A/N: Thank you again for your comments and keeping me on my toes. I try to keep as authentic to the story as I can, but I also make mistakes, and I try to rectify them as I move forward. I've also taken consideration on the balance in my story, which I have noticed to be quite dark, but what I have planned may overcompensate for that. Without further ado, please enjoy this chapter.
Within the heart of the Lanayru Valley, the party of Zelda, Link, and Scott had already undergone their trek away from the Domain. The first two's horses maintained a steady pace as they walked along the path, but Scott's steed was slightly erratic. The nervous new knight, feeling insecure of himself, couldn't decide how he should proceed with his two new companions. Should he move to the front and prove himself as daring? Should he show humility and take the rear, defending their flank? Did he just need to play it cool and move casually?
Fitz was dying to find out, as he let out a few neighs in protest of his rider's cluster of commands. The dark horse didn't have time to opine over how to march next to a couple of somebodies. He found his solace stopping abruptly in front of a cliffside, rebuking the Sheikah on top.
"Is everything alright, Scott?"
"Y-yes! Everything is okay, Princess Zelda. I just wasn't paying too much attention for a moment there."
"Just relax, we're doing well on time, so we aren't in a rush."
She was right, he thought. There was little to gain from overthinking this, so he took in a deep breath. The black knight attempted to soothe his horse, stroking Fitz gently but quickly. He resumed a normal pace behind the blondes, which satisfied his horse.
"Scott, just curious, how long did it take you to reach the Zora Domain from the Inogo Bridge?"
"You mean that bridge? It took us about a day and a half, after a few dead-ends, my liege."
"How many enemies did you encounter along the way?"
"I didn't encounter any of the sort until the ones attacking your horses."
"Interesting…"
"May I inquire why you ask?"
"Of course. When Link and I made our journey here, it took us a full day. We didn't encounter a single monster along the way. It was quite odd, considering the roads are normally infested with Lizalfos."
"Do you think what that…" 'worthy adversary' "Prince was saying was truthful? That they might be migrating?"
"It would certainly explain a lot. Normally Lizalfos ambushes come in pairs or trios, but encountering half a dozen at once, as you vouched, can only be found in their camps. They would never stray too far from their nests unless they had an equally sized group in reserve somewhere."
Link silently nodded along as the princess and his newfound page conversed about the travails ahead. It was quiet and comforting that the roads were as barren as they were. It provided a snapshot of what life could be like, perhaps after a couple of years. However, he quickly learned that not everything was as it seemed, and if anything could possibly go wrong, it would.
Those thoughts were soon justified by the sound of grunts in the distance. The Hylian Champion signaled to the others to halt for a moment. They had only just begun on Luto's Crossing, and the long flat terrain giving way to infrequently elevated earth made it difficult to see anything on the other side.
"What's the matter, Sir Link?"
Zelda's eyes narrowed. "Do you think they would be out here?"
He nodded at her statement. It took him a moment to leap off Epona in a backward somersault. After taking inventory of his surroundings, he determined that they were in a safe and secure position, the flat road flanked by large rock formations of either side. The sound would have had to come from somewhere far beyond the horizon.
Link took a deep breath and went down on his knees. Scott was deeply curious as to why.
"Sir Link, what are you-"
"I recommend you stand back a bit."
As soon as those words left his mouth, a green flame surrounded the man in blue. The dark knight staggered back impulsively due to the surprise.
Woosh.
Powerful updrafts roared where Link stood, and he quickly soared up into the air, unfurling his Paraglider with the Rito symbol on it. The new knight was amazed, while the princess was still stern, both watching their comrade ascend to new heights.
Eventually the drafts receded, and the flyer slowly drifted back to the ground. As he sheathed his Paraglider, one of his companions was practically jumping for joy.
"That was incredible! What was that technique you just performed?"
"That was Revali's Gale. It's one of the Champion's powers that I inherited from a dear… friend."
"'One of?' You have more abilities like that?"
Not to be ignored, Zelda quickly interjected. "Did you see anything up there?"
The flyer nodded. "I counted eight of them. Six Lizalfos and two Moblins. They seemed to be returning home from foraging, and there's an empty campsite not far from this spot. It's directly on top of the road, so there's no going around it."
"So, we're going to muscle our way through?"
Both blondes turned to their pale-haired counterpart, both with cocked eyebrows. They turned back to each other, flashing a knowing look, and returned their gaze, when the blue-eyed one gave a response.
"I have a different sort of plan in mind. Scott, your first lesson with me will be on subtlety."
Link remembered this encampment well. On his journeys to the Domain, this was one of the few Lizal outposts that dared to straddle the important main road, making the trail extra treacherous. The Zora were informed of the encampment, one of the closest to the heart of the Domain yet were ineffective at deterrence due to the Shock Arrows wielded by the offenders. When the fated pair crossed the location the other day, they assumed it to be abandoned, but recent events proved it not to be the case.
It was quite well-fortified and imposing from the position of entering the Domain. Multiple tiers of cliffs gave the Lizalfos an excellent view of the road. The elevation offered unwitting travelers few options to flee. The only downside was its isolation from key resources and food, but this could be compensated by pillage from adventurers. That is, until the Hero of the Wild returned to Hyrule.
The trio led their horses just across the Crossing, and into an isolated clearing just below the other end. Zora Domain was just visible in the distance. The Lizalfos, too preoccupied with their latest catch, were oblivious to that corner. It was the perfect time to spring Link's plan.
"Shhh! Follow my lead, I'll go first." Unsheathing the Master Sword, he crouched down and made his move on the first target, a stray Lizalfos who settled down by a set of wooden barricades closest to the Crossing. The monster was gleefully shaking his prize, a skewer of raw meat. The meal was so important that it dropped the Knight's Broadsword in possession.
