Chapter 4
Nightmares and Premonitions
After making haste out of Hateno for the better part of the day, Link and Zelda found themselves yet again delayed in their quest. Zelda was particularly more worried than Link, and hardly made an effort to hide it. They barely spoke to each other along road, as the princess seemed determined to get to Kakariko as soon as possible. Link sensed she was bothered by the surprise they were given back in Hateno. It was written all over her face, clear as crystal, as they rode long and hard up the winding trails on horseback.
They were supposed to visit the inner provinces and loyal clans, such as the Gorons, Zora and Rito. But now, after their sudden revelation from earlier that day, they found themselves heading back to Kakariko to seek more advice from the old Sheikah adviser. Of course Zelda was frustrated! It couldn't be helped when she felt that for every two steps forward, they were taking one step back.
If that weren't enough, Zelda now knew in her heart that reuniting the kingdom under one banner wouldn't be as easy as asking everyone to accept their old monarch once again. The very same monarch who almost lost the realm entirely to the Calamity one hundred years ago.
Why should they keep faith with the royal house of Hyrule? She thought. She had only been given back to this world just a couple of short days ago, and already secret plots to take her life had been made.
Zelda was at a point that she almost wished it were the Yiga who were after her. At least with them, they could strategize their next move. She knew that with the help of Link, they would be able to handle whatever obstacle they could throw at them, because they would at least know what to watch out for. But how could she face an enemy who was lurking in the shadows, nameless and unknown? Impa's words from when they last saw her echoed in her mind.
"And do trust in him your Grace, for he is the only one now you can trust."
She needed her wise counsel now more than ever she thought to herself.
Link, taking notice of his princess' demeanor, wanted to cheer her up. They were forced to slow their pace as the horses tired. So, as they trudged back to the old Sheikah village nestled in the canyon, Link used this as his opportune moment. A short while before they were set to dismount, he kicked his borrowed horse forward to trot alongside hers as they made their way closer to Kakariko.
Link leaned over to her.
"Hey, don't worry...whatever comes our way, I'll be right alongside you...we are in this together..and...I don't intend on dying a second time," he said with his head held high, throwing her a reassuring smile.
Zelda felt comfort akin to a warm blanket at the sound of his words, but she was still in a somewhat cantankerous mood nonetheless that day. Having always the need to have the last word at times, something she swore to herself she would work on, she couldn't help but correct him.
"Actually, you didn't die...yes, it is called the shrine of resurrection, a clever name indeed, but it can't actually bring back those who have drank from the cup of death. Its power is limited to only healing...even wounds as serious as the ones you sustained back then," she said as she lifted her brows with a smirk to match his own, tit for tat.
"Well...that doesn't make sense at all then...I wonder, whose foolish idea it was to come up with that stupid name?" he asked with a huff, questioning the notion aloud. "Really, a resurrection chamber that doesn't resurrect? That's like a sword that doesn't actually slice!"
Zelda's mouth nearly dropped past the horse and hit the ground.
"I'd have you know, I came up with that name!" she snapped, her furrow-browed eyes fixed on him like a target.
Link sprang up to attention on his horse and, for the first time in his life, felt what it was like to experience real fear...or so it would have seemed to him in that moment, as he quickly fumbled the words to respond.
"Uh, what I mean is...uh..." he said as he tried to find the words, but only found himself turned mute again. Before he could utter another syllable, she interrupted him.
"And what is it exactly that you mean!? Hmm!?" the princess interrrogated him. The look she shot him one like when he'd first caught her by surprise all those long years ago, as she''d been researching one of the shrines.
Link felt that old, green frog from one hundred years ago suddenly stuck in his throat again, as if it just happened. He managed to find the will to gulp it down and spoke, "What I mean is, it's a great name...poetic actually. A brilliant mind ahead of their time must certainly have come up with up with a name like that..."
"Go on..." Zelda replied, proud of herself, holding back a grin of delight as she watched him squirm while saying his apologies.
Little did she realize, Link liked the challenge.
"That being said...wouldn't you say my version of the story is way better one? The great hero of Blatchery, who died in battle, being brought back to life by the Gods themselves to save the people and the princess...you said it yourself," he said with a hearty chuckle.
Not in the mood for his jokes about death, or him dying especially, she spoke up sternly.
"Hey! We were really worried about you then! I...," she said, her voice cracking and then going soft. "I…I thought I lost you..." she finished somberly, remembering the way she'd felt that stormy night as she held him, dying in her arms.
Link, hearing her voice waver, immediately knew he took it too far.
You jerk! You were supposed to cheer her up and make her smile, and now you've gone and made her sad! Imbecile, he thought to himself.
"Zelda...I...you could never lose me," he said as he stretched out his hand out from where he sat on his horse over to hers, which rested on the horn of her saddle. Both of the horses halted their movement on the trail after he placed his hand squarely on hers. She looked up to him and sighed deeply.
The princess glance down to both their hands, clasped together on the saddlehorn, and then returned her gaze to him.
"Promise me...Promise me you will never give me a scare like that again," she almost pleaded with him as her eyes glistened, struggling to hold back the tears that were beginning to well up. "Link, promise me!"
In that brief moment, as he gazed into her gorgeous emerald eyes, the silent curtain hiding the secrets of her heart was drawn back, revealing everything to him...
...but he couldn't find the courage, that ever-present courage he thought was always within him, to out and embrace her the way his heart desired.
What if he was wrong? What if everything he though he understood was simply wishful thinking? It wouldn't be proper. Nonetheless, he found the words to put her mind at ease.
"I promise...," he spoke softly, letting out a faint breath, clutching her hand tighter than ever before as he locked eyes with her.
There was a sweet silence between them until a gust of chill wind blew past them from the nearing canyon. He caught sight of where they stood and gandered off into the distance past them both.
"Hey, Kakariko is just around that bend, so don't worry. Impa will know more about this staff and book, I just know it," he said releasing his warm hand from hers. I hope.
