Link woke up in a cave. He was in only his boxers, and everything hurt.
'If I had a rupee for every time I woke up in a cave, almost naked, and extremely sore, I would have two rupees, which isn't a lot but it's weird that it happened twice.' He thought. Then grunted and hauled himself into a sitting position. With that one movement, memory returned. Zelda had fallen into a pit and then disappeared in golden light. Link felt as if an enormous weight had crashed onto his shoulders. To distract himself, he focused on his surroundings.
The first thing that was different was that his injured arm was now that of the green glowing arm. He examined it for a bit, and the strange green lines running across it, then he heard a voice.
"Ah, Link. Finally you wake."
It was a male voice, quite different from that of the corpse, this one was deep and soft. Link stood as the voice continued.
"I've heard a great deal about you from Zelda." Link started. This voice had spoken with Zelda, which meant she was safe. Thank the Goddesses. "Your wounds were severe… I am relieved to see you escaped death." The voice continued. Link wanted to ask after Zelda, but his throat was closed and his voice gone. So he simply listened.
"Your arm, however, was beyond saving. I had to replace it, lest the injury endanger you further."
Just then Link felt something pull at his consciousness. He looked that way, and saw the Master Sword stuck in the ground. Link walked over, picked it up and remembered.
The Master Sword was broken and she was probably hanging onto the very edge of life. The voice didn't speak again, so he figured he would just need to explore. Find out where in Hylia's great Hyrule he was.
It appeared that the chamber was made beneath a tall tree. Link chopped through some brambles and he came into a larger room where he found a glowing green symbol of a hand surrounded by runes, and contained in stonework of a dragon eating its own tail. Link studied it for a moment before raising his new arm to where the hand was on the symbol. The symbol dissipated and three things occurred. First a travel point appeared but Link knew it would be no use to him because of his lack of a Sheikah slate. Strange that this Zonai ruin would have Sheikah technology. Next a large cog looking apparatus that Link hadn't noticed began to turn. Finally, a large door at the end of the hall opened. Link went through the door into a long passageway one that led haltingly downwards with little ponds that he had to swim through. The water was cold and it helped numb the pain encompassing his body.
After some time, he found a pair of Archaic legwear in a strange chest in a corner of the room. He'd opened it with his new arm. Good to know. The arm seemed to work for the green magic technology, the same way the Sheikah slate worked for Shikah technology. He explored more, eventually coming out of the cave and onto a ledge. He looked around.
He was in the sky. This ledge was well and truly in the sky. Link could see floating Islands in the distance. He looked down and saw a pond in another skyland right below him.
'Welp, here goes nothing.' he thought, then he jumped.
Plummeting through the air was more exhilarating and less terrifying than Link had thought. He thought suddenly that this was a new adventure, reminiscent of the way he'd felt all those years ago on the Great Plateau, exiting the Shrine of Resurrection and seeing Hyrule for what felt like the first time.
Link was snapped from his revery as he cannon-balled into the water below him. He swam to the edge of the pond and got out.
'Okay then.' he thought. He grabbed the nearest stick, and began to explore this sky island, skyland if you would. He just was collecting sticks, and Skyshrooms, basically anything he could get his hands on. As he strode towards an apple tree, he noticed a strange robot creature with a stick in its hands. When it tried to smack Link with its stick, he knew it was an enemy. He disposed of it quickly with his own sticks and was rewarded with a Zonai charge (interesting) and a Soldier Construct Horn. That must mean that what had just attacked him was a soldier construct, it was Zonai in origin, and there were probably more powerful versions of it. All good to know. Soon while exploring, he came across another Zonai construct except this one was crumpled and inactive. But when Link got close to it, it shuddered and rose to its full height. It examined Link instead of attacking him so he supposed it was peaceful. He didn't expect it to speak, however, so he jumped a little when it did.
"Link, I have waited for you." The construct said, in a strange even voice. Link was even more concerned that the construct knew his name. "Princess Zelda left something for you in my care." It continued, clearly oblivious to Link's reservations. Link startled again with the new information that the construct knew Princess Zelda but his voice was gone, so the construct simply extended a drawer in its body.
