Chapter 2 - Astra and Purah

Summary: Astra arrives in the timeline left by her father Link and meets with Dr. Purah.

Seventeen-year-old Princess Astra stood just inside the doorway of the small cave behind the Spring of Wisdom and turned to take a last look at her parents, Zelda and Link. She waved, and then, as the massive doors closed, her eyes filled with tears. She had kept up a brave front until now, hiding her secret and feelings to spare others. But she had been crying inside for some time now, heartbroken to be losing all those she knew and loved. She never felt more alone!

A moment later, what could only be a time portal appeared and enveloped her as she closed her eyes. And suddenly, a radiant golden light filled her mind, and a voice that was hard to describe spoke to her. It was a beautiful voice, strong and yet caring, and the mere sound of it uplifted your spirit. She felt the pain in her heart start to ease.

My dear daughter, let me wash away your sorrow. I am so proud of you! You have grown much in grace and accomplishment. Go now with my blessing and my love. And do not lose heart, for you are never alone. I am with you always.

Then the light vanished, the voice faded, and Astra opened her eyes. As she looked where she stood, everything at first seemed as before. But then she noticed one difference: the ancient Sheikah shrine behind her glowed blue now. Her father, Link, must have once entered that shrine. And as the massive cave doors slid open to reveal the Spring of Wisdom itself, her mother and father were no longer there, of course. The spring was deserted.

Flecks of falling snow melted on her cheeks as she stepped outside into the crisp cold air and the doors to the cave at once slid closed behind her. She shivered and pulled her cloak tightly around her. Fortunately, the warming elixir she had consumed still worked to help combat the chill. She stopped for a moment to say a brief prayer before the giant Goddess statue. Then, with a glance up at the gray cloudy sky and the tall ice pillars surrounding her, she left the spring and prepared to make her way down the mountain.

The nearest village to Mount Lanayru was Hateno Village to the south, so that was her first destination. Her father had told her he once owned a small house there, though she doubted she would be allowed to use it. She thought it was most likely a museum or a landmark by now, a memorial to the famous Hero of Hyrule. But her father had also told her that Dr. Purah might still live nearby in a lab on a hilltop overlooking the village.

The winding path down the mountainside began to her left, which was the usual route one would take if traveling on foot. But her father had urged her to take along a paraglider whenever she traveled. It's fun and handy to have, he had told her, and she recalled some happy moments they spent paragliding together. Anyway, having a paraglider allowed her to turn to the right instead and save a good deal of time. You could make out Hateno Village in the distance from the edge of a nearby cliff, and it was only about a kilometer away as the crow flies. She readied her paraglider, jumped off the cliff, and soared into the air. It was an easy flight, and it gave her some time to think.

The voice had indeed helped her. At first, it had comforted her somehow and helped ease her pain. But it had also reminded her she needed to put aside her grief and prepare for whatever Hyrule required of her. That's what her father would do. In fact, that's exactly what he had done here before.

Once her father had suspected that returning here might someday be her fate, he had used their time together to share all he remembered of the timeline he left behind. Among other things, he had said it would be wise to speak with Dr. Purah and explain who she was and what was happening. She recalled one conversation they had.

"Dr. Purah is much the same as she is here, a brilliant but eccentric scientist," said Link as he walked with her in Hyrule Forest Park one sunny afternoon. "She knows more than anyone about ancient Sheikah technology and about what we did to send me here. She can help guide you."

"But will she still be alive, Dad? I may arrive some years after you left, and Dr. Purah was already well over 100 years old by then since you said she knew you before your long slumber."

"Oh, yes, about that," said her father, and then he chuckled. "Well, we may end up being fortunate in that respect, thanks to her recklessness. Dr. Purah overdid one of her anti-aging experiments and had the body of a ten-year-old girl when I left. Unless she did something else to herself, there's a good chance she will still be alive. Do you have other questions?"

Astra thought for a moment.

"I remember you said the Goddess undid the events that led to my birth, the workings of the evil Timela. In effect, aside from preserving me, she rewound time to the instant you departed and let time flow normally from then on. So, I will be a stranger to everyone. Do you think people will accept me for who I am?"

