A Hero's Path

by LuxDragon

Link's journey from an exuberant child to a stoic knight. A retelling and reimagining of Breath of the Wild with Age of Calamity elements added. Will be AU eventually. Pre-Calamity.

17. Resentment

Central Hyrule – Hyrule Castle

"Currently, Masako is focused on locating that new mysterious shrine," Princess Zelda said. "I find myself torn between searching for a new structure or continuing to excavate the one we already found."

Purah nodded. Her breakfast was almost abandoned in favor of concentrated thought, allowing Impa to snatch some toast from Purah's plate and eat it before the elder sister could even retaliate. Purah growled in response, pulled her plate away, and continued to eat while glaring at her younger sibling. Princess Zelda giggled and ate demurely.

Link sat nearby, contentedly eating his own breakfast while keeping only half an ear on the conversation. And one eye on his food.

"Well, without knowing what the towers do, it's deemed less important," Purah said. "I mean, yes, a new model of Guidance Stone is exhilarating, but the records Impa found suggest that this particular shrine was something that the ancients put a lot of work into."

"I heard it had something to do with 'life and death'," Princess Zelda said thoughtfully.

"That's what all our available records have suggested," Impa replied. "We can only hope that we can learn more details inside. From what I recovered, it's not a figurative saying; they meant it literally."

"That would explain the importance of the dig," Princess Zelda said. "I still think it's unfortunate that we couldn't get this new Guidance Stone to work, though."

"Yes, Masako said as much," Purah said thoughtfully. "I'm loath to try any brute-force tactics as a general rule. The idea that there's a model of Guidance Stone specifically for use of the Sheikah Slate is exciting, though!"

"But… we only ever found one," Impa said. "That Guidance Stone and the Sheikah Slate, I mean. One of each type."

Purah nodded before frowning. "Yes. Our early theory was that the Sheikah Slate was something that was commonplace in ancient Hyrule, but we have found no evidence or even remains of other tech that resembles it. What the princess has in her hands might very well be the only one in existence."

"Why would that be, though?" Princess Zelda asked.

"I can think of two realistic scenarios," Purah replied. "Theory one: it's too complicated and expensive to mass-produce. However, if that were the case, I would think we would find one or two more Sheikah Slates, even if they were nonfunctional. At the very least, your ancestors would all be in possession of one if it was deemed too costly to mass-produce for the general public. That leads me to theory two: it's dangerous. That would explain why so many functions are locked. If the Sheikah Slate turns out to be a weapon of some kind, then that could explain the rarity."

"You think it wise for the princess to hold on to it?" Impa asked. She was slightly apprehensive.

Purah waved off her concerns. "The full functionality of the Sheikah Slate remains locked. If it is a weapon, then there are likely to be several layers of security on it. It's doubtful that something spontaneous would happen. And since I lack the time to look into it, it's better in her hands than mine. Maybe she can figure out its secrets. I confess, I really want to study it myself, but I have my orders."

"Will you be going back to the lab today, Purah?" Princess Zelda asked.

"Not yet," Purah replied. She took another bite of eggs and waved her fork around. "I received missives from Lanayru and Gerudo yesterday. I have to report to the king later today."

"Any concerns?"

Purah shook her head. "Nope. Urbosa and Princess Mipha have had no problems controlling their Divine Beasts."

"Ah, that is good to know," Princess Zelda said. "I was worried about Princess Mipha for some reason. Vah Ruta looked a bit unwieldy in comparison to the other Divine Beasts, but I'm glad my fears were unfounded."

"Well, according to Coral's report, Princess Mipha was hesitant at first, but she got really intense, and Vah Ruta responded well after that," Purah said.

"Intense?" Impa asked.

"Actually, I think the word Coral used was 'ferocious'," Purah replied.

Link smiled and quietly ate another forkful of eggs.

"What of the shrines we've been uncovering?" Princess Zelda asked. "My research indicates that they may actually be training grounds of some kind."

"For the hero," Impa said. When Link perked up at the title, she smirked at him. "Guess the ancients wanted to make sure you were up to the task."

Link remembered that he had managed to unlock a shrine over a year earlier, before he had even drawn the Master Sword. He had yet to repeat the feat since, nor had he mentioned it to anyone.

"How do we…" Link started to ask. He paused just for a moment to slap Impa's hand hard enough for the Sheikah girl to yelp and pull away before she could purloin his bacon. "…open them?"

Purah cackled while Impa rubbed her hand and glared at her sister.

Taking a moment to calm down, Purah stuck her tongue out at Impa before she started tapping her lip with her fork. "You know… we don't have any idea. The Guidance Stones we use are something we've been making, but their uses are limited; rudimentary, if you will. However, with Masako's discovery… I wonder… maybe the Sheikah Slate works on all the Guidance Stones. And there's a model of Guidance Stone that requires direct interface."

Princess Zelda gasped. "Oh, I see! I haven't tried using the Sheikah Slate on any of the Guidance Stones yet."

"Well, we've had no reason to believe the Sheikah Slate would have anything to do with the Guidance Stones," Purah replied. "Not until we've found one that the Sheikah Slate can fit into… and, well… if we can find a way to make that work, then we would have a better idea how all of these things work or how they work together."

"It seems the secrets of the Sheikah Slate remain a headache for us all," Impa said. She turned to Link and smiled, showing no hard feelings… this time. "I get the sense that the shrines are important, though. They seem to be named after prominent Sheikah monks in our history."

"Okay, but what do they do?" Link asked. "Training sounds like a broad term to use."

Impa shrugged. "No idea."

Link shook his head and returned to his breakfast.

"Cheer up, Linky," Purah said. "I'm sure we'll figure them out."

Shrugging, Link replied, "If you can, that's great, but only if it doesn't get in the way of your current projects. You sound like you have a lot going on right now."

Purah sighed. "Maybe too much, but we'll stay on top of it!"

Link quietly nodded and resumed eating. He suppressed the urge to smile and carefully kept his face neutral as he enjoyed an extra piece of bacon. Beneath the table, Midna licked the fingers of his other hand clean of some tasty grease, hoping that a piece of bacon would present itself soon.

Meanwhile, Impa studied her plate suspiciously. "Hey…"

~o~O~o~

Not long after the conclusion of breakfast, Link, Princess Zelda, Purah, and Auru were in the king's office, reporting the latest developments to King Rhoam.

"It seems that both Vah Ruta and Vah Naboris are functioning well," Purah said. "All of the Champions have been instructed to continue practicing until their control is absolute. Once that stage of training is complete, they will have to find places that are appropriate for weapons testing, schedule the event, and ensure maximum safety while they do so. If there are any problems, they or my team will send word to us."

"Very good," King Rhoam said. "And your current projects?"

"We've restored a few Stalkers, and they've performed flawlessly," Purah said. Her eyes were a bit hard when she said that, likely remembering the sabotage that had occurred months earlier. "We've moved on to the other models. It looks like one is some kind of automated turret, designed to be placed in one spot and defend a location."

"Such as this castle?" King Rhoam asked.

Purah nodded.

"Hmm… it might be something to consider, if only to fortify ourselves," King Rhoam said.

"We'll look into it, Your Majesty," Purah said. She turned to Auru. "Once we have the specs, we'll brief you so that you can find the best possible placements for them. Once we have any that are functioning without any problems, we'll send them here."

"I appreciate that," Auru said.

"Next, I received notice from my subordinate at Tabantha, Kenway, just this morning before coming here," Purah said. She held out a letter. "Revali is ready for weapons testing."

"Already? That quickly?" King Rhoam asked.

"Well, Vah Medoh flies," Princess Zelda said. When all eyes turned to her, she stood straighter. "The only thing Champion Revali needed to learn was to land, take off, and turn. In comparison to the other pilots, there's actually very little for him to master as far as controls go."

"The princess is correct in her assessment," Purah said. "Vah Medoh is actually rather simple to pilot; since it flies slowly, there are no obstacles to worry about, and being birdkind, Revali would feel comfortable about anything related to movement or the environmental operation of this Divine Beast."

"I see," King Rhoam said. "When will these tests take place?"

"Revali has extended an invitation for us to observe the power of Vah Medoh later this month," Purah said. "He recently conducted a test of the shield barrier and reports it to be, and I quote, 'phenomenal'."

"Tested how?" Princess Zelda asked.

"He had a bunch of Rito militia fly at Vah Medoh and shoot a bunch of bomb arrows at it," Purah said, smiling slightly. "They couldn't do a thing. Another set of tests involved dropping explosive barrels on top of Vah Medoh. No damage whatsoever."