"You're right...," she responded, sniffling a bit and trying to smile.
After give her a once-over glance to make sure she had her composure back, Link tried his hand at a second attempt to lift her spirits. Perhaps some excitement was in order? So, out of nowhere, he gave a friendly smack to the behind of her horse. Zelda's startled face lit up like a beacon as the horse nearly stood up on its hind legs. She quickly grasped at the reins as her horse stormed off towards the Sheikah Village in a full, wild gallop.
Link, that jerk! What a way to ruin the moment, she thought. Link, for his part, shook his head with a smile as he watched her take off, and spurred his own horse on to give chase.
As the sun set upon the old Sheikah village, Paya had just finished sweeping the bamboo porch, the last of her chores for the day. So she decided that it would be as good a moment as any to call it quits and take a breather. As she stood there, leaning on the broom handle and reminiscing at the beautiful tranquility of her village she loved so much, she spotted the incoming pair of travelers at the edge of the village. She couldn't be sure as to who they were from that distance, but something inside of her just knew.
"Oh my, they are back...but so soon? What happened?" she whispered to herself as she dropped the broom stick to floor. "I have to tell grandmother!"
In the excitement of seeing her incoming guests, Paya forgot the fallen broom...only to stumble over it as she twirled around. By some sheer reflexive miracle, she narrowly dodged falling face-first through the doorway.
"Watch yourself! I only have one granddaughter, and I would like to keep it that way," Impa said, letting out raspy laugh as Paya hopped and skipped, almost falling.
"Grandmother, they are here. They..." Paya said, fumbling to find the words.
"Well, go on. Get it out child, while I am still alive to hear it," Impa replied. She then rose off her meditation pillow. Her old bones protested the notion, cracking and popping as she made a few steps towards the front door where Paya stood.
"It's the princess and Master Link...they have come back. And so soon?" the young girl asked.
"Indeed, most peculiar..." the wise old woman said, firmly placing her chin into the cup of her shaking hand. Impa gave Paya a look. "Well, best get a move on then. I'm sure they will be hungry and will need beds readied for them to rest."
"Y-yes, Grandmother, right away..." Paya said, offering a respectful bow. She then spun back around and into the kitchen to prepare a modest meal for their soon to be guest.
Ohhh, if I'd only known he would be coming back today, I would have at least gotten ready! I'm a sweaty mess right now, doing chores all day...and she..she is just so beautiful even when she isn't trying! Ugh...best not think about it, Paya thought to herself as she poked around the pantries and got flint to fire up the wok.
As Link and Zelda made their way through the humble village, they were greeted by waving hands and warm smiles from the people of the tribe going about their daily routines. The people of Kakariko loved their Princess dearly, and her presence among them was always a welcome sight.
As they approached their destination, Link quickly leapt from his horse, running over to Zelda to assist in her dismount. There, with the help of one of the Sheikah attendants, Link tied both horses to the picket post. Afterwards the princess, along with Link right behind her, marched up the tall steps leading into the elder's home.
Just as Zelda and Link were to make their way through the double doors, yet again the entrance swooshed open just before they reached it. It was as if Impa knew the exact moment they would arrive.
The wise old sage smiled and took in a breath, offering a smile to the weary travelers, "Back so soon?"
Zelda winced, glancing curiously over to Link, whose was standing just behind her with crossed arms. She returned her gaze to Impa, uncertain how to go about telling her what had unfolded since the day they'd left. With a deep breath, she decided to give her best shot.
"Greetings, Impa," she spoke, with all of the regal bearing she could muster. "Yes, we have returned, for it seems we are in need of your wise counsel yet again. Our journey was...interrupted. Perhaps you can shed some light on a new mystery of ours."
"Oh...a mystery you say?...I do like those...Come, sit by the fire and eat...Paya will bring you both a hot meal. Surely, you are tired and hungry after your hasty journey back. Your horses look like they can barely take another step," she remarked to the princess, hand motioning her to follow her to their main dining area.
The Sheikah, unlike Hylians, sat on the floor when they ate within the home, with low-knee tables that held the plated food. Link's fatigued eyes woke at the mention of food. And not just any food - Sheikah food. Their cuisine was by far the most exquisite for his palette. It was the best he could get to the quality of the meals they once hosted at grand castle banquets one hundred years ago, when he was still a Royal Guardsman.
As they all found their places and sat comfortably around the table, Impa continued. "Tell me more of this mystery of yours...perhaps we can find the answers together."
"Well, I don't know exactly where to begin. So I guess I'll just tell you from the beginning as best I can," Zelda said to the wise old woman. As she began to tell her story of the late night assassin and of the things he desired from her, Paya began to lay the wonderful spread of food. Link tried his best to pay attention to the princess' story, but with the succulent aroma of Glazed Meat Skewers accompanied by a bowl of Mushroom Stew, he was left distracted to say the least.
"H-here you go, Link," Paya said as she placed a large ceramic bowl right underneath his nose. Its hot, savory aroma cut through his thoughts like a dagger. "I know you like the stew a lot, ever since you've been coming here. You probably worked up quite an appetite...so I gave you one of our big bowls, just in case," she said, wearing a giddy smile.
Zelda tried her best to not glance over at Paya and Link's exchange, but still her eyes squinted at Paya's words to Link by sheer reflex.
Get a grip, Zelda, it's just a bowl of stew! You have no claim over him, Zelda thought to herself.
Link nodded back to Paya, replying calmly, "Thanks, it smells delicious. I'm sure it will be great as always, Paya."
Zelda, now feeling embarrassed by her own thoughts, offered up her own hospitable gesture.
"Why don't you join us? You work too much, Paya. Here, sit and eat," she said as she waved to her and patted an empty spot near the end of the table beside her and Link.
