A/N Welcome to another chapter. I will be including references to Twilight Princess, Age of Calamity and place names from previous Zelda games.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Legend of Zelda or any of its characters.
Chapter Warning: Mentions of Graphic violence & one cuss word.
Chapter Two
After trudging through the town for a good hour in search of a decent place to eat and lodge for the night, Link had finally discovered a small, out-of-the-way tavern located down the southern back alley. He had hoped that due to its more discreet location it would be somewhat quiet and peaceful, boy how wrong was he.
When he entered the bar it was overly crowded for this late of an evening and appeared to be mostly a hangout spot for Hylian soldiers. He wondered if the king approved of their extra-curricular activities. Other tables he noticed were filled with men, mostly travelers, gambling, drinking and generally being rowdy. For a brief moment he almost contemplated leaving, however his rumbling belly was urging him inside.
As he scanned the room, a hand suddenly touched him, lightly stroking up his arm. He turned to find himself staring at a scantily clad woman with a rather large cleavage and pink hair which was styled into a ridiculous looking updo.
"Hey there, handsome," she seductively purred, pressing herself up against him. "I'm Kaysa, what's yours?"
"I'm not interested," he tightly replied, keeping his gaze hard like his heart.
Her eyes continued to roam over his perfect form. He wasn't particularly muscular, but his body was well toned. "Oh you might not be yet, but if you come home with me then I can assure you that before the night is over, you will be," she murmured, before leaning in and caressing his cheek with her tongue.
Revolted at her lewd behavior, he forcefully grabbed her wrist and leaned close to her ear, keeping his voice low and menacing. "Firstly, I told you I'm not interested. Secondly, you're really not my type and thirdly if you don't get the hell away from me then I'm going to cut out your tongue and feed it to the stray dogs, understand?"
"Ow! You can't treat me like this!" Kaysa retorted with all the seriousness she could muster. "Wait until my sisters' hear about this, especially Tera, she would eat you alive."
Link smirked. "What makes you think I'm scared of her?"
Kaysa attempted to jerk her hand out of his grasp. "Well let's hope you never have to find out. Now if you don't mind I need to get back to work."
Link slowly released her, then watched as she went bounding across the room and instantly began flirting with a group of drunken men who seemed to be a lot more accommodating then he was. He exhaled loudly, though somewhat glad that he had made a lucky escape from such a harlot.
He headed for the bar where he came face to face with a rather friendly woman with an infectious smile.
"Good evening, honey," she greeted warmly. "I'm Telma, owner of this fine establishment. What can I get for you this evening?"
He recoiled at the use of the word honey. If only this woman knew his true nature then she wouldn't dare to refer to him as something that sweet. "Just a hot meal and preferably a bed for the night."
He wasn't planning on staying any longer then he had to. Come tomorrow, once the deed was done he would be hightailing it as far away from Hyrule as possible. He was thinking of taking a long vacation, perhaps somewhere like Termina, Lorule, or he might even hire a boat and sail as far as Koholint Island.
Telma continued to look at him thoughtfully. "I'm not sure why, but you look somewhat...familiar. I feel as if our paths have crossed before."
Link kept his head low, his voice neutral. "I highly doubt it. I never forget a face."
She looked mildly disappointed, but attempted to make small talk. "So what brings you to Castle town?"
"I'm just a mere traveler, who is here on some personal business."
"What kind of personal business?"
Whether she was just naturally inquisitive or being damn well nosy, he'd give her a reply that was sure to shut her up. "If I told you that then I'd have to kill you."
There was an uncomfortable silence as her pale blue eyes suddenly widened and her smile faded.
"I'm kidding," Link said dryly, falling silent afterwards.
Telma let out a lighthearted chuckle. "You got me there, honey."
Link didn't have the heart to tell her that he really wasn't joking. "So how about that meal?"
Regaining her composure, she quickly apologized. "I'm sorry, what was it you wanted again?"
"The Gourmet meat stew if you don't mind."
"Just the stew? How about a drink with that? We have plain water, milk, Hylian ale or our special cocktail. I call it appletini, and it's made using golden apples."
He raised his head and his blue eyes bore into her soul. "I'll try the appletini."
"Good choice, it's coming right up."
