Hey, it didn't take me a month to write this! Ha ha ha! What a concept!
Anyway, welcome back to another chapter of Corrupted Hero. Today, we've leaving Kakariko behind and setting off into the big, wide world. I hope you enjoyed Link's roller coaster of a stay with the Sheikah. I certainly loved writing it!
Anyway, I'll get on with it. You. Yes, you. Thank you for your wonderful support. I have been over the moon with your comments and feedback. You have all been absolutely more than I could ever ask for, and I am so incredibly thankful for each and every one of you. Thank you so much for reading!
I hope you enjoy! This one's for you, and it's ready to take you away!
To say that Link enjoyed the rest of his time in Kakariko would be an understatement. In the following weeks he spent there, he found himself settling into village life wearing an eternal smile. His tensions from his night with Izer retreated into the corners of his mind, and his pains — both mental and physical — vanished with the warm summer sunshine that blessed the village. By the time he was set to leave, he almost didn't want to go.
As the days went on, Link's leg healed remarkably fast. Dorian had estimated nearly a month's recovery time, but after a week, Link went from limping with support, to walking on his own at the end of a fortnight. Impa mentioned that he might have had a little help in his recovery; Link wasn't sure what to make of it, but he counted his blessings nonetheless.
Incredible as his recovery was, his leg wasn't completely restored — he felt the slightest hesitation in his joint when he extended his knee. Knowing this, Paya forced him to sit most nights, but he didn't complain. It was nice to slow down a bit.
But it wasn't all relaxation for him. Village life marched on, as did Link's restlessness. Before he could drive himself insane cooped up in Impa's house, he insisted on cleaning whenever she'd let him, helping with laundry, and cooking meals with Paya. He found that he had a knack for cooking, and with her help, began to keep a recipe book. She made sure to fill it with a few of her personal favorites.
Over time, the rest of the village gradually warmed up to him as well. His conquest of the Yiga had not gone unsaid — word traveled quickly, and Link became somewhat of a curiosity, watched by all and spoken to by a brave few. Some waved at him in passing. Others gave him faint smiles. Meanwhile, the painter, Pikango, extended his stay in the village due to his newfound fascination for Link. When Link wasn't watching, he would break out his sketchbook and draw him. Impa took notice and requested a few of his sketches for safekeeping.
Link's rapport with the Sheikah had certainly improved, but the highlight of his stay was no doubt his friendship with Cottla. The girl quite literally became his shadow, scampering alongside him wherever he went. Dorian didn't mind in the slightest; day after day, he beamed at them from his post, happy to see his daughter at play, and grateful that Link had found some peace.
When the two of them weren't playing pretend with her toys, they were splashing each other at Lantern Pond or shouting from the mountaintops, entertained by the echoes of their voices. By the light of Link's bones, they spent their nights collecting fireflies or playing hide and seek in the dark. Link always lost that one. The more he played with her, the more he grew to respond to both his own name and "Funny". It was a breath of fresh air to be considered fun rather than horrifying.
One of Cottla's favorite pastimes was sitting on his shoulders and putting flowers in his hair. They were doing just that one late afternoon when Link decided that it was time for him to move on.
After another day of play, they had settled under the shade of the sakura tree near the pumpkin patch. Listening to the churning of the nearby waterwheel, Link savored the earthy air in his lungs, holding a pile of flowers aloft in his hand for her. Cottla hummed a tune he didn't know while she plucked up the sakura blossoms from his palm and slid them into his crimson hair.
"How do I look, Cottla?" he asked with a grin. "Do I look pretty?"
"So pretty!" she cheered. "Prettier than Daddy!"
A snort blasted out of his nose. "What?" he chuckled, envisioning Dorian with flowers in his sideburns. "You're silly."
"Hee hee hee!" she snickered.
He remained still while she continued to accessorize him. Looking out over the village, his eyes found a plume of smoke rising beyond the rooftops. Someone was already cooking up dinner. He tried to test the air for what it could be, but his nose only found the sweet scent of the flowers in his hair.
His mind began to wander as he sat. To think that two weeks before he had broken Dorian's arm and gotten himself thrown into Impa's attic. He almost couldn't fathom how it had all lead up to that moment. His introduction to the Sheikah had certainly been rocky, but in spite of the bumps, he wouldn't have traded it for anything — not even his experience with the Yiga.
It had changed him. All of it. He just prayed it was for the better.
A lot had happened in a fortnight. As he continued to think back, he remembered why he had come to the village in the first place, why he had left the Great Plateau. It seemed so long ago. Almost as if jogging his brain, King Rhoam's words returned to him, reminding him of the task he had entrusted him with.
Finish what was started. The fate of Hyrule rests with you.
Link's knee twitched, his smile fading. What a burden to bear. The fate of Hyrule, of all the people living in it — including those in Kakariko. His stay in the village had been exactly what he needed after a turbulent introduction to the land. It had been a chance to make allies, to rest — physically, mentally, and perhaps spiritually. It had been wonderful, but it had also been two long weeks since he had given his task some thought. Two long weeks of relaxation for him… and, no doubt, two long weeks of strife for Zelda in Hyrule Castle.
His jaw ground, a pang of guilt searing his stomach. Suddenly it all seemed so… careless of him. He had needed that relaxation, but he had stayed long enough. Hyrule was counting on him. Zelda was counting on him. He couldn't defeat Calamity Ganon from the comforts of the village.
It was time. He decided he'd spend one more night with the Sheikah, gather up supplies, and leave for the wild in the morning. To exactly where, he wasn't sure, but he'd figure it out.
He was so wrapped up in making plans that he almost didn't hear Cottla when she spoke to him.
"Funny?"
He blinked, coming out of himself. He turned his head slightly. "Yes, sweetie?"
She slumped into him and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Can you sleep at my house?"
He froze, his heart oozing at her request. Now that he had made his mind up to leave, her words almost wounded him. He knew she would be the most difficult to bid goodbye to, but perhaps spending his last night with her would make things a bit easier?
A tender smile found his face. "I'd love to. We need to ask your dad first, though, okay?" He patted her knee, continuing, "Do you want to ask him now?"
