favorite color."

Revali's laughing cut instantly, as he and Zelda stared at the Zora in bewilderment. "W..what do you mean? Favorite color? He...it..doesn't have favorites!" Zelda managed to stutter out.

Mipha smiled, knowing she finally managed to provide something to help her automaton ally. "Yes, a favorite color. He told me so last night. It's red." She stated matter of factly.

Revali scoffed. "It did not tell you that. You must have dreamed it since it was in your room last night. It's a robot. They don't have feelings or wants or favorites. It just sits there and does what it's told." Revali grew suspicious as he eyes the Zora. "So why red, huh? Is it because you yourself are red?"

Mipha blushed, hiding away her embarrassment as she tried to stand against his questioning look. "N..no. I didn't pick it, he did. I don't know why it's red."

Revali rolled his eyes. "Oh I'm sure you don't. No clue. It's just its favorite color, which it told you last night when no one else was around, was red, and you, the only person there with him, happen to also be red. I'm sure it is just one huge coincidence, right Mipha?"

Zelda, confused at the prospect of the robot having a favorite anything, slowly grew suspicious of Mipha as well following Revali's argument. "Mipha, I understand that the lives we lead are tough and lonely at times. Trust me, we all know that. But you don't need to go projecting your feelings onto that thing just to make yourself feel better. If you want to talk or have companionship, find us. Leave it behind to its duties."

Mipha huffed, clearly annoyed at her allies' accusations. "Whether or not you believe me doesn't matter. I know what he said. There's something else going on with him..." She eyed the two giving her questioning looks, before standing. "I'm going to go and provide some company to our driver. If you need me, I'll be up riding with Link." Mipha made sure to emphasize his name, trying to push back against Revali and Zelda's insistence that Link wasn't a person and, as such, didn't deserve a name. The two of them could only scoff, turning towards each other as they began silently discussing amongst themselves. Mipha rolled her eyes and parted the flaps of the wagon, carefully stepping onto the seat next to Link.

Link looked over at her. "Hello, Lady Mipha. Is there something you require assistance with?"

Mipha shook her head. "No, I just thought you might appreciate some company since you were out her all alone."

"While I do understand your concern, do not worry. I am fully functional whether with someone or not."

Mipha gave a soft smile at his misunderstanding. "Well, I do operate best with company. Do you mind if I join you out here?"

Link pondered for a second. "If it will assist you in remaining in peak condition, then I would suggest you spend your time out here with this unit."

Mipha nodded her head. "I agree."

The two sat there quietly for most of the ride, being interrupted every once and awhile by the occasionally bump in the rode. Mipha's eyes scanned the country side, the sun slowly starting to move towards the horizon. Orange light was cast across the river they were traveling by, the water looking like liquid gold in its glow. Birds chirped as they flew through the trees, a gentle breeze guiding them. "It truly is beautiful, is it not?"

Link scanned the surroundings. "The area contains at least six of the known factors that people denote as 'beautiful'. I have to agree with your observation, based on these factors." Link explained.

Mipha glanced over to him. "And just what are those things people would call beautiful?" She asked with a giggle.

Link scanned the surroundings once more. "The glow the sun is giving off has changed the color of the sky to an orange-purple. The light has also caused the river to develop a golden glow to it. The trees are gently rustling in the breeze, as well as the birds flying through them with a consistent chirping. These scenes put together also present a serene look that one would also denote as beautiful all together."

Mipha counted the reasons in her head. "Link, you only listed five reasons. What's the sixth?"

Link looked over to her, confusion written on his face. "Only five? Re-calculating...re-calculating...sixth factor not found within surrounding scenery. Altering observation..." His eyes scanned the sky, noting the stars appearing behind the twilight veil. "Considering the time, it would be pertinent to set up camp for those who wish to sleep outside the wagon. If unnecessary, we could continue through the night."

Still confused from the apparent slip up, Mipha shook her head slowly. "No, I think the majority of our party would prefer to rest outside the wagons, especially if they were going to be moving the whole time. I'll let them know." Mipha stood up and carefully stepped back into the wagon.

After getting camp set up, the Champions were resting beside the fire, it's soft glow illuminating their faces as the crackling broke the silence. "So..." Daruk began, "do ya think we can actually beat him? Ganon?"