King Rhoam nodded and scratched his beard. "It may be worth going to observe. We have not yet seen the full might of the Divine Beasts yet, have we?"

"No, Your Majesty. Only the Guardians," Purah said.

"Hmm… your opinion, Link?" King Rhoam asked.

"If the Divine Beasts are going to be helping us in a direct assault against Calamity Ganon, I agree that it would be worth observing," Link said. "Vah Medoh is under Revali's direct control, so as far as any… 'mishaps' are concerned, I believe we'll be safe."

King Rhoam nodded.

"Also, I think it will help the princess and I understand the scale of the threat we're to face," Link added. "I spoke about this to Purah before some time ago, but the idea that it takes four Divine Beasts just to help us against Calamity Ganon… I think seeing what Vah Medoh can do, times four, should give us an idea of what Ganon is capable of withstanding… and give us a scale of how concerned we should be."

"Well said," Auru replied. "We know far too little about Calamity Ganon outside of myth and legend. These tests would at least help us understand why the ancients went through all the trouble to create the Divine Beasts in the first place. The power that one Guardian Stalker had was impressive enough, and yet those should pale in comparison to a Divine Beast."

"However, we are entering Farore's Season," Link said. "Tabantha will have heavy snowfall soon. We shouldn't let the opportunity to see the full power of the Divine Beast go by, but we have to take travel hazards into consideration."

"The roads there will be difficult to traverse if we dally," Auru said. "I believe we should make it in time, but only by the grace of the Goddesses. If we're out of their favor, we might face more trouble than we care for."

King Rhoam exhaled noisily and drummed his fingers against his desk. Eventually, he said, "Very well, we accept Champion Revali's invitation. Captain, schedule the event, prepare a route, and ready the guard. Quickly."

"As you wish, Your Majesty," Auru said. He cast an uncertain look at Princess Zelda. "For both of you?"

King Rhoam looked at Princess Zelda and frowned. "Hmm… yes. For both of us. We must understand the full might of the Divine Beasts if we are to use them effectively. As Zelda is the commandant of the Champions, it is best that she understands what they are capable of in real-world applications, rather than just theory."

"I understand, Your Majesty," Auru said. "Duration of the journey?"

"A week at most. We travel there, rest a day, observe the demonstration for however long it may last, rest, and return," King Rhoam answered. "This is not a trip of leisure. We are observing a weapon of war and the impact it will have on our plans moving forward. Hopefully, the weather will be in our favor."

"As you wish, Your Majesty. I shall have a plan drafted at once." Auru saluted and briskly walked out once the king dismissed him.

"Any other news to report, Purah?" King Rhoam asked.

Purah shook her head. "That's all for now."

King Rhoam nodded. "I'll not keep you from your work any further. Dismissed."

Purah bowed and left as well.

"I shall send a message and inform Chief Komali when to expect us and how many," King Rhoam said. "Once we have a firm date established, we will prepare accordingly. Until then, you know what you must do, Zelda."

"Yes, Father," Princess Zelda dutifully answered.

With the meeting concluded, the king dismissed both Link and Princess Zelda. The latter went about her day with the former silently following behind her.

Princess Zelda was muttering to herself about what to bring with her to Tabantha, though Link didn't understand why. It was likely weeks away, and the duration of their stay would be extremely short.

Still, as always, his place wasn't to question.

Personally, Link suspected that Revali wanted to 'prove' the power of Vah Medoh to the largest audience that he could muster, if only to puff himself up more.

He probably thinks it's a race to prove how superior he is over the other Champions, too.

Shaking his head, Link tried to put Revali out of his mind. It wasn't worth giving the pompous ass any more attention than he already had. All Link needed was for Revali to do his job, do it well, and not get him or the princess killed. If being a jerk helped the Rito Champion with that, then it was something Link was willing to put up with.

Still, Link was extremely glad that Liena had had the foresight to shift his archery trainer to Teboh, though. Link didn't want to imagine how he could have turned out if his first combat trainer had been Revali of all people.

Yeah, okay. Still thinking about him. Stop it!

Shaking his head, Link started to mentally catalogue what he should be packing instead as he dutifully followed behind the princess. It was then that he realized that he should get Captain Teboh a gift and resolved to find Impa so that she could watch Princess Zelda for a bit while he sought out the best bowyer in Castle Town.

At least he had a month to prep, so it was hardly a last-minute gift.

~o~O~o~

Tabantha Frontier – Tabantha Bridge Stable

It was the first time Link had ever been a part of such a long procession. He had traveled in either very small groups or by himself. Today he was traveling alongside the Royal Family of Hyrule and a procession to match. Wagons, carriages, guardsmen, Royal Guardsmen, and various staff were traveling to Tabantha alongside them, forming a thirty-strong caravan. As Princess Zelda's appointed knight, Link rode next to the carriage that held both the king and the princess within, a responsibility he shared with Captain Auru and another pair of Royal Guardsmen. A small vanguard of Royal Guardsmen and knights—Liena among them—were sent ahead to secure their planned paths and patrol their route thoroughly. Given the size of their retinue, it was estimated that it would take three days to reach Tabantha. From there, they would rest for one day, allowing for diplomatic talks, meet and greet, and other foreign niceties that would no doubt bore Link to tears. After that, they would travel to the site where they could safely witness Vah Medoh's power. According to Purah's subordinate, the journey would be quick from the campsite, though they would have to limit how many people were going to be at the testing site itself.

Still, it was nice to be back out of the castle and traveling once again. Link was looking forward to seeing Captain Teboh. Link doubted there would be time for any archery practice, but seeing old friends would always be a welcome reprieve from his duties. He also hoped to be able to see Liena as well, though he didn't know how likely that would be.

They set out early morning. Farore's Season was in full force, but the snows had not yet arrived. Currently, it was gusty, but no rain or snow yet. Everyone was dressed accordingly for the weather, with alternate outerwear ready for wind, rain, and snow. The pace was closer to lazy than leisurely, but Link decided he felt that way because he and Epona were used to a faster stride.

Traveling west, the caravan crossed Hyrule Field and stopped for lunch at Carok Bridge. After their meal, they crossed the bridge and the Regencia River before slowing down at the Breach of Demise. A few knights had ridden back to meet and warned them of potential falling rocks from the numerous stone columns overhead. The caravan was forced to go in small teams with armed escorts. By evening, only a few hours off-schedule, they reunited at the West Hyrule Plains.

A few Royal Guardsmen were already waiting there and informed the king that a Hinox had been in the area but had been deftly taken care of with only minor injuries to note. Another Hinox was spotted further down their path but injured already. The Royal Guard suspected that the Hinoxes had fought one another, and the loser had limped away while the victor had stayed in the plains. They assured the king—and Link, who had wanted to assist—that the second Hinox would be dealt with during the evening. The caravan set up camp, prepared dinner, and settled in for the night. Guard rotations were set, though thankfully, Link was spared from that particular duty and was allowed to sleep the entire night.

Come next morning, it took time to rouse everyone, cook and eat breakfast, clean up, break camp, ready the procession, and start moving once again. There was no rush, though. The plan was to get to Tabantha Bridge Stable and have most of the caravan pitch camp until the conclusion of the tests. Everyone would rest, and the next day, a smaller party—including the royal family, some Royal Guardsmen, various staff, and Link himself—would go on the last leg of the journey to the Rayne Highlands.

They traveled the road just south of the Seres Scablands. Link looked over to his right to look at the enormous Dragon's Blood trees. The trees were unique in that they had the trunks resembling most common trees, but the branches at the top coalesced to form an inverted conical shape, with the very top appearing entirely flat, such that a person could walk on top of the trees if one could climb them. According to the report the king had received before they'd left, the other Hinox had also been taken care of with no trouble at all.

Next to him, Princess Zelda's head was outside the carriage window. She was using her Sheikah Slate to take pictures of the uniquely shaped trees and scribbling something into her notebook. Link kindly moved so that she could have a completely unrestricted view of the area.

It was late afternoon when they reached Tabantha Bridge Stable. The stablemaster had likely been given sufficient forewarning about the royal family's arrival, but he was still a nervous wreck when King Rhoam greeted him and expressed his appreciation of the stablemaster's hospitality.

Kenway was waiting at the stable when they arrived and bowed before the king and princess respectfully when they approached him.

"Welcome, Your Majesty. Your Highness," the Sheikah researcher said. "I hope your journey here was pleasant."

