Remnants of the Wild
The Three Giants and Hyrule Castle
Climbing the mountain looked like a very daunting task ahead, even from the shrine by Calora Lake. Rain poured on them, as Blake's cat ears twitched as they were soaked. Yet, even as the rain ended a half-hour later, Blake swore she was going to buy a Hylian Hood to cover her ears in the rain. Jaune quickly judged the sky before finding a private spot near the hill to change back into his armor, put the Master Sword back on his belt, and re-equip his Knight's Bow and Reinforced Lizal Shield. On the way to the shrine, he killed a black bokoblin with Urbosa's Fury in order to let the skill recharge and collect nearby fleet-lotus seeds. A reverberating sound filled the air, along with a nose-wrenching foul stench as a black hinox lay sleeping nearby, surrounded by bokoblins.
"Here's the plan." Jaune started to say.
"Break their legs!" Nora said, hefting her Cobble Crusher.
Sighing, Jaune finished with "Take out the bokoblins before awakening the hinox."
"Roger fearless leader!" Nora said, and leaped at an unsuspecting bokoblin and slamming her weapon into it so hard, it cracked the ground as the monster exploded into smoke. Then, one bokoblin archer made the mistake of hitting her with a shock arrow. While the blades on the arrow took a bit of her aura...the electricity soon overcharged her and she zoomed to it, grabbed its head, threw it to the ground before basically pile-driving her Cobble Crusher into it so hard, the metal weapon cracked. As they wandered around after giving Nora plenty of space after that last display, Jaune noticed an orb on the necklace of the hinox.
The three giants were hinox!
After clearing out the two remaining bokoblins, as they prepared to face the hinox, Nora spotted her soon to be favorite magical weapon. The Thunderstorm Rod. A weapon that hurled three balls of electricity at once. Combine that with the water from the wetland in the area, and you had a recipe for a super-charged Nora, and she shivered in anticipation.
"Not while the rest of us are in the water." Ren said, making her pout.
"Stupid, sexy Renny." She muttered, pulling out her damaged Cobble Crusher instead.
As stalkoblins rose from the ground, the skeletal creatures keeping his allies busy, Jaune awoke the black hinox; the "oldest kin". The Master Sword cut through it's thick skin quickly, and by the time the skeletal creatures had vanished into smoke, the hinox was doing the same with it's weapons falling down from it as the orb from it's necklace rolled down a hill it had been sleeping on into shallow water about ankle deep.
And Jaune hadn't even taken a blow to his aura, Daruk's protection keeping arrows from stalkoblin archers deflected from him three times before going dormant to recharge with Urbosa's Fury. The Master Sword had turned gray again, going to rest after facing what had to be the toughest of the three hinox. Everyone was nearly gagging as Jaune collected food it had hidden around it and monster parts. Not only that, but the hinox had been laying on a treasure chest with 300 rupees. Ren picked up the Knight's Bow that fell from the necklace, testing the weapon before putting it in his inventory. Jaune carried the orb to the closest of the three pedestals, putting the orb in it. The orb vanished and the pedestal turned blue as it activated.
There, Blake red the stone tablet for herself. "The ancient orbs guarded by the giants of Mount Taran lead to the shrine." With a glance at the activated pedestal, she shrugged, "We now know that they are hinox."
"And there are two other pedestals." Yang pointed out.
"YEAH! GET YOUR THUNDER THIGHS MOVING!" Nora shouted.
"Aren't Thunder thighs a derogatory term?" Pyrrha asked before Nora took a deep breath, raised a leg...and shook the earth with a sound similar to thunder when she slammed it down to the ground using the last of her Aura boost.
"You tell me!" She said to the other shell-shocked people.
"I've...gotta write my will..." Ren said. Moving past the pedestal to the north, they saw a grassy slope leading to a patch of dry land with a red hinox on it surrounded by shallow water. It was then Jaune decided to show off something he saw another Hylian do, as he placed his shield on the ground, stood on it...and slid down the hill on his shield. This was a new trend getting more popular in Hyrule known as "Shield Surfing". The ride went smoothly...until the end when the front of the shield ran into a large rock at the bottom and Jaune went flying off into the ground face-first.
Moving around showed that this hinox was alone; there were no bokoblins in sight. Handing Pyrrha his Knight's Halberd, Jaune found an enchanted Giant's Boomerang, the enchantment increasing the damage the blades did.
