POST-CALAMITY FUTURE
Above Hebra Plunge
Tulin was flying as fast as the gusts would take him. He usually paced himself more, but it was urgent that someone intercepted that beast.
There was a possibility that Crowl had sent a different monster to Rito Village, but the blizzard around him confirmed that it was indeed Colgera en route to the Village that was currently missing its Champion.
Up ahead, he saw the back of the creature. Already it had Rito Warriors engaging with it. They were having trouble, being thrown off by Colgera's tornadoes.
Tulin noticed a small, wispy trail of black coming off of Colgera leading into the cliffs. It was noted, but stopping the monster took precedence.
"Craj!" He called our to his ancestor who was among the warriors fighting the worm.
"Tulin?! I thought you were…"
"Things happened! I'll explain later! Right now you need to know this thing is after Medali!"
"What?! Why?! Medali is just…"
"Just my ancestor! And the guy who sent it really hates me!"
Craj grunted, "Trying to harm my little downfeather for such a petty reason? Now I'm angry!"
"Just follow my lead, Craj! Everyone follow me! I have experience with this thing!"
Thus began the battle in earnest.
In the nearby valley was a female Yiga named Higa. She grit her teeth in frustration, having assumed her target would be the easiest with both the Champion and the Sage gone… Raiga had clearly messed everything up.
Now she might not even function as a distraction….
Zora's Domain, Ralis Pond
"Amazing! It's so easy now!" The young Zora Prince exclaimed as he picked up a stone using water.
He was still far from mastery of it, but now he was at least as far as other Zora his age.
The older Zora Royal looked on joyfully seeing his younger self advance. It was a simple concept he had been missing, and only needed it explained to him in a way he understood.
At King Dorephan's request, he was keeping his true identity concealed from his younger self to prevent him from growing complacent by "knowing" what he'd grow into.
Sidon was currently training his younger self in water control and basic spearmanship at Ralis Pond. Yona C had come along to observe with his permission.
As far as Sidon C knew, this training was a thank you for saving Sidon U's son.
"Teacher! Look! There's something on the water!" Sidon C had taken to calling Sidon U 'Teacher', lacking any other way to refer to him.
"It looks like… sludge? More is dripping down from above!" Yona noted something that sounded very familiar to Sidon U.
Suddenly, from the sludge pile on the water leapt the menacing-yet-slightly-comical monster he knew as the Mucktorok. It landed on the dry land before them.
"What are you doing here?!" Sidon U exclaimed, readying his spear.
Just then, a group of Yiga footsoldiers appeared beside the monster. The one controlling it, Saiga, was meticulous and wanted to ensure Sidon C's demise, even if he didn't fully know the reason. That meant having help.
It wasn't just them who appeared, though. A pair of Sheikah appeared beside Sidon U.
"Apologies for being late to warn you… That thing is targeting Prince Sidon, sent by Crowl!"
"That is all I need to hear!" Sidon U smiled at the messenger then turned to Mucktorok, his eyes not smiling, "You will not be touching these children as long as I draw breath! And you have never beaten me before!"
Sidon C began to ready his spear to assist, but a quick blow on the back of his neck from Sidon U rendered him unconscious.
"Forgive me… you are not yet ready for this…" Sidon U knew words would not have dissuade his younger self. He entrusted his unconscious younger doppelganger to Yona C and covered them in a water barrier.
He and the two Sheikah began fighting.
Death Mountain, Gortram Cliff
Young Rupon C was training with a Cobble Crusher outside Goron City accompanied by three Goron warriors.
Daruk usually oversaw his training personally, but was currently stuck on the other side of the Gate. Rupon C had been well informed of all this, but hadn't yet been notified of the threat to his own life.
His instincts suddenly told him to roll away. Not questioning them, he did so just in time to avoid strange-colored rocks falling on him. One if his attendants, however, wound up incapacitated.
A large stone arthropod with a single eye emerged from the cliff above. Staying behind on the cliff was Roga, eager to test out his new power.
The monster, Marbled Gohma, let out a screech when suddenly a geyser of flame and lava erupted underneath it, shattering two of its legs.
