"Boy..."
Link stood still, slack jawed, his mind rifling through every memory available. Airi had not seemed like a bad person...so why did she try to attack him?
"Boy..."
And just what was the "Hylian Champion" supposed to be? Oh, if only he could draw on his memories, remember anything more than his time in that cave...
"Link!"
Link snapped back into focus. The old man was shaking his head. "I apologize, Link. Ganon needs not rely on mere destruction to devastate the land. He poisons the minds of people, as well. I should have thought it suspicious to find a stranger on this plateau."
Link forced his lips to move. "But...I'm a stranger to you too, right?"
The old man's face creased, and then he bowed his head. "No, not at all." He let out a deep sigh. "You were someone my daughter trusted with her life. And I knew you very well."
"Well, I barely know you at all!" Link's frustration burst. "I don't understand what's going on, so stop talking in riddles! Tell me what's going on and who you really are! I..."
He fell silent. The old man's body was changing. Well, not truly; the shape was the same, but wisps of light, shimmering green, were radiating off the man's frame.
"Very well..."
The old man reached up, pulling back on his hood. He had flowing white hair beneath the bejeweled and gilded circlet he wore. Two broken wings protruded from the side, helping the circlet form the remains of a crown. His skin was no longer tan, but a shimmering green.
"I was King Rhoam Bosphoramous Hyrule. I was...the last leader of Hyrule, back when I was still alive."
Link's mental faculties stopped for a moment. Impulsively, he walked forth and tried to lay a hand on the old man's shoulder. It went right through it, as though the man was made of air. The unhooded specter sighed.
"The Great Calamity was merciless...it devastated everything in its path, lo, a century ago. It was then...that my life was taken away from me. And since then that time, I have remained here in the form of a spirit."
"And...I was in the cave all that time?" Link touched his face, and then he grabbed at his collarbone. A sudden terror struck him. Was he...dead? A ghost, just like the old man?
There was a spate of mirthless laughter from Rhoam. "You need not worry, boy. The jaws of death have not bit you yet. And the same goes for the princess." He clasped his hands together.
"She escaped the worst of Ganon's rampage. She was griefstricken, but not defeated. She forged on, hoping to reach the castle and use her sacred power to take down the monster before it could harm anything else. She had a partner, you, the Hylian Champion, who vowed to protect her with his life. And...you very narrowly ended up fulfilling that vow to the letter. You fought valiantly when your fate took an unfortunate turn, and you suffered fatal wounds. All the princess could do was have you taken to the Shrine of Resurrection. Now, you stand revitalized, one hundred years later."
Link blinked. He knew he had to say something, no matter how impossible the situation was. "I-I can't imagine myself meeting a princess..."
"She was my own daughter...my dear Zelda." The old man's voice, for the first time, broke.
Link shook his head. This was all a dream. It had to be. He stumbled forward, and a part of him was not surprised when he found himself walking straight through the old man. He did not have to turn around to know that Rhoam, as he called himself, would rematerialize right behind him. But he gripped the sill of the nearest window with both hands, forcing himself to look at the distant castle, and the smoke that flowed up from it. He had to anchor himself, had to focus on something, had to ground himself. He would focus on that one image to steady himself, close his eyes, and open them again, and he would be back in that cave, or the Shrine of Resurrection, or whatever it was...
"Remember..."
Link's heart nearly stopped. It was a voice, certainly not his or Rhoam's. It belonged to a...young woman? This absolutely had to be some kind of dream...
"Try to remember…"
He knew this voice! He had heard it when he had left the cave...and...
The image of the blonde woman popped into his head. She was covered in dirt and grime now, with tears falling from her cyan eyes. Was...was there rain falling on her, and on himself?
"The beast…when the beast regains its true power…the world will face its end. You must hurry, Link. Before it's too late…."
Link snapped back into reality. He could see the castle again, and the smoke. But something new happened; there was a flash of yellow light, and the smoke disappeared. He turned to see Rhoam, who was shaking his head.
"You heard her, did you not?"