The team made quick effort of the "youngest kin" hinox, the multiple people and attacks from different angles keeping it guessing as to who to attack. Plus, Nora's Cobble Crusher finally broke as she gave the final blow on the beast; actually breaking it's left leg as it collapsed onto the ground and burst into smoke with that gut-wrenching smell. Along with the monster parts and weapons, they found fruit it had hidden away nearby in the ruins of a wagon. As they continued back up the hill at 3:45 am, the sky started lightening up as the sun started to rise. Fifteen minutes later, Jaune felt a surge announcing that Urbosa's Fury was ready to use again.
Placing the orb in the northernmost pedestal activated it as the orb vanished. Jaune strapped a Knight's Claymore to his back as they moved down the southernmost hill to see a blue hinox, also alone like the northernmost one, except it was blue. This one was slightly smarter, keeping it's eye covered by its hand after it was hit in the eye twice and keeping it's focus on Jaune. Jaune felt the Master Sword shiver on his belt as it's power returned, but paid no mind to it, letting go of his Knight's Claymore as the hinox grabbed it and crushed it in his hand. As the hinox threw the ruined weapon aside, Jaune's Giant Boomerang struck it, killing it as it burst apart in smoke with that foul stench. They found some cooked seafood hidden in a fallen tree-obviously from previous explorers unlucky enough to face it unprepared while Jaune collected the monster parts and Pyrrha picked up a Dragonbone Boko Club as Nora gave Ren "something fun" with the Dragonbone Boko Club it had on it's necklace.
Ren wasn't going to argue with her after that earth-shaking display earlier, and he was lacking in weapons besides bows besides a Serpentine Spear he found and a Viscous Sickle. After Jaune used the orb to activate the last pedestal, a shrine rose from the ground. Then, he handed Yang the Giant Boomerang he used earlier. "Here." He said, "It needs someone stronger than me to use." As he went into the shrine, Yang was left questioning that last statement.
Why would he call himself weak? He was the Knight Chosen by the Sword that Seals the Darkness. He faced the black hinox alone while they were busy with the stalkoblins. Yet...the fact he called her...strong left a fluttering feeling inside her.
She was Yang Xiao Long...a woman who lived for adventure...and hid her pain behind her carefree attitude, especially of that moment where she almost got Ruby killed after Summer Rose died. Yet...despite that, he still called her strong.
After Jaune emerged with his third Spirit Orb, Pyrrha was by his side quickly.
"So...what's the plan?" She asked him.
"I'm going to try and get enough Spirit Orbs to unlock two more chunks after the next one. Then, I'll try the second Trial of the Sword." Jaune said.
"Nice plan. Let Revali sweat a bit." Yang said, "He's been bad-mouthing you behind your back." She explained at his confused look.
"Revali is...Revali." Jaune said, unable to come up with a decent explanation for the Rito Champion's abrasive and arrogant personality.
Teleporting back to Hateno Village, Jaune excited Ruby with two weapons to study; a Great Flameblade and a Great Thunderblade with a damage-boosting enchantment.
"I'm planning on getting some more shrines, the first of the spots I'm investigating is in the Gerudo Desert." Jaune said, changing into his Gerudo disguise in the bathroom. "Is anyone with me?" He asked, coming out changed. Both Pyrrha and Yang quickly agreed, eager to explore Gerudo Town some more...and in Yang's case, see if they finally had a Strawberry Sunrise. Nora was staying behind with "her Renny"...who was staying behind to write his will, just in case.
Revali was laying asleep on his bed, bottles of open Rito feather care treatment around him and a bandage around his left leg...where he had been hit by a few fire arrows without having told anyone. It would take some time for him to reach 100% again, and rebuild his strength.
Teleporting to the shrine outside Gerudo Town, both Pyrrha and Yang waved to Jaune as they went into the bustling hometown of the Gerudo people. Before they got too far in, many inhabitants rushed to the gate as Jaune attempted to beat the Sand-Seal Race track record of one hour and fifty minutes, succeeding in finishing in one-hour and fourteen minutes.
"So that's how he learned to shield surf." Pyrrha said, after the ceremony, spotting the orb and pedestal hiding a shrine and knowing Jaune's true motives; reaching the shrine.
"It would really seal the deal!" Yang joked, nudging Pyrrha as she groaned. Night was falling as they saw a light-skinned Gerudo with pink hair.
"Sav'saaba." The Gerudo greeted the two humans of Gerudo heritage, "I'm the teacher of a local class here, Voe and You. I have classes during the day, and teach cooking at night."
"We know a voe...he's very good at cooking." Pyrrha said.
"Better than me...I tend to...burn stuff when I tried to cook." Yang said.