The happy dance was just the cover he needed. The noise from the offender was enough to drown out his sloppier steps. Looking back, he could see his companions looking on with anticipation. He'd want them both to see this.
He kept leaping closer to the target, making sure to not blow his cover. Soon enough he came right in striking distance, and the victim completely unaware.
He rose the blade high above his head, while the lizard began chowing down. With force and speed, he dropped the hammer right on its blind spot.
Thwack!
It took one blow for the Lizalfos to go down limp. The skewer fell out of its hands, with a massive bite taking a chunk out of all five pieces of the meat. It was unsalvageable, but the victim didn't exactly leave them empty-handed.
With the scene clear, he motioned for Zelda and Scott to move to him. He picked up the Knight's Broadsword, which could be an alternative should the Master Sword run out of energy.
"That was so cool! It only took you one blow, and you made it seem like nothing."
The Princess was a bit less enthusiastic about it but gave an approving nod for a job well-done.
"Now it's your turn, Scott. You're going to do the same thing."
"And what about the Princess?"
"She can cover us if needed. Most of these Lizalfos use bows, and one Shock Arrow will immediately disarm you." After a momentary pause, he looked at his prize and handed it to Zelda, who was surprised. "You should take this."
"But I'm not a fighter like you two."
"There's no time to learn like the present."
She wasn't sure if it would be of any use, but she took the blade anyway. It made her feel cool, like one of those Knights. However, there was a major issue that would potentially sink her aspirations.
Emphasis on "sink."
The sword was a bit heavier than the Princess was used to carrying, and she couldn't help but wobble a bit before the blade fell to the ground, Zelda flinching at the sound of metal clanging to rock.
Fortunately for them, it didn't appear that their company took notice of the noise. Link gave a slight chuckle at the sight, while Scott's eyebrows rose to the limits of his forehead. He rushed to her side and inquired about her well-being as she collected herself.
"Are you alright, Princess?"
"Yes, I'm quite alright. I just bit off more than I could chew."
"My apologizes for the crash course. Next time I'll find something lighter." Her appointed knight retrieved the blade and placed it within his own possession.
With that matter settled, the blue-eyed knight motioned for his red-eyed counterpart to sneak up the hill. It surprised him to see just how quick he was without making a sound. He knew the Sheikah were known to be stealthy and mysterious, but he didn't realize it was a natural trait. Perhaps he was wrong, and his companion had much more training than he let on.
All would become apparent soon, as two Lizalfos were laying down by a campsite on the highest ledge. The scene was ideal and isolated, with several crates of supplies and spare weaponry lain by the side. Instead of reveling along with the rest of their clan, they were resting, most likely keeping an eye out for any stray movements.
Scott seemed to show promise since the first time they met. He was incredibly gifted with the sword, he had natural talents which allowed him to keep up with, if not surpass, the Hero of the Wilds, and he seemed to be intelligent enough to be a swift learner. This would be a quick refresher for him.
Nothing could possibly go wrong.
Link took the lead and crept up on the blue Lizalfos on the right. The monster failed to notice any danger, and it was no surprise that the former closed the distance toward the latter. The knight unsheathed his sword and rose it to make a decisive strike. Just before the blow connected, a rustling could be heard.
"Grah?"
The Lizalfos' head began to shake, indicating a quick check of its surroundings. Link was too close to flee, and the monster too quick for the connection to be a one-hit KO. He looked over, and saw the source, which was a Sunset Butterfly escaping the grasses to his right. In a moment's notice, his cover would be blown, and…
Flick.
In a distant corner, directed far away from both knights, an arrow flew into the ground. In a moment, both Lizalfos sprung to their feet, startled at this development.
"Grah! Grah!"
Both monsters cried in unison, dancing in the direction of the arrow. They lost all care for anything except the potential for danger. Their cover saved, the two men looked for the source of their salvation.
Off to the side, Zelda could be seen with her ebony bow, assessing that her work was a success.
They both silently thanked her before proceeding. Back to the matter at hand, Link raised his blade once more, taking his position while the blue monster jumped up and down repeatedly.
Thwack!
The Lizalfos fell to the ground, just as easily as the last. The other green Lizalfos was too preoccupied with the arrow to notice anything.
Link gave the thumbs-up to his comrade, motioning to him that it was his turn now. Scott nodded and turned to his own prey, which seemed simple enough. A single, forceful blow to the back of the head will outright kill this thing. It won't even see it coming.
Quickly and silently, the warrior crept up on his own Lizalfos. He unsheathed the Royal Guard's Sword and raised it above his head in a similar manner to his counterpart. One blow was all he needed.
As the sword reached its zenith above, the warrior adjusted his position, taking an optimal stance. His right foot slid forward to allow himself the maximum stopping power in his blow. It was a little too perfect… and squishy?
"Grah!"
Oh, for Din's sake.
He stepped on its tail.
Immediately the Lizal jumped up, even more startled than before. Not only did the Sheikah lose his opening, the surprise also made him lose his footing, causing him to fall backwards. The victim immediately noticed him and jumped furiously.
He tried to salvage the situation, but it was too late. Link could only watch in misfortune as the monster blitzed to the side and took up a horn. Within moments, a loud trumpet rung throughout the valley.
They could hear it now. Startled Lizalfos and Moblins grunted in confusion. Judging by their trampling, they were making their ways up the hill toward them.
Scott jumped up, eager to reclaim his honor against the green monster. However, an arrow beat him to it, going right through the cranium and immediately reducing the offender to dust.
He looked over and saw the Princess rush toward them, bow in hand. She made way for the central campfire site, taking position behind her cavalry.
"There are still five of them remaining. One of them is a Silver Moblin, which is reasonably armed. Be careful."
"That was a great shot, Zelda."
The not-so-silent Princess looked befuddled at the compliment. "I-it was just spur of the moment, I swear. I don't know if I could do it again."
"You know what they say, Princess Zelda. Practice makes perfect!"
