The moment Link's senses returned, he could feel a light breeze brush past every inch of his skin. He opened his eyes, only to find himself completely surrounded by a seemingly endless ocean. No matter where he turned, there was only water, even beneath his feet. The only exception was above him, where there was nothing but a bright blue sky, an abundance of clouds, and a brilliant sun, shining down upon the calm expanse of water. He took a moment to appreciate the sparkle of sunlight dancing across the ripples before looking down at himself. His body was completely bare, exposed to the sun and the gentle breeze, with not a scar or blemish visible anywhere on him. Even the blue hair tie had vanished from existence, allowing his long sand-colored locks to flutter lazily around his shoulders.
It all looked familiar, the endless sea. He looked around, trying to recall if he had been here before. If he had, it was quite a while ago. He took a few steps forward, causing the water to ripple beneath his feet. He could walk. That seemed familiar, too. He furrowed his brow, trying to think. If he just thought hard enough, he would remember...
Nice save, Hero.
The familiar sweet tones of a woman's voice echoed foggily in his mind before suddenly, his eyes grew wide with realization. It was as if he remembered a dream, snapping into place just like all of his previous memories had. He looked around the water, trying to find the figure of the woman draped in transparent robes, and yet, no one was there. It was just him, alone in the middle of the endless ocean. He started to walk forward again, now with a clear purpose. She appeared before him last when he walked, so maybe-
You won't find her here, another familiar voice suddenly spoke.
This was a voice he could recognize even before the mist in his mind had cleared. He turned around, expecting to see a little ball of purple light just as before, but instead, he saw the purple-winged, green-strapped sword, standing upright with its sharp tip stuck in the calm waters he walked across. It was different than when he had seen it only a few seconds ago from its pedestal of stone. Here, the sword seemed alive, glowing from blade to pommel with a mystical, lilac aura.
"She's not here?" Link asked the sword. "Zelda— or Hylia, I guess— isn't here?"
She's not, the sword answered, glowing a bit brighter every time a word was spoken. Before Link could respond, it continued. You mentioned the names Zelda and our grace, Hylia. That means there's a 54% chance you remember the last time you were here.
"I do remember," Link managed to answer this time. "This is the... uh... Sacred... something..."
You are correct. This is the Sacred Realm, the sword answered. The realm you and the spirit of the goddess, Hylia, spoke in during your battle against the Sheikah Monk, Maz Koshia.
"Yeah, I mean, I remember that now, but why did I forget?" Link asked. "I always felt like something happened that helped me win that fight, but I couldn't put my finger on it-"
'Once we return, I won't remember anything of this place, or the memories of my past lives that I currently have. Even your memories will be a bit dim,' the sword said. Those are the words my creator spoke before you were returned to your duel.
"Right... she did say that," Link said, running his fingers through his hair. "Now that I do remember though, I wish I could've remembered. Will I remember after this trial?"
Unfortunately, you will not, the sword replied. The Sacred Realm was once a well-known sanctuary, one which safeguarded a power rivaled by none, even by the goddess herself. However, history proved the knowledge of this sanctuary was too dangerous, as an evil heart once slipped through, corrupting its purity. Now, the Sacred Realm hides itself from the mortal world, only revealing itself when deemed necessary.
Link frowned, disappointed. It was yet another memory of Zelda kept from him thanks to another's actions. It wasn't as if he didn't understand the reasoning, though, even if he didn't know what exactly had happened here before. It wasn't hard to imagine a world like this being dangerous in the wrong hands. While it was annoying that he couldn't remember his time with Zelda, it just meant he had to make more memories with her when this was done, and the sooner he started the trial, the sooner he could do just that.
You've come to terms with the rules of the Sacred Realm, the sword spoke, as if reading his mind. If you are prepared, then my trial for you will begin.
"I'm ready, but can you tell me something?" Link asked. "You've told me stuff like this before, so... What are my chances of getting through this trial?"
The sword remained silent for a moment, as if calculating the question given to it.
45%, the sword finally replied. You have a 45% chance of survival, given all the data I've collected while observing you.
"Not even half," Link chuckled. "Well, with all my mistakes so far, I guess that makes sense-"
Regardless of the data, the sword cut in, I calculate the end of these trials will result in you overcoming these challenges.
"Really?" Link asked curiously. "Where do you get that data from?"
I believe this is what the emotion 'faith' is, the sword answered. Link gave a slight chuckle.
"Well, let's get started so I can make it true."
Understood, the sword replied.
The moment the sword accepted his determination, he felt his senses vanish again. The endless ocean disappeared as his body was enveloped in the same light that had summoned him here. As the world began to fade, the last thing he could make out was the rapidly fading handle of the Master Sword, still standing before him.
Good luck, Master.
The instant the sword vanished, he felt weightless, an unmistakable sign that he was moving before reforming once more. Just as before, his senses returned, but instead of the warm, gentle breeze he had felt earlier, he now shivered in the frosty, biting wind that surrounded his exposed body. Wrapping his arms around himself, he opened his eyes and scanned his surroundings. Instead of water, he now found himself on solid ground covered in lush, overgrown grass, clusters of delicate flowers, and evergreen shrubs. Large, thick trees with healthy leaves, ones he hadn't seen much of since the start of the winter season, surrounded him, but there weren't enough to obscure his vision from what enclosed the patch of land he now stood in.