"This is the Purah pad." it explained, "I am told it is a valuable tool that will provide you with direction." Link knew that the last person to have it was Zelda so he trusted the construct was telling the truth. Link took the Purah pad from the construct and it lit up with the Sheikah Eye emblem.
"I received it from Princess Zelda. I have now passed it on to you." the construct said, like it was making a notation. "My records indicate that Princess Zelda is waiting at the location marked on its map. My message has been delivered."
Link lifted his hands and prayed to Hylia that this construct understood Hylian sign.
"Where am I?" He asked.
"We stand in the Garden of Time." The construct answered immediately. It turned to face towards a structure in the distance. "The Temple of Time is visible from here. It was used in the distant past. Many rites and ceremonies of the kingdom were held there." The construct turned back to Link, "But no more. Now it is a lonely place. No one visits."
Link thought that was off. If no one visited in recent memory, how could this construct know Zelda and have gotten the Purah Pad from her?As if his thoughts of Zelda had kick-started his brain, Link started and fumbled with the Purah Pad to pull up the map. Sure enough a large 'X' was marked in the middle. Maybe the construct ment no visitors except for Zelda, because the 'X' mark was right above the Temple of Time.
When he got there, after exploring a bit more, he found himself at two large doors at the Temple of Time. He tried to put a hand on the door to open it, but a large red 'X' appeared in front of his hand, blocking the entrance.
"That door will open only to those with sufficient power," said a familiar voice. The same smooth deep voice that had woken him in the cave. When Link whipped around to where the voice was coming from, it wasn't disembodied anymore. A strange creature with a long snout, large ears, and long white hair, stood in the air. He was identical to the statues of the Zonai Zelda and Link had found below Hyrule castle. The Zonai's green eyes seemed incredibly old and wise. He was also ringed with the green light and wisps of green smoke. He was a spirit.
"I'm sorry, I did not intend to startle you. It was I that spoke to you earlier. That arm originally belonged to me." As he said this, the Zonai lifted an arm, it was identical to the one now attached to Link's shoulder. And the hand was glowing green
"I am Rauru." the Zonai- Rauru, introduced himself. "Forgive me for appearing to you in this manner. I no longer have a physical form. In any case, that arm should allow you to open this door. It seems to have lost the power to do so. You might be able to restore it, but you would need to enter a place filled with sacred light…" Rauru turned to look at the rest of the Skyland. "Ah of course." Rauru seemed to remember something, "Why not visit the Shrines on this Island?" Link saw a large rock looking thing in the distance. A green spiral of light appeared around it, exactly the same as the light that had surrounded the corpse below Hyrule Castle.
"The Shrines… yes, I am sure they are the key." Rauru assured him, and then he disappeared. But Link could tell that his spirit had not passed on, Rauru's spirit had simply left the location. The mention of Shrines reminded Link of King Rhoam and the Great Plateau.
'I bet there are four shrines on this Skyland, and one of them is higher up in a winter biome.' Link thought. Well, he'd better get started.
The whole time he was exploring he almost did it by muscle memory. Sure this was new territory, but this exploration felt so familiar that his mind was able to wander while he learned about the world around him. His mind drifted from odd facts about the Sheikah, Hyrulean history, the reconstruction of Hyrule, on the Great Calamity, his friends that had helped him fight it, and finally, as it inevitably would, his mind fell on Sidon. Of course the Zoran Prince was normally in the back of Link's mind, but thoughts of him took over Link's mind as he explored. It first started with his form, tall, imposing, strong… Then his face, open, and optimistic… Then it was his voice…
"Hero of the Zora."
"Hero of Hyrule."
"Link, my dear one."
"My pearl."
"Dearest Pearl."
"My Love."
Link promptly dropped the beam he was holding up with his new Ultrahand ability. His cheeks burned and he even felt heat at the tips of his ears. He twisted his mouth down trying not to smile. Sidon had never said that to Link, but even so the words echoed in his mind and made him giddy. Just imagining if Sidon might say that to him… Well his face and ears were hot and he was suppressing a wide smile. That would be how he would react if Sidon ever said those words to him.