Both knights took their stances, shields in front, with pointed blades just behind their frames. Link's sword in his right, Scott's in his left, and Zelda's bow at the ready: the three made an imposing formation, despite their numbers.
The first to make it to the top were the trio of Lizalfos. Like their fallen comrade, they were all blue, and reasonably armed: two Traveler's Swords, and one Tri-Boomerang, from the looks of it. They immediately engaged the two knights closest to them.
A Lizal went for an aggressive blow on Link, which was met with a block from the Hylian Shield. It kept jumping around and away from the Knight in frustration, while he kept anticipating its movements, waiting for a moment to strike. He attempted two more slashes with the sword, but the slippery lizard ducked under each one.
Scott, on the other hand, took a different approach. He began swinging aggressively toward his Lizalfos, which frequently leaped backward and quickly scurried back. His strikes were fast and firm, but the slithery monsters were too quick. Some of their blows were able to connect with his shield, but there was scarcely any raw power behind them. It was quite frustrating, akin to attempting at picking up a wet Hot-Footed Frog that kept sliding out of the hands.
Zelda fired arrows from her Bow as quickly as he could, but each one missed their mark. The transition from steady to moving targets was a steep one, something she was quickly forced to learn. She let loose an arrow directly that the Boomerang-wielding Lizal, just as it was about to blindside Scott from the right. It landed in the abdomen, which caused it to flinch in pain.
"This is getting frustrating!" Scott could be heard espousing his grievances while he swung in vain. "Those Moblins are going to get up here any second now."
He was stomping mad, and he wanted the world to know it. The Boomerang-wielding Lizalfos, fresh out of its flinching, bellowed a fierce growl before dashing back into the fray. It decided to instead use a tail whip to whack, and possibly trip, its enemy.
Unfortunately, it couldn't have chosen a worse time. The Sheikah warrior could not let this opportunity pass to vent his anger, and he firmly stamped his right foot in the ground just as the sword-wielding Lizalfos yet again leaped backwards like a coward. As the boot rocketed downward, it coincidentally landed squarely on the offending tail.
"Graw!"
The dark knight had to shake his head to double-check his situation. He had caught a Lizalfos by the tail. Well, "caught" isn't as accurate as "pinned" but it was close enough. It couldn't retaliate, as the pain was too distracting, and it tried in vain to run away, but the appendage was too dry and the pressure from the foot was too much.
Anger folded into a devilish grin. The deep red irises burned into the startled Lizal's sockets.
Suddenly, the Royal Guard's Sword swung from the left and collided directly with the victim's neck. It was no more than a lifeless husk upon release.
The remaining two Lizals jumped at the demise of their comrade. The other two Champions, on the other hand, didn't let this opportunity pass them by.
With three slashes and a bang, the last of the slippery foes fell to blade and arrow. They were just in time for the remaining Moblins to engage, bellowing menacing growls as well. The first Moblin, a deep blue beast, carried with it a Dragonbone Moblin Club. The other, the silver one of Zelda's warnings, wielded a Royal Broadsword and Royal Shield. The latter would be a formidable foe, and the trio would have to divide and conquer.
The Princess turned her head toward the sound of marching beneath them. Beneath the cliff, she spied a number of monstrous reinforcements beating their chests as they climbed upward. If they kept coming, it would be disastrous and endless melee.
Link's eyes met with Zelda's, transmitting unspoken understanding, before the former dashed into the fray, engaging the silver Moblin. The large, slow monster was initially unable to block the quick slashes toward its lower half, reeling back in pain. After a number of blows, it was able to block his swings in time, setting a lull over their engagement.
Not to be outdone, Scott took on the other creep. It bellowed a war cry toward its next target and started to swing its club wildly. The nimble warrior was able to avoid each of its swings and waited until it tired itself out. He let the last blow collide with his shield, not out of necessity, but of curiosity. The blow did minimal pressure on his arm, but it did push him back a few centimeters.
The Lizalfos and Moblins seemed like Yin and Yang. The former were fast, slippery monsters that favored quick strikes and lightning movements. They were also highly cautious and sneaky, which compensated for their low strength and durability. The latter were the opposite. They were slow and dimwitted but made up for it with their bulk and strength. They covered each other's' weaknesses well, which explained why they would team up.
'This is it. If I hit it fast enough, it will go down helplessly.'
Scott rushed back into the fray, confident that he could take down the monster in front of him.
Mere moments before he could, two arrows came from his left and connected with the offender. Almost immediately, red flames started dancing along the club, and they trailed up to the hand wielding it. The hapless Moblin could do nothing but dance as it was submerged in fire.
The warrior looked over and saw Zelda, examining her shot from her ebony bow once more. She possessed arrows with the powers of the elements now? He was definitely with the right crowd. She immediately made a 180 and continued firing arrows to the depths below, in an attempt to at least slow the incoming party down.
After a few moments, the Moblin shook off the fire, leaving various scorch marks on its body. The Club was still lit, and it let loose a series of fiery strokes, which were very hot. He wasn't going to become Sheikah shish kebab today. He backflipped away from the last swing, which left the attacker wide open. The resulting void was filled with a flurry of quick, decisive strikes in a rush. The last ghastly wails of the brute were silenced by a dark sword going straight through the throat.
Meanwhile, Link was in total control of his fight with the silver Moblin. Due to the size and speed of the enemy, he was able to get multiple flashes across its lower half. These didn't deter the beast, who was evidently experienced and durable. In an impressive feat of strength, the silver fiend brought its sword downward even while the Knight was continually slashing at him, working through the pain. This action forced him on defense, backflipping and then parrying successive blows.
The Moblin, growing increasingly protective, shuffled its shiny shield to the front to soak up damage. Link's attacks stopped connecting, only bouncing off the gilded shield and the force ricocheting back up his arm. His usual line of attack wouldn't work. He mused over potentially invoking Urbosa's Fury, but there was too great a risk it could backfire and accidentally hit his companions, who were wielding metallic armaments as well.