She perked up and bounced excitedly on his shoulders. "Yeah, yeah! Let's find Daddy!"
"All right," he grinned, holding her steady and getting to his feet.
At that time of day, Dorian was normally at his post by Impa's staircase. Link kept a casual pace as he carried Cottla with him toward the heart of the village. When the pair eventually arrived, they found Dorian missing, Cado standing guard alone.
"Hello, Cado," Link greeted. "You haven't seen Dorian, have you?"
Cado stared, brows crunched, at the flowers in his hair for a moment. A faint smile flickered across his lips before he pointed his thumb toward the nearby general store. The store's porch connected to an outdoor deck equipped with a cooking pot and seating area. Link peered over, recognizing the figures of Dorian and his eldest daughter Koko bending over the pot.
"He's over there," Cado replied. "Finished his shift early."
Link nodded and smiled. "Thanks." As he strode away, Cottla waved Cado goodbye.
She announced their arrival before Link had even made his way over. "DADDY! KOKO! HI!"
Their heads snapped up. Dorian, a spoon in-hand, immediately grinned upon seeing the two of them, while Koko gave a small wave and returned her attention to the steaming pot. She proceeded to dump a bowl of diced pumpkin into it.
Dorian straightened as they came to face him. "Link! Cottla! Good to see you. Having fun, I see," he chuckled, gesturing to Link's accessories.
Link only managed to reply with a grin, as Cottla replied for him. "Daddy, can Funny sleep at my house?" she asked, grabbing his horns like reins and kicking her feet. "Can he? Pleeeaaase?"
Dorian exchanged a glance and a shrug with Link. "Well, I don't see why not. How about it, Link? Perhaps you'd like to join us for dinner, and, uh… a… sleepover?"
Link suppressed a laugh, nodding. "I'd be honored. Thank you."
Cottla, needless to say, was pleased to hear it. "Yayyy!" she cheered, bounding against his shoulders.
"It's settled, then," Dorian said, aiming the spoon at him. "We'll set a place for you. Hope you haven't gotten sick of pumpkin soup, yet. I'll call you when dinner's ready?"
"Sounds good," Link replied. As Dorian turned toward the pot, Link's decision reared in his mind, goading him to speak up. He had to tell them sometime — preferably tonight.
"Er, Dorian?" Link added, a tad shyly, pulling his attention back. "I have something I need to discuss with you, and Impa and Paya — maybe Cado, as well." Dorian's head cocked to the side, his brows furrowed as Link went on, "It's something you all should know. Perhaps we could talk about it over dinner?"
Dorian searched through his face for a moment. He wasn't sure what Link was getting at. Slowly, he said, "Very well… I'll invite them, too. We'll see you all at my place, then?"
"Yeah. See you then," Link responded, his stomach fluttering for some reason.
Dorian and Koko busied themselves with dinner while Cottla steered Link off to play some more. He endeavored to keep out of his own head while they hunted for crickets, but he was anxious to tell the Sheikah his decision. Though he knew it wasn't the case, he felt as though he were betraying their hospitality by leaving. He knew they would understand, but all the same, he hated to leave. He had grown to call the valley walls home and the people around him his friends.
Friends. What a concept for someone with a face like his.
Thankfully for his irrational thoughts, dinner didn't take long to cook, and Impa, Paya, and Cado all agreed to Dorian's invitation. As the sun began to set beyond the mountains, so did the seven of them at Dorian's dinner table. It was a little cramped in the smaller house, but the warmth of everyone's company made things intimate. They chatted and laughed over hearty bowls of Koko's creamy pumpkin soup, the earthy Sheikah tea that Paya brewed, and a slew of freshly-baked egg tarts Cado brought along for dessert. By the time they were finished eating, Koko and Cottla's heads were beginning to droop.
Dorian excused himself to put them to bed, setting up a screen between them and the dining area. When he returned to the table, everyone had fallen strangely quiet.
Link fidgeted on his cushion, chewing his lip. He wasn't sure how to begin. In the meantime, Impa's gaze wandered, lingering on him for a moment. Her eyes tightened at his visible discomfort.
"So… either dinner was absolutely wonderful, or we have something on our minds," she mused. "Anyone care to share?" As she said so, her eyes lingered on Link.
Nobody said anything for a moment or two. Finally, Link mustered up the courage to speak, straightening and taking a breath. He wrestled with himself for a second, looking everyone in the eye before he turned his head and gazed at the partition obscuring Dorian's daughters.
Turning back, he finally said with a sigh, "I just wanted to thank you all for having me here. I can't thank you enough for everything, but I think it's time that I… I move on."
A solemn air settled upon the table, weighing them down. Beside him, Paya's shoulders sank and Dorian and Cado stiffened. Link's skin itched at his own news — he wasn't sure what else to say. Should he apologize? No, that didn't feel right.
All he could really do was give a shrug. "...It's time," he murmured.
Thankfully, Impa always knew what to say. She offered him a soft smile. "I figured as much," she responded quietly. "We can't keep you here forever. Fate won't allow it."
"But you will stay one more night, won't you?" Cado asked, his brows knit together. "You shouldn't be wandering Hyrule at night. It's dangerous out there."
"Of course," Link agreed. "One more night. Then I'm leaving first thing in the morning." He looked to Impa, continuing, "I'll need to get my bags back, if I could."
She nodded. "Certainly. I'll make sure they're well-stocked for the road ahead. We have plenty of provisions for you. It's the least we can do."
His heart warmed at her gesture. "Thank you, Impa, but you really don't have to. You've already done too much for me."
"Oh, but I wantto," she smiled. "We want to. Besides, everything you brought with you went bad a long time ago. You'll need the finest Kakariko produce to get you on your way again. It's no trouble at all. I'll speak to Trissa about it."
"And you can take your recipe book, too!" Paya added brightly. She quickly realized she had spoken with too much gusto, her cheeks flushing in the candlelight. "I-I mean… if you think you need it..."
