Author's Note: I've been working on this story for quite some time and wanted to start posting before the new game is released. This is based on "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild." While the story is not yet complete, everything has already been mapped out. No new elements from "Tears of the Kingdom" will be added (unless something fits in exceptionally well with what I already have in mind). Chapters may range between 2000 to 5000 words. I apologize for the inconvenience.

Chapter 1

It was a dreary day in the Akkala region the first time it happened, dark clouds releasing their burden in a heavy drizzle across the land. Birds that had roosted during the storm took flight as the tower that had risen from the ground a month prior at the top of the abandoned citadel started to move again, though not as dramatically as before.

Gears groaned to life as three prongs at the tip shifted into an upright position, pointing to the sky as the glowing core of the pillar itself changed from orange to blue. Data flowed over the guidance stone at the tower's peak in the form of ancient symbols, condensing into a drop of blue energy that fell onto the Sheikah slate inserted into the terminal below. A map of Hyrule appeared on the screen, the previously blank Akkala region now replaced with a topographic map. Once the data transfer was complete the slate went dark, flipping around and popping up to be removed from the terminal.

Link did just that, hooking the handle onto his belt as he moved toward the edge of the platform. A red bandana kept what light brown hair didn't reach his low ponytail out of his face, though both were soaked from the rain during his climb up the tower. His loose-fitting blue tunic and green pants were also drenched, clinging to him like a heavy second skin. Although cold and uncomfortable, he held off on changing into something dry. The citadel was located on a mountain summit, with the tower extending several floors higher still. The wind at that altitude discouraged any thoughts of waiting out the storm and his clothes would once again be soaked as soon as he pulled out his paraglider.

The swordsman glanced over the side as he approached the edge. Although the distance hid the toll time had taken on the ruins- moss-covered walls and vine-choked canons lining what remained of the battlements -the aftermath of the final assault was all too clear, even 100 years past. Crumbling walls, half-destroyed buildings, a few broken guardians strewn about- all swimming in a pool of malice. The poisonous bog stretched across the old paths between buildings, the dark purple energy pulsing and slithering across its surface almost making it seem alive. The black tar-like tendrils reaching out along every edge did nothing to dissuade the illusion.

Link absently rubbed his arm as he stared down, rough callouses catching on the bandages covering the limb. A misstep on rain-slick stone had ended with his right arm submerged to the elbow in the malice. Although it had burned fiercely at the time, it had since eased to a mild sunburn-like feeling. Regardless, it was not an experience he was eager to repeat.

He tore his eyes away from the destruction below him, looking for his next destination. The orange glow of a shrine not yet activated drew his eye, his lips turning up in a smile when he spied the enormous wooden horsehead nearby that seemed to be made from whatever scrap could be salvaged at the time. The stable would offer a warm and dry place to wait out the storm and possibly even catch a nap, if the weather forecast on the Sheikah slate were to be believed. Decision made, Link pulled out his paraglider and stepped off the edge.

The wooden frame snapped apart with the flick of a lever, pulling a durable cloth taut and jerking sharply in the swordsman's hands as it caught the air. It seemed as though he were barely moving, save for the wind whipping past, so far was the ground below. It still amazed him how fast he could travel like that, with nothing but the air to support him. And though he had no way to test it, he was certain his horse couldn't match that speed, even at a full gallop.

Despite the swiftness of his travel, it still took several long minutes for the stable to become fully visible and his arms were growing tired. However he had spotted a second shrine nestled within the mountain range his current destination was built in front of and visible only because of his still considerable height above the ground. After a brief deliberation he altered his course, reasoning the shrine by the stable would be easier to find again than the one hidden away.

It took a few agonizing minutes more to cross the jagged peaks marking the border of the Eldin Mountains, the temperature noticeably rising on the other side. The shrine was nestled in a large crevasse mere yards away from a hot spring. Link's eyes lit up at the sight, suddenly glad of his decision. His arms ached with the strain of hanging from the glider for so long and the heat rising from the bubbling water felt heavenly against his chilled skin. A nice long soak in the natural spring would do him a world of good.

He noted a crudely designed monster fort on the peak overlooking the shrine as he angled the glider into a sharper descent. It looked to be little more than two large platforms built around a long-dead tree with a spiral staircase. Though he could hear faint grunts and snarls of their guttural language, he couldn't quite make out the monsters through the heat haze from the spring. The lack of a horn announcing his presence indicated he was likewise hidden from them, so he decided it was safe to ignore them for the moment.

Link groaned as his feet finally touched the ground, dropping his paraglider in favor of shaking his hands until the feeling came back before stretching out his back and arms. Once proper circulation had been restored, he carefully folded and stowed the glider once more. A quick survey revealed the area around the shrine to be monster-free and the knight eagerly turned to enjoy a long over-due soak in the hot springs.