Seeing his sword was neutralized, he attempted to bring the Hylian Shield to match his opponent. His own posture shielded him from oncoming blows as well, but neither side was getting anywhere. In frustration, he bashed shields with the monster, which only managed to push it back slightly. Not long after, the gears started turning in his head.
Zelda was still firing arrows at the monsters below. They chanted and growled at her, in vain since they failed to notice the path above. Fortunately for them, her shots kept missing their mark. They were much too quick, but at least they weren't intelligent enough to see the path in front of them. A nudge in the right direction would be painful…
Her thoughts immediately shifted toward the large mass of grey and gold falling in front of her, crushing a red Lizalfos to death and startling the rest.
On her right, her loyal Knight was at the ready, Hylian Shield in front. Did he just… push that Moblin off the ledge?
The action solved the problem of the enemies up above, but it led to a mishap: the Moblin arose, screeching to the heavens, and then motioning toward the war band below. It began gesturing toward the path it used to reach the bluffs, which created a frightening picture. How many more waves were going to come? There were about just as many monsters below as the three of them just took down moments before.
She was deeply distressed. These monsters were armed to the teeth with Pot Lids, Korok Swords, and all sorts of arms deeply suited for fighting in rainy environments. Her Shock Arrows would have no effect on them, and her regular arrows couldn't connect. It would only be a matter of time before that Moblin led the rest up to them…
Fzzzz
Once more, an unexpected sound interrupted her thoughts. When she realized what it was, she was mystified. Link had drawn one of his Fire Arrows in his Savage Lynel Bow and was aiming at the grounds below.
"Link, what are you doing? Save your arrows, it would be difficult to hit any of those monsters!"
"This isn't for them."
The drawstring was released, and the three arrows flew directly to the ground below. The Lizalfos below immediately jumped out of the way, doing a victory dance upon doing so. The projectiles connected with the ground, only managing to graze the grass on the trail.
One could imagine their horror at the wall of flame cutting them off from the path upwards.
The past few days had been particularly dry in the Lanayru region, and the grasses had grown long and dehydrated. It only took a small spark to let them all ablaze, and the monsters with it. Victory dances gave way to panicked fidgeting for their lives as the warm fires embellished them.
"Absolute genius!"
"You're the one who inspired me, Princess."
Zelda was impressed with this stroke of brilliance. She pulled a Fire Arrow of her own from her quiver and launched it downward. If she couldn't hit the enemy and only hit the grass, she might as well keep hitting the grass.
One by one, each of the monsters fell to the heat of the flames, their wooden weapons fostering them further. After several vain wails, the last of them had perished, leaving the trio as the victors. Fortunately, the flames had little room to grow outside of the immediate vicinity, as they were surrounded by rocky cliffs and dirt, and they eventually petered out not long after.
With that settled, the three collected themselves and moved to reclaim their horses. Link took a brief look at the camp for anything salvageable, mainly foodstuffs. Unfortunately, there wasn't anything to pillage, and any edibles were either half-eaten, or incinerated by that last maneuver. He found three Traveler's Swords on the ground near them and decided that they would be good enough. He took one of them and handed it to Zelda, who gave him a skeptical look.
"Okay, I'll suppose to give it a try." She reached her hand out to take the blade and, surprisingly to her, she was able to hold it with ease. She swung the sword a few times through the air, and her smile was infectious. Sheathing and holstering it, she thanked him for the gift, while checking on Scott for his wounds.
They would immediately resume their journey and, on Link's request, they would stop nearby for lunch.
"Say, Princess Zelda, about how much further until we reach the village?"
"We shouldn't be far now. Judging by our surroundings, we should come across a hill which will lead us there."
The group had spent the better part of the last two days traveling. Since their incident with the Lizalfos, they had been fortunate enough to evade any of Ganon's leftover minions, not that they would have stood a chance against the heroes. It did permit them the luxury of faster travel, and it gave Link extra time to instruct Scott on the basics of combat during their rest periods.
It was as much a learning experience for the newcomer as it was for the old, as he had no distinct memories of his own apprenticeship, but his ad hoc instruction through his trials sharpened his mind, and he used that as his foundation. Due to the nature of Scott's background, he quickly took in the lessons that were given, and constantly pressed for more challenging exercises. Even more, he was fascinated by Revali's Gale, and wanted to learn all there was to know about those mysterious magic powers of his.
The sky quickly shifted from a soft blue to a mellowed orange, indicating the day was starting to wrap up. Fortunately, they came to a clearing, which led to a steep hill with a valley at the top. Link knew this route too well, and Kakariko Village would be just beyond the horizon.
As they reached the top of the hill and crossed the first arch, the warrior in black made an observation.
"Why is this village not guarded? From what you tell me, these people are small in number and have many enemies, so why don't they protect themselves like the Zora?"
"The Sheikah are accustomed to a different type of combat," The Princess replied. "As you'll find out, each of the races favors a different style, and these folks prioritize stealth. There should be at least one pair of eyes on us as we speak."
They continued down their path between the steep cliffsides, and eventually reached their destination. Scott marveled at the handsome hamlet. The gates were emblazoned with a unique eye sigil, which closely resembled the pattern on the Sheikah Slate. It had weirdly shaped buildings, many traditional ornaments, and humbly dressed people. Their silvery hair and facial features made him feel at ease: he was at last met with people who resembled him! He was confused though: these couldn't be the same Sheikah who created the Sheikah Slate, could they? It was like night and day, comparing them.
Link was able to arrange accommodations for their horses outside the local inn, and due to his frequent patronage, they were able to secure it free of charge. Rejoining the party, they approached the beginning of an ascending bridge leading up to a highly elevated building perched above the village. They were accosted by two tall men wearing strange hats, almost exactly the same as the rooftops of the buildings in front of them.