Large walls, built from the same smooth, dark stone and sporadically dotted orange lights similar to those of the Sheikah shrine's interiors he had previously visited, encased the woodland area. Confused, Link looked up to find the ceiling was just the same as he remembered from the other shrines, high above with a strange, preternatural light, as though water was floating and glowing above him. This was odd; everything about this felt like a trial from the ancient Sheikah monks, not the Master Sword. Despite this, the voice of the sword's spirit echoed around him.
Do not be confused. This is a trial of my creation, given to you to test your strength and wisdom.
"Why does it look like a shrine?" Link asked, looking around to find the distinctive purple hilt of the sword. Unable to locate it, he simply peered up at the peculiar ceiling above as the spirit of the sword continued to speak.
You are still in the Sacred Realm; however, it has altered itself to take the form of your trial. While it is presented by the Master Sword-a blade spiritually connected to the realm itself-it has taken the form of a familiar setting that has tested you previously.
"It does feel familiar, but it also feels a little weird," Link said, rubbing his arms in an attempt to warm himself. "It almost feels... more real? But the shrines were real-"
That is most likely an effect of being in the Sacred Realm, the sword answered. It may still feel familiar to you, for you've experienced another realm similar to this one.
"Another realm? I've never been in another realm-" Link began to say, but paused when the answer came to him. "Maz Koshia's illusory realm..."
That is correct, Master, the sword replied. The Sheikah's illusory realm was constructed using their limited knowledge of the Sacred Realm, along with the powers they wielded long ago. However, the Sacred Realm is not as forgiving as the one the Sheikah managed to manufacture.
Link snorted at the word "forgiving."
As of now, you lack the power necessary to wield the true splendor of the Master Sword, the spirit continued. While you've improved greatly, you must fortify your mind, body, and soul by eradicating all obstacles of each floor that appear in this realm. In the Sacred Realm-the realm of sacred mystery and enlightenment- anything can happen. All that you obtain here will be lost upon your return to the reality you know. To the Hero, Chosen by the Goddess Hylia, overcome this trial and claim my true splendor. I offer you... The Trial of the Sword.
While there was nothing to be seen in front of him, he could feel a presence vanish, as if disappearing from his mind. He knew if he were to call out, no response would be given. Accepting the fact that he was on his own from here on, he looked around at his surroundings again, this time focusing on what actually mattered: the landscape he'd be tried in.
"Eradicate all the obstacles of each floor that appear in this realm," he murmured as he began to walk through the forest. "If I had to take a guess at what the obstacles are-"
He paused in his tracks and forced his body to stop shivering. His pointed ears twitched, listening carefully to ensure what he heard was real. After a few moments, he heard it again; the snorts similar to that of a group of pigs in the distance. Lowering himself to a crouch, he stealthily moved through the grass and shrubs, maneuvering around the tree trunks and over roots before finally locating his targets.
In a small clearing, encircling a large fire with a savory hunk of meat over the flames, was a camp of monsters; red, stubby-legged creatures with pig-like ears and noses. He smirked at the sight; this was just like the camp he had infiltrated on the coast a few days prior when he rescued the sheep. This camp didn't even look as well-fortified as the ones he had encountered when he awoke on the plateau almost a year ago. He carefully observed the monsters as they snorted and grunted amongst themselves before his eyes veered toward the logs that were situated nearby. Just as he suspected, they were lined with the rough-hewn weapons the beasts were known for using.
Silently, he crept around the periphery of the camp, using the wilderness as cover. Careful not to step on even a single blade of grass incorrectly, he slithered behind the log, hiding himself behind its rotten bark. He paused for a few moments, observing as the bokoblins snorted and licked their lips around the meat they were cooking, to ensure that they hadn't heard him easing his way toward them. Reassured that he had gone undetected, he leaned over and looked at the weapons now at his disposal. Propped against the log was a two-handed axe, a makeshift spear, a wooden shield, and a large club. He looked up again, now counting the number of bokoblin's unknowingly awaiting their demise. Seeing there were only three, he reached out and grabbed the two-handed axe.
The monstrous creatures jumped, their pig-like ears raised to listen the instant the axe was lifted, its blade having lightly disturbed the grass. They quickly turned, only to see a small, naked Hylian with an axe jumping high into the air, using the log as a large step to gain more height. Twisting his body to bring the axe as far back as he could, Link spun as he came flying back down to the ground. The bokoblin's could do nothing but watch as the axe blade struck the ground in the center of their little group. With a strike so powerful it shook the ground, the resulting shockwave blasted the monsters away, killing them so fast their souls left before their bodies could hit the ground. Still gripping the axe handle, Link lightly landed in the grass, though instead of the soft, long grass that had been there only moments before, he now felt the prickly stubs of freshly mown grass.
