Chapter 38: Despair
The cracks of lightning and the ominous black, purple haze continued to spread quickly across the sky.
Zelda stumbled back a step, lips parting in horror.
Dream. This has to be just a bad dream.
Around her, Zelda was vaguely aware of the Champions reacting. Daruk faced the party, face hard. "Let's stop wasting time," he said brusquely, the Goron's rough, gravelly tones catching everyone's attention. "We're going to need everything we got to take that thing down!" Rising up to his height that towered over everyone else, Daruk thrust out an arm towards the promenade walkway. "Now Champions!" The Goron boomed. "To your Divine Beasts! Show that swirling swine who's boss!"
Zelda could feel the rest of the Champion's combined agreement, hanging onto Daruk's every word. Strange how the friendly, laid-back Goron could instantly command the other leaders' attention.
"Link will need to meet Ganon head on when we attack! This needs to be a unified assault!" He turned in a specific direction, no doubt towards Link, still to the back of Zelda. "Little guy! You get to Hyrule Castle."
Somewhere beside her, Revali "tsk"-ed under his breath.
"You can count on us for support." The Goron assured Link. "But it's up to you to pound Ganon into oblivion!" Daruk raised his clenched fist, the chains around his girth clinking with the sudden force behind his passionate thrust.
This is not a dream.
This is real.
And it is all happening too fast.
All Zelda could see was the purple haze spreading farther and farther across Hyrule's sky. How much longer until it covered everything? Until Ganon covered everything?
Heels clicked behind Zelda, metal armor clinking as two firm hands rested on Zelda's shoulders. "Come. We should go." Urbosa's firm, but familiar voice reached through the haze Zelda was still in. "We need to get you someplace safe."
Safe.
Protect the princess. Watch over the princess. Keep the princess safe.
Words she had heard exchanged around her with no consideration for what Zelda thought. All words that equaled she was more of a burden than a benefit.
Well, nowhere was safe now.
And Zelda was done being ushered off out of the way.
"No."
Zelda pulled herself roughly away from Urbosa, looking up at Daruk. "I am not a child anymore!"
You still don't have your powers.
Zelda lowered her eyes to the pavement below the Goron, thrusting her cynics deeper inside herself. "I may not be much use on the battlefield…But there must…" Zelda looked up pleadingly at Daruk again. "There must be something I can do to help!"
A pause followed this plea, all of the Champions chewing over Zelda's words. Daruk scratched the back of his head uncomfortably, not knowing what to say.
The sky crackled with lightning again.
"Zelda," Urbosa stepped towards her. It was a token of the seriousness of the situation that Urbosa used Zelda's name instead of her nickname. Zelda met Urbosa's gaze with as much defiance as she could. She was not going to be swayed out of this. Regardless of how useless Zelda knew she appeared to the Champions without her powers, she was not going to sit this fight out. No one was going to be risking their lives without her.
For the first time since Zelda knew the Gerudo Chief, there was hesitation coupled with worry in the warrior's voice. "You have not yet awoken your power. Without the power, you are an obvious target. We will not be able to protect you." Zelda knew the unspoken words hidden in the Gerudo's reasoning. I will not be able to protect you.
Stretching herself taller, Zelda gazed straight into her friend's face. "I know your concern." She quickly gazed around at everyone else, Revali fidgeting from one foot to the next. "However, as Princess of Hyrule, I will not leave my people to fight Calamity Ganon alone. No matter what anyone else thinks of me, I have a duty to fulfill. I trust you all can understand that."
Urbosa's gaze was sorrowful. But Gerudo Chief did indeed know about the responsibilities to one's people.
The moment broke as the ground rumbled once more, purple lights flashing above them.
"We need to go," Daruk inserted gruffly.
"Indeed," Mipha responded readily.
"Then why are you three still standing here?" Revali cut in curtly. "I'll see all of you on the battlefield. Vah Medoh and I will fly circles around everyone." Despite his words, the Rito's bravado wasn't its usual haughtiness, but he still threw Link a challenging glare. "Hope you can keep up." With that, the Rito Champion closed his eyes, placing a fisted wingtip against his chest. In a moment, Vah Medoh accepted the Champion's signal, and Revali disappeared in a flurry of blue light back to Rito Village where his Divine Beast awaited.
