Happy tears of the Kingdom day! In honor of this game's release, have a little BotW story to celebrate the end of an era. (I would have had it up earlier but I've been... waiting for TotK to be delivered and then subsequently playing TotK all day *nervous laughter*)
This story is pre-Calamity, and gives my headcanon for how Link became the bearer of the master sword. It's kinda similar to crazygurlmadness headcanon, but believe or not, I came up with it before ever reading her story "one last year". So yeah.
Still go read that story tho. Slow burn zelink that makes you feel all the emotions.
This one doesn't really have much zelink, but hopefully it still gets you in the feels.
"How did you feel when the sword chose you?"
It was a simple question. Just two weeks ago, a question like this coming from the princess would have been unthinkable. She had made her disdain toward the sword (and in turn, toward Link) more than apparent. But over the last couple of weeks, it seemed she had finally begun to accept that her anger was unwarranted. She saw the reasons behind his actions. She understood that he never meant for his presence to be a reminder of her still-hidden power. She was finally beginning to see him as not a symbol, but another person. A person who, she had seemingly made her personal goal, needed to express himself more.
"Link?" Zelda's voice brought him out of his thoughts. "It's alright if you would rather not answer."
"No," he said quickly. "I want to." He mentally cursed himself. 'I want to'? For all the time he spent in Hyrule Castle, he thought he would have learned more of the proper way to speak. Yet his origin as village commonfolk always seemed to be painfully apparent in the presence of royalty. Not that he was the best speaker, anyway. He was getting better, but he still found himself struggling to find words from time to time.
Zelda nodded slightly, waiting for him to continue. She had gotten used to waiting for him to continue.
"I…" Link began, measuring his words carefully. "I thought there had been a mistake."
"A mistake?" Something flickered in the princess' eyes, but it was gone before Link could identify it.
"Yes. I didn't even want to be there in the first place."
"I never did hear… how did the sword choose you?"
Link looked down. He had hoped this was a question she would never ask…because to admit that pulling the Master Sword was a complete accident (rather than some kind of grand, destiny laden event) made him worry she would resent him again. What would she think if he told her how little it took, when her own attempts at finding her power were met with such strenuous effort? Still, she may be more upset if he just refused to explain; she was still a bit wary around Quiet-Knightly-Link. She deserved to have Open-Friendly-Link today.
"It was my seventeenth birthday," he said.
Zelda's expression solemned. Her own seventeenth birthday was only about a month away and she knew what the age signified. Adulthood. Responsibility. End of childhood. Link was just under a year older than her, she had learned, though it was hard for her to see him as such given all he'd accomplished. To have a day already heavy with change also be the day that marked the beginning of an impending disaster…it must have worn heavy on him. "So…what happened?"
"It was silly but…the squires and pages have a tradition. Whenever one of them turns seventeen, they all go to the forest and have him handle the legendary sword. I didn't want to do it; it seemed pointless. But Squire Ross practically dragged me out of bed that day, begging that I not be the one to end the tradition for them all. So, I went with them."
...
The trek from the castle to the Great Hyrule Forest wasn't too long, but it certainly felt like it—especially with a dozen young men teasing and poking fun at him. He wasn't bothered by the joking; he knew they meant no harm. He just would have much rather been back in the barracks, spending his birthday with a little practice swordplay and an extravagant supper. Instead, he was on Epona, riding through broken twigs and leaves, in the rain, on an empty stomach. All for what? Some silly tradition. He wasn't even sure why they wanted him to participate in it in the first place. As far as he knew, the rest of the entourage were all pages when they participated; he was already a squire, accelerated through the ranks by a capable hand not seen since his father joined the guard.
"Link! Hurry up!" Ross yelled from somewhere ahead. Had they been on castle grounds, the failure to use titles would have had him met with discipline. But here, on their little excursion, they were not training for knighthood; they were just people. Annoying, immature young men, yes, but just people. "We've made it to… the Lost Woods…" Ross continued, trying to make his voice sound foreboding.
Link looked up, taking in the sight. The trees ahead looked normal, if a little bare. However, even he couldn't deny the eerie feeling he got peering into the woods. The men dismounted their horses, Ross and Jensen pulling torches from their saddlebags and handing the extras to a couple others in the entourage.
"Now, follow close behind us… or you may just lose your mind…" Ross finished in his trying-too-hard foreboding voice. Link just stared at him, making his disdain at being here as known as ever. Ross laughed, elbowing him. "Lighten up a bit, Link. So serious all the time… This is just for fun! You do remember how to have fun, don't you?"
Link scowled at the other squire; remember how to have fun. Link had lots of fun. Alone. But he wouldn't give his fellow trainees the satisfaction. Instead, he took the torch from Kain's hand and marched into the trees. Behind him, he heard more laughter, before the other torch wielders jogged up to meet his pace.
"The trick is to follow the wind. That's why we have torches…to see where the wind is blowing," Ross said, whether Link was listening or not.
"What's the story about this sword, anyway?" Link asked, though in truth, he already knew. He just wanted to change the subject.