Paya instantly dropped her head into a reverent bow. "Oh, me? I would love to but...forgive me but I still have much to prepare for you both...I beg your pardon, my princess...but if you excuse me, I have to go upstairs to ready your stay...perhaps, I'll join afterwards if there is still time?" the Sheikah girl spoke sheepishly, about to scamper up the steps to their rooms.
"That would be nice," Zelda responded with a friendly smile.
Paya really didn't have all that much left to prepare, but needed a clever excuse to get out of having to sit so close to Link. In her mind, she looked like a mess at the moment, and didn't want to frighten the poor boy away. So she made her way to ready the rooms.
After watching Paya leave their presence, Impa softly laid her spoon down and continued. "So, dear princess, you said this impostor was after some book and a staff? By any chance, did he mention them by their names?"
Zelda leaned back from eating, stretching out and flexing her hands against the table in recollection. "No, I'm afraid not...and by that time, Link already had come to save me... It all happened all so fast, yet time seemed so slow in the moment."
"I see...well, I don't know anything about a wanted book. As far as a staff...and this is quite a stretch, mind you...could it be that he may have been after the Royal Scepter? Not much of a staff, more of a baton, really...but its value is immeasurable, thanks to the Moon Pearl crowned on it. Or so I have been told," Impa explained
The old woman stood up from her supper, and slowly began her walk over to the fireplace. There, she gazed upon its flickering flame, as if hoping it would reveal the mysteries of the universe to her.
"Moon Pearl?" Zelda questioned, letting out a quiet breath. She also stood up, unaware of the significance.
Link's eyes widened after the mention of the Royal Scepter. He dropped the bowl he'd been slurping from, cleaned his chin, and then he also rose. Somehow, after hearing those words uttered again, memories from one hundred years ago came crashing through his mind. They flipped through his recollection like pages in a book.
He remembered the Royal Scepter, the same one he took from the High Priest. He also remembered even more so that wonderful day he shared with Zelda. His memory refreshed, the knight turned to face her, his princess busily trading words with Impa. As he gazed upon her, watching her smile and move around the room hearing Impa's stories, he saw in her the same beautiful honey-haired girl he fell for so long ago. He had not forgotten her.
What other memories have I yet to recall? Link thought to himself, curiously worried.
Impa spoke again facing the embers. "Yes, the Moon Pearl. Have you not heard of it? Surely the castle scholars must have told you something about it growing up?"
"I must admit, the old histories were never my strong suit," replied Zelda more contemplative than abashed by the admittance, as she move about the room. "I much preferred applied sciences and experimentation. Not that I had much time for either growing up. As soon as I was old enough to even write properly, and perform the basic formalities of a Royal, I was already being forced to learn how to awaken my birthright. The Calamity was coming…and all my time had to be devoted to that task. I hardly had any time for anything else that wasn't congruent with my duty to the realm."
Zelda rubbed her arms in a somber self hug at the thought, remembering the freezing waters and endless hours of prayers she had to recite over and over.
"Yes, tis' true, we are forever indebted to you, your Grace. Were it not for your sacrifices, all would have been lost," the old woman said comfortingly as she slowly limped towards Zelda. "The Moon Pearl is said to be an ancient treasure, even stretching long before the time of Great Calamity from ten thousand years ago...Though, despite its age, it still looks as if it were crafted by the Goddesses just yesterday. Its milky, twilight luster hasn't faded at all to the unforgiving decay of time."
"Then...you think that's what he was really after? Why?" Zelda asked, curiously.
"Goddesses, no. I have no idea if that was what he was really after or not...but that would be my best guess, if I had to offer one. Older legends before the Calamity say the Moon Pearl once aided a Hero of another era, in an age long lost to time and memory."
"And?"
"And...that is all I know. These are really old stories we speak of. They are probably more myth than any sort of true history. Nevertheless, it would be behoove us to find out more for ourselves, wouldn't you say? Just in case there is any sort of truth to this legend."
"That is, if it really was the Moon Pearl he was after," the princess added.
"Indeed...if that is what he was after," confirmed the elderly woman with a nod.
Just as Zelda was about to continue her discussion with the wise sage, Link stepped toward her to offer his own thoughts on the matter, and what he remembered from long ago. But as he took his first step, he felt a sudden rush of blood to his temples, and a horrible ringing began to resonate in his ears as his vision began to blur. He felt his body start to go cold with a numbness that felt like a thousand needles were stabbing him all over. Without a warning sign to the others, Link collapsed, crashing onto the table. The impact split the piece of furniture wide open, spilling the dinnerware, and causing Zelda and Impa to startle in fright. The princess' heart fell into the pit of her stomach at the sight, and without a thought she leapt over to her knight in a panic.
The last thing Link saw before his vision faded into black nothingness was a terrified, shouting Zelda rushing over to him.
"LINK?!" Zelda cried out as she tried to lift him off the splintered table. He went limp.
Impa was also worried by the sight, and she too hurried herself as fast as her old legs could move her to Link's fallen body.
"Paya! Quickly, come down here! We need help!" Impa shouted toward the ceiling to where her granddaughter was on the floor above.
Paya bolted down the stairs, dropping some bedding she had been carrying, and rushed over to help Zelda lift Link from the floor.
"What happened!?" the Sheikah girl questioned in shock.
"I don't know!" Zelda cried, uncontrollable tears streaking down her pretty pale cheeks. "We were talking just as we were when you were here...and all of a sudden, he just fell hard right into the table! I don't understand! Oh, Link...what's happened to you?"
She couldn't speak anymore, as as her building fears made it difficult to catch her breath. One of the attendants, a man by the name of Dorian, had been standing just outside the residence when he'd heard the gut wrenching screams from within and rushed into the building. No sooner had he swung open the doorway to see them trying to carry Link than, without hesitation or question, he immediately pulled the young man from their arms, carrying his motionless body to one of the beds upstairs.