With a satisfied sigh, Link placed his hand on the top of the axe handle and leaned against it, looking around at the now-empty camp. After a few seconds, a strange sound rang in his ears. It almost sounded like one of the teleport pads on the shrines he had visited before. Eventually, he spotted a blue light with a circular pattern among the grass nearby.
"Eradicate all the obstacles of each floor," Link repeated again as he tugged on the axe, freeing it from the dirt it was embedded in. "She didn't say how many floors there were. It's only going to get harder from here..."
With a thoughtful hum, he glanced around the camp again, taking note of the other weapons that lay against the log, along with the meat still cooking over the fire. He wanted to take the gear with him if he could, but without the Sheikah Slate, or even a belt or pouch on his body, that would be difficult.
"She did say my chances of survival were 45%, whatever that means," Link said. With a deep breath, he walked over and rested the axe against the log where he found it. "I'm still here, though. She didn't just teleport me the moment I was done, meaning there isn't any kind of time limit."
With a nod, he stepped over and grabbed the meat from the makeshift rack of sticks it was cooking on. Sitting in the grass, he took a bite out of its juicy skin.
If there's no time limit, then I'll take it slow and gather what I can, Link thought as he chewed, watching the fire crackle before him. If I rush through it, I'll slip up somewhere. I'll be careful, and rest well so I'm always at my best.
Immediately, Link thought of Zelda, wearing the inn's dress he had gotten so used to seeing. He closed his eyes and leaned back in the grass, still holding up the meat he was enjoying while moving his free hand under his head to use as a makeshift pillow.
That's what she'd want, and she'd be right, Link thought, opening his eyes to look at the misty, illuminated ceiling above him through the leaves that obscured it. Time moved differently in Moz Koshia's realm, so I'm sure it does here too. I'll take my time, find a way to keep myself strong and take as much gear as I can with me. I'll survive this.
Confidently, he raised the remaining portion of meat into the air, pointing it at the leaves above him.
I'll pass these trials, and get back to make more memories with her.
...
The afternoon sun beamed down upon the red, rocky landscape of Eldin, illuminating the volcanic mountain that served as its primary landmark in the center of the region. Heat billowed from the volcano's gaping maw, enabling it to circulate across the entire mountain. This made the peak, hillside, and foothills uninhabitable by most without special gear or liquids. While one would usually begin to burn immediately when near these areas, Death Mountain's latest three visitors were safe as they began their trek at the base, following the path carved through the rocks amongst the beautiful, steaming, aqua-colored water. Though still safe in these less intense temperatures, sweat beaded on each traveler's brow as they continued along their journey.
"Zelda... I think I need one of the elixirs now," Celessa gasped, wiping the perspiration from her brow as she followed behind Zelda up the rocky path.
"No, you don't," the princess replied, allowing a few beads of sweat to travel down the side of her face. "and you know you don't. You've been up Death Mountain before, so you should-"
"Uh, no I haven't," Celessa cut in. Confused, Zelda glanced back at her perspiring friend.
"What do you mean you haven't? I thought you've traveled everywhere," she said, but Celessa shook her head.
"No, I traveled to all the springs in Hyrule that you prayed at in the past," she corrected. "Along with a few other noteworthy places. I haven't been everywhere."
"So... You've never been up Death Mountain?" Zelda asked. Celessa shook her head.
"Not once, Princess. Not once," she sighed in exhaustion.
"O-oh..." Zelda stammered. "Well, if you're struggling already, you're going to have quite a difficult time. We won't need the fireproof elixirs until we're near the halfway point of the mountain."
"And where are we now?" Celessa whined. Zelda furrowed her brow.
"Celessa, we just started up the mountain path!" she replied almost irritably. "You can still see the trees and mountains of Akkala behind you!"
In disbelief, Celessa looked back. While it was a far distance away, somewhat obscured by large pillars and natural archways of red volcanic rocks, she could still just barely make out the land of Akkala in the distance. Defeated, she lowered her head.
"You may have to go on without me, Princess," she whined again, falling to her knees. "If the heat is already this intense here, I dunno if I can withstand it later."
"That's what the elixirs are for," Zelda said sternly, coming to a stop as she stared down at her companion. With a deep breath, she placed her hands on her hips. "I understand that it's hot, but I'd rather not leave you behind. I want you to come with me, Celessa."
"Then you'll-" Celessa began excitedly, but Zelda shook her head.
"I'm not giving you an elixir until we need it," the princess answered. "Now get up. You're just not used to the heat because you adapted to the cold while wearing those shorts."
"You'd think the shorts would help me here, but now my thighs feel all sticky," Celessa groaned as she pushed herself up to her feet. Dusting her thigh-high boots off, she sighed again. "Why didn't we buy more elixirs if the heat was going to be this hot even down here?"
"Because we don't have an infinite source of rupees," Zelda said, "and even if we did, the elixirs don't help with feeling the heat, only ensuring we don't catch fire because of it. Otherwise they'd work in the Gerudo Desert as well."
"So we're only going to feel worse later?" Celessa asked, to which Zelda nodded.
