A/N Welcome to my first ever Zelda Story. This is an AU based around BOTW. However this will be much darker and I will be taking liberties with the actual story. I may also make references to previous Zelda games. The Yiga will be a lot more evil here then they are in the game. There will also be some eventual Zelink, but it won't be the main focus of the story.
This will predominately be a T rating but some chapters may be a little more graphic so I will include any necessary warnings.
Warning: Some descriptions of violence.
Prologue.
It was a little after sundown when the lone hooded figure entered the Karusa Valley, a beautiful canyon of red sand-swept stone and surrounded by tall cliffs and rugged peaks. His destination was the Yiga clan hideout located to the far north. He immediately surveyed his surroundings before retrieving a piece of crumpled parchment showing a shoddily hand drawn map. Soon after commencing his journey it became apparent he was at least heading in the right direction due to the amount of wooden chimes stretching from one canyon wall to another. A little further ahead stood several traveler's guardian deities which had been desecrated with blindfolds depicting the inverted Sheikah eye, the infamous symbol of the Yiga clan.
The only information he was able to gather on the elusive Yiga was that they were Sheikah who once pledged allegiance to the Hyrulean Royal Family. However due to fear over their technological advancements, the Hylians shunned them, treated them like outcasts and forced them to live in exile.
As he continued the climb through narrowing cliffs and loose tumbling sands, he noted how lengthy and arduous the trail actually was, especially on foot. The wind had also picked up, bringing a chill, though it was far more tolerable then the insufferable heat of the blazing desert sun. Entering the final stretch he trudged more laboriously, managing to avoid a handful of loose boulders that were ready to crush him and scaling a few ledges. So far he had been lucky not to run into any trouble, nevertheless he remained vigilant, his sharp eyes constantly darting around, watchful for any sign of impending danger.
After one final uphill struggle he was able to breathe a sigh of relief when the entrance to their hideout came into view just a short distance away. He was about to rush forward when a surprise attack caught him completely off guard and brought him to an untimely and abrupt halt. Even his attuned senses and quick reflexes couldn't have prepared him for such a sneaky ambush.
A masked foot soldier clad in bright crimson had suddenly materialized in front of him, blocking his path. A further two then stealthily appeared from behind him. Their movements were graceful and fluid due to their athletic build and slender frames. One even launched themselves into the air before aiming a duplex bow at his back, whilst the other advanced towards him at astonishing speed, brandishing a vicious sickle.
He would of course have preferred not to engage in combat, but he discerned they were just a little too close for comfort. He swiftly nocked an arrow from a Lynel bow, ready to fire the weapon into the soft flesh of his assailants in one fell swoop. However it appeared that fate had decided to intervene and his kill was interrupted by the appearance of a taller, stockier built clansman wielding a deadly windcleaver. He landed with a loud thud knocking him off balance and sending reverberations throughout the entire valley.
"ENOUGH!" the blademaster commanded, his voice bellowing above the howl of the desert wind. "Yiga! Is that anyway to treat our honored guest? Now lower your weapons!"
Recognizing their comrades authority the three Yiga members reluctantly obeyed. They did however growl various responses, although from behind their masks the words came out more as a series of guttural rattles.
The blademaster paid them no attention as he strutted towards their 'honored guest' "You must be Link. Master Kogha has been expecting you."
Link simply nodded in response.
Wordlessly, the blademaster signaled to his fellow clansmen to allow Link to pass and then just like that they instantly vanished in a cloud of smoke.
Link cautiously entered the stronghold, creeping through the narrow passageway before emerging into a dimly lit octagonal shaped room. It was cold and sinister and eerily quiet, save for his boots striking the stone floor. The walls were lined with eight large Gerudo statues whose faces were also covered by the same sacrilegious symbol, several sets of torches and seven ascending staircases leading to who knows where due to the entrances' being concealed by Gerudo epigrams.
In the center of the room was a dais surrounded by multiple torches. Occupying the throne in the middle of the dais was a shorter, chubbier looking Yiga wearing a different style mask and uniform. He was flanked by another set of hulking blademasters.
"Come closer, Link," the Yiga beseeched, observing him curiously.
Link kept his defenses up as he stepped forward, coming to a stop three strides away from the dais. Concealed beneath the Hylian hood his face was a mask of stone, his steely gaze never faltering. "Are you Master Kogha?"
"Not just any Master Kogha. The magnificent, the burly, the strong, the one and only, Master Kogha, leader of the notorious Yiga clan."
At first, Link cringed. Then part of him wanted to laugh at how utterly ridiculous it was that this goon dressed as a clown was the leader of one of the most feared clans in all of Hyrule.
"Well then," Kogha began, interrupting him from his reverie. "Firstly, I'm glad you could join us here on this delightful evening, and secondly do allow me to apologize for my soldiers' rude and impertinent behavior just now. They clearly didn't see the memo regarding your arrival. I can confirm though that they're being tossed in the pit of hell as we speak."
