Hello everybody! Here's a new chapter to this story. It's literally like past three in the morning for me right now, so I'm going to cut this short and answer the reviewers as quickly and politely as I can. So sorry in advance if some of my answers sound weird due to a brain running on lack of sleep. Probably not a good thing since I'm really busy with work and school this summer, but oh well.
SoulC: Well, aren't you just one conniving little reviewer? It never crossed my mind that you were trying to test me and my overall knowledge of what I'm planning to do for this story. To be honest, though, I understand where you're going with it. I've ran into quite a few stories on here that had good premises yet failed on their overall details and execution of words. And as a person who plans to be a writer as a career, I've learned to take offense, even those that are just pure flames with no backing to it whatsoever, with a grain of salt. What good is writing if you don't have or occasionally listen to that one person you feel has offended you? As much as positive reviews are good, the negatives are just as fine as they could potentially point out something that you otherwise missed or see can be brushed up on. But yeah, I'm glad that I was able to pass your test and gained a faithful reader in you!
Skittycreamstar: Yes, I can't stand romance stories, as well. Actually, I should say that I don't like romance in stories that are primarily adventurous such as the Zelda series. Granted, there are some exceptions in my book such as Final Fantasy IX where it revolved around the main characters' personal growth and the growth between them. In that instance, it was executed well and flowed well with the adventure story. In terms of Zelda, I hardly see any time where Link and Zelda are together for a substantial amount of time to warrant any kind of sexual tension between the two. And even though my version of the Zelda universe will see the two having more personal times together, the situation I have in mind for them hardly calls for an appropriate moment for sexual tension. Yes, I have a lot to say on that topic, and I hate obsolete themes in stories and games that could easily be left out and still make for a good an understandable piece of work.
And to the anonymous reviewer who left a review like five hours before this new chapter was published, I promise that there will be more Zelda appearances to come. It's just that the situation for the past few chapters haven't warranted the need for such extended appearances for her yet.
So now all that's out of the way, I'll let you enjoy this new chapter. Please don't forget to leave a review telling me what you thought of it and whatever bits of confusion or concerns you might have. Until then next update to this or any of my other stories on here!
Chapter 5: A Princess's Trump
"Uh, where're you taking me to?" Link asked as he followed the woman through the back doors that were sparsely guarded. As promised, the royal crest on her tunic was what gave her free access. Her introducing him as her guest also proved effective as he was allowed in without much resistance.
"To a member of the royal council," she simply replied while taking another door that led into the castle building. "They are who should be spoken to in regards to matters such as yours. Only they have the proper authority to rectify it."
"As if they can do anything," the blond incredulously huffed. He was too busy trying to figure out what was going on to take in the beauty and grandeur that was the interior of Hyrule Castle. "Prince Xagrun already admitted to me that he has this place under a spell. How are any of the royal councilmembers able to help me if they can't help themselves?"
"It's true that the council body has been disillusioned as of late. However, there remains a fraction of the royal court who still maintains clarity. It is she whom I'm taking you to see. I cannot guarantee that her power alone will be enough to appease your concerns, but consulting with her would be the best place to start."
Feeling that he was bested on this, Link let the subject end at that. It was clear that this woman knew a lot about the politics of Hyrule Castle. For someone such as him with little care or knowledge on it, further questioning would have been pointless. Instead, he allowed himself to be led to this seemingly unaffected council member who could or could not help him with his money problem.
It was then he noticed that the hallways they traversed were barren of people. Apart from the occasional maid traversing to their next order of business, he and the woman were the only ones there. Considering that it was a castle, he half-expected that the castle guards would be in the hallways watching to suspicious activity. Apart from the one who kept watch over the castle rear entrance, he was not accosted in any way by guards. He had to wonder now if Xagrun was somehow able to enact his spell on the guards, as well.
"We've arrived, boy," the woman stated as they approached a wooden door. Judging by the wooden baskets and crates of fresh fruit along the nearby walls, it was probably a room that was frequented by the castle servants. She then knocked softly on the door before announcing her arrival to whoever was inside. "I've returned from my trip, Your Highness. The one you requested to see is with me, as well."
