POV Zelda

I stare at Purah, unable to formulate a response.

"You know, Zelda, your powers are part of who you are. It makes no sense to keep ignoring them, especially now that they've reawakened. It could be useful to understand more about how they work," she insists.

"Purah," I plead, exhausted. "You've seen how much I've tried to understand them. It's been years of persistence. Why would it be different now? I have so many other things to do... We're finishing dismantling the Sheikah structures... we completed the Divine Beasts a few weeks ago, and almost 70% of the Guardians—at least those we found. Many years have passed, and it seems like everything is finally returning to normal. Why waste time insisting on this? We don't need my powers anymore."

Purah sighs and then raises her hand to start listing reasons.

"First: we haven't found more of Ganon's demons, but you know the Yiga are still at large, though strangely quiet. Second, you yourself told me that the woman who ambushed you years ago said 'He' would return—that's reason enough to be as prepared as possible, just in case. And third, I'll repeat what I've already said because it's the most important reason: it's part of you. If you don't know yourself, who will, Zelda?"

I remain silent for a few minutes, unsure how to argue against such eloquence.

"So, what do you suggest, Purah?"

"Well... I wanted to test a theory. You said that when your powers were first unlocked, you started hearing the 'voice inside the Master Sword,' right?"

"I know it sounds strange, but yes. It spoke to me when Link fell in battle and warned me he could still be saved. If not for that, we would have lost him that day."

"So, my theory is: could you hear it again?"

I ponder her suggestion.

"Maybe," I admit. "Of all the things I can do with my powers, talking to it required the least effort."

"Then it's decided. Where did Link store the sword? He left it here in Hyrule, didn't he?"

"Yes, in the Lost Woods."

"Do you know how to get there?"

"I've been there a few times, but I think I remember the directions. There were some ways to find the path inside. We can try. The worst that can happen is we don't make it through the forest and have to return to the starting point."

"Great, we leave in the morning then—it's a long journey. It's on the other side of the kingdom, leaving from Gerudo."

I pause for a moment, making another last-minute decision.

"Okay. But not too early... I want to do something first."

We are standing in front of the entrance to the Lost Woods. Riju, Buliara, and Paya insisted on joining Purah and me on this expedition. It took us a few days to get here, but the journey was smooth. The mist here is dense and forms a white wall around us. A cold wind passes by, and I feel a chill on my neck.

"Your hair looks amazing, Zelda," says Riju.

I run my hands through the now short strands. My hair has always been long, reaching past my waist. But embracing this new phase of self-discovery, I decided to cut it before leaving Gerudo—they are great with hairstyles.

"Thank you... it seemed easier to take care of. One less thing to worry about."

"Right, how do we proceed?" asks Buliara, pragmatically.

I try to remember when I last visited the forest, so many years ago. It was after Link's fall. I came here to return the sword to its pedestal so it could recover by absorbing the sacred light and energy that permeates the tree's home while waiting for Link to reclaim it.

"First, we follow the lights... See, over there? Two low columns with lit torches," I point out.

Everyone nods, and we start the journey. We move from one reference point to the next, cautiously. When no more lit columns are visible, I know we've reached the halfway point.

"Okay, now what?" asks Paya, worried.

"Calm down, I'm trying to remember," I say, concentrating. I'm sure we're close because I can feel the forest's energy calling me, and I sense the Master Sword waiting in its pedestal.

I close my eyes, focusing.

"Use the torch to guide you, Zelda."

I jump at the sound of the sword's voice echoing in my brain.

"It's true!" I exclaim, and see the others looking at me as if I were crazy. "The torch," I explain. They keep staring, not understanding. I roll my eyes, frustrated. I point to the unlit torch leaning against one of the columns near us. "It will show us the way, just light it."

Buliara takes the piece of wood and lights the torch from the flame of the nearby column.

"That's it! See how the smoke is blowing in a specific direction? We'll follow that. But slowly, it will change as we go."

We walk slowly, stopping every few steps to check the wind direction. After a few minutes and some turns, I feel the temperature rise and become pleasant again, and the mist ahead dissipates.

"YAH-HA-HA!" a Korok shouts, excited to see visitors. Soon, dozens of them come to greet us, happy. They are small creatures, less than 30 centimeters tall, completely adorable.

I hear them shouting around us, in a celebratory tone.

"Zelda!"

"The princess is here!"

"Hooray! Let's play hide-and-seek?"

I laugh at their enthusiasm and greet them. Paya is enchanted by them and stops to play with an enthusiastic group. Riju observes with curiosity, and Buliara assesses the situation cautiously. Purah is in "Focused Scientist" mode—not to say "Crazy"—and moves forward with me, undistracted. We stop in front of the Deku Tree, a few steps away from the Master Sword.

"Zelda... it's good you came," it greets me. "I thought you'd come sooner. But I suppose the time wasn't right yet."

I bow.

"Hello, Deku. Yes... I couldn't come earlier. The memories I have of this place are very painful."

"I understand. What brought you here, after all? I sense your powers have been dormant again in recent years... is that it?"

Though I shouldn't be, I'm surprised by its perceptiveness.

"Yes. They disappeared, but after years they resurfaced. And Purah insists that this time I should learn to control them properly."

"Correct. Before I offer my suggestion, may I ask what you planned?"

"Purah suggested I try to talk to the sword... you see... when my powers are active, I can hear a voice coming from inside it..." I admit, embarrassed, as if it were absurd.

"Hohoho," laughs the tree, with its deep, guttural voice. "Your scientist is indeed very astute, Zelda. I was going to suggest the same thing. Come, approach the sword... kneel and place both hands on its hilt," it instructs.

