Remnants of Tears
Ch 4: The Geoglyph and Depths
As Jaune and Ruby kept up their travel across Hyrule Field for Shrines of Light so Jaune could recover, they came across a woman in a dress with a mushroom pattern design and a mushroom shaped hat...and she gave them two locations on the map for pieces of Misko's treasure. Jaune didn't know what "Fairly Wild" set meant...but he tuned out the name of the second set as soon as he heard it improved climbing. That could ONLY be a part of the Climbing Gear outfit.
Bokoblin horns also had changed since the Calamity. They went from all having stubby, round triangular horns to having different shapes. The red bokoblins themselves looked like serrated spear-heads.
"So we're North-west of Lookout Landing right now." Ruby pointed out as Night cloaked Hyrule like a blanket.
"And I have six Light of Blessings." Jaune said, before sighing, "I forgot how tedious it could be having so little Aura."
Ruby Frowned, fiddling with the Four Sword attached to her hip.
"No." Jaune said, making her hand drop from the grip, "I'm not letting you weaken your own Aura while I can't tank blows for you."
"You know I'm a grown woman now, right?" Ruby said, raising her eyebrow.
"Your sister is already missing...but she would still kill me if anything happened to you." Jaune pointed out.
"True." Ruby sighed, "Since Yang had to help raise me when dad had depression after Mom died, she is...really protective. I'm just glad she let me join this relationship."
"So..." Jaune said as he picked up a few Fleet-Lotus Seeds, "What is the deal with these new Golden Apples?"
Ruby rubbed her chin in thought. "I'm not sure. They're rare, but found on apple trees...but are sweeter than regular apples...and heal one and a half Aura chunks instead of half a chunk."
So much had changed in the six months he had been on the edge of death. Bomb Flowers, Volt Fruit, Fire Fruit, Ice Fruit, Sundelions, Stambulbs...all replacing the now lost Hearty Durians.
As they got into a stable, Jaune tensed up seeing a red moon...as red wisps floated through the air.
As the moon reached it's peak, Jaune had a vision.
"Witness the Blood Moon's rise. When its red glow shines upon the land, the aimless spirits of monsters slain return to flesh...just as they did in a war long past."
That was Yang speaking, staring at the floating castle in that strange dress.
"The world is threatened once again."
That was...ominous.
"Ruby...Monsters come back during the blood moon again." Jaune said with a heavy weight in his stomach...was it nerves? Guilt? Anger?
They noticed a donkey with a Sheikah paper Lantern with equipment on it. On a rock, was a broken hot-air balloon and a familiar, short old woman.
In the grassy fields, was strange, yellowish glowing grass in a strange pattern.
"What a surprise it is to see you here after all this time, Jaune." Impa said as she turned around, I heard you had gone missing. It is certainly a relief to see you back, and in one piece-more or less."
She added the last part seeing his right hand.
Unfortunately, Jaune had to explain Yang was still missing.
"Jaune. When Princess Yang went missing, something else happened all over Hyrule" Impa said, "During the Upheaval, huge pictures appeared out of nowhere, images that sprawled across fields and hills. We are calling them geoglyphs. I understand they have been found in locations across the kingdom."
Huge...pictures?
"Cado and I are traveling from region to region in hopes of seeing them all. I noticed this geoglyph from a distance while I was standing on high ground. Examining it up close, I could not make out what it depicted. I thought I might have a better view from up in the sky...however, the wind sheared apart the balloon from the base."
That... was a simple fix. He picked up the balloon with Ultrahand and put it back, it automatically fusing the base to the balloon, and he lit the base with a fire fruit as he climbed in and floated with Impa.