"Come in." The one behind the door, a woman, beckoned them in. Without any further indication, Link's guide opened the door and motioned for him to enter first.
"…Wait a minute," he murmured once what he just heard processed through his brain. "Did you just call the girl 'Your Highness'? Are you telling me that the council member I'm meeting is…?"
"The Princess of Hyrule," the princess finished. She was standing before them on the other side of the room next to a window. The hem of her beautiful sapphire dress was barely above the ground, her sparkling silver shoes clear even with the sunlight that illuminated only parts of the room. Her hands were covered with a pair of pure white elbow-high gloves that fitted snugly against her beautiful arms.
"P-Princess Zelda!" Link exclaimed as he clumsily got on one knee.
"There's no need to go on ceremony, farm boy," Zelda replied with a hint of amusement in her tone as she motioned for the teen to get up. She then said to the woman who escorted him in, "Thank you for your help, Impa. I'll hear of your report concerning Gerudo Valley later. For now, I would like to speak with the boy in private."
"As you wish, my lady," Impa said with a small bow before making herself scarce. Only the two remained in the room now.
"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance," the princess said with a smile. "Might I ask what your name is and where you come from?"
"Uh, i-it's Link," the teen stuttered, his mind still trying to process that he was before the Princess of Hyrule. "I live in Faron Village."
"Ah, I thought as much about your origins. I'm sorry if I pass on as brusque, but there are many things with which I want to discuss."
Really? That's funny; I came here also wanting to talk to you about something."
"Might I suppose that you want to speak about Prince Xagrun and his visit to your village last night? I understand that he caused great discomfort to you and your fellow farmers."
"Wait, you knew about that? You knew he was going to rob us of our belongings and did nothing to stop it? I thought that woman earlier said you weren't under that man's spell."
"I admit that I knew of what he did," Zelda admitted without much heed to Link's rising hostility. "However, I only came to know of his actions after the fact. Had I known prior about his plans, I would've accompanied him and made sure he didn't terrorize your village. While it is late to do so, I offer you my apologies."
"You're apologizing now, but what's stopping me from thinking you're not really sorry?" Link questioned with a skeptically raised eyebrow. "For all I know, you could be under the spell that has the entire council bending to his will. How do I know you're not one of his puppets getting ready to present me to him?"
"If that were true, then you wouldn't be speaking with me now. The prince's men and puppets would never waste time speaking with their captives like I am now. That and Impa, my faithful servant from earlier, wouldn't have brought you before me. She and I are one of the few people left in this castle who haven't fallen under this spell. I can't provide you any definitive proof of my clarity, so I can only ask that you believe in my word.
"However, I suggest that we move onto why I had you brought before me." She quickly changed topics before moving to take a seat on a nearby chair. "I've already taken a risk with allowing you into the castle. The prince doesn't know you're here, and I intend to keep it that way indefinitely, if possible.
"I had you brought before me because you've piqued my interests. Xagrun chose to flaunt his actions from last night to me this morning. That was when he made mention of you and how you stood up to him in a manner different from the other villagers. I had a feeling you would come here to voice your concerns, so that's why I instructed Impa to escort you in should she run into you during her return from Gerudo Valley. She's a good judge of character, so I knew she would know if you were the one the prince mentioned."
"I'm sorry, but I can't possibly be as interesting as you believe me to be. It's true that I stood up to him, but it was only because of my family. It'd be a different story if I were living on my own, but I'm not going to let anyone take food out of my little brother's mouth! That's why I came here today, to talk with somebody about getting my money back."
"And you have every right to speak of it, but I'm afraid what I want to discuss if of dire circumstance. I'm sure you've noticed how the kingdom has been slowly on the decline ever since the desert prince arrived. It's no doubt that his presence has caused much unrest with the people; his most recent tactics not doing much to fix the turmoil. Ever since I saw through his ruse of wanting a peace treaty, I've been trying to stop him. I know that he has no desire for peace; what he wants is power by gaining control over Hyrule!"
"Forgive me, princess, but I've figured as much on that," Link replied. "Of course, I was only guessing it before you told me. However, why are you telling me about these things? Isn't it inappropriate to tell a commoner about internal issues? I'm nothing more than a farmer trying to keep his family fed."