"Maybe the classes could help you?" The Gerudo said, "Pardon my rudeness, my name is Ashai."
"I'm Pyrrha Nikos, this is my friend Yang Xiao Long. We were learning about our heritage." Pyrrha said as Ashai's eyes lit up.
"Maybe you should observe my classes to learn how the Gerudo learn about the outside world!" Ashai suggested. The Gerudo looked so excited, neither of them had the heart to say no.
Classes seemed to be going awfully dull to both huntresses in training after being out in Hyrule for a while, but Pyrrha was keeping meticulous notes of everything while Yang only kept cooking tips in her notebook. The first day passed quickly...but on night two, during cooking class...
The Blood Moon Rose.
They had seen a new shrine appear on the map besides the Sand-Seal Race shrine, as Yang called it...but nothing yet had happened since then.
Unbeknownst to them, Jaune was being cautious...he had run into a Molduga. It was a terrible desert beast. It had a thick, lizard-like fat body that was gigantic, the tail of a fish, blowhole of a whale, and a shovel-like snout filled with sharp teeth. He had run into the beast on accident, and watching it gobble lizalfos as they hopped around on the sand had given him an idea. Tossing a bomb, the beast felt the vibrations of the rolling explosive device and lunged at it, only to have it explode in it's mouth and stun it so he could get hits in. This was going to be a long, arduous battle.
"I wonder how Hero's doing." Yang pondered out loud, making Pyrrha look at her as they sat by a fire as Yang looked over notes about a "creamy heart soup." As the sun rose, they saw a second shrine pop up on their map, near the very edge of the southwestern corner of the Gerudo Desert. "Well...He's making good time?" Yang said nervously, seeing that location on the map labeled Dragon's Exile.
Around 5:05 that afternoon, Jaune teleported back to Gerudo Town, entering it and starting to look around for Pyrrha and Yang. He had used up 500 rupees he found restoring the Great Fairy by a shrine he discovered. His skin was red and irritated, his eyes watery and sand was stuck in his hair. He had survived eating hyrdomelons and volt fruit he found to keep his food and materials safe, until he used monster parts up to upgrade some outfits he had gotten on his journey.
Even after restocking some arrows from a shop in Gerudo Town, Jaune was left with 1,004 rupees. Yet, he didn't see Pyrrha and Yang. As Ashai passed him, he felt two hands on his shoulder and turned to see Yang and Pyrrha looking at him in worry.
"What happened to you?" Pyrrha asked him, seeing his raw skin and irritated eyes.
"Sandstorm." Jaune said, and both women recoiled. Gerudo Desert's sandstorms were feared, even by the natives here. The fact that Jaune had been caught in one and came back out was amazing. However, Jaune's eyes were drawn to a downtrodden Gerudo in white garb with short hair pleading with a local guard.
"Sav'saaba!" Jaune greeted.
"Sav'saaba." The woman said quietly, "I...I finally found the voe of my dreams, and I just recently married him...I thought I had found happiness..." A pit formed in their stomachs.
"But then...my husband fell ill with a rare disease...One difficult to cure. The only thing that can save him is the guts of a Molduga...But I would never be able to take down such a creature myself." The woman said, "I asked the soldiers for help, but...Why would they want to help me? The molduga is a menacing beast...none who face one escape unscathed..." Jaune was shifting uncomfortably as the motion caught Pyrrha and Yang's eyes. "So perhaps it's foolish to expect anyone to stick their neck out for a stranger...I thought I'd finally gotten out of this town...Never thought I'd have to come crawling back..."
"Molduga?" Yang asked.
"The molduga is a monster...A terror so savage that even other monsters won't approach it...It's often been spotted west of here, in the Toruma Dunes, and in the south. It's very sensitive to vibrations, and it tends to attack anything that draws near. You can't approach it or even move near it...And you can't use someone as bait... So what am I to do..." She said. "My husband was the first voe to ever tell me I was beautiful..."
"Here, take these." Jaune said, holding out some of the molduga guts he got earlier to Yang and Pyrrha's shock.
"Wait...these...MODUGA GUTS?!" The Gerudo said in shock as she brought a hand over her mouth. "You...You'll give these to me?!" She was nearly shouting in disbelief as Jaune simply nodded. "Oh, sarqso! This is all I have to thank you with, but I insist you take it!" She handed him a gold rupee, worth 300 rupees. "This will save him..." She said quietly, sniffling as tears streamed down her face. "I...I never asked you for your name..."
"I'm Jaune." Jaune replied.
"Jaune, huh? That sounds kinda like a sturdy voe name to me...I hope you don't mind, but I may...possibly...name my vehvi after you. If I ever have one, that is!" She replied.
