Link was stunned for a brief moment, unable to say anything. He knew he had heard the elderly woman right, but her words were puzzling. It was good to see him again…she had been alive a century ago? Even if she had been a small child, she'd be so old it was hard to believe she'd still be kicking. Granted, he knew little of the Sheikah, maybe one of them living for over a hundred years wasn't too unusual for them.
Still, the young man wracked his brain, trying to conjure up some sort of memory involving the woman, or of anyone named Impa. As usual, though, when he actively tried to remember something, nothing came forth. It seemed he was still cursed with only having muscle memory or instantly recalling memories that were impersonal to him.
As frustrated as he was, he also felt a tad bit awkward…he had to confess to this woman he had no idea who she was…
Impa broke the silence as she continued on. "I'm quite a bit older now, but surely you recognize me, eh? I probably don't look much different." She lightly joked, seeming to really be prodding for Link to remember her.
Despite it not being his fault, Link felt a bit guilty. He couldn't recall a thing about anyone named Impa from his old life. Or any one particular person for that matter. Bracing himself, he shook his head. "Sorry, but I don't. I don't remember anything from a hundred years ago."
The smile quickly disappeared from the elderly woman's face. "Oh…I see…" She murmured, sounding both confused and a bit hurt. "I thought your eyes lacked familiarity towards me, but I didn't want to believe it. Total amnesia…it's quite a sad thing to hear, but it may be a blessing in disguise."
"I don't see it as one." Link instantly responded, not even thinking. It came across more curt than he meant, but he couldn't help but feel mad. Who was she, or anyone else, to tell him it was better he knew next to nothing about himself? "What would be so good about it?"
If Impa took offense, she didn't show it. If anything, she seemed understanding of his frustration. "I didn't mean to imply the amnesia is truly a good thing. It's just…if all your memories came to you at once when you awoke, it may have done more harm than good. Dearest Link…please, approach, and I'll tell you about what occurred a hundred years ago."
Link walked closer, feeling a bit bad about his harsh tongue, but he was growing increasingly frustrated with his memory situation. "It may sound strange, but I spoke to the King of Hyrule's spirit." No telling if she'd believe such a thing. "I know I was a knight, and that I'm partially responsible for the kingdom falling to ruin."
Impa frowned heavily at the words. "I wouldn't say that. It isn't fair to blame yourself, Link." She lightly admonished, not seeming too surprised about Link's confession of speaking to a ghost. "It's good to know you've at least learned a little bit about yourself, though. Then I'm sure you know why you awoke in the chamber you found yourself in?" As Link gave a nod, Impa hummed in approval. "Good. As it happens, Princess Zelda left me a message to give to you when you awoke. I must warn you, hearing this message will put you on a path to great danger. Are you sure you're ready, even without all your memories?"
"I'm ready. I know I have to stop Calamity Ganon." Link said, noticing Impa's mouth twitch, as if merely hearing the name of the abomination caused her distress. Thinking of it, she had to watch the kingdom fall to ruin and see it still not fully back to its old self after a century. That had to be horrible on the poor woman…
At that, Impa let loose a small chuckle. "I had a feeling you'd instantly accept. Memories or not, you're the Link I remember." She said with a small, almost wistful sigh. "You see, Calamity Ganon is far more ancient than you may imagine. Its very essence is tied with this kingdom, having tried to either rule it or destroy it countless times over countless years. Yet, it is always thwarted by a swordsman with the soul of the hero, and a Princess with the blood of the Goddess."
A Goddess? Now that was familiar. "The Goddess Hylia, you mean? Do you mean that Zelda is somehow related to her?" Link figured that explained where all the power within the Princess came from. Divine powers explained her keeping Calamity Ganon at bay for an entire century.
"Exactly right. You know more than I expected." Impa responded with a faint smile. "She is the reincarnation of the ancient deity, each Princess of the past with these abilities also sharing the name of Zelda. Now, this is important. Sometimes great stretches of time pass between Calamity Ganon's revivals; before this most recent one, it had not been seen for 10,000 years."
"Hyrule is that old?!" Link couldn't help but exclaim, feeling a bit bad he kept interrupting the story, but even with his amnesia he realized how baffling such a claim was. "It's really lasted that long?"
If Impa was annoyed at the interruptions, she didn't express it, showing great patience to her old friend. "Oh, much older than that. To be quite honest, no one knows just how old Hyrule is anymore. As for 10,000 years ago, Hyrule was very technologically advanced, to the point that monsters posed little threat to anyone, and the citizens wanted to keep it that way. And so, they constructed four massive weapons, the Divine Beasts, to aid in this. On top of that, they built an army of automatons called Guardians, which I'm sure you've seen to some extent. As for the Divine Beasts, they were too advanced to be left on their own and needed Champions to pilot them and keep Hyrule safe."
"And they managed to stop Calamity Ganon before, right?" Link asked, starting to see where this was going. "The King of Hyrule told me a hundred years ago, the machinery was corrupted. He also told me that I was a Champion along with four others, were we the same kind?"