"It's true that I'm breaking protocol, but I don't believe it matters much now with most of the council backing Xagrun's interests," Zelda merely shrugged off. "And besides, I'm telling you about this for a reason. You see, the only one apart from me who has dared to stand up against him without any hint of fear has been you. Because of that, I believe that you're the only one who can fight against him and drive him out of our lands!"
"Whoa, hold on there!" the other immediately protested. The conversation had suddenly taken a turn down a road he was not expecting. "You're not asking for me to go to war with you, are you? I'm just a farmer, not a soldier. I mean, I do know something about using swords; but I'm hardly soldier material for wars. I can't help you with that!"
"I understand your hesitancy, Link; but I don't think you understand the severity of the situation. Hyrule will continue to fall until the desert prince gets what he wants. And even then, he'll most likely rule these lands as he does with Gerudo Valley. I can't stand for that to happen, so I need the help of someone who wouldn't fear going against him. I also fear that something else is going on behind the scenes which require me to seek out your aid."
"Wh-what do you mean, princess? I thought you said that all he wanted was to rule this kingdom. What else could he possibly want?"
"I don't know if it is what he wants, but the similarities are all too common for me to just ignore. You see, he holds some common traits with a man who terrorized our lands centuries ago. He also hailed from the desert, and his lust for power drove him to do anything he could to reign control. While he did succeed, he was soon defeated by one who had the proven courage to rid us of his tyranny. He was then sealed away into a nether realm and now lies in wait until the moment he is free once more. I don't know how, but I believe that the prince will be the one to release this monster upon us. Should that happen, then only the chosen hero of our generation can stand a chance at defeating Xagrun!"
"Chosen hero? Sealed into a nether realm? This all sounds like something out of a fairy tale," Link skeptically stated. "How is a single person supposedly able to do what seems like others could easily do? Why is only this 'hero' able to seal away this evil?"
"It's because he was the hero of legend," Zelda explained. "Only he has been blessed with the power and tools necessary to banish evil from our lands. Have you never heard about the Hero of Time, a story often recited as an excerpt from the Legend of Zelda? All of this has been stated in these coveted stories."
"I've only heard pieces of it. It was never enough to get the whole story, but I thought it to be nothing but fairy tales based from the fantastical bits I was told."
"Is that so? Then perhaps I should impart to you what I know of the legend. It ties in with why you are here before me, so I suggest you lend an attentive ear. Allow me begin with the story of our world's creation.
"Long ago, this world was nothing more than a barren rock floating along in the abyss of empty space," the princess began. "Not even the smallest of animals could live amongst the immense nothingness. By the miraculous grace of magnificent power, three powerful goddesses descended from the heavens. These magnificent deities are known to us as Din, Farore, and Nayru. Together, they blessed us with the land of Hyrule and all its abundances of resources to help us live in prosperity.
"With the creation of the land, the birth of all living beings meant to be its inhabitants, and the natural law of life and death established; our land was born. This alone proves the might these goddesses had within them. But while they are our creators, they chose to secede their rule to us. They wanted to prevent their creations from feeling a sense of an unbalance of power, so the inhabitants were tasked with upholding the law. At the same time, it would prove to be a good test to see if their creations can govern themselves.
"Upon making this decision, the goddesses decided to return to the heavens from whence they came. Even to this day, no mortal has ever once laid eyes upon them. However, a relic of their power was rumored to be left behind from the point where they left Hyrule. It's an object that's most commonly referred to as the Golden Power; the sacred Triforce, a symbol many believe to be the contract forged between them and the land.
"The Triforce is a relic revered by us Hylians and its surrounding kingdoms. It also serves as a symbol for immense power. It was the basis of the kingdoms and the many laws that are in existence today. It was once a single object as it was originally created to be, but the three deities split it into three equal pieces. Each piece lay in hiding in a realm apart from ours and kept away from all. However, they used each pieces' sacred power in order to graft upon the hands of their chosen the symbol of their respective Triforce Piece. As a failsafe, the Golden Power will only appear once the three chosen bearers are brought together through ceremony. Until then, its physical form shall never grace our realm and forever border the line between existence and nothingness in the other.