"Unfortunately so, but we have to deal with it. We need to speak to the Goron Boss," Zelda said.
"I know I said we should enjoy the adventure, but I think I'm all for using the Sheikah Slate to teleport up there now," Celessa said sweatily, but Zelda again shook her head.
"I think it'd be best for you to adjust to the extreme heat," she said. "Like you said, while you won't catch fire, you'll still feel incredibly hot. If you jump right into Goron City, you may pass out."
"Princess, I know I'm acting like a child right now, but in actuality, I think I can handle it," Celessa said. "I say we teleport up there and make the adjustment quickly."
"I know I could, and I'm positive you could as well," Zelda said, "but, it's not us I'm concerned about."
She looked over Celessa's shoulder, prompting her friend to turn and look back. In the distance, climbing clumsily over the hill they had walked up a few minutes prior, was Paya. Instead of the tan and navy robes she normally wore, her body was now covered by a thick, clunky armor. Her thin figure now looked bulbous, her arms and legs were hidden behind what looked like the pleated and stretchy body of a concertina. Her feet, which were usually covered by custom-made sandals or thin foot coverings, were now covered by heavy metal boots. Finally, covering her rounded face and long white hair was a large helmet with a grated face plate.
The two watched as their third laboriously made her way toward them, careful not to trip over even the smallest pebbles that lay in her path. At the sight, Celessa nodded.
"Yeah... Yeah, that makes sense," she said quietly to Zelda before calling out, "hey, Paya! Are you doing okay in that thing?"
"I-I'm doing okay!" Paya called back as best she could from inside the grated helmet. "I'll catch up!"
"Paya, I promise you, there's nothing to be afraid of!" Zelda called out. "We haven't hit the dangerous heat, and I know you must be sweating profusely in there! Trust me, you're okay! I'll give you an elixir now if it'll put you at ease!"
"I-I understand, but I insist on wearing it!" Paya called back nervously. "I-I-I'll catch up, I promise!"
Zelda sighed as Paya continued to clunk her way up the path, while Celessa furrowed her brow at Zelda.
"You'd give her an elixir?" she asked. "That's not fair!"
"You're fine," Zelda said sternly, furrowing her own brow in return. "She's not. Look at her!"
"She's not taking it, so give me hers!" Celessa argued.
"Celessa, calm down. You're letting the heat get to you," Zelda said, wiping her own brow. "Look, if you want an elixir so badly, then why not catch a lizard and we can make one at the next cooking pot we see? That way, it doesn't deplete our current reserves."
"You want me to catch a what?" Celessa asked.
"A lizard," Zelda said simply. "A fireproof one. I'm sure there are loads of them hidden under some of these rocks-"
"Is that what the elixirs are made of?" Celessa cut in. "Lizards?"
"Actually, you can make a fireproof elixir from loads of different ingredients, given they have the attributes we need," Zelda explained, clearly allowing Celessa's distaste to go over her golden locks. "But, as not to dig into our reserves of materials, it'd be perfect if we could gather a few lizards to make more. We really only need to find one, but if we can find a few-"
"Are our current elixirs made out of lizards?"
"Yes, I believe that's what the stable woman said they were made out of," said Zelda, who was only just now catching her friend's tone. "Is there a problem-?"
"I don't wanna drink a lizard!" Celessa said loudly. "I don't want to catch a lizard!"
Zelda stared at her friend for a full ten seconds.
"Celessa, you're an adventurer," she finally replied. "This is what adventurers do. How do you plan to travel if you don't use elixirs for extreme climates?"
"Easy: I don't go to extreme climates," Celessa answered. "I didn't realize we'd be drinking lizard guts!"
"Those lizard guts are what keep us from not burning alive!" Zelda argued. "They're really useful! They're full of nutrients and have incredibly potent effects on the body! It's honestly fascinating that it works that way!"
"So you'd be okay drinking a lizard?" Celessa asked.
"Absolutely!" the princess answered without a moment's hesitation. "You make it sound as though it's disgusting-"
"-which it is," Celessa cut in.
"No, it's logical and beneficial for the body- look there's one over there! Come here, I'll show you-"
Taking Celessa by the hand, she pulled the pilgrim to one of the rocky walls that lined the pathway. Releasing her friend and dropping to her knees, she began pushing over stones and shifting the reddish dirt in front of her.
"I just saw it... Or, at least I believed I did... I thought it was a tail of- Ah! Here it is!"
Pulling her hands from behind a rock, she revealed a large reptile. Its body was long and covered in dark, gray scales. Its stomach was red, with the back of its head decorated with protruding white spikes. Finally, to add to its length, it had a long tail that hung from its behind. The princess held out the lizard to Celessa, who watched as it squirmed around in Zelda's gloved palm before backing away.
"Princess!"
"What is it?" Zelda asked. "What's wrong with it?"
"It's a lizard!"Celessa answered loudly. "Look at it! It's shaking! That's gross!"