Link, lying now upon on one of the beds, began to squirm, eyes closed and lashing out in uncontrollable fits of seeming rage. Zelda, heartbroken at the sight of him suffering, pleaded for an answer from anyone who would give it to her.
"What's happening to him?! Impa?!" she shouted.
The princess shoved past Dorian into the room and fell to Link's bedside, breaking into tears. There, she tried to put calming hands over him to stop him from thrashing in his sleep, but to no avail. Link was sporadic, punching and clawing as he lay there. He even managed to punch a hole clean through the headrest as he grunted in his sleep. Frightened, Zelda had to pull away.
"I don't know...," Impa said, quietly. "It seems as if he is...remembering. Everything and nothing, all at once, perhaps."
"Why does he have to suffer so?" Zelda cried, turning to face Impa, who stood in the room alongside Paya and Dorian. "Oh, Link...it is all my fault that you have been put through this. If I'd only obtained my sealing power sooner, none of this would have happened!"
Oh, Link, you wonderful fool...Why do you always insist on having to be so strong? she thought. Now I know why you fear to close your eyes at night...plagued as you are by these haunting visions and nightmares.
"I'm so sorry...forgive me...Please, Link, I need you to be alright...I need you...," Zelda spoke. Without a care for what anyone heard, or how they thought of her relationship with Link, the princess buried her face into her knight's chest, soaking his tunic with her tears. He wasn't thrashing as wildly as before, now only breathing heavily as he lay there, clenching the bedsheets with his fists as he battled the demons in his heart and mind.
"He is burning up!" Zelda exclaimed, lifting her head off of him, startled as she felt the warmth of his body burn her face. "Quickly, Paya, bring cool water and fresh rags!"
Without question, Paya obeyed.
As the black void faded back into something resembling a conscious world, Link saw himself from one hundred years ago. Reliving the moments that had taken place back then, looking on from afar, yet feeling them as if they were happening to him in that moment.
The sky became gloomy with a hellish red glow, hours before true nightfall. The air itself became thick, filled with a deadly plume that extended high into the sky that made it hard to breathe. There, a nightmarish cloud at the world's center, a wraith of pure evil flooded the castle. There was no doubt left in anyone's mind if the stories and legends of old were indeed true. It had returned. The great Calamity of the ages had become a reality once again.
The Champions immediately sprang into action, splitting up to fulfill their roles. Link and Zelda quickly mounted their horses and rode like the wind to the castle to assess the level of the damage caused by the surprise attack, and to render aid to those who needed help evacuating the city. Perhaps it wasn't as bad as it looked from where they were at the foot of the mountain, they hoped.
It was a perfect storm of events, as a devilish downpour of rain was falling over them, flooding the roads, making the trek treacherous. As only an hour passed, Link and Zelda made their way closer. From the higher ground, they were finally able to capture the great city in their view. Suddenly, a loud explosion erupted deep within the city, larger and louder than anyone had ever seen. Even the far off ground where Link and Zelda stood shook at the impact. All was lost. The castle and city was in ruin, covered in mountain-high flames. Something had gone terribly wrong. They beheld the horrific sight of desperate people fleeing the city in all directions. Soldiers were battling their once-proud Guardians to their deaths. The ear-curdling screams of women and children were heard, and they could be seen running for their lives to reach beyond the city walls.
"Oh, no! This can't be happening!"" Zelda screamed at the sight. "What's going on?! The Guardians! He took control of the Guardians?! How?!"
It was all happening in slow motion around her, it seemed. She and Link dismounted. But as more sounds of explosions erupted in the distance, the horses bolted away in fright. Heartbroken and confused at what was happening, her knees buckled at the realization, and she collapsed. Link ran over to her, helping her back to her shaky feet.
Her heart raced a mile a minute, and Link could feel its pulse as he lifted her up. He saw her soul being ripped from her as he glanced at the numb expression on her face. The light in her eyes, those same starlit green eyes, that were once full of love that he had come to adore, faded into despair. Her hope and dreams were shattered in an instant. But there was no time to console her or waste lingering.
Guardians were overflowing outside the city walls, flashing barrages of deadly blue beams into crowds of people, scorching the earth and leaving flames that even the rains couldn't extinguish. Huge towers not so far into the distance in front of the castle, which were not there before, were now erected high into the sky, spiraling out Guardian after Guardian to overrun the city. It all seemed like an organized plot by their eternal adversary.
Link still had to get Zelda through a small woodland that was up ahead before he could fully assess the situation and decide his next move. So, as held her with one hand and led with the Master Sword in the other, they trekked through the misty forest. As they ran, she came to the realization of what was happening and lost her will to carry on. She slipped through his fingers, unable to keep up with his fast pace, and collapsed on the ground yet again. Link slipped ahead, but spun back around to recover her after she fell.
Fear and helplessness filled her eyes, and she bore her soul out to Link. She couldn't hold back the river of tears anymore.
"How...how did it come to this? The Divine Beasts...the Guardians...they all turned against us. It was Calamity Ganon...it turned them all against us! And everyone...Mipha, Urbosa, Revali and Daruk...they are all trapped inside those things...and it's all my fault!" she cried. "Our only hope for defeating Ganon is lost, all because I couldn't harness this cursed power! Everything...everything I have done up until now...it was all for nothing. I really am just a failure...All my friends, the entire kingdom, my father most of all...I failed them all...I've left them all to die!"
Link couldn't just yank her off the ground again and force her to run just yet. He, too, was suffering for her. His heart broke to see her tormented by the events around them. He, too, felt as if he failed...failed her...
Why can't I be strong enough to defeat this Calamity on my own, he thought despairingly. So he decided to console her for a few minutes, hugging her tightly and letting her cry into his tunic.
"It's going to be alright," he whispered to her, but he felt dishonest in doing so. He knew it was anything but alright. But he had to be strong for her. After a few moments passed, he got her to stand and follow him again.