"It was," King Rhoam said. "Now, tell me, where will the tests be taking place, precisely?"

"At the Gisa Lowlands, Your Majesty," Kenway answered. "We have scouted the area thoroughly, and it's little more than a snow- and rock-covered wasteland. We have spent the past month combing the region, placing all manner of deterrents, both for people and for animals. I believe it is a safe place to conduct the tests."

"Where is Gisa from here?" King Rhoam asked.

"Directly northwest of us, Your Majesty," Kenway answered. "It is some distance away, but we have a mountain range from which to observe without fear."

All eyes turned to the mountains Kenway was pointing at.

"At least the climb doesn't look harsh," Auru said.

"I can also guarantee that the view is unmatched as well," Kenway said. "The Rito have a camp at the Rayne Highlands, south of the Gisa Lowlands. From there, we will climb the mountain to observe Vah Medoh's weapons test."

"Will we be safe there?" Auru asked.

Kenway nodded. "The Rito have increased their patrols and have hunted the monsters in this area thoroughly. Not just at Gisa or Rayne, but the surrounding areas as well."

Link smiled faintly. "Since they fly, they can cover a lot of ground in short order."

"Exactly so," Kenway replied. He turned back to the king. "We've taken as many precautions as we can per your orders, Your Majesty."

"Very good," King Rhoam said. "The tests will begin as scheduled?"

"Indeed, tomorrow morning," Kenway answered. "Champion Revali has been very excited to show his progress piloting Vah Medoh and has been anxious to move on to the next stage of training."

Link had to resist rolling his eyes.

More like show off.

While Kenway and the king talked, Link struggled against the urge to yawn or play with Midna. Instead, he took the time to study the unfamiliar Sheikah researcher. Kenway was an older man; older than the king, if Link had to judge. He was aloof, almost distant. He remained respectful to the royal family, but he also felt… cold; certainly not as open or friendly as Markus had been. Even his voice lacked any distinct emotion. Link imagined that Kenway was the type of man that would be set on fire, look down at himself, and simply say, "Oh."

Maybe that's why Purah assigned Markus and Kenway to these locations.

"Chief Komali is also present, waiting with the rest of the Rito delegation at the Rayne Highlands," Kenway said. "They're also interested in the full offensive capabilities of Vah Medoh after testing its defensive capabilities."

"You witnessed that test firsthand, did you not?" King Rhoam asked. "Your thoughts?"

"Remarkable, to say the least," Kenway said. Despite his words, his voice and expression hardly changed. "We've continued testing it, but our offensive abilities to strike at Vah Medoh are limited. My suggestion would be to allow it to land, ready its barrier, and utilize cannons or even ballistae. I asked Purah and Robbie if we can try using Guardians against it, but they firmly said no."

"I see," King Rhoam replied. "Well, if such was their judgement, then we should heed it. No matter. We shall make for Rayne first thing tomorrow morning."

"Very good, Your Majesty," Kenway said. He bowed before mounting his horse and riding off.

They spent the rest of the day and early evening settling everyone in. Tents were pitched, dinner was cooking and would be served soon, and guards were stationed at the perimeter to prevent any surprises. Princess Zelda was bursting with excitement throughout the entire duration, while Link only had a healthy interest.

Eventually, both royals went into their tent to rest after the day's travel. With nothing to do until dinner, Link wandered around the camp, observing the comings and goings of the staff and guard, when he came upon Auru near the horses. The older man groaned and stretched backward while pushing his hips forward with his arms. Even as Link approached, he could hear Auru's back emit a series of cracks and pops.

"Are you okay?" Link asked.

"I'm getting old," Auru said good-naturedly. "Actually, I think I was already old ten years ago."

Link gave the man a once-over. He still looked fit and muscular. "You don't seem to let that stop you."

"Don't let appearances fool you, Link," Auru said. "It's all inside. Aches and pains. Not able to ride as long as I used to."

"Oh," Link said. He floundered to say something more, but he couldn't find the words.

"That's okay, Link," Auru said. "It'll happen to all of us, Goddesses willing."

"Well, you don't look that old," Link offered meekly.

"Kind of you to say, but you do realize that I'm older than His Majesty, right?" Auru rhetorically asked. "If I'm being honest, I probably would have retired a decade ago. However, once Her Majesty prophesized Ganon's return, I resolved to fight till my dying breath. I have no idea if I'm going to die on the battlefield or in bed. Either are fine with me."

Again, Link didn't know what to say. He just awkwardly stood there and nodded along.

Auru laughed and patted Link on the shoulder. "You shouldn't be so worried. You're young. I understand that what I'm saying isn't something you fully grasp yet. I keep forgetting that the responsibility of a man has been thrust upon the shoulders of a boy, but you're handling it well. I've lived a full life. Regrets and triumphs both, but a good life overall. It's not something for you to concern yourself with for decades to come, my boy."

Again, Link nodded, but more confidently this time.

"Sorry for burdening you with my problems," Auru said. Smiling, he was about to walk away.

"No, it's fine," Link said. "I don't want you to think that. You can talk to me about whatever is on your mind. It's not a burden."

Auru smiled wider and chuckled a bit. "You sound just like the princess. You're a good lad, Link. Your father would be pleased to know that."

Link smiled back. "Thank you."

Parting ways, Link walked around the camp once more before returning to what was easily the largest tent in the camp: the one that belonged to King Rhoam and Princess Zelda.

A pair of Royal Guardsmen were there. Link recognized them by now as a pair that were in a team of eight that provided personal security for the king in rotations. If they were standing outside, it meant that the king was still inside. By contrast, Princess Zelda only had Impa and Link. According to Impa, the princess despised having guards following her around and had argued against the idea for months—if not longer—before the king had simply given in.

Impa had been fortunate enough to have earned Princess Zelda's friendship and was made an exception. Although, it also helped that Impa—and Purah—were scholars of the ancient world, which had no doubt helped her earn her way into Princess Zelda's good graces.

Sadly, Link did not have such good fortune and had to make do with what he had.

"Is Her Highness still inside?" Link asked the Royal Guardsmen.

"She is," one of them answered.

Link cast a quick glance at the ground and spotted Midna's footprints leading into the tent, further reinforcing where the princess was. Once again, he found himself curious as to what the king thought of Midna's presence but refrained from asking. King Rhoam had not shown any affection to Midna—at least to Link's knowledge—but had not shooed her away from his presence, either.

After some time, King Rhoam and Princess Zelda finally left their tent to eat dinner with Link and Auru. Link greeted Midna with a friendly scratch as he fell in step behind Princess Zelda. King Rhoam wanted to walk around the camp one last time, checking to see if all was secure for the evening.

Princess Zelda was excited for the next day, as she had been for most of the trip. However, she was probably the only academic in the camp that was interested in the inner workings of Vah Medoh, rather than its destructive potential. Without any better options, she often spoke to Midna about various aspects of the Divine Beast that Link privately thought were interesting. At least Midna looked like she paid rapt attention to the princess. Or the wolf was basking in the attention.

It stayed that way until dinner, when Kenway returned. Princess Zelda bade him to sit across from her. She launched into a series of questions she had written down in her notebook regarding Vah Medoh's top speed, maximum altitude, and the degree of change her modifications had on its overall performance.

"So Vah Medoh might be able to climb higher than we thought?" Princess Zelda asked.

Kenway nodded. "Unfortunately, the air grew too thin for the test to continue. I suggested that Champion Revali try again remotely, rather than perched atop Vah Medoh. We shall get an accurate maximum altitude measurement after the conclusion of the weapons tests at some later date."

"What do you expect would happen if Vah Medoh exceeds its theoretical maximum altitude?" Link asked suddenly, drawing their attention to him.

Kenway tilted his head. "Hmm… that hasn't occurred to me, actually. I expect it would fall."

That earned various looks directed at the Sheikah, including a penetrating gaze from King Rhoam and a concerned one from Auru.

"I shall instruct Champion Revali to be cautious and to cease the test if he feels control of Vah Medoh is slipping," Kenway said. "We will determine that to be the maximum 'effective' altitude. There is little reason to go beyond that."

"I trust that Champion Revali is exercising the utmost care?" King Rhoam asked firmly. Though it was a question, it sounded more like a statement. "The Divine Beast is a weapon, not a toy. Restraint should be paramount."

"I shall continue to remind him, sire," Kenway said.

"What do you know about the weapons Vah Medoh has?" Link asked. "I've only had a little bit described to me by Her Highness."