Link nodded, reassuring her. "I'll need it. I'll definitely want to take some of your recipes on the road." He gestured to his empty soup bowl and turned to Dorian, musing, "Koko has a gift. I'll miss her cooking."
Another bloom of guilt sprung in Link's chest at Dorian's shadowy eyes and withered frown. "I'm going to miss your girls, Dorian," he began, his voice coarse. He then turned to others, continuing, "I'm going to miss all of you."
Dorian recaptured his attention when he murmured, "As will we. We haven't had a visitor like you in a long time." Link wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing, but he dismissed the thought.
"Yes, you will certainly be missed," Impa confirmed. "More than you probably realize. Perhaps, before you leave, we can give you a few things to remember us by?" she added, clasping her hands on the table. "Consider them gifts from all of us."
Link turned his head toward her, puzzled. What else could she have for him?
She went on, "I was planning on giving these to you before you left, so I figure now is as good a time as any. Unfortunately, I left them at my house." She winked at her granddaughter, requesting, "Paya, dear, you remember where we keep that old heirloom. Could you bring it?"
Paya's eyes glittered. She knew exactly what she was talking about. She rose from her place, nodding. "Of course, grandmother."
Impa stopped her before she could dart out of the house, adding, "Oh, and grab a scarf and some of Purah's old goggles, as well. He'll need those."
Paya replied with another nod, taking up a lantern and disappearing out the door.
"Impa…" Link breathed. "You've given me too much. I can't accept anything else. Really."
She leaned forward, a glint in her eye. "Oh, no — you'll want this. After all, it belonged to you — and only you — one hundred years ago. You deserve to have it back."
Link blinked, his brows perking. Cado and Dorian followed suit. Link couldn't think of anything that would warrant safeguarding for a century. But then again, he couldn't remember much of anything from back then.
"Me?" he gaped. "What could you have kept that long?"
Impa chuckled. "You'll know it when you see it."
Paya must have sprinted to and from the house, for she returned quickly, out of breath. Tucking her cargo close, she stole back inside to rejoin them. Impa cleared away the dishes from the tabletop, allowing Paya to place a stack of objects before Link.
For a moment, all he could process was the pale scarf and the pair of thick, golden goggles with electric-blue lenses atop the pile. He was already grateful for them — they would do well to hide his face. But as he looked beyond them to the garment they rested upon, his eyes widened, his brain beginning to swirl with recollection.
Without warning, Link's head rushed. His eyes drank in the vibrant cerulean of the piece of clothing, almost as though they were starved for it. He suddenly found himself whisked off to a room with white walls, lined with mirrors. He knelt before two figures dressed in rich, regal blue and gold. Though he couldn't make out their faces, he instantly recognized their voices. A man and a young woman. They were praising him — the man with pride, the young woman with deference — offering him a gift to symbolize his place within the Royal Family.
Link seemed to drop back into his body with a thud that stole his breath. "My… old tunic…?" he gasped, reaching out with shaking fingers and picking it up.
The material didn't feel as though it had withstood a century — it was still soft and breathable, lined with decorative Hylian embellishments and paired with an undershirt and smooth, leather gauntlets.
"A tunic fit for a Champion," Impa said. "Perhaps your memories aren't all lost?"
He wet his lips, nodding rapidly. "I-I remembered… something. Maybe… maybe the day I got this?"
Impa smiled, her own mind taking her back. "It was a historic day. Princess Zelda made that tunic herself — it will fit no one but you." Knowing that, he gripped it tighter, listening with awe. "After the Great Calamity, she left it with me for safekeeping. Now that you're leaving us, I thought you ought to look the part."
He snorted, his head sinking. His hand traveled up to his bone mask, where his fingers traced along his incisors. "As much as I can, anyway…"
A silence settled upon them for a moment. "I think that ought to be your next step, Link," Impa mused, recapturing his gaze. "You must seek out answers to this… condition you have found yourself in. I'm afraid we can't be much help in this regard, but I may know someone who can help."
His head snapped up at that. "Wait — really?!"
She gave a small shrug. "Perhaps. Someone at the research lab in Hateno Village might be able to examine you. The technology we left behind is still alive and well there. Perhaps they can find a way to cleanse you of this and restore your former self?"
A newfound fire stoked Link's stomach from the ashes of his reality. He straightened in his place, stating, "I'll take that chance. I'll head straight there tomorrow. I… I have to do something." His eyes traveled to the bones in his fingers, glowing in the candlelight. "If it got into me… then we have to be able to take it out, right?"
He swallowed, his stomach souring. He ran a hand through his hair. "If we can take it out." The notion of that was nothing short of nauseating, but he refused to explore it.
Dorian's hand appeared on his wrist, stopping him from imagining the worst. He knew the beast that slept inside him; he gave Link as confident a nod as he could give. "You can. Nothing is impossible. You'll find a way."
Impa went on, pulling him out of the mire of his worries. "Then we have our heading. Hateno is a bit far from here, but your Sheikah Slate should be able to guide you. I bet they can take a look at it, as well." Her gaze softened, somewhat soothing Link's anxieties. "It isn't the same device Zelda left for you. It's… changed. But even in its current state, I still believe it is the link between today and the past. I may not know what secrets it holds, but you must not fear them, whatever they turn out to be. It needs you as much as you need it."
Link suddenly felt the Slate's presence where it lay, tucked under his coat. It seemed to warm his hip at the mention of it. Ignoring it, he gave a silent nod toward Impa. The Slate was yet another mystery he carried with him. He just hoped that whoever lived at the research lab could figure out what he had done to it back on the Plateau to make it so… obsessed with him.
Now that he had his next destination in mind, he felt a tad more prepared to face whatever came at him. He appreciated Impa's guidance, as well as the support of the Sheikah. He didn't know where he'd be without them. Again, leaving them would prove difficult. But he'd cross that bridge when he came to it.
By the time Impa had passed along her gifts and advice, dinner was long over and the night well into its throes. Conversation had exhausted itself; everyone seemed to realize things were about to change rather quickly, what with Link leaving. In anxious silence, they all pitched in and tidied up Dorian's table, bidding each other goodnight and heading back to their homes.