A dragon bone club appeared from out of nowhere, sailing toward his head and Link instinctively raised his arms to shield himself. He realized he was holding a spear in his hands at the same instant the dull thunk of bone-on-wood reached his ears, muscle memory angling the shaft to block the club as his mind struggled to understand what was going on. A black-skinned monster with large triangular ears and a pig-snout nose (where did the bokoblin come from?) screeched at him over their crossed weapons before pulling back for another strike. A quick jab with the spear (a dark wooden shaft with jagged bones tied on the end- where did he get a moblin-made spear?) forced the creature to back off further, giving Link a little breathing room as his eyes darted around, trying to process the situation in which he found himself.

Metal sheeting beneath his feet- sturdy, but mismatched and overlapping instead of lying flush; monster-made. Stairs to his left going down, clear of enemies. Stairs going up to his right, a blue-skinned bokoblin archer beside them. Coming down the stairs was another black-skinned bokoblin wielding a dragonbone spear almost identical to the one Link was holding. A huge black moblin followed closely on its heels, its long tongue lolling out of its mouth while its trunk-like muzzle bounced and swayed with its hurried movements, eyes gleaming with anticipation of the kill. It was wielding what could only be described as a slab of metal- almost as tall and wide as Link himself and several inches thick -attached to a handle. One solid strike would easily be enough to crush the swordsman's skull.

The odds were decidedly not in his favor and Link thought a hasty retreat was in order. He dropped the spear and reached for his bow, noting his sword was missing from his back. Filing that away for later, he ran to the edge as he pulled a shock arrow from his quiver and jumped. Twisting around and knocking the arrow in one fluid motion, he scarcely took the time to aim before firing it at the metal platform. The stilted shrieks of monsters being shocked indicated the arrow found its mark, although the knight was already slinging his bow over his shoulder and pulling out the paraglider. The contraption snapped apart with an audible fwap as the cloth caught the wind, slowing his decent to the glowing shrine below.

Link released the glider once he was close enough to do so without injury, dropping the last several feet and hiding himself behind the shrine. Monsters seemed to forget things quickly once it was out of sight and he didn't need any arrows or rocks raining down on him from above. After several tense minutes without any airborne projectiles, he allowed himself to breathe a sigh of relief. The short attention span shared by most types of monsters he'd come across thus far had saved his life more times that he could count.

With the immediate threat past, Link tried to parse through what had happened as he retrieved and refolded the paraglider. This was the shrine he'd come to initially, still not activated and only yards away from the hot springs. Yet somehow between one blink and the next he'd found himself transported into the middle of the monster fort on the ledge above.

Was the slate to blame? Given its ability to allow him to travel to any registered gates in seconds, it was a possibility. Although this had been faster still, and the blue glowing light that enveloped his vision every time he'd used the travel gates was conspicuously absent. And, of course, there was the no gate- registered or otherwise -in the monster fort.

Link let out an irritated huff as he replaced the paraglider and moved the bow back to its holster. He paused as his muscles protested loudly, glancing down at his arm in surprise. The entire limb was shaking from fatigue and, now that the adrenalin was fading, the rest of his body was following suit. Link stared at his trembling hand as questions ran through his mind.

How did he get up there? Where was his sword? Why had he been holding a spear and where did he get it? Why was he suddenly exhausted for no apparent reason? It was almost as if his body had done something his mind had not been present for...

Blue eyes widened at the thought, a ball of ice forming in the pit of his stomach. When he'd awoken in the Shrine of Resurrection a little over a month ago, a disembodied voice (Princess Zelda, he reminded himself) told him he'd been asleep for 100 years. The ghost of King Rhoam had spoken of the grave injures he'd suffered that had necessitated the shrine's use, of which the price of healing had been his memories. That made an odd sort of sense- another chance to live at the cost of his old life. However it now seemed to be taking bits of his new life, as well.

Link covered his face, letting out a laugh edged with hysteria. Those he'd spoken to over the last month who knew him 100 years ago seemed to drop another title he'd 'earned' in his previous life every time he talked to them. Princess Zelda's Appointed Knight, the Hylian Champion, the Hero of Legend, the Wielder of the Sword that Seals the Darkness. All of it amounted to one thing: Link was destined to defeat Calamity Ganon, the shapeless entity that was circling the castle even now. The only problem was he didn't remember how or why he'd failed 100 years ago. He didn't know where to find the sword that seals the darkness. And now, there was no guarantee he'd remember what he was doing or where he was going on his quest to fulfill his destiny.

Link shook himself, trying to rid his mind of the despairing thoughts. His task had always been a daunting one. He'd continue on as he had been, taking it one day at a time and logging important tasks- both completed and not -in the Sheikah slate. With a resolute nod he turned and headed toward the shore, feeling the need for a relaxing soak in the hot springs now more than ever.

He would give his all to defeat the Calamity and everything that entailed. The Goddess would decide if it was enough.

To Be Continued

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