Zelda looked over at Daruk, dejectedly. "I...I don't know. We have the Divine Beasts to weaken him, and the Guardians to defeat his monsters, but I still lack my powers. Without the power to seal away the darkness, how are we ever supposed to defeat him?" She sighed, hopelessly. "It also doesn't help that our 'Chosen Hero' didn't appear. Without the hero, who will wield the Master Sword? To defeat Ganon? I feel like the Goddess has cursed us with misfortune after misfortune. We're supposed to complete a puzzle, let's say, and to complete it we need the last piece. But that piece was never included in the puzzle, so it can't hope to be completed. The Hero is our missing piece. How are we supposed to win without him?"

Revali glanced over to Link, who was busy standing over the cooking pot. "Not to mention that the Hylians of old mock us with this 'replacement hero.' Why would they create a replacement if they knew the Chosen Hero is always born in times of Ganon's return? That the Goddess watches over him as he works, fights, and finally defeats Ganon. Why would we need a replacement?"

Urbosa smirked. "In case we end up in a situation where we don't have our Chosen Hero. That's why it's a replacement, Master Revali."

Revali sneered at her playful jab. "Well, if they needed a replacement hero, they could have always asked me. I'm better than 10 of those things put together, and that's with one wing behind my back. Let's just hope that thing doesn't hold us back."

Mipha sighed. "If anything, Master Revali, an extra hand might do us some good. Another set of eyes watching our backs will keep us safer overall."

Zelda followed Revali's gaze to Link. "It's H.E.R.O. watching us that makes me uncomfortable." She turned towards the group. "While I know it won't attack us, I don't know if I feel comfortable with it being on while we sleep, even if it could keep watch for us."

"If you'd like, I could enter stasis if that would put your mind at ease."

Zelda jumped, turning around to face him. Her surprise turned to a light anger. "You know, you shouldn't just appear behind me like that. You almost gave me a heart attack!"

Link cocked his head to the side. "If necessary, I can send electrical shocks through my palms in case the need of defibrillation arises."

Zelda rolled her eyes, her anger simmering to minor annoyance. "That's not...I didn't...Fine. I'm glad to know you have that feature. Is the food ready?"

Link nodded. "Yes Princess, the food is now complete." Link walked back towards the pot, now simmering over a low flame. He reached down, grabbing it as he hoisted it up and brought it closer to the Champions. Mipha looked on with worry.

"Link? Doesn't that burn?"

Link shook his head. "No, as I stated to you earlier when you posed the query 'What is your favorite season?', I can withstand and operate in most conditions. Minor temperatures such as this cooking pot have no affect on my skin." He explained, paddling food into bowls of each Champion. After they had all gotten their meals, Link left the pot in case of them needed extra food.

Daruk stared down at the food in the bowl. "Uhhh, Link? What is this, exactly? I don't think I've ever seen this stuff before..."

"That is a dish that Hylians enjoyed 10,000 years ago before Ganon had attacked. It is made by taking flour, eggs, oil, and salt, mixing them together, and then flattening out the dough. Then, taking filling of some meat or cheese, you place it on top of one sheet of dough, then cover with another equally sized sheet. Once cove..."

Revali huffed in annoyance. "We didn't ask how it was made, we wanted to know what it was."

"My apologies. The dish is called 'ravioli.' It was quite popular back in the day, if my data is accurate on the consumption rate of pasta based dishes 10,000 years ago."

The Champions eyed the food cautiously. While they didn't fear it was poisoned, they didn't know if they could trust the robot to cook food well enough. Timing and cooking were fine, but they didn't know whether it had tastebuds, could tell what was "good" or "bad", or if it needed more of something or less based on taste. Nodding to one another, they decided it was best to face the unknown together. They each took a piece and shoved it into their mouths.

"Woah! This is amazing! Who knew the little guy...bot...could cook this well?"

"It is quite delectable, is it not? Link, you have to show me how to make it! Oh...I di...didn't mean you have to. It isn't an order...Link, put the bowl of flour down!"

"While it is quite foreign to me, I could myself enjoying this with a fine Noble Pursuit."

"The royal chefs back at the castle could easily outmatch this. But it's a good effort, I suppose."

The only one silent through the whole meal was Revali. As the others enjoyed their food, they glanced over to Revali. As all eyes landed on him, Revali felt like he was somehow being threatened. "What?"

"Master Revali, the others have expressed their enjoyment of the meal. Was my cooking not satisfactory to you? If so, how could I alter my cooking routine to assist in your enjoyment?"

Revali huffed. "I didn't say it was bad!" He accidentally raised his voice before clearing his throat. "It's...it's fine. Not good, not bad. Just fine."

