POST-UPHEAVAL FUTURE
Vistro's Home
"So you are Riju? The one who saved my mother during the Calamity?" Shirana shook Riju's hand enthusiastically.
"I… it wasn't just me. I barely did anything, truthfully." Riju responded just as awkwardly to the same praise she received back then.
It wasn't just the question itself, though. This was essentially the grandmother she'd never met, who her own late mother had known, but she was 4 years younger than Riju herself. It was even stranger than meeting Urbosa.
Shirana herself seemed more like a younger Urbosa than anything, with vague facial aspects from Vistro making her look more slender. Even as far as Gerudo Vai, it was easy to see why she was popular with the local Voe, even though she traveled with a Gerudo Scimitar.
"Really? Mom did say you were a modest one. Though she also said you were smaller…"
"Ah… I see, let me explain." The difference in time passage must not have been mentioned. This would take a while.
Vistro had taken notice of a few things, but decided to put off asking for now…
POST-CALAMITY FUTURE
Hateno Village, Ton Pu Inn
LinkU had initially wanted to head straight to his home, but ZeldaC had noticed signs of sleep deprivation.
"How long has it been since you slept?!"
"Well… about 28 hours, give or take?" That was already outrageous.
"Don't lie, goro!" Yunobo corrected, "The last time you slept was before ZeldaU got sent here!" At this point, that was nearly 2 days.
"It's only around noon…" LinkU protested. He had gone longer than this. He got this way when he had a goal in mind.
It was only after some more forceful persuasion that he agreed to a modest rest at the Inn.
"Are you okay, Yunobo? Perhaps you should rest as well." ZeldaC asked. Yunobo had arrived with LinkU, after all.
"I'm fine for now. I haven't gone as long, and we Gorons typically need less sleep in general. Maybe when he wakes up." Everything he said was true, but he also needed to be sure nothing happened to ZeldaC in the meantime.
"Excuse me, mister?"
Yunobo looked down behind him. There was a 5 year old boy gazing up.
"Oh, hey! Can I help you, goro?"
"She called you Yunobo! Are you the Yunobo, from the Clamaky?" He seemed eager.
"Clamaky…? Oh!" He means the Calamity! "Yeah! You heard of me?"
"Most people have. The warriors that aided from the future are well known." ZeldaC told him.
She didn't want a commotion to be caused here, so she knelt down to the boy. The kid had dark blond hair with fairly long bangs, wearing a green shirt and brown vest, with a small pouch on his waist.
"Sir Yunobo is here on a secret visit, little one. My name is… Terra. I'm accompanying him." It was the name she'd decided beforehand to use should it be necessary. Derived from the Construct she was currently worried about, "Could we ask that you not draw attention?"
"Um… okay… but only if you do me a favor!" He seemed excited, "You know Link, the hero? I want him to come to the village!"
You actually don't need to worry about that… Yunobo thought to himself, "Sure! Deal! I promise!"
"Yay!" He seemed pleased, but then seemed thoughtful, "Actually, follow me! You need to promise someone else, too!"
He grabbed Yunobo's hand, leading him away. Yunobo could have resisted but had trouble refusing when he had little reason to. ZeldaC followed.
Hateno Pasture
Oh youth, guided by the servant of the goddess, unite earth and sky, and bring light to the land.
Oh youth, show the two whirling sails the way to the Light Tower...and before you a path shall open, and a heavenly song you shall hear…
At the south edge of Lake Sumac, a young girl was singing this little-known hymn. Her voice was quite good, especially paired with the lute of the boy next to her, and the soft tambourine of the other girl behind her.
There was another person present as well.
"Those're some good pipes on ya, girlie!" An early-adolescent Rito sitting under a nearby tree commented, "Rito women are known for their singin', and I can tell ya you wouldn't lose out!"
"That's kind of you, Quinn, but flattery isn't a shortcut. You tell that to others, not me." The girl who sang took a moment after that to drink some water.
"I think he was honest, there!" The lutist, a boy named Mikal, voiced his opinion, "He's the only critic we have right now!"
"Mikal has a point." The tambourine player and cousin to Mikal, Luli, added, "We might be good enough already. We just need to get noticed!"
