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Chapter Text

It was cold in these catacombs deep beneath the castle. The torch in Zelda’s hand helped fend off that cold as it did the darkness around her and her companion, the light of its flame dancing along the stone of the passage they descended through. Their footsteps disturbed pebbles and sent them tumbling into the unknown ahead of them. The further they went, the more a strange, dark substance floated through the air. It didn't seem quite solid, nor quite gaseous, but it bore a sickening aura.

Link had remarked that it reminded him of Calamity Ganon’s Malice, and Zelda was inclined to agree. That being said, she had been more familiar than she cared to recall with that Malice, and this substance seemed different from it.
“This strange gloom keeps getting thicker,” she observed as they continued on. They came to a turn where Luminous Stone deposits appeared to have formed amongst old, standing water. She stopped and turned to her companion.
“We’ve been descending for a while now… These tunnels are deeper than I thought. What could be down here?” Link watched her solemnly as he always did. He wasn't quite as stone-faced as he had been back before his hundred-year slumber, at least with her, and she was thankful that he had finally learned to let down his guard around her. His bright blue eyes sparkled with his own curiosity as he followed dutifully behind her, though they were framed with concern at the prospect of potential danger.

Zelda supposed he would always follow his duty as her appointed knight, protecting her with everything he had. These days, however, it was hard to think of him as a vassal. Most importantly, he was a dear and cherished companion to her, and while he wouldn't admit it, she was fairly certain that he did not see her first as Princess anymore.
Perhaps he had stopped thinking of her that way when he ignored her orders to leave her and save himself from the possessed Guardians all those years ago.
Link’s presence had been an anchor and a lifeline for Zelda to cling to after he finally freed her from her duty of holding back Calamity Ganon. Hyrule had changed so much over the century she had been away. He had been so patient and kind to her as she grew accustomed to her new life, and he hasn't left her side since they were reunited.

Zelda started down the stone tunnel once again and Link fell into step just behind her as he always did. Most times, he stood at her side where she preferred him, but in situations like this, when the danger was greater, he kept his position back and his eyes ahead in order to protect her. He was ready to draw his blade at the slightest provocation. She stopped as the path forward became steeper, looking into the darkness ahead of them.

“People have been falling ill after coming into contact with the gloom drifting through these caverns,” she thought aloud. “Though here it seems almost misty and not concentrated enough to harm us.” She couldn't help it, her scholarly mind wanted to understand everything she could, though in this case, she needed to know as much as possible in order to protect her people. She lowered the torch to get a better look. “We’ll keep going. With it coming up from beneath Hyrule Castle…” She straightened back up and looked to her protector again. “We do not know what waits below, so we need to be ready for anything. But…” She couldn't help but smile a bit. “I know I'll be okay with you, Link.” His eyes softened and the corners of his mouth made the slightest twitch up. “Let’s go solve this mystery.” He nodded, and they started forth once more, descending the ruined stone stairs from only the goddess knew how long ago. Not long later, a sound and a light came from the scabbard on Link’s back, and both of them focused their attention on it.

“The Master Sword…” she murmured. He looked concerned as he turned his gaze toward her. “I knew we had reason for concern. Ever since the end of the Calamity, the castle has fallen into neglect. But I never could have imagined anything like these tunnels were hiding here.” She pondered this for a moment. “We must be careful as we move deeper.” He nodded and pulled the Master Sword from his back, and the blade glowed with a brilliant blue luster they had both become quite familiar with. The sword was at its strongest when it sensed the greatest danger. He stepped in front of her and took the lead as they passed through an old archway.

Incredibly, the ruins they came to appeared largely intact, in contrast to the rubble they had passed on their way. This appeared to be a corridor with fixtures that may have been lamps of some kind lining it. Zelda’s heart jumped with excitement as she went to inspect them, and Link kept a step back. As she came across a fallen pillar, she knelt down to examine it.

“These ruins are from an ancient civilization,” she said. “Wait… something is written here.” It certainly appeared to be writing, but she couldn't make it out. Nevertheless, they looked familiar. “Might these ruins be… from the Zonai?” She looked back up at Link, who looked curious himself. She got back to her feet and continued on. Across the corridor, something else caught her attention. “Oh, these carvings…” From her belt, she retrieved the Purah Pad and turned on the camera function. She snapped several photos. “I'm sure they’re Zonai in origin. I've seen designs like these in my studies. The Zonai are said to have lived long ago, in the time of earliest legend. They possessed godlike powers and had a prosperous civilization in the sky.” Link listened intently, even if she had gone over much of this with him before. She may have been the bigger researcher between them, but he had his own inquisitive nature and enjoyed hearing about her findings. “Many history books tell us about the Zonai, but none give us the full picture. Much is still unknown about them.” She lowered the Purah Pad and returned it to her belt, then took one last look at the carvings before continuing on. At the end of the corridor, two statues stood on either side of the archway, depicting figures Zelda was unfamiliar with. Once again, she began taking pictures for later study. “Is this what the Zonai looked like?” she wondered. “They seem so different from us, and such large ears… How did the ruins from a civilization in the sky end up here beneath the castle?” She stowed the Purah Pad and looked at her companion, and he looked from the statues to her. “It looks like the path ahead goes even deeper. Let’s continue, Link.” He nodded and took the lead again, Master Sword in hand.

They descended another ancient staircase and reached a short corridor with statues of what Zelda thought may have been the Zonai, and Link slowed down. Zelda stopped behind him and a squeaking sound reached her ears. Link’s brow furrowed, and he rushed ahead into a large cavern where bat-like creatures swooped down at him.

“Ah, Keeses!” Zelda yelped. Link did not hesitate as the one-eyed monsters descended. He slashed the Master Sword through each one with breathtaking speed, felling them quickly. Zelda hurried to join him as he scanned the cavern, and he straightened up and sheathed his sword once he determined that nothing else was threatening them.

“You’re not hurt, are you, Link?” He turned to her and shook his head lightly. Still, she couldn't help but look over him to assure for herself that he was unharmed. She gave him a small smile of relief.

Zelda returned her attention to the cavern they had found and lifted the torch, and as she looked over the walls, she couldn't help a small gasp of awe. All around them were carvings depicting all sorts of scenes.

“Look at these murals!” she said as she approached them. “The written histories of the Royal Family include stories of a great war fought long ago.” She lifted the torch toward the carvings. “It was a conflict between allied tribes and someone only ever referred to as the… Demon King.” A flutter of excitement sparked in her as she investigated the murals further. “Is it possible? Do these murals depict the same story?” She ran from one to another, an almost giddy feeling in her heart. She stopped as she observed one that depicted a being surrounded by several tear-shaped objects. “This appears similar to the statues we saw earlier- a Zonai.” She looked down toward the base of the mural. “And these figures look like Hylians.” She took a step back as Link joined her in gazing at the mural. “This depiction certainly suggests that the Zonai descended from the heavens.” They moved to the next mural, one depicting two figures- a Zonai and a Hylian- as well as two of the tear-shaped objects. “It is said that my ancestors- the first of Hyrule’s Royal Family- were born from a union with gods who had descended from the heavens.” She was all but certain she was looking at a mural of her ancestry. “These murals tell a similar story, and if they were accurate, then the gods mentioned were the Zonai… They must have forged a relationship with the Hylians of that time, working together to establish the kingdom of Hyrule!” A grin spread across her face, though as she moved to the next mural, it faded.

“This figure… He seems to be stealing something of incredible power from the young kingdom.” That “something” appeared to be one of the tear-shaped objects. “This all aligns with what I've read during my studies. And then this…” She hurried to the next one. “It shows the Demon King! And a fierce battle against him.” She took another step back, and she and Link gazed at the monstrous man in the mural. “If the creature depicted here really does represent the Demon King, then…” Hoards of monsters appeared to be coming from him, heading toward armed Hylians. “Incredible! This mural must be the great war recorded in the royal histories!” She looked back at the other murals. “This is the Imprisoning War and the events that led up to it! Link!” She spun around to him, unable to contain her excitement as she smiled. “This is a huge discovery!” She turned to retrieve the Purah Pad, and he stepped forward and took the torch from her. “I’m so glad I didn't leave this behind.” As she recorded the murals, she finally noticed the pile of rocks, and her face fell as she realized what was behind them. “It looks like the rest of the murals are obscured…” She put away the Purah Pad and Link returned the torch to her. She pondered everything as she looked around the cavern again. “Just what is this place…?” She found another potential path beyond the obscured murals and started toward it. “Maybe we’ll find more answers farther ahead. Link,” she turned to him again. “Let’s keep moving deeper.” Once again, he nodded, and he drew the Master Sword.

They arrived at another old stone staircase, and Zelda buzzed with excitement at their discovery. This was proof of what scholars had written about, but the truth of the Zonai was an incredible find. Her mind flooded with thoughts and ideas. Meanwhile, Link’s brow knit as they progressed, his grip on his blade tightening. The gloom appeared to be getting thicker now, and it took on a reddish hue that was far too similar to Malice than was comfortable. The air was growing even colder, yet the chill that traveled up Zelda’s spine… she was certain that something else was behind it. Why was this area hidden away and forbidden? It wouldn't have been because of the murals. What was she missing? An ill feeling formed in her stomach, and she took an instinctive step closer to Link as they pressed on. Something was very wrong here.

Eventually, a strange green glow appeared softly at the bottom of the stairs, and Zelda exchanged a curious, if not apprehensive, look with Link. They continued on and passed under a stone archway into a vast cavern filled with thickening gloom. From above, a spiral of glowing green light and runes of some kind descended around a large stalactite.
“What is this place?” Zelda wondered. She swallowed the dread she felt. “Let’s continue, Link. But we must be extremely careful.” He didn't look too keen on the idea.

“Okay,” he nodded. Slowly, she started toward the green light, and Link stayed close behind her.

“What is that?” she asked as they approached it. The green light spiraled down into some kind of appendage, and in turn, the appendage was holding onto… Zelda’s eyes widened. Was that… a body of some kind? The appendage, what appeared on closer examination to be an arm, was gripping an incredibly old, yet shockingly well preserved, body at the chest, where gloom poured from it. The body itself appeared to be suspended by the arm, held up and curved against gravity. Its face still remained in a gape- a scream? A yell? She couldn't be sure. Long red hair cascaded from the head, pooling into a tangled mess on the ground below. On its forehead was a glowing gem of some kind surrounded by intricate gold ornamentation.

As the two approached, the glowing arm twitched, and it suddenly fell away from the body and to the ground. From it, a small glowing object clattered out, skittering across the rock and coming to a stop between Zelda and Link. They both stared at it, then exchanged a brief look. She started to reach for it, but he stopped her and instead picked it up himself. No doubt he wanted to be absolutely sure that it would do her no harm. As they both stood back up, the stone’s glow intensified, and Link grunted as the light from it took on a yellow hue.

They didn't have time to observe it any further as a great pulse came from the body, still unnervingly suspended in the same position. Zelda swallowed her rising dread again and pulled the Purah Pad out once more. She didn't want to be next to this… thing any longer than absolutely necessary. But as she aimed the camera, she heard a cracking noise, and both she and Link stared as… It was impossible, wasn't it? But it did. The body began to move: first, its fingers, then, its arms. Dust and dirt fell to the ground, disturbed for the first time in ages. Slowly, the body jerked up, and Link stepped in front of Zelda as she couldn't help but watch with morbid curiosity. Then, as if unable to support itself, it fell back again.

Its head suddenly turned toward them, and its vacant eye sockets illuminated with glowing red and yellow eyes. It was everything Zelda had in her not to scream as she stumbled back. Gloom, or Malice, or perhaps both, exploded from its chest, and a massive tendril of it lunged for her. Immediately, Link intercepted it, slashing the Master Sword through it and deflecting it away from her. It reared back for a heartbeat, then shot forward again and enveloped the glowing blade. Zelda watched in horror as it clawed its way up Link’s arm to his shoulder, burning away his sleeve and glove as he tried to shake it away. Even he couldn't hide the agony he was in, and the pain on his face about broke Zelda's heart. Finally, he managed to break away from it, and as it retreated, it revealed burned and ruined skin and shreds of fabric still clinging to his chest. It was as if the life itself had been drained from his arm. The Master Sword’s blade was tainted with gloom as well, its normally brilliant luster fading and struggling to break through what infected it.