Link left the bar and sauntered into a larger room through the back. There he seated himself at table in the far corner away from the boisterous laughter and incessant cursing.
The meal was perfect, but as for the appletini, although the liquid was cool and slid down his throat easily, it was just a little too zesty for his liking.
It was close to midnight when Telma made her usual announcement that the bar was closing, although it took a further thirty minutes for the most drunken revelers to begin staggering their way out of the door.
Link had offered his assistance, however Telma had refused, adding that she was quite used to it by now. He had to admit she did look like a no nonsense type of woman and he respected her for that.
Once Telma had finally locked up she offered to show him to his room.
He followed her up a small staircase to a long hallway, with three rooms. His room wasn't at all spacious. It had a tiny window and only enough room for a bed and wardrobe. It was also rather chilly. Telma reminded him that there was a washroom which included a toilet at the end of the hall. She wished him a goodnight and then she was gone.
Link undressed and then rolled into bed, exhausted. It wasn't as comfortable as the soft bed at the stable, but he guessed it would suffice.
Link cracked an eye open well before dawn. He yawned, stretching his arms above his head before slowly clambering out of bed and making a beeline for the washroom. Once he had freshened up he began dressing for the day. Once clad in his usual armor, gray hood, red tunic, khaki pants and boots, dagger safely hidden in his boot, sword in its scabbard and bow fastened to his back with a full quiver, he was ready to depart.
At this hour the streets were generally quiet with only a handful of business owners setting up for the day. He walked past an old beggar man standing near the Ordon goat pen who was asking for donations and muttering something about peace. Feeling in a rather generous mood he tossed the man a silver rupee who in return thanked him for his act of kindness. Perhaps once this was all over, Link would have a strong word with the king about dipping his hand in the royal coffers in order to take better care of his most poorest subjects.
Once he had arrived at the castle he was surprised to find the large gates wide open and an unusual amount of activity going on inside. He didn't even have to sneak in this time as due to the excessive amount of guards and servants bustling about, no-one had even noticed him within their midst. Out of the corner of his vision he could see a large group of soldiers shuffling up the main pathway, clutching an assortment of mismatched weapons. Something serious was definitely going on.
News of the princess's disappearance had spread rather quickly. As soon as he himself had become privy to this information alarm bells rang in his head and an icy dread washed through him. This couldn't be happening, at least not today. Where was she? Had she simply run away or was there something more sinister going on? Had she been snatched in the middle of the night? Were the Yiga Clan somehow involved? No they couldn't be, could they? Otherwise what was the point of Master Kogha paying him ten thousand rupees to assassinate the princess if they could just take care of her themselves.
Apparently the king was in a heightened state of panic, however Link highly doubted it was out of concern for his daughter's welfare. All he seemed to care about was her unlocking this sacred power she possessed, no matter what the cost.
Right now though nothing else mattered except finding the princess. Where could she be?
As it turned out, the princess wasn't really missing at all. Zelda had simply wandered off to a large grassy area, quite a distance from the castle. He had caught sight of her standing beside a stone pavilion staring wistfully up at the clear skies above. Perhaps she had simply needed some time alone, away from her overbearing father and the massive burden that he himself had placed upon her tiny shoulders.
Under normal circumstances he would have been demanding every ounce of praise for his swiftness in locating the wayward princess, especially seeing as he done a much finer job then the king, guards and servants combined. Perhaps those soldiers were still hung over from the night before and their vision was severely impaired.
He stole a quick glance at her. She was wearing a white off the shoulder dress and her long golden hair glittered in the sunlight. But— then he really saw her, and she looked so fragile and tired, her pale skin smudged with weary dark circles under her eyes. She also looked incredibly lonely.
Perhaps it was time to put her out of her misery. She was after all, exposed, vulnerable. A well placed arrow and that dress would soon be stained with blood. It would have been quite delectable had he not been rudely interrupted.
"Princess!"
At the sound of the high-pitched voice, Link pedaled backwards, staying out of sight. He noticed it was that Sheikah woman — what was her name again? Ingrid, Iza...oh that's right — Impa, striding towards the silent princess. She stopped in front of her and they began exchanging words he wasn't able to decipher. The princess had her eyes downcast and Impa wrapped an arm around her shoulders before leading her back towards the castle.