Butterflies in his stomach and a lightness in his chest. Yes, this is how it would feel to be loved by Sidon. Golden Goddesses, if Link could let himself be satisfied with this alone, he felt he could lift all of Hyrule with a smile. But, alas, his selfish heart craved more.
A surprise, "Link?" shook him from his thoughts of his handsome Zora.
'Golden Goddesses MY handsome Zora?' Link thought to himself. He turned towards the spirit of Rauru just as he felt a new wave of heat rise to his face and ears.
"Are you quite alright?" Rauru asked. Concern on his face, and a hand on his chin. Link nodded vigorously, his free blond hair and bangs fortunately covering his face.
"But your ears are so red, and you have not continued with the Shrine. You've advanced quite quickly before…" Rauru floated forward, "Are you ill, Link?"
Link shook his head no, and raised his hands.
"I was lost in thought… and I… Well, I lost focus. I'm truly alright." Link signed. Rauru kept a hand on his chin for a moment longer before nodding and removing it.
"His fancy…" Rauru whispered, before giving Link a strange knowing smile. "Well don't let me keep you, Link. You must open the doors to the Temple of Time." Then he disappeared. Link resolved then to put thoughts of Sidon out of his mind. This did not last long. Even when on different elevations in Hyrule, Link was magnetically drawn to Sidon, whether in body or in mind. Still his thoughts were dampened by the knowledge that this giddy soaring feeling was all Link's own selfish love for Sidon. It was worse since he knew that his affection could not be returned. Still he couldn't suppress the thoughts, and he found it pointless to do so. So he endured and indeed indulged in the feelings. But he never let it halt his progress. The thought of Zelda also called out in his mind, and he cared for her just as much as he did Sidon. He had to focus on the task at hand as much as he possibly could. Still his worry for the Zora Prince, and all of Zora's domain slowly made itself known. Link couldn't see Hyrule below the clouds that hid The Great Skyland, and he had no idea what may have befallen it.
There was another distraction, though less pressing. It was the appearance of a new Dragon. Link knew the first three, Naydra, Dinn, and Farosh, but above even those three, was a white Dragon with a gold mane of hair, long teal horns and spikes along its back. Link always thought that the Dragons were the divine servants of the golden goddesses, each tasked with protecting their goddess's ancient spring. But this new Dragon didn't seem to have a spring. Maybe it's spring was in the Temple of Time? Perhaps this Dragon guarded a sacred spring to Hylia herself? If so, Link would have to try and interact with it… once every else he had to do was taken care of. Well, he shouldn't focus on all that now. He had smaller tasks to complete. Then once he freed Zelda from the Temple of Time, he wouldn't have to worry about all of Hyrule alone. They would do their best together.
After two days, Link had done it. There had only been three Shrines, but he'd claimed the three powers of Ultrahand, Ascend and Fuse. He acquired knowledge of Zonai technology and the Energy cell. Now he stood in front of the Temple of Time once again. Now he was stealing himself for failure. But he had to try. Zelda was there. He put his new hand to the door, and no red 'X' appeared. Instead the green Ultrahand symbol disappeared and the doors slid to the sides to reveal the Temple of Time's interior.
A staircase with water near the sides led up to an altar with a strange glowing tear-drop shaped stone that was floating above it. The water rushing through the Temple gave credence to Link's hypothesis that this was a Spring to Hylia. On either side of the strange altar, there were massive cogs. The spokes were big enough for Link to ride on but the cogs were turning the wrong way, so Link would just be dumped in the water. Water that might be sacred.
Link walked up to the alter and gazed at the strange glowing stone. It gave off a power that seemed so familiar to Link, but he couldn't put his finger on it. He reached out his Zonai hand and touched the stone. It immediately began to glow with golden light, and it got so bright that Link was forced to close his eyes. When he opened them he was no longer in the Temple of Time. It looked misty, like he was encased and standing in a cloud. Ahead of him Princess Zelda herself floating in mid-air, eyes closed, and hands clasped as though in prayer.