"And it's from this Creation Story that the tyrant from centuries ago attempted to destroy this kingdom. Drunk on his lust for power, a man by the name of Ganondorf hailed from the desert and appeared before the King of Hyrule. He wooed the king with lucrative trade deals between the Hylians and the Gerudo amongst other things, but this was only a ruse. His real plan was to obtain all pieces of the Triforce and claim its power as his own. He knew that the Triforce of Wisdom is always passed down through the princess of the Hylian Royal Family. The Triforce of Power was also once a part of the royal family carried through the king himself; but Ganondorf killed him and stole the power for his own. In effect, he had two pieces in his grasp and was on his way to realizing his twisted wishes.
"With the King of Hyrule dead and the royal council in disarray, many believed it to be the fall of the kingdom. And for those who believed in the Triforce, this marked the end of their existence. It was then that a young man appeared before them wielding the final piece of the Triforce, the Triforce of Courage. With a legendary blade in his hands said to be blessed by one of the goddesses, he bravely fought and bested the tyrant. However, he was unable to kill him as the Triforce of Power fed off his lust and granted him immortality.
"With no other recourse, the legendary sages who supported the hero in his quest sealed the man in the same realm the Triforce was held. Being sent to a realm of both existence and nothingness, he would be in essence put into a deep sleep, never to wake until the day he returns to our realm. Even as we speak, his followers continue their attempts at summoning him and trying once more to turn his wishes into a reality. When that time comes, the battle between him and the descendant of the Hero of Time will take place once more."
When Zelda was done reciting the story of both the Creation Story and the Hero of Time; Link was left deep in thought at what he just heard. Never had he heard so much at once about the legend, and he still had a hard time believing it what with all the information fed to him. He was more of a guy who lived in the world of today, a time when reality requires a firm mindset. To believe in this was like trying to convince a child that candy was the worst thing ever!
"Uh, I appreciate you telling me about the legend, milady," the teen responded once he found his voice. "However, I don't see how this has anything to do with now. How does a story of the past have any correlation to why I'm here today?"
"Do you still not see the relations between the two, Link?" the princess asked as she let an incredulous frown approach her face. "While he's not necessarily Ganondorf, Prince Xagrun holds many similarities to him. He hails from Gerudo Desert and has tried everything he could to gain control over Hyrule. He's already wooed both my father and the council into his way of thinking, so it's already enough to show that history's repeating itself. In this case, it means that Ganondorf will somehow be brought back. But if all that is taking place once more, then it holds true that the chosen wielder of the Triforce of Courage will appear."
"W-wait a minute! You're not trying to say that this person is me, are you?" Link had to step back a few paces in response to the surprise. "Forgive my rudeness, but you must be insane! I'm just a farmer! I'll admit that I know a bit about using swords, but it's hardly enough for me to be considered hero material. I'm not a soldier!"
"That may be, but it doesn't shake my belief in that you're the descendant of the Hero of Time! Even if not in battle, you've demonstrated the courage needed for one to bear the Triforce of Courage. If its proof you want, then the mark upon your hand should be enough to convince you of this."
"What mark? I don't have anything like that!"
Without saying a word, the princess took the teen's right hand and brought it beside her own. For a moment, nothing was happening. However, a faint light began to appear on the top of their hands. It was a mark that held three triangles on it in a pyramid shape, both of them having two of the three pieces shining brightly.
"I-I never saw that before!" Link could barely contain his excitement at seeing such an unfamiliar mark on the hand he has seen many times over. "How did it get there?"
"It was always with you from the day you were born," Zelda explained. "It only shows itself when within close distance to another wielder of the Triforce. As you can see, I'm one of those bearers; and I hope this convinces you. You are the descendant of the Hero of Time, and you're the one who'll help us rid the land of Prince Xagrun's influence!" She could barely contain her excitement at this point.
"B-but I can't possibly be this hero that you're making me out to be!" the blond argued, his mind still trying to comprehend that the fantastical story he just heard was in some way a reality. "I probably only know enough about swords to take down a wild animal; I might be able to handle a common thief if I'm lucky. The only training I got with it was from my father back when he was alive five years ago. I'm not soldier material!"