"Well, of course, it's shaking, it's trying to free itself," Zelda explained. "Regardless, it's not that gross at all! It's a normal creature, and again, it has very interesting effects on the body! If you mix this with other ingredients you can find, it could greatly enhance its capabilities! Plants, insects, possibly even monster parts with what we learned Kilton experiments with-"
"Princess, that is disgusting! You sound like Kilton!" Celessa said. "And can you please let that thing go?"
"You wanted an elixir!" Zelda protested frustratingly. "Now I can make you a spare elixir without reaching into our reserves!"
"I do not want to drink a lizard!" Celessa said. "There has to be another option."
"There is, actually," Zelda replied before gesturing with her head. Celessa looked over to see the cumbersome Sheikah finally catching up to them. The princess pursed her lips. "If you'd like me to go buy you a set, I'll gladly do so. The loss of rupees would certainly be worth watching you wear it."
"But-"
"You look good in your shorts?" Zelda finished. Celessa looked nervously between Paya and the wriggling lizard in Zelda's hands before sighing.
"Can I drink an elixir now and you can... Cook that thing later?" she asked. Zelda smiled.
"Of course. I'd be happy too," she said cheerfully, pushing herself back to her feet. Celessa sighed.
"Please don't look so happy about it," she pleaded. "It's still extremely disgusting..."
"I don't understand why you have such an issue with something like this," Zelda said, grabbing the Sheikah Slate from her hip with her free hand. "People cook creatures like this all the time to make elixirs of all varieties. I'm sure Link has drank all sorts of different things-"
"Link should not be your first choice to prove this kind of point," Celessa said disapprovingly. "He will eat or drink literally anything."
"I mean, yes, you're correct," Zelda answered, still holding the fighting lizard in her hand as she tapped the screen with her finger, allowing the lizard's feet and tail to brush along the screen. It was something Celessa couldn't help but notice. She could have sworn the lizard looked at her and stuck its forked tongue out at her, sending a shiver down her spine as Zelda continued on. "-but it's not as though he always enjoys it. I fed a frog to him once."
"A frog?" Celessa asked, finally tearing her gaze away from the lizard to look at Zelda's innocent face. "You made him eat a frog? Did you cook it?"
"I... No, not exactly," Zelda said as the lizard disappeared in a string of blue lights. "I was... very excited to see what effects the frog would have, so I asked him to try it then and there..."
"He really loves you," Celessa said, giving Zelda a grotesque look. "He loves you a lot."
"He got his revenge!" Zelda said, giving Celessa a look. "He allowed me to get swallowed by a large fish monster in the Gerudo Desert."
"That is so gross. Please just give me my lizard juice," Celessa begged. Zelda giggled as she went to tap on the slate's screen again.
"Paya, are you sure you don't want one?" she asked as sweat continued to fall from her brow. "It can't be very comfortable with that armor on. I know you're afraid, but I highly recommend-"
"Pr-Pr-Princess?" Paya suddenly stammered out. Before Zelda could tap on the slate's elixir icon, both she and Celessa looked at her.
"Yes?" Zelda asked, watching what little of Paya's face she could see contorting with terror. Confused, the princess furrowed her brow. "What's wrong?"
With a shaky, armored hand, Paya managed to point behind her. Still muddled, both women turned, only for both of their faces to go white. A few feet away from them stood two large, feathery creatures, with lengthy necks and legs equal to a greatsword blade. While they were facing the trio, their yellow eyes didn't actually seem locked onto them, almost as if they couldn't see them, for that's how little they mattered at the moment. Robot-like, they would dart their heads around, pointing their sharp beaks at whatever it was that interested them, even if it was nothing in particular.
"Pr-Princess?" Celessa asked. "A-are those-?"
"Y-yes, they are..." Zelda answered slowly. "They're Eldin ostriches."
"Okay... Are they safe?" Celessa asked nervously, slowly reaching for the hilt of the sword resting on her lower back.
"I believe they are... They aren't known to attack Hylians, from what I understand at least," Zelda said quietly, slowly taking a step back. "Just step away slowly, and we should be just fine-"
Both of them heard a clunk from behind them, causing the ostriches' feathers to stand up on end. Zelda and Celessa's heads snapped back to look behind them, only to see Paya- who had apparently hit her armored heel against a stone as she tried to step backward- falling to the ground. It was as if she fell in slow motion before landing on her behind with a loud, echoing crash of her armor's metal.
The moment the high-pitched clank of metal reached the ostriches, they screeched in surprise. In fear, they dashed toward the group, spreading out their wings as their necks wobbled back and forth with each step they took. Giving voice to their own fear, Zelda and Celessa raised their arms, while Paya curled into a metal ball on the ground. The birds slammed into the two women, knocking them down to the ground along with their Sheikah companion before darting away down the hill toward Akkala whence the group had come.
"Is-pppffftt-everyone okay?" Zelda asked as she sat up, spitting red dirt from her mouth and picking feathers out of her golden hair.
"Doing great..." Celessa called, still lying in the dirt with her body now covered in large burgundy feathers. "Paya..."
"Y-y-yes?" the Sheikah asked from her helmet, still curled up in a ball.
"I think you should just drink the lizard juice," the pilgrim said, now sitting up herself. "I don't think that armor is much good for- Zelda, we need to go."