"Zelda!" Link cried out and reached out his hand, but he passed right through her. Zelda didn't open her eyes, but she unclasped her hands and held one out to Link. He hesitantly took it, remembering her incorporeal state. However, now her hand felt solid, real and warm. Zelda's strange necklace began to glow golden. He hadn't noticed this before, but the glowing charm looked like a miniature of the stone Link had touched before he came to this place of fog. The glow spread from the necklace to Zelda's whole body and Link thought maybe she was coming back to him. Instead the glow condensed in her chest and traveled down her arm. The glow passed into Link's Zonai hand and he felt an intense heat being transferred. His Zonai arm flashed gold and stayed like that. A shimmering golden light. Link reluctantly let go of Zelda's hand, in favor of examining his now golden arm. Arms of light swirled around Link's arm as the glow receded back up Link's hand and this time condensed on the back of Link's hand. The light then burst forth on the back of his hand to reveal a rune Link hadn't ever seen before. The run embedded itself into Link's hand with a flash of light. Link looked back up at Zelda, not knowing what to expect but wishing for her to speak. But Zelda disappeared right before his eyes.
"Wait!" Link screamed as white light again flooded his vision. He closed his eyes and his panic rose. He couldn't watch her disappear. Not again.
When Link opened his eyes he was again before the strange altar in the Temple of Time. The glowing stone was gone. Link fell to his knees before it, letting tears fall from his eyes. Zelda said it was good that he found that easier to do now, but it felt so wrong. He'd lost Zelda again, and now he was crying like a baby about it? He should simply stand up again and try to gather leads on her. And yet… he cried, and it felt a little good. A little like release. He hugged himself around the middle but the rune on the back of his Zonai hand flashed in his eyes. His eyes still hadn't forgiven him for the last few blinding flashes of light so he violently jerked back and hit his head on the side of the altar. That seemed so sad, and profound despite the fact that the hit wouldn't do any lasting damage. His head still throbbed, and his eyes still leaked tears. He felt so close to Zelda. Finally having her by his side again.
He couldn't do this alone. Not again. He couldn't feel the crushing weight of Hyrule all on his own again!
"Ah, Recall… Link are you quite alright?" Rauru's voice broke through Link's sobs. Link forced himself to look up at the Zonai spirit. Rauru floated down and sat cross legged on the floor by Link.
"Link…" Rarau's eyes were somber and sympathetic. That look was enough for Link to throw himself into Rauru's lap and bury his face in the Spirit's chest. Rauru stuttered in shock for a few moments before muttering, "What would Sonia do?" After a minute of deliberation on Rauru's part, the Zonai put his arms around Link's shaking form and held him close.
"Link. It is so very unfair, what the gods above have asked of you. And you completed their task. Now they ask even more of you now, without the comforts of amnesia to shield your mind from worry and stress. But I want you to know that I believe that you can conquer this new threat. I believe you can do what I could not." Rauru hugged him close for some… amount of time. It could have been seconds or centuries as far as Link knew. Rauru lessened his grip and spoke again.
"Now Link, I must explain this new rune to you. It is called Recall and it is the ability to reverse the movement of an object through time. This was Zelda's power, that explains what you just saw, but it is concerning that she is gone again." Rauru said all of this in a soft tone. Link got up, and nodded along with the Zonai's instructions. "What you saw… It is a mystery even to me. Perhaps it was a sort of echo-one that reflects her sheer will. Now that you have been given Zelda's ability… No doubt, it will prove important. Take care now, you must stay strong." Rauru disappeared from the floor across from Link and he stood.