"Good evening, Princess Zelda, Master Link! I pray tell that your trip to the Zora Domain was a success!"
"Indeed, it was, thank you Cado."
Cado's eyes shone in admiration at the Princess's soft words. His expression did not carry over to his impression of their companion upon seeing him.
"And who are you? I don't remember seeing you around this village?"
"M-my name is Scott sir!" It wasn't until now that the newcomer had put little, if any, thought into what he would say upon discovering his people. He had always counted himself as a Hylian despite his features and thought that the two races were similar enough to not require any difference in norms. How wrong he was. "I'm uh, a descendent of refugees from Hyrule due to the Calamity, and I've only just returned to my ancestral homeland."
"Hmmm… you do look like one of us." The guardsman started taking a closer look at this gentleman. "I can't shake the idea that you look familiar. Your silver hair makes you look like one of us, and red eyes are a recessive trait only found in strong Sheikah lineages… you aren't part of the Yiga Clan, are you?"
"Yiga Clan? What's that?"
"I'm just messing with you kid! I can tell if you have malicious intent in your heart. Rest assured, if these two are fine with you, then so am I."
The commotion caught the attention of another similarly-dressed Sheikah man, who walked back to the gate where they were at. "What's going on, Cado? Oh, I see that the Princess and Hero have returned!"
"Hey Dorian, come get a look at this kid! Doesn't he look like someone we know?"
As Dorian came closer, he got a better look at the youth in front of him. After analyzing his face, his complexion grew pale.
"It cannot be!"
He tensed up, shifting his right hand toward his holster, as if there was a monster nearby.
"Evil! Begone, vile gremlin of Ganon!"
"Take it easy, Dorian! This kid is alright."
It took a few pats on the back and a good amount of words for him to calm down.
"I'm sorry, you know he means well." Cado began attempting to apologize for his comrade's behavior. "Please go up to Lady Impa. We won't keep you much longer."
Link and Zelda led the way up toward the pagoda, while Scott trailed behind. He looked over his shoulder toward the strange man, who was shaking his head. Needless to say, this wasn't his idea of a first impression.
The blondes slid open the doors to enter the ornate wooden building. Inside was the usual: wooden floors with elegant, traditional pieces of art, ornamentation, and furnishings. Instead of a welcome mat, there was a small grey pillar centered in the opposite side of the room, topped with an acorn hat.
Scott was shocked to see the acorn hat move as he closed the doors behind him.
"Welcome back, Princess and Hero. I hope you're ready to plan our next move… and I sense you've brought company."
Slowly, the acorn hat rose and revealed a face underneath. It was aged, wrinkles revealing many years of experience and knowledge. Her forehead bore a strange tattoo of an eye, a similar sign to the Sheikah Slate and the gates outside. Scott noticed that she too looked very much like him, but he was on guard due to his latest interaction with his kind. He could feel her brown eyes burn into his own sockets, and it gave him mixed emotions.
"Good evening to you as well, Impa. Our visit to the Domain was a success, and Vah Ruta is as secure as ever."
Scott watched as Link and Zelda walked forward, taking seats on the mats laid in front of them. He was surprised that his "people" apparently didn't believe in proper chairs. Zelda had given him a brief history on the races of Hyrule, including the Sheikah, but he couldn't accept that the inventors of such magnificent constructs would regress so dramatically.
He attempted to take a seat behind them, but he was stopped by the chief.
"You don't look to be from around here, stranger. What is your name?"
He froze, and then immediately took a deep bow. He bent almost completely to the hips, his body making an almost right angle while his face was parallel to the ground.
"My name is Scott, grandson of Yuya. I come from distant islands to the south, and- "
"Ah, I see. I remember Yuya telling me a similar story, but I had no idea he had heirs." He didn't dare take a peek at her expression, so the grin on her face was unknown to him. "Welcome to Kakariko Village. Make yourself at home, you are among friends and family now."
He immediately rocketed upward, ecstatic smile and all. "Thank you! I was unsure about how I would be received, but I'm glad to be of service!"
"Mhm. Now, I hope you don't take offense to this Scott, but would you mind taking a step outside? I have high level information I need to share with these two for a few minutes. I promise to have you accommodated soon after."
"Uh, yes, Lady Impa! Please excuse me." He took another bow, the meeting going much smoother than he expected, and turned to the sliding doors.
With him out of earshot, the elder shook her head. "A question, Princess Zelda. Where did you find this young man?"
"We met him at the Zora Domain a few days ago. He showed excellent skills with the blade and was comparable to even Link."
The elder's emotions were hidden behind a stern poker face, a product of her many decades of experience. "What is his purpose in coming here? In helping you?"
"He stated that he is purposeless, and that he had been wandering this land for some time. I offered him to join our forces due to his exceptional skill, and he leaped at the opportunity."
Still, no emotions were revealed by the inquisitor. "When you say 'comparable,' please elaborate."
This time, the knight spoke up. "His movements completely mirrored mine, albeit they were much more unpolished and aggressive. It was like a reflection."
"I was afraid it would come to this."
In a rare sight, Impa gave a deep sigh and began to sit up. Standing tall at just over a full meter, she moved to a drawer hidden behind her perch. He returned to her cushion with an elegant scroll in her hands.
"You two may not be ready for what I am about to tell you, and I guarantee that you will not like it one bit. It will be a bitter pill to swallow, so let me know when the two are you are ready for what comes next."
The fated pair were taken aback by these comments. What had they done? What does Scott have to do with any of this? They both looked at each other, and their expressions informed the other that they were of one mind. They turned back to Impa and nodded, indicating they were prepared.
"There, that should do it! The pagoda is now completely clean."
