Eldin Province – Foothill Stable
"Oh, I see Impa!" Princess Zelda said happily.
She spurred Lumine into a gallop and dashed the last few dozen meters to the stables. Epona, enthused at the sudden speed, shook her head and reared up a little—her way of asking for permission to finally go faster.
Link smiled and nudged Epona's flanks. Whinnying, the mare sprinted after them. Midna barked happily and gave chase.
It was early evening when they finally reached their destination. It had been the longest leg of the trip, so they'd had to urge their mares into a quicker pace than usual to make it to the Foothill Stable before nightfall settled. They had traveled the roads north, rounding Crenel Peak and crossing Thims Bridge before they had been able to go eastward. They'd stopped for lunch and to allow their horses—and Midna—to graze and drink at Zelo Pond. By early afternoon, Link and Princess Zelda had been following the Hylia River until it became the Zora River. At the fork, they had taken the left turn and proceeded to go north. Another left at Ternio Trail had put them on the straightaway to the Foothill Stable. There, they had kept their pace steady and even, since it was an uphill climb, and they hadn't wanted to tire out their horses unnecessarily until they spotted the stable and Impa.
Impa saw them easily from her elevated position and waved at them as they galloped toward her.
Despite Princess Zelda's head start, Epona easily outpaced Lumine, though Link softly corrected Epona's speed to keep alongside and not overtake.
"Hey!" Impa called out once they were in earshot.
"Hello, Impa," Princess Zelda said happily when they got closer. "It's so good to see you again."
"How was Tabantha?" Impa asked. She took Lumine's reins and led her and Princess Zelda to the stables.
"Quite well," Princess Zelda said. "I don't think there can be anything done about speed, but I managed to increase the responsiveness of Vah Medoh, so it should answer quickly to Revali's commands."
Link blinked at that. He hadn't asked—it wasn't his place anyway—so he hadn't known if there was any work done on Vah Medoh besides inspection.
Once they arrived at the Foothill Stable, both he and Princess Zelda dismounted. Stable hands took their mares with extraordinary respect and care.
Princess Zelda turned to Impa. "I shall guess; you have a message from Father."
"I'm sorry, Princess," Impa said regretfully. "You must stay here with me. Link will be going up to Goron City by himself. His Majesty was very clear and… well… very adamant."
Princess Zelda's lips thinned, and she nodded stiffly. There was no sign of her earlier jovial mood. "Yes, Shepard mentioned as such."
"They're about to serve dinner," Impa said quickly. "You must be famished after your trip."
Princess Zelda wearily nodded and followed. Link silently followed behind.
Dinner was a silent affair. Princess Zelda poked at her food while Link ate contentedly. Impa shot Link a look, demanding to talk to him privately later. He only gave a small nod in return.
After dinner, though, Link quietly asked Impa about her thoughts on the archeological dig happening at the Great Plateau. When Impa started giving her input on the subject, Princess Zelda perked up at once and started chattering—not quite non-stop; she did want Impa's opinion on the subject, after all—and was much more animated.
"But we don't know how many towers there are?" Princess Zelda asked.
Impa shook her head. "Purah, Robbie, and I have been putting our heads together, but we can't truly say. Robbie believes there must be at least five, though; one tower for each major province in Hyrule. We agree with that, but there could be more. We also don't know their function. All we can say is that it must be important if our ancestors took the time to build them."
"The ancient Sheikah also made the effort to weave them into the tapestry," Link added.
"Right, that too," Impa replied.
"It looked like the Sheikah Slate could fit into the Guidance Stone at the site we found at the Great Plateau," Princess Zelda said.
"More hidden functions, then," Impa groused. "I'm sorry, Princess. I have no idea about that."
"That's all right," Princess Zelda said. "I will speak to Purah and Robbie when I return."
Link let them speak for a while longer while he passively listened. Eventually, he walked over to his bag and pulled out a brush. A small, quiet whistle had Midna bounding over to him. She saw the brush in his hand and immediately sat down.
Smiling down at her, Link started sweeping the brush through her coat in long, even strokes. Midna's breathing became long and deep as her eyes closed in pleasure.
"We need to get you a bath soon," Link murmured. "Been out on the road too long. Maybe a haircut, too."
Midna snorted at him.
A shadow cast by the moonlight covered them. Link looked up and saw Princess Zelda standing nearby. She looked like she wanted to speak but was indecisive on whether to do so.
Link held out the brush. "Matted fur is uncomfortable. It tends to pull at the skin, and it might even cause bruises if the matting is severe enough. She needs to be brushed at least once a week or after baths."
Princess Zelda gave him a small smile—possibly the first she had ever offered him—before taking the brush. Midna let out a small howl at the loss of attention, but promptly let out a pleased growl when Princess Zelda resumed the task.
"Good girl," Princess Zelda cooed. Midna flopped down and luxuriously stretched out in response. Princess Zelda looked back up at Link. "Am I doing it right?"
Link shrugged. "I prefer long strokes. My sister, Aryll, tends to use short ones. As long as Midna doesn't mind, I don't think there's a wrong way."
"I see. Anything else that must be done?" Princess Zelda asked.
"A bath, but that can be done back home," Link answered. "A haircut, too, to better handle the warmer weather."
Princess Zelda leaned in and took a small sniff of Midna's coat. "Hmm… yes, a bath might be in order."
Impa giggled. She sat down in a squat and started rubbing Midna's head. The wolf closed her eyes in pleasure and let out a sharp exhale.
She's going to be so spoiled.
Once Midna's fur was brushed out, she shook herself, languidly stretched, and happily ate the vittles Link dropped in front of her. Princess Zelda gave Midna a few more rubs before she had to stifle a yawn.
"We should get some sleep," Impa said. She looked like she was trying to hold back a yawn herself.
Link had no restraints and let out a yawn, an action Midna emulated moments after.
Using the beds provided by the stable, Princess Zelda took the bed reserved for her, with Impa and Link taking the adjoining beds on each side. Midna promptly jumped onto Princess Zelda's bed. Impa was about to shoo her off, but Princess Zelda claimed it was fine and proceeded to give Midna one last scratch before nudging the giant wolf to the side. Midna accommodated her and found a spot where she wouldn't take up too much bed space.
Oh, sure. Just make her comfortable while you sleep on my chest.
Still, Link softly smiled before lying down and quickly falling asleep…
… and in what seemed like no time at all, his eyes snapped open almost against his will as he promptly woke up. A quick glance around showed that it was still late evening, not even early morning yet. Sleep encroached on his mind once more. It was tempting to let it take him, but his survival instincts told him what would await in a few short hours if he didn't get up now.
His desire to sleep over his desire to live warred within his consciousness. The extra activity was enough for him to chase the fairies of slumber away, making survival instincts the victor.
Stifling a groan, Link slowly crawled out of bed. As he stepped out of the Foothill Stable's massive tent, Link looked up, and using the moon, he judged that he had only slept a few hours, but dawn was still some time away yet.
Quietly, he collected his equipment and stepped back out into the night air. Stretching his arms briefly, he got to work. First, he created a small campfire, readied a tiny pot, and dropped some ingredients inside. Letting everything stew, Link limbered up before hefting his Royal Guard Bow in one hand and casually holding an arrow in the other. Feeling more alert now, Link started his hunt in the vicinity of the Maw of Death Mountain for the rest of the materials he would need.