"You know." Impa began as they floated high enough to see it (which honestly made Impa nervous) "I read something in the village's old literature-a passage about what the ancients called Dragon's Tears. 'Where the Tears rest upon the earth, we marked down the images to which they gave birth' I believe this geoglyph is one such 'image'. But even from this vantage, its meaning is no clearer to me...nor can I figure out what 'Dragon's Tears' might be...But if the literature is correct, one of them should be quite close-near the geoglyph, or even within its borders. This could be a clue to discover Princess Yang's whereabouts."
"It kinda looks like a Zonai." Jaune said to himself, making Impa start taking notes.
He paraglided off, landing at a teardrop shape in a "hand". He lifted a rock-revealing a Korok, and noticed that in the grass-staying in place-was a whitish-gold liquid...but nothing at that spot that could be a "Tear". He moved closer to the "head" and found a small pool of water in a perfectly circular shape. Then, the "Rewind" Power activated on it's own, causing the water to float...and then the water started glowing like Yang did when she disappeared...and Jaune saw a vision within the water.
The golden glow dropped Yang off gently onto a grassy field-unconscious but safe-as the strange stone stopped glowing. Two figures approached her. A darker skinned woman with white markings across her skin and light blonde hair, and Rauru. The woman was wearing the same style of dress Yang did in his visions, and a dark-gold stone almost exactly like the one Yang held was hanging from a necklace against her chest.
"Oh! Oh dear!" The woman said as she knelt by Yang.
Yang was startled awake by the woman brushing her hand across her face, and scooted backwards.
"Where am I?" Yang was prepared to fight if needed as these two strangers were hovering over her.
"We didn't mean to startle you." The woman said, "I'm sorry."
Seeing Yang still nervous, she smiled reassuringly.
"It's okay. My name is Sonia."
"And could we ask, what your name is?" Rauru said, stroking his chin.
"I..." Words almost failed Yang at the sight of a living Zonai, but remembered the official title King Ozpin taught her.
"I am Princess Yang Xiao-Long, one of the Princesses under the reign of King Ozpin of Hyrule-one of the inheritors of the sacred powers of Princess Zelda-daughter of the former King Rhoam of Hyrule-both of which were sadly taken from us during the Calamity." Yang said. This...was certainly a mouthful and NOT her usual greeting, but these were unknown people in a place she was unfamiliar with. Perhaps her title would be able to help her.
"What an unexpected answer." Rauru said, "We are the King and Queen who founded Hyrule after all, or at least we were the last time he checked." He finished with a small joke.
"You two...founded Hyrule...and...you're the king?" Yang said, putting things together in her head.
"My name is Rauru. King Rauru of Hyrule." Rauru introduced himself.
"King Rauru...and Queen Sonia..." Yang said, "But...that must mean..."
Before she could finish her statement, The vision in the water faded away.
Jaune watched as the water became tear-shaped and faded away upon hitting the small crater it once was in. Impa and Ruby approached him as he explaned what he saw in the "Dragon's Tear".
"The geoglyphs, the literature, the Dragon's Tears...and now, a vision of the lost princess...what if these are all connected?" Impa theorized, "You know, according to the literature, there is something to do with the geoglyphs in the Forgotten Temple.
That name sent an involuntary shiver down Jaune's spine. The last time he was there, the Forgotten Temple-home to the Mother Goddess Statue (said to be the first and Largest Statue of Hylia) was filled with decaying Guardians. Only the Protector's Shield Ruby made gave him the ability to fight his way through be deflecting back their attacks without a need for perfect parrying timing. Guardians may be gone (besides House Guardians), but the memory remained.
As they approached a Skyview Tower, they saw Hestu...cowering a distance away from a small group of trees.
"Those trees over there...So scary...Shalaka..." He said quietly.
"A...Korok...afraid of trees?" Ruby looked at Jaune with a curious expression.
"I don't think those are trees." Jaune said, pulling out a Claymore with a large red Bokoblin Horn replacing the blade. Sure enough, as he approached, two of the seemingly "normal" trees popped out of the ground and attacked him. Destroying them was easy, but slow as the Claymore did not easily slice into them-but he destroyed them without any damage.