"You don't know? I thought everyone knew the legends! Apparently, this sword that's hidden in the forest, it's alive. And its spirit only allows a true Hyrulean hero to pull it from its pedestal," Ross said.
Jensen leaned closer to Link, whispering. "Personally, I just think it's welded to the ground."
"Come now, Jensen, have some imagination," Ross replied. "I know for a fact that you enjoy the stories too. The ones about heroes, showing up all throughout history. You were pretty eager for your chance to pull it a couple years ago, so don't lie to me."
"And when I tried, I came to the conclusion it's welded in place."
"So, you believe the legend, Ross?" Link asked.
"Certainly," the man said. "Though honestly, I'm glad it's stayed a legend so far. Because along with an epic hero, there's also supposed to be a monster he has to slay. The sword coming out apparently signifies the impending danger."
Link shook his head slightly. Heroes. Monsters. Doom. Magical living swords. He had heard of all this before. As a child. Because it was a bedtime story, one every Hylian had been told growing up. Just because it was such a well known tale in their land didn't mean it was true.
"We're here!"
The party had arrived at a new patch of forest, much brighter and more lush than the Lost Woods. It was beautiful, Link had to admit; the perfect place for a legendary sword to be.
"It's just up ahead. Go on, Link!" Kain pushed Link's shoulder, edging him forward. Link rolled his eyes, turning the direction he'd been shoved.
And there it was.
A silver blade, remarkably polished for being in a forest for…he didn't even know how long. It was wedged into a slit, the stone platform around it shaped like a triforce. The triforce was a common symbol in the castle, apparently some kind of powerful object from yet another legend. And behind all of it was the biggest tree Link had ever seen.
"Pull it! Become a man!" Ross yelled from somewhere behind.
So, wanting to get it over with (and lessen the risk of being teased for the rest of his life), Link wrapped his fingers around the purple hilt, pulling it upward—and it moved.
…And Link was furious.
He turned back to the others. "Very funny Ross! Nice plan, you got me. This is even more pointless than I thought…"
A confused look crossed the other squire's face. "What are you talking about?"
"The sword. You told me all those stories so I would be scared when it moved. Good job, let's go home."
The ten other men exchanged concerned glances, and suddenly, Link wasn't so sure about the joke anymore.
"Did you say it moved?" Jensen asked.
"Yes?" Link replied, taken aback by their reactions. If this was part of the joke, he didn't like how far they were taking it…
"But it doesn't move." Ross stepped up beside Link, wrapping his own hands around the sword's hilt. He pulled on it, but the weapon remained still. "Link, you're not pulling our leg, are you?"
"You're the ones pulling my leg," he replied, voice bordering on nervousness. He looked at the others. "Right? This is part of the tradition, isn't it?"
The pale looks on the rest of the group's faces gave him his answer.
He turned back toward the sword. "But it was so easy…" Ross stepped back when Link reset his grip, and with one heave, the blade came out of its pedestal.
A collective gasp sounded, and the forest suddenly felt unsettlingly still.
'Hello, Master.'
Link looked around for the source of the voice. It sounded female…but there weren't any women with them.
"We need to get the king…" Ross' voice came from beside him, but he barely heard it, nor the quick footsteps that followed as several of their party ran back toward the entrance of the forest. Instead, Link's attention was solely on the sword in his hand.
All those stories were sounding pretty real now…
He turned the blade over, inspecting its every detail. And, as he did, he swore he felt a strange thrumming vibration in its hilt. Ross said the sword was alive… Was it?
"Link?" Said man turned back toward Ross. "Look." The other squire was pointing upward, and as Link followed his finger, he saw the massive tree…moving? The gnarled bark shifted, coming to resemble eyes, a nose, and a mouth. Link stumbled back as the tree began to speak.
"So you return…" its voice was calm, even soothing, but Link still found himself entirely unsettled. "I am the Great Deku Tree. The blade you hold has been passed down through millennia, bound to reborn souls like yours. The soul of the hero…"
"Hero?" Link whispered, his speech coming out more choked than he'd wanted.
"Yes. The Blade of Evil's Bane. The Sword That Seals the Darkness, forged by the goddess herself. The Master Sword is forever bound to her hero. And I...have been waiting for his return."
Link suddenly felt as though a weight had settled in his chest. Why was this happening to him? Sure, he was skilled with a sword. Moreso than almost anyone at the castle, even as a child. But he wasn't special; he was just a village boy, son of a knight, accepted into the academy because of his father's reputation. He was no hero; just a person.
"I… I don't want it…" he said meekly, holding the Master Sword up toward the tree.
The tree chuckled. "Destiny is not something we choose."
"They said… They said this is a sign of something evil's return. I don't want to start that."
"You have started nothing. She has chosen you at this moment for a reason. I can only imagine events have already been set in motion."
"But why me?" Link asked.
"No one knows why she picks who she does. But her choosing identifies you as Hyrule's next hero. Listen to her, Link. She will guide you on your way." With that, the tree's features stiffened, and the sounds of the forest returned.
Link looked back at the blade, suddenly feeling as though it weighed a ton. His hands shaking, he let it fall to the ground, before turning and walking away. Even as Ross called after him, he refused to look back.