"I will write letters for you to give to Zelda and Purah," said Link. "I'll include things in the letter that only the three of us would know to help convince them. And I'll include a copy of the chapters in my journal that explain what happened with Timela."

"But what about others? Can they accept the sudden arrival from nowhere of a Princess of Hyrule?"

Link smiled and then answered her.

"Why not? They did before. The Royal Family was missing for one hundred years until we finally defeated the Calamity. Then, as far as everyone knew, Zelda miraculously re-appeared out of nowhere and was still seventeen years old. Her return was considered a miracle, a great blessing of the Goddess, and a favorable omen for her rule. People were thrilled! So, such things are not unheard of. But, of course, I do not know what has happened since then. We will have to see."

Astra was touched that her father always spoke of her mission in terms of "we" and not "her," as though in his heart he wished to be there with her. And maybe he was in a way with all he had taught her.

So Astra had carried those two letters of introduction with her along with the extracts from Link's journal. And as she continued making her way through the air, her thoughts returned to the present, and she prepared herself for the new reality here.

The first leg of her glide took her to the easternmost peak of Madorna Mountain. It was a barren, snow-covered hilltop with a lone cedar tree. From there, she glided down over Lake Sumac and a sheep farm to Hateno Village itself.

It was just about sunset when she finally reached the village, put away her paraglider, and began walking. She noticed there were black cloths draped across many doorways and windows and then saw someone approaching on foot. It looked like a farmer returning home from a day in the fields, and he greeted her first.

"Good evening, Miss, you're traveling late by foot," said the farmer.

"Yes, good evening, and by necessity, I'm afraid. May I ask you something?" said Astra.

"Yes, Miss, of course," said the farmer.

"This may sound silly," said Astra. "But what is the date?"

"Not silly at all, Miss," said the farmer. "It's the second day of the tenth month - harvest season for many of us here and why I've been out working so late."

"And the year?"

"Why 142, of course!" said the farmer, this time in some surprise.

Astra didn't answer at first but began working things out in her head. She realized the year made sense. Calamity Ganon was defeated one hundred years after Zelda turned seventeen so in the year 117. Link had left Hyrule four years later in the year 121. And Astra knew from her father that she was supposedly born eight years after Calamity Ganon's defeat in this timeline, so in the year 125. So, it was now 21 years since Link left, and she was seventeen, of course. And Dr. Purah would be 31 now, or rather inhabit the body of a 31-year-old.

"And the black banners I see everywhere?" Astra asked after a moment.

"What!? Where have you been all this time, Miss? You haven't heard of the death of Queen Zelda's husband?"

"No! Is that true?"

"Yes, he was killed just a week ago yesterday, and may he rest in peace," said the farmer as he shook his head. "He was murdered by some ruthless assassins called the Yiga Clan, and why the Royal Guard couldn't protect him, none of us can understand. Anyway, the Royal Funeral was held two days ago, and people are still in mourning. Everyone feels heartbroken for our wonderful Queen. It's so tragic! And they had no children either, so she has no family to share her grief and draw some comfort from."

"That's terrible news, and I'm grieved to hear it! I've come from far away and hadn't heard any of this," said Astra.

"I see. Well, I should be getting home, or my family will be looking for me. Will you be okay, Miss? I gather you are alone here. Do you want to join my family for dinner? We always have enough food on hand for an extra guest."

"Thank you, that is very kind of you," said Astra. "But I'm more tired than hungry and would make for poor company. So I will head to the inn now for some much-needed rest."

"Another time then perhaps," said the farmer. "You can always find me returning home from my field on the hill around sunset. Goodnight to you."

"Goodnight, and thank you again," said Astra as the farmer left to return home.

So, Queen Zelda lost her husband and had no child to continue the Goddess's bloodline. And the hero Link was gone as well. No wonder this Hyrule needed her! She took a deep breath and fought back the butterflies she felt in the pit of her stomach.

Astra had no trouble securing a bed at the Great Ton Pu Inn.

"You can have the ground floor private room," said the woman at the desk as Astra registered and paid. "You're our only guest so far tonight. Would you like us to wake you?"