~o~O~o~
Link's arrow struck true and pinned the Fireproof Lizard before it could scamper away.
It had taken over an hour, but he'd managed to secure several lizards. It would have been easier in the day, but there was nothing he could do about that. After placing his latest kill into a leather satchel, he brought his bounty over to the tiny cooking pot he'd set up. The other ingredients he had placed within were already boiling.
He was a bit surprised to see Impa and Princess Zelda standing there, though.
"There he is," Impa said.
"I thought you went to sleep," Link muttered.
"Well, we were, but the princess woke up and wanted to ask when you were going up the mountain," Impa said. "Instead, we found your bed was empty. The stablemaster told us you went out, and now there's a cooking pot here."
"First thing at dawn," Link answered. "Just brewing a few Fireproof Elixirs. I didn't bring my Flamebreaker Armor."
Princess Zelda looked interested at the catch he'd brought. "Those are Fireproof Lizards! Oh, ingesting them would grant you the ability to traverse Death Mountain without fear!"
"I-i-i-ingest?" Impa stammered out. Her eyes bugged out at the lizards Link was pulling out of his satchel.
The Sheikah girl recoiled when Link carelessly threw in the lizards into the boiling pot. With the other ingredients that were already in there, all he had to do was wait until the lizards were appropriately mixed in. He picked up a ladle and started stirring vigorously.
"Oh, Hylia," Impa said. She looked paler than usual and utterly repulsed. "You're drinking that?"
Princess Zelda's interested expression was in stark contrast. "Right now?"
Link shook his head. "When it's ready and when I go up. There's a time limit on its efficacy."
"How long?" Princess Zelda asked.
"It lasts a couple of hours," Link answered. "Depends on the quality of the lizards or other ingredients."
"What else can you substitute in?" Princess Zelda asked.
Link shrugged. "Smotherwing Butterflies work but are less effective. Harder to catch, too."
"You're going to drink that?" Impa repeated in disgust. Her color changed from pale to green.
Link glanced at her from the corners of his eyes, and the corner of his lip quirked upwards. "Eventually."
Princess Zelda peered into the pot. "What else is in there?"
"Other things. A little of this and a little of that," Link answered. He had a small, sneaking suspicion about the princess's interest and decided to go with his instincts. "You don't want to know."
"Of course I do," Princess Zelda said, affronted.
Link merely shrugged at her and didn't yield to her demands.
"How do you know when the effects are wearing off?" Princess Zelda asked.
"You begin feeling uncomfortably hot, followed by a sudden breakout of sweating," Link said. "After that, blisters on your skin, followed by the unimaginable sensation of burning alive, both inside and out, since the air on Death Mountain isn't breathable without the elixir. As a general rule of thumb, take a draft when you're sweating."
Once his brief explanation was finished, Link inspected the concoction, took out a small spoonful, and gave it a tentative whiff, followed by a tiny, quick taste.
"No, not ready yet," he declared. He continued to stir.
Impa gripped Princess Zelda's arm and looked faint. "I think I'm going to be sick."
"Go to bed," Link said, injecting a little authority into his voice.
Nodding in wholehearted agreement, Impa tugged at Princess Zelda's arm, even as the royal protested, since she wanted to ask more questions.
~o~O~o~
Eldin Province – Death Mountain, Darb Pond
The next morning, at dawn, Link managed to crawl out of bed and stagger around—quietly, somehow—putting on the equipment he would need for the trip up the mountain.
He double-checked his stock of elixirs—Princess Zelda had seemed too interested, and Link wanted to ensure it was purely academic and not for something sneaky, like taking a bottle and going up the mountain when Impa's back was turned. All the bottles were there. Again, out of caution, he opened each and took a tentative whiff. At this point, he might have been paranoid, but he reasoned that she would have swapped the contents, too, if given the chance.
Next, he checked the other beds and saw that Princess Zelda was still sleeping soundly, as was Impa. Midna was curled up against the princess's legs. The wolf was awake and peering at Link.
Link put a finger to his lips and shook his head. He crept over to Midna and gave her a few affectionate rubs. He whispered into her ear, "Look after them, got it?"
Midna licked the side of his face and laid her head back down.
Smiling, Link walked back to his bag and retrieved a small box. He pulled out the Sapphire Earrings that Daruk had gifted him during his last trip to Death Mountain and placed the silver earrings Liena had given him inside. After putting on the Sapphire Earrings, he went outside, took a deep breath of the morning air, and went to the horse stalls next.
Epona was asleep, so Link gently stroked her, whispered a few things, and left.
As soon as he crossed the Maw of Death Mountain, he downed his first elixir and trudged onwards and upwards.
If Link had any reservations about Princess Zelda's absence on Death Mountain, they were quickly dispelled. It seemed like there were more monsters in comparison to his previous trip on the path to Goron City. Even alone, the monsters were no trouble for him, but he didn't want to think about what may have happened to the princess if he lost track of her during the chaos in any of the fights.
At the Goron Mining Camp, he waved at the various miners working the graveyard shift while he secured more Fireproof Lizards for use for later.
The journey to Goron City was as treacherous as he remembered, but Link climbed the path without any real concerns. The monster presence, minor eruptions of lava, and ominous rumblings of Death Mountain did nothing to deter him from making the trip.
By early morning, he finally arrived at Goron City, no worse for wear. He waved to the friendly Gorons and sought out Bludo, the Goron Elder.
The old—perhaps ancient—Goron greeted him warmly, if a bit crotchety. It was fine, though, since he appeared to be dealing with the beginnings of back pain. Bludo remained helpful, though. When Link asked where he could find Daruk, he was directed to the Goron Champion's training grounds.
Thanking Bludo for the help, Link treaded the familiar paths to the very place he'd smashed rock after rock. It was almost late morning when he finally arrived at Darb Pond.
When Link rounded the pathway, he saw Vah Rudania in the lava. Link paused for a moment to study the Divine Beast, now having laid eyes on it for the first time. It was modeled after a lizard—perhaps even a Fireproof Lizard. The head was conical, leading into a sturdy main body. Four legs, similar in structure and likely in function to those of the Guardians, were present. Unlike the Guardians, the feet on Vah Rudania were large, articulated claws. The overall appearance and aesthetics screamed Sheikah in origin, looking just like the other two Divine Beasts Link had seen. For some reason, Vah Rudania was comically on its side, the left half of it buried in the lava of the Death Caldera while the right half was sticking out, its spindly right legs dangling in the air.
Daruk and another person donned in the Flamebreaker Armor were talking amongst themselves on a nearby stone island. Link took a moment to assess if the volcano's heat was bothering him in any way before making his approach.
The person in Flamebreaker Armor somehow sensed his presence. Despite the helmet restricting his peripheral vision, he or she turned around and waved.
"Sir Link," the man yelled out. "It is good to see you!"
"Hey, Little Guy!" Daruk shouted.
Link waved and jogged the last few dozen meters until he reached them. "Hi, Daruk. And… you must be Markus?"
"I am," Markus said. He held out his hand.
Link clasped his hand and shook it. "I understand that you're having problems."
"Just having trouble getting it to move," Daruk grumbled. "I mean, I can do some stuff, but it's not… I don't know… smooth?"