In one of the far corners of the vicinity outside of Impa's hut, a young Sheikah woman was scrubbing the floorboards. She motioned a few more times before picking herself up and wiping the sweat off her brow. She spent the entire day cleaning the planks, a duty completed once every few weeks, and never had they shone any brighter.
When she heard footsteps moving up the bridge, she initially dismissed them as another visitor bringing information to Impa. Her heightened senses could pick up the faint sound of footsteps, even on this specially insulated wood. What surprised her was that she could sense multiple pairs of feet moving upwards. This could mean only one thing: Princess Zelda had returned to the Village, and with her, the legendary Knight.
Every bone in her body urged her to drop everything and rush to the entourage, but her sense of duty halted her. She knew what Impa would do if she slacked off in her duties, no matter how small, so she resigned herself to finishing the task at hand. They would most likely be spending the evening here at the very least, and if she hustled, she could meet them on their way out.
She elected to relax in front of the falls from the Lantern Lake. The cool mist of the waterfall left a pleasant splash on her face, and she wiped the droplets from her forehead, tattooed with the indigo eye of the Sheikah. Her chores were menial work, but she could feel benefits being gained from them. Her endurance had increased, her awareness became sharper, and her work was becoming more efficient. She was almost ready to come of age, but she was still lacking in a singular department.
Moments later, she heard the doors reopen, and she was confused. She had initially heard them open and shut, which meant that whomever arrived had entered the building to talk with the elder. However, this second opening of the gates came almost immediately afterwards. Knowing Impa, she would never have a visitor who would be in and out so quickly, and it was too late in the day for deliveries, unless…
She had a hunch, but perhaps Impa had important matters to discuss with Zelda, which meant the Knight was superfluous. He'd probably be lounging around, looking for a good meal. This was the perfect opportunity for her to surprise that dashing hero.
Utilizing the mastery of her training, she silently snuck around the side of the pagoda. As she neared the front of the building, she poked her head around the corner. In front of the main gates, her target was acquired. The familiar silhouette could be none other than him.
"The Sheikah have been closely affiliated with the Royal Family of Hyrule, and as a result, we have passed down many legends spanning millennia. We also accumulated the greatest collection of historical knowledge of this land outside of Hyrule Castle itself."
"But that knowledge has been lost… the historical section of the Royal Library was torched by the Lizalfos." Zelda spoke up, distress in her voice.
"Precisely, which means our records are the only remaining compendium for the history of the Hylian and Sheikah races. As elder, it's my duty to safeguard all historical knowledge of our people, and unlike certain members of our race, I'm old fashioned in how we preserve documentation."
"As you are aware, the monster that is Calamity Ganon has reappeared time and again in Hyrule since the beginning of our records. He has taken many different forms and abilities, but all share the same malicious intent and mindless destruction at heart. However, his appearances have always been coupled with the divine duo: The Hero wielding the legendary Sword, and the Princess blessed by the Goddess Hylia herself. For every one of his appearances up until the present day, the pair have come forth and defeated him."
"You two are the current incarnation of those two, and you have succeeded in your duties. It would be a shame for all your work to be for naught."
"For naught?"
"Yes, my Princess. Answer me this question. In all your lifetime listening to stories and in your research, had you ever heard of the tales of the Princesses after they had defeated Ganon?"
"Why, of course I have. There have been several mentions of the Princesses Zelda who had gone on to become successful Queens and presided over golden ages of prosperity in Hyrule. For some others… fate had not been as kind once their duty was done."
"I see, that can be assumed as a natural occurrence, due to the strain of confronting such an unimaginably powerful evil, and the number of confrontations themselves. And what about the Hero?"
"The Hero? Why, I've certainly read that… but I mean… they…?"
The Princess was at a loss for words. She felt like she knew the answer, that it was so obvious to her, but for some reason, they couldn't come out.
"Perhaps your difficulty in answering the question draws from your lack of knowledge of the answer, your highness."
"I… you're right. I don't recall ever coming across the story of the Hero in times of peace, save that they returned the Sword of Evil's Bane to its resting place without fail."
"That is the point I'm trying to get at. When I became elder of this tribe, I was exposed to all the documentation of Sheikah historians, even the books made off-limits to the public at large. It was then, while Link was asleep, that I learned a horrifying truth."
Link took a massive gulp as he braced himself for what came next. Zelda was tightly gripping her leggings.
"As I perused through each instance of the Hero's fight with the Calamity and the resulting peace, I noticed that he… was distinctly absent from any and all epilogues of the events. It was almost as if he disappeared from history altogether, or- "
"Something happened to him."
"Precisely, Link. Your mind is as sharp as your sword."
"Don't you find it strange, that someone in the prime of their life, who held half the responsibility for ushering in a period of peace within our lands, would disappear without a trace? One would think that if anyone was interesting enough to record a history of, it would be him, no?"
"Back to the matter at hand. There was one tale of the Hero's fate after his duty had been done. Coincidentally, it was the story of the Hero of ten thousand years ago. After his valiant fight against the Calamity, and his return of the Master Sword, he chose to live a simple life, but not long after he met an unfortunate end."
"I assume you heard of the tale of 'Dark Link' Princess, have you not?"
"Why, yes of course. It was a dark reflection of the Hero, a product of Ganon's magic, which manifested from his fears and carnal emotions."
"You have done well in your studies. Dark Link was a mirror image of the Hero, passed down as a tale within the village, as a story where he must overcome his own fears in order to complete his quest. We tell our young ones that he always prevails over evil, and the forces of darkness would never win."
"The hero of ten thousand years prior fell in combat against a being with a black heart. Not long after the Calamity had been sealed away, he was confronted by a pale man with a dark sword who fought him to a draw. While their skills were evenly matched, their gear was not. Without the Sword of Evil's Bane to guard him, his replacement blade broke, and he was cut down in an unceremonious end."