Link set out one of Dorian's extra futons while he put away the partition near the bed. Koko and Cottla were sound asleep; Dorian carefully climbed into bed with them, waiting for Link to settle in before he blew out a candle.
"Get some rest, now, Link. You have a big day tomorrow," he murmured.
"Yeah," Link breathed, his stomach writhing. He hugged his tunic to his chest where he lay. "Will do."
He didn't sleep soundly that night, but he chalked that up to nerves. His mind raced with nonsensical smears of the past as he slipped in and out of sleep. Sometime in the night, Cottla woke up and remembered he was sleeping over. He couldn't help but smile when he felt her sneak into his futon and cuddle up to him. Her little presence somehow helped him drift off to a more restful sleep. Still, he found himself wide awake long before one of Cado's cuccos cawed in the new dawn. He did his best not to wake Cottla as he crept out of his sheets and began to get ready for the day.
Shedding his Sheikah clothes was more trying than he anticipated. He had grown comfortable in them — they had become sort of a symbol of his grafting into the village. Sentiments aside, he removed them and donned his cerulean tunic, as well as a pair of trousers and boots. The whole ensemble fit him like a glove, hugging him in the proper places, yet still allowing him breathing room. He had a feeling they would serve him well.
Now that the tunic and its Champion had reunited, his brain swam against a ghostly sense of nostalgia for a time he couldn't remember. It was… rather exciting, if he was being honest. Like he was coming back together, again. Attaching the Sheikah Slate to his belt, he gave himself a motivational breath before he tiptoed his way toward the door.
But something stopped him. "...Leaving early, huh?" came a scruffy voice from behind him.
He whirled around, finding Dorian sitting up in bed. He inspected Link from head to toe, his eyes weighed down with exhaustion and his mouth set in a weary frown. It appeared he hadn't slept well, either.
Link paused, nodding weakly. "I don't know how long it'll take to get to Hateno," he murmured.
Dorian sighed. "Well, get a move on, then. I'll meet you out there. These two will want to say goodbye." As Link swung open his door, Dorian added, "Hey. That tunic suits you. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
A smile found Link's lips at that. "Thanks, Dorian."
The sun was still asleep behind the horizon, but the pale, crisp dawn was already awake. As Link left Dorian's house and got his last looks at the sleepy village, he made his way into the heart of Kakariko, where a few figures were already waiting for him. Impa and Paya. Considering the hour, he was amazed they had beaten him to the punch — Impa especially.
Link's belongings lay on the grass; his packs, his shields and weapons, the paraglider, his old quiver. Even his new set of goggles and his scarf. Paya was busy stuffing bundles of supplies into his bags when Impa caught sight of him. She raised her arm and waved him over.
When he came within earshot, she melted at the sight of him, crooning, "My, that brings back memories! I remember when I first saw you in that garb. The kingdom threw quite a celebration to commemorate your knighthood, but oh, you were so modest."
He scratched an itch on the back of his head and blushed a little. "How do I look? As good as back then?"
She beamed at him. "Even better."
As they spoke, Paya shoved the last of Link's provisions into his bags. Securing their straps, she rose and joined the two of them, her hands behind her back as she informed him, "Um… you're all packed and ready to go, Link."
Link peered over her shoulder at his bags. They bulged from the abundance of supplies Impa had gathered for him from around the village. He didn't know exactly what she had packed for him, but he was grateful all the same.
"You sure I can carry all that?" he chuckled. "You've spoiled me rotten."
Paya laughed lightly. "Well, if anyone deserves it… it's you."
They exchanged a sweet, brief stare before Paya brushed her hair behind her ear and tugged her gaze away.
Impa spoke up, interrupting them. "So, are you ready?"
Link nodded against the butterflies flitting around in his stomach. "As I'll ever be, I guess. I really hate to leave, but…"
She waved away his worries. "It's quite all right, Link. We understand. You can't let us stop you from fulfilling your duties." Pausing, she looked past Link up the hill, waving to someone he couldn't see. "Looks like your goodbye party is arriving."
He turned his head. Walking toward them were Dorian, with Cottla slung over his shoulder, Koko at his side, and, to Link's surprise, Cado. Link hadn't been expecting Cado, but sure enough, he strode alongside Dorian and joined the crowd, concealing something behind his back.
Link paused, gazing upon the group of Sheikah before him. They'd all played a role in his time in the village in one way or the other. It seemed that everyone was there that needed to be. Like it or not, it was time for goodbyes. He sighed, not sure where to even begin.
Thankfully, Impa ushered in his farewell for him. "I think I speak for all of us when I say that it's been an absolute pleasure having you," she announced tenderly. "We wish you only the best. Now, come here." She didn't hesitate to motion him to her level and gathered him into her arms, holding him for a long moment.
"Never forget who you are," she said into his ear. "You're still our Champion. Always will be. Should the journey make you weary, know that you are always welcome here."
He sighed into her coat, his heart bleeding in his chest. "Thank you… I'll have to take you up on that, sometime."
She chuckled, patting his back. "We'll look forward to it."
It took quite a bit of willpower to release her, but he managed it. Next in line was Paya, who looked about ready to burst. Her eyes were wide and shimmery and her cheeks were flushed. She seemed to be choking something down.
Swallowing whatever-it-was, she bade him a shaky, "G-good luck out there, Link. Thanks for… for everything."
"You're very welcome," he replied reverently. "Thanks for believing in me."
They both paused for an awkward moment, gazes locked. She didn't even give him the chance to brace himself when she suddenly threw herself at him and collected him into a suffocating hug. Shocked for only a second, he returned the favor, wrapping his arms around her and squeezing her. Either that was his own heartbeat bashing against his ribs, or Paya's — he couldn't tell. They held each other for a solid ten seconds before Paya realized what she was doing and gave a squeak. She abruptly let go, scooting towards her grandmother, her face a vivid scarlet.
A giggle bubbled in Link's throat, but he suppressed it. He had to wring out his broad smile before he faced the next person waiting to say goodbye.