Link vaguely waved at the Divine Beast. "And… is that why Vah Rudania looks like… that?"
"The Divine Beast fell from where we worked on it and landed here," Markus said. "And when I say fell, I mean more than a few times. It used to be up there…"
Markus pointed up at the sheer cliffside of Death Mountain itself.
"After Champion Daruk tried to get it to move, it fell and landed on its back," Markus said. "Then he tried to right it to its feet, and it fell again, but at least it was right side up. Then we tried an experimental small step, but instead, it almost seemed like it jumped, landed badly, and tumbled down the side of the volcano until you see it now."
"That's… well…" Link mumbled, "wow."
Daruk scratched his head. "Yeah… hey, how are the others doing?"
"Fine, it seems," Link said. "Revali appears comfortable… although he hasn't tried landing Vah Medoh, as far as I know. No word from the other Champions, but I assume that's good news."
Daruk grumbled and crossed his arms as he studied Vah Rudania. "Well, now what do I do?"
"What do you know about it?" Link asked.
"About… Vah Rudania?" Daruk scratched his head and looked up at the Divine Beast again. "It's a weapon. We're using it to fight Calamity Ganon."
"Anything else?"
"Um…" Daruk scrunched up his face before shaking his head and shrugging. "Nope."
Link arched his eyebrow, looked up at the Divine Beast, and started figuring out a way to get on it. "Let's go."
Daruk blinked at the sudden order but followed when Link started walking.
"What about me?" Markus asked at their retreating backs.
"Get to a safe distance!" Link yelled back.
Because of how Vah Rudania was positioned, as well as Daruk's struggles, Link figured it was best to get creative to get inside, rather than asking Daruk to try to correctly orient Vah Rudania. Link spotted a place high enough above the Divine Beast to leap from and gain entry. Once above, Link jumped off the outcropping and landed on Vah Rudania, rolling with the impact to bleed off his momentum.
He looked up and waited until Daruk did the same. Like Link, Daruk had little trouble climbing and jumping onto Vah Rudania, though he landed with a straight thud as he curled into a ball, resembling a very large boulder that just happened to land next to Link.
Daruk unfurled himself and looked around. "Uh… what now?"
Link carefully navigated the main body of Vah Rudania until he found something that resembled a door. "Can you open this?"
"Sure thing," Daruk said. "Stand back, Little Guy!"
Link blinked before realizing what Daruk was about to do and shook his head. "I don't mean force our way in."
Daruk had just drawn his Boulder Breaker when Link said that and tilted his head in confusion. "What do you mean, then?"
"Tell Vah Rudania to open the door," Link said. He pointed at Daruk and then the door. "You're the pilot, and you're in control. Open the door."
"Oh," Daruk said. He looked at the door and scrunched up his face. The door opened at once. "Ha! Did it! Um… now what?"
"Now get in there and learn about it," Link said. "Just walk around. If you haven't been inside it, then you haven't learned about it. If you know nothing about it, how can you expect to control it? Get going."
Somehow Link was able to push Daruk inside. The Goron looked confused about his task, but he didn't argue. He wandered inside and started poking around. Link jumped in after him and started following him around.
"Is there anything I'm supposed to be looking for?" Daruk asked.
Link shrugged at him.
"I'm not one of those Sheikah, y'know? I don't know what I'm doing here," Daruk said.
"They aren't the pilot, either," Link said. "You're not here to fix it. You're here to learn. Doesn't matter what you learn, just learn. Anything in here that catches your fancy."
Daruk gave Link an uncertain nod and continued exploring.
They spent the day poking around. Daruk kept glancing at Link questioningly, but they made little conversation. Link simply followed behind Daruk as they explored Vah Rudania's interior. Daruk prodded at the various Guidance Stones, wondered out loud about what something or other was for, or tried to remember where the head and tail were when he got turned around.
It was probably late afternoon—Link had downed three elixirs in that time—when they finally reached where the front of Vah Rudania would be if the doors were open.
"Now move this thing," Link said. "Just move it. Don't think about it. And definitely don't overthink it. Just do it."
Again, Daruk cast a doubtful look at Link but shrugged his massive shoulders and scrunched his face once more.
The entire chamber started shaking. Daruk opened his eyes and yelped as the 'floor' they were standing on suddenly became a wall. Link was already running down the wall towards the real floor and jumped at the last moment to roll and gracefully get his feet back under him. Once again, Daruk simply curled into a ball and bounced when he fell. He rolled a bit but came to a quick stop when he unfurled himself.
"Oh, right, I forgot we werrrreee—!" Whatever Daruk wanted to say trailed into a surprised shout as Vah Rudania started stomping forward.
"Well, that means Vah Rudania's on its feet," Link said. "It should be safe to open the doors now. Let's go outside."
Daruk blinked several times. Whatever he was thinking, it was enough that the doors around them opened. Link saw the front platform overlooking Vah Rudania's head and calmly walked back outside. Daruk followed, marveling over what had just happened.
When they stepped outside, they saw that they were stomping along Death Caldera. Splashes of lava splattered the nearby rock formations.
Link looked up and, using the sun, judged that they were moving east-by-southeast, probably towards Broca Island.
"Yeah!" Daruk cheered. "We're moving! Ha-ha-ha!"
Vah Rudania's pace was becoming smoother now. All four legs were moving in harmony. Seeing the massive cliffs ahead, Daruk grabbed the nearest railing. "Hold on, Little Guy!"
Seeing what Daruk was planning, Link gripped a railing of his own and held fast.
Vah Rudania's legs slammed into the rock wall. Within moments, it was almost climbing the sheer vertical surface.
"Oh, yeah!" Daruk yelled. "Get up there, Vah Rudania! Go!"
With more grace than Link could have imagined from something so big, Vah Rudania climbed the cliff until it reached the apex and scampered over the top until they were oriented horizontally again. The Divine Beast continued moving at a steady clip toward a destination only Daruk knew… if he even had a destination in mind.
"Yeah!" Daruk shouted. "I think I'm finally getting the hang of controlling this Divine Beast!"
Vah Rudania continued to stomp upwards along the steep slopes of Death Mountain. Despite the lava and immense heat, it seemed to have little trouble climbing, even though its feet were completely on fire. In response to Daruk's triumphant cry, it seemed to let out its own mechanical roar.
The distance they'd covered in such a short time was impressive, and Link really noticed how articulate Vah Rudania's feet were. He recalled Purah mentioning that Vah Rudania might have the ability to climb surfaces, bringing the realization that he should probably report to her about Vah Rudania's capabilities when he returned to Hyrule Castle.
"I tell you what… sure is a blast piloting a toy like this around," Daruk said cheerfully. He turned to Link and grinned. "Let those other Champions know, they better eat their gravel if they wanna keep up with Daruk."
Link shook his head and chuckled. He looked out at the horizon. It was the highest he had ever been on Death Mountain and likely a place no other Goron had been yet. There were no paths, no places that indicated mining, or easy access. The only way to their current location was with Vah Rudania.
Or by being a really determined climber.
As if reading Link's thoughts, Daruk looked around and took a deep breath through his nose.
"Speaking of which, can you believe this view?" Daruk asked.