"No, thank you, it's been a tiring day," said Astra. "I'll sleep as long as my body allows. Goodnight."

As she retired to her room, Astra realized that this Hyrule was clearly much more primitive than the one she left behind. Though, to be fair, she had to admit that Hateno Village was far from Central Hyrule, where more progress might be apparent. Still, she guessed it made sense this Hyrule would be more backward since efforts here would have gone toward restoring the kingdom and undoing the massive destruction caused by the Calamity. And that was not just physical destruction. Many lives had been lost, including those skilled in craftsmanship and technology. It would take time to re-develop such expertise, and there would not have been resources for advances in technology.

Astra had not slept well the night of her birthday, partly from partying late and partly from thinking of her upcoming farewell. She lay down, and fatigue overtook her at once as she fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

It was mid-morning by the time Astra awoke to the sound of voices outside. She was disoriented for an instant but then quickly recovered her composure. When she was ready, she stopped to speak to the clerk at the desk before leaving the inn.

"I'm glad you slept well. Will you be staying with us again tonight?" said the clerk.

"Possibly, but I don't know yet," said Astra. "Do you want payment now to reserve a bed?"

"No, that's fine. You can pay when you are sure of your plans," said the clerk. "But I will reserve a bed just in case. Not that business is brisk. Everyone who could travel attended the funeral, of course, not our village. Speaking of which, I suppose it's time to take down the black bunting. So sad!"

"Yes, it is," said Astra.

Astra made herself breakfast at one of the pots outside, and it was a warm and sunny late morning as she made her way up the hill to the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab. She passed giant windmills grinding grain and farmers who were out working the fields.

When she arrived at the lab entrance, she paused to take a look before knocking. The building was a rather dilapidated circular tower with a derelict guardian tied to the roof, though the masonry looked sturdy. White smoke rose from the chimney, and a colossal telescope pointed to the west. The furnace to the left of the entrance burned with the blue flame of ancient energy.

Astra finally knocked on the door, but she was not exactly made to feel welcome.

"Go away! I'm busy!" came a woman's voice from inside.

Astra persisted and knocked yet again. There was no answer this time. Astra knocked a third time, and then she saw someone peek through a window. A moment later, the door was flung open by a Sheikah woman who looked to be in her late twenties or early thirties, which was consistent with what her father had told her about Purah. But what held Astra's immediate attention was the dagger Purah held in one hand that she pointed at her.

"Did you not hear that I'm busy? I am not entertaining visitors and do not wish to be disturbed!"

"I heard you, but you will want to speak with me," said Astra as she kept a close watch on the dagger, ready to dodge any sudden movement.

"And why is that?"

"Because I know a great deal that you don't, Dr. Purah," said Astra.

This gave Purah pause.

"Do I know you? You look familiar and remind me of someone."

"Can we speak inside? This letter might help explain things."

Astra handed Purah the envelope containing the letter Link had written, along with his journal extract. Purah used her free hand to take out the letter and glance through it while still keeping the dagger pointed at Astra.

"Holy Hylia!" Purah exclaimed after an instant, looking stunned.

Then she lowered the dagger and stared at Astra.

"Yes, indeed, you had better come inside," said Purah as she glanced around the area as if looking for someone. "You weren't followed, were you?"

"No, nobody followed me. And you can trust me on that."

"That's good. And forgive the dagger," said Purah as she slipped it back into her belt and ushered Astra inside, then locked the door behind them. "But those Ganon loyalists, the Yiga Clan, have grown bolder of late, and you can't be too cautious. They were even able to elude the Royal Guards and murder our beloved Zelda's husband. I had to build some safeguards into the lab here in case I was discovered. Please sit down while I read this letter more thoroughly."

The lab was strewn with papers and books, and Astra had to move some aside to find a place to sit. She watched as Purah read through the letter, after which Purah looked up.

Dear Dr. Purah,

You will find this fantastic, but I know the fantastic is most to your liking. This is from Link, the one you sent off to the past in the year 121 to undo the Calamity in the year 17. You will, I am sure, be pleased to learn that your research bore fruit and was entirely successful!