“Link!” Zelda cried as the tendril of gloom struck for him again. He fought through the pain, his eye squinted against it, and he swung the Master Sword through his assailant.

Both he and Zelda watched, absolutely horrified, as the Master Sword’s blade shattered. Pieces of it went flying in all directions, one of which managed to slice across the body’s cheek.

“Link!” Zelda shrieked again as he struggled to stay standing, broken blade still clutched in his ruined hand. She came up behind him and he stepped away slightly as she automatically reached out her hand to touch his injured shoulder.

“Was that the sword that seals the darkness?” a raspy voice taunted, and they both looked back to the glowing eyes that watched them. “A blade that shatters so easily against my power cannot save you from me.” Zelda was too terrified to care that it knew the blade’s moniker. With more jerking and twitching, the body straightened back up again. “Link…” it rasped, and Link let out the smallest noise of surprise. “You, who this boy protects at all costs… are Zelda.” Zelda stared in shock. “Rauru placed his faith in you… and that was all you could do?” It turned to face them fully, towering over them both.

“How do you…” Zelda managed to speak up. “Know our names?” It didn't bother answering her. Gloom rapidly gathered at its chest, and it brought its hands up around the pulsing mass. With a harsh grunt, he thrust it upward, and it shot toward the stalactite and engulfed it. The cavern began shaking, and rocks broke away and fell from above as the stalactite itself was forced to rise. An ear-rupturing rumble sounded as more cracks and crevices formed, and the ground beneath them trembled and began to break apart. The middle platform the body had been on fell, and it made no move to escape descending with the pieces.
Link collapsed to one knee as the pain overwhelmed him, and what was left of the Master Sword slipped from his fingers. Zelda began to kneel down at his side, her heart racing with fear, but before she could look over his condition, her footing crumbled from beneath her and she stumbled back. Link, with no hesitation, spun around and leapt for her. He grabbed onto the Purah Pad she managed to keep hold of and yanked her back up, pulling her back to her feet. In the motion, she lost her grip on the device, and Link fell back.

“LINK!” she screamed as he plummeted into the darkness below, and she forgot everything else as she jumped for him. Before she could reach him, however, something stopped her. She looked up in shock to find the glowing arm holding onto her wrist, and it pulled her up into a white light that overtook her.

Link kept his gaze locked on Zelda’s face for as long as he could, but he quickly fell beyond what little light the fallen torch could give and was engulfed in darkness. Searing pain continued to overtake his arm, and he clutched the Purah Pad as if his life depended on it. But as he fell, a light from his good hand caught his attention, and he suddenly remembered the weird stone that he had picked up.
A similar light illuminated from his chest, and he stared, wide-eyed, as something emerged from him. Briefly, it almost appeared to be an ethereal, glowing, white-gold wolf. It watched him through one red eye, the other scarred closed, and after a heartbeat, it lunged for his hand holding the stone. A brilliant light blinded Link, and that was the last thing he saw before he finally succumbed to the pain and lost consciousness.

Chapter Text

Zelda’s head pounding was what roused her from her slumber. She groaned softly as she opened her eyes, blinking repeatedly as she tried to clear her blurred vision. Slowly, things became clearer, and she found herself staring at some kind of root system above her.

“Link!” She bolted upright as her recollection of what had happened beneath Hyrule Castle came rushing back to her. The stagnant air around her stirred, and she slouched over as her head spun. Once it settled, she took a breath and slowly glanced around her surroundings.

She appeared to be in some kind of cavern, though it was quite different from the ones she had been exploring with Link. The thick roots above her weaved through the stone around her. They appeared quite old.

“Ah, Zelda.” She nearly jumped out of her skin as she heard an echoing voice out of nowhere. “You’re finally awake.” She got to her feet and searched for something to defend herself with. Unfortunately, nothing appeared readily available.

“Who’s there?!” she demanded, curling her fingers into fists.

“I've heard a great deal about you from Link,” the voice said. The name of her dear Link brought some ease to her heart, and after a moment, she allowed herself to relax a bit. “I am glad to see you unharmed.” She didn't respond, but took a breath to steady herself and glanced around more carefully. A glint of blue caught her attention, and she approached it slowly.

“Oh!” she gasped and hurried over to it. It was the Master Sword, or at least what remained of it. While the hilt was largely unscathed, the blade itself was… quite damaged. Zelda hesitated, but knelt down and wrapped her hand around the hilt. “How could this have happened…?” She had seen the legendary blade in dire shape before when Link had nearly lost his life defending her from the Guardians. If it hadn't been for the voice within the sword, she may have given up all hope of saving him. But even then, it hadn't been nearly as bad as this. Most of the blade was simply gone, and what remained was rusted and decaying. Seeing it in such a state hurt her deeply.

She carefully picked up the sword and held it close. Where was Link? Why was his blade here and not with him? She hadn’t recognized the voice that had spoken to her, so it wasn't someone she had met. Did that mean Link had met whoever the voice belonged to? Did this stranger save them? She looked forward to an opening obscured by vines and approached it. She managed to shove the vines out of the way and ducked through them, clutching the remains of the Master Sword to her chest.

She emerged in a much larger stone room with three rather immense gears locked together on one wall. Before her was a round structure that looked something like a gate, and upon closer inspection, she found it resembled two dragons circling with each other. In front of this were several small objects, and she came to kneel down to discern what they were.

They looked something like rings and bracelets, and they resembled the carvings beneath the castle that she theorized were Zonai in origin. Each ring bore a sort of opening, and one particular piece had a larger opening.

“I left those for you,” the voice spoke up again. “You will need to put them on your right hand. For now, think of them as keys to help you navigate.”

“What do you mean?” she asked, but there came no response. She huffed slightly and set the Master Sword aside, then picked up one of the rings. After looking it over a bit more, she decided she didn't have much say in this matter. She affixed the objects around her wrist and fingers, leaving one ring on each one as well as her thumb. The largest opening was placed over the back of her hand. Once everything was in place, the gate before her suddenly illuminated, and she nearly fell back as she yelped.

In the center of the stone circle, a rune of some kind had appeared. It largely featured a stylized hand as well as what looked like an eye above it. Zelda lifted her right hand and looked at it for a moment, then reached out to the hand and touched it. The objects she had donned took on a greenish glow, and the rune shattered away. She heard a noise behind her and turned to find that some kind of marking had illuminated on the ground. It oddly reminded her of the travel gates built into the Sheikah Shrines and Towers scattered across Hyrule before they had sunk back into the ground.

A distant sound caught her attention, and she glanced around but couldn't make out what it was. Then, the gears on the wall began to turn, dust and dirt falling from them as they moved. She had evidently activated some kind of mechanism, as a heavy stone door ahead of her slowly pulled open.

“What is this place?” she murmured to herself. She took a step back and retrieved the Master Sword, and she frowned. She wanted to keep it safe until she could return it to Link, but how? Seeing little other option, she slid the blade into her belt. Hopefully, it would be secure enough there until she could figure out a better solution. She headed through the doorway and came to a ledge of sorts positioned over a pool of water.

“I certainly wasn't expecting to be swimming today,” she muttered. Unfortunately, the dirt and stone around her didn't look like they were stable enough to climb across. She undid the clasp on her hood and allowed it to drop away. It would have to be left behind for now. She jumped and dove into the pool, then swam to the other side and climbed out to find a crumbled staircase that was no longer usable.

Traveling around Hyrule meant that Zelda had done her fair share of climbing in less than ideal conditions, and Link had taught her plenty over the past few years on doing so efficiently. It was one of many lessons that he had given her along with cooking, archery, and even some training with weapons. They both felt better about her having some combat knowledge in case the worst came to pass. It seemed now that the worst had indeed come.

Zelda squared herself and climbed up the crumbled wall, and she headed through a short tunnel to find another ledge over a pool of water. She grumbled a bit and dove in, and when she emerged, she found herself facing yet another ledge.

“Oh, dear…” She peered over to find a deep pool of water far below the ledge. Next to this pool looked to be a way out of wherever she was, but still, that was quite a drop. “All right. If I can dive correctly, I’ll break the surface tension and should avoid injury.” She swallowed her fear and took a step back, then ran forth and dove off the ledge. She had to resist screaming as she rapidly reached the water, but thankfully, she managed to break the surface with a great splash. She swam back up and made her way out of the pool, shivering a bit as she shook out her hair. Her heart pounded with adrenaline as the terror slowly subsided.

A bright light entered the cavern from the passage she came to, and as she approached it, she could see blue sky and hear birds chirping. Between the tunnels under the castle and whatever this place was, she was thrilled to see the sun and breathe fresh air again. She picked up her pace and headed through the passage, emerging into the bright sunlight.

“Oh, thank goodness!” she breathed in relief as she exited the passage, though that relief was short-lived as she came to another ledge. “What…” She couldn't help but gape as she saw where she was.

Despite how utterly impossible it seemed, she was in the sky. Clouds billowed around and below her, partially obscuring a great island floating far above the surface. In the distance, she could make out what she thought was Death Mountain, though it appeared to be spewing a glowing red, smoky substance. Was that gloom? The clouds made it difficult to see anything else on the surface. They did not, however, obscure the pond a great deal below her.

“There's no way,” she said shortly. “I can't possibly… That would be suicide!” She looked around desperately for any other option to descend that she may have overlooked, but there was nothing. All she could do was jump and pray to the gods for a safe landing. Still, it was much easier said than done as her heart sprinted with terror at the idea. “Okay, okay…” She shook herself a bit and centered herself. “I can do this. I have to. I must find Link.” She shut her eyes for a moment. “Link, please… lend me your courage.” She peered over the ledge once more, then assured that the Master Sword was as secured as it could be on her belt. Then, before she could psych herself out, she leapt from the ledge.

She spread herself out as well as she could to slow her descent in any way possible, and she barely kept herself from screaming. The wind whipped around her as she dove toward the pond below. Accepting that all she could do was wait to reach the water, she took the opportunity to look around the rest of the sky island. There was a large building on one side of it, and the rest was mostly covered in golden foliage and rich grass from the look of it. It was quite beautiful, she realized. There were plenty of other islands scattered throughout the sky, and she couldn't help but wonder if they had really always been there or if they had somehow just appeared.

Something moving caught her attention, and she peered through the thin clouds and the water in her eyes from the wind to find something moving through the air in the distance. It looked like a dragon. It must have been one of the guardians of the sacred springs, she figured. There were times she knew they tended to vanish from view. Perhaps they simply flew higher into the sky.

She couldn't ponder it any longer as she realized she was about to hit the water, and she quickly adjusted herself into a dive. Her hands stung something awful from the impact on the surface, but thankfully she was otherwise unharmed. She swam toward a set of stairs that led out of the water, making her way around massive lily pads. The stairs were framed by a large stone archway, and she glanced up at it as she emerged from the pond. The stairs led to a descending stone pathway lined with stunning white trees with gold leaves. It was actually quite serene, a gentle breeze passing over the island and birds flitting between the tree branches. The landscape was dotted with the ruins of structures that appeared Zonai in origin. Despite the fading terror from her jump and her concern about Link and the animated body beneath the castle, she couldn't help but be excited about what she saw here. If the Zonai truly descended from the sky, this must have been their home! There was a huge floating island in the sky over Hyrule! She could probably spend weeks, perhaps months or even longer, exploring the ruins. Maybe there would be something else here that would explain what that body was doing underneath the castle.

Zelda instinctively reached for her belt to retrieve the Purah Pad in order to record a few images of her surroundings, but its absence quickly reminded her that she had lost her hold on it when Link had saved her from falling. Guilt and grief nearly overwhelmed her, and she stumbled to a halt as she fought against the lump in her throat. If she had been able to hold onto it, if she’d been just a bit faster, perhaps she could have saved him just as he had saved her.

“Link, I'm so sorry…” she said to herself. Once again, he had thrown all sense of self-preservation aside in order to protect her. Once again, she was all but certain she had watched him die because of her. But, she reminded herself, the voice that had spoken to her said that it had been in contact with Link, so he must be alive despite the circumstance she last saw him in.

