Prince Sidon had outdone himself.
After calming Va Ruta, Link had spoken with Sidon about the Master Sword. The prince had agreed that it was a priority and sent his scouts to seek information about it. Meanwhile, Link probed the Goron mountains and Mt. Lanaryu, activating every shrine he laid eyes on. After returning from liberating Nadrya and being halted on Mt. Goron by the sheer heat, he returned to Zora's Domain to see what had been discovered. Sidon's intelligence network was certain that the Master Sword had been hidden in one of the forests of Hyrule, and while that didn't narrow it down much, their information suggested that the Lost Woods Northeast of Hyrule castle was the most probable location. Sidon himself along with Gaddison had escorted Link along the rivers as far as they could, parting ways with him on the shore of Hylia River near Pico Pond.
Having bid his Zora escorts farewell, Link turned his attention northward. After a brief visit to the nearby stable, Link set off for the Sheikah tower before he went to the Lost Woods. After some complications in the old military training camp Link was able to activate the tower and add the area to his map. He climbed onto the giant skull capping the tower and looked down upon the Lost Woods pensively.
According to the Zora, The legendary Master Sword resided in this forest. This sword was said to be bound to a long line of Hylian heroes. Link knew that at one time that included himself; he had memories of wielding it. But now he was unsure of himself. He was not certain that he was technically the same person that lived in Hyrule 100 years ago. He was not sure if the sword would acknowledge him anymore.
In truth, he did not feel that he deserved the hero's mantle. Link had recovered a few memories and from what he could tell, he and Zelda were two sides of the same coin. Link had taken to his role in the kingdom like a Zora to water. He had excelled and succeeded in every way until the moment when it mattered most where he failed spectacularly. He never even got far enough to meet eyes with Calamity Gannon. Zelda in contrast had struggled desperately her whole life, but came through for all of Hyrule in their darkest hour.
Link couldn't keep the pained smile off his face. He was truly, deeply proud of her, but as a failed knight, he had no business speaking of pride.
Link rolled his shoulders and pulled out his glider. Enough laboring over the past. It was time to face the future. With a running start, he leaped off the tower and drifted to the misty north.
Link's hand melded to the Master Sword's hilt as if they had never been separated. Smoothly, forcefully, Link pulled. Instantly, he was struck with a wave of dizziness as his sword pulled back. It was as if his blood was flowing backwards! His head pounded and he experienced cold and hot flashes across his body as close as one finger to the next. His brow beaded with sweat and his teeth clenched in a determined snarl. As much as it strained him, he sensed that this was necessary. In a role reversal, the sword needed his help. And he would give it.
Just as the edges of his vision darkened, the sword burst free from the platform. Like a bad dream, Link's strain vanished and there in his hands was the Master Sword. His sword.
Straightening his stance, Link marveled at the blade as he regripped it. It was so familiar, yet it retained a stunning presence.
Link raised the Master Sword high into the light, as if presenting it to the sky itself. The first real evidence that the fight was not over shining in the tree filtered sunlight.
Handling his sword with practiced ease, he sheathed it on his back.
A soft chiming sound came from the sword.
"Greetings, Master Link."
The hairs on the back of his neck stood up.
Link whipped around.
Link had recovered memories before. This was not the same. This was something bubbling up from somewhere deeper, older, more permanent, and more precious.
"... Fi?" The name came unbidden to his lips.
"It has been a long time. I have returned to your side, Master Link." The spirit said with a smile, bowing at the waist, crossing her right hand across her breast.
"Wh- Fi? You…" Link trailed off, overwhelmed with emotions that were so natural that it was alarming. Before him stood- correction, hovered, a young woman. Where once with different eyes he would have seen a blue metallic face, he now saw skin, flesh, and hair. Fi broke her bow, looking at Link with eyes that once were a solid blue. That blue now only lingered in her iris; pupil and sclera now adding to the details of her face.
"Have arms?" Fi asked.
Link nodded dumbly. He had dozens of ideas of how to end that question, but he didn't mind starting with the arms.
"I do. I thought I might need them." She looked at her arms curiously, turning and flexing them. Form-fitting sleeves similar to her black and green leggings extended from under her blue and purple traveling shawl to loop between her middle and ring finger. Soft peach fingers extended to nails that were blue on one hand and purple on the other.
"I have many other new features too. Would you like a full analysis?" Fi offered.
Something about that response was so familiar that Link cracked a smile.
"Maybe later. How are you here? And… You seem different." A strange thing to say to a creature he had never met…
No, that was wrong. He knew Fi with all his heart. He was just trying to figure out how.
"Master, do you recall that I once told you that I would enter a sleep without end to contain Demise?" Fi asked.
"I… do." Link answered slowly, recalling it distantly only once Fi said it.
"That was an approximation that is no longer accurate. To elaborate, my intention was to communicate my existence continuing, but not in a way that would be possible to interact with." Fi drifted closer and for the first time set her feet on the earth. She stood faintly taller than Link with her heeled shoes.
Fi tested her balance before looking at Link.
"The situation has changed. I have changed. All that I once was remains 'asleep' in the sword, but I am more than I once was. In these thousands of years I have grown into a new being capable of projecting partially out of the sword."
Link digested this for a moment.
"So… It really is you?"
Fi nodded. "Yes, Master Li- oh!"
Fi gasped in surprise. The moment she nodded, Link strode forward and pulled her into an emotional embrace.
"I missed you Fi. For so long."
Fi was taken aback as dozens of emotions still new to her spun through her head.
"I- I missed you too, Master Link. I am exceedingly happy." she clumsily reciprocated the embrace.
Fi felt Link laugh against her body as much as she heard it.
"I am exceedingly happy too, Fi." He replied, his voice thick with emotion.
And with that, Fi joins Link for his journey across the wilds of Hyrule. Sorry this took so long to upload. I just wasn't happy with it. So I split it into two sections, a 'Link' section and a 'Link and Fi' section. I liked it better but still wasn't satisfied. After no improvements were forthcoming, I gave up and posted it. This being the result.
I got the BotW DLC. Finishing that up before I get TotK. I was also waiting for the December financial whirlwind to die down before I dropped $70.
How were your holidays? I had a good Christmas. I got the Lord of the Rings books, which except for The Hobbit I have never read. Movies only until now. My cousin also got me Advance Wars 1+2 re-bootcamp for the switch, which is a reboot of a Gameboy advance game I would hide under my pillow when I was 10 circa 2005 when I was supposed to be sleeping. I also helped cook the dinner. Turkey, stuffing, sausage sage dressing, green bean casserole, gravy, steamed broccoli, baked potatoes... Waffles for lunch. My job pays well so I was able to get my mom and friends a few nice things too.