"I don't mind..." Jaune said, watching her walk off.
"That...That was a nice thing you did." Pyrrha said, "But how did you get them?"
"I saw a molduga in my journey." Jaune said, "Watched it jump from the ground to swallow a yellow lizalfos hopping in a spot, so I climbed onto a rock and threw a bomb. I watched it attack the bomb, stunned it, attacked it, rinse and repeat."
"So...basically, you used it's sensitivity to vibrations against it." Yang summarized.
"Pretty much." Jaune said nonchalantly. Night fell before they exited Gerudo Town, Yang and Pyrrha throwing on their warm doublets as Jaune changed in the shrine out of sight, coming out with his Desert Voe trousers and headband with his warm doublet.
"I almost forgot, I got something for you two." Jaune said, handing them each a purple metal shield with rubies and ornate gold designs, "Found them in the desert."
"Th-The-These are.." Pyrrha stammered.
"Radiant Shields." Yang breathed out, "Shields only presented to Gerudo warriors who reached the rank of captain!"
"So, fits you perfectly!" Jaune said with a shrug.
Upon reaching Kara Kara Baazar, Jaune sold the five Fireproof Elixirs he had left, seeing as they were useless with his Flamebreaker Armor. Afterwards, he got a purple rupee for making a mild chilly elixir for a Rito name Guy who was suffering under the desert heat during the days. Afterwards, he jumped into the water of the oasis, washing off the sand from his hair and eyes, and soothing his irritated skin. At 3:35 am, Jaune ducked into the stable as they passed it to change into his desert voe armor instead of his warm doublet. In private, Yang and Pyrrha got back in their Gerudo outfits instead of their warm doublets. The desert heat shone down uncomfortably as they went onto the Digdogg Suspension Bridge, their shrine sensors going off. They soon arrived at the Dah Kaso Shrine, where Jaune faced a minor test of strength.
Yang, in her excitement over her new shield, accidentally teleported them to the Shrine of Resurrection after Jaune emerged in his usual hood and armor. Jaune had the Knight's Broadsword strapped to his back, with the Master Sword on his belt. Gazing over the land of Hyrule from when they first emerged, Yang chuckled slightly.
"It's kind of ironic. This brings back memories of not having memories." She said, and Jaune flinched, still having holes in his memories. Arriving at a rocky outcropping, the three started picking Hylian Shrooms when the ground started shaking, the rocks forming into a Stone Talus.
"Boy am I glad we missed this while weak!" Jaune said, jumping back from it's swing, before he climbed onto its back and started swinging his Knight's Broadsword in a circle, shattering the gem formation keeping the monster together, making amber and a ruby drop onto the group as the beast exploded into smoke and rock shards. At the Forgotten Temple, Jaune unlocked another chunk of Aura, with three Spirit orbs left over. They arrived at the run down house the King of Hyrule had once written about the Spicy Meat and Seafood Fry in. Now, there was a different entry.
"Everyone." Jaune read out loud, "Bit by bit, you may come to realize who I am. I am sorry for not revealing my true identity to you all sooner. The truth is, after you awoke from your long Slumber of Restoration, I did not know how to tell you all there was to say. Perhaps deceiving you was not the right thing to do. Still...you must admit I put on a great performance! But all joking aside...what I ask of you is of the utmost importance, dear heroes. I implore you, with all my heart...defeat Calamity Ganon and save my heir, Ozpin. I understand this is no simple task I am asking of you, but I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you all can do it. I do not doubt it for a moment. I see courage in your eyes...especially like you had 100 years ago... I believe in all of you."
Jaune's stare went to Hyrule Castle.
"Jaune...you aren't thinking..." Yang said, following his gaze as Pyrrha shook nervously at the daunting task.
"Not yet." Jaune said, "Just scouting."
Each of the girls let out a sigh of relief, until Jaune's word caught up with them. "Scouting?" Pyrrha asked.
"Hallways had to have collapsed. We can see what is there. Just around the outskirts...plus...a memory is there..." Jaune said, clenching his fist.
The road to Hyrule Castle was frightening to all three of them. Even after teleporting to the shrine by the Wetland Stable, they were almost unprepared when they saw their first fully-mobile Guardian. Jaune's Shield of the Mind's Eye, which he had switched into to attract less distrust than walking around with a monster's shield, instantly shattered upon the first beam striking it, as it's silver claws dug into the ground. Jaune sheathed the Knight's Broadsword and pulled out the Master Sword, glowing at full power as it sensed the large amounts of Malice within the machine; also holding up a soldier's shield. After deflecting the second beam back, the third quickly fired and shattered the shield, forcing him to don the reinforced lizal shield. As another beam was deflected, it's attention turned to Pyrrha and Jaune ran in front of her, his shield shattering as he was knocked backwards and was forced to eat the Seafood Skewer as his aura dropped by nearly half from the one blow.