"We were rehearsing without Gil, though." Came the response, "If the same can be said when he gets here… I'll consider it."
"Gil is always late…" Mikal grumbled, "He's just an unfocused kid…"
Age wise, Mikal was only 12, a kid himself. Luli was 10. Their lead singer was their oldest member, at 13. Gil was only…
"Oi!" Speak of the devil, here he was.
"Gil! You're late again!" Mikal was ready to scold him, but the boy ran past him to the singer.
"Sis! You won't believe who I met!" He seemed giddy.
It was then the group noticed a Goron and a hooded female figure standing a ways away by the farmhouse.
"Settle down. What's so important that you brought strangers to rehearsal?"
"Sis! We don't need to go to Castle Town anymore! I met Yunobo, he says he's gonna bring our brother here! No more waiting!"
"Hold on!" Yunobo heard that last part, as the kid was especially loud, and rolled over at top speed, stopping short, "Did you say brother?!"
ZeldaC was also running that way in a hurry.
"Yeah! I'm Gil, little brother of the greatest hero ever in Hyrule!" Gil declared proudly, "This is my big sister, Aryll!"
"Gil! I told you not to brag about that!" The singer, Aryll, exclaimed, "You… are you really Yunobo?"
"Are you really Link's sister?" Yunobo responded.
"I guess… technically." Aryll seemed awkward, "Sorry if Gil bothered you. He really likes heroes and Champions and all those."
"Hold on!" Quinn, the nearby Rito, got up excitedly, causing the three Cuccos napping in his shadow to awaken, "Yunobo?! One of the Descendants? If you guys are back, this is huge! Could I get an interview?! Name's Quinn, soon-to-be ace reporter for the Castle Cover!"
The Castle Cover was essentially the biggest newspaper publication in the Kingdom. In the Post-Upheaval version of the Calamity, it was destroyed alongside many other businesses and organizations. The Lucky Clover Gazette was only recently established and filled that void.
Actually, Yunobo noticed a resemblance between this pelican-looking Rito with goggles and one from the Gazette of his own time…
"Uh… can we hold off on that? I got questions, myself!" Yunobo turned down the impromptu interview, "I only heard Link had a sister! He never said he had a brother, too!"
"He doesn't know." Aryll told him, "Link never met Gil. Probably doesn't know he exists…"
ZeldaC noticed a stern expression on Aryll's face. Does she still hold a grudge?
"Gil. Did you bother Mister Yunobo?"
"Nuh Uh! He promised he'd bring our brother! I just wanted him to promise you, too!"
"I see…" Aryll turned to them, and bowed in a curtsy, "I apologize for Gil. He's a bit misguided."
"You're an awfully polite girl…" ZeldaC noted. The bow she used was usually etiquette for nobility. Common folk usually never bothered learning it.
"I have to be. You must be from the castle, correct? I'm not sure what brought you here, but I appreciate you indulging Gil." She apparently deduced that anyone with one of the future warriors would be from the castle, but not that it was Zelda.
"Think nothing of it… we are greatly indebted to your brother…"
"It makes me happy to hear you say that. Most people only think of him as that princess' tool." There was sudden bitterness in that mention that made ZeldaC especially nervous, "Everyone around here sings praises of the Princess who sealed the Calamity, how she must have suffered, how grateful they are for all she keeps doing… as if Link never did, and like his role is complete! Like nobody needs him anymore!"
"Nobody thinks of him that way!" ZeldaC instinctively protested.
Aryll suddenly straightened up, "Oh! Sorry! I didn't mean to badmouth the Royal family! Please forget what I said!" She seemed desperate all of a sudden.
"It's fine… you seem to care deeply about Link, at least…" Is the grudge against me?
"I'm just… to be honest, I have a lot to answer to him for, myself…"
There's something going on here…"Link is the hero who fought Calamity Ganon and saved all of Hyrule, but he is also an outstanding human being. I understand that… could you tell me more? Perhaps in private?"
"Well…"
"You should do it." Mikal urged her, "She seems like she'll listen, and you need to tell someone besides us."
"Gil should hear it, too. He'll never understand what you're trying to do, otherwise." Luli asserted.