"Pit of hell?" Link questioned, his voice devoid of any emotion.
"It's where criminals, traitors and those that dare to oppose us end up," Kogha replied coolly. "Perhaps I'll introduce it to you someday, but right now there are far more pressing matters to discuss, like the very reason why I summoned you here."
Link watched as the Yiga leader rose from his throne and stepped towards him, encircling him like a predator would its prey. It was making him rather uncomfortable. The sooner he was out of here the better. This place made his skin crawl.
"I am in need of you," Kogha declared as he grinned broadly at the shrouded Hylian. "Well more like your services actually. You see, word across the kingdom is that you are the most skilled and highly trained assassin in all of Hyrule, not to mention extremely ruthless and deadly. You are also known to be loyal and honorable and there is not a single contract you have not fulfilled. So in other words you are just the sort of man we're looking for to carry out a very special task."
"Whilst your compliments are indeed both endearing and flattering, just tell me who you need me to assassinate so I can be on my way."
Kogha lightly chuckled. "Well, well, you don't beat around the bush, do you?"
"Duly noted. But you know how it is. I have other places to be, other folk to kill and all the jazz."
Kogha cleared his throat. "Very well then. Your target is going to be, Princess Zelda of Hyrule."
"Princess Zelda?" Just her name passing his lips brought him immense joy. He was about to be rewarded handsomely.
Although he had never once laid eyes on the princess, he had heard several rumors, most of which he suspected were wildly exaggerated. What he was able to confirm was that not only was she the sixteen year old daughter of the king and the late queen, but a descendant of the Goddess Hylia and she had inherited some divine power through her bloodline. Regardless of who she was, Princess or Goddess, her lineage or heritage would not be enough to save her from him, because when it came to assassinating members of nobility, especially one of such high status, his price instantly tripled.
"I trust you are aware of the price for such a kill?" Link then asked flatly.
Behind his mask, Kogha flashed a smug smile as he proceeded to hand Link a small pouch filled to the brim with various amounts of rupees. "Does this answer your question?"
Link reached for the pouch, but Kogha immediately stopped him, even waggling his finger as if to scold him.
"Now, now, Link, one mustn't be too greedy. The condition is you will receive half now and the other half once the deed is done. It doesn't matter how the princess dies either. Slit her throat, torture her to death, drown her in the Hylia river for all I care. However it is imperative that the task be carried out before the eve of the next blood moon."
Link furrowed a brow. "Blood moon? That sounds rather ominous. Would you care to enlighten me?"
Kogha was thankful that Link couldn't see the massive grin and mischief twinkling in his eyes. "Not quite yet...but soon, that I can promise you."
Link folded his arms, confusion evident in his face. "Okay, so when exactly is this blood moon? How much time do I have?"
"It is set to occur in exactly one months time," Kogha informed him.
Link was in luck. An entire month was more then enough time to travel to Central Hyrule, infiltrate the castle, spill the princess's blood and then be home in time to indulge in a delicious Gourmet meat stew — his favorite.
"So are we clear on everything then, little Hylian assassin? Because I need to warn you that if you fail or if you attempt to deceive us in any way, there will be heavy price for such treachery," Kogha hissed in a deadly whisper.
"Like being thrown into the pit of hell?" Link quipped.
"I can assure you, the pit of hell will be the least of your worries," the Yiga leader reminded him in an icy tone.
"Perhaps you should learn not to underestimate me," Link retorted, snatching the pouch and tucking it safely away. By now the hour was late and his stomach was grumbling. "Well if we're all done here, I'll be taking my leave."
"Hmm," Kogha mused. "So that's it? You're not the least bit curious as to why we want you to take the life of such an innocent princess?"
In his line of work he had learnt never to ask too many questions. Whoever the target was or why such drastic measures were being used to snuff out their life remained inconsequential. He had disciplined his mind only to focus on the task at hand and to ensure his own feelings were never compromised. This was mandatory in order to carry out his work professionally with absolutely zero distractions.
Link shrugged nonchalantly. "No-one is ever truly innocent, therefore I'm sure you have your reasons."
Kogha narrowed his eyes as thoughts of the princess swarmed in his mind. "You're right. She isn't innocent. She's a deplorable wench, a wretched pest, a thorn in our side. She may be the weakest in her bloodline, but she is still a threat to our very cause, therefore you must not fail, do you hear me?! YOU MUST NOT FAIL!"
This princess's existence clearly rattled Master Kogha for reasons he'd probably never fathom. She was a perceived threat that much was clear. It mattered not. She was insignificant, her death would simply be just another notch on his bowstring.
Link flashed a wicked grin, his usual tranquil blue eyes darkening to an almost gray color. "I swear an oath to you here and now that one way or another it shall be done."
A/N More to come...