The person presenting this letter is my beloved daughter, a daughter I had with Queen Zelda. The whole story of how this extraordinary event occurred is included with this letter in an extract from my journal titled Desert Sorcery.

But first, let me convince you that I truly am who I say I am. Remember when you created a Timeshift Stone and sent me back to spend a day with Mipha at East Reservoir Lake? I told you afterward that the visit went perfectly, though you asked how I knew that given my memory issues. You will also recall we decided to use my knowledge of the Champions' diaries to convince them I was indeed from their future and not simply delirious after losing my memory.

I hope those facts will suffice to convince you that this letter is genuine and comes from me.

I now ask you to please help my daughter with whatever she needs. I love her dearly and fear her burden may be a heavy one. She is an amazing person and at least as capable as me in many ways.

And thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you did for Hyrule and me. I owe you the happy life I am living right now. My daughter can tell you all about it.

Yours across time,Link

"Well, this certainly bears the ring of authenticity and could not be a hoax," said Purah as she put down the letter. "I know all of it is true, and even the Yiga Clan would not know of the things Link has written here. And now I can see who you remind me of. So, somehow you traveled back from the timeline we created twenty-one years ago?"

"Yes, but it was the work of the Goddess, not our technology," said Astra. "We had no means of achieving it."

"Ah, a pity," sighed Purah. "That would have been quite an accomplishment! And Link and Hyrule are all doing well?"

"Yes, and later I can share all that I know of it with you," said Astra. "But I need to discuss the present with you now."

"Yes, of course, Your Highness, that is what matters most," said Purah.

"I must also acquire the sword of evil's bane in this timeline, so I can wield it if needed," said Astra. "My father thought it would be in the Lost Woods."

"Yes, I expect so, Your Highness," said Purah. "Zelda would know for sure. But that means you have the spirit of the hero as well as the blood of the Goddess?"

"Yes, I was chosen by the sword and heard its voice some time ago," said Astra.

"I see," said Purah. "That is most remarkable! I'm beginning to understand why you may be here."

They were both quiet for a moment, then Astra spoke up.

"My father told me all he could remember of the world here, but I realize now that would be twenty-one years ago. Can you tell me some of what has happened since he left to help bring me more up to date?"

"Yes, of course, Your Highness, just let me collect my thoughts about how things were when your father left," said Purah. "Let's have some tea and refreshment since it is lunchtime, and we may be speaking for some time."

Purah prepared a pot of tea and served it along with bowls of rice and dried salted fish. Then, after clearing some space on her worktable, Purah sat down, and they ate together.

"Thank you, this tea is delicious and remarkably invigorating!" said Astra after taking a sip.

"It's from Kakariko Village and is a Sheikah specialty," said Purah. "It helps clear the mind for meditation or other mental activity, such as research. I will give you some to take with you if you like."

Then Purah began to speak about what had happened since Link left.

"Well, of course, a great deal has happened in the past twenty-one years, but my knowledge is limited, as I mostly keep to myself. Queen Zelda will know much more about such matters. But if I start with events closest to me personally, my dear little sister Impa and my long-time research associate Robbie have both passed on since Link left. I offered to try extending their lives with my rune, but neither wanted to use it. Robbie never trusted my rune - it was too erratic, he said, and he did not want to end up a child. And my sister said she felt her time in this world was enough. She said she was ready to leave it, happy knowing she had helped the brave hero, your father, achieve victory after he awoke from the shrine. Impa's granddaughter, Paya, still lives in the same house in Kakariko Village. Paya is 43 now and married and has a daughter named Layna. We do not speak of Paya's husband, as he still undertakes hazardous missions, including spying on the Yiga Clan. Robbie's wife is still alive. Her name is Jerrin, and at age 95, she still carries on with Robbie's research at the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab. After seeing the world as he put it, their son Granté moved back to live with her and help."

Purah paused for a moment to take another sip of tea and think.