With that in mind, she continued down the stairs and further along the stone path. Upon reaching an open area, she stopped and glanced around. The large building was further ahead and below her, and she could still see the dragon in the distance. The sound of an alarm caught her attention, and she whirled around to find some sort of… thing coming toward her. It appeared to be built with stone and animated with some kind of energy, and it watched her through what appeared to be a red eye. In one mechanical hand, it held a tree branch.

“Fascinating,” Zelda remarked as it approached her. “What is this power that sustains you?” It didn't have an answer for her. Instead, it swung the branch at her, and she yelped and leapt back. Evidently, it wasn't interested in being researched. She scrambled away and it pursued her, making strange noises as it went. This certainly was not an ideal situation. She ducked behind a tree and found a fallen branch. It would have to do. She grabbed it and lunged out of the way as the construct swung at her again, and she grit her teeth and hit it with the branch. It stuttered, and she hit it again as hard as she could. After a couple more strikes, her branch broke against the construct and it shuddered and fell apart. A small sphere of energy rolled away from it, and she hesitated before picking it up. Perhaps it would be useful later, or at the very least, she would like the chance to study it. She also picked up a rather sharp piece that had fallen off the construct’s head. Maybe she could find a way to use it as a weapon, which would hopefully be more reliable than a tree branch.

“I owe him quite the show of gratitude,” she said to herself. Link's combat lessons had certainly come in handy. She couldn’t help but be a bit proud of herself. She’d successfully fended off an attacker without any help! She smiled a bit as she picked up the tree branch the construct had dropped, figuring it would be best to have something in case she came across more hostiles.

Further down the path, she found a strange object of stone similar to the construct that had attacked her. As she carefully came closer to examine it, it began to shudder. With some effort, it expanded, powered by the same energy as the other construct. She jerked back in surprise as it fully formed and appeared to be looking at her. It had a head extended by a neck made of stone and energy as well as two suspended hands.

“Zelda,” it said in a mechanical voice. “I have waited for you. Link left something for you in my care.”

“What?” she said. “You’ve seen Link?” From its body came a slot like a drawer, and immediately, she recognized the device inside. “That’s the Purah Pad!”

“I am told it is an invaluable tool that will provide you with direction,” the construct continued. Zelda nodded and picked it up, and the crest of the Sheikah illuminated on the screen. “I received it from Link. I have now passed it on to you. My records indicate that Link is waiting at the location marked on its map.” She looked down at the device again. “My message has been delivered.”

“Thank you,” she replied. “But… Could you tell me where I am?”

“We stand in the Garden of Time,” it said, and it turned to look at the large building. “The Temple of Time is visible from here. It was used in the distant past. Many rites and ceremonies were held there.” It turned back to her as she looked from the temple back to it. “But no more. Now it is a lonely place. No one visits.” She frowned, but was quickly distracted as a nearby arch lit up with the same rune she had encountered earlier. She looked down at the Purah Pad and opened the map, and it appeared to indicate that Link was waiting for her at the Temple of Time. How interesting that there was another Temple of Time separate from the ruins on the Great Plateau. She placed the Purah Pad away on her belt and went to the rune that had illuminated, and she placed her hand to it. Once again, it burst away, and the ground shook slightly as two parts of a bridge extended and met each other to allow her access to the next part of the path.

“Thank you!” she said to the construct, then walked across the bridge where she found another stone archway as well as what looked like a small home or shrine of some kind. Another construct was inside, and it resembled the one that had given her the Purah Pad rather than the one that had attacked her. She hoped that the designs of these constructs would give her some warning as to whether they were friendly or not.

“Hello,” it greeted as she entered the structure. “You seem to be new here. Be wary of Soldier Constructs as you travel this way.”

“Soldier Constructs?” she repeated.

“Soldier Constructs are those given strict orders to protect this land,” it said. “The Zonai who created us directed them to eliminate trespassers. They will consider you a trespasser too. You must treat them as a serious threat.”

“You truly were made by the Zonai?” Zelda nearly squeaked with excitement. “Incredible! And you still function, you speak clearly, and you are capable of such fluid movement…”

“I am known as a Steward Construct,” it replied. “Many others like me care for the Garden of Time. You may observe if you like.”

“Oh, I wish I could,” she said. “I thank you for your offer, and hope the opportunity presents itself again. But right now, I must find my friend.”

“Proceed with caution,” the construct advised, and it turned to a stone table or altar of some kind. “That weapon there will be more effective than the branch you carry. It has been refined and selected for self defense. Please take it.” She did as directed and picked up the wooden stick the construct had pointed out. It actually had a proper grip and felt more uniformly weighted than the branch she had picked up. It probably still wasn't the most durable, but it would likely be much better than the branch.

“Thank you for the information,” she said as she turned around.

“You are welcome.” With that, she left the structure and headed to the archway nearby, which, to her disdain, featured another ledge over a pond. Apparently this wasn’t going to be something she could avoid anytime soon. She took a breath and dove from the ledge, and upon swimming to the bank, she spotted a Soldier Construct nearby. She ducked down and slowly made her way behind a tree. She may have had a better stick to use, but she would still rather avoid fighting altogether.

Unfortunately, she wasn't sneaky enough, and the Soldier Construct came charging for her. She yelped and ducked as it swung a stick at her, and she retaliated with her own. After a few hits, it collapsed, and it left behind another glowing orb of some kind and what she decided to identify as its horn. She pocketed both and the stick it had been carrying, then continued toward the temple.

Ahead, she spotted two more Soldier Constructs that appeared to be communicating with each other. She slowly stepped back and glanced around. Maybe there was a way she could get through without alerting them, or another way to defeat them without engaging in direct combat. On a ledge above them, she saw a fairly sizeable boulder precariously placed on the edge. If she could manage to push it over, it would probably do a fair deal of damage to them. She climbed up and shoved against the boulder, and sure enough, it toppled and crushed both of the constructs. She almost felt bad for them.

After dodging around another Soldier Construct, she came to a large stone archway that appeared to mark the start of a large set of stairs leading to the Temple of Time. An aroma reached her nose and she turned to find a Steward Construct standing next to a fire, and a toasted mushroom of some kind was laying next to it.

“Hello,” it greeted as she approached. “Were you lured in by the delicious smells? I assume so.”

“Indeed,” she agreed.

“Ingredients are especially fragrant when roasted by a fire. They may also be tastier and more nutritious. I would not know.” She chuckled.

“They are,” she confirmed. “It’s a great way to quickly increase their nutrition.” After conversing with the construct for a few more minutes, Zelda bade it farewell and headed toward the temple once more. Of course, reaching the stairs required another swim, not that she had much choice. She swam across and started up the stairs, which unfortunately we're starting to fall into a state of disrepair in quite a few places. She made her way up, climbing a rather large part that had crumbled away, and found a single Soldier Construct guarding the temple. It carried a rusty sword and a wooden shield, and like the others, it came quickly for her. She dodged around its swing and struck it with her stick, and after a few blows, it collapsed.

“It wouldn't hurt to have this,” she thought as she picked up the shield. It was lightweight and not very thick, therefore it would be easy for her to maneuver for the time being. She continued up the stairs and found a large door with seven different circular depressions in it all connected to one bigger one, and in that bigger one, another rune illuminated. She lifted her hand as she had before, but when she touched the rune, a brief shock ran up her arm and the rune turned red as a bright red “X” appeared across the door. Caught off guard, she stumbled back and shook out her hand.

“Ow,” she grumbled. “Why is…?”

“That door will only open to those with sufficient power,” a voice suddenly spoke up behind her, and she spun around to find the source. “I’m sorry, I didn't intend to startle you!”

Zelda found herself looking at the translucent form of a humanoid creature with long, bushy hair and large ears as well as a somewhat animalistic face. He bore a strong resemblance to the statues and carvings of the Zonai beneath Hyrule Castle.

“It was I that spoke to you earlier,” he continued. “The adornments on your arm originally belonged to me.” He lifted his right arm, and sure enough, he appeared to be wearing the same rings and bracelets that she now did. “I am Rauru.”

“Rauru…” Zelda looked down at her hand for a moment. That name sounded so familiar, but she couldn't quite place it. She returned her attention to him.

“Forgive me for appearing to you in this manner,” Rauru went on. He spread his arms a bit. “Unfortunately, I no longer have a physical form.” Was he… a spirit? A ghost? It felt rude to ask. “In any case, those adornments should allow you to open this door. They seem to have lost the power to do so.” Zelda lifted her hand and inspected the adornments for a moment.

“What exactly are these?” she asked as she looked up to him again. “Is there a way to restore this power?”

“It’s… hard to explain,” he said, placing a hand to his chin. “It may be better for you to simply see for yourself. You might be able to restore them, but you would need to enter a place filled with sacred light.” Zelda resisted a guilty frown. If only she hadn't lost her sealing power, perhaps that would have been sufficient. Rauru thought it over for a moment longer, and his ears twitched. “Ah, of course. Why not visit the shrines on this island?” He turned to look out in the distance, and she stepped forward and followed his gaze to find a structure of some kind a short ways away from where they stood. It looked like a large stone surrounded by some sort of semicircle of a base. At the top of the stone, a spiral of green light appeared. It was not unlike the one she had seen with the arm that had been holding the body below Hyrule Castle.

“The shrines,” Rauru mused. “Yes, I'm sure they are the key.” Zelda turned back to face him again. His eyes were filled with such gentle kindness and light. She couldn't help but feel inclined to trust him. Before she could say anything, though, he faded from her view.

“Wait, Rauru!” she said quickly as she reached for where he had been, but there was no response. She had hoped to ask about Link, but alas, the opportunity was gone. Perhaps he would appear again at some point. Even beyond Link, she had so many questions, including wondering where she had heard his name before. She looked back up at the Temple of Time.

“I'm sorry to keep you waiting, Link,” she said. “I will try to be back quickly.” She took one more look at the adornments on her arm, then started down the stairs to find a way to the shrine.