As they made it into a clearing on top of a hill, it overlooked the capital city below. Link saw people being led by what appeared to be the remnant of a battalion of Hylian troops on the run from three rogue Guardians. Link, still holding Zelda, by the hand knew what he had to do. There was no time left to waste. In the rain, he gently turned to face her and put both his calming hands on her cheeks. Softly, he brushed her soaked hair to the side and got her to focus onto his eyes, taking her away from what was happening around them.
"Zelda, please, I know you are hurting. But we will make this right. I promise you...he won't get away with this. I will defeat Calamity Ganon. I stake my life on it...but I need you to stay here, where you are safe; I have to save those people that are running towards us. They are close by...I can still save them. I promise, I will be right back," he gently spoke to her, softly letting go of her face about to make his run to the outskirts of the City walls where the endangered people were.
But just as he turned to leave, barely taking more than one step forward, he jolted back at the sound of a terrified Zelda shouting towards him, her face overflowing with tears.
"Link! Don't go! I can't! Please...I can't...I can't lose you, too...please...I can't lose you, too...," she wailed, falling again to muddy ground. There, she buried her face into her hands as the words broke into sobs.
He immediately spun back around and lifted her up. There he held her in a deep embrace, pressing her crying face to him.
"Zelda, I promise, I'll be alright...I have to save them. I have to try, " he said softly to her, his face pressed against the side of her head as she leaned into his chest. He desperately wanted to press his lips against hers, to calm her fears, but he felt in that moment that it would not have been the right time. That, perhaps, he would have another chance to do so later on. However, if he would have known it was his last, he certainly would have. A mistake he would live to regret his whole life.
She sniffed and lifted her face up to his, a mere inch away. A brave conviction slowly filled her voice as she spoke to him. "I...I know...we have to save them, Go...I'll stay here, and wait for your return...I'll be alright, the Guardians are still far off. Hurry, Link!"
But she spoke too soon, and as she looked away past the comfort of his embrace, the people were already almost near them. Time had slipped by. Her knight now had to act with or without her permission.
Link, not wanting any harm to come to his princess, saw the three charging Guardians as they chased the people running towards them on the bluff. He summoned all the strength that he could muster and leapt, springing high into the air just as one of the Guardians gathered its energy to fire another blast of death towards the helpless people and soldiers. It stopped mid-crawl and captured a dead lock onto the crowd. The other two continued onward. As the halted Guardian prepared to unleash its life-ending beam, Link came crashing down into its view, distracting its gaze and surprising the shocked citizens.
Upon identifying the hero as its primary target, the Guardian then aimed its corrupt blue eye toward Link instead, firing a pulsing ray of deadly energy towards him. The beam shot over the heads of the fleeing people, who ducked from both fear and the noise of the blast. Link, suspended in the air over them, fell downwards through the sky, as if in slow motion, drawing his master sword and slicing the beam in two. The divided beam split off and whether by chance or intent, blasted into the other two chasing Guardians, destroying them. As the knight continued to shred the beam in two, he landed onto the attacking Guardian and stabbed its eye, impaling it as deep as the legendary sword would go. Link grunted at the effort and leapt, ripping the Master Sword from the Guardian's torn husk skywards, slicing it as cleanly as a branch. The Guardian fizzled and sparked before it burst into flames and exploded, leaving it ruined on the hillside.
Link landed safely just behind the last trailing group of soldiers escorting the people away. The Master Sword glowed red hot and could be seen off in the distance by the others. The humid air around it singed as it kissed the intense heat of the blade. There was no doubt in anyone's mind that it indeed was the sword of legend. Any other blade would have disintegrated. Swiftly, he ran back toward Zelda and the others, who were stopped momentarily on the hill. They had all gathered around the princess. Zelda faced one of the guardsmen leading the group of frightened civilians.
"My father? Where is my father?!" she asked in a frayed panic. She already knew the answer in her heart, but foolishly hoped for another anyway. The man looked to ground in shame as the rain poured overhead.
"Your father...My princess...," the guardsman spoke, struggling to get the words out. Zelda looked to the other two men alongside him, her eyes wide in worried anticipation of what they would say next.
"Your father fell," another guard interrupted, stepped forward. "When that...thing showed up, His Majesty the King courageously mustered up a small group of Royal Soldiers and attempted to fight it back. Valiantly, they tried...but a swarm of Guardians surprised them from behind at the castle...It was all over in an instant. We rushed over to try save him and his men, but he yelled out a last command as the beams shot towards him. His last words were, 'Get my people to safety!'...So we turned back...and hated that we had to do so...I'm so sorry, dear princess. Forgive us...forgive our lack of skill in fighting these...monsters...," the soldier finished, his own eyes beginning to fill with tears.
Her heart was broken again at the revelation, but seeing her people in despair around her, she needed to be strong for them. She was their leader now. There was no time for tears anymore. So she walked over to them, and placed a hand on each of their shoulders.
"It's alright...you did your best and followed orders, and you helped lead these people to safety. Because of you, they are alive...I couldn't ask for better men than you," she said to the beaten and broken-spirited group of soldiers, who stood near to listen intently to her words of comfort. But there was no time to rest. Another wave of Guardians were crawling like spiders from over the walls of the great city. Link made his way up to the men and Zelda.
"Captain Link?!" the guard turned to face him as he approached.
"You men, take the princess, guard her with your life, and get these people out of here now! As fast as you can!" Link commanded the soldiers.
"But what about you, sir? You'll need help!" one the men questioned.
"Go! You'll only be in my way, and get yourselves killed...I need you here to protect the princess and these people," he commanded again. They nodded their heads in affirmation and without hesitation at his order.
"Where are you going?! Why do you have to go?!" Zelda exclaimed rushing over to him. Her heart sank.
"Don't you see?! It has to be me! I am the only one that can do this!" Link shouted, a rare time that he'd ever raised his voice at his princess. "We will never make it if I don't slow down those Guardians that are coming. I'll be back for you, I promise…these people need you to lead them...so go!"