"And I'll listen in, too! This is… Urk!" Quinn suddenly found himself being dragged away by Yunobo who, while usually more oblivious, could read such obvious signs for privacy.
"...Okay." Aryll finally agreed once everyone had left except Yunobo, ZeldaC and Gil. She picked up the one of the Cuccos that had come to her side, "We'll talk in the Barn. Mr. Ingit isn't back yet, so we can still use it."
The three Cuccos followed them. Apparently, they were her pets, grown from eggs laid by an elderly Cucco at her home. The Cucco Link had given her foe her 2nd birthday, Lyna (named because she fought like a Lynel when he caught her). The three here were named Eldi, Nay, and Faro, based on the three Dragons roaming Hyrule.
She told them this as they entered and began her story.
As far back as Aryll could remember, she was protected more by her brother than her father.
It wasn't that she didn't love or appreciate Garn, but his work and training with Link meant his limited time with her was more affectionate than secure.
She spent most of her formative years around her mother and playing with other children in Hateno.
She was fairly popular both because of her bubbly personality and the tales she told of excursions beyond Hateno.
She was little more than 3 but had gone farther out than other children more than twice her age.
Because her super strong, super cool brother who could beat up adults and monsters was with her.
Link was her hero long before he was the hero. He comforted her when she was scared, brought her snacks when she was hungry, and even made sure no big kids bullied her.
Then he left. Off to Hyrule Castle to become a knight.
Her parents told her to take pride in it, that Link was off to do great things, to protect the whole kingdom they lived in.
In her head, she kind of understood. She smiled and told the others the same. This village wasn't big enough to handle Link, he was off to show the whole kingdom what he could do! It was going to be great!
But part of her felt betrayed. To that 4-year-old girl, her security was gone. He had left her behind.
He came back occasionally. He would take her to eat, ask how she was, take her hunting like old times, but he never wanted to be in the house, for some reason.
Aryll didn't know at the time, but he didn't like their house, and avoided their father on purpose. It caused a strain in the relationship between her brother and parents that would later burst.
In the meantime, she was growing into her own. Becoming more independent, at least relatively. Her brother's legacy began feeling more like a shadow. One she couldn't get out of.
Her father kept up with Link's accomplishments through old contacts in the knighthood, and dinner conversations always turned toward him. The brother who wasn't there. Who was out slaying Moblins while Aryll had only just started learning to read.
How could she compare to that? Especially when, at her age, Link was not only learning to read, but to forage and slay Chuchus.
When she was 6, Link had been anointed the personal guard of the princess, and the whole family was invited to the ceremony. It had been almost an entire year since his last visit, so she was excited.
Then she finally got to see the place Link had been living. The town, the castle… all so different than the quaint village of Hateno.
This was where his talents had taken him, a place far beyond the reach of a normal village kid.
No wonder people spoke so highly of him. No wonder he had visited less frequently.
This insecurity led her to be distant during their few meetings, culminating in an outburst at their last encounter. She had misinterpreted Link's rush as an eager dismissal and let forth both a vent and plea for attention.
It triggered the confrontation where Link, her cool, collected, kind brother, finally broke and left forever.
She remembered it well. She could never forget. Her inner guilt wouldn't allow it. She also remembered that night after it happened…
She returned to the hotel with her parents. It was fairly high end, given that the Royal Family had funded their stay. They had already packed up before they had gone to say goodbye and were just picking up their luggage to depart. They had initially intended to eat something while out, but nobody felt like it now.
Aryll still had tears in her eyes. Link had never yelled like that before. Not in her direction. Only at monsters or bullies that were scaring her.
"This was a nice room…" Anri finally spoke up, having been silent the whole time since the confrontation, her hand on her bag "We got to stay here because of Link, but we didn't thank him…"
"Anri…" Her husband put a hand on her shoulder, "I… I'm sorry. This is all my doing…"
"No, it isn't, Garn! It's mine, too!" Anri yelled, just as tearful as Aryll, "I'm his mother! I should have seen it! I should have noticed when he… when he was breaking!"