He followed closely, watching as she was delivered safely back to her father. When they were reunited there was not the slightest hint of paternal affection. In fact they stood a good few feet apart, Zelda already averting her gaze and the king with his usual stern demeanor, reprimanding her as if she was some sort of criminal as opposed to his own daughter.
After what he could only gather was a heated exchange, the princess stormed off, prompting the king to turn his attention to the Sheikah.
Link moved closer, eager to intrude on the conversation. As he listened in it soon became apparent that although the king was angry, his voice also portrayed a slither of worry, however brief.
"Impa, for a moment there I feared the worst. Have there been any further sightings of the Yiga Clan?" He asked firmly.
"There are several guards scouting the area as we speak. Do you think it is wise for, Her Highness to travel to the Spring of Courage with this added threat?"
"That vile clan have not dared set foot here in Central Hyrule ever since they were banished. Last time I heard they were holed up in the Gerudo desert somewhere. Zelda's pilgrimage must go ahead as planned. Captain Hoz will be leading the mission and he has assured me that he will be recruiting three of his best men. You, Impa are to be Zelda's personal escort. I have advised her of this and that you are to leave immediately."
"Your Majesty perhaps — "
"Impa, you will aid my daughter during her journey and I ask that you are prepared for any danger you may encounter along the way. You have all been assigned with keeping Zelda safe. Whatever happens, one thing remains certain...she must offer her prayers at the spring."
Impa curtly bowed. "Yes, Your Majesty."
Link pondered the latest. So this party is going to consist of Zelda, Impa, some captain and three soldiers. Hm? Okay so the princess posed the least threat. The captain and his men, yes they might prove troublesome, but Impa, well she was a Sheikah and they had all sorts of ancient magic and tricks up their sleeves. She would definitely be one to watch out for. Although she wasn't a target, it wasn't above his moral compass to kill anyone who got in the way.
The princess and her entourage began their journey by heading south, into Hyrule Field, passing a few outlying villages and outposts, before heading towards The Bridge of Hylia. Another of the goddess's namesakes. The massive stone bridge spanned Lake Hylia and was a means of connecting Hyrule Field to the north and the Faron Grasslands to the south. At the center was another large fountain. He would add fountains to his list of things Hylians were fond of.
Once they had crossed the bridge, they decided to stop for a rest and Link was grateful as his feet were killing him. He had considered following on horseback, however he knew he couldn't risk the safety of his beloved Epona.
After recommencing their journey, the group headed into Faron woods and Link couldn't have been more thankful for the cover of the trees. It meant he could keep following without the added worry of being spotted. Pagos woods was next and then across the Floria bridge where Zelda suddenly became ecstatic upon the discovery of some Zonai ruins. They spent far too long at the site and even Impa had to encourage her to keep moving.
After they had trekked past Harker lake, they were finally at the Dracozu river. All they would need to do is follow the river all the way to Dracozu Lake and finally to the entrance of the spring.
Upon their arrival, Captain Hoz and his men stood guard outside the entrance whilst the princess entered the sacred place. Impa accompanied her, staying behind on the small stone platform, whilst Zelda waded into the shallow waters and coming to a standstill in front of the goddess statue.
From his position behind a tree, Link watched curiously.
"I'm not quite sure what to say," Zelda began, "except that with each passing day the Calamity draws near. All of my research into the guardians, divine beasts and ancients relics will have been in vain if I cannot awaken this power."
She stared up at the lifeless goddess statue hoping for a sign—anything.
"Everyone else is carrying out their duty with such grace, yet I am the only one who cannot live up to my potential. I've spent every day praying and yet I don't feel anything, let alone the power I've been told dwells inside of me. Why is that?" She sobbed.
Link stifled a laugh. Imagine the commitment, the selfless devotion, bearing your soul to an ancient goddess you've never met and the only affinity you have with her is due to sharing some weak bloodline. Pathetic!
Zelda continued praying, pleading even, yet still nothing happened. Finally, with her anger dangerously rising, she screamed out in frustration. "TELL ME! WHY AM I NOT ABLE TO UNLOCK THIS CURSED POWER?!"
Hearing how distressed the princess was becoming, Impa decided to intervene. "Princess Zelda, perhaps it would be a good idea to rest now."