The ability to reverse an object's movement in time, huh? Link heard the rumbling of the giant cogs in his ears again, sound had seemed to stop as soon as he was returned to the Temple of Time. The cogs in Link's own brain turned and came to a conclusion. He activated his Recall rune and the world seemed to pause around him. He targeted one of the cogs and it began to spin backwards. He hopped onto one of the spokes and he was soon deposited on a platform. It had another cog in front of it. He rewound that one too and soon he was standing on the next floor of the Temple of Time. A goddess statue greeted him in a large room with another set of large double doors in the back of the chamber. He tried to speak to the goddess Hylia, but he simply felt her smile before it dissipated and Link was left alone again. He instead went to the back of the room to investigate the double doors.
It had two hand engravings on it. It was pretty obvious what Link had to do. He prepared himself and pushed on the double doors. They drained his health like he was drawing the Master Sword and Link was forced to let go of the doors before they killed him.
"This door stands as a test to your overall vitality." Rauru's voice spoke from beside Link. He turned and Rauru was once again there. "You remain in a weakened state. You're not yet strong enough to open it. But… There is one more shrine on this Island. There, you can get another blessing. If you add that to the other blessings you received at the shrines and offer them all to the goddess, you might just find your way forward after all." Rauru said all of this gently, his old eyes searching Link's face for any sign of distress. Link gave none. Rauru nodded to himself almost sadly before continuing. "Let me see the Purah Pad…" Link took it out and held it up to the Spirit.
"The Purah Pad lets you travel to certain places instantly. Now, see all of the blue marks on your map? You can travel instantly to any of them. I'd suggest the one at the bottom of your map. You'll find the last of this island's shrines somewhere around there." Rauru laid his hand on Link's shoulder. "You're so close, brave hero." Rauru whispered, and then he was gone.
Link teleported to the indicated location and found himself back in the large chamber he'd been in when he first woke up. He now knew what to do with the large cog at the side of the room. He Ascended through a platform and Recalled the cog, only to find a second one in front of him. He was forced to quickly stop Recalling the first cog and use the rune on the second. The second cog deposited him into a cave. He followed it, and it led him to a room within the rock, where the last Shrine stood. After completing it, he didn't immediately go back to the Temple of Time. He talked with a Steward Construct and learned how to increase his Energy Cell battery. Then he went out of the cave. He found the sun setting and almost mourned that he couldn't watch it till it's end. Instead he took a wing back down to the Temple of Time. He offered his Light of Blessings to the goddess almost without thinking, and finally was able to open the doors.
Link's Zonai arm glowed blue and he found Rauru standing at his side.
"Ah, good. I see you have managed to open the door. You haven't fully recovered yet, but that is to be expected. You were almost beyond saving… By visiting the shrines and receiving their blessings, you have mitigated some of the corruption's effects." Rauru's eyes took on a softer quality, "Though our time together has been brief, I am so happy that we finally met…" Rauru turned then, and looked out at the starlit sky. "You are exactly as Zelda said. I've done everything I can for her. Now it is up to you."
A wind was blowing steadily now and Rauru's spirit seemed to be blowing away with it as he spoke.
"Don't go…" Link whispered, but Rauru simply smiled sadly, and then he was gone. Holding back tears, Link made his way across the floating platforms ahead. At the end he found a glowing gold light. As he went up to examine it, the Recall rune glowed. Then the decayed Master Sword started glowing a faint blue. The voice inside the sword seemed weak, but blessedly she was still there. Link drew the sword and listened as she called out, telling him to do… something. After a bit, Fi's voice became clearer, and she told Link to place her in the orb of glowing light. He was hesitant to let her go, with how weak she was, but Fi insisted and Link the sword into the light. He let go of the Master Sword and the glowing golden orb lifted her up a bit. Link felt the rune for Recall activate on the back of his hand before both sword and light disappeared. Then the sky itself seemed to rumble. Hylia's dragon burst through the clouds with a mighty roar. The clouds dissipated and Link saw the Kingdom of Hyrule below him. He spotted Hyrule castle, gloom surrounding it, and the lights of Lookout Landing in the distance.
Then the voice of Zelda rang in Link's ears.
"Link… Link… You must find me."
Link felt there was only one way forward. Taking a deep breath he threw himself off of the Skyland towards Hyrule. Towards home. And hopefully, towards Zelda.