His only other reinforced lizal shield shattered upon another beam firing as he moved over to Yang as it locked onto her. As the grass around him burned as he notched a shock arrow and hit it in it's "eye", making it's head turn to the side as he equipped the Lynel Shield he recovered from Ruby after she inspected it. He was down to that, a Knight's shield, and a steel lizal shield. As it's head turned, he ran forward and it a flash of light, the Master Sword sliced off one of it's legs. Seeing it's gaze turning to Pyrrha, he shot it again with a shock arrow and sliced off a second leg. He continued slicing off it's legs until he had cut off all of it's six legs, and finished it off by hitting it with his Master Sword. The Malice floated away from the Guardian as it jerked around and then exploded, leaving a pile of ancient parts behind.
Jaune rested on the Master Sword, watching the glow fade as it no longer sensed Malice before sheathing it. Right after that, he collapsed to his knees as he glared at Hyrule Castle, it's presence mocking him.
"Jaune...it's alright to wait to scout it out." Pyrrha said, as Jaune grit his teeth and stood back up, eating a blueshell escargot to restore his Aura. Moving towards the north above the castle, they made sure to keep out of sight, as Daruk's Protection had gone dormant to recharge from an attack before the Guardian. Still, their stealth failed as the Guardian spotted them.
What felt like a flame lit up inside Jaune. He was NOT gonna let Yang or Pyrrha get hurt! Not because of him! He fired a shock arrow and charged the Guardian, slicing off a leg before unleashing attacks upon the Guardian's body with a focused rage. Seeing it's red beam lining up with him, he shot it with a shock arrow before continuing his assault. After the Guardian exploded into smoke and parts, Jaune refused to gaze at them.
He knew they were afraid of him.
He would rather they fear him...as long as it kept them alive. The path he walked on would be a lonely one...He wondered if it was better to be alone...and wished for a simpler time, cursing Calamity Ganon.
"Did you see that?!" Pyrrha whispered to Yang in awe, as Jaune's thoughts kept him from hearing it.
"That was hot." Yang said, "It was like a dragon guarding his treasure!"
Jaune quickly changed into Zora armor behind a tree and jumped into a water. Ganon's head swirled around the top of Hyrule Castle, roaring at the intruders, before a flash of golden light shone from the main room and the head faded. Pyrrha used her semblance, lifting up a piece of metal and doing even what Magnesis couldn't do; float them over as Jaune swam across as he needed to choke an Enduring Fried Wild Greens through a mouthful of water in order to have the energy needed to climb up the cliff to the castle. Leaping up just as it started raining, as Yang pulled up a Hylian Hood and changed into her Hylian outfit as Jaune looked away, as did Pyrrha, Jaune pulled out the Master Sword and watched it glow. He gazed at the stronghold of Guardian Turrets and Flying Guardians around the outside of the castle...he was almost afraid of what was inside.
Just as they ducked inside a gate opening within the ruins of the outer wall, Jaune felt a surge signaling Daruk's Protection was active again. Wisps of darkness floated around, nearly choking the air out of everyone's lungs at the sheer oppressive force within the area. Daruk's protection activated twice as as he jumped in front of Pyrrha and Yang when a Guardian turret fired at them, reflecting the beams back into the eye of the machine until Jaune could pelt it with shock arrows until it exploded. However, Daruk's protection was used up once again as a Flying Guardian fired at him, and then he was blasted down from the ledge onto the main pathway, half his aura gone. Destroying a decayed Guardian, he knelt down to catch his breath as his muscles burned, and so did his skin from the impact of the Guardian's beams.
He was now starting to realize how these machines led to his Slumber of Restoration. He soon found a doorway in the rocky cliffs leading inside the castle, just as Pyrrha and Yang caught up to him. He ate some attack boosting food, such as a Mighty Crab Risotto, to restore his aura as the girls each grabbed his shoulder.
"Jaune...listen to me...I know how you're feeling...I felt it when I was little...after Summer, the closest thing I had to a true mother, died and I learned my birth mom was out...somewhere..." Yang said, "But you're going to destroy yourself."
"Jaune please..." Pyrrha said, both women recoiling at Jaune's hardened, determined look.