"Exactly, yes. Well, you were the Hero in this situation, with the four other Champions chosen to pilot the Divine Beasts. However, it seems Calamity Ganon truly learned from its defeat and waited almost 10,000 years to strike back." Impa mused solemnly before going on with her story. "It wasn't just these machines that defeated Calamity Ganon so very long ago, however. As I mentioned, the Princess and the Hero aided them. With the sword that sealed the darkness from the Hero, the beast was weakened. Then with her divine power, the Princess sealed the beast away. Since this worked so well, it was only natural we tried the same plan a century ago, it's just a shame we underestimated Calamity Ganon's power…"
Link was still reeling a bit from the fact that this was a tale that went back over 10,000 years ago. Just how ancient was this beast? Why was it so obsessed with destroying Hyrule? Since Impa outright said no one knew how old the kingdom itself was, he doubted she'd know the origins of Calamity Ganon. One thing still bothered him, though. "Is this entire story what Princess Zelda wanted to tell me? Just these events from so long ago?" He was hoping she had a more personal message for him, something that'd tell him more of who he used to be.
"That was merely to catch you up on some things." The elderly woman clarified. "I can tell what you want, unfortunately the Princess' message wasn't personal or verbose. 'Free the Divine Beasts!' is what she wanted you to know. Like the Guardians, the Divine Beasts are still fully under Calamity Ganon's control. Divine Beast Vah Ruta, controlled by Mipha of the Zora. Divine Beast Vah Rudania, controlled by Daruk of the Gorons. Divine Beast Vah Medoh, controlled by Revali of the Rito. Divine Beast Vah Naboris, controlled by Urbosa of the Gerudo. All four are causing trouble in their four corners of Hyrule, and you must get them back under control!"
He was certainly disappointed that was the entirety of the message, and he mentally kicked himself for being so stupid. This was more important than him or his memories, as desperate as he was to get them back. Hearing all those names didn't trigger anything concrete in his mind. Link vaguely saw an outline or two in his mind's eye, but he forgot them as quickly as he perceived them. "How exactly do I do that? If these were meant to stop Calamity Ganon, what can I do alone?"
"Don't be mistaken, you aren't to face them in combat, oh no. You would be destroyed in an instant." The old Sheikah clarified. "Rather, you must infiltrate and cleanse them. You can find out more by going to where they're roaming and speaking to the four races associated with each Divine Beast. Please, let me see your Sheikah Slate, Link."
The young man did as asked, Impa handling it with far more grace and knowledge than he did, which certainly made sense. She murmured a bit under her breath before giving the slate back. Link saw she placed four markers on the map, all of them in places where he hadn't activated the Sheikah Tower of that area. "Thank you, these are where the Divine Beasts are, then." It was hard to tell just how far they truly were with just the map, but he figured the farthest one would take weeks to get to from where he was…
"Exactly, yes. Though I can't help but notice your slate is incomplete." Impa pointed out. "Perhaps it was damaged before you were taken away to recover. One reason Zelda left it to you was to help with your memories. I believe if you go to Hateno Village's research lab, you can get some assistance."
That perked Link's interest in an instant. He wondered what the Sheikah Slate could have on it that'd help him with his memories. Granted, he had seen the device do all sorts of unusual things from spawning bombs to freezing monsters and objects in time. If there was some way for it to give him his memories back, he wouldn't be too surprised. "You're sure it's okay for me to make that detour? What about the Divine Beasts?" Princess Zelda could only hold Calamity Ganon off for so long…
"Truly a selfless one. Hateno Village isn't too terribly far from here. I'd say if you move fast, you could get there in about four days from here. Along with that, I truly believe you will have a renewed strength if your mind stops being weighed down by the mysteries of your past. Let me see your slate again." The Sheikah requested, dotting another portion of the map after Link handed it to her, southeast from Kakariko Village. "You should go to the research lab there…and…you know, this is where you were born. I feel you should know that Link."
The sudden revelation hit him like a slap in the face, she dropped it so casually! Yet even as he thought of the village's name…no images swam to the surface of his mind. Surely if he went there, though, something could rattle loose in his mind. "Thank you, Impa. If it's really okay, I'll go there first."
Impa gave Link a warm smile as she gave the slate back. "It truly is. The research lab is run by my older sister, Purah. I believe she's still kicking, and if she is, she can help you with the slate. Thankfully, Hateno Village is quite far from Hyrule Castle and the Divine Beasts and has escaped the calamity mostly unscathed."
Older sister, huh? The Sheikah really were something else with these long lifespans! If this sister of Impa's was still 'kicking' as she said. "That will be my first stop, then. Impa…what else can you tell me about myself, though? I appreciate the help you've given me, but I want to know more."
The elderly woman hummed in thought, closing her eyes for a moment as she pondered. "Do you really want that?" She asked, opening her old, tired eyes again. "A secondhand account of who you are and what your life was like? Granted, I can't guarantee the slate will give you everything you want to know, but it may be best to wait. Your memories may even return on their own, Link."
That wasn't something he had really considered. It wasn't like the King of Hyrule or Impa knew every last detail about his life…and even what he was told, he couldn't remember. Despite knowing he was a knight working alongside four Champions and Princess Zelda, he couldn't envision anything about that, not even anyone's faces or voices. Still…there was one thing he just had to know. "I understand. For most things, maybe it is best I find them out myself…but can you at least tell me about my family? Even if I don't remember them, I'd like to know about them."
Impa didn't seem surprised, if anything she almost looked at Link with a hint of pity. "If you really want me to, I can." She paused, waiting for Link to maybe change his mind, but he remained silent. "As I said, you were born in Hateno Village. Your mother passed when you were quite young, after your younger sister was born, she was a real sweet thing, not a mean bone in her body. As for your father, he was a marvelous knight, the best of his generation to be sure, and you followed in his footsteps. I…hate to tell you this, but during the calamity…" Impa trailed off, unable to continue.