"...I did."
"Even now, as she works to restrain Ganon from within Hyrule Castle, she calls out for your help. However, my daughter's power will soon be exhausted. Once that happens, Ganon will freely regenerate himself and nothing will stop him from consuming our land." He looked upon Link.
"Considering that I could not save my own kingdom, I have no right to ask this of you, Link. But I am powerless here...and you must save my daughter. And do whatever it takes to annihilate Ganon."
"Wh-what do you expect from me?"
"Do you want to know more? About Hyrule, and about yourself?" Rhoam watched Link nod helplessly, and then he scratched his beard.
"I believe it would be quite reckless for you to head directly to the castle at this point." He perked up a bit, and pointed towards the horizon. Link followed his finger to see what looked like two parallel mountains jutting out of the earth.
"I suggest that you make your way east, out to one of the villages in the wilderness. You will have to get down from this high plateau, so proceed with caution. Make your way past the twin summits of the Dueling Peaks. From there, follow the road as it proceeds north. The name of your destination is Kakariko Village. There you will find the elder, Impa. She will tell you more about the path that lies ahead."
Link did his best to keep his face composed. "Anything else I should know?"
Rhoam shook his head. "I've told you everything I can." All at once, his body began to flicker with an even more intense green. "Link...You must save Hyrule..."
And then he was gone, vanishing with the light and leaving not a trace behind.
Master Sooga had first told Airi that they would travel to Hateno Village. Then he had told her that they would be making a stop at her home, Kakariko Village. Furthermore, he had explained that they needed to seek contact with the people of Gerudo Town. In the end, the duo never set foot in any of these places. But Airi did not mind.
The old man was a stranger, but he was there for her. He would make a fire every night, and gave her his cloak to use as a blanket. He made sure to have enough supplies for both of them, and even let her help him chop vegetables, measure the water, and boil the beans at mealtimes. He did not speak much of his past, and Airi knew better than to inquire. She did not want to push his boundaries.
He was more than willing to listen to her, though. Airi had told him at length of her time spent in Kakariko Village. The trees were nice, and the air was clean, and the annual festivals were worth going to, if only to collect the goodies the confectioners prepared just for the occasion. However, when he asked her if she wanted to return to the Kakariko Village, he had not quite let her answer.
"The sun is falling. We should find shelter." She had complied, and helped him set up camp again.
Finally, he brought her to his home. Well, it was not just his home. It was the stronghold of the people that provided her with sucor and safety. Moreover, they supplied her with strength, training, and a new purpose in life: to safeguard and uphold the mission of the Yiga Clan.
The plateau was at peace. The sun was shining, the breeze was calm, and the birds were chirping. None of this could possibly have meant less to Airi.
"Argh!"
The young woman kicked over a rock. She had been so close! Another second and she would have sent the Hylian Champion to the next world, but no! Instead, she had spent the past day helping the bastard! He still had the Sheikah Slate, and it was only a matter of time before he would stand against Ganon!
She huffed, and bent over to grab at her knees. Through laborious effort, she took back control of her breath and forced her heart to beat at the proper pace.
The situation was a disaster, but not unsalvageable. She could wait here on the plateau and see if she could encounter the Hylian Champion again. No, better yet, she would seek out her compatriots, contact Master Kohga or Master Sooga, and let them formulate a plan to dispose of the kingdom's chosen.
On second thought...
Airi's face twisted into a smirk. Why drag things out that far? She would plan, she would lead the charge, and she would take the Hylian Champion's head!
On her honor, and by Lord Ganon's name, she would succeed!
"Hail the One, hail Ganon." She whispered to herself, again and again. "Hail the One, hail Ganon...hail the One, hail Ganon..."
"Be vigilant, be vicious, be victorious...Be vigilant, be vicious, be victorious..."
A bit of a short chapter, but I did not want to stretch the exposition too far. In fact, I'm saving the story of the Champions and the Divine Beasts for later. And as the paraglider is broken, I'll be giving Link another way to get down from the plateau.