Having said his peace, the knight swung hastily and mounted a borrowed horse that one of the soldiers had. Lighting struck and sparked the ground nearby, a loud flashbang of noise filled the air. The steed reared up on his hind legs, lifting Link, who raised the Master Sword skyward. He glanced back over his shoulders at Zelda one last time, as he rode off out of the proverbial frying pan and into the fire. She caught his eyes, and nodded in agreement as he left. She knew there was no other way. Immediately after Link's departure, three guardsmen huddled over to defend her. She turned to the mass of people that were with her and began to help them flee to safety, as her knight made his way down toward the fray.
As he approached the Guardians' location, Link whispered to himself a silent prayer as he charged toward them on top of the stallion.
"Goddess, if you be real at all...please...now is the time. If I am truly this Hero you want me to be...then hear my plea…give me the power to defeat your enemies...now is the time!" he shouted at the end, as he slowly rose on the back of the horse, the stormy wind slapped at his face. As he knelt holding the reins, readying himself, he galloped through the field at full speed, heading straight to the city walls. But before he could have launched himself toward the crawling Guardians to make his counterattack, a 'skywatcher' Guardian surprised him as it flew high into view just beyond the wall. It had Link in its crosshairs, dead to rights, and fired a devastating blast right at him.
By some miracle, or perhaps poor aim, it the beam narrowly missed hitting him by just a couple of feet. But in the resulting explosion, Link fell from his horse and crashed hard to the ground. His body rolled and skipped along the muddy earth to a dead stop. For the first time ever in his life, he felt real physical pain. His clothes were burned, and he grunted as he worked to reorient himself. Out of fear, his steed had fled, bolting back toward the open plains. It was just an animal, after all. Link was now the last line of defense standing between the army of Guardians to his front, and the fleeing people to his back.
He shakily stood, caked with mud, stabbing the Master Sword into the ground for leverage. In the distance he could see the swarm of mechanical terrors heading straight for him. Behind the swarm, the city was engulfed in flames. He knew, right then and there, that everyone he had ever known and come to care for in his life as he'd grown up had perished. He saw their smiles flash one by one in his mind's eye and fade away into nothing. As if they never existed at all. A burning rage deep within his soul begin to resonate, a deep-seated hatred full of vengeance, the likes of which he thought he never had, awoke inside of him.
Father? Mother? Sven? They're all gone...You did this...You and me...we have been at war since before I was even born. I will never forgive you. For this...I will destroy you...Calamity Ganon! he thought to himself.
The knight's eyes lit up with a fiery glow, a sudden surge of divine power began to course through every fiber of his being, and all his senses were heightened as if from nowhere. There he stood, noticing a Sheikah pillar nearby, the type that released Guardians. It wasn't functioning properly, and was just outside the walls of the city. Feeling his hands pulse, stronger than ever, he reached out with his Master Sword and sprinted toward the tower with lightning speed. The Guardians were still charging after him, but they were still behind the pillar.
With a terrifying display of speed and power, Link slashed the pillar from end to end at its foundation. The almighty blade cut through it like butter. As a quick finish, he leapt into the air and gave a strong kick to it for it to fall. Down it went, crashing into an entire wave of incoming Guardians, obliterating them and leaving an obstacle for the rest of them to follow. The sweet sound of their exploding parts was like music to his ears. He hated the Guardians now, and everything they represented.
That would buy them all some more time, and it would confuse the remainder of them, forcing them to go around long enough for him and the others to make an escape. He hoped as he stood there amazed even by his own display of power. A strength he never knew he had deep within him. What...what is this power? He pondered. But there was no time to wonder off in thought, he needed to get back to Zelda.
His plan seemed to work for the time being, so he sheathed his sword and turned, still full of energy, to run as fast as he could back to Zelda and the others, who had yet to make it far from where they'd been before.
Having reached Zelda and the exodus of people that he'd saved, Link rushed over to where she walked. The mass of people couldn't move quickly, and there were many wounded among them. There were also women, children and the elderly alike they had to care for. The castle was nearly out of view, but Link knew it would only be a matter of time before the Guardians caught up to their position, and so he ordered the bulk of the force to lead from behind.
Zelda herself was occupied helping some of the slower civilians in the front hurry across a bridge that stretched over a large river. She heard her knight's voice break through the crowd, giving orders to the men. She looked back, catching a glimpse of Link returning. Her heart jumped in her throat. She immediately stopped what she was doing and ran towards him. He made his way to her slowly, from behind the mass of marching people. As she met him, she wrapped her arms around him without thinking. She held him tight, not wanting to let go.
"You're alright...you're back...I was so scared when you left! Don't do that again!" she shout as her eyes began to swell again with tears as she looked up to him.
"I promised you I'd make it back...see?" Link smiled at her.
She squeezed tighter at his warm smile, but in doing so caused her knight to wince with pain at the harder embrace.
"You're hurt?" she asked, pulling back and thoroughly evaluating his injuries to see how severe his wounds were.
"I'm alright...just a couple scratches. Don't worry...there is plenty of fight left in me," he replied with a reaffirming smile. "C'mon, let's get these people across the bridge. There is still hope for them if we can make it to the Akkala Citadel."
Only about half of the people crossed. If they were all to make it to the safety of the citadel, they needed to hurry. Suddenly, Link's ear twitched. He heard a loud thunder approaching, but it wasn't the natural noise of crashing clouds. It was something not of this world, a terrible sound only man can make. Just as they were leading people over the bridge, out from over the tree-line from where the mouth of the river flowed, a 'skywatcher' Guardian appeared. At the sight of the people, it went into assault mode and flew straight towards the heart of the refugees.