Chapter Text

Thankfully, making the trek and climb to the shrine wasn't too difficult. On the way, Zelda caught sight of a Soldier Construct up on a short ledge, and she noticed arrows littering the area. The ledge the construct was on had long grass growing on it, and she recalled a technique that Link had once taught her. She made her way up to the ledge and crouched down in the grass, wooden stick in hand. Carefully and quietly, she made her way up just behind the construct, then struck it as hard as she could. Immediately, the construct collapsed, leaving behind a wooden bow.
“Ah, good,” she said as she picked it up. She was much more comfortable using a bow rather than having to deal with assailants up close.
As she climbed up to the shrine, she heard a noise from the direction of the Temple of Time. It sounded like a ringing bell. Perhaps it was indicating the arrival of dusk. All the while, that one dragon continued to fly through the sky in the distance. They were such beautiful creatures, the way they appeared to almost swim through the air. But as the setting sun glinted off the dragon, Zelda noticed something odd. She pulled out the Purah Pad and looked through the scope.
This dragon appeared to have white scales tinged in green, and around its head were golden formations that almost resembled hair. Unfortunately, even through the scope, she couldn't tell much more of the details. She could be certain, however, that this was not Dinraal, Naydra, or Farosh.
“Another dragon?” she mused. “This one must just spend its time in the sky. I wonder what it does up here…” The other three dragons were said to be servant spirits that guarded the three sacred springs scattered across Hyrule. Perhaps this one served a similar purpose here in the sky.
She turned back to the shrine and found that the base, which featured two stylized dragon head carvings on either side, was projecting one of the runes. She touched it with her right hand and it burst away. Behind her, a sigil of sorts illuminated, and light opened up a way into the shrine. She stepped inside, glancing around her surroundings as she did.
Zelda almost jumped as Rauru appeared before her.
“So you’ve made it here,” he said. “This is a Shrine of Light. Long ago, I filled these places with light that purges evil. I believe this light will restore an ability that your adornments have lost.” She listened intently as he explained. “Now then, extend your hand.” She did so, and bright blue and green light appeared and swirled about her hand. It created a sphere of light that took on the appearance of the hand in the runes she had seen, then sunk into her palm.
“This is the Ultrahand ability,” Rauru said. “It allows you to move objects freely and attach them to other objects. With it, you will be able to build a great number of things.” He smiled a bit. “Link told me that you are very intelligent and curious. I'm sure you will be able to come up with plenty of uses for this.” Zelda felt her face warm a bit. “Use Ultrahand, and receive the blessing from this shrine.” Before she could say anything, Rauru faded from view again. She still had so many questions, but at least it did sound like Link really had met Rauru. But how? Had his spirit appeared to her hero as well?
She had a feeling that this mystery would only continue to baffle her until she gained entry into the Temple of Time. With that in mind, she headed deeper into the shrine. Immediately, she came across a shallow chasm and found a large stone slab off to the side. She lifted her hand, then focused on the power she had supposedly been given. The center opening on the back of her hand illuminated and light spread through her adornments, and when she thrust her hand forward, that same light reached out and grabbed hold of the slab.
“Oh, wow!” She raised her hand and the slab was lifted as if it weighed nothing. She moved it over the chasm and let it drop, and she hurried across it. “How is this possible?” she wondered. “What power did the Zonai possess?” With magic, or technology, or perhaps both, like this at their disposal, it’s no wonder that they were able to accomplish such feats that they would be considered gods.
The next chasm was wider, and there were two stone slabs available. She maneuvered them and felt a pulse in her hand as they lined up, and she focused on that pulse. A goo-like substance appeared between the slabs, sealing them together. Like with the first chasm, she moved these two attached pieces over and made herself a bridge.
Further ahead, she found a metal rail and several pieces against the wall. The rail appeared to lead to a structure of some kind that a glow of light spiraled up from. She looked up to see scaffolding attached to a hook moving across another rail. It seemed simple enough. Using the available pieces, she made her own lift, and she rode it across the final chasm. As she approached the structure, a rune illuminated before it. She touched her hand to it, and it burst away. The main part of the structure retracted away with a burst of light, revealing two statues. One appeared to be a Zonai, and the other a Hylian woman. They stood hand in hand, their free hands extended in a welcoming manner.
“You have done well to reach this place,” a voice from nowhere and everywhere at once spoke up, startling her. “We offer this light that will protect you from evil.” The light around the statues gathered into a bright yellow orb in front of her. She hesitated for a moment as she observed it, then lifted her hand to it. It absorbed into her hand, and a warmth spread up her arm.
“May the Light of Blessing grant you the strength you seek.” With that, the rest of the structure descended, blocking away the statues. Left alone, Zelda departed from the shrine.
Upon returning to the Great Sky Island, Rauru appeared before her with a pleased look on his face. The Zonai statue in the shrine had resembled him quite a bit, she realized. Again, she wracked her brain trying to recall where she had heard his name before.
“You did very well getting through that shrine,” he said. “And you've restored an ability. This is wonderful. If you visit and complete two more shrines, you should be able to open the door to the Temple of Time.”
“I hope so,” Zelda agreed.
“I believe that device of yours can mark distant locations on its map, yes?” he said. “I’d suggest you use them so you never lose track of where the shrines are.”
“That is a good idea,” she nodded. “How do you know…” He disappeared before she could finish her question. She sighed inwardly and pulled out the Purah Pad, and after a bit of searching, she managed to find two more shrines on the southwest and southeast sides of the island. They did appear to be a bit of a trek to reach them. “I'd best get going, then.” With the Ultrahand ability, she was able to make herself a path forward. She passed under a tree with apples hanging from the branches, and the sight of them made her stomach rumble. It had been a while since she's eaten anything. She jumped up and grabbed one, and happily bit into it as she continued on her way.
A little while later, she saw a Steward Construct at work, and to her surprise, she found Rauru observing the construct. As she approached, Rauru turned to her.
“I see that they're still at work even now,” he said. “We originally created the constructs to assist in our endeavors. All of us were fond of them.” He turned his gaze back to the construct. “I never imagined they would continue to carry out their assigned tasks to this day. The fact that their labor no longer serves any purpose, yet they perform it still…” He placed a hand to his chin. “It is disquieting to me.” Zelda frowned as she watched the construct chop away at a tree.
“It is quite impressive that they are still functioning at such a capacity even now,” she said, and he nodded slightly.
“Yes… Well, if they are of any assistance to you, Zelda, then it eases my heart to know that they still serve a purpose.” He continued to watch the construct work, and she decided that it would be best to leave him to his thoughts and continue on her way to the next shrine.
Evening was once again falling by the time Zelda came across Rauru again, and she was contemplating finding shelter for the night. The setting sun lit up the Temple of Time beautifully, and she found Rauru watching it in the distance.
“I love this view of the Temple of Time,” he said as she came to his side. “I always took a moment to appreciate it whenever I passed by here. The Garden of Time was quiet. The only sound to be heard was the time bell ringing in mornings and evenings.” That must have been the ringing sound she had been hearing. “It was as if the whole place changed at its chime. Especially at night, when the sound signaled the emergence of fireflies.” A solemn, almost longing look crossed his face. “Those were glorious times.”
“I'm quite fond of fireflies myself,” Zelda said. “It is a beautiful comfort to see that light when it otherwise grows dark.” She looked back up at the temple. “It really is a beautiful view.”
“Indeed.”
After making her way past patrolling Soldier Constructs and using her new ability to build herself a raft, Zelda made her way across a large pond and climbed up to the next shrine. As she approached, a rune illuminated, and she placed her hand to it. Like the first one, a sigil appeared before it and a light opened to grant her access. Once she was inside, Rauru appeared to her again.
“So you’ve made it here,” he said. “Now then, extend your right hand.” She did as instructed, and like before, swirling green and blue light appeared around it and formed an orb that bore a symbol that resembled a weapon. That orb sunk into her palm, and the adornments on her arm briefly lit up.
“This is the Fuse ability,” Rauru told her. “It allows you to fuse something nearby to your weapon or shield, thereby enhancing it. Why not pick up that sword just ahead and then fuse a nearby object to it? Use Fuse, and receive the blessing from this shrine.” As was now expected, he faded from view, and Zelda focused on her adornments. She certainly felt something new about it. Just ahead, as Rauru had said, there was a rusty claymore that would require two hands to wield. Zelda certainly wasn't the most adept with larger and heavier weapons like this, but she figured she didn't have much of a choice. Scattered around were several boulders. She picked up the claymore and focused on her new ability, and a blue light enveloped both the claymore and one of the boulders. At the feeling of a pulse in her hand, she focused, and the boulder attached itself to the claymore.
“Oh, Link would absolutely adore this,” she laughed as she looked over the fusion. With this weapon and a mighty swing, she was able to break through the cracked pillars that blocked her way forward. In the next chamber, she found several plants bearing glowing red fruit that was warm when she approached it. She looked up and saw a cluster of dried leaves surrounding a treasure chest on a wooden platform, then found a bow and a bundle of arrows waiting for her.
“Hmm…” She picked the fire fruits off the plants, then took up the bow and pulled back an arrow. With a bit of focus, she was able to fuse one of the fire fruits to the arrow, and she loosed it. Upon impact, the fruit burst into flames that quickly burned away the leaves, and the chest dropped to the floor. “This fruit certainly isn't native to Hyrule… Or at least not on the ground,” she thought aloud. “This certainly is a handy ability!” She retrieved a key from within the chest, then made her way further into the shrine.
After facing off against a construct that was quite a bit tougher than the ones she had fought on the island, Zelda arrived at the heart of the shrine. She carried several new weapons with her and had perhaps a bit too much fun figuring out what materials would work best with which base weapons. There were so many combinations and possibilities! Once she activated the rune that appeared, just like before, she was greeted by the statues of the Zonai and the Hylian. From them, she received another Light of Blessing, and once they wished her well, she turned and departed from the shrine.
“One more…” she said to herself as she stepped outside. “Please hang on, Link. I'll be there soon.”
“Zelda.” She almost jumped at the voice, and she turned quickly to find a Steward Construct approaching her. “I came because there is something I failed to give you. Please take it.” It opened its inner compartment and retrieved a holder of some kind that appeared to be able to be worn on her belt. It featured eight prongs, one of which held a small glowing cylinder.
“Um, thank you,” she said. “What is this?”
“That is an Energy Cell,” the construct replied. “It is required to make use of the tools known as Zonai devices.” Zelda’s attention and curiosity piqued at this information. “I cannot demonstrate its utility because there are no Zonai devices right here.” It turned and directed her attention to another part of the island. “However, I have associates on the other side of that cave system.” As it said, she spied the mouth of a cave leading into the sheer cliff side. “They can teach you how to use this.” It turned back to her. “I hope that the Energy Cell I provided is useful to you.”
“Thank you,” she dipped her head. “I’m sure it will be. I appreciate the information.” Done with its task, the construct began moving off, and Zelda started the trek to the cave. She made her way past several patrolling Soldier Constructs and entered the cave itself, and not far in, she found bunches of seeds growing that gave off a faint light. She picked a few of them up, hoping that they would either be useful or at least something interesting to study at a later time. As she pocketed them, however, she heard a familiar squeaking noise and looked up to find a pair of Keeses flying toward her.
“Not this time!” She smacked them away with a stick, and they vanished in a puff of dark smoke. Each one left behind a wing, and one left its eyeball. Zelda swallowed her disgust at the parts. Maybe they could be useful for something? She shuddered a bit as she picked them up and stored them away.
A bit further into the cave, the path opened up into a larger cavern. Zelda stared in surprise at a rather sizeable glowing creature hanging from the ceiling. It resembled a frog, but at the same time, something about it looked somewhat familiar in a way she couldn't quite put her finger on. There truly was no end to the fascinating flora and fauna on this sky island. As she watched it hop about the ceiling of the cavern, it looked at her and shuddered. It opened its mouth and ejected several filled bubbles in her direction. She decided that it would not be in her best interest to come into contact with them.
“Don’t worry, I'm leaving!” she said quickly as she ran for the passage on the other side, and it wasn't long before she emerged back into the open air of the island. A wide river stretched between her and the bank on the opposite side, and several inactive Steward Constructs rested near her. Over to her left was the remains of what may have been a house or other structure, and she found Rauru sitting on the edge of it. He turned his head toward her as she approached him. She’d just met him, yet his presence had quickly become a comfort. It was easy to feel alone otherwise.