"During my in-depth study of Vah Medoh's inner mechanisms, I managed to substantiate Her Highness's claims of the versatility of Vah Medoh's weaponry," Kenway replied. "The weapons are related to the main cannon the Guardians utilize, though the power is obviously scaled up. Vah Medoh possesses a set of weapons that can attack flying opponents, making it ideal for air-to-air combat, while there are potent cannons on its belly, allowing air-to-ground bombardment. The range is still unknown, but that is what tomorrow's tests will reveal."

"It also needs to perch somewhere to use some weapons, right? Hence the feet?" Link asked.

"Weapon. Singular," Princess Zelda answered brusquely. "The main cannon, and real focus of the tests. All the Divine Beasts have this one weapon in common. They're all equipped with a model that is similar in function, though differing in form. Purah, Robbie, and I believe these cannons were used against the Calamity itself."

"And… any… theories? About its power?" Link asked.

The princess and Kenway shared a look.

Kenway's eyes became colder, if that was even possible. "No theories, not precisely. Speaking frankly, anything I say is more likely coming from speculation, or imagination, than actual evidence-based theory. And… it feels like my thoughts are coming from a dark place, the kind that produces nightmares. I can wholeheartedly agree with the actions my ancestors took. Once our war is over, burying these Divine Beasts should be our top priority."

"Precautions were taken, I trust?" King Rhoam asked sternly.

"Chief Komali took it upon himself to oversee preparations when I briefed him earlier this afternoon," Kenway said. "We will be at a significant distance away from both the testing area and the Divine Beast. I cannot claim 100% safety, as we are testing a weapon of war and its destructive capabilities, but we have factored in as much as we can and perhaps a bit more… to avoid any surprises."

Link's face remained impassive, but he made a mental note to borrow a Royal Shield from the king's detail for the tests the next day.

Just in case.

~o~O~o~

Tabantha Frontier – Rayne Highlands

If anyone noticed Link's new shield, they didn't bother to comment on it.

The Royal Shield was always issued to the guardsmen on protection detail around the king, not only for its defensive capabilities, but for its aesthetics as well. It was a proud design, featuring gold accents on a dark steel plate with the Hylian Crest displayed prominently at the top.

Link tightened his traveling cloak around him as he, Auru, King Rhoam, Princess Zelda, and Kenway were all on horseback, slowly trotting up the path that only Kenway seemed to know about. The other guardsmen were on foot, keeping a weather eye out for any hint of danger. Similarly, a squad of Rito militia led by Captain Teboh were also flying overhead to further reinforce security for the visiting royal dignitaries. He and Link had exchanged warm greetings and gifts—Link had presented Teboh with a fine, lightweight leather quiver, which Teboh had been quite thankful for.

The group rode west across the Tabantha Great Bridge high above Tanagar Canyon. After passing Piper Ridge, they started their ascent up to the northernmost peak of the Rayne Highlands, where Chief Komali and Revali were waiting for them.

To the northeast of the Rayne Highlands was Nero Hill. Vah Medoh was currently hovering high above, nose pointed directly at the Gisa Lowlands.

Observing Vah Medoh so high in the air, Link idly wondered what would happen if it were to suddenly fall. The random thought brought back memories of Death Mountain, and he turned to Kenway.

"Kenway, I was at Death Mountain not too long ago and was assessing Vah Rudania," Link said. "There was an instance during training where it fell off the mountain and rolled all the way until it hit the bottom, yet it remained intact and functional. Is Vah Medoh also similarly durable?"

Kenway tilted his head. "Hmm… I would suspect so, but I will have to go back into Vah Medoh to assess."

"Then why the shield?" Link asked.

"I believe it's to protect its greatest advantage," Kenway said. "While the body of Vah Medoh should be able to withstand enormous damage, the other components are likely to be more delicate."

"Like the blades on the wings," Link said thoughtfully. "I see. So without the shield, there's a chance Vah Medoh would lose aerial superiority."

"Indeed," Kenway said. He turned his cold eyes up to look at Vah Medoh. "As you can see, the feet are fine for landing, but movement? Not so much. And we have tested its ability to move on the ground. The results are… less than satisfactory."

"I'm surprised Revali didn't try to make that work," Link said.

"Champion Revali sees the advantages of Vah Medoh and is utilizing it to the fullest extent," Kenway replied. "To operate on the ground would be a waste of time. The legs were designed to allow Vah Medoh to have a firm foundation so that it may fire its main weapon accurately from a stable position. And likely so that maintenance could be performed by my ancestors should the need arise."

"It's as Purah and Robbie have hypothesized: Vah Medoh's greatest advantage is its maneuverability," Princess Zelda said. "It might not be the strongest Divine Beast, but it holds other advantages."

Kenway nodded. "It was likely a military decision, from a tactical standpoint. Four different Divine Beasts, using the terrain from which they were created to maximum effect while being uniquely distinct, opens new advantages against the Calamity."

"Fascinating as that is… Link, could we circle back to what you said earlier?" Auru asked. "Did you say that Vah Rudania fell off the mountain?"

Link nodded. "Markus and Daruk were both okay, thankfully. No one was hurt."

King Rhoam arched an eyebrow. "That is good to hear, and I am thankful that there were no injuries, but what of Vah Rudania?"

"It appeared operational," Link said. "Markus was rather astounded. I think he intends stress tests later on when Daruk is comfortable controlling Vah Rudania. If you're concerned about its functionality, I stand by my report. It was pilot error, and when Daruk finally understood how Vah Rudania moved, the rest fell into place. It became a surprisingly smooth ride."

Kenway looked distantly interested. "What did you mean by 'how Vah Rudania moved'?"

"Four legs, not two, I suspect," Link said. "I didn't ask, but I think Daruk was trying to make Vah Rudania walk on two legs, since that's what he's used to. Or maybe even curl into a ball and roll down the mountain."

Auru snorted out a laugh, which he quickly disguised as a cough.

"Are you sure Vah Rudania remains functional?" King Rhoam asked.

Link caught Princess Zelda's face out of the corner of his eye. She almost had a smug expression. Almost.

"Markus does, and I defer to his expertise, just as we defer to Kenway and his expertise right now regarding Vah Medoh," Link answered.

When Link turned to Kenway, the Sheikah only nodded.

"I've found Markus to be knowledgeable and competent in the years we've worked together," Kenway said. It was perhaps as warm as his voice would get, only slightly matching the temperature of the snow around them. "If he claims Vah Rudania is functional despite those mishaps, then it is functional. In fact, I am now wondering if all the Divine Beasts were built so similarly, or if Vah Rudania was built in such a way so as to thrive in its hostile environment. Surely something for us to look at going forward."

Any further conversation was put on hold when they spotted the Rito delegation, led by Chief Komali, up ahead.

"Hello, King Rhoam," Chief Komali greeted kindly. "It has been too long, old friend."

"Too long indeed," King Rhoam said. He dismounted and handed the reins to one of the soldiers. "Not since Zelda's birthday."

"Princess Zelda." Chief Komali inclined his head respectfully. "You look as lovely as ever. I hope you aren't too cold."

Princess Zelda shook her head and adjusted her cloak. The design was almost identical to Link's, though his was black while hers was dyed a very dark blue. "Not at all. Excited, if I have to be honest."

Chief Komali then turned his sharp eyes to Link. "Sir Link, a pleasure to see you once again. You've grown well. I remember when I first laid eyes on you, nothing but a slip of a hatchling, barely bigger than some of my chicks."

Link bowed. "It is good to see you as well, Chief Komali."

"Are you excited as well?" Chief Komali asked.

"Apprehensive," Link replied simply.

Revali stepped up and crossed his arms. "Preparations are complete, and we are ready to begin testing the full might of Vah Medoh."

"Our first test should be the air-to-air cannons," Kenway said emotionlessly, in utter contrast to Revali's brash tones. "A relatively simple test, allowing us to finally get a glimpse of Vah Medoh's weapons without putting us in any unnecessary harm. Chief Komali, are your people clear of the testing site?"

Chief Komali turned to Captain Teboh.

"I have received word that all our forces evacuated the area early this morning after conducting one final sweep of the land," Teboh said. "Strict orders were given prohibiting re-entry into the Gisa Lowlands from that point on. All is clear."

"Very good, then," Chief Komali said. Turning back to the Hylian delegation, he pointed at the nearby wooden shelters set up nearby. "We may watch from over there."