Yunobo, who had slammed his Boulder Breaker down a short distance away to activate the geyser, broke through the rocks to land on top, attacking the beast's known weak point, the eye.
"It's Mr. Yunobo!" Rupon C exclaimed. He knew Yunobo was his descendant, but for some reason seemed to avoid him.
Yunobo didn't respond. He was currently focused on whaling on the eye to finish the fight as fast as possible.
Inside, though, he was thinking I messed up in my own future, but I still owe my dad a debt I can never repay! You'll pay for coming after him!
POST-UPHEAVAL FUTURE
Kakariko Village
Two Zeldas entered Paya's home with Terrako in Zelda C's arms.
They had met up here in Kakariko by chance. Zelda C was looking shaken for reasons Zelda U could likely guess at, seeing how she had just recently been at the Memory Pool.
Indeed, what she saw in her other self's memories had left an impact and she shuddered at how they might address the Demon King issue in her own timeline. Purah U had suggested she take a trip to Kakariko to observe the Ring Ruins as a way to distract herself temporarily.
The two Links were standing guard outside. Link U could warp back to see his family at any time now and things had become urgent.
Upon arrival at the village, they were notified of the four-pronged attack on the Champions. They needed to activate Terrako quickly to go assist.
Using her time power, Zelda U activated a secret passage under the floor of Paya's house. This was an extra secure location where the Secret Stone was kept as a memorial to Mineru.
As they walked down the passage, Zelda C spoke up.
"I'm… I'm sorry. I never realized what you had gone through."
"The apology is mine to make," Zelda U responded as they walked, "I concealed it from you. I wanted to preserve the happiness you had that I had lost. I would understand if you were upset. I often get annoyed when Link is too protective…"
"Link… the two of you are close, aren't you? That kind of close?" Zelda C decided to venture.
"Indeed." Zelda U smiled and blushed, feeling no need to hide it, "We've been through much together. We…even share a home."
That revelation stunned Zelda C into silence until they reached the statue of Mineru with a Secret Stone at the base.
Zelda U took the Secret Stone and they returned to the main room where the Links were waiting. Link C noticed Zelda C glancing at both of them awkwardly.
"All right, Terrako…time to awaken!" Zelda put the Secret Stone just beneath Terrako's eye.
The reaction was immediate. The Stone and Terrako both glowed as the Stone fused yo the spot.
Terrako opened up at the top and it's default voice rang out.
"HERO DETECTED. DISPATCHING MASTER SWORD…"
From its top emerged the hilt of the Master Sword, the same one that had vanished at the Forgotten Temple. Terrako had been bathing it in the radiance of the Light Dragon for centuries, even storing some divine power to keep it up for a year after it fell.
Link C only hesitated for a moment before drawing the Master Sword from Terrako.
"MASTER SWORD DELIVERED! DETECTING CHAMPIONS… LOCATED! DISPATCHING STONES!"
A green light emerged from Terrako and floated out the door before splitting into four and launching off in different directions…
Rito Village Outskirts
"I'm impressed… in spite of myself…" Revali breathed heavily in midair.
This Phantom Tulin had not attacked the village alone. A few Seers had shown up alongside it with Gloom Monsters in tow.
Those troops were currently being held at bay the Gale Brigade and other warriors from the village, leaving Revali to handle the Phantom Sage in a distant ravine.
It seemed to reflect Tulin's skills and abilities, but something seemed off. During training with Tulin, when Revali could tell he was going all out, he wasn't this fast, nor were his arrows.
But during the Yiga ambush, Tulin had actually surpassed this thing in all areas. Vastly.
That's it! Revali suddenly realized, It's his Secret Stone! It surpasses his strength and speed normally, but the Secret Stone makes the difference!
Tulin was the only Rito Revali could truly consider an equal in all his years. Battling an exact copy was going to be a challenge. But an enhanced copy meant his own skills might not be enough…
Just as he had begrudgingly admitted that to himself, a light flew in from the Southeast and stopped in front of him gleaming within was a teardrop-shaped stone.
"A SECRET STONE?!" He was puzzled, even shocked, but hastily reached out to touch it.