At this point in the conversation, Impa rose to her feet once more, and held up the scroll in her hands. She unrolled the parchment and put in on display in front of her company. The image itself contained artistic representations of the Hero and various other characters in the ancient Sheikah style. The Hero was clad in blue and gold, just like the tapestry of Calamity Ganon on the wall. Opposite from the Hero, was another character with the same likeness as him, but the color palate was different. The character had a dark tunic, pale hair, and menacing red eyes. He'd look exactly like a Sheikah, but the weapon in his hand was nothing like anything that race would wield.
"This is… no, it couldn't be…"
"It is the truth, my Princess. The last Hero of Hyrule was defeated by none other than Dark Link, his dark reflection."
"B-but… Scott is by no stretch of the imagination Dark Link! He's not even evil!"
"That may be true now, but we have no way of knowing what the future holds. I will keep a close eye on him, and I advise you two do the same. If he is Yuya's grandson, then he's part of our family and I will provide him hospitality to the best of my abilities. I don't suspect him to be a product of Ganon's magics, and as he has not done anything wrong, we must give him benefit of the doubt. With that said, I will look further into our archives in my limited spare time. For now, it's best that he doesn't know, lest he do something drastic."
Both Hylians nodded and began to stand up. It wasn't clear which one of them was more visibly uncomfortable. As they collected their belongings, the elder imparted a last bit of advice.
"Be warned: the hand of fate is an irresistible force. Many events that have transpired have echoed what occurred millennia ago, yet others have seemingly been lost to time. I pray that the Goddesses bless you in your quest."
Scott was enjoying himself as he walked along the deck. The wooden architecture wasn't as primitive as he had originally thought. The wooden boards looked basic, but they were deceptively sturdy and barely left a creak as he walked. Whether it was due to the nature of the material, or that his heritage gave him a natural affinity to avoid such disruptions, was up for debate. What was certain was that these Sheikah knew what they were doing.
From his elevation, he was able to get a good look at the village as a whole. The hamlet had a small number of buildings, and they complimented the surrounding landscape. It was clear these people had a deep respect for nature, and it fostered his desires to learn more about them. He just wished there was someone he could more easily relate to, other than two snappy guardsmen and a mysterious elder.
He walked along the rails toward the southeast corner of the structure, attempting to pass the time while his superiors engaged in their mysterious talks. At least he could keep his guard down while within his "home."
Someone else had other plans.
"Y-you've returned, Master Link!"
"Huh?"
The warrior turned around and was confronted by what appeared to be a young girl. She seemed to be about his age, of slightly lower height, and dressed just like the guardsmen below. Her long silver hair was partially held in a bun above her head, which replaced headwear, and her striking red eyes were of the same hue as his own. She looked almost like a female version of him, save for the massive tattoo on her forehead, in the shape of an oddly-familiar eye.
It was difficult to get a good read on her, because her hands were in her face, almost as if she was hiding from him. Her body language was very weak, akin to cowering from an intimidating enemy. Yet her tone was deceptively friendly, even nervous.
"H-how was the Zora Domain? I've heard it's quite beautiful, and I've dreamed of visiting it one day."
"Who told you that I was at the Zora Domain?"
"You did, Master Link. What type of game did Princess Zelda pull you into?"
The woman in front of him slowly began to relax and, after taking a deep breath, removed her hands from her face, as well as standing up straight. She began to smile but shifted to a shocked expression as he got a good look at the man in front of her.
"Silver hair… black tunic… deep red eyes… no! It cannot be!"
Scott took a step back. 'Not this again.'
"Maybe it could…" she started muttering under her breath in an aside. "His eyes and hair are different, not to mention his wardrobe. But his distinct face, his perfect haircut, his chiseled frame… there could be no other! I've heard tales of a man in Hateno Village who can recolor clothing, so maybe there's some enchanter that can change eye and hair color too? Or it could be an effect from one of his outfits? What if on their journey, they made a stop at such a location…"
"M-Master Link, you've changed! You've gotten taller, and a new outfit," 'and much more handsome too!'
He scratched his head while the strange woman in front of him palmed her face once more, this time with a soft smile. "Hold on, I'm not Sir Link, my name is Scott."
"Huh?" She snapped out of her daze and took another good look at him. "Come to think of it, you do act much different from Master Link. But that would mean…"
The sound of sliding doors caught the attention of Scott and, through chain reaction, the young woman in front of him.
"Oh, there you are Paya. I see you've been acquainted with Scott."
"P-princess Zelda?"
Paya's red eyes shifted toward the form of Zelda, and then to Link standing right next to her, silent and stoic as she remembered. Her head rapidly shook from his golden locks to the other gentleman's silver ones, and back again. Was she seeing double? Was she out in the sun for too long? Was she in heaven? Every indication led to them being two distinct beings, and the one she was with was not the Hylian Champion she knew.
"Aiyeeeee!"
The poor Sheikah woman staggered back and cowered, hands covering her face to hide her shame and embarrassment. Scott felt guilty as she began hyperventilating.
"Was it something I said?"
Zelda moved over to Paya in an attempt to comfort and calm her down. "No need to worry. She's just had limited exposure to men in her lifetime. It's not your fault."
As the two females began to stabilize, Link motioned Scott over to the pagoda, informing him that he should step inside.
A familiar child-like Sheikah began rummaging through her basement in Hateno Village. She had half a dozen cubes scattered across a long flat table, each containing mysterious substances. To the untrained eye, she would seem like a pack rat, or at least an irresponsible child.
"So, this Lynel has the same spots as those other hearts." Pulling a pen out of her hair, Purah scribbled some notes on a pad of paper. It contained scattered figures of words and numbers, a system which only to her made any sense. It matched her method of organization, to be sure.
"There's less than two weeks until the last Blood Moon arises, we won't have time to do everything I wanted to do!"