Link tried, he truly did, to remember the faces of his father and little sister. Even their names or voices, but…! No matter what, he couldn't conjure anything of use. What he truly hated, though, was how little he felt about it. While he couldn't remember his family, he figured he should at least be angry or sad to hear of their deaths…yet he felt nothing. There was no impact, no sudden pain to his heart, no righteous anger that made him want to tear Calamity Ganon apart. It wasn't indifference exactly, but it was like hearing about the deaths of strangers, unfortunate to learn about, but it didn't hit him in any personal way…
Letting out a sigh through his nose, Link gave a small nod. "Thank you, Impa. I still can't remember them, but I'm glad I got to know a bit about who they were." He had to wonder just what it'd take to trigger an actual memory or a flashback of sorts. Was the answer to his problem really in the Sheikah Slate? "I should go now; it will be a long trek after all."
"Um, Master Link?" A timid voice rang out, causing the Hylian to flinch and turn around. Without being heard, Paya entered the room, letting out squeak as Link turned to face her. The poor girl's face was red as a tomato, and her expression made it seem like she wanted to sink through the floor. "S-Sorry! Um…I was just thinking you should get some provisions first…and maybe…use the shrine? The Sheikah Slate should help with that…"
"Ah, yes! I almost forgot about that…" Impa mused as she nodded in agreement. "Yes, there's a shrine right by the village. Of course, without the slate, even we Sheikah cannot enter it. The story goes that it was there to help the incarnations of the Hero with some fighting practice. I'm sure a hundred years asleep made you a bit rusty, so some combat may help. It's a bit to the north, by the cemetery."
Well, he already had some practice, but some more couldn't hurt. If he was truly going to travel about Hyrule and face off against the Divine Beasts, he had to be at the top of his game. "I'll do that, then. Is there anything else I should do before I go?" It really seemed Impa was piling on a lot of extra things to do before he went off for the Divine Beasts…
"Mmm…There are tales of a Great Fairy's Fountain in the nearby woods. Some say only those with a powerful spirit can speak to her. If anyone could do it, it's you. Chances are, she'll grant you a boon to aid you!" Impa suggested, then laughed a bit as she seemed to read Link's mind. "Yes, quite a lot, isn't it? While you're going into the shrine and searching for the fountain, some of the people here will gather some items for you to help on your quest."
"Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to stall you…j-just wanted to help, that's all…" Paya remarked, placing her hands on her cheeks like she was trying to hold it together.
"It's not an issue. I'm already going to Hateno Village, so a few extra errands aren't too big of a deal." If they were going to help him on his journey, he didn't mind too much, though he was feeling a bit antsy! "Thank you, the both of you, for everything you've done for me. I'll do everything I can to save this kingdom, you have my word on that." The task was daunting, yes, but he already figured it would be. Calamity Ganon's visage alone was enough to make Link feel nervous, so what would it be like to fight such a thing?
Impa smiled with a light laugh. "As dedicated as ever. You really are the Link I remember. Ah…if I were only eighty years younger!" She let out a louder laugh at that, waving her hand in a dismissive way at her joke.
Link really had no idea how to respond to that. The two of them hadn't…? No. Surely not. Not that he had the nerve to ask. "Yes. Well, I'll be going, then." He really had no idea what to say to such a joke, and he felt pretty awkward…
"Ah, wait, there is one last thing." Impa spoke up, getting more serious. "Paya, go and fetch the garment for me." The elder ordered, sending the blushing young woman scurrying somewhere upstairs.
It took all his patience not to snap at Impa. These false starts were getting on his nerves. "What garment? I'm guessing it's something that will help me on my journey." It better had been…
"That's it exactly. You, along with the other Champions, were gifted special blue garments. No ordinary pieces of clothing, mind you. They had special enchantments to help ward off damage. Granted, they didn't make any of you invincible, but the areas these clothes covered was nearly impervious to damage. It's been here all this time, being repaired and kept safe for when you returned." Impa explained, finishing just as Paya came back downstairs.
The young Sheikah woman held a tunic in her hands, a brilliant blue in color, and neatly folded up. Paya was carrying it as if it were some sort of ancient relic and that dropping it would make it shatter into a thousand pieces. "I-I hope you find it satisfactory, Master Link. The Sheikah have kept it safe and in good condition all this time."
Link took the tunic and unfolded it, looking it over carefully. It was a short-sleeved garment without many eye-catching characteristics save for a sword-like design at the neck. Despite his hopes, seeing and holding the tunic offered no memories for the Hylian. "Thank you, I'm sure this will be of great use to me." He said, shedding his usual gear onto the floor. Without really thinking, he simply shed his shirt and tossed it on the floor as he got changed.
"M-Mas-Oh!" Paya screamed, stumbling over her words as she covered her entire face with her hands. She let out a sort of flustered whine that got muffled, even turning entirely around so as not to risk getting a peek at the changing Hylian.
This just made Impa laugh as Link got into the tunic and placed his old top in his bag. The warm doublet had been useful so far, and who knew what sort of environments he'd face. Best to keep it! "Is Paya alright?" He asked as he got his gear back on.
Impa chuckled for a moment longer before collecting herself. "Oh, yes, she'll be fine. She's not used to such sights, so you caught her off guard, I'm afraid."