Link gently pushed Zelda aside, and again sprang into action. He didn't have time to think or tell her what to do, but he knew that if he could lure its gaze toward him, he could draw it away from innocent people or destroy it. Zelda tried to shout to Link ,but she couldn't force out the words. She was breathless, in awe of what was happening.
Soldiers rallied at the sight of Link charging head on, straight towards the rampaging flying Guardian. Zelda had called back some of the people that made their way onto the bridge to return to her side of the river bank. She knew they wouldn't make it across in time. Link lunged off the edge of the bridge, launching himself high up into the air towards the Skywatcher. But he was too late, and the unthinkable happened. The Guardian had already charged up its beam, unleashing a devastating ray of pure energy that decimated the bridge, killing the poor souls that couldn't make it across. An ear-splitting explosion rang out as broken fragments of the stone were catapulted skywards and rained down like meteorites onto the remaining people.
There would be no crossing now, and only about half of the citizens were on the other side. The way was shut. Link, still high in the air, saw his only chance to prevent any further bloodshed and slashed his mighty sword at one of Skywatcher's propellers. As his sword tore through one of the props, the sheer force of his blade caused the mechanical monster to spin erratically and crash into the river's edge, rendering it immobilized and broken.
Link landed just beyond it in the river. As he splashed his head out from the rushing current, he saw that he was successful. He swam back to main body of the people and Zelda, who was trying to keep the gathered citizens from fleeing in a disorganized panic.
People were screaming, afraid that this was to be their end, but then Link made his way to them from beneath the water. At the sight of him calmly walking up to them from the shore, the soldiers on that side of the bank cheered his return. They saw it as a sign that they may still live out the night. The people's fears lessened. Zelda, too, was joyfully relieved he was okay. She was starting to believe, now more than ever. Believe that he, indeed, was the chosen Hero. For no mere mortal could have done the things he had done if it weren't so.
Just as her knight was making his way toward her again, he felt his body to begin to fatigue. But there would be no time to rest. Suddenly, his eyes widened and pupils shrunk at the sight of a rogue energy blast heading straight toward Zelda from a far-off Guardian behind her. Somehow, finding strength hidden deep within him again, he used his unbelievable speed to good use and leapt toward her. He had to save her.
"ZELDA!" Link cried out. Suspended in the air ,he grabbed her just in time, pushing her out of harms way. The beam scorched above his back as he flew through the air carrying her under him. The blast shot past them both and exploded in the river. As they both fell to the hard ground, he oriented her body above him so she wouldn't get hurt from the fall.
Several hours had already passed into the night, and it was starting to get late.
"How long will he be like this?" Zelda asked Impa, who sat in a chair to keep watch over Link alongside her. Zelda was still stretched out over him, hugging him from the side of his bed as he lay there, hoping he would improve or awaken.
"Hard to tell, I'm afraid...but it seems his condition is improving, he isn't breathing so hard now," Impa responded. "It is a good sign, I'd say."
"Is there anything we can do?" Zelda asked again.
"I'm afraid not. He has to overcome this on his own. Pulling him out of it could probably cause more harm than good. His mind is still healing and his memory is still very fragile. If we were to force him out of it, he may end up losing the connection to his memories forever...and that is something we must not allow to happen."
Zelda's stomach twisted at the mere notion of an idea like that.
Without any warning, Link kicked hard in the bed and violently thrashed as he mumbled unintelligible noises. Zelda shot up from where she lay on his chest, surprised by the sudden violent outburst.
"Zelda!" Link cried out, waking in his bed. He was disoriented as he sat up and slid back against the headboard. But as his senses returned to him, he realized he was back in the present, surrounded by the people he cared about the most. Zelda was alright, not under any threat of a Guardian. So his adrenaline began to fade.
"What happened?" Link asked, still coming to grips with what was going on around him. As he looked around the room he saw everyone's face full of worry. But after he spoke, the looks of worry gave way to ones of relief.
"Oh, Link! Are you alright? You gave us quite a scare...," Zelda said, her eyes puffy, her arms prepared to hug him.
"Yeah, I'm alright...Sorry I worried you...but now that you mention it...I'm kind of hungry," responded her knight, and he nervously scratched the back of his head.
"Ohhhh, you! Oooof!" Zelda pushed herself off against his chest, retracting her proffered hug. "You're fine!...Obviously!"
Clearly, his ill-timed jokes had annoyed her.
"I'm sorry, Zelda. I didn't mean to scare you...," he said back as he cracked a slight smile.
"Well, you did! You frightened all of us..." she replied, voice full of worry.
"I'm alright now," the young man reassured her.
The princess gave him a shaky smile. "Well, you'd better be..."
Impa rose from her chair, walking over to Link, still seated in bed. "I'm afraid, though, that from now on you will have to take this medicine before you sleep," Impa said to him handing him a small vile. "It should help with the fever and the night terrors...If I had known earlier you had been experiencing this, I would have given some to you before you left the other day."
Zelda's eyes again gave Link an annoyed glare. "Yeah, no more secrets, okay? But...Impa, when did you get that?"
"My, you were so worried and occupied with Link these last few hours, I bet that if the world was ending you would have not noticed," the old woman answered with a grin. "Paya fetched it for me from the apothecary while you were here. You're lucky, my boy. This is a very rare remedy, indeed...it has been quite scarce since the Calamity. It's the last vile. It should last you at least a month."
"What is it?" Zelda questioned.
"Lunar Tear potion...it requires the use of several rare ingredients. Mainly, sacred petals from the rare and endangered Silent Princess blossom. The other ingredient is fallen from the heavens themselves, the tears of the moon. Hopefully, now that the Calamity has been slain, the moon will heal of its sickness, and return to its proper order."
"An end to the Blood Moons, you mean?"
"Yes. We'll have to wait and see...I suspect now that Ganon's influence is gone, so too will his dark magic fade, and it was that which could summon back his loyal and twisted servants."