Mipha gave him a playful look, her eyes moving between his clearly empty bowl and his face, desperately trying to hide the enjoyment of the meal from the rest of them, especially Link. "Whatever you say, Master Ravioli." She quipped.

"Wh...what did you call me? You dare besmirch my name?" His eyes darted around to his fellow Champions, noticing their snickering faces joining in on Mipha's playful nickname. "Don't encourage her!"

Mipha's eyes lit up. "Oh! Link? Please change Master Revali's name to Master Ravioli! Please?"

Link shook his head. "Only the person in question can change their names in my reference logs. My apologies, Lady Mipha." Mipha sighed dejectedly, Revali smirking at her failed attempt.

"H.E.R.O., Princess Override of programming. Please change Revali's name to Master Ravioli for 24 hours."

"Acknowledged, overriding programming. Master Revali changed to Master Ravioli for 24 hours."

Revali could only look on in muted horror as his allies (he could no longer call them his friends) gathered around the robot to laugh. Growling under his breath, he turned away from the group and left, grabbing his bed roll on his way out. With their source of comedy leaving, their laughing died down, until a yawn escaped the princess. "Well, it is getting rather late isn't it? We should probably get some rest." She glanced over at where Revali left. "Will he be alright?"

Urbosa placed her hand on her shoulder. "He'll be fine. Master Ravioli wouldn't let anything get him in his sleep, lest his 'good name' get besmirched." She looked over at the other two Champions. "Who shall take first watch?"

"Lady Urbosa, I do believe that I can serve as the watch for the entire night. Again, I do not need sleep, so I can watch over you and the Champions while you rest."

Zelda grew visibly uncomfortable, as she tensed up under Urbosa's touch. Urbosa glanced down, noticing the worry on her face. She leaned down and whispered in her ear, stroking her back as she tried to calm her down. Raising her eyes to Mipha's, Urbosa offered a kind smile. "Mipha, he watched over you the whole night last time. Did he cause you any problems?"

Mipha shook her head, trying to offer Zelda a reassuring smile. "He was completely fine, no problems at all."

Zelda, while still looking unsure, finally nodded, relenting to her friend's reassurances. Glancing one final time to the robot, she finally made her way over to her bedroll across the clearing, Urbosa not far behind her. "I do not understand. Is my presence a discomfort to the princess?"

Daruk turned to Link. "Nah buddy, I think she just has ta get used to ya. She was like this with us when we first started hanging out with her!" Daruk noticed Mipha giving him a questioning look, only for him to slowly shake his head. "Once ya hang out with us more, I'm sure she'll warm up to ya!"

Link nodded. "Acknowledged. Princess Zelda did raise a valuable point. It is getting late, and sleep is necessary for peak performance. Please begin your rest. I will watch over you."

Daruk grinned. "Thanks, brother. I know we're in your capable hands!" Daruk slapped his back, giving a hearty laugh before curling up. Link glanced down at his hand before slapping it down on Daruk's back, eliciting an audible "oof" from the Goron, followed by a small chuckle. "I knew I liked something about this bot!"

Mipha waved at Link. "Goodnight, Link. Thank you for watching over us." She gave a soft smile before laying down on her roll, turning away from him as she tried to fall asleep.

"Goodnight, Lady Mipha." Link gave one last look before turning to face the wilderness, his eyes scanning the trees for any movement that could pose a threat. Sensing none, he decided to take a moment and catalogue new information he had gathered throughout the time he had been brought online. Grabbing the glowing blue slates, he wandered the halls of his Archives. While he was always willing to assist the Princess and the Champions with whatever they needed, there was a sense of calm and ease he experienced when wandering the halls of his Archives. Work made sense here. Everything compartmentalized, arranged in nice, easy to understand categories. It was all perfect. Not a thing out of place. Just a calm blue glow of all the files he had accumulated over the years. As he grabbed one of the files he was carrying, he carefully slotted it in amongst files of similar substance. Stepping back from shelf, his eyes drifted to a small red glow illuminating from one of the files, slotted high above the others. Cocking his head to the side, he carefully climbed up the file, digital steps forming beneath his feet as he rose to its level. As he neared the file, a red glow crept over his body, its sheer difference a jarring image among the soft blue glow. Link stopped, his mind trying to decode what the file could mean. Figuring that the file must have some importance if it was meant to stand out against the rest, he reached forward and grabbed onto the handle, carefully pulling out the file.

Yelling. Screeching. And the clatter of chains.

