No. It couldn't be true.
Hisdad?
No. His dad had been the most kind, noble, and loving man he had ever known!His dad could not be the leader of this...this cult!
"I'm sorry that I didn't tell you sooner, I just didn't think you could handle it." Rhoam was speaking again, but Link couldn't register any of it. Stuck in his own thoughts, he was spinning out of control. Confusion, then sorrow, then anger. Why had his father done this? Why, when he had loved Link so much? Why, when he had fought so hard for the kingdom of Hyrule? He knew his father had been sentenced to death for treason, but he had never believed it. Let alone knew that he had escaped. Link was breathing fast, barely taking in air. How dare he! How dare his father ditch him like that! And for the enemy!
"Link. I know you're angry, and I understand, but I need you to be strong here." The King leaned down to face Link's tear stained eyes. "I need you to harness that anger, and use it for this upcoming task."What? A task? What can I do about this wholemess? He thought, as he raised his head to stare down the king. "I need," Rhoam continued, "for you to go as my soldier and messenger, to the Gerudo and convince them to fight with you against the Yiga Clan. You will need to take my daughter, Zelda, with you or else you won't be allowed into the town."
Link nodded, accepting the task. He would do everything in his power to take down his traitorous father. Raising his shaking hands he asked, "Permissiontoleave?"
"Permission granted!" Rhoam boomed, "Now go forth, Hero of Hyrule, and slay the Yiga!"
(Zelda's POV)
A knock on her door jerked Zelda out of her slumber. Rubbing her eyes, she glanced around her room. The familiar four poster bed she was in sat in one corner of the room, while her desk and closet adorned the others. Three doors led out of her room. One over a bridge to her study, one to her massive bathroom, and one into the hallways of the castle. It took her a moment to locate which door the knock had come from.
"Coming!" She shouted at the door that led into the hallway. "Just let me get dressed!" She yawned and pushed off of her silky purple mattress. Zelda shambled over to her closet, but was distracted by the window that sat right next to it. Glancing outwards, she took a deep breath in. The night sky was beautiful. Little specks of light adorned the pitch-black curtain that hung over the kingdom. And the biggest speck of light, the moon, flooded its gentle light over the world, illuminating the night sky.
The knock sounded again, dragging her out of her muses. "I'm coming!" Zelda repeated, slightly annoyed. Slipping out of her night-dress she pulled on her blue and white traveling dress and black leggings. She then made her way over to the door, while slipping on her shoes. She had to look decent, especially if it was her father.
Upon opening the door however, it was...Link. Again. Zelda sighed. How many times would she have to make contact with this accursed knight! Just looking at the sword on his back...
Zelda shook her head. Now was not the time to be having such thoughts. "What is it." She asked tiredly. Bringing his hands up to her level, the knight began to 'speak'."Your father has sent me on a mission to the Gerudo desert. I need to rally the Gerudo to face the Yiga, and my father. The king has asked me to bring you along so that you can let me into the town. Then you are supposed to stay there, no matter what, until the battle is done."Link finished before kneeling down and dropping his head.
Zelda just stood there, shocked.Her father?Was letting her go on a mission to the desert!Yes! Finally,she could get out of this place! Finally she could see her friend again! Finally she could have somefuninstead of constantly training to unlock her power!
"Ok. Just give me a second to pack. I'll meet you by the stables. Now go!"
Zelda was too excited to care about having to deal with Link. Slamming the door and rushing back into her room, she proceeded to pack her bags.
—-
(Link's POV)
The armory was one of Link's go to places for when he was stressed. The long, stone corridor was filled to the brim with weapons, shields, and armor of all shapes and sizes. There were short swords, broadswords, long swords, claymores, spears, clubs, chains, katanas, and many, many more.
And the shields? There were just too many different types to count.
Bows? Too many as well.
Link walked down to the end of the hallway. The armor section. Various assorted prices of armor hung on the wall, lay in buckets, on the floor. Chest pieces, greaves, and helmets lay scattered everywhere. The Gerudo desert was a scorching place. He'd have to wear the most lightweight armor he could find, then switch it out for some traditional desert armor once they got there.