A light enveloped him…
West Gerudo Town Entrance
"So this is Riju's power? She's truly astonishing!" Urbosa couldn't held but chuckle even as she was pushed back.
The Phantom Riju was clearly enhanced slightly beyond Riju's normal capabilities, but not nearly as much as a Secret Stone would offer.
Urbosa faced this creature with Buliara backing her up, mostly by dispatching the Gloom Gibdoes that assisted the Phantom.
She felt it important no other Gerudo witness this. She wished to continue as "Jolene" for a while after this battle.
She couldn't afford the handicap that came with fighting disguised, though. She couldn't even afford to let up for a minute. Even as she wore the Thunder Helm Buliara had brought, that only gave her a slight advantage. The Phantom Riju was still swift, strong and precise.
Zelda wasn't exaggerating. You have truly grown into my place… Still, I must win!
Thunderblight Ganon couldn't hold a candle to this foe, and she couldn't count on reinforcements this time…
Just as she deflected a blow, a Secret Stone enveloped in light flew in from the Northeast.
"Could this… be what I need?" She reached out and grabbed the stone, and light burst around her…
Zora's Domain, Mipha Park
The Phantom Sidon was strong. It targeted whichever Zora came into its sight, so Mipha and the Exalted Dorephan tried to keep it focused on them.
That also made it too risky for the others to run, however. So Yona and Tidon stayed up on the top of the staircase as Dorephan refused to budge from the bottom.
Even together, they had only managed to land a few good hits on it, and it seemed to be recovering from them fast. They needed a decisive blow, but it wasn't easy to do.
Chroma and Khira had descended the waterfall at risk to themselves to alert the warriors in the Domain. It would take a while for backup to show, though. Especially since Gloom Lizalfos and Seer lackeys were currently engaging them.
Even though it has enhancements, I can tell. Sidon has only gotten stronger… Mipha noted, mostly with pride but also worry, I'm not sure I would have held out this long without father's assistance…
Mipha was no weakling, the Phantom was just that challenging. More dangerous than even Waterblight Ganon.
If only I had more power…
Just as she thought that, her Secret Stone appeared from the Southwest. She noticed the familiar shape, and touched it as light burst forth…
Death Mountain, Goro Cove
So Yunobo was holding back during our spar, huh?
This revelation would normally excite Daruk, but he needed to win this fast.
He had successfully lured the Phantom Yunobo over near the entrance to Rupon's cave and was currently giving his all towards putting it down, but it turned out to be a tall order.
Heh. With his Secret Stone, I bet Yunobo would have no trouble putting this faker in his place! I need to step up my game!
"Time to test it out!" Daruk erected his protection and took a moment to focus, "Break it down… use the pieces for… FIRE!"
With that, he rolled in place using the shards and unleashed a Fire Roll of his own, hitting the Phantom that hadn't anticipated that.
"Hah! YEAH!!! That felt GREAT!!!" Daruk exclaimed as he landed after, "Still… guess it'll take more than that…"
He watched the Phantom Yunobo get up when a Secret Stone flew in from the Southwest.
"Is… Is that what I think it is?" Daruk poked the stone and light erupted from it…
Kakariko Village
"Master, I am overjoyed to see you both once again!" Came the fluid, almost human-like voice of Terrako as it activated once more.
"Terrako? Is that… truly you?" Zelda C asked. She had heard this new speech pattern in Terrako's memory record, but it was still jarring for her, who had barely gotten used to Terrako speaking at all.
"Yes. I understand how different I seem, but I have been through much, as you are no doubt aware. I apologize for doing so much without permission… I was foolish and impulsive then."
"Then" was barely a day ago for everyone else gathered. They understood what it meant though.
"I stand before you now as Terrako, Sage of Spirit! With two sets of Sages and two heroes, two Master Swords, we can now aim for the best possible outcome against the Demon King!" Terrako proclaimed, "All that remains is for me to deliver my mother's spirit to her body in the Spirit Temple!"
"So this was your plan?" Zelda U responded, "It…might just work. But we still need to be cautious."
"Wait!" Link C exclaimed, "Those lights you sent out, those were…?"
"Yes. Secret Stones. I have sent each one to where the Champions currently are!"
TO BE CONTINUED