Cado. Link wasn't sure what to make of this. In all his time in Kakariko, he hadn't gotten particularly close to the man. They spoke every now and then, but nothing too familiar. All he could do was face him with a friendly expression, unsure what to expect.
Cado seemed to be choosing his words with the utmost care; he hesitated to speak for a time, merely searching through Link's face. Finally, he spat it out. "I'm afraid I wasn't very kind to you…" he muttered, pursing his lips. "But you have my respect. And my coop has never looked better, so, erm…"
Drifting off, Cado removed what he had been hiding behind his back. Link's eyes ran along the curved silhouette of the sleek, black hunter's bow Cado presented him with.
"Take this," Cado said, holding it out to him. "For your travels. May your arrows always fly true."
Link, stupefied by his gift, took it with humility. It was nothing short of a hand-carved work of lethal art, and it was the one piece of equipment he was missing. It would certainly be put to good use.
"Cado, I… thank you," he marveled. "Thank you very much!"
Cado nodded, growing somewhat uncomfortable. "Don't mention it." He didn't look particularly interested in a hug, so Link let that one slide.
Dorian stepped forward, then, anticipating his place in line. He cradled Cottla against his shoulder with his good arm, Koko clinging to his leg. He gazed upon Link with an odd blend of pride, sadness, and awe mixed upon his face.
Link didn't hesitate to give Dorian a hug of his own, minding his sling. "Thanks for everything, Dorian," he murmured into his shoulder. "I'm... sorry for everything, too," he added, quieter.
"Likewise," Dorian replied lowly. "You take care of yourself. And don't be stupid, all right? You're better than that. Better than me."
They chuckled in unison, Link responding, "I won't be. Thanks."
Pulling back, his heart immediately clenched when he was reminded of the final members of his lineup. He smiled at Koko, yet stiffened under Cottla's heavy, sleepy gaze as Dorian lowered her to the ground.
Link knelt, already fighting back a well of tears at the sight of the two girls. He looked to Koko, murmuring, "Thank you for feeding me, Koko. Your pumpkin soup was the best I've ever had. You take care of your family, okay?"
She nodded quietly.
Then, with dread, he faced Cottla.
It was quite early for her, but she could still tell that something was wrong. The sparkle in her big, rich brown eyes had faded, leaving them puffy and misty, studying his face with confusion.
"Cottla…" he began, his voice breaking. He couldn't seem to muster up the words. He could only choke out her name before his voice cowered back in his throat.
She cocked her head, worrying, "You're sleepy, Funny. You should go sleep."
A strangled snort of weak laughter escaped him. She was adorable in every way. Oh, how could he leave her?
"I-I can't," he stammered, shaking his head. "Funny has to go, sweetie."
Her bottom lip shot out — it destroyed him. Thankfully for his own misery, she didn't cry. If she did, he would have utterly fallen apart.
"Why?" she wondered.
A rattled sigh eased out of his lungs. "Because lots of nice people need my help."
The little girl didn't cry. She didn't even say anything. Instead, she sniffled and padded forward, hopping into his awaiting arms. He automatically drew her in, pressing her against his chest and cupping her head in his palm.
"It's okay," she whispered. "I can play with Mommy until you come back. Come play soon, okay?"
Her response throttled his throat until he could scarcely breathe. He eventually managed to wheeze out an, "Okay," as he let a flood of tears run out of his eye sockets.
No amount of time holding her would have been enough to tide him through leaving her behind. But he had to let go of her eventually. Willing his entire body to release her, he knelt for a moment, composing himself while Dorian scooped her back up. Link wiped his eyes and endeavored to shake it off while he shouldered his packs.
Before he officially bade everyone goodbye, he made sure to don the final pieces of his ensemble. He wrapped his new scarf around his face and secured it above his bony nose with his goggles. To complete the look, he fastened his black hood and pulled it over his head.
Feeling slightly silly wearing a full set of headgear, he faced the Sheikah with a shrug. "Well… this is it," he managed to muster.
Several sets of misty eyes held him for a moment. Impa's eyes in particular swam with hope and memories as she looked upon her corrupted hero, a broad smile taking her face. Nodding, she said, "Farewell, Link. May the Goddess smile upon you."
With her blessing — and perhaps the Goddess', if he was lucky enough — Link waved, turned, and began to make his way out of Kakariko.
Several voices called to him as he walked, wishing him health and safe travels. Though bittersweet tears stung his eyes, he couldn't wipe the smile off his face as he left the village at his back. His breath ballooned in his chest, his posture strong and his spirits soaring. For the first time since he woke from his slumber, Link walked with a spring in his step.
The first leg of his journey was a familiar one. He backtracked along the road that wound out into the wild, emerging from the seclusion of the mountains and onto the cliffside. Gusts of morning wind swept through his hood as he overlooked the valley at the foot of the Dueling Peaks. From that vantage point, he could make out the stable he had passed two weeks prior far down the road — the stable acted as gatekeeper to the vast expanse of plains beyond.
He paused as he eyed the stable, wondering if he ought to ask for directions, and perhaps find himself a horse. After all, Impa hadn't mentioned exactly how far Hateno was, nor how long it would take to travel there.
But his heart stuttered at the mere thought of interacting with others. Yes, he had a means of disguise, now, so he wouldn't send them running for the hills, but he still wasn't too keen on meeting strangers. It had already been bad enough when he first arrived in Kakariko. Instead of tempt fate, he decided he would walk. How far could Hateno be, anyway?
Though he knew the tools at his disposal, he hesitated only just in consulting the map on the Sheikah Slate; he was still struggling to comprehend its newfound… personality, dreading what might greet him should he interact with it.
He finally gave in to his crippling fear of social interaction. Biting his lip, he held the Slate up. He exchanged a glance with the crimson eye on its screen before he timidly requested of it, "Show me Hateno Village."
The Slate happily obeyed, much to his unease. It gave a chirp and displayed its map of Hyrule for him, highlighting both his location, as well as his destination. Link gaped a little. Impa hadn't been exaggerating — Hateno was situated near the edge of the continent, nestled by the sea and far from Kakariko. He judged that it would take at least the entire day, well into the night, and perhaps the following morning to walk the distance.