Link followed them closely as everyone hunkered beneath the wooden barricades. Revali, instead of flying up to Vah Medoh, joined them in the surprisingly roomy quarters.

"Is everyone ready?" Revali asked. Though he said it largely to the assembled group, his eyes were mainly tracking Chief Komali, King Rhoam, and Princess Zelda.

"We are," King Rhoam said.

"Fire when ready," Chief Komali ordered.

Revali nodded and gazed up at Vah Medoh.

Mere moments later, beams of light were firing rapidly, far too fast to count. The light streaked across the sky, differing from a Guardian only by the thinner width of the beam, but making up for it by the constant stream of energy emitted by Vah Medoh's cannons.

"According to our ancient records, the Sheikah called those beams of light 'lasers'," Kenway said clinically as he gazed upon the rapid-fire destruction crisscrossing through the sky. "It stands for something, but we haven't found out what yet. Information is pending."

"Remarkable," Auru whispered. "With power like that, air superiority is all but guaranteed."

"Hmph, that's hardly the limit of what Vah Medoh can do," Revali said.

"There are four dedicated cannons for aerial offense on top of Vah Medoh and four below for bombardment," Princess Zelda said. She shielded her eyes from the mid-morning sun to try to glean more details from their vantage point. "Fascinating. They appear to fire one after another. Some kind of cooldown cycle between each?"

"Very astute, Your Highness," Kenway said. "That would be a common theme among all the Sheikah weapons. The Guardian Stalkers, while able to fire a destructive laser, can only fire it reliably every twenty seconds. Any faster, and there is risk of overheating."

"It seems that Vah Medoh does not have such concerns," King Rhoam said.

Throughout their discussion, Vah Medoh was still hovering in place, firing its anti-air cannons with abandon.

"I suspect it's because of the altitude," Kenway said.

"Cold air at higher altitudes," Link said quietly. "It would help keep the weapons from overheating."

Kenway nodded and turned to Revali. "That should be enough."

Revali glanced at Vah Medoh, and the Divine Beast went silent.

"Incredible," Auru muttered.

"In the event of multiple aerial opponents, Vah Medoh does have the means to dispatch them all at once," Kenway said. "Champion Revali, if you please?"

Revali smirked and cast another look at Vah Medoh.

Link could barely tell, but it looked like several things flew off the Divine Beast. He had thought they were birds, but the way they were flying was nothing like how an animal could fly.

"Drones," Kenway explained to the onlookers at large. "They are called as such because they are mere machines that fly out of the main body and fire similar lasers, but under Champion Revali's control. Much like how bees act, hence the name."

The drones—Link could only count up to six at their distance—flew in what looked like a random formation before they all shot laser beams at once. It created an intricate web made of light that left them all gasping in surprise.

"As you can see, any object that attempts to fly near, or perhaps try to land, on Vah Medoh must contend with its defensive shield, or the offensive perimeter," Kenway stated. "This particular ability will need time to recharge and vent heat, though, since the drones are no longer connected to Vah Medoh's body."

"Incredible," Chief Komali said.

"And now for the air-to-ground abilities," Revali said. "Observe."

As Princess Zelda had said, there were four more cannons along Vah Medoh's belly. Like the air-to-air cannons, the air-to-ground cannons fired rapidly. There was a murmur of shock and unease as parts of the Gisa Lowlands exploded one after another, causing snow, rock, and dirt to fly up into the air. Their high vantage point allowed the group to get a clear glimpse of Vah Medoh's might.

Kenway nodded and scribbled something down in his notebook. "We shall move Vah Medoh further back and continue the air-to-ground tests to establish maximum range. After that, accuracy tests. Following the conclusion of what are essentially small fire tests, Vah Medoh will demonstrate the full power of its main cannon."

"Hmph. Too easy," Revali said dismissively.

Stunned at the amount of destruction already caused by what Kenway characterized as 'small', King Rhoam could only nod. "Proceed…"

Vah Medoh was put through several tests, using what Revali merely said was its 'standard' weaponry; range, accuracy, and of course destructive power.

The majority of the morning was spent studying Vah Medoh in what was deemed 'standard operations', which Kenway defined as: fighting against the monsters under Calamity Ganon's thrall, or any creature that it creates using its brand of twisted magic and power.

It was late morning, almost lunch, when Kenway—still scribbling something in his notebook, an action Princess Zelda was emulating—sharply looked back up at Vah Medoh.

"That concludes these tests," Kenway said. "I would like to board Vah Medoh and begin a thorough inspection. If I am satisfied with its performance, I see no reason why we shouldn't test the main cannon tomorrow morning."

Revali nodded and brought Vah Medoh down atop Nero Hill. Its feet grasped the cliff face like an actual bird, and it went still.

"Kenway, I would also like to accompany you," Princess Zelda said. She shot her father a pleading look.

King Rhoam exhaled noisily before nodding. "Very well. Link, you go with them."

Link saluted and silently fell in step behind the princess. She frowned at his presence and promptly ignored him in favor of Revali, who volunteered to fly her to Vah Medoh. Captain Teboh and one of his subordinates stepped up to take Link and Kenway, respectively.

Stepping out of the shelter, Revali used his wind technique to launch himself into the air before circling around and allowing Princess Zelda to grasp his talons. Once they had a firm grip on each other, they took off.

Teboh and the other Rito—Sora—took that time to leap off the precipice of the mountain, fly back around, and do the same for Link and Kenway. By the time they were underway, Revali was already a quarter of the way there.

Link privately believed that because he and Kenway were heavier, it took more effort for Teboh and Sora to catch up. Mostly.

Thanking Teboh for the lift, Link took a moment to study Vah Medoh. It had been years since he had been aboard. He remembered a bit, but it was the deck, the view, and the sudden rush of excitement that dominated his childhood memories.

As if reading his mind, Revali sauntered up to Link's right side and crossed his arms.

"Well, this has been a far better showing than what a mere child can do, hmm?" Revali said.

Link didn't turn to face him or acknowledge his words.

"Let him have his grudge, but since you will be working together, it might be best to let him air out his grievances. Eventually, he will run out of hot air to blow and will focus on his responsibilities."

Link hoped Liena was right.

When Princess Zelda started to make her way below deck, Link silently followed behind her. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Revali sneer at him, but under Teboh's judgmental gaze and Sora's questioning look, Revali refrained from saying anything further, lest he look more like a petulant child and less like a Champion.

Princess Zelda and Kenway spent the morning and part of the afternoon going over Vah Medoh, examining the various Guidance Stones, checking the weapons, and what Link remembered was called the Main Control Unit, and they ultimately found nothing wrong.

"It appears we can continue the test tomorrow," Princess Zelda said happily.

Kenway nodded. "It would seem so. Very exciting."

Despite his words, Link couldn't tell if the Sheikah really was excited or simply bored, given his expressionless, bland face.

They did one last check of the interior before appearing back up on the top deck near the Main Control Unit. Revali was standing there, talking with Teboh and Sora.

"Well?" Revali asked impatiently.

"We may proceed with the tests tomorrow morning," Kenway placidly announced. "Her Highness and I have found everything to be in working order. We will need to do another inspection before the test and again after. Safety reasons, you understand."

Revali crossed his arms. "Very well. We will fly over the lowlands and run patrols to ensure all civilians remain clear of the area throughout the day."

Kenway nodded. "We should return to camp, then."

Princess Zelda glanced forlornly at the ramp they had just left. Clearly, she wanted to spend more time with Vah Medoh, but having been inside it twice already, there was little reason for her to justify her presence aboard any longer.

"Let us be off," she quietly said.

To Link's surprise, though he made sure to hide it, Revali actually softened at her words before launching himself into the air and carrying her back to the Rayne Highlands. Teboh and Sora leapt off Vah Medoh, circled back, and brought Link and Kenway as well.

~o~O~o~

The camp was abuzz after witnessing the weapons demonstration. Though they had not had as good a view as Link and the rest of the delegation, they had still seen enough to be in awe. There were those that were worried after having seen such a weapon in action, others that were hopeful, and some that felt both ways.

Link fell into that last category.

That feeling was made stronger as he looked upon the Divine Beast from the sky the next day.

The way Vah Medoh looked primed to attack sent a small chill down Link's spine.

"Are you all right, Link?" Teboh asked, nearly shouting over the winds buffeting them.

Link nodded and held fast.

Inspection of Vah Medoh had just been completed, and they were on their way to the Rayne Highlands and the observatory shelter, where King Rhoam, Chief Komali, and other prominent figures awaited.