Link thought he could see Daruk holding back a sliver of drool.
As if confirming Link's thoughts, Daruk said, "Just look at all those delectable rocks sprinkled on those mountains… mighty tasty."
Link chose not to comment on that and took in the view instead.
"I may not know a whole lot about this Calamity Ganon thing… but mark my words, I'll protect this land of ours to the death!" Daruk said confidently. "Right, Little Guy?"
Link blinked. Then he realized too late what was coming before Daruk slapped him in the back. Staggering from the blow, Link rubbed his sore back while Daruk chuckled.
"Hey, by the way… congrats on becoming the princess's appointed knight," Daruk said. "That's a really big deal! Protecting the king's daughter… No pressure!"
Link offered a shaky smile as he stood straight again.
"Seriously, though," Daruk said thoughtfully. He scratched the top of his head. "The princess is a strong personality—so strong, she can't quite see the range for the peaks."
That's one way to put it.
"Remember that, and you'll be fine."
Link was about to reply when everything started shaking.
"Huh?" Daruk muttered. "What the—?!"
Daruk easily kept his balance, used to the treacherous terrain of Death Mountain, while Link had to lower his center of gravity to try to stay on his feet.
The rock outcropping above them was shaken loose, and a few large boulders started to fall towards them.
Knowing what was about to happen next, Link stood behind Daruk, using him as a shield. The Goron thrust his arms out, and his special technique flared. The giant rock shattered against Daruk's barrier. Smaller pieces crashed on top of Vah Rudania but did nothing besides make a mess.
Link peered around Daruk's wide frame and saw that the danger had passed. The shaking had stopped as well, so he walked a few steps and dusted his tunic off.
Really glad the princess isn't here.
"All right, so what was I saying?" Daruk muttered to himself. He took a step and crunched on some gravel created by the boulder. Glancing at it before looking back up, he said, "That was a little strange… As far as I know, Death Mountain has been quiet for decades."
Link arched his eyebrow and looked back up at the broken rock outcropping above them. He had thought that occurrences like that were common, even though he and Liena had not experienced any such events during their stay.
"But if the mountain is shivering enough to send down a bunch of boulders that size, then—" Daruk said. He abruptly stopped talking and shook his head. "Never mind. Forget I said anything."
Link noted that Daruk's eyes were drawn to Death Mountain itself.
"You think everyone back at Goron City is okay?" Link asked.
Daruk snapped out of his thoughts and looked back down at him. "Oh. Yeah, I'm sure everyone is fine. It'll take more than that to rattle the Gorons!"
Link nodded. "We should head back."
"You got it, Little Guy," Daruk said. He crossed his arms and grinned.
Vah Rudania started stomping forward again. Its movements had become even smoother than before. Moreover, they were going even faster.
"Nice work," Link said.
"Heh, I guess experience really is the best teacher," Daruk said. "Thanks for the push, Little Guy."
"Daruk, about what you were talking about," Link said. "About the mountain being quiet and now it's not. What did you mean?"
Daruk frowned. "Ah, it's just an old folktale, is all. Heard it from my father—may the stone keep his spirit. Apparently, Death Mountain responds to evil. Wakes up and starts complaining."
"Complaining… you mean eruptions?" Link asked.
Daruk shrugged. "It's just a story told to kids. I don't believe it."
"Really?"
"Of course not," Daruk said. He turned his head back and looked at Death Mountain again. "Well… mostly. I mean… it's not possible, right?"
Link shook his head. "I wouldn't know. I don't live here. I thought shaking was normal because you live next to a volcano."
Daruk looked amused. "Of course shaking isn't normal! Our houses would break apart if things kept shaking, right?"
"Oh, right," Link muttered. "That's a good point."
"What about you? Do you believe it?" Daruk asked.
"I'm not up on Goron folktales, but…" Link gripped the leather strap that held the scabbard in place on his back. "We are preparing for Calamity Ganon, which was an old legend, right?"
As one, they both turned back to glance at Death Mountain.
At the moment, it seemed quiet, but they couldn't shake the feeling that that could change at any moment now.
~o~O~o~
After Daruk and Link returned to Darb Pond and disembarked, Markus ran up to the two excitedly.
"That looked like a successful test to me!" Markus said.
Link drank down another elixir and nodded. "Smooth as silk."
"Or rock salt!" Daruk added.
"So how did you do it?" Markus asked.
Daruk bashfully smiled. "Ah, just had to get to know Vah Rudania a bit, is all. Link was right: gotta get my hands inside and get a bit messy before working out the kinks."
"Th-that's it?" Markus asked.
Link shrugged while Daruk grinned.
"That's it," Daruk answered before laughing.
Markus looked completely lost. Link walked up and patted him on the shoulder.
"I'll make the report to Purah," Link said. "Don't worry about it."
Markus nodded gratefully. "I would appreciate that. For now, we'll keep testing movement and control. After that, we'll schedule weapons tests, preferably someplace safe."
"We'll await word, then," Link replied. He looked at the sky and saw that the sun was setting. "I lost the daylight. Best not to go down the mountain at these hours. I'll have to return to the stable tomorrow morning."
"Ah, don't worry, I have rations to share with you," Markus said.
"And if that's not enough, I have some prime rock roast to share!" Daruk said.
This time, Link was prepared when Daruk slapped him on the back and barely flinched.
Markus chuckled uneasily.
"Shame you're already leaving, though," Daruk said. "We could've tried to break your record at the Gut Check Rock Challenge."
"You said it yourself, Daruk," Link replied. "My appointment is a big deal."
Daruk nodded. "Yeah, we've got work to do. I've gotta make sure I can handle Vah Rudania, and you've gotta make sure the princess stays safe while staying loose to take the fight to Ganon. We might be in for some dark times ahead. Gotta make sure we're ready for it."
"Yes, well, for now, let's head back to Goron City," Markus said. "It's not fun out here in the dark."
Daruk and Link nodded, and they all made their way back.
~o~O~o~
Eldin Province – Death Mountain, Goron City
Daruk was regaling the other Gorons about Vah Rudania excitedly, even putting in his earlier gaffes to elicit laughs out of them before explaining how he had achieved his successes.
Link found himself proud of Daruk for being that honest about his efforts to control Vah Rudania instead of spinning wild tales—Link personally believed Revali would stoop to such measures—as he ate nearby next to Markus. They were sharing a roasted Eldin Ostrich—they had wisely declined to eat the rock roast offered—and were content to listen to Daruk's retelling of his ups and downs with Vah Rudania.
The Gorons all had a good laugh at the part where Vah Rudania had tumbled off the mountain.
"So what happens next for you?" Link asked Markus.
"I evaluate Champion Daruk's progress with Vah Rudania," Markus answered. "Once I feel he is able to control Vah Rudania comfortably, we'll discuss weapons tests. Someplace out of the way, obviously. I was thinking far north; Eldin's Flank or even the East Deplian Badlands."
"Well, it's clear Vah Rudania was designed to navigate Eldin's rocky terrain," Link said. "Going that far shouldn't be a problem."
"It's certainly more data to gather," Markus said. "I'm rather excited to see what Vah Rudania can do, though a part of me remains frightened as well."
"Because it's a weapon?" Link asked.
Markus nodded. "We can only theorize how powerful the Divine Beasts are, but it's always going to be different when theory and reality collide."