Link pulled his Royal Guard suit over his head and tossed it into the bucket labeled with his name. He then pulled off his sweaty white undershirt, and replaced it with a fresh clean one. He was halfway through pulling on his Soldier's Greaves, (Classic metal armor), when a servant walked into the armory and walked towards him. "Here." The servant handed him a bag of bananas. Link looked at him questioningly.
"They are one last gift from the King, to help you on your way. It is rumored the Yiga will do anything for a banana. You may be able to use this to your advantage."
"Thank you!"Link signed gratefully. The servant nodded.
"One more thing. The King would like you to request the service of Urbosa, the chief of the Gerudo, to pilot a divine beast against the Calamity." The servant whipped around, and left.
Link sighed. He had no idea what a Divine Beast was, but shrugged it off, supposing he'd find out soon.
Link took the bag of bananas and shoved it into his traveling pack. He would need all the help he could get in this upcoming battle. His father had been one of the strongest soldiers in the whole Kingdom, and the one person Link had never beaten in a fight.
His father.That traitorous backstabbing little-
"Link!"
Zelda's voice sounded from outside the armory.
"I thought you were going to meet me at the stables!"
Link groaned. He had forgotten about Zelda. She would have to stay out of his way so he could get revenge on his father.
Shaking his head, Link finished pulling on his armor. Thoughts later, action now. He grabbed the Master Sword from where it hung on a peg. Slinging it across his back, he joined Zelda out in the hall.
A few minutes later, Link threw his bags over the back of his loyal steed, Epona. Grabbing the saddle, he slung it over her back as well and fastened it around the stomach. Zelda stood beside him, impatiently tapping her foot. She had already finished preparing her Royal white horse, Max.
"Any minute now."
Link sighed. Finishing up with Epona, he turned around towards Zelda.
"Before we go, there are some rules I need you to follow."
Zelda rolled her eyes.
"I know you're the princess, but I am the one put in charge of protecting you. First, I need you to listen to me at all times, especially if you are in danger. Second, you need to stay out of battle no matter what. I can't focus on myself and you at the same time. You are to stay hidden inside the town throughout the whole battle."
Zelda kicked a pebble, obviously bored, but she nodded and agreed to his conditions.
"Alright. Let's go."
Zelda placed a foot up into the stirrups and heaved her upper body onto her horse. Link watched with slight amusement as she slid back down again. Sighing, he walked over. It was his duty to help her after all.
"I...got...this!" Zelda grunted as she tried and failed again and again. "I don't need your help!"
Link ignored her.
Wrapping his arms around her waist he hoisted her up, ignoring her squeals of protest, before plopping her down on Max.
Zelda just sat there stunned for a moment before slipping back off with a shriek. Link rushed back over and dove, barely catching hold of Zelda before she hit the ground. Helping the startled princess back up onto her horse, Link groaned.
Phew! That was a close one. He could have been beheaded for that!
Link wiped the sweat off his brow and hopped up upon Epona.
"I'll lead the way." He signed back towards Zelda before grabbing the reins, and galloping off into the night. Looking back to make sure she was okay, he saw Zelda was catching up to him rather quickly, her long golden hair flapping in the wind.
She actually looked quite beautiful with the moonlight dancing across her face.
If only her personality were as pretty as her looks.Link thought, smirking.
"Link?"
Zelda's voice sounded out from behind him.
Link slowed his horse and turned around to look at her.
Zelda froze for a moment before he heard her again.
"Th...Thank You."
Link smiled and nodded at her.
It turned out he might just have to eat his words.
And he didn't have a problem with that.
(Zelda's POV)
About a day and a half later, they reached the desert. They had been riding through massive canyons of red and orange rock, when the walls around them suddenly stopped and the path ended.
Hence, the desert.
Sand was everywhere, as far as the eye could see. Sand in piles, sand in flats, sand in ditches.
And, on top of that, the temperature had also risen substantially.
Far off in the distance, hazy through the heat, sat Kara Kara Bazaar. Halfway through the desert to Gerudo Town. It's tall, clay tower sat as a beacon to help lost travelers.