"NO! I WANT TO KNOW WHY? AM I NOT GOOD ENOUGH?! She questioned, trying desperately to quell the chaos raging in her mind. "ISN'T THIS MY BIRTHRIGHT?!"
"Princess, beating yourself up about this isn't going to help. Perhaps when we visit one of the other springs, you'll have another chance."
"Impa," she replied, calmly this time. "There isn't any more time."
"You're right, Princess. There isn't any more time," Link confirmed in a low whisper. He grinned darkly, before taking out his bow and aiming an arrow directly at her chest.
He closed his eyes, relaxed his muscles, drawing the courage just to release that arrow. Kill her, now! His breathing was labored, his heart beating loudly in his chest. Why couldn't he do it? How could he not perform the simplest task of killing the princess?
When he reopened his eyes the princess was already leaving and he realized he was at an impasse. "Wait, what? No!" He shrieked, kicking the tree and inadvertently alerting them both to his presence.
"Go Princess," Impa commanded. "I'll check it out."
Instinctively, he pressed his back against the tree bark, slapping one hand over his mouth, scared to even release a breath. With his free hand he reached down and quickly removed his dagger, clutching it tightly, ready to strike if necessary. She was so close now, he could smell her.
"Impa, are you alright?" Zelda interrupted.
The Sheikah took another step forward, but found nothing. Sighing, she turned back towards the princess, "It doesn't appear to be anything here, Your Highness. We should go." She gave one final sweep of the area before joining the princess.
Link's shoulders sagged with relief. That Sheikah was too close for comfort. Really, she should be thanking the princess for unwittingly saving her life. Next time she may not be so lucky.
With the princess now out of sight, Link jumped down. He walked into the water standing where the princess had just stood. It was quiet and peaceful, but he was seething. "This is your fault! Damn you goddess!"
He was just about to leave himself when a brilliant yellow light appeared in front of him. He shuddered. "What the —"
As if he was in some kind of trance he ambled forward, almost as if he was drawn to it. The light shone brighter, surrounding him, enveloping him. He lifted his hand bringing the strange warmth to his face.
Hero...a voice spoke. It was ethereal, elegant...spiritual even.
His eyes widened and he staggered back in surprise. "What—"
That little word pierced his heart as if it was a metal blade. His chest ached with a feeling he didn't understand. His head pulsed and his hands instantly flew to his head, gripping the sides, the pain almost unbearable.
Chosen hero...
Something stirred within him, an aching sense of familiarity he couldn't place. Was it the goddess herself? Was she speaking with him? Impossible!
Do you really have the courage to kill her...?
Link visibly flinched at her choice of words.
The truth now, hero?
He drew in a trembling, ragged breath. "I'm not a hero. I'm a ruthless assassin," he said with more confidence then he felt.
That is not the question I asked.
Her words shouldn't have affected him so, but for some reason they went through him like an ice dagger. "I know what you're trying to do. You can't fool me. I won't be manipulated. I'm an assassin and I will kill her. I don't care if she's your descendant. I'm going to slit her throat and watch as she chokes on her own blood as it drains from her body. You can't stop me."
So much anger, so much hate. What happened to you, hero?
"STOP CALLING ME THAT!"
The light faded and Link snapped back to reality. He was alone now, sprawled out on his stomach, his face fully submerged in the cold, still waters.
On the verge of drowning, Link immediately lifted his head clear of the water and began choking, spluttering and gasping for air. He felt dazed, his head a maelstrom of conflicted thoughts and feelings. "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?! He howled, louder then ever before. How could this happen when he was so close to succeeding? If it really was that bitch goddess then how dare she interfere with his plans.
He had no idea how long he had been sat there, but it was growing dark. Link scrambled to his feet and ran from the place, hoping to catch up with the princess, but it appeared they were long gone. He had missed his chance. He had failed.
When he exited the forest, an uneasy twist in his stomach still remained and no matter how hard he tried he couldn't overcome the feeling. When he was assigned this task, he had felt optimistic, however things were not going as smoothly as he would have hoped. Focus Link, this was just a small hiccup, you'll get another chance. He continued gathering up his thoughts when he was immediately confronted by two Yiga Blademasters.
"What do you want?"
"Master Kogha has summoned you." They stalked towards him and before he was given the chance to protest, a wave of darkness suddenly overtook him.
A/N More to come...