"Right," Link muttered. "It might be worth coming back, if only to understand how powerful the Divine Beasts are. That might give me a better idea of what Ganon is like."
Markus nodded. "I will write back with a proposed schedule once Champion Daruk is ready. I will have to advise that a great deal of practice will be required first."
"Hey, you two!" Daruk said. He walked up to them and grinned. "Whatcha talkin' about over here?"
"If Vah Rudania will have any more falls," Link said jokingly.
Daruk laughed. "Maybe! Gotta learn to crawl before we can run, right? A lesson is no good if you don't make a few mistakes along the way."
Link smiled. "Hearing that makes me glad you're one of the Champions, Daruk."
"Aww… shucks," Daruk said. He rubbed the back of his head. "Well, right back at you, Brother."
"When will you be leaving tomorrow?" Markus asked Link.
"After breakfast," Link said. "There should be enough daylight to navigate by."
"Do you want me to go with you?" Daruk asked.
Link shook his head. "You have practice to get back to. One success doesn't make you an expert pilot, Daruk."
Daruk took on a serious expression and nodded. "You're absolutely right. Gotta work hard for a while. I need to make sure Vah Rudania doesn't hurt anyone but the bad guys!"
"Well said, Champion," Markus said.
"Thanks for the offer, though," Link said. "Next time I see you, Vah Rudania will be better behaved, right?"
Daruk grinned and gave Link a thumbs-up. "You got it!"
~o~O~o~
Eldin Province – Foothill Stable
Since he wasn't able to walk Link down, Daruk was there to see Link off the next morning. They said their goodbyes at the gate of Goron City, with Daruk assuring Link that he'd have Vah Rudania tamed in no time.
"Be sure to make some time to try the Gut Check Rock Challenge the next time you're back," Daruk said. "Training never stops, got it?"
"Got it," Link said.
It was no surprise that going down a mountain was easier than going up. Link made liberal use of his paraglider, floating down and past great swaths of fiery ground. He made good time, avoiding the monsters that roamed the mountain. Any monsters that tried to attack him while he was in the air were swiftly dealt with.
When Link arrived at the Foothill Stable a little after lunch, he spotted Midna bounding over to him excitedly. Grinning widely, Link knelt and held his arms open wide. Midna slowed just enough to avoid body-slamming into him but remained enthusiastic enough to start licking his face.
"Hey, girl! Did you miss me?" Link asked as he started scratching her flanks. "Did you? Did you?"
"I don't doubt she's happy to see you," Impa said. She walked up to them and planted her hands on her hips, smirking all the while. "It seems Midna was sharing Princess Zelda's affections with another canine she had met a year ago, when she first visited the area about a month after the Four Swords."
"Another canine?" Link asked. He was still vigorously rubbing Midna, much to the wolf's delight.
"A Hylian Retriever," Impa answered. "The princess was here to recruit Daruk, and she mentioned that Daruk had saved the pup from some Bokoblins right in front of her eyes."
"Oh, I see," Link said. He looked back at Midna. "Are you jealous? Hmm? Are you?"
Midna snorted in response and proceeded to lick his face further.
"That means Midna and I have been spending some quality time together," Impa said. "She's a good girl."
"Oh, I already knew that," Link replied. Once he showered Midna with enough attention and affection, Link stood back up and looked for his charge.
"Ah, she's writing something down inside the tent," Impa said. "How did it go on Death Mountain?"
"We're done here," Link said. "We can go back home now."
Impa nodded. They walked to the tent, where Princess Zelda was waiting for them at the entrance.
Part of Link felt relieved seeing her there. He doubted that the princess had the physical prowess to catch any Fireproof Lizards, not to mention the 'other parts' needed to brew the elixir. He knew that if it were him, though, details like that wouldn't have stopped him from trying.
Maybe Mother was right to be worried. I do go looking for trouble.
The moment they were in earshot, Princess Zelda asked, "Were there any problems with Vah Rudania?"
Link shook his head. "It was pilot error. Daruk has it handled now."
"Are you sure? Maybe we should—"
"Princess," Impa said pleadingly. "You know what His Majesty would say if we were to go on an excursion onto Death Mountain without his authorization or provide a very good reason."
"But—"
"And your uncertainty isn't enough to warrant an expedition," Impa said. Her tone grew sterner. "Remember, it's up to Link whether or not you go."
"Well, all he has to say is that my presence is necessary, and then we—"
"No," Link said firmly. "Vah Rudania is functional, and Markus confirmed it. Daruk has things well in hand. If there are any further problems, we will hear of it at a later date. Our task is done."
Princess Zelda looked shocked at his statement before glaring. "Are you certain?"
"I am," Link said. He knew he was probably burning any bridges he'd built with her over the past few weeks, but he wasn't going to budge on this. "I'm not about to lie just so you can travel up there. It's dangerous, and there's nothing in Vah Rudania that needs your input."
There was a deceptively neutral expression on Princess Zelda's face, but both Link and Impa could tell she was livid about his answer. She turned around and stomped back into the tent.
Well… yeah. That went as well as I had expected…
Link shared an uncertain glance at Impa. The Sheikah girl sighed and chased after Princess Zelda. Link chose to wait outside. Midna let out a small, mournful howl but stayed at his side.
"Yeah, I know," Link whispered.
Leon's voice floated in Link's mind. "There are times when a noble, especially an aristocratic female, must learn the word 'no'."
It seemed like good advice, and Link didn't see anything wrong with it. After waiting for almost thirty minutes, he entered the tent at a more measured pace.
"Princess, I'm sorry, but we have to return to the castle," Impa said softly.
"Yes, you're right. I suppose we should go," Princess Zelda forlornly said.
"Okay, I'll leave you to pack your things," Impa said. She turned to Link. "Wait, have you eaten yet, Link?"
Link shook his head.
"Oh, that won't do," Impa said. "There's still some roast chicken. We can buy you something to eat. Let's go."
Link gratefully followed Impa to where the cooking pot was back outside. There was a middle-aged woman carefully cooking some remains of a chicken. Thankfully, there were some choice pieces left, but the lunch rush had long since run out.
"Excuse me, we'd like to buy a bit more for the road," Impa said.
"Of course, dear," the woman said. "How many?"
Impa turned to face Link.
He looked at what was offered and shrugged. "All of it."
Impa blinked before placing the order. Soon Link's hands were filled with chicken, and he happily munched away at his late lunch. He thanked the cook and then thanked Impa for paying before heading back to the front of the stable.
"We don't have to go at once," Impa said. "You can take the time to eat."
Swallowing quickly, Link said, "I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" Impa asked.
"I can masticate on the move," Link replied dryly. "I'm coordinated enough to chew and walk at the same time. Or ride, even."
"That's not what I—" Impa started to say before she caught the small hint of a smirk on Link's lips. She planted her fists on her hips. "Very funny."
"Let's go," Link said. He took another ravenous bite out of his chicken as they walked.
In front of the stable, Link saw that Epona was all saddled up and ready to go. Princess Zelda was stroking Lumine and was studiously avoiding looking at him. It was probably as much as he had expected.
Finishing half of his lunch and freeing one of his hands, he quickly wiped it clean on his trousers before mounting Epona. Impa shook her head in exasperation but mounted her own horse as well.