Daruk fisted a hand over his heart. "I'm going too. Who knows the damage already being done." He nodded to Zelda, all seriousness. "Best of luck to you, Princess, and especially to you, too, Little Guy." Daruk saluted Link before closing his eyes, Vah Rudania pulling him aboard the Divine Beast.
Mipha turned to Link, for once, her shyness disappearing as she reached out and cupped Link's hand in between both of hers. "I know you will do your best. And I can promise you that so will I. I will not allow Calamity Ganon to harm you, not if I can help it." The Zora Princess's eyes glittered, a tiny smile on her face. "Farewell for now." Mipha pulled her gaze away from Link, long enough to dip her head towards Zelda. "May all of us be watched over."
The Zora Princess reluctantly let go of Link's hand, and upon doing so, Vah Ruta accepted Mipha faster than any of the other Champions. Only Urbosa, Zelda, and Link remained as the sky grew completely dark overhead.
There was a torn expression on Urbosa's face as she gazed solemnly at Zelda. Zelda knew her worries. Knew her concerns. And she didn't blame Urbosa for having any of them. Zelda wasn't sure herself what she was going to do, but she did know she was going to face Calamity Ganon, powers or not.
Urbosa released a heavy sigh. "I see there is no persuading you otherwise." Suddenly, Zelda was encapsulated by Urbosa's strong arms, holding onto her oh, so tightly. "Be strong, Little Bird. Be safe," Urbosa whispered in her ear. The Gerudo Chief pulled back, a slight shimmer to her eyes before blinking away the shine. Urbosa straightened, retreating till she stood a few feet from Zelda and Link, shooting a firm look towards the Hylian Champion. "Take care of her." Urbosa's gaze landed once more on Zelda. "Until we meet again, Little Bird." She raised a clenched hand to her chest, eyes closing. In the next moment, the Gerudo Champion was gone in a blaze of blue light.
And then it was just Zelda and Link.
The emptiness of the Champion's presence hung in the air, but Zelda had no time to ruminate. Thunder boomed once more in her ears, reminding Zelda the little time they had to act.
Zelda took off running, Link matching her step for step as they raced back to the horses.
They took Link's steed, Link taking control of the reins as he spurred the horse on. Zelda understood that Link was the most familiar with his horse and his horse with him. There would be no room for stalling or goading, the master and his steed being one in purpose and grit.
That's why Zelda and Link both rode on his horse. There was no time to delay. But it was with a twinge of sadness and guilt that they left Storm behind, Zelda taking one last look at Storm staring off at them before the horse disappeared from view. She turned back around, hugging Link tighter around the waist.
We'll be back for him, she tried to reassure herself.
And as they raced along, it became clear that Zelda would never have been able to keep up with Link on Storm, not with her amatuer horsemanship.
Link's steed plowed through fields, jumped over logs, raced under branches, well-trodden paths long forgotten in order to cut to the castle as quickly as they could. Within an incredibly short span of time, faster than Zelda had traveled anywhere on horse, they were crossing the Hylia River, galloping past the East Post and onto the mainland of Hyrule Field.
Whizzing by the garrison, Zelda only caught orders being shouted, troops of guards deploying in the direction of the castle in full armor.
Coming over a hill, Zelda finally saw Hyrule Castle and every last breath she had expelled all at once.
Enshrouded by a swirling purple and black mass, the castle stood in the very center of the growing storm. Horns protruded from the living smog and jagged lines marked the maw of its mouth as it roared.
Ganon. Fear shook her. And then another thought terrified her.
Father.
He was in the castle. Surrounded by that beast. Zelda's heart leapt into her throat. Was he still alive?
Stop. She forced herself. Don't think like that. Of course he is. He was one of the most stubborn and strongest people she knew. He wouldn't go down so easy. But–
"Link, hurry," Zelda begged into his ear, gut churning. Already going as fast as they could, Link's steed still managed to put on a burst of speed, sweat slicking its hide and hooves flying down the road leading to the castle.