"He was a talented kid! I'm the one who forgot he was still a kid! The pain came from me! I'm the one who beat the living hell out of him like a damn drill sergeant!" Garn argued, "I treated him like knight, and treating Knights like children makes them go soft! You get tough, put them through hell! Make them adapt! I did that to my son! Like a damn monster! You didn't do any of that!"
As her parents discussed in despairing reflection, Aryll listened. So much she never knew. Never noticed.
Link never told her any of this… but why would he? In all her insecurity and misguided envy, she forgot… he was kind. He would never burden her like that. She took that for granted. "Spoiled brat", the thing her brother called her in the heat of the moment, rang heavily in her mind.
They left the city that night, unsure how to approach Link anymore.
"Father works harder now, but he's out more, too. He never comes home until he's okay, though. He's trying so hard to be more considerate." Aryll noted.
Garn worked security for Hateno after retiring from the Royal Guard around the time he married Anri. He took more shifts after that incident.
Gil was born two years after that night, when Aryll was 8. At the time, they thought it would be a good reason to contact Link and make amends.
But by that time, preparation for the Calamity had begun. Link was accompanying the Princess all over Hyrule for various duties.
For 3 years they waited for the right time, assuring the curious toddler that he'd meet his other sibling someday. Telling stories, descriptions…
Then the Calamity happened, and Hyrule was thrown into chaos. Hateno Village wasn't spared from the unrest and had to be evacuated. They spent most of that time in Hateno Fortress, and it turned out Link had actually been there once, with some others…
An assault by a horde of monsters and corrupted Guardians had just been repelled. The trumpet of a mechanical elephant could be heard marking the triumphant end of the battle outside.
It had been a hard-fought battle, taking place after Akkala Citadel had been secured by the same Divine Beast, at the same time Teba and Revali were finding Tulin in Korok's Forest.
There were many wounded, and they were short handed for treatment, so they took help from the civilians taking shelter in the Fortress.
Aryll had volunteered before she knew Link was among those who fought, and looked for him when she found out he was.
She ran into SidonU, who introduced himselfas the future version of Champion Mipha's younger brother in the crowd.
"Are you one of the volunteers? Your help is greatly appreciated!"
"I'm actually looking for someone. The Hero, Link!" She inquired, to which Sidon looked concerned.
"I understand… but he's resting right now, so do be considerate."
When she saw him, he was asleep, recovering from injuries. She saw Sidon had a few as well, but he had apparently been treated immediately on board the Divine Beast, so not as many.
Speaking of that, Mipha had then pushed her way past them, having just arrived after getting off of Vah Rutah and rushing to heal Link.
"He was more reckless than usual!" She moaned as she started healing him.
"It's understandable, sister. This was his hometown, remember? He probably has attachments here…"
Seeing this changed something in Aryll. What happened next did as well.
Mipha was already healing him, so she did what she could… she sang. Not much, just a lullaby her mother usually sang.
"My! That's a lovely voice you have!" Mipha complimented her. She wasn't looking at her, too focused on Link, but smiled all the same, "Link certainly appreciates it! He's even smiling!"
The war ended soon after. The descendants returned to the future and peace returned. There were awards handed out, Link and the Champions were hailed as heroes.
Aryll did not attend this time. It was a more private affair, but even if she could have, she didn't think she should.
Prince Sidon of her time was a child, but the future version worked hard and became a Zora worthy of standing beside his sister and being acknowledged by her.
To think she shouldn't do the same, as if she could just stroll back in and apologize after everything, would make her no different than the spoiled brat she felt she was back then. To stand before Link, the hero who saved Hyrule, the brother she had wronged… she had to earn it.
"Back then, Lady Mipha told me I had a good voice, and it even brought him comfort. I decided to hone that skill. My friends Mikal and Luli support me in that, as does Gil…" Aryll was stroking one of the Cuccos as she spoke.
"I play ocarina… sorry I've been slacking…" Gil seemed apologetic. Aryll had never told him all this and now he felt guilty for trying to take a short cut.
"What about that Rito, Quinn?" Yunobo couldn't help but ask.