Letting Impa take the lead, the trio started riding back towards Hyrule Castle. Princess Zelda continued to ignore Link, Impa kept giving the princess concerned looks, and Link himself resumed eating, with Midna trying desperately to convince him to share.
Once finished with his late lunch, Link wiped his hands, took a drink from his water satchel, and dropped a couple of dried apple slices for Midna to snack on. Suddenly remembering something, he turned to Impa and asked, "Impa, do you happen to know about Death Mountain folklore?"
"Hmm… a few things," Impa said. "Sheikah legends tend to use Death Mountain as a sign of ill tidings."
Princess Zelda looked attentive at the conversation. "How so?"
"Well, Death Mountain is a dormant volcano, but apparently, it awakens in the presence of evil," Impa said. She furrowed her brow as she racked her memories. "I don't think we're talking eruptions, mind you, but activity in and around the area increases. More lava, quakes, ominous smoke in the area, those kinds of things."
Princess Zelda frowned. "Truly?"
"I don't know. Again, they're just signs we look out for, but we don't take them as seriously as others," Impa replied. She seemed to realize something and shot Link a look. "Did something happen up there?"
"A small tremor," Link said. "Daruk didn't seem… um… too worried."
"Really?"
"Well… maybe a little," Link muttered. "He mentioned that there were things happening that usually don't happen up there."
"What happened?" Impa asked.
"There were tremors and an increased monster presence," Link said. "As far as signs go, it's a bit too vague to take seriously. That's why I asked if you knew about other things to look for. Daruk had some concerns, but he went back to work like nothing happened."
Impa frowned and shifted in position to observe Death Mountain in the distance. "Anything else?"
"Not really sure," Link replied. "The Gorons have some tales of their own. Daruk mentioned his father told him stories when he was a kid, though whether they're just stories or if there's some truth to them, I can't really say."
"I'll write home and see if any of the elders there know anything we should be on the lookout for," Impa said.
Link nodded and turned his eyes back to the road. Princess Zelda did the same and refused to speak to or even look at him.
Link resisted the urge to sigh.
~o~O~o~
Great Hyrule Forest Region – Woodland Stable
The ride home was filled with tension, but Link was determined to not let it bother him. The group retreaded the roads all the way back to the Thims Bridge. However, with the day ending, they rode past the bridge and continued north until they reached the Woodland Stable by early evening. Princess Zelda promptly walked into the tent and sat on her bed to scribble something in her notebook. Impa volunteered to get food for all three of them.
Link quietly thanked her. Choosing to eat alone—Midna stayed with the princess this time—he took his food outside and leaned against the wooden fence. He found his eyes turning to the north. He could distantly hear the nighttime activities of the soldiers at the Military Training Camp, just west of Minshi Woods. Link had spent some time there… when his father had been alive. The officer in charge of the camp, Rubeo, had been utterly impressed with Link's talents, even though Link had barely reached his waist at the time. Link's time at the camp had been brief. His talents had already put him far beyond the talents of the rank-and-file, and there had been precious little the instructors at the Military Training Camp could have taught him. Furthermore, Revan had deemed it too far for Link to travel just to undergo physical exercise.
Lost in the memories, Link's eyes were trying to gaze past the Military Training Camp. Even past Lake Mekar.
The Lost Woods. The Korok Forest. The Great Deku Tree. The Master Sword's pedestal…
"A rupee for your thoughts?" Impa asked.
Snapping back to the present, Link shook his head and took another bite out of his sandwich. "My thoughts aren't that cheap."
"Hey, we need to talk," Impa said.
"No, we don't," Link said.
"Yes, we do," Impa said, undaunted by Link's curt tone.
"No, we really don't," Link said tightly. "Later, if you want, but I'm not in a talkative mood. Or a listening one."
Impa opened her mouth for a rebuttal but relented at the last moment and sighed. "Okay, later. But it's important, okay? I wanted to talk to you at Death Mountain, but… um…"
"You got distracted," Link said. Almost against his will, he nearly smiled at the memory.
"Sure, we can say that," Impa muttered. "I mean it, though. We'll talk once we're back at the castle."
"Fine," Link said.
Impa seemed to realize something and said, "Oh, it's personal. It doesn't have anything to do with the princess, so you don't have to worry about that. I'll try to smooth things over with her. You're following orders, after all. What happened at the Foothill Stable isn't your fault."
Link nodded.
Impa bit her lip. She eventually settled for nodding back and walking off.
Finishing his dinner, Link avoided looking for the Korok Forest again. Instead, he sought comfort in Epona's presence. The mare was still awake. She had already been brushed and tended to by the stable hands. She seemed to perk up at his presence and gently nudged him when he approached.
"Thanks, girl," Link whispered. He stroked her head affectionately and smiled.
He pulled out his ocarina, looked around to see if he was alone, and started practicing once more.
Only Epona and Midna were ever allowed to see him play.
~o~O~o~
Central Hyrule – Hyrule Castle
Link didn't speak to either of his traveling companions for the rest of the evening or the next morning. To reach Hyrule Castle by nightfall, they needed to leave at dawn. He woke up first, roused Impa—she would be the one to wake the princess—and brought breakfast to them. Impa thanked him, but Princess Zelda almost looked like she wanted to refuse, but she took her plate anyway. While they ate, Link sought out some stable hands to prepare their horses and oversaw their preparations to leave.
Once all the horses were ready, all three mounted up and headed west.
Link remained quiet as he treaded the familiar ground he had ridden through a little over a year earlier. Impa's concerned looks had shifted from Princess Zelda to him now, giving him a sneaking suspicion as to what she wanted to talk about the previous night. They rode past Rauru Settlement—Link made a mental note to ask the old priest about it—before crossing the Hylia River via Helmhead Bridge. They road south through Hyrule Forest Park and over Boneyard Bridge.
Hyrule Cathedral could be seen to the west now. Princess Zelda stared at it with a complicated expression. Link couldn't blame her. Now that they were back, it was likely they'd be back to making weekly visits to it for prayers.
As scheduled, they arrived at Hyrule Castle by early evening, an hour or two before dinner would be served.
Impa volunteered to make a preliminary report to the king, but Link shook his head.
"I can do it," Link said. "You can stay with the princess."
"Are you sure?" Impa asked.
"I'm sure," Link said. "She'll be going into her room to clean up and change anyway, right? That's your responsibility."
"Ah, right," Impa said. She gave him a wave and dashed after Princess Zelda's retreating form.
A few questions revealed that King Rhoam was in his office. A sharp rap on the door, followed by a muffled, "Come in," and Link opened the door.
"Ah, Link," King Rhoam said when Link entered. "What news have you?"
Link walked up to the table and stood at parade rest. "To get your first concerns out of the way, nothing happened at the Temple of Time."
King Rhoam frowned. "Then Zelda's powers…?"
"Nothing so far; at least, nothing readily apparent," Link said. "I don't know what it is we're supposed to be looking for or what we expect to see, but either nothing happened, or it's really subtle."
King Rhoam blinked once at Link's blunt assessment. "I dearly hope that isn't the case. However, that should be something to keep a weather eye out for as we move forward."
"I understand that the princess was able to make some improvements to Vah Medoh," Link said. "Nothing about Revali's desires, but the trip was worth it."