Zelda watched as Link boarded their horses at a nearby stable. He looked rather handsome in that armor. The silver plates of metal coated his whole body, while his sandy blond ponytail flopped about in the hot wind.
Zelda huffed. She still didn't like him, as handsome as he may be. All he did was remind her of her failures.
But maybe...
Maybehefelt the same way. As the knight who was destined to seal the Calamity he probably had just as much pressure on his shoulders as she did.
It all made sense now.Thatwas why he was silent all the time! He never talked because of all the stress poured out onto him by the whole kingdom, who was counting on him to save them!
Not to mention to pressure of his father. The leader of the clan who had sought for centuries the return of the Great Calamity.
Maybe they were more in common then she thought.
Quiet footsteps brought Zelda out of her thoughts. Link had returned.
"Here."
He handed her an elixir the color of snow.
"Drink it. It's way too hot out there. You'll need it. This elixir will help with the heat."
Zelda nodded and popped open the elixir. "Wait, what about you? Aren't you going to have some?"
Link shook his head."I don't need any, I've been here before."
"But you'll get a heat-stroke!" Zelda exclaimed.
"It's not that far to the bazaar. I'll buy some of the heat resistant armor for the rest of the way there."Link looked deep in thought for a moment."You can also get some traditional Gerudo clothing there. It'll help more than the elixir."He continued.
Zelda sighed. If Link was willing to risk a heat-stroke, that was his problem. She lifted the bottle and gulped down the elixir. It felt cool and refreshing going down her throat, kind of like water, but better.
Link looked back at her."Ready?"
Zelda nodded. "Let's go."
The desert was way hotter than she had thought. The elixir helped, but it was still blazing hot. The sun on her back made it feel like she was on fire!
Zelda continued to tromp through the sand, finding it hard not to fall over.
She was so dizzy!
Zelda couldn't even begin to imagine how Link felt in this heat.
Speaking of Link, it was hard to see him through the heat waves. He was a little farther ahead of her.
Looking at the ground again, Zelda found the temptation to give up unstoppable and she fell forwards. She braced herself, expecting a blazing face full of sand.
It was completely the opposite.
Zelda shrieked as she plunged into ice-cold water.Oh no! The oasis!She had completely forgotten about the oasis that was the center of the Bazaar! And now she was going to pay dearly.
Suddenly she felt strong hands grab her around the arms and haul her up.
Zelda gasped as she exited the water, gulping in as much precious air as she could. Zelda was pulled over to the banks as they both collapsed, panting.
Zelda, having finally caught her breath, looked around for her rescuer. She quickly located the help in the form of a gasping Hylian woman.
"O...M...G!" She squealed.
"You're Zelda!"
Zelda nodded.
"I never dreamed that I'd actually meet you! Can we talk?"
"Um...I'm not sure, I have to get back to my knight, we're on urgent business." Zelda answered skeptically.
"It's better without him, we can talk girl to girl! Just for a moment?
"Fine." Zelda submitted. "But just for a moment!"
"Yes! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
Zelda smiled. It would be nice to talk with her subjects for a time. "What's your name?" She asked politely.
"Traysi!" The woman answered excitedly.
"It's nice to meet you Traysi!"
(Link's POV)
Where was Zelda? He had seen her not too long ago. She had been walking behind him for most of the trip.
She had arrived at the bazaar with him, he knew that. Then he left to get on some Gerudo armor, and when he came back out, she had disappeared.
The Gerudo armor definitely helped with the heat. It equipped him with a shoulder strap, baggy pants, and a band to tie up his hair. That was all. Link didn't like putting his midriff on display, but that was beside the point. Zelda was missing.
Wait. Was that her?
A young woman with long, gorgeous blond hair was being led into a grove of palm trees. He couldn't make out anything about who was leading her. Link dashed as fast as he could after them.
Why didn't you keep a closer eye on her! You shouldn't have left her alone for that long!He scolded himself.
Upon reaching the grove of trees, he glanced around. But they were nowhere in sight.
Where could she have gone? He wasdefinitelygetting beheaded for this!