A horse would have made the journey easier — not to mention a lot quicker — but he stubbornly refused. No, he would walk to Hateno. Enjoy the scenery and all that. Though he didn't know it then, he would thank himself for his stubbornness later. Had he secured a horse, he would have bypassed a vital revelation on the road.
And so Link set off, on foot, toward Hateno. Ignoring the invitation of the stables, he veered left at a fork in the road and began to follow it due east, striding along the outskirts of the plains. The valley sighed around him with the healthy breeze that curled off of the Dueling Peaks, brushing along the waist-high grass in shining waves. His path was dappled with colossal shadows from the clouds meandering overhead.
As he smiled amidst the morning cascading into cadence around him, he came to terms with leaving Kakariko, his guilt sweeping away with the wind. He would miss the Sheikah — he already did — but he was where he needed to be. At ease with his circumstances, Link pressed on, the fresh, dewy smell of the grass energizing his blood.
Before long, the flat grassland began to warp as it proceeded along the road, coming to a head in rough hills intermingled with shallow puddles of water. A few trees stood about, as did the time-beaten remains of several brick structures as they struggled out of the grass. The sight of them saddened Link a bit; he briefly wondered what had once stood there. It was impossible to tell due to their deterioration. He had all the supplies he needed, so he didn't bother scrounging through them like he had at the abbey.
Link soon found himself in an entirely new area after only walking for a few minutes. He peeked down at his map, wondering if he was heading the right way. Sure enough, he was, and he seemed to be approaching a landmark ahead. His brow crinkled when he read the landmark's name displayed on the screen. Fort Hateno.
A fort? He hadn't been told about a fort. Curious, his eyes snapped up, scrounging the area for any kind of structure he hadn't been paying attention to. The more Link ran his eyes over the transforming terrain, the more he began to realize that he wasn't the only one occupying it.
The only living one, at least. His stomach shifted when he recognized the bizarre, broken-down bodies of a small army of Guardians strewn across the rugged plains. There had to have been several dozen, at least, all blackened by the ages and smothered with moss. Some lay above ground while others appeared to be in the process of being swallowed by it. He came to the grim realization that he had walked into a mechanical graveyard.
His pace slowed as he strode between their silent, looming frames. When King Rhoam had explained the Guardians to him, he told him they moved autonomously. It made sense to him, but he had never envisioned them with legs. After all, the Guardians he had found on the Great Plateau had lacked them entirely. But as he walked, Link came to see that the machines did indeed have legs — roughly six long, spindly appendages ending in taloned feet. Some clawed to the sky as if reaching for something.
As he reached the heart of the graveyard, he discovered what it was. The majority of the Guardians lay clustered along the face of a crumbling relic of a bygone era: a broad bulwark protecting the mouth of a canyon, crowned with sharpened logs and baring a rusted, wrought iron gate. Large as the Guardians were, they had failed to penetrate the fort. It stood almost invisibly above the overgrowth, camouflaged by the ornaments of nature.
Link paused, marveling at the might of Fort Hateno. Even at that distance, he shrank in its shadow. He wanted to get a better look at it — he eagerly pressed forward, only for his muscles to seize up when a familiar, haunting sound found his ears.
He hadn't forgotten it. He never would. The deep, echoing chime of a machine breathing back to life. Slowly, he brought his head about to the machines surrounding him on all sides. He remained remarkably calm and motionless when he found himself under the scrutiny of three individual Guardians.
Just like on the Great Plateau, they didn't fire upon him. No, they merely stared, enraptured by him. Though he hid his corrupted appearance, they nevertheless knew what ran in his veins. It was the same substance that surged along their circuits. It had called them out of their sleep. Link endeavored to calm his racing heart as he stood under their gazes, unsure of how to proceed.
He never got the chance to plan out his next move, for it was made for him. His heart dropped into his stomach when a voice severed the rigid, silent atmosphere, wrenching his attention, as well as the Guardians', over to its source.
"HOW ARE YOU DOING THAT?!" someone cried.
Link had been so engrossed in the Guardians that he hadn't seen the man stood at the top of the fort. He had watched his approach through a spyglass, and promptly burst with hysterics upon seeing the Guardians' reaction to Link.
All at once, the Guardians forgot about their corrupted companion and aimed their reticles at the man on the fort. Link, seizing the opportunity, ducked his head and sprinted forward, screaming, "GET DOWN!"
The man gave a yipe and ducked just as one of the Guardians unleashed a streak of bright, crackling energy at the space where his head had been. The beam sailed past its mark and into the side of the valley the fort guarded, shearing off a chunk of stone beyond the wall. Link lost his footing when the ground shook — he stumbled his way through the fort's gateway, landing on his face in the dirt.
With his back turned to the Guardians outside, he had barely a moment to register one of the others firing another beam. Before he could roll to the side, someone grabbed hold of his arm and wrenched him out of harm's way. The beam rocketed mere inches from Link — the heat from it warmed his skin through his clothes. From the safety of the fort, both Link and his savior watched the second Guardian beam sail through the gateway and punch a distant tree over with a spectacular crash.
They panted for a moment in the aftermath. Finally, their gazes met. The man that had saved Link looked rather scholarly — his collar was perched high, much like his greying eyebrows, and his eyes darted about, hungry for knowledge, behind the lenses of his glasses. Those glasses lay skewed against his face after the Guardian fiasco, but the man quickly adjusted them, regaining his composure.
"My, that was close," he puffed, a wild grin on his face. "I'm used to getting shot at, but in all my years of study, I have never seen those Guardians react like that! Forgive my excitement, but that was incredible!"
Dusting off his pants, the man reached out his hand and offered it to Link to hoist him up. For a moment, Link froze, his fear from the Guardians transforming into fear of man. He wasn't sure, even with his disguise, how his interactions with this stranger would go. But after what they had just been through, he supposed he'd take a leap of faith — he took the man's hand and got to his feet, suppressing the urge to run off.