"As for Queen Zelda, she married a Captain of the Royal Guard not too long after your father left. He was quite handsome, brave, and kind, and he showed himself to be a capable ruler alongside her. He shared Zelda's passion for science and ancient Sheikah technology, which is how he came to her attention. While assigned as her guard on one of her field trips, he commented knowledgeably on one of her scientific observations. She was impressed, and they grew close, eventually falling in love and marrying. Many a fascinating afternoon the three of us spent together, discussing ancient technology and what we could learn from it. Zelda was eager to use such knowledge to benefit the lives of her people whenever she could. But most of whatever funds were available went toward rebuilding Hyrule and educating the next generation."

Purah sighed, took another sip of tea, and then continued.

"But happy as they were together, their one regret was that they could not have children. I know Zelda prayed that they could, and it certainly bothered her. But I sensed she worried as much about Hyrule's future as their personal happiness. So, your arrival here is indeed a blessing, Your Highness."

"I have a feeling this is what the Goddess foresaw," said Astra after swallowing another sip of tea. "My father also gave me a letter of introduction to present to Queen Zelda to help convince her of who I am."

"Yes, seeing Zelda is the obvious next step," said Purah. "I hope your presence can console her, distract her from her grief. The Goddess moves in mysterious ways, but you are literally the answer to her prayers."

"My heart goes out to her. I know her story up to the time my father left, and she seems fated to lose all those she loves. That can be terribly hard to bear. However, I do indeed hope she will accept me, and my presence can bring her some comfort."

Purah smiled kindly at her.

"I suspect you also know how losing everyone feels. So perhaps you will draw some comfort from her as well."

Astra was quiet as Purah took another sip of tea, then continued.

"You know, as we speak, I see a great deal of Link in you. He was always sensitive to the plight of others and had a strong desire to help those in need."

"He is still that way. And he is the kindest and most loving father."

"Yes, I can believe that of him," said Purah as she nodded. "Though many saw only his other side, the fearless warrior, those who knew him could tell."

They were both quiet for a moment, and then they heard the rumble of thunder from an approaching storm. It reminded Purah of something she needed to tell Astra.

"Anyway, you should stay here for the night. It's safer, and there's a spare bedroom upstairs once occupied by my assistant Symin. He moved out some years ago, saying he felt unappreciated. Just as well, as far as I was concerned! He was rather slow in his work, and we didn't get along. Anyway, I don't mean to unduly alarm you, Your Highness, but if the Yiga Clan were to learn of your existence, you would be their primary target, just as your father was back in the day. I'm sure the Yiga are even now celebrating the apparent end of Goddess Hylia's bloodline, removing a key impediment to Ganon's eventual triumph someday. They would be furious to learn that was not so."

"I understand, and staying here will be fine," said Astra. "Thank you. And I have trained well to protect myself. I am only eager to unite with the sword that seals the darkness."

"Yes, that should probably come right after you meet with Zelda. We should travel together to Hyrule Castle tomorrow. I will arrange for a pair of horses."

Purah paused for a moment and then continued.

"Now, Your Highness, I am eager to learn how the Hyrule you came from is faring," said Purah, rubbing her hands in anticipation. "I will read Link's manuscript before bed, but perhaps you could go over things from your perspective in the meantime? I mean, if you are not too tired, of course."

"I suspect you gave me that tea to make sure I would not be too tired," laughed Astra.

"The tea helps memory too, Your Highness," laughed Purah. "I gather you can see right through me!"

"I will tell you what I can, and that will easily take us well into the evening," said Astra.

And indeed, by the time Astra finished, after a short break for dinner, both she and Purah were tired.

"Amazing," said Purah. "I'm not often at a loss for words, but your tale leaves me speechless. Let me show you to your room. It's on the way to mine, and be careful as the steps may still be wet from the storm that passed through."

The room was comfortable and still filled with books Symin must have taken to his room to read. After saying goodnight, Astra lay down in bed and looked up at the ceiling. Tomorrow she would meet Queen Zelda, and she wondered how that meeting would go. Timelines were confusing, but biologically she was Zelda's daughter as any medical test would show. It must stretch the bounds of credulity, though, to meet a grown daughter you never knew you had and by a marriage you never experienced. The Goddess truly did move in mysterious ways! Finally, she turned over and fell asleep.