"Shalakala?" Hestu spoke as he stopped cowering, "The scary things are gone! Mr. Hero! You remember me? I'm Hestu! I'm the musician of Korok Forest, up northeast. I'm known for my maracas AND my dancing."
Of course, the reason Koroks were giving him seeds was because they stole them from Hestu's maracas. Still, this gave him a chance to expand his pouch...and see that Hestu had a better dance with three korok backup dancers...so now he could carry 10 weapons and 6 bows... and got information he was heading East and somewhere "lively".
Still, he had run out of Arrows killing Stalkoblins.
Making a little ramp from wooden planks, Jaune made it into the Lindor's Brow Skyview Tower and activated it before being launched to scan a map.. and landed on a Sky Island called "Courage Island" with a circular device that he activated, making a green ring appear in the sky...and dove through Rings to land in water in an idland below to make a Shrine appear.
He picked up a few sundelions and stambulbs and activated a device dispenser and obtained Time Bombs, Portable Pots, Balloons, and Fans. After completing the Shrine, he was approached by a Steward Construct.
"Welcome. This is the site of a ceremony to test your courage. Courage is demonstrated by diving headlong through the sky. No challengers have visited this island in a long time. I am glad you have come." It explained, before asking if he was here for a dive ceremony.
"The dive ceremony is a trial that tests your courage. It is a rite by which Zonai youth come of age. The challenger leaps from the island above, and must pass through all the rings in a set amount of time. I wish you luck in formally overcoming the trial. Those who succeed receive a special outfit to mark adulthood.
He gave the steward construct a Zonai charge as "payment" before it escorted him back to the island above. He had to beat 35 seconds...and beat it in just over 21 seconds...and got the glide shirt. This helped him move better when skydiving...so he changed into it before diving back down...then completed another shrine to get his 8th light. Afterwards, he changed back into a rubber shirt.
He and Ruby dove into a cave by the Skyview Tower...only for both to panic and climb onto a ledge with the Shrine as a puddle of Gloom appeared and Five hands tried grabbing them. Jaune emerged with another Light of Blessing...and They teleported to Lookout Landing as they saw that Gloom Creature squirming around the base of the cave. Back at the base, Jaune prayed at a goddess statue and unlocked a chunk of stamina AND a chunk of Aura...and heard awful news. Lurelin Village had been attacked by Pirates. Princesses Weiss and Blake had managed to get everyone to safety, but were also forced to retreat by the sheer number of monsters.
This made a question pop up in Jaune's mind.
"Ruby...you never explained to my why Weiss and Blake broke up with Poseidon and Pollux." He said.
"Oh." Ruby said sheepishly, "Their personalities...clashed. Pollux and Poseidon both love being the center of attention...Blake and Weiss need moments of quiet while those boys were constantly trying to go on adventures and get famous. It just...strained their relationship until they no longer be romantically involved with each other. They're still friends. Then...Blake and Weiss started talking and...well... I walked in on them...kissing."
That...must have been REALLY awkward for Ruby. Her team partner kissing a good friend of hers.
"Still. I'm happy for them!" Ruby said with a grin, making Jaune smile.
They arrived to see Purah's little student-Josha, arguing with Robbie about exploring the Depths. The Depths were those circular chasms coated with Gloom...and led to a whole area underground. Some of the survey team brought up some artifacts, and one of them was a tablet depicting a figure. Josha thought it meant there was once a civilization in the Depths...so Robbie volunteered himself and Jaune without Josha and Jaune being able to get a word in otherwise. As Jaune headed towards the opening South of Lookout Landing, he actually stumbled into Hestu at Lookout Landing. After handing over more seeds, he could now carry 12 weapons, 6 bows, and 6 shields. Then, he continued to that dark hole surrounded by Gloom...and leaped down it.