"Grandmother, please!" Paya yelled, her hands still covering her face entirely. "You're embarrassing me!"
Link figured she was embarrassing herself more than Impa was. To be honest, he felt a bit embarrassed too, not really thinking about the situation until Paya reacted. Of course, he was far more composed than she was. On the other hand, there was that small bit of manly pride that simply taking off his shirt managed to cause such a reaction. "Sorry, Paya. I wasn't thinking ahead when I did that. I'm all covered now."
As if terrified of what she'd see, Paya slowly turned back around at a snail's pace, uncovering one of her eyes before taking her hands away with a look of relief. "It's, um, quite alright, Master Link. I-I have to say, the tunic looks good on you. It was made explicitly for you, so…"
Thinking of it, Paya was right. The tunic fit Link perfectly, no doubt his precise measurements being used in its creation. Maybe it was his imagination, but he felt lighter, more limber, with the tunic on. It was unfortunate that even putting it on provided nothing in terms of memories. At this point, until the slate was fixed, he was just going to assume nothing he did was going to trigger any significant awakening of his past.
"Thank you. If that's really the last thing, I'll go to the shrine." Link remarked, only half-kidding in the first half. He couldn't help but be anxious to check these next few tasks off his list…
Impa wasn't offended, even smiling a bit at Link's words. "Yes, I've held you up enough. It's a true shame you don't remember me, I'd love to talk about our past experiences together one day, when you get all your memories back."
There was no familiarity towards Impa, but he found he did like her. At no point did he expect to find anyone that actually knew him personally, at least no one still alive. For the moment it was just Impa and Princess Zelda, but maybe there were others out there. He couldn't recall what the four races Impa mentioned were like, but maybe some of them had long lifespans as well! That being said, he didn't want to get his hopes up.
With a last exchange of thanks, Link left the abode and stepped back outside. Right away he noticed numerous Sheikah across the village turning to look at him as he stepped outside of Impa's quarters. It must have been a big deal to see her, probably rare for any outsiders to do so. Still, no one actually approached him, even as he descended the steps and went northward.
The village wasn't too big, so it took only a few minutes for him to reach its edge where he saw several things. First was the cemetery, dozens of wooden markers written in the same language displayed on the Sheikah Slate. A morbid part of him wondered how many of those graves were from the last century. The second thing he saw stood out far more, that being a shrine akin to the four on the Great Plateau! He wondered if there was a monk in this one as well. Even if there was one, he doubted he'd get anything substantial from the shrine like he did before…
Finally, Link saw that the cemetery and shrine were situated near a cliff that overlooked a large swath of Hyrule. Down below were marshlands and some roads, the Hylian able to see something scuttling down below that moved in a rather unusual way. It was too far to see properly, though. What caught his eye more, however, was Hyrule Castle far off in the distance. Just laying eyes on it sent a nasty shiver up the young man's spine, and he felt like something was going to reach out from the structure and grab him from so far away!
Tearing his eyes from the cursed structure, Link went over to the shrine, noting how a path next to it went upwards and into a forest. Like with the shrines before, there was a pedestal that he used the Sheikah Slate on, opening the structure. Stepping inside, he was taken downwards as usual. As he arrived inside the shrine itself, he noticed it was a bit different than the others one he had been through. There was only one major room in the shrine, a large square room with little else but a sealed doorway leading forward. No robotic obstacles or anything of the sort. As he entered the room itself, he did see there weas a weapon's rack next to the door with two objects that puzzled the young man.
One object almost looked like a shield, it even had a handle on the back, but it was extremely small, barely able to protect his head and not even large enough for his torso. Next to it seemed almost like a sword hilt, but no actual blade attached to it. Was he supposed to fight with these? How the heck was he meant to beat anyone without a proper weapon?
To you who sets foot in this shrine...I am Ta'loh Naeg. In the name of the Goddess Hylia, I offer this trial.
So, there was a monk! Link looked around as if he might actually spot the ancient being, but naturally he wasn't actually present. "Yes, I was told I'd train in combat here. Am I supposed to use the objects on this rack? They don't seem like they'd help me at all."
They are more than what they appear. You must use them for this trial, or else you may not leave or go forward.
At those words, the elevator's light went off, truly trapping Link in the shrine. Seemed a bit extreme to him, but he couldn't do anything about it. "Pretty strange to threaten me with that, but fine. What am I supposed to fight, exactly? There's nothing here."
Once you pick up your sword and shield, your trial will appear before you. This Guardian Scout will be different from any you've seen.
Link still felt this was strange, but he decided to trust the monk anyway. Not like he had a choice. As for a Guardian Scout, he could only assume they were the smaller Guardians he had faced in the other shrines. Keeping this in mind, he picked up the two objects, which quickly changed in his hands. The round device sprang shining blue objects around its circumference. Link wasn't sure what they were made of, it was as though they were made out of a sort of solid light. Either way, the object was a proper shield now, covering just as much as any usual one. As for the other device, it ejected a blade of blue light from one side, making it clear it was a sort of sword. Notably, Link didn't purposefully activate these devices, they seemed to just know they were needed and changed for him.
As soon as the sword and shield were ready, a segment of the floor started to rumble and sink down further into the earth. After a moment, it rose back again, this some with one of so-called Guardian Scouts standing in the center. This one was indeed a bit different than the usual ones he had encountered as Ta'loh Naeg mentioned. There was an almost crown-like design on the top of its domed head, and it was larger than the other Guardian Scouts, but not as large as the regular Guardians up on the surface.