"He showed up at our doorstep about a year ago. He wants to be a great reporter, and thought he could interview the hero's family, or get a line to the hero himself." Aryll explained, "He's not a bad guy, and he understood when we explained how things are… so we made a deal."
The deal was he would help spread the word of Aryll's music troupe using his connections at the Castle Cover. Once they felt ready to go on the road, he would promote them. The goal was for them to one day perform at the castle, or at least in Castle Town, at which point Aryll could approach Link, apologize for the past, have him meet Gil and set things right.
"So I can't have him show up here just yet. Mother and Father might be willing, but I don't think it would be right. Still…" She turned her eyes on them, "Gil shouldn't be held by that account! Could you take him to meet Link? Just a trip to see him, and I'll convince my parents!"
"Aryll! No! I was wrong! I'll practice harder, I promise!"
"It's fine! I can make my own way!" Aryll got up and took a knee in front of ZeldaC, "Can you do this? If not for me or Gil, do it for your knight, Princess Zelda?"
She knew. The Princess she had earlier cursed was in front of her.
"You knew?"
"Not at first, but there were signs. I wasn't actually certain, but I decided to say so and see…"
She is certainly shrewd. Bold as well. With that stubborn sense of duty and selfless honor…she is certainly your sister, Link. Zelda couldn't help but smile at the girl. She took off the hood, revealing her face and hair.
"Ms. Terra, You're the princess?!" Gil, understandably for his age, was shocked.
"I apologize for lying to you, little one… I didn't know you were Link's brother…" ZeldaC assured him, "And I apologize to you too. I seem to have torn your family apart, and you're right. Link deserves far more praise than I." Link would disagree with her more vehemently than anyone, but it was something she always felt, even to this day.
Link was actually the reverse, while their friends treated them equally. It was usually the unknowing citizens who put them on a scale.
"It means a lot to hear you say that. I'm sorry fir what I said. Now that I've met you and talked for a bit… I can see why my brother is so dedicated…" Aryll averted her eyes, "But about Gil…"
"He can come to the capital with you. You do perform well, and I'd say you have earned it…" Not just the music, but the endurance and commitment, "I will assign some instructors for what little you lack, just to assuage any naysayers. I do hope you look forward to the invitation."
"Princess… I'll eagerly await it!" Aryll couldn't refuse. She could tell she wasn't just being patronized or given charity. She had earned this.
As they headed back to the Inn after separating, Yunobo brought up the obvious point.
"Was the invitation really necessary? LinkU's here to see them after all…"
"He won't be, though." ZeldaC asserted, her mind made up, "This is for the Link here to address."
She had been making a similar mistake to what Aryll had in the past. She had forgotten that, for all Link had achieved, he was still human. Capable of flawed, irrational decisions. Needing guidance.
She couldn't deny her feelings, even though she had repressed them. ZeldaU had fully embraced it, and done things she never had the courage to do.
LinkU wasn't just her knight, and she wasn't just his ward. She helped him, talked to him, connected with him. Aryll had decided to earn her place, and ZeldaC decided she needed to do the same.
"Your LinkU has come to terms, as he said before. Besides," She added, "He should probably still seek out traces in his own future. His family probably survived the Calamity, I'm sure of that."
She'd heard about them, and seeing the strength of Aryll and the budding character of Gil made her certain. Even the Calamity wouldn't have killed them. If they hadn't stayed in Hyrule, they'd have survived elsewhere. He just needed to seek out their descendants, or even their old selves, if Impa was any indication…
"I guess you have a point…" Yunobo relented.
When they arrived back at the Inn, however, it turned out LinkU needed very little convincing.
"You have a point, I guess." They hadn't told him what they saw or heard, only what they had decided, "Thanks. I know what I need to do now."
It seemed too easy, but they didn't question it. They departed Hateno to head back to Hyrule Castle. 10 hours remained until the Gate could be used again.
While they had been talking to Aryll at the Pasture, LinkU had actually awoken to wait for them. As he was out in the deck, he noticed an older man drinking milk at a nearby table.
Garn, his father, had chosen that same deck to tiredly air out his grievances to one of his buddies as he often did.
There, LinkU had overheard his remorse, and how the family was doing. The brother he never knew, Aryll's resolve and her music.