Landing safely with his paraglider, he couldn't see his hand in front of his face by how dark it was if it wasn't for an activated Brightbloom seed. Ponnick from the Zonai Survey Team greeted him, but told him that Robbie had ran on ahead and Ponnick hadn't brought enough Brightbloom Seeds to follow him safely...but pointed out a strange, orange glowing area. Down here, Jaune caught some Deep Fireflies, and noted that the "leaves" on trees down here resembled peacock feathers. Soon he safely arrived at the orange, glowing area...which his map called the Nisoij Lightroot...and Jaune realized it was directly below a Shrine.
He reached up at the green mark and the Lightroot started glowing and lit up an area of the Depths...and made a teleport location...and directly under the Lightroot was an area to recover from Gloom. He continued West, towards another Lightroot-having to toss Brightbloom seeds in order to see in the utter darkness and picked up a few bomb flowers while dodging pools of Gloom. Then he came across an alarming sight.
There was an encampment of monsters farming Zonaite...cloaked in an aura of Gloom. It wasn't much though, just three red Bokoblins and a Moblin. Fortunately none of them landed a blow...but Jaune noticed the Moblin's horn was now more of a boney dome. After his makeshift Boko spear (made from a long stick and red bokoblin horn) broke, he grabbed one of the monster's makeshift "rock hammer" and mined the Zonaite himself before continuing on. Then, he finally made it to and activated the second Lightroot-which was also directly under a shrine-after collecting a few puffshrooms, muddlebuds, and bomb flowers. Once at the statue near the second Lightroot, Robbie activated the Purah Pad's camera and Hyrule Compendium. Yet...as Robbie headed to the surface, Jaune noticed something. There was another statue in the direction the one he took a picture of was facing. Were they...leading to something?
Traversing the Depths was going to be a pain-Jaune decided. Monsters cloaked in Gloom Auras, utter darkness without Brightbloom Seeds, and pools of Gloom. Yet, his curiosity was getting the best of him as he grabbed a group of blue and white ghostly flames...Poes. Only after activating a third Lightroot did Jaune notice that doing so would actually make a map of the lit up area in his Purah Pad. It was right after the third Lightroot that he met a terrible beast...a Frox. This was a one-eyed frog-like monster with Zonaite Ore deposits growing from it's back, a small horn, thick fingernails and two large teeth...and it tried to eat ANYTHING it saw.
Thankfully this thing did not have a Gloom Aura as a shockwave from a jump knocked some Aura away-which Jaune replenished with some fruit, and easily distinguished the Frox's weakness-the ore deposits. However-It wouldn't allow anyone near it's back while it was alert. When it tried sucking Jaune into it's mouth-Jaune threw a bomb flower, which detonated as the Frox tried chewing it and stunned it enough for Jaune to get on it's back.
After doing this for an hour, it finally burst into smoke, leaving behind Zonaite, Frox fingernails, Frox guts, a Large Crystalized Charge, and Frox fangs.
As he continued following the direction the statues faced, he saw something shocking. On a rocky platform, was the shadowy ghost of a knight...offering an UNDECAYED traveler's sword! Jaune was not going to miss that. He took the sword while thanking the knight's ghost, which vanished into the air.
Having to fight off another monster encampment, Jaune noticed that the horns of a blue moblin looked more like that of a cow or bull...and that there were herds of stalhorses gently wandering the depths. Unlike other monsters, they were actually peaceful. Plus...a further distance away...was a ruined base...
That held the Yiga Clan symbol.
There had been a note on the table left at the ruined base, but it was torn and stained, too ruined to be able to read.
He did finally take some gloom damage and had a chunk of Aura temporarily sealed when he was ambushed by Lizalfos while fighting off the monster trees.
"Never thought I'd hate trees." Jaune muttered. It was a little out of the way, but Jaune found another Lightroot to activate and restore his locked Aura chunk. It would be tough, but he just HAD to know what the statues were pointing to...Something in him told him that it was very important.