“The Steward Constructs were the first to be built,” he said as he turned his gaze back to them. “After that, we crafted others suited to different roles. Culinary Constructs, Maker Constructs… You’ll find all sorts of them still active in this place. Some became so skilled within their specialties that they surpassed us. We began to learn from them instead.”
“Fascinating,” Zelda said. “They truly are a marvel. How do they work?” Rauru turned back to her with a slight smile.
“If we had the time to discuss it, I would love to tell you everything I know. But you’d best not keep Link waiting.”
“I know…” she agreed solemnly. “It’s just that your technology is unlike anything I've ever seen before. It seems to surpass even the ancient Sheikah technology in capability.”
“Mm…” Rauru nodded. “Perhaps there will come a time that we can speak more freely about this and many other things. I would very much like that, Zelda.”
“I would as well.” She looked up at the glow of the spiral above the last shrine above and ahead of her. “But you’re right, Link is waiting for me.” She dipped her head to him, then turned to where the constructs were stirring. There were several logs scattered about as well as some kind of circular piece of machinery. As she approached it, the construct expanded.
“The rafts for crossing to the other side are broken,” it reported. “Transportation is on hold indefinitely. This is ordinarily where we send resources across the river. The only silver lining is that the Zonai devices are undamaged.”
“Zonai devices?” Zelda echoed. So these were the constructs the one she encountered before had directed her to.
“Ah. It seems you do not know of Zonai devices,” it observed. “They are necessities around here. Allow me to explain. This green thing is called a Zonai device. The one you see here is a fan. You can produce wind on demand by striking it. They are self-evidently useful. We have a variety of Zonai devices for multitudinous purposes. Using Zonai devices does require energy. An external Energy Cell will be necessary in your case.”
“Like this?” She gestured to the object on her belt.
“Ah, yes. You have one already. That is a relief. That Energy Cell can be used to power Zonai devices. It will replenish automatically while Zonai devices are not in use. Its capacity is not unlimited. Use the energy contained wisely. Otherwise you may run out at inopportune moments.”
“Interesting,” she remarked. “Thank you for the information.”
“You are welcome. Unfortunately, none of this alleviates our need for a raft.” It turned its attention to the fan and the logs. Already, Zelda felt the ideas in her head churning. It seemed like a fairly easy solution with her new abilities. With her Ultrahand ability, she fashioned a raft with several logs and two of the available fans, then placed it in the water. Once on board, she struck one of the fans, and they both activated and propelled her raft toward the opposite bank. As she crossed the water, she contemplated the devices. If the constructs made use of them, were they able to use their own energy to power the devices? Where did this energy come from, and how did it replenish itself? These constructs were still functioning after only the goddess knew how long.
Across the water and further up the mountain, Zelda came across what appeared to be an old mine. There were rails similar to the ones on Death Mountain that the Gorons used to transport ore and gems, and she found what looked like mine carts. She attached a wayward fan to one and set it on the rail, and it provided a nice ride for her into the mine. It was, unfortunately, quite dark inside.
She found a construct waiting next to a blooming flower that was giving off light, and it advised her to bring a stash of Brightbloom Seeds with her if she was venturing further into the mine.
“You mean these?” she asked as she pulled out one of the glowing seeds she had picked up.
“Yes, that is a Brightbloom Seed,” it confirmed. “Striking or throwing them will cause them to open into a bloom like this one. Use them to light your way, and watch your step.” She thanked it and decided to test what she had been told, and she tossed the seed a few places ahead of her. Sure enough, it broke open and produced a glowing bloom. Bioluminescence! She was thrilled at the discovery.
Deeper in the mine, she found several constructs at work breaking open ore deposits and placing the ore into what appeared to be a refinery of some kind. She approached the one at the refinery, and it turned to her.
“Apologies for not noticing you,” it said. “I was focused on processing zonaite.”
“Zonaite?” she asked.
“Oh?” It sounded intrigued. “Are you unfamiliar with it?” It gestured with its shovel to several pieces of ore that featured a soft, blue-green glow. “This is zonaite. It is a unique material that can be mined far beneath the land below. There are trace deposits of it on this island as well. But they are limited to this cave. Our society flourished by processing this substance into other materials.” So zonaite was found deep underground? Zelda wondered just how far down it was.
“What kind of materials?” she asked.
“We process zonaite by smelting it in a furnace. It is thereby converted into materials with useful properties. Please wait one moment.” It moved around to the other side of the furnace and retrieved a bunch of glowing objects, some of which resembled the orbs she had picked up from the Soldier Constructs. It placed these objects on two display tables, then returned to her. “Thank you for your patience. I will now explain these materials. Zonai technology is typically powered by Zonai charges. These occasionally solidify into a form known as crystallized charges.”
“Crystallized energy,” Zelda marveled. “That is amazing.”
“We mainly use the crystalized charges as raw material to construct Energy Cells.” Zelda glanced down to the Cell on her belt. She wondered how zonaite was originally discovered, let alone processing it into energy. The Zonai truly were a remarkable and talented people. “If you are interested, I can trade Zonai charges and crystallized charges for the raw zonaite required to process into them.”
“I'll keep that in mind, thank you!” Zelda bade it farewell and continued on, and using a provided fan, she built herself another propelled cart that she rode outside and up to the summit of the particular mountain she had been climbing. While the shrine was still a ways off, she found Rauru waiting at the end of the track. He looked deep in thought.
“The time bell that sounds from the Temple of Time rings at a set time each morning and evening,” he told her. “Along with the constructs, we woke to the sound of the bell. When we heard it in the evening, we knew it was time to rest. It also played its part in our traditional ceremonies. In a way, it was this place’s beating heart.” His face softened. “The sight of the temple and the sound of its bell stir fond memories in me.” She looked out at the Temple of Time in the distance, and beyond it, she saw the white dragon still flying. Was it perpetually in the air? She considered asking Rauru about it, but he seemed lost in his own thoughts.
After traversing another cave system, Zelda emerged at a higher altitude. She was grateful for the warning a construct had given her, because at this elevation…
“C-Cold!” She shivered. She certainly had not been prepared for snow and ice. Thankfully, the construct had shown her a cooking pot and a spicy pepper plant, and she was able to cook herself up a small meal that would help her body deal with the freezing temperatures. She didn't want to stick around any longer than she had to, though.
Finally, after plenty of climbing and as night was falling, Zelda arrived at the final shrine. Inside, Rauru once again appeared and instructed her to extend her right hand. As was now expected, the light appeared and created an orb that sunk into her palm.
“This is the Ascend ability,” Rauru said. “It lets you travel through what’s directly above you- to ascend through it and emerge on top of it. You’ll find it quite useful in all sorts of places and situations.” Even in light of everything she had seen since she had woken up on this island in the sky, the idea seemed preposterous. “Use Ascend, and receive the blessing from this shrine.” Once he had faded from view, Zelda went further into the shrine and immediately came to an overhang.
“Well, here goes nothing…” She lifted her hand and a blue light illuminated around it, and she jumped up. To her surprise, that same light propelled her up and she braced herself to hit the overhang, but she passed through it with little issue. It was almost like swimming through solid matter, strange of a sensation as it was. She emerged on top of the overhang and pulled herself out of it, then looked down. There was no trace of her actions anywhere to be found.
“Unbelievable,” she said. “That the Zonai were able to manipulate solid material like this… how? How did they achieve this power?” She may not have had answers, but it certainly was a useful ability. She made her way through the shrine and received the Light of Blessing at the end, and when she emerged back outside, she found Rauru waiting for her.
“I see you've restored some power to those new adornments of yours,” he said. “The door into the Temple of Time should now open for you.” She nodded, and he faded away. Now, there was simply the task of making her way back to the temple.
Upon a bit of further exploration, she found a Zonai device that a construct nearby had identified as a wing. With some effort, she was able to get it to slide down a ramp, and it glided through the air toward the temple. It was certainly much easier than going back the way she came. She arrived at the temple door once again, and like before, the rune illuminated before it. This time, when she touched it, it burst away, and the door slid open.
Inside, she found a short staircase leading up to an altar or sorts, and behind it, there were two rotating gears or platforms of some kind. Atop the altar was a tear-shaped object surrounded by a golden glow. As she drew closer, she realized that it had a pattern etched into it, and it appeared somewhat translucent.
Curious, Zelda reached her hand out, and she touched her fingers to it. She heard a chiming sound, and she grunted and shielded her eyes as a bright light illuminated from the object, all but blinding her. After a moment, she lowered her arms and opened her eyes, and she gasped softly.
Floating just off the ground before her and in front of the altar… was Link. There was no doubt about it. His eyes were closed as if he were asleep, and he had his left arm held behind his back. His right arm looked quite strange, built from both organic and mechanical pieces that bore a resemblance to the adornments she wore. His right hand was placed gently against his chest. His clothing was unlike anything she had seen before, yet something about it reminded her of what Rauru had been wearing. His midriff was bare and she could see on the exposed skin the faintest outlines of his scars that the Shrine of Resurrection had not been able to completely heal. He wore several bracelets and a necklace that bore a small tear-shaped stone.
“Link…” Zelda breathed. “What is… how…” He did not stir, but he lowered his right hand and offered it to her. She lifted her own hand and looked briefly over the adornments she wore, then started to reach for him. But she hesitated. What was he doing here? Why was he like this?
She took a soft breath and gathered herself, then took hold of his hand with her own. The stone on his necklace glowed slightly, and her eyes widened as something emerged from it. It… looked like a wolf’s face, white-gold with one red eye that watched her thoughtfully. It faded into a slight glow that traveled down Link’s arm, and she felt a comforting warmth spread into her own. It surprised her, though, when her adornments also began to glow. She hesitantly retrieved her hand, and the glow of the adornments lifted and swirled about her arm before settling into the opening on the back of her hand. Within it, a marking of some kind appeared, and it glowed gently. Zelda watched it thoughtfully for a moment, and as she looked back up at Link, her heart dropped as she realized he was fading away.
“Link, no! Wait!” She lunged forward, but he was gone. She stumbled forth as she found herself back in the Temple of Time. She almost jumped when Rauru appeared next to her.
“Ah, Recall… the ability to reverse the movement of an object through time,” he said. He turned to face the altar, from which the tear was now absent. “And Link has vanished as well…”
“Where did he go?!” Zelda demanded desperately, wet heat stinging her eyes. “What has happened to him?”
“That… is a mystery even to me,” he admitted as he scratched his chin. “Perhaps you saw a sort of echo… one that reflects his sheer will.” He turned back to her. “That you’ve now been given this ability… No doubt, it will prove important.”
“Wait, Rauru!” But it was too late, he had faded from view. Zelda clenched her hands and looked back at the altar through blurred vision. “Link… What happened to you? Where are you?” With both Link and Rauru gone, she felt very alone. She looked down at her hand again and the mark that had illuminated on the back of it. “The ability to reverse time…?” She sniffed and wiped her eyes with her free hand. Perhaps something further in the temple would enlighten her.
Zelda walked to the side of one of the rotating platforms, and she held out her hand and focused. With a flash of light from her hand, the platform began to move in the opposite direction, and she was able to ride it up to the next main room of the temple. There, she found a statue of the goddess looking down upon her as well as a great door with two dragons carved into it. Zelda approached the statue and looked up at the goddess’s face.
“You watched over him before,” she said softly. “Please… continue to watch over him now.” She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Please keep him safe, wherever he is.” With that, she headed up to the door and found two hand prints. She placed her hands to them and pushed, but as soon as she did so, she felt like her energy had been sapped from her body. She nearly collapsed and had to brace herself as she caught her breath.
“This door stands as a test of your own overall vitality,” she heard Rauru speak up, and he appeared next to her. “You are not yet strong enough to open it.” It took quite a bit of her willpower not to snap at him. What was with the doors of this temple? “But… There is one more shrine on this island. There, you can get another blessing.” He turned to the statue. “If you add that to the other blessings you received at shrines and offer them all to the Goddess, you might just find your way forward after all.” Once again, she had to pray to the goddess to grant her power. “Let me see the Purah Pad.” Zelda pulled the device out and opened the map. “As you likely know, this lets you travel to certain places instantly. I’d suggest selecting the mark at the bottom of your map. Use the travel function to reach that area quickly. You’ll find the last of this island’s shrines around there somewhere.” She nodded slightly and selected the mark, and the Purah Pad transported her away.