Zelda's ears perked up as she stopped dusting herself off. That was one of the first times Celessa had used her proper name. Immediately she looked at Celessa, who was now eyeing something up the road.
"Celessa, what's-"
"We need to go!" Celessa said, now scrambling to her feet. "Paya! Paya, get up!"
"What is it?" Zelda asked loudly, now more nervous than before. "What's gotten into you?"
"Guardian!"
At the sound of that name, Zelda almost froze. Bumps traveled up her arm as the little hairs on her body stood on end beneath her clothes. Forcing herself to move, she turned around to see the mechanical, spider-legged beast clawing and dashing its way toward them from higher up the mountain path. Its dome-shaped body was covered in lights, once blue as a sign of kindness and protection, now a malicious, violent shade of pink. Its glowing blue eye had locked on to its three targets, even from its long distance away as its long spindly legs clawed at the dirt, moving faster than any other creature could possibly dream of moving.
There's a guardian? Here? At the base of the mountain's path? Zelda thought in horror as the mechanical beast hurtled toward them, covering the distance between them with ease. Her heart began slamming against her ribcage with each step the guardian took toward them as she began to slowly crawl back in the dirt. Did it hear us screaming when the ostriches ran at us?
"Princess! We need to teleport out of here! Anywhere!" Celessa shouted as she tugged Paya to her shaking legs. When Zelda didn't respond, still staring at the oncoming machine headed toward them, she shouted again. "Zelda!"
While it was Celessa who had called her name, it was her lover she heard.
At this, she immediately began to move, reaching down for the ancient slate that usually sat on her hip, only for her fingers to wrap around the air. Confused, she looked down at her hip to see the slate wasn't there, realizing it had been in her hand the moment before the ostriches dashed at them. Frantically, she looked around, trying to find where the slate had landed, but it was nowhere to be seen.
"Zelda!"
"It's gone!" Zelda shouted frenziedly. "The slate! It fell somewhere!"
"What?" Celessa cried back, looking at her princess with fear before looking in horror at the corrupted beast heading toward them. "Then what do we- Watch out!"
Zelda barely heard the sound of the hastening beep in her ears before looking down at her body to see a red dot of light centering itself on her chest. The moment the beeping came to a stop, she felt Celessa's own body wrap around her own, rolling them over as a beam of blue light hotter than the mountain air itself flew by them. The laser struck a pillar of rock in the distance, blowing it to pieces that fell to the ground with a thundering crash and a wave of red dust.
Celessa and Zelda rolled off the path until they landed in one of the pools of sparkling water. Now drenched, the two splashed up, coughing as they immediately looked around to see where the guardian had gone, before realizing the mechanical beast had arrived before them. While it was no longer charging at them, its clawed feet continued to stomp the ground as its body and domed head spun. Its blue eye darted between the three individuals before it, the armored Sheikah standing petrified in the road and the two Hylians in the waters nearby.
Realizing it was trying to choose a target, Celessa quickly got to her feet, dropping her backpack and pulling her sword and shield free. She moved to stand before Zelda, raising her shield to protect her from what was undoubtedly about to shoot from the blue eyeball; however, the guardian hadn't chosen her or Zelda to fire at. Instead, its red beam had locked on to the Sheikah standing closest to it.
"Paya!" the two shouted.
Celessa, with her sword in hand, dashed through the water, trying to climb back onto the road, but Zelda knew the attempt was futile. She wouldn't make it before the laser was fired. The beeping once again filled her ears, along with the gears and stomps of the machine that matched her heartbeat. Paya was about to be lost. What was she going to tell Impa-?
"Hey!"
Zelda didn't know whether it was because it was something other than the machine or her heart that made her look, but she turned toward the mountain the guardian had arrived from. There, she saw a red blur, something almost like a ball, speeding down the mountain even faster than the guardian had been. Dust kicked up from behind it as it raced down the mountain, passing Zelda in a flash before smashing into the guardian with a deafening shockwave. Knocked into the air, the guardian only managed to shoot its laser into the ground, sending it flying even higher up before landing with a crash in the dirt a short distance away. As the dust cleared, the red ball bounced on the ground before springing open to reveal a young, muscular Goron.
"Don't worry! Yunobo is here to help!" the Goron cried as confidently as he could. He watched as the armored woman fell back onto her behind in fear, before looking around at the other two he'd rescued. The moment he locked eyes with Zelda, he gasped. "Hey! You're that girl who knows Link! The one I met earlier this year! The... uh... What did the Great Daruk call you? Oh, the Tiny Princess!"
"Yunobo..." Zelda said thankfully, but her relief was short-lived.
The sound of gears reached her pointed ears again. She looked over to see the guardian picking itself back up from the ground, sparking from a few missing limbs and its eye glitching, but still determined to take out the four targets. Yunobo gulped.
"Oh man... This thing is even tougher than what I've heard. The boss said never to take one of these things on. I don't even have a sword," he said nervously, his brow furrowed. "But, I can't quit now! These little guys are counting on me!"