"I'm just scouting...I'm looking for shields." He said, before he turned away before saying, "And it's better that I be destroyed than any of you." As they went into the castle, a wooden gate slammed shut behind them. There was no turning back.
Destroying some Malice Eyes with bomb arrows, they continued into the main floor of the Castle. Paragliding down to a shelf, they found a Korok with a black moblin walking below them. Destroying it, Jaune picked up it's weapon, the Royal Guard Spear. Discovering the West Passage brought something to Jaune's mind...this was where he and Link led Zelda away from the Calamity after it turned the Divine Beasts and Guardians against them. Finally, they ended up in the lockup. Destroying a Malice eye to open the gate, Jaune's Master Sword quickly sliced through the black lizalfos and black moblin. He approached an arena where the remains of a stalnox lay. As he entered the room, just before Yang and Pyrrha could enter, the stone bars blocked the doorway as the stalnox came to life. A chest appeared as the door opened as the stalnox quickly fell to the Master Sword. He let Yang pick up the Great Thunderblade and Pyrrha the Royal Spear as he picked up the Royal Broadsword and went to the chest. Within it was a Hylian Shield.
This metal shield had a blue backgroud with the red birdlike symbol under the Triforce; the emblem of Hyrule. This was the most defensive and durable shield, passed down through the Royal Family with the legend of a previous hero who wielded it.
"Ugh...why did we fall for such a dense guy." Yang whispered as she elbowed Pyrrha.
"This will take drastic action." She said, grabbing Jaune's cape and turning him into an intense kiss.
"Wha?" Jaune said after Pyrrha pulled back, utterly confused, "I was sure you were afraid of me."
"Us? Afraid?" Yang snorted, "Hero, we're Huntresses. Facing insurmountable odds is pretty much the norm." Then, there was a golden glow from underneath Jaune's gauntlet, Yang's glove, and Pyrrha's glove. Pulling their right hand coverings off, they were pretty much staring at the glow in shock.
There was an emblem of the glowing Triforce on the backs of their hands. The bottom right triangle, the Triforce of Courage, shone brightest on Jaune's hand. The bottom-left triange, the Triforce of Wisdom, shone on Pyrrha's hand. The topmost triangle shone the brightest on Yang's hand; the Triforce of Power.
They had discovered Zelda's gift.
Destroying another Malice eye, Jaune gave Yang a Royal Guard's Claymore. With her clubs and bats having broken, Jaune was quite willing to restore her weapon stockpile.
As he ducked behind a crate and changed into his Zora armor, spotting a waterfall. He had Pyrrha and Yang hold onto his arms as he jumped into the water and swam up it, and then the one after it. Jaune entered a gatehouse as he shot a Malice Eye before a white maned lynel appeared and he jumped to the side of it's strike. He flipped over strikes, rushing it with a flurry of attacks while using up Daruk's protection to deflect it's fiery breath. Then, the Master Sword ran out of energy and Jaune drew a knight's broadsword, only to lose half his Aura in a single blow of it's sword. Looking up, he saw the lynel looming above him with it's sword raised to finish the job. Just before it did, a Royal Guard's spear stabbed through the lynel's torso as Pyrrha used her Semblance to ground it's metal shield and weapon before Yang jumped from the wall and delivered the killing blow to it's head with her Stone Smasher.
A chest with ten bomb arrows appeared as Jaune collected the arrows and Pyrrha took off his shirt, seeing scars from previous battles; Yiga strikes and a lynel sword across his chest as she made sure he hadn't received any internal injuries. Finding nothing, they turned around to allow him to change into his armor and hood. "I'll be fine, Goddess, Sunshine." Both women blushed at their nicknames.
Soon enough, they climbed up to the ruins of a room with notes covering a desk with a changing screen. Jaune killed a Black Moblin, picking up it's Edge of Duality to give Ren later, along with replacing his broken silver bow with a royal guard's bow above the fireplace as Yang's curiosity got the best of her as she spotted a diary left abandoned.
"This is Princess Zelda's room." Jaune said, a flash of a pristine room appeared before his eyes.
Yang gave him a nod as Pyrrha inspected the room as Yang scrolled through Zelda's Diary.
After meeting with the Champions, I left to research the ancient technology, but nothing of note came of my research. The return of Ganon looms-a dark force taunting us from afar. I must learn all I can about the relics so we can stop him. If the fortune-teller's prophecy is to be believed, there isn't much time left... Ah, but turning over these thoughts in my head puts me ill at ease. I suppose I should turn in for the night. P.S. Tomorrow my father is assigning HIM as my appointed knight...