"I see. And Vah Rudania?" King Rhoam asked.
"Pilot error," Link answered. "Daruk has it working now. He's going to practice, and Markus will send reports. If all goes well, they will conduct weapons tests up north of Death Mountain."
King Rhoam nodded. "Are you certain Zelda's powers have not manifested?"
Link shrugged. "Does anyone know what that will look like if they do?"
Stroking his beard, King Rhoam leaned back in his chair. "I'm afraid details about the sealing power are as scarce as the details about the Master Sword. I do not know what to expect."
"I would tell you that I would keep an eye out for anything suspicious or out of the ordinary, but that's already my job," Link said humorlessly. "Will that be all, Your Majesty?"
"Not quite," King Rhoam said. "It hasn't escaped my notice that the two of you seem to have an animosity with one another. Part of the reason I allowed Zelda to go on this journey was that you might be able to find some kind of common ground. How has that gone?"
Link hesitated for a moment before saying, "It's a work in progress, Your Majesty. Like you, she is under significant pressure."
"Are there any problems I should be made aware of?" King Rhoam asked.
"Nothing of note, Your Majesty," Link answered. "We can work it out if given enough time."
"Time is a precious commodity that we might not have," King Rhoam said heavily. "Without knowing when Calamity Ganon will arrive, every day is a risk. The Master Sword is only half of our preparations, after all."
"I understand, Your Majesty," Link dutifully said.
King Rhoam took a deep breath. "Should I speak to her?"
Link shook his head. "I doubt anything His Majesty will say will be well received. This is between Her Highness and me."
"Hmm… very well," King Rhoam said. He hesitated for a few moments before standing up and rounding the table to stand before him. "Link. The date had escaped me, and it was only after you and Zelda left that I remembered…"
"I know my duty," Link said neutrally. "I grieved in my own time."
King Rhoam closed his eyes and sighed. "You once accused me of callously sacrificing lives. I do not know if you were right or wrong, and that bothers me."
"You're under pressure, same as Her Highness," Link said quietly.
"You mean fear," King Rhoam replied distantly. He cleared his throat. "Link, if you need to take time off…?"
"I'm fine," Link said. "I received letters from my family. They understand, and they support me and my work here. As I said, I grieved privately."
King Rhoam let out a mirthless chuckle. He glanced at a portrait on the far wall. It was a family portrait, with him, Princess Zelda—around age two or three—and the late queen.
"Yes, don't we all?" King Rhoam rhetorically asked. He turned back to Link and nodded. "That will be all, then. Get some dinner and rest."
Link saluted. "Yes, Your Majesty."
~o~O~o~
After taking the time to bathe and change clothes, Link quickly made his way to the dining hall. He sat near Princess Zelda, who continued to ignore him. King Rhoam glanced at her before meeting Link's eyes.
Link only shrugged back and continued to eat. It wasn't his place to tell the king or the princess what to do. All he could hope for was that they could either reconcile whatever problem the princess had with him or find a way to work around it.
At the very least, he was sure that the problem was her. He had already spent far too much time trying to figure out what he had done wrong, and his conclusion was that he hadn't done anything wrong at all.
His thoughts were interrupted when Midna snuck up, nudged his leg, and stared at him with wide eyes.
"I know it's not just the princess that's feeding you," Link muttered. He still dropped something into her waiting mouth. "How many of the castle staff have you tricked into feeding you, huh?"
Midna's guile look told Link everything as she quickly ate the treat he gave to her.
"Sneaky wolf," Link muttered. "You know, your mother wasn't nearly as greedy or gluttonous."
Midna snorted and proceeded to go to Princess Zelda to ply her charms with her for more food.
Following dinner, Link obediently followed the princess to her room. She left the door open long enough to let Midna in before she closed the door without as much as a glance in his direction.
When Link was about to open the door to his quarters, a female voice spoke up from behind him.
"Hi, Link," Impa quietly said.
Link nearly jerked in surprise and almost reached for his sword, but suppressed the urge at the last second. He took a moment to calm himself before he turned to face her.
Impa was wringing her hands nervously.
"Impa, something wrong?" Link asked.
"What? No," Impa hurriedly said. "Remember? I wanted to talk to you before, at the Foothill Stable. And again at the Woodland Stable… but we—I got distracted and sidetracked… exactly like what I'm doing now. Look, I delivered your letter to your family, the one you wanted sent when you left for Tabantha. Your mother invited me to stay. And then she read it. And then we talked. And I realized the date. And then she kind of told me what—"
"Impa, I'm fine," Link said, interrupting her babbling.
"If you needed to take time off, you could have asked," Impa said. "I could have escorted the princess to Tabantha and Foothill."
Link shook his head. "I'm fine."
"Don't say that," another voice said, this time irate.
Walking up from behind Impa was Purah. She stalked up to Link, placed her hands on her hips, and glared.
"Why is it that men always have to insist that they're 'fine'?" Purah asked. "Every time I hear it, I know you're battling demons inside of you that you shouldn't have to."
Link arched an eyebrow. "Is that personal experience I hear?"
"Our father," Impa said softly. "Our uncle, his brother, was in league with the Yiga Clan. Our father would keep saying he's fine. One day, he left to confront our uncle and never came back."
"I'm sorry to—" Link tried to say.
"Look, it's nice of you to try to spare us your pain, but don't think you'll be a burden on us if you do want to share, okay?" Purah said impatiently but without malice. "We care, Link. We really do."
Link nodded. "I appreciate that, I really do, but I know what my duty is. And… I think it's important I hold to it."
Impa and Purah shared a look.
"Are you sure?" Impa asked.
Link sighed and scratched the back of his head. "Look, emotional reasons aside, there is a practical reason why I have to stay."
"Which is?" Purah asked.
"If I were the Yiga, I would have looked into points of weakness, which would include my father's death," Link muttered. "Master Impaz often told me that the Sheikah are willing do to whatever it takes in service to the royal family. If that doctrine holds true, then we can assume that the Yiga will do anything it takes in service to themselves… or Ganon."
Impa's hand shot up to her mouth. "Oh!"
"Yeah," Link muttered. "I have to assume the Yiga may have plans in the event that I take a 'personal' day. Am I wrong?"
Again, Impa and Purah shared a look, except this time, there was an undeniable feeling of dismay and uncertainty that passed between them.
"If the princess is going to put so much effort into this, then the least I could do is stay with her and keep her safe," Link said. "So, unless I'm dead, I'm pretty much stuck here until our duty is complete. I'm in this for the long run, so you don't have to worry about me."
Impa and Purah stared at him before the latter sighed and shrugged her shoulders. "Well, I'll say this: there is something attractive about a man that takes his responsibility seriously."
Link rolled his eyes. "Thanks."
Sighing, Impa nodded. "Fine, but—"
"You're here to help, I know," Link said. "Don't worry, I'll ask if I need it. I'm not that prideful. Not like Revali, at any rate."
That earned a pair of chuckles from the Sheikah women.
"Well, we're all in this together," Impa said. "Just because we serve Hylia doesn't mean we can't offer assistance to others that need it."
"Right, with that out of the way…" Purah said. She started looking over Link's shoulder. "How did that bow work out? Any problems?"