She couldn't take her eyes off the castle as they drew nearer, more details coming into view. There were unusual structures positioned around it: five monolith columns jutting out of the ground high into the sky. It took Zelda a second, but she realized what they had to be.
The columns. The ones she had been looking for underneath the castle with no success. The columns that records mentioned housed an even greater number of Guardians and Guardian types.
Well they were apparent now and glowing with reddish-pink runes, the same color as Ganon's mass.
If the columns had risen with Calamity Ganon's return…then did that mean…?
They had to have been half a mile away from Castle Town when they smelled the smoke. Fire?
And then Zelda heard the screams. Frantic, absolutely terrified screams.
Arriving at the outer wall of Hyrule Castle Town, Zelda immediately noticed the gates wide open, unmanned. Link yanked up his steed short, the sudden stop nearly sending Zelda flying off.
Her heart clenched. Her eyes widened. Even Link inhaled sharply. Sliding off the horse, Zelda ran to the edge of the porch just past the gate, horror filling her.
Hyrule Castle Town was on fire.
The buildings were columns of smoke and flames, trees and grass carrying the blaze faster across the town, and amidst all of it, was the burning, acrid stench of…flesh. Zelda's stomach rolled; she placed one hand on her mouth, wanting to look away but couldn't, tears filling her eyes.
Now she could see them, the bodies of the townspeople, some whole and lying across the stonework, blood pooling beneath them, while others were only in parts, scattered across the lawn. All of their skin was blackened from the fire. And amidst the fire…
Guardians.
Guardians clinking and clanking, swiveling their metal heads to and fro, spiders crawling over every inch of Hyrule Castle Town, one eye glowing purple before jetting forth a blast of blue laser, debris flying from the ruined buildings. There were still citizens alive, crying out in terror, clasping their children, their loved ones, to their sides as they sought escape from the nightmare.
Far below, near the statue in the middle, the Hyrule flag hung in tatters, singed as it fluttered weakly in the wind. And beyond the fountain, the gates to Hyrule Castle hung off their hinges, Guardians swarming down from the path leading directly up to the castle.
There were Hylian guards, their armor being the only thing marking them as soldiers among the civilians lying dead among the wreckage. The few that remained alive stretched forth for those caught in burning buildings, yanking them to safety.
An older man, attempting to hobble away, tripped over some splintered wood, hugging his knee to his chest. And behind him, through an alleyway, its spindly legs clutching onto the sides of the building to bring itself closer to its victim, was a Guardian.
Without thinking, Zelda jumped over the short balcony separating the higher level she was on from the lower level where the old man lay. A red dot appeared on the old man's back, heedless of the danger he was in. Zelda wasn't going to make it to him in time.
"Look out!" She cried.
A blur shot past her, Link charging, Master Sword out as he leapt over the old man, Link gathering himself before springing again, flying into the Guardian, sword swinging into the eye. The Guardian recoiled back, seeming flustered from the hit. The head swung back and forth, as if shaking off the blow. Link landed in between its metal legs, rearing back before swinging down, cutting through one of the legs. The Guardian stumbled, sparks flying from its missing appendage.
However, the Guardian righted itself quickly, focusing on Link, now targeting him. That seemed to have been Link's intention however, as he ran around the Guardian, dodging behind a building just as the blast erupted from its eye.
Bending down, Zelda pulled the older man to his feet.
"Can you walk?"
The old man glanced terrifiedly at her before coughing on the smoke from the nearby blast. Whipping her head around, Zelda sought a walking tool. She spotted a farmer's hoe, reaching over to grab it and handed it to the old man. "Quickly! Get out of here."
Without further prompting, the old man limped away, Zelda turning her attention back to the Guardian and Link. They had disappeared from the alleyway. Where did they go?
Zelda ran down the alley, tripping over some loose stones from decimated houses, but remained upright, cursing her dress for not making this easier. The white was already smudged from the fine gray veil of ash on everything, her hands covered in soot from hopping over the balcony.
She had barely left the alleyway when a beeping noise caused her to look down, red dot on her chest.
Oh no.
Zelda dodged back into the alleyway crying out, the blast shaking the building she had taken cover behind. Dust and dirt rained down on her, Zelda throwing her arms over her head.