He found a tree stump a good ways away from the altar to sit on and he set his head in his hands. What was happening? How could this day have gone so wrong? He should have just stayed in bed, told Ross he didn't care about their stupid tradition.
The…the Deku Tree kept saying "she" when it talked about the sword. That voice he heard… Was it from the blade? And what "events" were set in motion? Was some horrible fate awaiting Hyrule, and only he could stop it? "Reborn souls like yours"... what did that mean? But the thing that stuck out the most was how the tree called him a hero. Link felt sick; he was no one worthy of such praise. Yes, he would fight and die for his kingdom, but so would every other man in the knight's academy. What made him so different, apart from perhaps some extra skill? He saw no reason for an ancient spirit to think of him a hero.
The sound of thundering hooves drew Link's attention back. He looked through the foliage to see his friends had returned—and with them was none other than King Rhoam Bosphoramus Hyrule. Despite how weak his knees still felt, Link forced himself to stand, knowing he couldn't leave his king waiting.
"Who was the one to free the sword?" the king's booming voice called out.
Taking a deep breath, Link stepped back into view. "I am."
The king's imposing form stepped in front of him, and Link immediately dropped to his knee. "Just a boy..." he said. "Rise, and tell me your name."
Link did as told. "Squire Link, first infantry under Sir Rusl."
"High ranking for your age."
"My father was Sir Lucan. He served Chancellor Caleb."
"Ah, so that is why your name sounds familiar. Your father was one of my best men. How...proud he would be to hear what his son has accomplished."
Link wasn't sure, but the way King Rhoam said that sounded like it was anything but an accomplishment.
"Lo, the return of this sword marks the beginning of a great disaster, I'm afraid. Or at least it will, if we do not act quickly. Come. It is time you meet my daughter and Master Impa. You shall be working much closer with us in the days ahead." With that, the regal man turned on his heel and mounted his horse. The rest of the group stared at Link, a clear shift in their demeanor becoming obvious. Suddenly, Link was no longer the reserved friend they loved to tease but secretly respected. Instead, he was now some idyllic, legendary hero, destined to save Hyrule with a magical sword. And despite how annoying it got at times, he would give anything to go back to the former.
And from that moment forward, try as he might to earn it, Link never felt worthy of such a label.
...
The princess was silent.
Not often in her life had Zelda been rendered speechless, but Link's tale had left her just that. He too fell quiet, fearing she was angry. But when she finally found her voice, the words spoken were the last thing Link expected to hear.
"I fear I owe you an apology, Link." Zelda stared at the grass in front of her. "I always believed you to be a gifted person, immune to the hardships of this world. I see now that I have been so indebted to my own struggles that I was blind to yours." She finally looked up to meet her knight's gaze. "In truth we are not as different as I thought. Please forgive me for how I've acted."
"Of course I forgive you, princess," Link replied.
"No, not like that. Not so… formally." Zelda glared at him. "The formality between us is part of the grief. I wish for it no more. Tell me the truth, as you honestly feel it."
Link blinked. No formality? He was the princess' appointed knight; dropping their formalities felt like insurrection. Still, she had asked for it, and she was his superior. "I'm relieved you understand, princess."
"Zelda. That is my name. I have stopped referring to your title, so I ask you to release me of mine."
Link smiled ever so slightly. "Yes, Zelda."
Zelda smiled back. "Oh, what my father would say if he knew of this conversation…" And though Link wasn't positive, he thought he heard a rebellious tone to her voice. "But I do appreciate it. What you said earlier, about believing it all to be a mistake…that is a feeling I am all too familiar with."
Zelda curled her hands into fists in the way she often did when speaking of her sealing magic. Now, it was Link's turn to wait for her to continue. And eventually, she did, her voice lowered to a near whisper. "I often wonder why the goddess would choose me to be her vessel. In all my prayers, never have I heard her voice, yet both my mother and grandmother did. I don't know what more I need to do to be worthy of her grace. Sometimes, I fear there has been a mistake. I fear that…that Hylia has chosen the wrong person." Zelda's hands were now tightly gripped to the grass, her face more morose than Link had ever seen before. And, he didn't know why, but he wanted to fix it.
"You are more than worthy of Hylia's grace, Zelda."
The princess looked up in shock. Link bit his tongue, fearing he'd overstepped their still-new boundaries. Yet, to his immense surprise, she instead threw her arms around him. "Thank you, Link. That's very kind of you." After a moment of hesitation, Link returned her embrace, and they stayed like that for several more moments. When she pulled away, Zelda looked about as content as he'd ever seen. "To think, all this time I spent pushing you away, I could have been learning just how much of a friend you truly are."
Link didn't say anything to that, but he didn't have to. If the princess saw him as a trusted friend, then maybe he really was worthy of the sword after all.
BotW...you truly gave us something amazing. I can't wait to keep playing TotK...my heart has been all over the place today *bittersweet smile*
Also, I gave link the master sword on his 17th birthday to parallel the calamity happening on zeldas 17th birthday. The disaster started on his birthday...and kicked into high gear on hers. I know telling you guys my symbolism takes away from it, but I just really liked that idea XD
See you next story!