I set out for Goron City today to make some adjustments to Divine Beast Vah Rudania. I still recall feeling his eyes on me as I walked ahead. The feeling stayed with me so long, I grew anxious and weary. At least his adoptive brother, Jaune Arc of JNPR, is talkative. It is the same feeling I've felt before in his company...And still, not a word passes his lips. I never know what he's thinking! It makes my imagination run wild, guessing at what he is thinking but will not say. What does the boy chosen by the sword that seals the darkness think of me? Will I ever truly know? Then, I suppose it's simple. A daughter of Hyrule's royal family yet unable to use sealing magic...He must despise me, no matter what Advisor Ozpin says otherwise.
I said something awful to him today...My research was going nowhere. I was feeling depressed, and I had told him repeatedly not to accompany me. But he did anyway, as he always does, and so I yelled at him without restraint. He seemed confused by my anger. I feel terribly guilty...and that guilt only makes me more agitated than I was before. P.S. His brother is now refusing to talk to me because of this.
I am unsure how to put today's events into words. Words so often evade me lately, and now more than ever. He saved me. Without a thought for his own life, he protected me from the ruthless blades of the Yiga Clan. Though I've been so cold to him all this time...taking my selfish and childish anger out on him at every turn...Still, he was there for me. I won't ever forget that. Tomorrow, I shall apologize for all that transpired between us. And then...I will try talking to him. To Link. It's worth a shot.
Bit by bit, I've gotten Link to open up to me. It turns out he's quite a glutton. He can't resist a delicious meal, especially ones cooked by his brother! When I finally got around to asking why he's so quiet all the time, I could tell it was difficult for him to say. But he did. With so much at stake, and so many eyes upon him, he feels it necessary to stay strong and silently bear any burden. A feeling I know all too well...For him, it has caused him to stop outwardly expressing his thoughts and feelings. I always believed him to be simply a gifted person who had never faced a day of hardship. How wrong I was...Everyone has struggles that go unseen by the world...His brother struggles to try and live up to his family's legacy of heroes as well...I was so absorbed with my own problems, I failed to see his. I wish to talk with him more and to see what lies beneath those calm waters, to hear him speak freely and openly...And perhaps I, too, will be able to bare my soul to him and share the demons that have plagued me all those years. The girls of RWBY and JNPR, and Advisor Ozpin keep telling me to do so, lest it destroy me from within.
Father scolded me again today. He told me I am to have nothing more to do with researching ancient technology. He insisted that I focus instead on training that will help me awaken my sealing magic. I was so frustrated and ashamed I could not even speak. I've been training since I was a child, and yet...Mother passed the year before my training was to begin. In losing her, I lost not just a mother, but a teacher. Mother used to smile and tell me, "Zelda, my love, all will be well in the end. You can do anything." But she was wrong. No matter how I try or how much time passes...the sealing power that is my birthright evades me. Tomorrow I journey with Link and Jaune to the Spring of Power to train. But this, too, will end in failure. Such is my curse.
I had a dream last night...In a place consumed by darkness, a lone woman gazed at me, haloed by a 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...
I turned 17 today. That means this is the day I will finally be allowed to train at the Spring of Wisdom. When Link and Jaune arrive, we will set out for Mount Lanayru. The other Champions will accompany us there. I have not seen my father since he last scolded me. Things are too strained now...I will meet with him when I return...Actually...I've had a horrible feeling ever since that weird dream. 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.
The last entry resonated with Yang...as she realized that was the day Calamity Ganon devastated Hyrule. Jaune had climbed the room and Pyrrha pulled him back out of a flying Guardian's gaze as he stared blankly as a memory flashed in front of his eyes.
The King scolded Zelda, forbidding her from researching the ancient machines and to focus on her sealing magic as he and Link knelt. Link gazed at Jaune after the King left, and Jaune stood up moving after the King. Link may not have said anything, but he had pleaded with Jaune to try and change the King's mind while he stayed with Zelda. Then, he heard something he never would have expected.
"You were too harsh on Zelda back there." He heard Ozpin say.
"Her destiny lies with proving those who say she is the heir of a Kingdom of Nothing wrong." The King said, sighing as he sat down.
"It does..." Ozpin said, "But her power is like a flower...try and force it too hard, and it will never blossom. You should let it bloom as naturally as it can."
"You're right, old friend." The King said, "The truth is...I'm terrified. I have a hard time showing it, but I love my dear daughter Zelda...and I am terrified for her life. People have died against the Calamity...I'd rather her hate me, if it keeps her alive.