Landing neatly, Link brushed himself off and made sure his coat was adjusted well. Snowfall threatened to start soon, making the morning dark, gray, and dreary. There was a fog over Gisa, causing visibility issues, but if the main weapon outputted as calculated, Princess Zelda and Kenway said they would see its full effects without trouble.

"The Gisa Lowlands is clear, Chieftain," Teboh said.

"Vah Medoh is primed," Kenway said.

"And I am ready, as always," Revali announced.

Chief Komali nodded to all three of them before turning to his Hylian guests. Once everyone was inside the shelter, he gave one last order to Revali before ducking down.

"First, the air-to-ground cannons," Chief Komali said. "If there are any wildlife in the target area, we should scare them off before the main event."

"As you wish, Chief Komali," Revali replied. "It is a trifling matter."

With Vah Medoh still perched, the cannons started shooting at and around the main target area they had designated. The range was fine, having tested it the day before, but something tickled Link's mind. It was coming from his instinct, he knew, but it lacked form; words. He frowned as he tried to figure out why he felt so unsettled.

"That should be enough," Chief Komali said after twenty seconds of non-stop firing. "As soon as the dust settles, we will begin the main test."

Revali puffed out his chest and turned his sharp eyes to the horizon, trying to see past the snow and smoke in the distance and find his target. Link squinted to try to see what Revali was seeing, but he couldn't see through the flakes of snowfall obscuring the region.

"Bear witness!" Revali said officiously.

"Wait," Link said suddenly. He looked at Vah Medoh and the target area it was pointing at.

Revali sneered and was about to rebuke Link for the interruption, but King Rhoam spoke first.

"What is it, Link?"

"If this will be anything remotely like how the Guardians work, we should avert our eyes. All of these lights and explosions from the 'standard' cannons are one thing to witness, but… well… I mean…"

"Ah, Sir Link has a point," Kenway said. His eyes actually widened in realization, quite possibly the first show of emotion since Link had set eyes on the Sheikah. "Likely, what is about to happen may be too dangerous to observe with the naked eye. It might be best we avert our gazes. If the main cannon is as powerful as we theorize, it might be quite blinding. There may be a real concern about vision damage."

"An excellent point," Auru said, scratching at his thin beard. He gave Link a grateful look. "Good catch, Link."

Revali looked like he had eaten an entire lemon, but he stiffly nodded. "Very well. If everyone is ready and if there are no further objections, I shall begin."

Everyone looked up at Vah Medoh one last time as it seemed to prepare itself. It leaned forward, legs bent, and a red targeting beam—laser—was aiming at the target area.

"Just like a Guardian," Princess Zelda murmured.

Link readied his Royal Shield and moved in front of his charge, shielding her and averting his eyes.

Seeing what Link was doing, Auru and a pair of Royal Guardsmen did the same for King Rhoam. Teboh brought his wing up and covered his chieftain.

"Firing… now!" Revali cried out.

What happened next was nothing Link had ever experienced. There was a roar of displaced air that was almost deafening. Link thought he heard Princess Zelda scream, but the rushing winds stole the sound away. Even from their distance, it felt like the ground was shaking. Feeling something clanking against his shield, his right arm sought out Princess Zelda and brought her closer to ensure she was behind both him and his metal protection.

It wasn't very long, and eventually, the powerful winds died down. But the sound of destruction persisted.

"I-I ordered Vah Medoh to cease," Revali said.

Link barely caught what Revali said over the thundering sounds of his heavy breathing and rapid heartbeat, but he had never heard Revali sound so… humbled… before.

Slowly, ever so slowly, Link lowered his shield, but only to peer over it to see if all was clear.

"It was a very good idea for us to avert our eyes," Kenway said. The stoic Sheikah actually sounded rattled. "Very good indeed."

Princess Zelda nodded. Then she noticed that she was clutching Link's arm tightly, and with tremendous effort, she managed to force conscious thought back into her limbs to release him. When she spoke, she sounded breathless. "It really was."

"We may stand down now," Auru said authoritatively.

Link lowered his shield arm and stood straight.

There was a massive cloud in the distance, shaped oddly like a mushroom. Its height exceeded that of the mountain they were on and seemed to climb higher still.

"Incredible," Kenway whispered. "I will need to send Purah a very thorough report about this."

"I believe we both will need to," Princess Zelda murmured.

"Look, down there," Link said. He pointed at where Vah Medoh had fired.

It was a massive crater now. Trees, vegetation, snow, everything had been wiped away, revealing nothing but smooth rock, forming a concave shape.

"I-I guess we can call this place Gisa Crater now…" Link mumbled.

There were no objections to his semi-serious proposition.

"If this is the power of one Divine Beast…" Auru breathed out.

"Then it tells us much about Calamity Ganon," King Rhoam said gravely. "It is as Link said. If we look at the power of one Divine Beast, consider it in combination with the other three… if such power was only meant to slow Calamity Ganon, then the threat we face is greater than our worst fears."

Chief Komali somberly nodded. "Indeed. We will redouble our training and ready our people, King Rhoam. Rest assured, the Rito stand with you, Princess Zelda, and Sir Link. Calamity Ganon is an enemy we must unite against."

"I, of course, will remain ever vigilant," Revali said imperiously. However, instead of arrogance, he sounded deadly serious. His eyes remained fixed on the mushroom-like cloud he had created. "Do not worry. When the time comes, Vah Medoh and I will be ready to answer the call to arms."

"I think that's what I'm afraid of most," Link muttered. "That, times four… the sheer amount of destruction that would cause…"

No one, not even Revali, refuted Link's ominous words.

~o~O~o~

Tabantha Frontier – Tabantha Bridge Stable

The ride back was filled with tense silence. Currently, it was King Rhoam, Princess Zelda, Auru, the king's personal guards, and Link riding back to Tabantha Bridge Stable. Flying overhead was Teboh and some Rito militia. Kenway had requested another inspection of Vah Medoh and had Revali take him. Princess Zelda had wanted to go, but King Rhoam had denied her and ordered that they return to camp.

Once back, King Rhoam stated that the excursion was over and that the caravan would make for Hyrule Castle first thing the next morning. Everyone in the camp could see the cloud created by the Divine Beast. The roar of the winds, even muted, could still be heard, and the light flashing over the horizon… Questions upon questions were on everyone's lips, but they knew better than to demand answers from royalty.

By King Rhoam's word, everyone started packing up what would not be needed except for the things necessary for lunch, dinner, and one last night's sleep amidst the Tabantha winter.

Midna bounded up to Link and rubbed against his legs. He scratched the wolf's flanks comfortingly before pointing at Princess Zelda.

Happily, Midna trotted up to the princess next and fell in step next to her. Princess Zelda showered Midna with attention and affection.

Link returned his borrowed shield to the Royal Guardsman who'd lent it to him—Link recalled his name was Grimm—and moved to his tent to pack his things.

Once he finished, Link stepped back out and was about to get some lunch when Auru approached him.

"Link, glad I caught you," Auru said. "Have you seen the princess?"

"We parted ways after entering the camp," Link said. "She was going into the royal tent, and I was putting away non-essentials."

Auru frowned.

"Something wrong?" Link asked, dreading and yet sure of the answer.

"She's missing," Auru answered tersely. "His Majesty is not pleased."

Knowing better than to question the king without knowing a little more, Link asked, "What did His Majesty know?"

"The princess asked to step out to check on something," Auru replied. "His Majesty didn't explicitly say so, but I believe he was distracted by what we just saw and Princess Zelda took advantage of that to disappear."

"Crafty," Link muttered.

"Foolish," Auru corrected. "We don't want word to spread through the camp just yet. Look around, by yourself, see if you can't figure out where she is, and report back to His Majesty. I'll keep looking elsewhere."

"Yes, sir," Link said.

After Auru and he parted ways, Link almost growled to himself but managed to exercise restraint. Instead, he walked to where the horses were all tethered and looked for Lumine.

Gone.

Gritting his teeth, Link sought out the king to report the new development. By the time he found him, Link had managed to sufficiently calm down.

"Where is she?" King Rhoam asked. Auru was there and crossed his arms expectantly.

"Her horse is gone," Link answered. "She rode out."

King Rhoam narrowed his eyes. "By herself?"

"Likely," Link said. He was going to say that Midna was probably with the princess but felt that wasn't worth mentioning.

"Blast it all," King Rhoam said. He turned to Auru and was about to say something to him before stopping himself. Taking a deep breath, King Rhoam turned back to Link and asked, "Do you know where she could have gone?"