Link tucked his scarf further under his goggles. The man studied his strange coverings for a moment, proposing, "Tell me, what's your name, my goggle-eyed friend?"
"Er… Link," he replied, thrown off by the word friend spoken by a stranger."And you are?"
The man blinked, taking his chin back. "Wait — you don't know who I am?"
Truthfully, Link didn't know that many people, anymore. Not outside of Kakariko, at least. He slowly shook his head, his brows low over his wide eyes. "Well… no…?"
The man couldn't believe his ears. He scoffed, placing a hand on his chest. "No? Don't tell me you've never even HEARD of me! Oh, come on — everyone around here knows me. Are you new, or something? You must be."
Link shrugged. "You could say that," he mused.
The man sighed, disappointment clouding his eye. "Well, that figures. I'd probably remember a getup like that, anyway." He aimed a finger at Link's goggles, continuing, "You'd better remember my name, because it's not the last time you'll hear of it. I am Dr. Calip, researcher extraordinaire!" he proclaimed. "I've spent my life studying ancient history and technology. In fact, I was on the precipice of a groundbreaking discovery when you showed up. Those machines out in that field, the Guardians, they hold secrets you couldn't begin to comprehend!"
"You were studying the Guardians?" Link asked, motioning beyond the wall. "That's impressive — they're really dangerous."
Calip nodded proudly. "Indeed, but I live for the thrill of knowledge. Fascinating things, those machines. I can't tell you how many travelers they've sent packing. No one's passed through this end of the fort in years."
Without provocation, Calip leaned back and pressed his hand to his chin, inspecting Link. Link found himself shifting beneath his gaze. He had to convince himself several times that the man couldn't see through his disguise.
"...But you, my friend, are the first person I've seen pass through," Calip beamed. "By the skin of your teeth, yes, but even so — what an achievement. How in the world did you get those Guardians to just… watch you? It was like they knew you."
Link's blood chilled. He had a faint idea of why — there was no denying the Malice that ran through both of their inner workings. But he was certain if he told Calip, he would think he was insane; he could hardly understand it himself. Sparing himself the burden of explanation, Link shrugged it off.
"I have no idea, Doctor," he lied. "Maybe I just got lucky?"
"Well, now, I'd say luck is on our sides, today!" he beamed. "Now that you're here, I'm officially making you my assistant. I need you to do that again, Link — for science!" Without further ado, Calip took Link by the shoulder and steered him away from the fort and through a grove of trees. Link, stunned by his insistence, strode aimlessly alongside him. As they walked further along, Link spotted a log cabin tucked beside a slender waterfall ahead.
"Doctor," he began, not wishing to get sidetracked. "I'm sure your research will change the world, but I actually have someplace I need to be…"
Calip waved away his protests. "Don't worry, this shouldn't take long. I need to pick up your reward before we conduct my experiment. I always pay my assistants up front, you see."
When they arrived at the cabin, Calip made Link stay outside while he fetched something. For a moment, Link had expected Calip to grab some money for him — something he'd certainly need.
But no. When Calip returned, he shoved a banana into Link's hand as payment for his time. Link, stunned, held it limply in his upturned palm.
"Here — brain food," Calip smiled, patting Link's shoulder. "You look like you could use it."
"Er… thanks…?" He wasn't sure whether or not Calip had just insulted him. Either way, food was food. It wouldn't go to waste.
"No, friend, thank YOU! Now, then, off to the research site!" Calip announced, guiding Link away from the cabin.
The pair proceeded to leave Fort Hateno behind as they trekked around a bend, following the ebb and flow of a nearby stream. As they walked, Calip filled the air with stories of his studies, about how his current research project would shatter the world of ancient science. He removed a thin notebook from his back pocket and read Link his notes, telling him of a verse in an old text he had translated.
"This verse has the potential to unlock something incredible — I can feel it," he said, gripping his stubby pencil with determination. "I haven't been able to fully utilize it, however, as I've had to deal with the unfriendly reception of those Guardians. But you, Link — ho, ho, you can change that!"
Link's brows furrowed. "What does the verse say?" he wondered.
Calip had taken the words to heart by that point in his studies. Automatically, he rattled it off, "'When a dark light lies in the ancient one's eyes, pierce its leer to break the weir.'"
For some reason, the verse sent goosebumps down Link's neck. He wasn't sure if he was prepared for whatever this experiment turned out to be.
Clueless to Link's reaction, Calip went on, "To the untrained mind, it's little more than rhyming nonsense, but not to me. I have the location down-packed, and I know how to do it, but I lack the means to execute."
Calip then lead Link off of the beaten path of the trail and into an overgrown offshoot of the valley. The carpet of thick, waist-high grass bore a clear path through it that stretched deeper into the rocky glade. As they proceeded through, Calip's research site came into view. It was a rather surreal spot, boxed in from three sides by towering, impenetrable stone walls. A ring of trees encircled an open field dappled with mushrooms. At the center of the clearing sat a lone Guardian, dark and inactive.
Calip presented his site to Link, continuing, "This is where you come in, Link. All I need you to do is capture that Guardian's attention, and using any means you'd like, pierce its eye."
Link, his heart beginning to flit for some reason, swallowed a lump in his throat. "What will happen when I pierce its eye?" he wondered.
For a moment, Calip fell quiet. "I'm not positive, honestly, as the verse is a little vague on that, but whatever 'weir' will break, I'm sure it'll be something. Hey, that's all part of the fun of science, isn't it?"
Link couldn't pry his eyes from the lonely Guardian. "Yeah," he muttered, fixed in his spot.
When Link remained in place, Calip gave him a light shove. "Well? Go on, now. I paid you up front, didn't I?"
Unblinking, Link willed his leaden legs forward. He had grown curious, if not a bit anxious, at whatever the outcome of this venture would be, and that willed him through. Though he somewhat dreaded doing the deed, he began to consider his options of piercing the Guardian's eye. He didn't want to get too up close and personal with the machine, so he put a sword out of his mind. Then he remembered Cado's bow. Perfect. Carefully, he slid it off of his back, retrieved an arrow from his quiver, and nocked it in place.