Jaune gasped as he came out of that memory and looked at where the Flying Guardian was patrolling. "Thanks for pulling me out...I...I saw the King scolding Zelda...but...then...I overheard him say he'd rather Zelda hate him if it keeps her alive to Ozpin...I...I wonder if that's why I keep trying to push others away..." Jaune said as Pyrrha and Yang pulled him into a hug as tears streamed down his face. "I miss them...I miss the old days...I keep wishing that this is all a nightmare...but this blade I wear proves otherwise."
After he recollected himself, the trio made their way to the library. Pyrrha used her Semblance to pull aside a metal cabinet to reveal the King's hidden study. Jaune picked up a royal guard's shield. It was a black, red, and gray shield forged by using ancient Sheikah technology. It had extremely high stopping power, but was structurally weak. Jaune spotted a tattered paper laying on a table and went over to it, reading it out loud.
"The Royal Family's Secret Recipe #1 The Princess's Favorite: Fruitcake. Boil any two (or more) pieces of fruit with Tabantha wheat and cane sugar for a good while. Eating this dish will apparently clear your head and help you focus on things such as ancient technology research." Leaning back, Jaune let out a chuckle, "Huh, so that's why Link kept having me make them two at a time." With Pyrrha moving another metal shelf, they found a secret passage to the docks. Jaune lit a torch and to everyone's surprise, a Shrine rose up from the docks.
They now had a teleport point inside the castle.
"I guess Jaune's desire to scout out the castle was more useful idea than we thought." Yang said as Jaune went into it. Coming out with a fourth Spirit Orb, they continued scouting out the inside of the castle. Arriving at an upper balcony, Jaune read another piece of paper.
"The Royal Family's Secret Recipe #2 The Chancellor's Favorite: Monster Cake. Stew monster extract, Tabantha wheat, cane sugar, and goat butter for a spell. It's a dangerous dish that makes your head fuzzy and may even motivate you to plan evil schemes!" Jaune shivered at that description. "Not a good dish to make." Entering a hallway, Jaune bombed a wall, collecting a royal guard uniform and royal guard sword, a more fragile, powerful Sheikah replica of the Master Sword, all black with a red handle. Now entering the ruins of the dining room, killing a black moblin rewarded Pyrrha with a Zora silverscale spear. Another moblin got Yang a second Stone Smasher.
Finding a cooking pot, Jaune cooked an Energizing Glazed Meat, Energizing Glazed Seafood, two Hearty Meat and Mushroom Skewers, Electro Meat and Mushroom Skewer, Enduring Elixir, and Enduring Fruit and Mushroom Mix. After killing another Malice eye as Pyrrha picked up a Thundersword and Jaune switched a knight's bow for a royal bow, they all teleported out of Hyrule Castle.
They then teleported right to Hateno Village, where Jaune changed into his night clothes in his house and went right to bed after putting the royal guard's shield and royal guard's bow on the displays for Ruby.
Ozpin only saw Malice and darkness all around him. He could feel the satisfaction of the beast, and frustration, as the pieces of the Triforce were driven from the castle. Yet, the sealing power inherited by Zelda had felt something else.
Ganon was weakening.
True, he was exhausted after 100 years, but he held firm. He had sensed that they were scoping out the threat for later.
"Don't be so proud of yourself, beast. You don't know their true intention." Ozpin said to the darkness around him. The anger and hatred became oppressive around him.
"They will be your downfall. I can sense it." He choked out.
Within the sanctum of the castle, blasts of Malice flew out and landed within the hallways. Eight bone masks formed as pairs of red eyes gleamed in the darkened halls.
Jaune Arc current stats:
Aura: 19/30
Shrines: 52
Koroks: 51
Skills learned: Mipha's Grace, Urbosa's Fury, Daruk's Protection.
Sage...friend, I will be creating a bridge between our worlds, I will be arriving with weapons and armor from the future of this world, along with your blue Snowquill armor. A man in a blue Hylian Hood said as his brown eyes stared over a backpack with the same enchantment as the pouches in this world. He had Hylian Soldier armor dyed green under the armor with a gray sleeveless cloak pulled shut around him. Brown eyes peered from under the hood, as brown eyebrows furrowed under the shadows.
A portal opened, and he threw a book inside, knowing Sage needed it.
I will probably be delayed on the journey. Portals between worlds are...tricky. With that, he grabbed the backpack and leaped in.
-This is a reference to my friend, Ultima-Owner, making a story called "Reading Remnants of the Wild" where Ozpin, RWBY, and JNPR react to this story.