The Guardian Scout showed it was even more unique as the dome head rose upwards, a cylindrical inner body attaching it to its base. Three devices came out from this inner core, quickly showing themselves to be more of the unusual technology that Link had. One was a sword, notably larger than the one Link himself was wielding, a shield that was also larger than Link's, and a savage looking spear, all made of that unusual blue substance. After this, the dome head swiveled, its single eye focusing on Link as energy gathered around it.
Link moved quickly, running to the side as the laser attack was unleashed, missing him and causing a sizable explosion as it hit the wall. Not as large as the fully sized Guardians, but getting directly hit by one, maybe two if he was lucky, of them would most certainly kill him. He kept running in a circle, slowly making his way closer to the Guardian Scout in a spiral pattern. The robotic foe kept its eye trained on Link and stayed standing in place, it also seemed to know that charging up a laser was pointless as long as he kept moving.
Once the Hylian got close enough, the inner cylinder of the machine spun rapidly so the spear was facing him. In a movement that was shockingly quick, it thrust the weapon forward, Link only having time to block it as it went for his heart. The blow was stronger than he expected, knocking his shield away, but also having him stumble out of the weapon's range.
Not giving Link a chance to recover, the machine spun its core around, so its sword was in use, before closing the gap as it swung the weapon at Link. He managed to get his footing just in time to leap back from the attack and counterattacked! The young warrior hopped to the Guardian Scout's side and slashed at its head with his sword! While the hit connected, it didn't do enough damage to actually defeat it.
Reacting just as fast as Link when attacked, the Guardian Scout spun its core around and thrust its spear at him again, aiming for his head this time! He jerked his head to the side, dodging the brunt of the damage, but just enough of the spear hit his cheek to give it a nasty cut that quickly started to seep blood down his face.
As the spear extended back, Link tried something out. He swung his sword at the device connecting the weapon to the cylinder to sever it from the Guardian Scout. While he was able to hit the metal bar, it seemed to only bend a bit, not even enough to throw off the spear attacks. Whatever this thing was made of, it was durable!
The robotic foe scuttled away, charging an eye laser as it did so. Apparently trying to disarm the Guardian Scout really annoyed it! It moved quickly, and Link was nervous about trying to close the gap. If it fired that laser at him from up close, he'd never be able to dodge it! Instead, he ran off to the side like before as the laser built up. After a moment, the Guardian Scout fired, but it was different from before.
It wasn't aiming for Link himself, no. Instead, it aimed at the floor just behind him! The laser beam exploded, knocking the Hylian clear off the floor and a few feet into the air. While not hit directly, the force from the explosion rattled Link's entire body and made his head spin and ears ring, a general pain shooting from his toes all the way to his head. Unable to orient himself in midair, he landed harshly, the knock somewhat knocked out of him as he tried to get his bearings.
Naturally, the Guardian Scout wasn't going to let Link off that easily. It charged up another beam now that its opponent was so vulnerable. Link was still dazed from the explosion and wasn't even able to fully stand yet! All he was able to do was get on one knee, raising his shield as the attack finished preparing. The laser shot out, right at Link, and he blocked it with the unusual shield! To his shock, he laser bounced right off the shield, going off to the nearby wall! The impact still left a jolt, and Link felt a surge of pain go through his arm, and noticed the blue parts of the shield cracked a make. Using the shield against a laser once or twice was fine, but any more than that and the shield would clearly break!
Link felt his adrenaline pump as things went his way, able to stand up and charge at the Guardian Scout as it readied its shield. The Hylian tried to bypass it, aiming a stab at the robotic entity's lone eye. However, the enemy was shockingly fast, able to raise its shield and block the blow with relative ease. It then slammed the shield into Link's chest, causing him to stagger backwards a few steps.
The Guardian Scout took this opportunity to go on the attack as it swung at Link's torso with its sword coming from the left. Link only had the time to block with his own sword, astounded by the strength of the robot as he struggled against its attack! It managed to break through, Link pushing himself enough that the cut along his chest wasn't too deep and tearing through the tunic he just got!
He couldn't explain it, but he found himself engulfed in a rage as he glanced down at his damaged clothing. With a cry, he rushed the Guardian Scout, swinging his sword wildly as the automaton could only protect itself from his onslaught of attacks! It tried to block it with its shield, but it just got knocked away. It then tried to parry with its sword, but the blue, solid light of its weapon cracked as it was knocked to the side.
Finally, it tried to stab Link with its spear, and he just managed to dodge out of the way. As the adrenaline pumped through him, it was almost like time itself slowed down all around him. Faster than he had moved since first awakening, he unleashed a flurry rush upon the Guardian Scout, slashing at its outer shell, its inner cylinder, and its weapons! The metal piece connecting the spear to the main body was severed entirely with the sword and shield cracked to the point they could barely be used.
As Link slowed down, the Guardian Scout took this time to run away. It scuttled away from Link as it charged up its laser, keeping its eye locked dead onto him. This time, however, he didn't move from his spot, glaring icy daggers at the machine. A muscle memory awoke in him, and he preemptively prepared his shield, not taking his eyes off the Guardian Scout as it stopped in place as well, firing its laser right at his chest!