She coughed as the dust filled her nostrils, eyes watering, this time from the unclean air as she blinked furiously, trying to make out what that shape was coming towards her.
Her stomach dropped as the purple lights of a Guardian flashed, its pink eye focusing laser-like on her once more. Even if she ran as fast as she could down the alley, the blast would still find its mark. Zelda stumbled to her feet anyway, stepping back.
The pink rings in the Guardian's eye circled in faster and faster the orb glowing brighter. It can't end like this, Zelda silently pleaded, back against the wall. I have to get to the castle, to my father…Link can't fight Calamity Ganon alone.
A kunai spun through the air, lodging itself deep into the eye, just as it began to glow a devastating blue. Head whirling at the projectile stuck in its vision, the Guardian fumbled around, jerking and jittering.
"Princess!"
Zelda almost broke down right there at the sight of Sitkel leaping off a crumbling roof above her, bun halfway undone, loose strands hanging around his head, sweat gleaming in the light of the fires, dressed head to toe in Sheikah stealth gear. Some of the wraps around his arms had fallen off, showing his pale skin beneath. He rolled expertly until he sprung up beside Zelda, his eyes anxious and bright as he grabbed her arms.
"You're alive." There was a tremor she had never heard in his voice before. His fingers dug into her bare skin, as if making sure she was real.
"Yes," Zelda answered breathlessly. "Sitkel, what happened?"
Pain flashed across his features as memory came back to him. "I wasn't in the castle. I was working in town when everything shook, the greatest earthquake I had ever felt. I ran outside, just like many of the other townspeople did to see what was going on and that's when we saw–," he cut off, his eyes darting past the still-dazed Guardian. Zelda followed his gaze to Calamity Ganon, still swirling around the castle, the five pillars pulsing sinisterly.
Sitkel swallowed hard. "Not long after it appeared, from the columns that burst out of the ground, Guardians just…began falling out of the pillars, like the columns were a storage place for them. And as soon as they landed on the ground–," Sitkel's eyes shut closed, grimacing. "They attacked everything and everyone. It was pure chaos." His voice lowered. "The screams of helpless citizens, lasers blazing, fire roaring, the earth shuddering…" Sitkel's eyes opened, focusing on Zelda. "You shouldn't be here. It isn't safe."
Zelda shook off Sitkel's arms, Sitkel letting her go. "I'm the Princess of Hyrule. This is exactly where I should be. I can't–," Zelda swallowed thickly. "I can't just leave my people, my father–" emotion clogged her words. "To perish."
The look Sitkel gave her contained all the seriousness that Zelda never knew existed in his personality. "Princess. If you die," the thought caused a brief flash of pain to cross his features. "There will be no one left to save Hyrule."
"But if I leave, then I leave all of these helpless Hylians, my people, and my father–"
"To fight defending Hyrule from the greatest evil to ever live, the greatest honor that could be bestowed upon anyone." Sorrow filled his features. "You are not abandoning us, Princess. We choose this."
"You can't say," the words caught in Zelda's throat. "You can't say these people would choose to die rather than live."
"No, I can't make the choice for them. But as fates of our own destiny, I'm choosing to die making sure you get away, than live." His eyes softened. "And I'm sure your father would make the same choice."
A sob built in Zelda's throat as she whirled to face the castle, the fortress now completely surrounded by Guardians on the ground and in the air. There was no way she was making it into the castle alive, not in her current state. So her father, her home…would fall. And she was going to just run?
The image of her father wielding his sword, surrounded by his personal guards and Guardians closing in on them…Guardians with lasers that Hylian swords and shields had no defense for—made Zelda whimper.
"Princess." Sitkel's voice was stern, but soft. Zelda wrenched her eyes from the castle, the poet no doubt seeing the devastation in her expression. "Here. Take this." From out of thin air, Sitkel handed her the pink parchment she had teased him about so long ago. "In case I don't see you again. I did finish it by the way." There was a slight tug at the corner of his mouth. "I just didn't want you to read it."
Zelda shook her head, balking at the paper he offered her.
"No, you are going to tell me in person what it says, Sitkel."
