Chapter Three

Link straightened out of his battle stance and walked towards the dumbstruck princess, the Blademaster's now lifeless body beginning to disintegrate into a cloud of purple dust. Climbing the steps, Zelda noticed that Link's cape was in shambles, and his Champion's Tunic was cut and torn in odd places. His face, now gleaming in the moonlight, was covered in dirt and grime, and his right cheek looked as though it was hit by a tree. Link knelt next to the Princess and the unconscious Impa, and after a quick look, his face relaxed, and he reached underneath his cape, and pulled two bottles filled with red liquid from his pouch.

"Here," he began, his voice cracking. "Thankfully, neither of you have sustained any serious injuries. These elixirs should rejuvenate you and heal anything that might have been hurt."

Zelda, without thinking, sat up and fell into Link, wrapping her arms around him. Surprised, Link gasped, but slowly, put his arms around Zelda.

"Link?" Zelda asks.

"Yes, Pri— Zelda?" He responds.

"Why did you come back?"

After a long silence, his reply croaks out.

"To warn you, Zelda."

Zelda releases Link, and looks at his face once more. "Warn me of what?"

"Strange things have been happening, Zelda. Even though we beat Calamity Ganon, monsters still roam Hyrule." He states, his eyes full of confusion. "I was ambushed by some Bokoblin, and while I was distracted, a Silver Lynel snuck up on me and nearly killed me. Fighting them was hard enough, but as I struck one down, more seemed to appear out of nowhere. I ran from my battle, but while I was riding away on Epona, I noticed my right hand was tingling. I pulled off my glove, and realized that my Triforce was glowing."

"Yours as well?" Zelda exclaims. "My Triforce also began to glow, just before the attack!"

"Then that means my suspicions were right. Our Triforce pieces are still connected."

"But then… that would mean that the Triforce of Power is still active."

"Yes, and whoever is wielding it has complete control over the monsters that attacked me."

"However, that doesn't justify the Yiga Clan making a surprise appearance. I thought you had defeated their leader while on your quest, no?"

"I did Princess. However, I never stopped running into Yiga Clan members on my travels."

"Hmm… Wait a minute! How did you get back here so fast? You must have been traveling for at least the entire day after you left."

"That's yet another clue in the puzzle, Zelda. Once I realized the Triforce was still active I knew I needed to get to you as soon as I could. In desperation, I pulled out my Sheikah Slate, and it turned on! Quickly, I tapped on the Ta'loh Naeg Shrine, and I was teleported here. I saw the Blademaster advancing on you and Impa, so I quickly pulled the bomb arrow and released. However, in hindsight, I could have used the stasis rune…"

"Link! You know what this means, right?"

"About what?"

"My goddesses, Link. The slate! If the Sheikah Slate has reactivated, then that means that the Divine Beasts have also been reactivated!"

"So, we need new champions to pilot them?"

"Yes! When we go to the domains, we can find the new champions!"

"Hold your horses, Zelda. What about the Triforce of Power? We need to find the wielder and stop him before things get out of hand again."

"Yeah…"

"Link?" Another new voice calls out.

Link pokes his head around Zelda, as she also turns to see the owner of the new voice. Standing at the door to Impa's house is Paya, peeking out from inside. Confirming that Link is indeed outside, Paya steps out and rushes toward him and Zelda. As she nears them, she sees her grandmother lying on the ground.

"Oh my!" She exclaims. "Is grandmother alright?"

Link is the first to respond. "She's fine, Paya." He gets up and pulls Paya into a quick embrace, and her face flushes.

Zelda looks at Link hugging Paya, and anger wells up in her chest, and when Link lets go of Paya, Zelda thinks to herself. What was that? Why did I feel so angry just now?

Her thoughts are interrupted by Link standing over her, and motioning for her to grab his hand. She does, and Link pulls her to her feet.

She looks up. Was Link always this tall? She wonders. Or this handsome?

"Zelda?" Link says, breaking Zelda out of her confused state. "Are you alright?"

Zelda looks up, eyes full of wonder and hope. "I am just fine, Link." She states. "Let's rest up tonight. In the morning, we'll make our way to the Zora's Domain, all right?"

"Fine by me, Princess."