The small woman put her pen down and began collecting the assorted items on the table in front of her. It was getting late, and she was ready to retire for the evening. Despite her age, her youthful body had little tolerance for long days. The night at the Zora Domain took a large strain on her body, an unusually large strain…
It was okay though. She had received a tremendous supply of Ancient Materials, more than she could have hoped for, and she could continue her research without delay. Perhaps she could make an improved Sheikah Slate, or something even more grand! That would make Princess Zelda more than pleased… provided she could make them work. But apparently, she somehow managed to do just that.
With everything put away, she was led by impulse to explore something else. She motioned away from the staircase leading upwards out of the basement and towards the closed door on the direct opposite side of the room. She knew what was behind that door, and if Link came through here, so would he.
She hesitated before opening it, despite knowing full-well the contents of what was inside, which held no danger. After a brief pause, she slowly opened the door.
Within, a small closet with an empty shelf roughly four feet off the ground greeted her. The only contents of the room were a medium sized sealed chest on the floor, just like she remembered.
'You can do this, Purah.'
Slowly but surely, she opened the chest. It plopped open without any resistance, and the treasure within was revealed for her to see: five Sheikah Slates, one for each failure on her behalf.
"One… two… three… four… five! All of the Slates are accounted for!" She didn't know what to expect. It wasn't like there were a hundred Golden Ruppees that would magically appear on a rainy day. Everything there was just as he last touched it.
Just as she touched it…
"Wait a second… everything is still here!"
She quickly palmed through each Slate, reaffirming that they were all duds.
"But if these are here, then what did Linky show me, and where did he get it?"
Deep within a dark cavern in an undisclosed location, labor kept pace throughout the night. Bulky Moblins of all colors hauled massive blocks of material toward wooden scaffolding, where they were placed on platforms and raised through a series of pulleys. A group of Bokoblins were hacking away at stone with hammers, and when one collapsed from exhaustion, a Yiga foreman cracked a whip, jolting the tired creature to its feet and back to work.
Waifs of sweat and decay permeated the hall. Given little, if any, breaktime, vapors consistently left the bodies of the poor souls within. Some of whom collapsed of exhaustion, lacking in any manner of energy or life force remaining. Most of whom that died from said exhaustion were only discovered days later when another being tripped over their lifeless form. They would be hauled off immediately and placed in another room. It was of no consequence, as they would not be long gone.
On the lowest tier, a bulky red being was moving in a hurried powerwalk. It was dressed in all red with a cracked mask bearing the mark of the Yiga Clan and carried two buckets of water straddled by a stick of wood on his shoulders. Jeel knew that his sentence was almost served, but he couldn't afford to let up now. He delivered the water to another pulley, which would be raised higher up on the scaffolding.
With that task done, he took a deep sigh from exhaustion. He had to keep toward the edges of the hall lest the foremen caught him. His cracked mask denoted the shame he brought to the Clan, and it would make him an easy target for corporal punishment, despite his "rank." Even though death held no consequence for someone like him, it didn't stop it from hurting really bad.
Inching along the sides of the cavern, he came across an indent in the texture, and followed it to evade sight. It was cool and convenient, a welcome reprieve from the daily grind. There was a closed unmarked wooden door in front of him. He instantly recognized where he was, an area only a high-ranking member of the Yiga Clan was privy to. Looking both ways, he ensured the coast was clear before entering.
The room was small and quaint. Red paper lanterns adorned the walls, all the shelves were in place, and the Guidance Stone silently stood in the center. Everything was as it should be. He moved forward to examine the Stone, the great prize of the Yiga. It was only discovered recently, in the wake of Calamity Ganon's defeat and Master Kohga's demise. According to Master Shiba, they wouldn't have been in vain.
That was because of the object held within the stone, a small rectangular object. As if a divine act of the Great One himself, their salvation came at their darkest hour.
But there was one caveat: the item of salvation was not present within the Stone.
Jeel nervously stepped back, checking his surroundings to see if there was a trap lain. If he was caught in this room, he would surely be subjected to a fate worse than death. He did the only sensible thing to do in this situation: run, or poof away.
"Master Shiba!"
Within the main hut in the cavern, the blademaster with the cracked mask reappeared, kneeling in front of the dark-clad Yiga in front of him.
"This better be important, Jeel. We are running on a tight schedule."
"Please forgive me, Master Shiba. I-I was just minding my business when I saw the sacred room door unlocked, so I looked within…"
The leader of the Yiga Clan grunted, looking as cross as ever.
"When I went inside, I noticed the tablet was gone!"
"WHAT!?" Shiba's roar could be heard throughout the entire cavern, and it echoed several times in the stony halls.
"I never saw anyone enter or leave the chamber, so I don't know what happened, but someone must have taken the artifact! I swear on my life it wasn't me!"
The head of the clan turned around, clearly deep in thought. This development would jeopardize their plan. Questions of how long ago it happened, by whom, or why, went through his head, but the most important one was how to get it back.
"Stand, Jeel! I have a new mission for you and Keel. You two must locate the Slate by the rise of the Blood Moon, or else! You know full-well that it's instrumental in bringing him back into our world."
"Y-yes Master Shiba!" In a poof, the disgraced assassin vanished.
'We need that object to ensure the greatness of the Yiga Clan. With it in our grasp, and these materials we've salvaged from those constructs, we can fulfill the prophecy given to us all those years ago.'
The bulky Yiga sat down in his chair, overlooking the work of the laborers beneath. At this rate, it would only be a matter of days before the half-way point in their project.
'Soon all of Hyrule will fear the wrath of Vah Ganona!'
A/N: We're approaching the end of Part I of this story, and it will set the frame for where the story will be heading. It's most likely going to be very dark, and very not dark. I'm glad you enjoyed the ending of the last chapter as much as I did writing it: there's going to be a lot more to come, but there's something I want to throw in first. It may not even all fit in one chapter... we'll see when it's done!
Take care, and make today, and every day, a great day.