Link tilted his head and furiously thought for a moment before exhaling sharply. He looked around and spotted Captain Teboh nearby.

"Teboh!" Link called out. "A word?"

Teboh walked up to them and bowed deeply to the king. "Something you wish of me, Your Majesty?"

King Rhoam's eyes turned towards Link.

"Yes," Link answered, trying to keep his tone neutral. "Tell us, are there any ancient ruins near here? Maybe even a Sheikah shrine? And within riding distance?"

King Rhoam wearily sighed at Link's inquiries. "But of course…"

~o~O~o~

Tabantha Frontier – Ancient Columns

"Aha. This must be it," Zelda said.

Midna yawned in reply and followed behind her obediently.

Zelda rode up the hill at a gentle trot. There were no monsters in the area. She knew the Rito militia would have taken great pains to clear them out before the delegation's arrival, so there was little to fear.

Even so, having a large wolf watching over her was comforting as well.

The area was littered with granite columns, giving the place its namesake. There were unique reliefs carved into each of them, and Zelda yearned to take pictures but opted to remain focused on her goal. The shrine she was looking for was at the top of the hill, and she was determined to examine it.

"Here we are!" Zelda said.

Midna bounded over to the shrine and started sniffing it.

Giggling, Zelda dismounted and walked over to the shrine to study it properly. "Now, the entrance is obvious… but what does the construction of this shrine signify? Is it decorative? Purposeful? Both?"

Zelda walked around the outside, peering at the conical shape of the Sheikah shrine.

"It appears to be too small to be a training area…" Zelda muttered. Of course, her knowledge of such things were the places where Hylian Knights and soldiers trained at, but she felt that the overall principle should still be the same. "How does this work?"

Midna hopped atop the disc-like shape in front of the door and pawed at the Guidance Stone to the right of the entrance.

"Yes, you're right. We won't get any answers from a cursory inspection of the exterior," Zelda said to her lupine companion. "We can only hope that there is more information hidden within. But how to open it?"

Zelda approached the Guidance Stone. Gently nudging Midna aside, she knelt and started prodding at the Guidance Stone from the base and worked her way up.

"Hmm… well, our hypothesis is that the Sheikah Slate is meant to interface with Guidance Stones, but in what manner? I see no indentation or interface with which to place the Sheikah Slate into…" Zelda murmured. She turned to her lupine companion. "Perhaps if I just touch it…"

Sitting on her haunches, Midna tilted her head curiously before deciding to circle around the shrine.

Zelda smiled. "Good idea. You can observe the main structure while I try to figure out the front."

She inspected the Guidance Stone from various angles one last time before standing up and holding her Sheikah Slate. She gently placed the Sheikah Slate on top of the Guidance Stone.

No reaction.

"Nothing," Zelda said. "Just as I thought."

She looked up at the deceptively simple structure, one of many that dotted the land of Hyrule. It was covered in moss, standing cold and dormant, and stubbornly locked with a type of doorway she had never encountered before.

"Hmm. It appears that this structure was designed to be exclusively accessed by the sword's chosen one," Zelda said. "But designs can always be worked around, at least I hope. How do I get inside? I need to activate it somehow."

Zelda jerked in surprise when she heard the whinny of a horse and rapid galloping closing in on her position. Turning around, she spotted him coming up the hill atop his mare. Unconsciously, Zelda tightened her grip on the Sheikah Slate and narrowed her eyes at the unwelcome intruder.

He gracefully dismounted and jogged up the hill towards her, that damnable, unreadable expression on his face.

Zelda marched up towards him, the words coming out of her mouth faster than she could realize they were formed. "I thought I made it clear that I am not in need of an escort."

He stopped a short distance away, his gaze locked onto her, and his face remaining as expressionless as ever.

Planting her hands on her hips, Zelda continued. "It seems I'm the only one with a mind of my own. I, the person in question, am fine, regardless of the king's orders."

He only blinked once and remained unmoving.

Is he an idiot?!

Zelda had to summon a significant amount of willpower to cease the sudden urge to grit her teeth. No, Purah and Robbie had extolled his moments of intellectual capacity a few times when he had unexpectedly cropped up in conversation before he had become her appointed knight.

Maybe he thinks I'm the idiot.

Zelda tried to banish the treacherous thought from her mind as she glared at her annoying shadow. "Return to the castle. And tell that to my father, please."

It was an unreasonable request. She knew it, and she knew he knew it. Their camp was only thirty minutes away, where her father was. And Hyrule Castle was at least two days' travel away. She almost wanted to groan to herself had she not been a princess. Something vapid and insipid as 'Go away' would have been preferable.

Zelda stomped past him, self-loathing eating away at every fiber of her being. As she approached Lumine, she could tell that he was mere footsteps behind her. Worst of all, she could feel his gaze on her. Probably judgmental like all the others, wondering why she was wasting her time on a shrine she had no business with.

Or why she didn't have any power.

Unable to restrain herself, Zelda whirled around and petulantly shouted at him.

~o~O~o~

"And stop following me!" Princess Zelda yelled.

When the princess stomped toward her horse, Link allowed a frown to cross his lips before he took a deep, cleansing breath.

Be patient. Be patient. But don't let her run roughshod over you.

Link willed himself to be calm as he mounted Epona and followed Princess Zelda and Lumine. Still, it was hard not to roll his eyes at her behavior. One moment regal, the next, childish.

Midna appeared from behind the shrine. She had appeared happy to see him, but the sudden tension between Link and Princess Zelda caused her to curl into herself as she passively watched. When they were underway back to camp, Midna jogged to catch up to Link, only to duck her head down when Link leveled a stern gaze down at her.

His eyes said it all. You're not innocent in this, either.

Midna whined a little and tucked her tail between her legs sadly.

Link grunted and refused to be disarmed by her cuteness. If she was sorry, that would be the end of it. But he wasn't going to reward bad behavior, either, and allow lessons like that to stand.

Turning his gaze back to the princess, Link took another deep breath before finding himself looking back at the distant shrine. A part of him had wanted to touch the Guidance Stone and see if there would be any reaction. Another part of him wanted to inform the princess of what he had done nearly two years earlier, when he had unlocked a shrine.

In the end, though, he kept his silence and rode behind her.

When they returned to camp, King Rhoam was already waiting for them, his expression showing unmistakable disapproval. Princess Zelda seemed to shrink as she allowed a soldier to take Lumine's reins after she dismounted.

Link dismounted as well and tapped his leg, ordering Midna to heel. With the horses being taken care of, he fell in step behind the royals as King Rhoam sharply gestured that the princess follow him.

However, once at the entrance of the royal tent, King Rhoam turned to Link. "Stay out here, Link. This will be a private conversation."

Link saluted. "Yes, Your Majesty."

King Rhoam opened the flap and turned his stern gaze back to Princess Zelda. She meekly walked inside. He entered right behind her and closed the tent flap.

Link looked down at Midna. "You know you should've come to get me the moment the princess snuck out, don't you?"

Midna barked once.

"Don't give me that," Link said firmly. "You're supposed to help me, not take over for me, and certainly not undermine me."

Midna let out a mournful whine.

Link shook his head. "Well, it was good that you were with her, but next time, fetch me instead, okay?"

Circling in place once, Midna barked again and sat down next to him.

"Good talk," Link said. He finally reached down and scratched Midna behind her ears, much to the wolf's delight.

The royal tent was big, and the voices were far too muffled to make out what was being said inside. A part of Link was curious about their exchange. The more rational part told him it not only wasn't his business, but it was intrusive on what was no doubt a tense family moment.

Link shared a glance with the two Royal Guardsmen stationed outside with him, but they didn't exchange words. Unfortunately, Link didn't know either man. They kept their postures straight, halberds in hand and planted firmly on the ground. Despite their discipline, though, Link did catch them suppressing a smile when he was reprimanding Midna.

Eventually, one of the princess's handmaidens told him that he could get lunch and that he wouldn't be needed until the next morning.

Link deduced that meant Princess Zelda was under 'tent' arrest for the rest of the day.

Still, he took Midna, and they got some food, walked around the camp for a bit, and played some fetch until dinner. Link found Teboh later that evening and spoke at length about Vah Medoh's demonstration.

"It's a complicated feeling. I can't tell if I'm in awe, terrified, or hopeful," Teboh said. "What of you, Link? What do you think?"