"I put my weapons away, Purah," Link said, smiling. "It works fine. My archery trainer approved of it. And I made good use of it on this trip. No problems so far."
"Good, good," Purah said happily. "Teboh was your trainer, wasn't he? Well, approval from two archers is good. Three would be better."
"Except…" Impa said, shooting her elder sibling a look.
"Oh, Linky! Impa found ancient schematics of what our ancestors used to use as weapons!" Purah screeched excitedly. All traces of her earlier seriousness were gone.
Her volume was such that Link had to glance down the hall to see if Princess Zelda would appear. He quickly ushered them into his room and closed the door.
Purah looked abashed at her actions, but brightened up when she saw the weapons rack in his room.
For the most part, the room Link had been given fulfilled his needs beyond the scope of his comfort. He often felt that the room was too luxurious for a boy that wasn't used to upper-class living. Still, he hadn't really changed anything with the exception of adding a weapons rack to his room to safely hold his armaments.
Purah homed in on the Royal Guard Bow—ignoring the Master Sword entirely, much to Link's bemusement—and picked it up for closer inspection.
"Hmm… I see you're taking care of it," Purah said. "Any maintenance issues I need to be aware of?"
"No more than my usual bows," Link said. "So, what were you saying earlier?"
"What? Oh!" Purah bonked the top of her head, an action reminiscent of Impa's bashful moments. "Right, sorry. So, Impa found some very old schematics about weapons our ancestors used."
"Powerful weapons that the Royal Guard or even the Hylian Knights of the ancient world likely used to use," Impa added. "When I found them, I passed them along to Purah—"
"And they are sublime," Purah gushed. "They surpass anything we can make, easily!"
"Okay…" Link said, unsure of what their point was or where it was going. "I'm guessing there's a problem?"
"We have no idea how to make them… yet!" Purah said. "We're trying, but we've been pulled in a lot of directions ever since we finished work on the Divine Beasts. Honestly, I thought that project would be the complicated one, but what we're doing now—"
"—is greatly appreciated," Link interrupted smoothly. "But besides lack of staff, rupees, or whatever, why tell me?"
"Ah, sorry," Purah said. "So, Robbie has been studying the schematics in his spare time when we're not getting the Guardians to work—"
"He wanted me to tell you that there are two models of Guardians that fly," Impa said. "I think he wants your help to rub it in Purah's face."
"But Link won't do that, because he's a gentleman and I'm giving him stuff to aid in his quest," Purah said, shooting Impa a withering look and giving Link an expression that Aryll would use when she tried to charm her way out of something.
"Okay, so… these weapons are… Guardian… based? Influenced? Directly related?" Link listed off.
Purah smiled widely and nodded. "A quick thinker! I've always loved that about you! Yes, the weapons do seem to have a very close relation to the Guardians; specifically, their construction. The materials they use."
"Okay, I'm following to that point, but not so much as to the problems you're having or what it has to do with me," Link muttered.
"Sorry, sorry. I'm getting to it," Purah said. "Now, many of the Guardians we've excavated all across Hyrule are in terrible shape. The only thing we can do is scavenge them for spare parts to put into Guardians that can work, with some heavy repairs."
"With you so far," Link said.
"Well, that means we can't spare the parts to experiment making the swords, spears, or shields," Purah said. "Those are way too complicated to justify the resource expenditures. I mean, our Royal Guard would be incredible if they were armed with these weapons—"
"—which isn't feasible at the moment," Impa said. Her eyes hinted at impatience, and she overtly pointed at Link.
"Right, right," Purah said dejectedly. She perked up immediately after, though. "However, Robbie studied the schematics for bows and found out that it's really simple!"
"So… you want me to test another bow? Already?" Link asked.
"Ah, eventually?" Purah replied, embarrassed. "We're trying to get it working first. We're using whatever spare parts we have lying around to get a prototype up and running. Some gears, some springs, some energy cores… the big ones, too… but if it works, even the Rito will want it!"
"Bold claim," Link said. On the outside, he hoped he looked calm. On the inside, however, he couldn't help but feel a little giddy. "What do the schematics say about its specs?"
"Easier draw with greater power and accuracy over our current bows, with vast improvements. Our current bows don't even compare," Impa answered enthusiastically. "Surprising, right? There's something about the construction of the bow that seems to make it easier for an archer to draw it back with less effort, but it launches arrows with greater speed. I mean, this is game-changing. Even novice archers will be able to shoot like experts if we can get this to work."
"That is significant," Link said, eyes widening slightly.
It took a lot of muscle strength using the back, chest, and arms to fully draw a bowstring. It was common knowledge that the further an archer wanted to shoot an arrow, the greater the draw had to be. The greater the draw, the more muscles required. If the tension was too high, the strain on the archer was such that minute shaking was unavoidable, which would invite mistakes or inaccurate shots over longer distance. Finally, constant use would cause muscle fatigue and wear archers out.
The idea that the ratio of tension strength to arrow speed was no longer one-to-one was a coveted concept to archers and bowyers. Any new bow alterations, improvements, materials, and models were built on the premise that the draw strength requirement could be reduced but keep power and accuracy intact.
"Is there merit to this?" Link asked.
"The schematics look good," Purah said. "But we always have to be wary of theory against reality. Hence, you."
"Okay. You've piqued my interest," Link said. "I thought the Royal Guard Bow was the pinnacle of what you had up your sleeves. Clearly, I'm underestimating you."
"It was, until I found those schematics," Impa said.
Purah shrugged. "Except you hadn't the faintest idea of what they were until I looked at them."
"Right, so it required both of you," Link said calmly, hoping to head off a sibling quarrel.
Impa continued to speak. "That being said, I think these were sealed for the same reason the Divine Beasts were sealed. There's merit to arming our forces appropriately, but not overwhelmingly."
"Temptation," Link said.
"Exactly."
"Right," Link said. "Well, I eagerly await your new bow, then."
"We'll try to get one to you soon…ish," Purah said happily.
"Also, I wanted to tell you: you were right," Link said. "About Vah Rudania? It can climb walls. My guess is that because of the terrain of Death Mountain, your ancestors took that into consideration when they constructed it."
Purah blinked for a few seconds before pumping her fist. "Yes! I knew it! Ha! I need to record this! Will Markus be sending any reports soon?!"
"I don't know," Link said. "He's advising Daruk and monitoring his progress."
Purah nodded distractedly. "Yes, yes, but he's reliable, so I shouldn't have to worry! Oh, but I want to see it so badly!"
"Except you want to see how the Ancient Bow works, too…" Impa said. She shot Link a conspiratorial wink.
"Oh, yes! I mean, judging from the notes you uncovered, the range, the power, the ease of it all… oh, I can't imagine how it must work until we get it constructed!" Purah gushed. "I have to go!"
Impa giggled and opened the door.
"Oh, Purah," Link suddenly said. "One last thing."
Purah turned around and tilted her head. "What's up?"
"I like what you've done to your hair."
Purah's mouth opened slightly before she blushed. She self-consciously patted at the purple-dyed lock of hair along her forehead. "Oh, well… um… thanks."
"Good night, you two," Link said. He ushered them out of the room and closed the door.
Chuckling to himself, he changed into his nightclothes, put out the candles, and promptly went to sleep.