Sitkel grabbed one of her hands, forcing her fingers to wrap around the parchment. "I know. And I will. This is just in case." The reflection of the fire burned in his red eyes. "Sheikah don't go down easy."
Unwillingly, Zelda tucked the note into the folds of her dress, doing her best to hold in the surge of emotions building under her skin.
"And one more thing." Sitkel settled one of his kunai in Zelda's hands. It looked like any other kunai except for the blade. It was strangely shaped and glowing blue. "Purah outfitted some of our weapons with ancient metal. It's the same metal as the Guardians. It'll be more effective against them if you need a way to escape." He motioned his head to the Guardian, the kunai deeply lodged into its eye. Only now did Zelda remember how any weapon the Sheikah had used on the Guardians before had no effect in piercing their armor.
"So are Purah and Impa and Robbie…?" Zelda couldn't end the sentence lest she dare get her hopes up.
Sitkel frowned slightly, eyes looking past her. "They were still alive last time I saw them. Fighting for Hyrule." Sitkel's gaze turned fiercely on Zelda. "Fighting for you. Just like the Hylian Champion."
Zelda turned, Link appearing beside her. She bit back a small cry. He was covered in ash and soot like she was, parts of his mended tunic once again torn and his face marked up with various scratches and bruises. His chest was heaving, hand gripping the Master Sword tightly by his side. He looked like he had just fought off dozens of monsters, which fighting just one or two of these Guardians was probably equivalent to that. Link's eyes darted between Zelda, Sitkel, and the impaired Guardian a ways away.
A beeping, not one of the Guardians, sounded from her pocket. Zelda clumsily pulled at her dress, trying to retrieve the Sheikah Slate as quickly as possible.
The screen lit up: five messages flashing on and off for her to click into. Confused, Zelda hit the first message.
Her heart stopped beating.
From Vah Rudania: SEND HELP!
The next one, Vah Medoh: AMBUSHED
Zelda's mouth went dry.
Vah Ruta: CANNOT LAST MUCH LONGER
Vah Naboris: LITTLE BIRD, I'M SORRY
"No," Zelda breathed out, her hand coming to her mouth. The last of the messages, this one from Purah, contained four images of the Divine Beasts, all glowing with the same color as the Guardians, as Calamity Ganon.
All of the Divine Beasts were under Its control.
The world tilted.
"No," Zelda couldn't suck in air fast enough.
Sitkel leaned towards Zelda. "What is it?" He asked intensely.
Zelda stared up at Link in horror. Words felt like cotton on her tongue. "The Champions…Ganon…has control of them…in the Divine Beasts."
Link's eyes grew wide, meeting her silent horror with his own. Then his eyes shifted to something behind Zelda, and he brushed past, stepping in front of her.
Three Guardians scuttled over mangled Hylian homes, eyes fastened on them, red lights appearing as they attempted to target the greatest threat.
Suddenly Sitkel leapt in front of Link, barely turning his head to direct his words towards them. "Go. I'll hold them here."
"Sitkel, no!" Zelda shoved the Slate and kunai into her pocket, everything falling apart too quickly for Zelda to keep track of.
Sitkel's eyes, when they met hers, flashed with regret. "I wish there was more time to say what I really want to say, but there isn't. Princess, go. We need you to live. I need you to live. And you," Sitkel's voice turned sharp as his eyes rested on Link. "Make sure she does live. I'm not writing a poem about her dying."
There was a space of a heartbeat where Zelda realized this was it. They had truly, utterly lost. And now, she was being told to run away.
"No. I won't–," her words were cut off as Link spun, grabbed her hand and yanked her after him, tearing down between the rubble where houses once stood. Zelda, unable to break his grip, pitched her gaze back, catching one last glimpse of Sitkel standing down the Guardians, blue-bladed kunai in his hands, shooting her a final look, before springing into action, kunai flying towards a Guardian just before Link and Zelda turned a corner, obscuring the Sheikah poet from sight.
Link hauled her up the steps to the broken gates, and threw her on his horse which had dutifully waited for them, as scared as it was.
"Link, no! Turn back. Turn back now!" Zelda yelled. Link whipped the reins, the horse bolting forward down the lane and away from the fires and the awful screaming and the deadly Guardians. Zelda struggled in between Link's arms which were like steel around her as he gripped the reins on either side, holding her in place.