Link turned to face Impa as he sat up more firmly in his bed. "I remember! The Royal Scepter...I remember it, now! So, that holds the legendary Moon Pearl?"
"Well, that's what we have been told...," answered Impa. "But if you have seen it with your own eyes, you would know it to be true. No mortal can craft such a fine artifact."
Zelda stood quietly, listening anxiously for what else Link had remembered.
"Yes...I remember I used it to help save Zelda from the clutches off the High Priest," her knight said, deep conviction resonating in his voice.
Zelda paced around the room only to quickly spin around to face the young man at the sound of his words.
"You...remember that?" she asked, her eyes glistening with joy at the thought.
"I could never forget that day...," Link replied to her softly, cutting past the others watching their interaction as easily as if he and Zelda were alone.
"Oh...Link...," she said, her face reddening, and she walked back to sit beside him again.
Impa chose that moment to speak to those gathered in the room. "Well, it is late. You should get some rest for tomorrow, for the continuation of your long journey. We must also find more clues about this mystery assassin and the Moon Pearl, if we are to be one step ahead. The couriers I sent to the three greater houses of Hyrule should have arrived by now..."
"But isn't it five days' ride to the further reaches of the Stonelands of House Draene?" Zelda asked, turning back to face Impa.
"Perhaps, for the average Hylian rider," Impa answered with a cocky grin. "My best men are on it...The Sheikah can make it there in three days, to say the least. They will ride day and night with no rest until they have fulfilled their duty to the crown."
"But the horses...won't they tire?"
"We have our ways and secrets to remedy that along the way, but I'll tell you more tomorrow. For now, it's time for bed. Yes, you both need your rest
Paya had already returned, bringing with her some night tea for Link. She softly placed it on his night stand and smiled as she left. A little something to help his eyes get heavy.
"Also, be sure to pour only a single drop of the vile into your tea Link, it will prevent the night terrors and fever from returning. Because with just two more drops, you'll never wake up, so be careful." Impa said. She then proceeded to exit the room.
"Alright, Link. I'll be waiting for you, when the morning comes," spoke Zelda with a sweet smile. "I'll be in the other room with Paya. I'm really glad you are alright...goodnight."
Then, after making absolutely sure everyone's eyes had left the room, she did the unexpected. She leaned over to Link, and graced his cheek with a long kiss.
Link was caught completely by surprise at the gesture. He felt as if he'd been struck by a bolt of lightning. Instantly he felt his body pulse with an indescribable wave of euphoria. But he was too late to reciprocate, as she'd already pulled away and made her way out of the room. She left with a wink and a smile.
What was that? the knight thought. Was that just a 'friendly' goodnight kiss? But if it were, why did she press so hard and long onto my cheek? Ugh, what does this mean?!
He continued to stew as he laid in bed. He then rose, slurped down the tea and medicine, and slammed his head back, forcing himself to fall asleep.
Somewhere far off, many, many miles away from Kakariko, deep into the territory of the Stonelands, a Sheikah courier lay wounded on the treacherous Dead Forest trail. He begged helplessly for his life before the figure of a cloaked man, even as he desperately tried to crawl away and escape.
"Thanks for the news, my good man! So, her majesty the princess plans on reuniting the kingdom? Just as I thought...And it appears she is right on schedule...," the cloaked figure mocked the downed Sheikah. As he spoke, his deep, cold voice twisted to become high-pitched and raspy when he got excited, like a wild hyena. "I already sent one of my men to fetch me something of great value from her, but he hasn't returned yet...I'll just take this letter of yours that you had for House Draene as a consolation! Tell me, what more do you know of this princess?"
"I'll never tell you... you are just going to have to kill me!" he said, bleeding out on the ground. He was ready to die for his princess.
"Ohhh, this certainly does make it more interesting and fun! Do you like games? I love games! How about we play a game. It's called you tell me everything I want to know or I will kill all of your family, one by one...and I promise it will hurt...Then perhaps, after you tell me, you'll be free to go and I'll spare your miserable family." He said with a devilish smile to the frightened soul on the ground.
"Please...Don't...I don't know anything, I swear!" The Sheikah man cried.
"Amazing how they squeal with just a simple push of motivation."
"I never even met her, you must believe me!"
"I do...unfortunately...But, you still lose the game...," the hooded man replied with a cruel smile.
"...What...what sort of person are you?!" the Sheikah man cried, filled with terror as he attempted to crawl away from the the cloaked man as he approached.
"I thought you'd never ask! However...a magician never reveals his secrets! Not until after the final act! Mwoohoo! Ha ha!" the stranger howled with a cackle that faded into a deep laugh.
The cloaked man also taunted him as he danced small baby steps. He inched nearer, little by little, ever so closely, as if to remind the Sheikah man that there was no escape from him.
"...what's going to happen?"
"Well, I know what is going to happen for me. I have a date with a princess... and I mustn't keep her waiting! As for you...," he muttered as he turned to face the frightened man. He just shook his head.
"But...but you said...you said I'd be freed!" the Sheikah man begged.
"And freed you shall be, my good man! You just failed to specify the time or the place! That's whats wrong with people these days...they never mean to tell the specifics of what they really want!" the stranger exclaimed as he pounced closer to the Sheikah man. "Farewell, my friend...and safe travels to the next dimension!"
The cloaked figure lifted his hand toward the cowering man's face.
"Please! Don't!" the man screamed. Suddenly, a burst of light and dark magic engulfed him, disintegrating him into nothing more than a pile of ash on the ground.
As the ball of light faded, the cloaked man could be heard cackling in the forest, amused more and more at the incinerated body of the begging man.
Authors Note- Sorry for the late post. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Things will start to pick up as soon as all the pieces fall into place. Also, if you haven't already yet, please remember to leave any sort of feedback, it really helps me gauge how my readers are liking the story or not. I greatly appreciate it. So with that being said, I hope you do enjoy the story. It really makes my day to see if you are reading or not. Thank you again!