"I understand that I'm asking a lot of you. If swordplay is one of your concerns, I'm willing to provide you with the training necessary should you agree to fight alongside me. Of course, I'm not asking for you to make your decision this minute. I'll give you time to think on it, but I must ask that you supply me with an answer soon. I fear that the prince is already planning his next move, and I rather we act now before it happens."
Before they could say anything else, the door suddenly opened. From it came the woman who escorted Link into the castle, Impa. She had a rather concerned look on her as though she was in a rush to find them.
"Forgive my intrusion, milady!" she quickly apologized, her voice sounding nothing like the flustered behavior she was exuding. "Prince Xagrun is nearby, and I believe he's trying to look for you."
"What?!" the princess gasped as she looked down at her hand which was still beside Link's. Soon enough, the third piece of the Triforce began to shine much like the other two pieces.
"Wh-what does this mean?" Link asked. "Don't tell me that prince is also a bearer of the Triforce?"
"Yes, he wields the mark signifying the Triforce of Power," she quickly explained. "That proves he is a descendant of Ganandorf. However, I'm afraid we've little time left to speak of it. You must go now! He can't know you're here!"
"And why not?" The teen had a defiant look in his eyes as though he was ready to go up against the prince. "I'm not afraid of him. In fact, I'd like to give him a piece of my mind after what he put my village through!"
"You may not be afraid of him, but don't let that fool you into thinking he's only capable of threatening rhetoric. What you witnessed last night was only a taste of what he's capable of doing. If you value your life, then you'll leave now!"
"B-but what about me and my brother? I came here wanting to get back what he stole from me!"
"I understand, and I hope this'll be enough to compensate you." Zelda hastily thrust a bag of rupees into Link's hands as Impa motioned for them to hurry up. "Do with it as you wish. I apologize once again for the suffering of your village. I hope you'll consider fighting alongside me against Prince Xagrun. Now go!"
With a quick wave of her hand, Link found himself engulfed within a brilliant blue light. Once it dissipated, he suddenly found himself now outside of the castle walls near the area where Impa first approached him.
"Wh-what the?!" he stammered as he looked about. Sure enough, the small breeze that was blowing earlier brushed past his cheeks. The crowd that had gathered by the front castle gates were still there protesting against Xagrun's presence. "How'd I get out here? Did she use magic or something?"
It took him a little while before he snapped out of his stupor. Realizing that he had achieved what he came here to do and got more than he bargained for; he pocketed the bag of rupees Zelda handed him and began his journey back home. The princess's words continued to plague his mind for most of the trek, but he paid it little mind as he knew he was not like his father. He was not a soldier, so what could he possibly do for the kingdom even if he were to be trained by the best swordsman the castle had to offer? No, he was but a farmer, and his key duty lied in both his land's upkeep and the upbringing of his brother. Anything else either had to be pushed aside or buried into the abyss of forgetfulness, and this secret meeting more than met this occasion for the teen.
-Meanwhile-
"So this is where you have been, Princess Zelda," Xagrun said as he entered the room. He was alone today, his distant shadow nowhere to be seen at the moment. "I never thought I'd see you traipsing about in the servants' commons. May I ask why you're here in an obsolete part of the castle?"
"I was merely waiting for Impa to arrive," Zelda smoothly replied as though Link was not just there with her. "I wanted to hear her report concerning your kingdom, and I knew she would have to pass through the corridor outside before meeting me."
"Yes, I've noticed that your loyal vassal has returned. May I assume that your visit to my lands proved pleasant?" The prince lightly bowed at Impa out of faux respect. "I only hope my people didn't cause you too much trouble during your stay."
"I will say that your people were rather hospitable to me," Impa said, her face and tone not giving away whatever feelings she had towards the man. "However, I don't think the same can be said about your men and their conduct. Of course, who am I to question the authority that your soldiers claim to follow?"
"My, you have a surprisingly sharp tongue. It's a wonder why the princess chooses to keep someone of such bluntness in her company. But as you've already said, I'm in no position to question another's authority.
"However, I would like to question why her highness chose to wait in this room?" he asked. "You had no guarantee that she would even come in. All you knew was that she had to come through the corridor outside. Was there some other reason for you being here?"