"We sure are! Do something! Please!" Celessa shouted from the water.
Pushing off of his unnaturally small feet, the Goron curled into a ball again, forming a familiar multifaceted orange sphere around his body. This was something Zelda recognized as a special protection ability. What she didn't expect was for Yunobo to start spinning in place. As the guardian found its balance on its reduced number of legs, the young Goron continued to spin in place, gaining speed with each rotation. The faster he spun, the louder the noise of his rocky back against the ground became, overtaking the sound of the moving gears from the guardian. He was moving so fast, the protection also started to spin, creating a dust cloud behind him, and eventually, the protection's aura turned into flames.
"Yunobo-?" Zelda called out, but air blasted back as the flames grew more intense.
She and Celessa shielded their faces, barely able to keep their eyes open as the heat increased around them. The moment the guardian had locked its blue eye onto the ball of flame, it began to aim its red laser at it, but finally, the Goron launched forward. Leaving a trail of flame behind him, he tumbled toward the guardian and slammed into it again before it could even finish prepping its laser. The mechanical beast flew into the air with its head and eye jerking sporadically from left to right and its broken legs sparking before exploding in the air, leaving nothing but gears and screws to fall to the ground.
Landing again, the Goron bounced before springing open. He peered around for the guardian before looking back at the Hylians he had protected.
"D-did I do it?" he asked.
The three stared at him from their places on the ground before Celessa jumped up from the water with her arms raised high.
"You sure did!" she cheered.
Yunobo stared at her for a moment before giving them all an awkward smile.
"A-alright! Yeah!" he cheered, pumping his fists. "Is everyone okay?"
"Yeah... Yeah, I think we are," Celessa answered before stumbling backward and falling back into the water. "Oh wow... Okay, I might need a minute..."
"I think we might need more than a minute," Zelda said quietly, now sitting in the water herself.
Her form-fitting pants felt uncomfortable now, and it wasn't getting better being in the water, and yet, she didn't have the will to move. Her heart was still pounding inside her chest, and while there wasn't anything causing it, a ringing had remained in her ears. She closed her eyes and tried to find a way to enjoy the water she sat in, but before she could get too comfortable, Celessa called out to her.
"Princess... I know you probably could use a moment just like the rest of us, but... I think Paya could really use you," she said.
Opening her eyes, she looked over to find Paya still sitting in the dirt, shaking in her armor as Yunobo came waddling back toward them on his tiny legs. With a deep breath, knowing Celessa was right, she pushed herself up from the water and climbed back onto the rocky path.
"Yunobo, could you make sure Celessa is okay?" she asked as the large Goron came to a stop next to her.
"You got it, Tiny Princess!" he said, before hurrying off to the water Celessa still sat in, leaving Zelda alone with the petrified Sheikah.
"Are you alright?" she asked, crouching down to Paya's level.
The Sheikah didn't respond. All she could do was sit in the dirt, rattling in her armor as she stared at the guardian remains that landed down the hill. Taking a deep breath, Zelda properly sat next to her.
"It's terrifying, I understand," Zelda said, staring at the same spot Paya was. Though her words were simple, even Paya could feel the weight they carried.
"I-I'm sorry, I-I froze-" Paya stammered from behind her , but Zelda shook her head.
"I froze as well," she said. "It was Celessa that called out to me, and honestly, if I didn't hear Link's voice behind her, I most likely wouldn't have moved..."
Zelda could feel a lump appear in her throat. Even after all she had been through, at the sight of a guardian chasing her, she still allowed fear to take hold of her.
"Sorry, I... I wish I had more comforting words to give," she said after trying to swallow, but Paya shook her head.
"N-n-no, I apologize. I-I'll do better next time-"
"When it comes to things like this, there's only doing your best," Zelda said. "Don't put the impossible on your shoulders. But... in order to protect yourself, is it possible you'll trust the elixir now?"
"I-I..." Paya stammered. After a few moments, and receiving a weary smile from Zelda, the Sheikah's face fell. Slowly, she reached up and pulled the helmet off, revealing her sweaty face and white, flowing hair. "Y-yes... I think I'll trust the elixir..."
"Thank you," Zelda said. She placed a hand on Paya's armored one before pushing herself up, only to find Yunobo and a dripping Celessa walking toward them. "And thank you, Yunobo. If it weren't for you, I'm not sure what would have happened to us."
This was a lie; she knew exactly what would have happened had Yunobo not found them. Not realizing this though, the Goron blushed and brought an enormous hand to the back of his head.
"Aw, it was nothing, Tiny Princess," he said. "Link would've done the same, so... I'm just doing what he would've done."
"If I may ask, what are you doing down here?" Zelda asked as Celessa crouched down behind her to help Paya out of her armor. "You're a fair distance away from Goron City."
"Oh, I'm actually headed to Tarrey Town," Yunobo answered.
"Why there?" Zelda asked curiously.
"Well, ever since Rudania stopped its rampage, we Gorons have been able to mine more than ever! The thing is... it's more than we expected," Yunobo explained. "We have what the boss calls a surplus. Usually we can just eat what we find, but not all rocks are very tasty."