Garn talked about all of it. He had pride in what his two children were attempting, his wife supporting them with everything she had.
"That sounds impressive. But don't sell yourself short." LinkU finally mentioned as the two men glanced over. LinkU didn't look back, deciding not to be recognized, "The hero probably had to go through worse than anything your training ever was. He could be grateful you taught him that, at least."
"You don't get it!" Garn half-yelled.
"I actually might. You messed up, yeah, but… I think all fathers do at some point." He remembered Zelda's father, as he had seen as both a regretful spirit in the Post-Upheaval future and a remorseful father here in this one, "Your son probably has a few mistakes he wishes he never made… maybe reach out? You never know…"
He had decided to leave it at that. His regrets were his to live with. This was LinkC's second chance, not his…
Zora's Domain, Throne Room
King Dorephan inspected the crown in his hand.
Not his own, which was firmly on his head, but the one that belonged to the other alleged Zora King before him.
Every domain had a different design for their Royal symbols, crown included. Some slight, some drastic. This one was the exact same, no doubt, as his own
"This is it. The very same!" He put it before Hurin, Ber, and Vugat, his three most vocal ministers about the Sidon issue. There were other skeptics, Muzu included, who also looked at it.
"I can verify by testimony as well, father. I am indeed Sidon, brother of Mipha, son of King Dorephan and Queen Raleen." SidonU was stern rather than smiling. He was honestly close to being offended now that he knew about this issue.
It wasn't even a matter of his own pride. Rather, that his sister's words had been doubted.
He hadn't been aware that Mipha had renounced succession, nor that she had so actively endorsed him. He felt proud of that, and guilty for not appearing in this domain sooner.
"In regards to the issue of water control, you say my younger self made a breakthrough recently, yes? Rescuing my son, no less!" SidonU continued, "I'll have you know I was 20 years older than that when I achieved anything similar!"
This elicited shock from even King Dorephan, but it was the honest truth. Zora had a relatively wide window, so 20 years wasn't as much of a big deal, but it still meant the Zora King before them that stood with Mipha during the Calamity and inspired so many soldiers had actually struggled the same way as their prince.
To SidonU, that breakthrough he had was worthy of inscription on one of the Zora Monuments, even though it was a simple affair of catching a Spear he dropped while climbing.
Still, he could somewhat understand their fears now that he thought about it. His future was a different one.
"If it helps, I have an offer." He stated, "My time here may be limited, but I could teach your Prince myself. I know better than anyone what he needs to learn right now, after all."
This was met with wide approval. Before he could go tell his younger self, King Dorephan had him stay for a private chat.
"Mipha told me in her letter what your future was like…" He said solemnly, "I can understand why you didn't come here at first…"
"I apologize for that, it seems I caused you some trouble."
"No need. It is thanks to you Mipha stands with us today. I can only imagine the heartbreaking pain your father had to endure…"
"I can only recently picture it myself…" SidonU nodded sympathetically, "Though he endured, like a true leader. LinkU was able to settle the score and MiphaU was able to finish her duty and move on in peace. Do not fret over my future. We have regrets, but we are happy all the same."
"I hope so. Tidon, was it? He certainly was a strong young lad!" Dorephan smiled again at last.
"Indeed! Having Mipha be able to meet him was truly a blessing! I also wish to let you know she is fine, though currently unable to return…"
"We have received word on that…"
"Good! My wife intends to have her stay at our domain, and I hope she…"
"Your wife, Tidon's mother, yes? I do hope Mipha doesn't cause trouble on that front when she returns…" Dorephan sighed with a wry smile.
"Whatever do you mean?"
"You were quite young when she passed, so you probably haven't realized some of her flaws… but Mipha has them, just as you and I do. One of which is that she can't quite grasp fate." Dorephan continued, "She cherishes people. Family especially. She gave up her own romantic pursuit so her beloved could be happy…"
"Oh?" SidonU hadn't noticed, but indeed, she hadn't pursued LinkC, despite surviving the Calamity.
"She could see that part of fate, but the concept itself seems to elude her still. With the future altered, she may fear that this one may not have Tidon in it, and she's grown quite attached, as have I."