Without missing a beat, Link slammed the shield into the incoming laser in a parry that he felt he performed a hundred times in the distant past. The timing was perfect, and the laser shot right back at the Guardian Scout! It didn't have the chance to even try to move out of the way before its own attack struck it dead in its eye, causing a large explosion! Link stayed still, glaring at the smoke and dust that formed a cloud around the machine.
When it cleared, he saw the Guardian Scout's entire top half was entirely gone.
Feeling his adrenaline slowing down, Link let out a breath he didn't even realize he was holding in. Along with that, a rush of pain coursed through his body. All the fighting he did after everything was rocked by the explosion was assuredly not good for him. The cut on his face made him wince and was still dribbling out a bit of blood. What made him feel worse than anything was the cut on his tunic, though. He couldn't explain why, but seeing it like that just made him angry and morose.
As Link pondered this, a doorway opposite the elevator opened up. Oh, right, the monk, he had nearly forgotten about him! Still feeling disgruntled, he entered the next room. It was small, only containing Ta'loh Naeg in a prism like the other four monks Link had encountered. There the ancient man sat, in an attire like the other monks, his hands curled in fists, the knuckles pressed against each other in front of him.
You did well in your trial. It seems you awoke some muscle memories from your battles long ago. I have nothing to give you, but I will heal your wounds.
There was a blue glow around Link, and he felt the pain quickly ebb away, any damage from the explosion fixed as the cut on his face was healed. Even the blood disappeared! Letting out a breath of relief, he nodded to the monk. "Thank you. It did feel like I remembered some things in that fight." Most notably the way he was able to pump his adrenaline so much that everything seemed to move in slow motion around him along with the way he deflected the laser back at the Guardian Scout. Something in his subconscious told him that was possible with one of the larger Guardians too, not that he ever wanted to find out…
It is good to know this trial was a success. You may keep the sword and shield, they are most effective against the Guardians that dwell upon the surface. Go, take experience from this shrine, and bring peace to Hyrule. May the Goddess smile upon you…
Like the monks before him, Ta'loh Naeg vanished entirely in a brilliant display of blue light. At the same moment, the elevator brightened up again, ready for use. The sword and shield retracted back to their smaller state, and Link wasn't really sure how he did it. Either way, it made them far more convenient to put in his bag. He figured they should be saved for any Guardians he may be unfortunate enough to counter, any other enemy he'd use whatever other weapons he had on hand.
Feeling like some of the rust had been shaken off of his combat skills, Link walked to the elevator and exited the shrine. Once he got back to the surface, he saw there were some Sheikah in the village staring at him. Yet, once they were noticed, they quickly got back to what they were doing. It was a bit of an unnerving sight, but he understood their curiosity towards him, though he also had to wonder how much they truly knew. Did they know who he was, or just that some stranger with a Sheikah Slate wandered into the village?
He supposed it didn't really matter. All he had to do was see the Great Fairy and he could return to Impa and be on his way. With nary a second glance at the village, he made his way up the path next to the shrine and soon found himself in a pleasant forest. There were plenty of trees, yet they were spaced out enough to let the sunlight in. Unlike other parts of nature Link had been in, he felt at peace here, an innate feeling there weren't any monsters around. Feelings aside, the lack of guards around the forest entrance made it pretty clear it was safe…unless there were guards that Link simply couldn't see, like at Kakariko's main entrance…
Either way, he felt at ease, happy to see some regular, peaceful animals milling about. Some squirrels, small birds, chipmunks…! It was nice to see, though at one point Link swore he saw something blue and glowing retreating away. Yet when he took a second look, there was nothing to see. Was it just his imagination or some unusual creature…?
At any rate, Link didn't exactly know where he was meant to go. There was no path in the forest, so he just sort of went straight ahead from where the path ended. No telling how large the area was, but surely if the Great Fairy was hard to find, Impa would've provided actual instructions. Then again, she seemed a bit forgetful, adding on several tasks for Link to accomplish before he even had a chance to leave her abode.
Just as Link was considering going back to ask for directions, he spotted something unusual. In a clearing was a massive thorny bulb. As startling as it was, it didn't seem like anything dangerous. The plant was shifting, throbbing, like it was trying to open up or grow at a rapid pace. Link was tempted to fire an arrow at it or something to see what happened, yet before he got the chance…
"You there. Boy!" A voice called out, startling Link. He looked around but saw no source of it. The voice was distorted, yet also seemed feminine. Though no matter where he turned his head, he saw no one around him. "Yes! You! Right in front of me!" The stranger clarified.
Was…it coming from the bulb? Link took a single, cautious step towards it, still far enough away to hopefully be out of range were it to be dangerous in some way. "Who are you? You're inside that bulb, right? How can you even see me?"
There was a sort of haughty laughter that came from the bulb. "I don't need to see you, I can sense you!" It clarified before pausing and then speaking once more. "And that's not all I can sense. A heroic heart, and some clothing with faded magic…! Yes, this will do just fine!"
Before Link could ask what that meant, there was a flash of light that hid the bulb entirely, and this prompted the Hylian to hide behind a nearby tree. There were no explicit signs of danger, but he was caught off guard and wanted to be careful! As the light faded, he waited a moment, straining his ears and other senses to try and detect anything approaching him. He heard nothing…and didn't sense anything either. Slowly, he peeked around the tree and was startled by what he saw.