Mipha's eyes opened groggily, an odd sound rousing her from her sleep. As she looked around the area, she saw nothing out of place with her companions. Her eyes finally fell upon Link, who was currently shaking, clutching his head as he mumbled to himself. Her eyes grew concerned as she began to sit up. "Link? What's wrong?"

His shaking ceased in a heartbeat. His attention slowly turned towards Mipha, his eyes locking onto hers, their red glow piercing into her heart. She stuttered, trying to find the words to question her ally's well being, but fell short under his glowing gaze. He slowly marched towards her, careful steps avoiding any ground that may make noise. Stopping in front of her, his hand reached down, gripping her neck as he raised her up to his eye level. Mipha choked, hands wrapping around his as she tried to free herself from his grip. "A...ah..L...Link...s...sto..." she gasped out, barely above a whisper. Link's grip tightened, his eyes staring into hers. She frantically looked for any sign of the robot she knew existing within them.

"Over...overriding protection command...overriding...over...over..."

A small spark of light, a bright blue flash in his eyes. Mipha gasped, the last of her breathe escaping her as she brought her hand up to his cheek. She didn't know if it would work. This all could be futile. But she had to try. She rubbed it gently. "L...Li...Link...I'm...We're...Fr...Freinds..." As her eyes began to shut, his grip suddenly loosened, Mipha's body dropping to the floor. She coughed, her body desperately trying to regain the breath it had lost. As she slowly recovered from the incident, she glanced up at Link. His eyes rapidly flickered from red and blue, as if the two colors were fighting for control over his body. His hands gripped at his face, skin being torn away to reveal glowing blue parts beneath his skin, a red glow infecting the wires and circuitry. Mipha struggled to stand, her hand reaching for her trident. Her eyes never left the robot, his panicking now starting to awaken Daruk, who began to uncurl before them.

"Ugh, Mipha? What are you doing up? Where's Lin..." His eyes widened before jumping to his feet and rushing to Link's side. Looking over his glitching ally, his hands soon gripped the automatons hands, prying them away from his damaged face. Daruk grunted against his attempts at escape, his strength always surprising the Goron. He looked over to Mipha's, eyes falling upon the marks on her neck. "What happened!? You ok?!"

Mipha nodded, her breathing finally returning to normal. "Yes, I'm fine. Something's wrong with Link!"

Daruk grunted. "No kiddin'! I wouldn't call what he's doing as normal!"

Mipha rushed up to the two of them. "No, not like that. He seems...I don't know...possessed by something! Like he's fighting against something inside of himself for control!"

"Well, what are we supposed to do about it? It's not like we can look inside his head or anything!"

Mipha tried to come up with a plan to help, but came up short. She wasn't a scientist, she didn't know how to help with his "programming." She could heal him, but that wouldn't fix the actual problem. As she struggled to answer Daruk's question, a throaty gasp interrupted her train of thought. Her eyes snapped up to Link's, the dull blue and red glow now replaced with a steady, bright blue. His eyes, seemingly lost moments ago, landed on hers. "Mipha."

She stepped back in surprise. "Y..yes?"

"I need your help. Something wrong is in here. It's attacking him...me...us...and I can't stop it. Not by myself."

"What is it? Should I wake the others? Zelda may know what to do to help with this..."

Link shook his head, static splaying from the right side of his face. "No, there isn't enough time. She doesn't trust him...us...as it is. She'd have us destroyed even if we fixed this. I need you, Mipha. Please."

Mipha struggled with her answer. On one hand, keeping this from the Princess was only going to backfire later on, but Link was right. She's have him destroyed if she learned of this event. Finally gathering her courage, she looked back at Link and nodded, a determined expression now clear on her face. Link smiled, breaking his hand free from Daruk's grip as he brought it up to her temple. Closing his eyes, he pressed his fingers against her. "Connecting...connection established...downloading...prepare for dive..."

Mipha could only gasp as everything went black, her body collapsing to the ground as Daruk reached out his free hand to catch her. "Mipha? MIPHA? What did ya do?"

Link's eyes flickered back to red as he turned back towards the Goron. "Oh great..."

AN: Longest Chapter I've ever written for this story. Jeez. Thought I'd try putting out a longer chapter for once, so you guys could get more story at once. Lemme know if you prefer that or more chapters that are shorter.

Oh no, something is wrong with Link! Thankfully we've never seen ancient Sheikah technology get corrupted by a dark influence before in BotW.