Sudden movement caught his eye. Whipping around, he quickly located the source.
There she was. But why was she running?
Zelda was running as fast as she could out into the desert. Link looked after her, confused, before dashing off in pursuit.
(Zelda's POV)
"Run, pretty little princess!"
"You can't hide from us!"
Eerie voices echoed in Zelda's ears as she pounded through the sand, her legs burning with exertion.
Of course.
Of course she had fallen for such a dirty trick.
She should have known. The Yiga, they were everywhere. And this was their home turf! No wonder they had gone for her, upon realizing who she was!
Traysi had been lying about wanting to meet her. Lulling Zelda into a false sense of security, she had led them away from any onlookers, before revealing her true form.
A servant of the Calamity.
Working for Link's father.
And now she was running. Running for her life. And the one time she wanted Link, he wasn't there.
Aah!
Traysi appeared in front of her laughing, now fully clothed in her red bodysuit, donned with a white mask sporting a red, upside down eyeball.
Zelda fell backwards in surprise, scrambling further back as fast as she could, but she bumped into a pair of legs.
Link?
Zelda looked back hopefully.
Nope.
It was another Yiga.
Also laughing, he closed in as Zelda tried to scramble the other way.
She was surrounded.
Traysi stalked forwards, still laughing. She pulled out a vicious looking sickle, which gleamed in the sunlight, before raising it high.
Zelda gasped.She should've known! Of course they meant to kill her! With her gone, there would be no sealing the Calamity!
Zelda, accepting her fate, bowed her head and prepared for the worst.
But it never came.
A loudclashsounded, catching Zelda's attention.I...I'm not dead?
Glancing upwards, she saw him.
Muscular build, dirty-blond ponytail, Gerudo armor, and glowing blue Master Sword.
He had saved her yet again.
Her Hero.
(Link's POV)
Whew.
That was way too close.
Link had caught sight of the Yiga not too long after he left to chase down Zelda.
Rushing forward even faster, he had killed the first Yiga, and blocked the second one's attack. The second one had then disappeared, likely afraid of being killed like her comrade, leaving him to tend to Zelda.
Link wiped the sweat off his forehead. He had barely made it in time.
Kneeling down by the shaking princess, Link double checked her for any injuries.
She seemed to be fine, other than being quite shaken up-
Link was pulled out of his thoughts as he felt arms wrap around his neck.
Zelda.
She was...
Was she...
Was shehugginghim?
Zelda had her face buried into his shoulder, weeping.
"I was sososcared!" She wept. "I felt so powerless, like there was nothing I could do! It was terrifying!"
Link, unsure of what to do, reached an arm around Zelda and gently patted her on the back.This was so unprofessional.
"My peoplehateme!" Zelda continued. "I'll never gain their trust!"
"They don't hate you." Link murmured.
"Huh?" Zelda glanced up for a moment, likely startled by his voice.
"They don't hate you." Link repeated. "The Yiga aren't your people. They're against us."
Zelda wiped the tears from her face and hiccuped.
"The Yiga want the Calamity to rise, so of course they'd try to kill you. They tried to kill me as well."
Zelda sighed and nodded. "I suppose that's true. It is a little weird that they were waiting for me though."
"Well, with my dad as their leader, I'm sure there's lots of secrets that they know. Besides, it could've just been a Yiga on patrol who just happened to notice you."
Link took a deep breath. This was the most he had ever spoken in years!
"Yeah, I guess." Zelda looked deep in thought.
Link stood up and reverted back to sign.
"We should get going. We need to make it to Gerudo Town before nightfall."
Zelda nodded and stood up. "Let's go."
"By order of the King, we need to be let in to see Chief Urbosa."
Link stood outside the sandy walls of the only-women town, watching Zelda try to negotiate with the guards.
The Gerudo were an only female race. They were tanned, muscular, and threatening with their hot pink hair.
"But he's a voe!" The guards were arguing.
Apparently voe meant man, and vai meant women. Also there had been some incident in the past, and now men weren't allowed in the town.
"ExCusE mE, I am the Princess! We need to be let in!" Zelda was also smirked. She could be pretty feisty.