The bulb was no longer there! Or rather, it was replaced! What was there instead resembled a massive, sprouted flower, with red petals larger than Link's entire body. In the center was a pool of glistening water, golden and decorate designs around the edge of the center with a sun and expertly crafted birds. There was even a staircase made of toadstools leading up to the water. Another thing of note was the dozen or so fairies fluttering about the large flower, pink orbs with wings that Link recognized on sight.
Though no proper memory of it cropped up, Link realized this had to be a Great Fairy Fountain, it was just too obvious to be anything else. The only thing that troubled him was…where was the Great Fairy? Slowly, he approached fountain, some of the fairies hovering around it flying higher to avoid him, showing how skittish they were. Not knowing what else to do or where else to go, he climbed the fungi stairs and stepped up to the pool of water that shimmered in the afternoon sun. He was about to open his mouth to say something when a figure burst from the water!
Link realized in an instant the figure had to be the Great Fairy, just from her size! She came only waist-high out of the sparkling pool, but that part of her alone was several times larger than he was! The Great Fairy wore sparkling clothing, silver bands and what seemed like colored petals being the only thing keeping her decent. Her blonde, styled hair seemed dry despite her previous submersion, and she even had a full set of red lipstick on despite the water!
"Ahahaaa~!" The Great Fairy crooned, her voice seeming to flood the entire forest. As she settled down, she grinned down at Link, studying him as she tittered to herself. "My, such a handsome young man you are! Aren't I lucky? And where are my manners? I am Cotera! And you are…?" Her voice was loud and her tone was heavy, like she was trying to seduce Link…which wasn't exactly working.
For a moment, he just stared, startled by the entity before him. He hadn't really stopped to think what the Great Fairy looked like, but he didn't expect her to be so large and eccentric. Gathering himself, he cleared his throat. "My name is Link. Impa told me you could bless my tunic, Great Fairy."
"Link, hm? Strange, I swear I've heard that name before, but…" Cotera mused and then let out a haughty laugh. "Normally I don't give out blessings so easily, but if Impa sent you, I suppose it wouldn't hurt." She let out a small laugh. "It helps you're a rather handsome little man, and I can already sense a bit of magic in that tunic, it's all but run out!" The Great Fairy gestured to the tear. "See? It shouldn't be damaged so easily! I'll even repair it for you, Link!"
Did she know him? How old could Great Fairies be? Link decided he wasn't sure he wanted to know, but he was assuming he visited Cotera in the past to get his tunic blessed the first time. "Thank you, Great Fairy. Do you need me to take it off, or…?" How did this work, exactly?
At that, Cotera tittered and waved a hand at Link. "Oh, you tease, you! As tempting as it is, you can keep it on as I work my magic!" She bent down a bit, bringing her hands to her lips as she kissed at the tips of her fingers.
To Link's surprise, she then brought her hands down and blew a kiss at him! It wasn't just that, though, a visible pink air came from the kiss and washed Link over with warmth. Looking down at his tunic, he saw the tear mending before his eyes and in a moment it was gone in a seamless fix! Like it never happened to begin with! On top of that, he felt a sort of…surge from the tunic for a brief moment. It was hard to explain, and he wondered if it was simply the feeling of literal magic.
"Thank you again, Great Fairy." Link said as he looked back up at the large woman. She seemed pretty casual, but he was afraid of offending her by calling her Cotera. The last thing he wanted was to tick off an entity like her. "Does that mean the tunic is indestructible now?"
The Great Fairy shook her head with a light and disappointed tsk. "I'm afraid not. Even my power has its limits! That being said, it will be extremely durable, most things in Hyrule will be able to put a stitch out of place! Everything the tunic covers will be protected! Just keep in mind, what the tunic covers, dear Link! You're just as vulnerable everywhere else, clothing is the specialty of my sisters and I."
Sisters…so there were more of these Great Fairies out there. Link wondered if it was worth trying to track the others down. Then again, the last thing he needed was another task to sidetrack him from his mission. Maybe if they were on the way, he'd go and find them, but he'd figure that out later on. "I'll keep that in mind, thank you again. Your aid is greatly appreciated, Great Fairy."
Once more, the large being tittered. "Oh, please, after all this time together, you can call me Cotera!" She was just a bubbly sort, not seeming like a sacred and ancient being.
Link nodded, unable to stop himself from smiling a bit. "Thank you, Cotera. I won't let your boon go to waste."
Cotera gave a wide grin at that. "I know you won't, small one! I sense great things will come from you! Now farewell, and don't be a stranger!" With a triumphant cry, she swiftly sank back into the water, vanishing entirely despite the pool not seeming nearly deep enough for her.
What a strange interaction that was. Link looked down at his fixed tunic, still feeling a slight tingle of magic as he went down the toadstool steps. All he had to do now was return to Impa and get some supplies before heading out. He still wondered just how the Sheikah Slate was meant to restore his memories. Given the things he's seen it do, he wouldn't be surprised if it just transferred his past directly into his head somehow.
On the other hand, he had to try and keep his hopes minimal. There was a chance that Purah wasn't even alive anymore or was just unable to help him. On top of the immense disappointment over his memories, it'd really make him mad if he wasted four days for nothing. With a sigh, he tried to keep such thoughts out of his mind as he missed another blue flash just a few feet away from him.