Chapter Text

Zelda arrived back in the great cavern where she had received the adornments that Rauru had left for her. The Purah Pad identified this place as the “Room of Awakening.” The gears on the wall still cranked away. She looked up and scanned her surroundings, and sure enough, she found another potential path above the platforms on the gears. With this Recall ability Link had given her, she should be able to reach it. She made her way up and through a claustrophobic passage, and found a shrine at the other end as well as another exit from the cave leading outside.
She entered the shrine and found a river waiting for her, and a raft floated along it. As the raft drew close, she focused on it, and she reversed time upon it and jumped on to ride it back up against the current. It really was an incredible ability. As she made her way up the river and a short waterfall, her thoughts drifted back to how she had received Recall.
Link had somehow managed to appear to her in order to grant her the ability, but how had he gotten it in the first place? Where was he now? Meanwhile, there was the golden wolf that had briefly appeared. She looked down at her hand. What did that wolf mean? She had never seen anything like it, nor did she recall Link ever mentioning encountering it before.
Frustrated with her lack of answers, Zelda huffed as she hopped off the raft. She made her way to the innermost part of the shrine and touched the rune that illuminated as she approached. The structure before her opened and she was greeted by the Hylian and Zonai statues.
“Visitor to this Shrine of Light, that which imprisons and purifies the ancient evil… You have done well to reach this place. We offer this light that will protect you from evil.” As with the other shrines, they granted her a Light of Blessing. She hoped dearly that this would give her the strength she needed to move on and find answers.
She departed the shrine and left the cave, and she found several wings waiting outside. This provided a fairly quick trip back to the Temple of Time. She made her way back up the stairs and inside to the statue of the goddess, and an ethereal light swirled about it as she approached.
“You who have conquered the shrine and claimed their Lights of Blessing…” It was such a soft and warm voice. Could this truly be the voice of the goddess? “In exchange for four Lights of Blessing, I will grant you power.”
“Please,” Zelda said. “Please grant me the strength I need to find Link.”
“I shall grant the power you seek.” A light illuminated above her, and she looked up to find a heart-shaped object with gold embellishments descending toward her. She held up her hands to catch it, and it pulled into an orb of light that sunk into her chest. She felt new strength and vitality surge through her body, and her exhaustion from her journey evaporated instantly.
“Go, and bring peace to the world,” the voice bade. Zelda swallowed and bowed to the statue, and the light about it faded. She centered herself once more, then headed up the stairs to the door. She placed her hands against it and pushed with all her might, and with a glow of green light, it split and creaked open. She was greeted with a narrow stone path leading back outside the temple, and when she stepped through, the familiar form of Rauru appeared to her.
“Ah, good,” he said. “I see you have managed to open the door. You have done well, Zelda. By visiting the shrines and receiving their blessings, you have grown in strength and spirit.” She looked down at her hand, then placed it over her chest and nodded. “Though our time together has been brief, I am so happy that we finally met.” He smiled a bit and turned to look out at the distant horizon. “You are exactly as Link said.” Her heart ached at hearing his name, and she had so many questions. Before she could begin to ask them, he spoke again. “I have done everything I can for him. Now, it is up to you.” A great wind began to pick up, and Rauru’s form flickered.
“Wait, Rauru!” she pleaded, taking a step closer to him. “Please, what happened to him?” He did not answer, and he finally vanished along with the wind. Zelda bit her lip and clenched her hands, and she took a deep breath. She turned back to the path forward waiting for her. She stood there for a long moment, taking everything in.
“...Thank you, Rauru. For everything.” She looked up at the sky, then started down the path. At the end of it and through an archway, she came to a large stone circular platform with a table or altar of some kind, and floating just above it was a golden ball of light. She frowned as she approached it, and a light from her hand caught her attention. The center on the back of her hand illuminated, and she raised it. It pulsed gently, and at the same time, the ball of light did as well. She looked between the two for a moment until she heard a sound.
On her belt, the Master Sword called to her with a gentle glow. She took it in hand and lifted it.
“What is it?” she asked it softly. It sounded again, just as it had all those years ago to tell her that Link wasn't yet beyond saving. “Do you… sense your master?” The sword continued to chime. Zelda took a soft breath, then lifted the sword to the ball of light. When she removed her hand, the sword remained in place, and a bright golden light enveloped it. Zelda shielded her eyes, and when the light faded, it was gone.
Meanwhile, standing at the other side of the altar, was Link, dressed in garb similar to the Zonai. His right arm looked decidedly different, like flesh and mechanical pieces melded together. He grunted as a bright orb of light appeared above the altar, and from it came the decaying Master Sword. He reached up as it slowly fell, and he took it in both hands. As he looked over it, it chimed and glowed. It had been some time since it had spoken to him.
Zelda reached up as the last of the ball of light disappeared, hoping desperately that whatever just happened was meant to be. If the Master Sword had wanted her to place it within the light, it must have had a good reason.
She stumbled as she heard a great roar, and she looked over the edge of the platform to find the white dragon bursting through the clouds. It let out another roar as it soared higher into the sky, the rising sunlight making its green-tipped scales and the bright green spikes on its back sparkle. It truly was a beautiful sight. The clouds continued to part, and she caught sight of Central Hyrule far below her. She looked back up to the dragon as it continued to climb. A brilliant blue and gold light streamed from its head.
“Zelda…” She jumped. She would know that voice anywhere no matter how little he used it. “Zelda, you have to find me.” Zelda placed her hand over her chest and felt her heart racing. She looked up into the brightening blue sky.
“I will, Link,” she said. “No matter where you are… I will find you.”
She looked back over the edge of the platform to the surface below and scanned it. Her eyes widened at the sight of Hyrule Castle. It was floating in the air, and massive amounts of gloom poured out of the crater underneath it. That was where she and Link had encountered the ancient body. Had it really managed to send the entire castle skyward on its own? She shuddered. Between that and how it managed to shatter the Master Sword, she felt terror prick at her spine. Whatever it was and whatever it was planning, she needed to put a stop to it.
South of the castle was Lookout Landing and the Skyview Tower that had been built there. That would be her best destination, she decided. Perhaps Purah and her team would have information for her. Never mind that they were probably all worried sick about her and Link after what had happened to the castle, and if Death Mountain were any indication, then other parts of Hyrule had been affected as well. There remained the issue of how she would reach the surface from where she was in the sky.
She spotted a lake almost directly below her, and her heart all but sunk into her stomach. She’d have a better chance of surviving such a distant fall if she reached water, though nothing about the thought was comforting. But she'd made it this far… and she did feel stronger after receiving the blessing of the goddess.
“Okay, okay…” She breathed and shook herself out, taking a couple of steps back. “I can do this. I just have to make sure I dive into the water, and I should be okay.” She looked down at her hand, then to the back of it where that small symbol had appeared. “Link… Please grant me your strength and courage. I know you’re always with me no matter what keeps us apart.” She braced herself and nodded, and she focused solely on the thought of him as she raced forward and leapt from the platform. She spread herself out and looked around Hyrule as she descended. There were giant holes in the ground that appeared to be spewing gloom, though thankfully not at the rate that the crater under the castle was. Up to the Northwest where the Rito made their home, she noticed a large, towering cloud column that remained stationary no matter how long she watched it. She wasn't certain how long she had been gone, but things had certainly changed in Hyrule in that time.
She adjusted herself into a dive just as she reached the lake, and a great splash followed her breaking the water’s surface. She swam back up and took in a deep breath, then swam to the bank and pulled herself out. To the side, she noticed rock formations that looked similar to those that had been on the Great Sky Island, and there were several plants growing there that certainly were not native to Hyrule’s surface. Had pieces from the sky been falling? She hoped dearly that no one had been hurt.
Zelda made note of Lookout Landing’s Skyview Tower and started in that direction. She was glad to be back in her familiar Hyrule, even if it was less familiar than she would have liked given the circumstances. Monsters had been an issue even after the defeat of the Calamity, but she noticed an increase in the amount of Bokoblins camped around Hyrule Field. The people of Hyrule had finally begun to progress and rebuild after the Calamity’s end, she hated the thought of them dealing with another crisis so soon. She also noticed as she walked that there were now familiar spirals of light scattered about. Something must have awoken Zonai Shrines of Light on the surface as well. Perhaps, if she conquered them, she could continue to ask for the goddess’s blessings to grow stronger.
After a short time, she finally arrived at Lookout Landing. The guard at the eastern entrance took notice of her immediately as she approached.
“P-Princess Zelda!” He looked and sounded absolutely shocked. “Is that really you?! Where have you been?!” She came to greet him. “Oh… Please forgive my manners, Princess. It’s just that no one’s seen you or Sir Link since you went under the castle to investigate the gloom! And that's when the castle rose into the air! Everyone’s been so worried about both of you.”
“I apologize for the concern,” Zelda replied. “I have a lot to speak with Purah about.”
“She’s barely slept,” the guard said. “She’s been trying to figure out where you two went!” He paused for a heartbeat. “Oh, I'm sorry for keeping you. Please go see her. I'm so glad you’re all right, Princess!” Zelda thanked him and headed into the fort. Lookout Landing had been built as a base of operations for many factions working on Hyrule’s restoration, and it was buzzing with activity at all hours of the day and night. As she made her way to Purah’s lab, she heard plenty of murmuring and exclamations about her return. She felt terrible for worrying everyone so much.