"Link! I command you to go back!"
She shifted in his arms, turning to face him. His face was like stone. And over his shoulder–
"Link, look out!" Zelda screamed.
A blast of light seared her eyes, Zelda flying through the air and rolling, rolling. Somewhere, through the ringing of her ears, a horse whinnied frantically. Zelda felt the long blades of grass stabbing into her bare skin, more prickly than soothing. She lifted her head, adrenaline making her recover quickly.
Some of the grass had caught fire and rain began to fall, putting out the flames. Link was a few feet from her, already up, crouching next to his horse which was lying in the grass, twitching its head feebly to and fro. And on its side… Zelda cried out. A bleeding, singed wound. Without even getting closer, Zelda knew it was fatal.
Link rubbed his horse soothingly, his face buried in its mane.
Beeping sounded close by. The Guardian was still following them. Zelda watched as the top of its head began to rise over the small ridge that had been keeping them from its sight.
Something pulled at Zelda's hand, gripping it hard before jerking her away from the incoming Guardian.
Link and her were off running.
She didn't know how long they ran. But they ran. They ran and ran.
The rain spattered across Zelda's cheeks, into her eyes, on her skin. She should have felt chilled. But all she could feel was her heart beating erratically, her nerves on fire from being in survival mode for so long, and Link's hand holding fast to hers. Run, just keep running.
Zelda stumbled as they entered a woody area, trees enclosing them in. Link's grip didn't waver. Her breaths came out in short gasps. She looked back to see if the Guardian was still chasing them. Zelda stumbled once more, hand finally slipping out of Link's grasp.
Zelda fell to the ground, catching herself with her arms, breath heaving in and out. It was the first moment her body was still after moving for so long and all of it, all the horribleness, at once, crushed down on her.
"How…" Zelda panted. Link's boots halted directly in front of Zelda. With a rasp, the Master Sword clicked back into its sheath.
"How did it come to this?"
Link knelt down on one knee in front of her, silent.
"The Divine Beasts…The Guardians…They've all turned against us…"
Everything had been coming together. The Sheikah reviving the ancient tech, discovering its capabilities and working on restoring all of it to fighting condition, the Champions each attuned and synchronized with their Divine Beasts, the Sword that Seals the Darkness being pulled free from its hallowed resting place…They had put all these pieces on the battlefield and–
"It was…Calamity Ganon!" Zelda's fisted hands tightened against the ground. "It turned them all against us!"
Zelda slowly raised her head, unseeing what was directly in front of her. "And everyone–Mipha, Urbosa, Revali, and Daruk…" Tears gathered in Zelda's eyes, her voice coming out as a mere whisper. "They're all trapped inside those things…" Zelda met Link's mournful gaze.
They had put all these pieces on the battlefield.
All except one.
Zelda blinked, tears finally spilling over her cheeks. "And it's all my fault!" Her hands came up to cup her face.
"Our only hope for defeating Ganon is lost all because I couldn't harness this cursed power!"
All that time praying, pleading to the Goddess, researching ruins and shrines, gathering everyone together…
"Everything–everything I've done up until now…It was all for nothing…"
Zelda flung her head up, dropping her hands from her face, tears still streaming down. "So I really am just a failure! All my friends…the entire kingdom…my father most of all…" her voice trailed off. She knew, after seeing the castle, she was never going to see her father alive again. Never would be able to mend their fractured relationship.
She looked up, utterly broken at Link, tears streaming endlessly now. "I tried, and I failed them all…"
Link stared back at her, grief-stricken.
And now, Zelda would never see any of her family and friends again, all of them sacrificing their lives so that Zelda, the powerless, failure of a princess, would live.
Her heart hurt so badly Zelda felt it as one beat away from rupturing. "I've left them…all to die."
Too much. It was all too much.
Zelda withdrew into herself, the anguished cry that had been wanting to come out finally breaking the surface of a pool filled with guilt and pain. She threw herself into Link, uncaring of anything anymore. Startled, Link caught her, his arm coming up to hold her as sobs wracked Zelda's body.
Rain continued to fall.