"I wish the ancients left some really detailed records," Link said. "Even with all that we know, it never feels like it's enough. I thought that by seeing Vah Medoh, I would get a better idea of the power Calamity Ganon could withstand, but now? I feel more clueless than before. How is the Master Sword supposed to fight something like that? And what kind of power is the princess supposed to have that can match the power of four Divine Beasts?"

"A mystery, to be sure," Teboh said. "However, the legend of the Master Sword supersedes that of the creation of the Divine Beasts. I trust you'll find your answers one day soon."

Link sighed. "I hope so."

"Still, it was an awesome display of power," Teboh said. "The cloud it created lasted for hours."

Nodding, Link involuntarily glanced in the general direction of Gisa Crater, though there was nothing to be seen now. Night had fallen, and the camp was preparing to bed down for the evening.

"Link, is it true? What they say about Princess Zelda?" Teboh suddenly asked. "That she has yet to awaken her power?"

Link nodded. "Not yet, but she's trying. I can understand her frustration, though. Even though I drew the Master Sword, I still can't figure out why it's so special. I'm sure I'm missing something, too."

"Too many mysteries and not enough answers," Teboh said.

"I'd settle for a little help," Link replied irritably.

Teboh grasped Link's shoulder and gave him a rallying shake. "Take heart, Link. I'm sure you'll figure it out in due time. I have faith in you. In both of you."

Hearing that, Link smiled. "Thanks, Teboh."

"Now, before you leave, I also have a gift for you," Teboh said. "Rami finished it last evening and flew all the way here to deliver it. She had to leave before we locked the area down for the test, though, but she sends her love."

"Oh, that's too kind of both of you," Link said shyly.

Teboh handed Link a wrapped parcel. "Woven with our feathers within. We expect snow this evening and throughout tomorrow. If you leave by morning, you should be fine before the roads are covered."

Taking the present, Link smiled. "Goodnight, and I hope we see each other again soon."

"Goodnight, Link. Safe journey home."

~o~O~o~

Central Hyrule – Hyrule Castle

True to Teboh's word, a light snowfall started over the course of the evening. Thankfully, it remained so all the way into morning. It wasn't enough to cover the road, but it would soon be enough to slow the caravan down if they didn't leave immediately.

There was a frenzy of activity as the camp was cleaned up, everything packed into wagons, winter clothes were put on, and a headcount of everyone was done to ensure no one was left behind. Soon they were underway.

Link plucked at his new clothes and smiled to himself.

"You look nice and toasty in that," Auru said.

Link nodded and brushed at his new Snowquill clothes. "A gift from Captain Teboh and his mate, Rami. He gave it to me last night. The feathers in the lining are theirs."

While the winterwear Link had brought was adequate, the Snowquill clothes he had been given felt absolutely divine. He barely felt the winter chill of Tabantha now.

The return trip back to Hyrule Castle was largely the same as the trip to Tabantha. As predicted, progress was slightly hindered now that the winter snows were coming in, but the caravan managed to make it back to Central Hyrule before the storms arrived in force and blocked the roads.

Princess Zelda was more churlish towards him than ever, if that were even possible. Link bore it as stoically as he could.

There was a collective sigh of relief and happiness among the procession as they stepped back into Castle Town late in the morning.

Leaving Auru in charge of the logistics, King Rhoam mounted his stallion, Ezlo, and led the way back to the castle. Princess Zelda, Link, and Midna followed closely behind.

Impa was waiting for them at the entrance. Once their horses were taken care of, King Rhoam spoke to her quietly, and they walked off. Princess Zelda quickly made her way to her room, with Link easily keeping pace.

The day was spent unpacking—Link just dumped his things in his room for the time being—cleaning off the dust of travel, organizing notes, rushing back to the research tower, writing more notes, going to the library, lunch, more research, dinner, and finally bed.

Once Princess Zelda was safely ensconced in her quarters, Link puttered around his own room, unpacked his bag, and put away his equipment.

Hearing someone approach, Link turned to the open doorway and waited expectantly to see who would be visiting the princess at this hour.

To his surprise, it was King Rhoam… and he stopped at Link's door. In the king's hands was a shield.

"Good evening, Link," King Rhoam said.

"Um… good evening, Your Majesty… Would you like to come in?" Link asked, confused as to why the king would be at his door at this hour.

King Rhoam nodded and stepped inside. He was about to close the door but seemed to realize why it remained open and dropped his arm.

Instead, the king turned and faced Link. "I wanted to let you know how much I, as a father, appreciate the sacrifice you are making."

"I—thank you, Your Majesty," Link said. "I'm not sure I understand, though."

"I'm referring to your dedication to your duty," King Rhoam said. "First the anniversary of Sir Revan's passing, and now your birthday. Yet you make no complaint or beg for leave. This… it is a small thing, but I would like to offer you this."

Link approached and took the shield. He was surprised and marveled over the light weight, despite the material appearing to be made of metal. When he inspected the front, he couldn't help but run his fingers over the intricate and beautiful designs inlaid. The Royal Crest, also simply known as the Wingcrest, was proudly displayed. At the top in gold was the symbol of the Triforce, while below in red was a noble image of the legendary bird, the Loftwing. The design was set within a deep-blue background.

"It's wonderful," Link quietly said.

"It is an old heirloom," King Rhoam said. "It has served the royal family of Hyrule faithfully for generations. May it serve you as well."

"I don't know if I can accept this," Link protested.

"It will do more than protect you, Link. It will also serve to protect my daughter," King Rhoam said. "Please. Accept it."

Link nodded. He slipped the shield onto his left arm and adjusted the straps until it was comfortable.

"Hmph, it suits you well," King Rhoam said. "I noticed that you were using a shield on the final day of demonstrations. Grimm's, was it not?"

"Uh, yes, Your Majesty," Link answered.

"It hasn't escaped my notice that you do not often wield a shield of your own."

"I recently found myself picky about shields, not long after I successfully got my shield technique right."

"The 'Perfect Guard', correct?" King Rhoam asked.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Link replied.

Link's surprise must have shown on his face, because King Rhoam chuckled mirthlessly. "I remember because of the one time you demonstrated it."

"Right," Link mumbled. He glanced down at his boots. "Well, in the course of trying to get it working, I damaged a lot of shields and would have to start requesting new ones from the armory. Knight or no, I started to feel, um… guilty… about taking so many shields from the armory that I just… stopped."

"I see," King Rhoam replied. Link looked up and saw the amusement flickering in the king's eyes. "Well, I daresay you will find that shield to hold up considerably well."

Link blinked and inspected the shield more closely.

"You will not be able to visually ascertain why it is so special, but it is," King Rhoam said. "Like your sword, there is much mythos surrounding it. I can say that its origin is pretty much lost to time. All we know of it is that it has the power to resist electricity, and that other Heroes before you have wielded it. It is even likely that your predecessor once utilized this shield."

"Oh," Link simply said. He studied the shield with a bit more reverence. "What mythos?"

King Rhoam shook his head and shrugged. "That it was blessed by the goddess Hylia for the hero, that it has seen as much danger as the Master Sword, that it was given to a hero by a dragon… who can say what is true and what is not?"

"Storied history," Link said.

"Indeed," King Rhoam replied. "It does not have the same restrictions as the Master Sword. In fact, generations of Royal Guardsmen have used that shield you're holding as well."

"Really?"

"In less civilized times, to join the Royal Guard, each candidate was required to undergo a test of combat," King Rhoam said. "Locked deep within the dungeons of this very castle, there is a monster that lurks within. A Stalnox."

That got Link's attention immediately. Stalnoxes were essentially undead Hinoxes, and all that remained was an animated skeleton.

"To join the Royal Guard, the candidate must defeat the Stalnox in one-on-one combat," King Rhoam said. "That shield was often used as a prize for the Royal Guardsman that could defeat the Stalnox the quickest."

"Brutal," Link said.

"Royal Guardsmen in those days were in short supply because of that test, and it was thankfully abandoned… though there have been guardsmen that have undergone that test regardless," King Rhoam said. He actually grinned. "You might wish to ask Auru about that."

"Captain Auru fought a Stalnox? By himself?" Link asked, shocked.

"Good night, Link," King Rhoam said. Just as he turned to leave, he paused and turned back as if remembering something. "I have ordered Impa to remain next to Zelda for the next two days, and there will be Royal Guardsmen posted nearby. You may return home to celebrate your birthday with your family. I have received reports that there is something important for you to do there."

Stunned, Link almost dropped his gift as King Rhoam smiled and left.