"Let them in."
A voice sounded from behind the gate. Link looked up.
A tall muscular woman with pink hair in a long ponytail down her back was standing behind the guards. She must be the Chief, Link realized, kneeling down.
The Chief laughed. "There's no need for such formalities! I am merely a Chief, not a Queen!"
Surprised, Link slowly stood back up.
"Now, I heard you've come to deal with some pests."
"Urbosa!" Zelda exclaimed as she rushed forward and threw her arms around the Chief.
"It's nice to see you again, little bird." Urbosa replied.
Huh? They know each other?
Urbosa must've noticed the look on his face, since she then explained. "Zelda and I have known each other for years. Her mother and I were good friends."
Link nodded, still unsure.
"Well, come on in!" Urbosa exclaimed, ignoring the protests of the guards.
She led them through the center of the town. There were shops lining the streets, waterways down the middle lined with palm trees, and many Gerudo women gawking at them as they passed by. Many were murmuring, but all Link could pick up was something about a voe.
Upon reaching the opposite side of the town, he saw a massive structure.This must be the palace.Urbosa led them up the stone steps and into the building, which had no doors.
Inside, there were many windows and holes in the structure branching off into different sections. Urbosa walked up the red carpet and sat down on a large chair, which Link presumed to be the throne.
"Link. That's your name, I heard?" Urbosa asked.
Link nodded.
"You're pretty famous you know, having pulled that sword." Urbosa continued. "Anyway, let's get down to business."
"Yes."Link agreed."I need to borrow your army to make a head on attack on the Yiga."
"Sure!" Urbosa exclaimed, laughing. "It's about time we got rid of these pests! And I'm sure with a swordsman of your caliber we'll have no trouble!"
Startled by her sudden acceptance, Link just stood there for a moment before continuing."Thank you so much. Is it okay if we leave tonight?"
Urbosa suddenly looked serious. "Of course. I'll let my soldiers know we'll be working with you, then I'll lead you to the hideout. In the meantime, why don't you go get some sleep? I'll show you where the inn is."
Urbosa stood up and gestured at Link to follow her.
She led him out onto the steps of the palace. Pointing at a certain building, she explained that it was the inn. "Just tell them I sent you."
Link gave his thanks, before heading off towards the inn.
On the way there, he met several little kids running around. "Whoah! You're avoe!" One of them had explained. "What's it like outside the desert?" Another had asked.
Answering the kids and their various questions, Link finally made it to the inn.
Upon checking in, the woman in charge of the inn had also asked billions of questions before finally showing him to his room.
Link gratefully thanked the woman, shut the door, and plopped down onto the bed thinking about the upcoming battle.
The moon was hidden behind clouds, and the sky was pitch-black.
It was the perfect night for a raid. The army, led by Urbosa, was creeping through the desert up towards a massive canyon hidden perfectly by the cliff walls. That was their target, Urbosa had said, Karusa Valley. The valley apparently led deep into the cliffs, (or the Gerudo Highlands), and at the very end of it lay the Yiga Hideout.
Those cursed freaks.How Link longed to get revenge on his father. Link had trusted him!
"Everyone quiet! We're almost at the start of the valley!" Urbosa was speaking, dragging Link out of his thoughts.
The army halted. They had reached the valley. The cliff walls loomed tall, closing in on them from the sides. It was so dark it was hard to see anything but shadows.
Link closed his eyes, preparing for the raid.
Thunk. Thunk.
A body fell to the ground behind him, arrows sticking out of it's back.
Silence.
Thunk. Thunk.
Another went down.
Eerie laughing echoed throughout the canyon. Link whipped around, looking for the attackers, but there were none.
Suddenly, movement caught his eye.There. On top of the canyon.
Several silhouettes were peering over the cliff's edge at the army. One of them suddenly started glowing red.
Looking up, Link saw a massive redeyeglowing above them. Bursting out from it, a red dome descended upon the vicinity of the soldiers. They were trapped.
Chaos immediately erupted in the army. Screams, shouts, yells, and shrieks could be heard, but one thing sounded above all the rest.
"It's an ambush!"