“Hey, Princess!” She stopped at the call and turned to the source. “Where have you been?!” Robbie demanded.
“It’s good to see you, Robbie,” Zelda said. “I have a lot to share.”
“Right, tell me later,” he replied. “For now, hurry up and go talk to Purah. She’s been in a tizzy ever since you and Link disappeared. Give her some peace of mind, will ya?” Zelda dipped her head to him, then made her way upstairs to the second floor of the fort where Purah’s lab station was. It offered a fine view of Hyrule Castle and access to a telescope pointed at the castle as well. As Zelda approached, a young Sheikah girl named Josha who was peeking through a window into Purah’s lab noticed her. The girl came closer to her, eyes huge behind her glasses.
“Duh… DUH… DOC!” she yelled. Doctor Puuuraaah! The Princess! The Princess has returned!” At her words, Zelda heard a great commotion coming from the lab, and Purah slammed the door open. Her goggles were crooked and she was panting.
“Okay…” She gathered her breath. “Now where have you been?!” She approached Zelda carefully. “Princess, you’re not a ghost, are you?”
“Certainly not, Purah,” Zelda replied. Purah looked her over and her focus fell on the adornments on her hand.
“Well, that looks interesting,” Purah noted. She took a step back and straightened up. “Right, one step at a time.” She lifted her goggles and placed them atop her head. “What exactly happened?”
“It’s a long story…” Zelda began. She recounted everything that had happened since she and Link had gone to explore beneath Hyrule Castle. Purah and Josha both listened with utmost attention. They were each struck speechless when she had finished.
“Then…” Purah finally said. “Are you saying you came from up THERE?” She looked up at the Great Sky Island barely visible through the clouds. Zelda nodded. “This Rauru you met…” Purah had a puzzled look on her face. “Wait… Princess, isn't that what the first king of Hyrule was named?” Zelda’s eyes widened.
“That’s where I've heard the name before!” she realized. “Could he really be the same? Was Hyrule’s first king truly a Zonai?”
“Perhaps…” Purah pursed her lips in thought. “So much of this doesn’t make sense- yet. But one thing I am certain of is that the mummy you found under the castle must be related to the Upheaval.”
“The Upheaval?” Zelda echoed. Purah glanced up at the castle.
“The castle rising up… the ruins falling down from the sky… We’ve been referring to it as the Upheaval. The mummy must be connected to it somehow.” She turned her gaze back to Zelda. “And then there’s the most important detail of all. You’re sure that you heard Link speak to you?”
“I have no doubt,” Zelda affirmed. “I would know his voice anywhere.”
“I know you would,” Purah agreed. “And he gave you a clear message to find him?” Zelda nodded. “If that truly was him, then that means he’s alive!”
“I thought the same thing,” the princess said with a small smile of relief. “Have you heard anything to suggest where he may be?”
“Maybe he’s trapped beneath the castle and needs help,” Purah suggested. “Without the Master Sword and with his arm all messed up like that, he probably can't fight his way out like he normally would. That settles it. I'll send word to the search party up by Hyrule Castle. They’ve been searching tirelessly for you two. We’ll refocus our efforts.” Zelda looked up at the castle again.
“I will go myself,” she said. “I would like to hear of what they have found.”
“But, Princess!” Purah did not look pleased at the thought. “You’ve only just returned and it may be dangerous.” Zelda turned her gaze back to the doctor, her eyes filled with fierce determination.
“Link called out to me,” she said firmly. “He placed his faith in me to find him. I will do everything in my power to make sure he comes home safely.” Purah and Josha stared at her, and the doctor finally gave a relenting sigh.
“I understand. Captain Hoz is leading the search party. I'm sure he’ll be happy to work with you to find Link as quickly as you can. But please, Princess, be careful. That mummy may still be lurking somewhere around there, which is concerning to say the least. But we'll get to the bottom of it. Go bring him home!” Zelda smiled and nodded.
“I will. Thank you, Purah.” With that, she bade them farewell and headed down the stairs. After leaving Lookout Landing, Zelda passed through the ruins of Hyrule Castle Town and headed for the castle. As she drew closer to it, gloom began to fill the air. It wasn't concentrated enough to cause physical harm, but it still made her shiver at the sight of it. There was so much of it around the castle…
Several members of the search party were stationed along the path leading to the castle, and they were shocked to see her. They pointed her to the first gatehouse where Captain Hoz had set up operations. The further up the path she got, the stranger it was to see the castle- once her home- suspended in the air like that. The sight of it made her heart ache.
Upon reaching the gatehouse, Zelda was informed that Hoz was up on top of it and apparently had no intention of coming down anytime soon. She looked down at her hand and smiled a bit. At least she had a new ability that would get her up there quickly. After Ascending to the top, Zelda found the captain and a few other volunteers looking up at the castle. As she approached, she heard him muttering to himself.
“Sorry, but I'm in the middle of something,” he said, but then turned to her. His eyes grew quite wide. “P-Princess Zelda! Is that you?” A relieved grin spread on his face. “You’re alive! And all in one piece, it looks like.”
“I am, thank you,” she said. “I am sorry for causing such concern.”
“Not at all, Princess!” Hoz insisted. “I’m so glad to see you’ve returned safely. Does this mean that Link is safe too? What a relief.”
“Actually…” Zelda explained the situation, and a grim look overtook his face.
“I see… Er, maybe I don't. I'm a little confused, but that doesn't matter right now. What matters is continuing our search for Link. I'm honored to have your assistance, Princess, but please be careful. The sheer amount of gloom has gotten overwhelming. Our work carries on, but we’ve been a bit dead in the water.” Zelda frowned and glanced at the chasm beneath the castle.
“CAPTAIN!” the other man nearby suddenly yelped. “It’s Link!”
“What?” Zelda took several hurried steps forward and peered out to where he was pointing.
Sure enough, standing at the end of the path beyond the gatehouse, was Link. He appeared the same way he had when he had reached out to grant her the Recall ability, dressed similarly to Rauru and with his changed arm.
“Link!” Hoz sounded thrilled. “He’s safe!”
“Oh, thank goodness…” Zelda breathed. Link watched them from his place at the end of the path, then turned his gaze to the sky. Then, he began to rise into the air, and a great glowing light enveloped him. “Link!” Zelda yelled, but Link vanished into a small ball of light that floated higher into the sky and out of sight.
“Wait… What…” Hoz stammered. “Um… Princess, you saw that too, yes? You saw Link turn into light and… fly off… right?”
“Y-Yes, I did…” she nodded slightly. “That was not your imagination.”
“How strange…” the captain said. “This… this is an emergency situation! Why would he leave without you?” He scratched his chin, puzzled. “Purah needs to know about this as soon as possible. Princess, may I ask you to tell her what happened here?” Zelda looked back up to where Link had been standing. None of this made any sense. Why would he just vanish like that? She wanted desperately to stay and investigate, but upon considering it a bit longer, she wasn't sure what there was to investigate at the moment. She and Purah could come up with a plan together in order to approach this matter in a more prepared manner.
“I will,” she said. “Please let me know at once if you see him again.”
“Of course, Princess.” Hoz dipped his head to her. “Be safe.”
“You as well, all of you. Thank you for your hard work and dedication.” With that, she climbed down the gatehouse and quickly made her way back to Lookout Landing. Her mind raced and she swallowed her unease. That had to have been Link, there was no doubt about it. But… what if it hadn't been him entirely? Rauru had said that what she had seen in the Temple of Time may have been a sort of echo of Link’s will. Was that what she and the others had seen now? If so, what was he trying to tell her?
Her heart and mind were filled with turmoil as she arrived at Lookout Landing. She headed back up to the second story and found Purah speaking with Josha, and as she approached, the doctor turned to her.
“Ah, Princess! How did it go? Did you find anything?” Zelda explained what she and the search party saw. Purah looked as puzzled as she had earlier when she heard about Link’s initial disappearance.
“He turned into LIGHT and flew off?” Purah huffed. “I gotta say, Princess. With all due respect, your stories are so wild.” Zelda gave her a small, helpless smile. “But if that’s what you saw, I gotta believe it. It sounds like we need to change our approach.” Both she and Josha looked down in thought. “Since Link flew off, maybe we should redirect our efforts and dig into the Upheaval. For now, at least.”
“I see,” Zelda said. “I have no better ideas.”
“Then you’ll be happy to know I've already got a few reasons in mind to start exploring,” Purah said confidently. “I bet we’ll pick up some clues about Link as we look around. Do you still have the Purah Pad?” Zelda nodded and retrieved it from her belt, then held it out for her to look over. “A little worse for wear, but seems to be functioning fine.” She took it and pressed a few buttons. “Map, map, map… Aha.” She handed the device back to Zelda. “So before we can look at your overall map of Hyrule, we need to add map data from right around Lookout Landing. And for THAT, we need our Skyview Tower.” A smile crossed her face that Zelda knew indicated that Purah was thinking of something that was some combination of genius and insanity. Purah turned to her companion. “Josha, what’s the status of the Tower right now?”
“Let me see…” Josha looked over to the Tower. “Outwardly, the structure looks to be complete. Oh! But the travel point is still undergoing final adjustments!”
“So the travel point needs tweaking…” Purah muttered. “Sounds like I better get cracking.” She turned back to Zelda. “Sorry about this, Princess. I'll fix it up quick, so just hang tight. In the meantime, you oughta get some rest. You must be pretty tired after everything you’ve been through.” Zelda thought about it for a moment, and as soon as she did, she realized just how exhausted she was. It had been such a physically and emotionally taxing time for her since she and Link set out to explore beneath Hyrule Castle.
“You may be right,” she admitted. “Is the emergency shelter still available?”
“Absolutely,” Purah replied. “Hang in there, Princess. I'll take care of the Tower. Get some rest, and we’ll reconvene later.”
“All right… Thank you, Purah.” Zelda turned and headed downstairs, leaving Purah and Josha to their discussion. The Princess went to speak with the guard at the entrance of the emergency shelter, then headed inside and found an open bed. She set aside her weapons and shield, content that she was safe here. She laid down and let out a soft breath, looking over the adornments on her arm that she couldn't bring herself to remove.
“Wherever you are… I hope you’re well, Link.” Finally, she couldn't fight against the weight of her eyelids any longer, and she drifted off to sleep.