"What are you insinuating, Xagrun?" the princess asked in an offended tone. "Is it all that strange for you to see a member of royalty here in the servants' commons? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe you're also in here with me."
"I hope you're not trying to make me out to be a fool. I only saw your vassal enter this room not even two minutes ago! As I was nearing here, I heard you speaking to someone in a soft yet frantic voice. May I hazard a guess that you were speaking with someone else before either of us came in?"
"Do you honestly believe that to be possible? Just take a good look at this room!" Zelda waved her arms around to demonstrate the quaintness of the room along with the overall lack of a proper place to hide. "I'm sure that you would've notice someone trying to make themselves scarce the moment you walked in! The only person I talked to before you came was with Impa, and I was frantic because I was concerned about the safety regarding her journey back. Am I not allowed to feel as such being that she's my most trusted vassal?"
Whether or not Xagrun bought Zelda's story, he clearly was not about to further press the issue. As much as he suspected her actions, he was unable to do anything without first having to cause unneeded political tension. Instead, he gave a shrug of his shoulders and began to make his way back outside.
"…Just allow me to make one thing clear, milady," he added as he stopped short of the doorway. "Don't think that you'll be free to concoct some plan to be rid of me now that your loyal vassal has returned. I don't intend to leave Hyrule anytime soon; both your father and the council are more than willing to accommodate my extended visit. If you try to further disrupt my plans, I won't hesitate to make more examples out of your people. I'm sure you don't want any of your other towns to undergo the same treatment that Faron Village undergone last night." He then exited the room and disappeared into the hallways of the castle.
"…Princess Zelda, are you sure it's wise to involve Link into our affairs?" Impa asked once Xagrun was out of earshot. "I can see that the boy has within him the courage befitting of the Triforce. However, I must doubt his ability to help us. He has no knowledge of our politics, and your usage of Farore's Wind might've been his first known experience with magic."
"I understand your hesitancy, Impa," Zelda replied with a slow nod. "However, I know that he's the only one who can help us fight Xagrun. Swordplay is something he can learn, and his familiarity with magic will come with time. And in terms of politics, I'm afraid it will have no place if the prince gets his way with Hyrule. All I ask is that you grant me your support in this endeavor."
"You no need to ask, milady," the vassal replied with a respectful bow. "You are wise beyond your years, and I believe that is why Prince Xagrun's spell over this castle has no effect on you. As much as I might doubt the boy's abilities, I know that only the one chosen by the Triforce of Courage can stand against the one who wields the Triforce of Power. As such, it's our duty to prepare him as much as possible for the impending battle. If there's anything you need me to help with, you need only ask."
With only a smile of appreciation, the princess let the matter drop. She knew deep down that control over Hyrule was only the first step into Ganondorf's revival. She had no idea how that was to play into everything, but she was going to do everything in her power to stop it from happening. Now that she had met the descendant of the Hero of Time and gauged his courage for herself; she grew more confident that her kingdom would be liberated from this power-hungry leech of a Gerudo prince!
Well, we've seem to have finally started to touch on the main plot of the story. It only took like five chapters to get there, but at least those chapters helped to give you all the general characterization of the key characters and were not just pointless filler.
But yeah, there's not much to say here since this chapter is pretty self-explanatory. Everything's starting to build up to the main plot, and this chapter is the glue that's now being applied to it. And yes, the creation story was based off of the story given to us from Ocarina of Time. The story of the Hero of Time was also a rip from the Ocarina of Time, but I felt that it was most appropriate for what I was going for with this story. Like I said, I will be borrowing some themes from the games to supplement the story. Overall, this story is it's own individual creation and has no direct ties to other games apart from the indirect bits I add every now and then. Just think of those connections as Easter eggs, bits that have nothing to do with the game but are my personal ways to pay homage to the original games.
I hope that you all enjoyed reading this chapter and figuring out that the woman Link met was Impa. I just had to fit her in somehow, and I figured this was as good a time as any. Please don't forget to leave review telling me your thoughts and concerns with the story. Until the next update on this or any of my other stories on here everybody! And if I don't get an update up within the next three days, have a great and safe Fourth of July!