I follow its guidance. Immediately, a heavy energy climbs up my arms, paralyzing them. I feel a wave of panic hit me.

"Calm down. Everything is under control. You did well to bring your friends—they will watch over your body while your spirit travels. See you soon."

And at that moment, with my hands still glued to the sword, my energy completely leaves my body, and, frightened, I see myself falling forward as if observing another person. The perception of being out of my body is quickly replaced by an intense pull, and I am sucked into the sword.

The sensation is extremely unpleasant—and strangely familiar—but it passes in a few moments. I find myself in a vast, open place. The ground is covered with water, turning it into an infinite mirror of the blue sky around me. I notice I'm barefoot and wearing a white dress—not the same tunic I've worn so many times, but something lighter and ethereal. I look down and see that, despite the ground being a mirror, I can't see my reflection.

"Welcome, Master Zelda," I hear a soft, feminine voice from somewhere behind me.

I turn suddenly and see a young woman standing before me. She is completely blue: her skin, her hair, her eyes—which, by the way, have no iris or pupil, just the sclera. Even so, I understand that she is looking at me. And as I observe her, an intense nostalgia, whose origin I can't decipher, floods me. I'm also struck by a maternal instinct and a desire to protect her.

However, though completely confused, I feel strangely calm.

"Thank you. I... don't know what I'm doing here," I confess.

"Let me introduce myself. I am Fi, the spirit guardian of the Master Sword. We met a long time ago, Master."

"Yes, yes, it's been a long time since Link claimed the sword."

She chuckles lightly.

"No, Zelda. We met hundreds of thousands of years ago. Not only did we meet, but... you created me, Master," she says reverently.

I shake my head, unable to understand what she's saying. I'm sure if I were in my physical body right now, I'd be experiencing the worst headache.

"I'm not following... Fi," I say.

Upon pronouncing her name, a vision flashes before my eyes. I see my arms—which aren't my body's arms, but somehow I know they're mine—dirty and bruised, holding a sword. It's not the Master Sword. It's much smaller, its hilt is turquoise instead of purple, and its blade has a beautiful engraving—seemingly decorative—in the same color.

"Your name will be Fi," I hear myself say. But my voice is deeper, intense, powerful. "You will reside in the Master Sword and guide and protect him while I cannot remember."

As abruptly as it appeared, the vision disappears. Fi is still standing in front of me.

"What was that?"

"When you created me, you gave explicit orders never to explain the history, Master."

I huff, frustrated.

"That doesn't sound like a very smart plan. Why would I say such a thing?"

"In your words, if I dictate the history to you, you'll be a hostage to your own imagination and credulity, and you may not be able to recover the true memories. It's necessary for you to retrieve them on your own."

"And how do I do that? Can you at least tell me that?" I reply, exasperated. Then, I regret it. She's just following orders. Orders I gave, apparently. "Sorry."

"No problem, Master Zelda," she says, understanding. "Yes, I can tell you that, although you already know the answer."

Frustration overwhelms me as I realize what she means.

"I'll need to return to the Sacred Springs," I declare. It's obvious that's what I have to do. As if I hadn't spent years visiting them, meditating in their waters, hoping to access my powers.

"Meditating at the springs was never the way to awaken your abilities, as you realized," says Fi, reading my mind. "But it is the way to awaken your memories. However, without the power, you would never be able to access them."

I follow her instructions, resigned.

"Faron, Eldin, Lanayru. Courage, power, and wisdom. This is the order in which you should visit the Springs. It's important to wait a few months between each visit. Your physical body couldn't handle processing all the memories in a short time."

"Is there anything else I should know?"

"You won't recover all memories at once. After visiting each Spring, memories will come to you over the following weeks. You'll know when it's time to visit the next one. In the meantime, continue with your life as usual. Be patient, and it will be rewarded."

"I'll do that. Thank you, Fi. Truly."

Before leaving, I gather the courage to ask one last question.

"In the flash I saw now... I ask you to protect someone. Who was I referring to?"

Fi just smiles and doesn't answer immediately.

"Visit the Springs, and you will know."

And then, in the same instant, I feel heavy and fall back, letting go of the Master Sword. I realize I'm back in the body I know so well.

"Zelda!" exclaims Purah, seeing I'm awake. "Are you okay? When you fell forward, I thought about helping you, but I didn't want to interfere with the experience. I took notes instead. Here," she says, handing me her notebook.

September 28, Year 105 p.c. (post-calamity)

Lost Woods

13:36 - Zelda talks to the Deku Tree
13:40 - Zelda positions herself in front of the Master Sword and follows the Deku Tree's instructions
13:41 - Zelda falls forward and becomes unresponsive. I decide not to interfere with the experiment by assisting the subject
13:50 - Zelda is still in the same position
14:30 - Zelda is still in the same position
15:30 - Zelda is still in the same position
17:12 - Zelda wakes up suddenly

P.S.: Don't forget to interview the subject to collect evidence of their perspective on the experience.

I shake my head at the notes. I understand the importance of taking notes during an experiment, but sometimes it's too much. I decide to hold back my comments on what I just read.

"So, Zelda?" asks Riju. "Did you learn anything new?"

"Apart from being called old, saying I'm hundreds of thousands of years old? Which I still think is a lie, if I may say so: I've seen my baby pictures in the castle. No, I didn't learn anything now. But apparently, I'll need to visit the Sacred Springs again if I want to discover anything more."

Purah gets excited about the idea.

"Great! When do we leave?"