He crept as carefully as he dared across the damp bed of grass beneath his feet. The Guardian remained quiet, seemingly growing taller the closer he advanced. As he passed through the gap between the ring of trees, his foot met a twig. Link stopped dead in his tracks, his heart nearly rending itself to shreds as the snap of the twig raked at the air.
Link's knees wobbled as the Guardian blinked to life, awoken by the sound. It's head rotated several degrees before it zeroed its gaze in on him. Just like the others, it merely stared.
As he gazed into its eye, Calip peered around from the cover of a tree, eyes peeled and his pencil at the ready. The Guardian was too entranced by Link to notice the doctor as Link raised his quivering arms, pulled back his bow string, and let the arrow fly into its iris.
The magenta light coursing through the Guardian sputtered, its segments whirling wildly. Link seemed to have overloaded it. To his surprise, it didn't react quite as bombastically as the Guardian he had destroyed on the Great Plateau. Instead of detonating like a bomb, this Guardian merely went dark, again. Puzzled, Link only had the time to bring his head around to gape at Calip when the ground began to rumble beneath them.
His eyes flitted wildly about his feet, searching for what was happening. He braced himself against the great trembling of the earth as it crescendoed into a molar-rattling quake that sent him, in spite of his stance, onto the ground. He leaned back, eyes wide and jaw dropped, as something began to sprout from beneath the ground — something large enough to upend the Guardian as it rose from below it.
Whatever-it-was shed sheets of dust as it climbed out of the grass, rising above the glade like a mountain. It soon left Link in its enormous shadow. Even through the unrelenting shaking, Link got a decent look at the structure. It resembled a cave, almost, with a yawning doorway and a flat, steepled top. He instantly realized it was of Sheikah design, recognizing its curling embellishments aglow with a mysterious blue light. That same blue light emanated from within it, as well, beckoning them inside.
At last, the structure ascended to ground level, and the quaking ceased. Link's body tingled, either from the shaking or his shock, he wasn't sure. He merely sat in his spot, dumbstruck, until Calip came shooting out from his cover, one hand tangled in his hair in disbelief.
"I can't believe it! I don't even know what it is, but I can't believe it!" Calip beamed. "This is huge! Come on, we have to go inside!"
Calip wasted no time in hauling Link to his feet. Link, both too numb and too invested to protest, went along with him as he shuffled forward and entered the strange structure.
As soon as they stepped inside, Calip coughed on the thick cloud of dust choking the air. The motes that scattered with his coughing glowed in the quiet light issuing from the back of the dim chamber they found themselves in. Link's head swam with déjà vu. The familiar patterns on the walls, the smooth stone floors… he had seen them all before in the Shrine of Resurrection.
Everything… except for what lay at the back of the room. Situated on an altar was an immense cell crafted from light, and it appeared to be housing something. A blurry figure sat inside it — Link couldn't make out what it was from a distance. He and Calip approached it in total silence, curiosity driving their feet.
"...What is this?" Link breathed, his eyes filled with the blue light.
"I don't know," Calip said. "Touch it."
Link had lost all sense of heed at that point, his awe consuming him. Reaching out, he gingerly tapped his fingertips on the cell. Incredibly, it was corporeal, its surface resembling glass. That being said, it wasn't like any glass Link had ever touched, before — it seemed to ripple like the surface of water when his fingers met it.
Something happened, then, something that Link was convinced he had imagined until Calip jumped. The cell flushed a frightening shade of magenta for a split-second before it flickered and died, exposing what it housed.
That was when the smell hit them: a thick, musty, aged smell that dried their sinuses. Their eyes fell upon the shriveled, mummified remains of a human being, seated cross-legged in the center of the altar. The mummy appeared to have once been male, as it lacked a shirt, but it wore a pair of threadbare pants that clung to its jutting hip bones. Lengthy curtains of wispy grey hair poured from the large conical hat that crowned his head, and he wore a veil over his face, emblazoned with a symbol Link knew too well.
The Sheikah eye.
The hairs on the backs of their necks sprung up when a reverent, disembodied voice drifted through the stale air. "To you who sets foot in this Shrine…" it breathed. "I am Maz Koshia. Welcome."
The two of them were too engrossed in searching for the mysterious voice's origin to notice the mummy's fingers twitch. His fist closed.
Link and Calip turned their heads toward each other, jaws open. Calip's eyes nearly bulged into his glasses as he whispered, "Which one of us is it talking to?"
Then something moved out of the corners of their eyes. They both jerked their heads around to find that the mummy had risen from the pedestal, and was standing. He was nothing less than an ancient monument; he towered above them.
None of them moved for a suffocating second.
Quietly, the monk spoke in the same voice that had welcomed them. He turned to Link. "Him."
Calip promptly went stiff as a board, the sight of the monk crushing the breath out of him. Without so much as a gasp, he keeled back and hit the floor with a thud, leaving Link alone with the mummy.
Despite Link's stupefied staring, he greeted him with a reverence he didn't deserve. Calmly, the mummy pressed his skeletal hands together and leaned forward in a polite bow before him.
"I've been waiting for you."
OooooOOOOooohhh! What has Link stumbled upon?!
I just HAD to include Maz Koshia from the Champion's Ballad in this story. I opted to have just him instead of, like, 150 monks (believe me, I found every single one of them). The Shrines, while an awesome aspect of the game, are more of a game mechanic than a story element, so that's why I've left the majority of them out. As for what Link will discover in this Shrine, stay tuned and find out...
And Cottla! My heart! I almost lost it writing her scenes. And for any of you worrying, no, Paya and Link won't end up together in this story. I love the girl to death, but my ultimate power couple is Link and Zelda. :)
Anyway, how are you liking these longer chapters? Too long? Would you prefer I break them up a little more? Or are we comfy with this? Either way, expect a new chapter once a week. I'll push my tush in gear to keep giving you updates. You guys totally deserve it! You rock!
Have any comments? Predictions? Ideas? I'm all ears! I can't wait to take you with me on this journey. I'll see you next chapter!