As Link returned to the village, he was surprised as a Sheikah child ran right up to him, a young girl. It was almost a little uncanny how even the kids had white hair like that. "Hey, mister! Koko was saying you talked with Lady Impa! Is that true? Outsiders never get to do that…"
Link glanced about, seeing if he could spot whoever Koko was, but there were several Sheikah eyeing the conversation, so it was impossible to pick a specific person out. "That is true, yeah. My name's Link, by the way, what's yours?" He wanted to get back to Impa, but with a kid…he felt he had a bit more patience.
The young girl eyed Link, almost like even at her young age, those uncanny red eyes could somehow read into him. It was like she was trying to gauge how much she could trust the stranger. "I'm Cottla! Why do you get to talk to Lady Impa? Why does that thingy on your waist have our symbol? Where are you from, Mister Link?"
Quite a barrage of questions. Though he did want to be nice, he didn't have time to play twenty questions at the moment. It did strike him as odd how the villagers kept staring at him from afar. Did they really see outsiders so rarely? Was Impa really so reclusive with outsiders? "I'm just running a special errand for Lady Impa." Link said, deeming that as a safe answer. "I have to take this slate to her sister."
Cottla hummed in thought, almost like she was trying to determine if Link was lying or not. "Wow, that's pretty nice of you, Mister Link." She responded cheerfully. "I hope you're okay, Lady Impa's sister lives reaaally far!"
Link chuckled a bit and nodded. "Thank you, Cottla, I'm sure I'll be okay. I've got to talk to Lady Impa again, okay?"
"Okay! Bye bye, Mister Link!" The Sheikah child chirped as she bounded away, probably off to go look for Koko or something.
With that, the Hylian made his way back to Impa's abode, the two guards once more stepping aside for him. As he entered, he saw Impa in her usual seat with Paya cleaning the floor nearby. On a pillow near the two was something in a wrapped parcel with a sword, shield, a bow and some arrows lying on top of them. The bow was red and black and seemed rather sturdy, the shield was a bit of an unusual shape, but was made of a seemingly strong metal with a Sheikah eye on it, and the sword was also finely made with a Sheikah eye right near the hilt and a smaller, second blade at the bottom. Overall, they all looked finely made, certainly far better then the weapons he's used so far…
Impa looked over to Link, a smile spreading across her wrinkled visage. "Ah, you're back so soon. I can sense your tunic has been restored to its old, magical protection, I can practically smell the blessing the Great Fairy gave you."
Maybe it was a Sheikah thing, there was something that told Link they had unusual powers that he didn't. They, at one time at least, certainly had incredibly advanced technology after all that almost seemed like some sort of magic. "That's right, she was…more eccentric than I thought."
The elderly woman chuckled at that. "Yes, she is a rather unusual one. It's been quite a while since I've seen her. Perhaps I should fix that soon…" She trailed off and then shook herself back to the present. "As for your journey, we've prepared some things. A set of proper weapons, you can leave those scrounged ones with us, and we'll dispose of them. In the parcel there's some food and water. Salted meats, fruits, vegetables…and some Rupees to stay at inns along with a metal cooking pot. Keep in mind, we couldn't give you all we have, but it will keep you going at least until you reach Hateno Village and return."
That was…quite a lot! More than Link was expecting, really. As Impa spoke, Paya stopped her work and went upstairs somewhere, seeming to have trouble looking at Link directly. The Hylian ignored this and went over to the gift. "Are you sure this is all okay? That's really a lot…" Link mused, but even as he spoke he started to get rid of his old weapons and bow, putting the new gear on. "And return? You need me to come back after Hateno Village?"
"Keep in mind, and I know I don't need to tell you this, but we're relying on you, Link. If you fail…Hyrule falls. We want to aid you as best as we can." Impa explained with a solemn expression. "As for a return trip, I simply want to speak to you once you, hopefully, get your memories back. And fret not, it's actually easier to reach Zora's Domain by coming back here. Since it's so close, I recommend that be the first Divine Beast you tackle."
Link was pleased to hear that about the Zora's Domain situation, but it still hit him like a punch to the throat every time the stakes were mentioned to him. In any case, the incomplete map on his slate, even with the markers, didn't exactly aid him with what explicit path he should take, so the hint was helpful. Speaking of which…! "How do I get to Hateno Village exactly? Anywhere I should go first and use that as a checkpoint?" Again, the map he had didn't exactly do much to assist him.
"Yes, you should head to the nearby stables and head east. If you go now and hurry, you should make it before nightfall. There's not enough Rupees there for a horse, I'm afraid, but more than enough for a bed and some food." Impa replied, looking Link over as he grabbed the parcel and put it in his bag. "I wish you all the luck in the world, I'll be praying to the Goddess Hylia for your safety."
He didn't put much stock in Hylia, but he kept that opinion to himself. "Thank you, Impa. I'll return as fast as I can, with my memory hopefully intact…"
The elderly woman watched Link head out the door with a slight frown on her face, the weight of the entire kingdom resting on the young man's shoulders. "Just stay safe, Link, we're all counting on you…" She whispered to herself with a somber sigh.
A/N: I always get a bit nervous when I write a lot of exposition, so I hope I handled it well. As for the shrine here, it will most likely be the final one I include in the story, I can't think of any reward or reason for Link to enter any others...though the Champion's Ballad portion far later on may change that. I also decided to just upgrade the Guardian Scout to its most powerful form since it'll probably be the last one Link ever fights, so might as well. I'm also not entirely sure if the other Great Fairies will appear or not, I'll just have to see. I think it was fair for the Sheikah to give Link some help before he went, not like all of the gear and provisions will last forever.