"So you're going to Tarrey Town to try and sell the remaining material?" Zelda asked as she quickly caught on, to which the Goron nodded eagerly. Bringing a finger to her chin in thought for a moment, she suddenly asked, "do you mind if we come with you?"
"Huh? I mean, sure but, why?" Yunobo asked. "Weren't you three headed up the mountain?"
"We were. I need to discuss a few important things with your leader, Bludo," Zelda explained. "But, knowing him, if he's busy with something like this, I'll just get set aside. Plus, this may actually help us as well. I can explain on the way, if that's alright."
"If that's what you want, then absolutely!" Yunobo said cheerfully. "I'll- uh- do my best to keep you three safe, even though I don't exactly have a sword on me..."
"Do you need a sword?" Zelda asked. "After that show, I wouldn't expect you to need one. I didn't realize Daruk's Protection gave you power over fire."
"Fire? What are you talking about? Am I on fire?" Yunobo asked, scrambling to look around himself. "Did a laser hit me? Did it burn my clothes?"
"What? No! No, you're not on fire! Did you... Did you not realize?" Zelda asked. "When you were spinning, did you not notice the flames?"
"Flames? No..." Yunobo said. "I just knew the only way I could stop that thing was to act like a cannonball, but what's a cannonball without a cannon? So, I just... tried to spin as fast as I could to turn myself into not just a ball, but a cannon too... That sounds silly, doesn't it?"
"No, not at all. In fact, I'd say you have quite the gift without realizing it, Yunobo,'' Zelda said. "Still, I guess it would be safer if you did have a weapon..."
"Yeah, maybe the Boss will let me actually have one someday... Oh!" Yunobo exclaimed suddenly. "Don't tell the boss I've been practicing using a sword! He doesn't think I can handle something like that yet..."
"I see," Zelda said thoughtfully.
After a brief pause, she looked over at her two travel companions, still trying to get Paya out from her armor, before scanning the ground. She walked around the area, with Yunobo watching, occasionally crouching down to sift through rocks and dirt, before she finally located it. There, in one of the steaming ponds, was the Sheikah Slate, sitting in the water. Stepping into the water, she reached down and grabbed the slate's handle to pull it up with a splash.
"To think I threw it all the way over here..." Zelda mumbled as she shook it. Nervously, she tapped the screen which brightened the moment it felt her touch. "Well, everything looks to be normal. Thank the golden goddesses this ancient tech is so durable. That only makes Yunobo's feats that much more impressive."
After cleaning the slate a bit more, she climbed back out the water and returned to her three companions.
"Well, Celessa, Paya, it looks like we're making a detour to Tarrey Town."
"Tarrey Town?" Celessa asked. "I'm surprised you'd want to make a detour with how eager you've been to speak with the leaders of each region."
"I think this'll actually save us time," Zelda said. "Bludo will most likely want to know what he'd get out of rejoining the Kingdom of Hyrule, just like the Zora Council. If we can help them come up with a deal in Tarrey Town to sell their excess mining returns, then he'll surely be more inclined to join."
"Yeah, okay, but who'll buy a ton of extra rock and stone?" Celessa asked.
"There's a man in Tarrey Town, a carpenter," Yunobo chimed in. "The boss thinks maybe he'll know what to do with all the stone since he builds so much."
"If he doesn't then I think I do," Zelda said with a confident smile. "Shall we be off?"
"Honestly, if that means escaping from this heat a little longer, then I'm in," Celessa sighed, already beginning to walk back down the mountain. "It's only noon and it's already been a day..."
"Hey, while you're walking down, try and pick up some of those guardian parts!" Zelda called out to her. "We could use those!"
As Celessa raised her hand in understanding, the rest of the group followed. After only a few steps, Zelda soon found herself walking next to Yunobo.
"Excuse me, Yunobo," she said, getting the Goron's attention. "Before I explain things to you more clearly, there's something I wish to ask. Did you... see Link earlier today?"
"I did! He left early this morning," Yunobo answered. "I wish he could have stayed longer, but he said he had something important to take care of."
"Is he... better?" Zelda asked, something that made Paya's pointed ears perk up. Yunobo smiled brightly.
"He sure is! He and I spent a long time soaking in the hot springs! He's as good as new!"
Placing a hand on her chest, Zelda gave a relieved sigh.
He's okay... she thought to herself thankfully. He's okay...
...
Alright, there we go, Link thought as he tightened the vines around his shoulder.
He examined his arsenal, now strapped in place with a makeshift belt over his back and around his waist. He then looked down at his waist, where another group of vines had been wrapped around, keeping a few makeshift pouches crafted from leaves at the ready. With a nod, he looked over at the blue light pad sitting in the grass. He had collected everything he could, from sticks, to mushrooms, to every nut he could find. It was time to continue forward. After stretching his body, he walked forward to step into the light, ready to be taken to the next floor, but just before he could enter the light, he paused and looked up at the mystical ceiling above.
I hope you're doing okay, he thought. Don't do anything too reckless out there... Not that I'm one to talk.