"Ah!" It finally clicked what his father meant. SidonU couldn't picture it, but perhaps he was, as Dorephan said, biased in that regard. Although… "I don't think we need to worry in that regard, father. Once she is aware of such an issue, there is no one more suited to set our family straight than my wife! I can personally assure you!"
'
"Oh..." King Dorephan let out a hearty laugh, "You know, I remember once saying the exact same thing about your mother!"
POST-UPHEAVAL FUTURE
Death Mountain, Goro Cove
The trip here had been uneventful for Daruk… at least in a relative sense.
There had been various changes to observe. Any talk was limited to how different landscape changes and features occured. They helped put down a few monster dens, split off from the others at Trillby Plains, etc.
Compared to the airship that brought them to Lookout Landing, the transport had been relatively mundane. Three horses-drawn carriages, each with additional passengers heading to Kakariko Village, Zora's Domain and Death Mountain.
Kakariko was apparently a good tourist spot now, while Goron City and Zora's Domain were getting an influx of immigrants, as were other locations.
This often meant that taking care of monsters had to be done discreetly, sending them out as "Advance Scouts", whittling down any big challenges, then reporting back so the Monster Control team accompanying them could handle the rest, none the wiser.
All this secret maneuvering was being directed by ImpaU and Queen Yona.
Honestly, the monster work wasn't as hard as keeping Darvil from blurting out anything confidential. Luckily, Daruk had parental experience.
Now they were at Goro Cove, where he was told his son Rupon lived in this time.
"I'll show you the way to Grampa's, Mister Daruk! Only our blumline can do it!" Darvil was excited.
Going to a nearby cliff, He slammed the wall while covered in Daruk's Protection. Suddenly, a symbol appeared on the otherwise unremarkable cliff wall. Offrak touched it to open a "Door" to a hidden cave.
"I'll go on ahead! I need to explain things to Master Rupon, you take your time, Great Daruk!" Slergo informed him before rolling into the cave.
"Okay…" He turned to Offrak as they strolled in at a more leisurely pace, "We haven't been to the city yet, but I noticed a bunch of stuff saying 'YunoboCo'. Is that what Yunobo's president of?"
"Oh yes! President Yunobo is not only the Sage of Fire, but the head of YunoboCo, the biggest mining and material distribution company in all of Hyrule! Goron City thrives under his leadership!" Offrak couldn't help but gush. His admiration for Yunobo had always been genuine, even since before he became a Sage.
"Heh! Wow! Warrior and entrepen-neer? I hate to say it, but I could never do that!" Daruk laughed, then paused, "What's his issue with Rupon? Even I can tell something's up there, but nobody tells me."
"It's hard to describe, really. President Yunobo grew up in Goron City being watched by Bludo, but he always got to visit Master Rupon. I hear he never looked thrilled to do it, not after a while anyway." Offrak seemed to not fully know the details, "But things were actually getting better! It wasn't until the Marbled Rock Roast incident that it got this bad… Oh! We're here! I bet Master Rupon can explain it better!"
An entrance to a Goron-Style home was before them. It was a home within the cave, with a yard, a hot spring out front, and various other Goron luxuries. The house itself was fairly upscale, too.
"I'll be… it really is you, Dad…" An old Goron with a cane was near the door. His facial hair was similar to Daruk's, though his face was far older, and wrinkled like the elder he was. He was hunched over on a cane in his left hand… while his left arm ended at the elbow, as his right leg ended at the knee. The leg had a kind of stone "Peg" replacement, while the arm had a more recently-attached replacement clearly of Zonai tech origin. Something Yunobo had funded development for, though it still appeared crude.
"Rupon? What happened?!" Daruk exclaimed.
"I aged is all! Oh, you mean these? Carelessness on my end. Lucky to be alive, but you should see the other guy! Except ya can't, I did him in! Har har har!" Rupon was acting like a true son of Daruk, even laughing off grievous war injuries.
This apparently wasn't an act or a front for his long-unseen father, either, judging from Darvil's reaction.
Nice to see him in good spirits… but I need to know what's going on with Yunobo… Daruk resolved himself.
TO BE CONTINUED