Chapter Text

Some time later, Zelda felt something nudge her hand. She grumbled softly and pulled it closer to her body, but still felt the nudging again. She could hear a soft, panting breath, but quickly lost it as the sounds of activity in the emergency shelter entered her consciousness. She opened her eyes, then slowly sat up and rubbed them with the heel of her hand as she stretched her back. Given the underground nature of the shelter, it was difficult to tell what time it was.
“Ah, good morning, Princess Zelda!” She looked up to the smiling face of the Hylian woman Jerrin, who had a broom in hand. “Did you sleep well?”
“Quite well, all things considered,” Zelda replied. “Was it you that woke me?”
“Hm?” Jerrin looked a bit puzzled. “No one has been near you. I’ve kept an eye on you and made sure no one disturbed you without good reason.” Zelda frowned and turned to swing her legs over the side of the bed.
“Odd,” she said. “I could have sworn I felt something nudging me.” She got to her feet and retrieved her equipment. “Regardless, thank you for watching over me.”
“My pleasure, Princess,” Jerrin said with a smile. “I believe Doctor Purah is finished with the adjustments to the Tower. We’ll get breakfast prepared for you.” Zelda’s immediate thought was to argue, but her more rational mind told her that she needed to eat and keep up her energy if she was going to make any progress in finding Link. There were plenty of days that she got so swept up in her research that he had to all but drag her away to make her take a break and eat something. He was an excellent cook and she was always impressed by what dishes he could make regardless of what ingredients he had at his disposal. Thinking about it made both her heart ache and her stomach rumble.
“Here you are, Princess!” another person residing at Lookout Landing said cheerily as he approached. “I’m on cooking duty. I hope you like omelets! There’s some stamella shrooms in there to help keep you going.” Zelda inhaled the aroma and smiled as she took the plate.
“It looks and smells delicious,” she said. “Thank you so much.” He absolutely beamed at the compliment from the Princess of Hyrule. She couldn’t blame him, she supposed.
After eating and making sure to tell the cook that his work tasted as good as it looked, Zelda climbed the ladder out of the shelter and spotted Purah looking over the base of the Skyview Tower. She greeted those she passed by on her way to and up the steps, and Purah turned to her.
“Well, Princess, don't you look a sight better!” the doctor said. “Rest did you some good, yeah?”
“It did, thank you,” Zelda agreed. “I feel much better. Now, what have we here?”
“The travel point is all set up. It’ll be working fine once you do your part…” She frowned and adjusted her glasses. “I had planned to ask Link for his assistance once you had returned from your expedition under the castle, but since he isn't here, and you’ve clearly demonstrated that you do not fear heights…” Zelda did not like where this was going. Purah stepped out from the tower and looked up at her lab. “We’re ready, Josha!” she yelled. “Pull the switch!” Josha waved and hopped up, and with some effort, managed to pull the switch down. Zelda looked up at the tower as it illuminated, and her heart jumped when the hatch at the top opened and something fired like a cannon out of the top.
In the distance, other towers placed about Hyrule responded, firing something into the air that shone with bright light. Zelda could hear a booming echo in the distance from several locations.
“All of the Skyview Towers have now been activated!” Josha reported loudly from her place at the lab. Purah gave a proud smile and nod of approval.
“Okay, Princess!” She turned to Zelda. “Your turn!”
“What exactly am I to do?” the princess asked. Purah turned and pointed to the fixture inside the tower.
“Go hold the Purah Pad over that terminal.” Zelda doubted that was all that Purah required of her, but she did as she was instructed. The terminal glowed, and a travel point illuminated just in front of the tower. Ancient Sheikah energy spread up through the tower, and the hatch at the top opened once again.
“All right!” Purah nodded. “The Skyview Tower is now active on the Pad’s map. Now, as long as you have it, you can use it to get here at any time, instantly.” She turned back to the princess with a smile. “Impressive, right?”
“Very,” Zelda agreed. “I’m thankful that we’ve been able to utilize the ancient technology so efficiently.”
“Yup,” Purah said. “But these towers are about more than just traveling quickly.”
“You refer to their function to survey the surrounding area?” Zelda asked, and Purah nodded. “Did you figure out how to integrate the function with the Purah Pad?”
“I sure did,” the doctor replied. “It’ll work with the tower to scan the topography directly on to the map.” Zelda’s brow rose curiously. “But you’ll need a paraglider when you’re scanning. That’s why I hoped Link could help, but I know you've been traveling with him and picking up all sorts of his skills… Think you can handle it?” Zelda still wasn't entirely sure how all of this would work, but she knew she had to make progress one way or another. She nodded. “Excellent. That brings us… to this!” She stepped to the side and retrieved a paraglider from just inside the tower, and she presented it to the princess. Zelda took it, looking over the sturdy structure and fabric.
“I’m glad that I can always count on you to think of everything, Purah,” she said. Purah gave her a smile and her signature gesture over her eye.
“Always, Princess. Now, it's showtime! Let’s start with a test scan.” She pointed at the platform in the middle of the tower. “Just step over there, into the circle. And come find me once you’re done, all right? I'll be observing from the research lab. When the test scan is over, we’ll go over the data and have a final briefing on the search for Link, and I'll update your map with the places where the Upheaval has wreaked the most havoc.”
“That will be good to know,” Zelda said. “I do hope the people are faring as well as they can.” She turned to walk into the circle.
“Best of luck!” Purah bade, and she turned to head for the lab. Zelda took her place as instructed, Purah Pad in hand and armed with the paraglider. She had a bad feeling about how exactly this was going to work.
She yelped as six repurposed Guardian arms emerged from around the platform, and several grabbed hold of her arms and leg. She tried to keep as still as possible despite the sudden onslaught of the mechanical limbs. One placed a spool of some kind on her waist, and another plugged something into the Purah Pad. Then, just as quickly as they had appeared, they retracted back underneath the platform.
“A little warning would have been nice,” she muttered. She tensed at a noise from under the tower, and the platform she stood on suddenly trembled. Next thing she knew, she was rapidly being lifted up through the tower, and she knew enough about speed and momentum to guess at where this was going. The platform launched her into the sky, and it took all of her self control not to scream. Once she reached the peak of her ascent, she spread herself out as she started to fall. The eye on the back of the Purah Pad illuminated, and she pointed it toward the surface as blue light from it scanned the area. This data traveled down the cable that had been attached to the pad. A beep came from the pad, and she took it in both hands and looked at the screen.
Surface map updated.
Sky map updated.
Glad that it had finished its task, Zelda placed the Purah Pad back on her belt and focused on her descent back to the surface. It was honestly impressive how high up the tower had managed to launch her. As she dove, she looked around the surface herself, and she spotted something strange on the ground to the northwest of Lookout Landing. It… looked like an image, almost like a drawing spread over a wide area. Something about it reminded her of Rauru. It was certainly something she wanted to investigate, especially if it did have something to do with him.
She didn't have much more time to ponder it as she dove from the sky, and the ground quickly rushed up to meet her. She pulled out the paraglider and caught the wind, slowing her descent to a much safer rate until she landed back at Lookout Landing.
“Oh, thank goodness,” she heard the guard stationed at the emergency shelter breathe. “Well done, Princess!” he said, waving at her. “Glad you made it back safely!” Zelda smiled and gave him a polite wave back, then made her way toward the research lab. Her legs were a bit shaky to start as she recovered from the rush of adrenaline from the test scan. But, she did it, and she couldn't help but be proud of herself.
Purah and Josha were waiting for her on the platform outside the research lab, and Purah waved as she approached. She and Josha looked quite excited.
“Welcome back!” Purah greeted. “That was some impressive gliding up there, Princess. Link taught you well.”
“He did,” Zelda agreed. “I'm glad I was able to help in his place.”
“Absolutely. So, how did it go? Did you get a proper map scan?” Zelda nodded and took out the Purah Pad to show her. “Good. That map is crucial to our search. If you’re heading around Hyrule, I'd suggest visiting the other towers so you can collect more data. So, that being said, let’s talk about the Upheaval. Like I said, it's affected more than just the castle. Reports of other strange phenomena have been coming in from all over Hyrule.” She took one side of the Purah Pad, and Zelda held the other as they both looked at the map. Purah poked at several places on it. “The first report comes from Hebra. Next up is Eldin. The Gerudo are reporting trouble in the southwest, and finally, there’s Lanayru. The strange phenomena are concentrated in these four regions.” Purah let go of the map. “I can't say for certain, but I've got the nagging suspicion that we might find out more about Link by looking into these phenomena.”
“I certainly hope so,” Zelda nodded.
“Hey, Doc, and, uh… Princess, if I may,” Josha spoke up, and both Purah and Zelda voiced their permission. “I don't know if this is helpful, but I heard something weird the other day. It was about someone who might've seen Link at Rito Village recently.” Purah looked as confused as Zelda felt.
“That is pretty weird, yeah,” the doctor said. “Generally speaking, I don't put much stock in hearsay, but…”
“But if there’s any possibility that it is true, then I want to investigate,” Zelda spoke up.
“Right,” Purah said. “Which reminds me, we’ve asked the Lucky Clover Gazette to help us in the search for Link. There’s nobody who knows more about the goings-on in Hyrule than them. If you go there, I'm sure the editor would be happy to help.” Zelda nodded. “All right. I'll be here, directing a variety of investigations into the Upheaval’s many chasms and new ruins. I'll also be looking into the different villages. Someone, somewhere might know what’s happened to Link. While I do that, Princess, I'm counting on you to look into the major phenomena around Hyrule. We’ll find Link, one way or another!”
“No matter what,” the princess said. “Purah, thank you so much for all of your help, and for your understanding that I need to do this myself.”
“Princess, if there’s one thing I've learned while working with you, it’s to never get in your way when you set your mind to something. And I follow that because your intuition and instincts have never led us astray.” She winked. “Been my pleasure serving you for all these years.” Zelda smiled warmly. Truly, she was grateful for the staunch support that Purah had shown her even before the Calamity struck. She considered herself quite lucky in that regard: Purah, Robbie, and Impa were irreplaceable to her.
As was Link.
Zelda bade Purah and Josha farewell, promising that she would keep them updated on her findings. She went back down to the main area of Lookout Landing and purchased a new hood and several bundles of arrows from the shop that had been set up. The shopkeeper, a native of Lurelin Village, was quite grateful for her patronage.
Once she had assured she had everything that she needed, she set out to the northwest in the direction of Hebra and Rito Village. Hopefully, on the way, she would be able to find the strange drawing or whatever it was that she had spotted from the air. She was also fairly certain there was a stable on the way, and she hoped that her horse had been found safely after she started the descent under Hyrule Castle.
Zelda made a point to visit and go through any shrines that she came across along the way, and each one granted her a Light of Blessing. As dusk was beginning to fall, she came to a bridge leading out of Central Hyrule, and she stopped and stared at the slumbering beast upon it.
“Oh, a Hinox…” she murmured. She wasn't certain she was stealthy enough to get around it without waking it, but doubling back to find a different route would take too much time. But if she did wake it… Then again, this was a major road leading to the northwestern regions of Hyrule, and she wasn't certain the Monster Control Crew could handle something of this, figuratively and literally, size. But she couldn't fight one on her own… could she?
“Hinoxes are large and strong, but they are slow both physically and mentally. The key to slaying one is to shoot an arrow into its eye to blind it, which will usually cause it to stumble and fall back. That’s the time to go in and strike with as much power as possible, but make sure to retreat to a safe distance before it gets back up. Try to lure it away from trees and logs, they like to use them as weapons. Those can prove deadly with a single hit.”
Of course, Link had hoped that Zelda would never have to fight on her own, let alone such powerful and dangerous monsters. But, at her request, he had told her about some of the ones he had come across. They weren't absolutely certain that these monsters were gone for good after the Calamity’s end, and she wanted to be prepared for the worst.
She had a bow and a stock of arrows, and she had several weapons at her disposal that she thought could deal a fair amount of damage. And if things did go poorly, she was pretty sure that she could outrun a Hinox until it lost interest. For the sake of the safety of those traveling this road, she needed to be rid of the beast. She took a breath and mentally prepared herself, once more going over everything Link had taught her, and she pulled out her bow and nocked an arrow. She stepped closer to it, drew back the arrow, and took aim at its single eye.
“Hey!” she yelled as fiercely as she could, startling the beast. Its eye flew open, and she loosed the arrow. It pierced directly into its target, and the Hinox let out a grunt of pain as it floundered. Zelda traded her bow for her weapon, a Zonaite Sword fused with a Soldier Construct’s bladed horn, and struck the Hinox in the legs as many times as she could. The Hinox pulled the arrow away and started to get to its feet, and she sprinted away before it could step on her. She readied another arrow and stepped back as the beast stomped toward her, its eye staring at her. Once again, she fired the arrow and struck it in the eye, and it screeched and fell back. She rushed in and slashed her sword through its leg, and once it started to recover, she hurried away and retrieved her bow.
Zelda repeated the process just as Link had taught her, and with one final mighty swing of her weapon, the Hinox let out a gurgling screech and collapsed. It darkened, and burst into dark smoke, further proving that it was not a natural creature. Zelda stood there for a moment longer, sword and shield in hand and panting softly, and it took her a moment to come to terms with what had happened. She was victorious.
She, Zelda, Princess of Hyrule, had slayed a Hinox.
“I… I did it…” she breathed. She put away her equipment and stared at the small pile of ingredients and other things that the Hinox had left behind. She placed a hand over her mouth, and a grin spread across her face as she started laughing. She felt absolutely giddy even as her heart still raced. “I did it! I defeated a Hinox!” She leapt up and threw a loose fist at the sky in triumph. “Oh, Link…” She started to gain control of her giggling. “I can't wait to tell you about this.” She looked up at the darkening sky. “If you’re watching over me now, please permit me to say… I hope you saw that!” Now that she was calming down, she collected the materials left behind. She didn't particularly want to pick up the Hinox’s toenails, but she did know that they were quite potent ingredients in elixirs. She tried not to think too much about it. Once she had finished collecting everything, she set out again, hoping to reach the stable before it got too much later. She had a feeling she’d sleep quite well after that.

Chapter Text

The sun had set and Zelda was fighting to stay awake by the time she arrived at the New Serenne Stable. She’d started her day being launched out of a Skyview Tower and ended it shortly after fighting a Hinox. She was tired. To think that this was a typical day for Link at one time, she could hardly fathom it. There were times where he would go several days without sleeping, and she could not for the life of her figure out how or why. When she had once brought it up to him, he had pondered it for some time before finally saying that he wasn't sure, but he had spent a hundred years sleeping in the Shrine of Resurrection, so maybe he was still working off excess.
Zelda dragged herself to the counter, where the stable owner greeted her.
“Welcome to my stable,” he said. “We deal in all things horse… Oh! Pardon me, Princess Zelda!” He bowed his head briefly. “Please, just a moment.” He turned to one of the other stable hands. “Hey, Ariane! Come here a moment!” Ariane looked up from her sweeping and hurried over.
“Yeah? What… Oh my! Princess Zelda! Welcome! We’d heard that you had gone missing, it's good to see you unharmed.”
“I appreciate that,” Zelda replied. “I was hoping for a bed for the night. I'm on my way to Rito Village.”
“Of course, of course!” the owner said. “Anything for you, Your Highness.” He looked back at Ariane, and she nodded and hurried to the side of the stable. “Pardon the delay, but I believe you’ll be interested in this.”
“Hm?” Zelda tipped her head to the side slightly, but her curiosity was soon satisfied as Ariane returned, holding the reins of a beautiful, pure white horse. “Oh! Could it be…?” She approached the horse and held her hand out, and it whinnied and immediately pressed its nose into her hand. “Oh, Gale! It is you!” She smiled brightly as she placed both hands on the side of Gale’s head and pressed her forehead to his. “Thank the goddess that you’re okay…” She looked back to Ariane and the owner. “How did you come across him?”
“After the castle rose into the sky, someone from the Monster Control Crew found him wandering not far from here,” the owner explained. “Brought him here so we could care for him until we could return him to you. He’s a gentleman of a horse!” He grinned. “You’ve cared for him well, Your Highness.” She gave him a grateful look as she ran her fingers through Gale’s mane.
“You didn't happen to find another horse, did you?” she asked. “A mare with reddish fur and a white mane and tail?”
“I'm sorry to say that we haven't,” the owner said. “But perhaps she made her way to one of the other stables on the other side of the castle. And if we do find her, I'll make sure that she’s well taken care of.”
“I truly appreciate it,” Zelda replied. “Thank you. Now… Could I trouble you to board Gale until morning? I am quite tired.”
“I'll take care of him,” Ariane said brightly. “Rest well, Your Highness. Let me know if I can be of any assistance!” Zelda thanked her, then headed inside. She insisted on paying just like any other customer for her bed, and once she set aside her equipment and laid down, it wasn't long before sleep took her.
Something nudging her right hand began to rouse her from her slumber along with that same soft panting sound, and her vision behind her eyelids filled with golden light. Immediately, she opened her eyes, and she was greeted with the sight of the stable as the early morning light streamed through the entrance and the workers were starting their duties. No one was immediately nearby, and she couldn't identify any source of what had woken her. She grumbled and got to her feet, stretching as she did so.
“Good morning, Princess!” Ariane greeted as Zelda exited the stable. “I hope you slept well. Please feel free to use the cooking pot if you’re hungry!”
“Thank you,” Zelda replied. “I’ll be sure to.” As her mind woke up, she looked over the landscape and noticed the marks running along the ground. They had a slight glow to them. Nearby, she spotted a pack mule and a figure standing next to it, and she recognized the familiar garb of the Sheikah. As she approached, she smiled.
“Good morning, Cado!” she said warmly, and he jerked, startled, before turning quickly to her. Relief spread across his face.
“Ah, Princess Zelda!” he greeted. “It is so good to see you. I had heard that you and Link had gone missing. I'm thrilled to see you alive and well!” He did truly look thrilled, but it faded slightly. “But… where’s Link?” Zelda’s face fell.
“I'm afraid I don't know,” she said, and she gave him a short version of what had happened beneath Hyrule Castle.
“I see,” Cado remarked, crossing his arms. “So his whereabouts are still unknown.” He lifted his gaze. “Princess, I know Lady Impa would be glad to see you.” He turned and pointed to a small stone platform out in the field opposite the stable. “She is right over there. I believe she may have some useful information that relates to the search for Link!” Zelda's interest piqued at this.
“Thank you, Cado,” she bade. “I’ll go see her at once.”
“Be safe out there, Princess,” he said. “If you need anything at all, you know that Lady Impa, myself, and all of the Sheikah are at your service.” She gave him her gratitude, then headed across the grass toward the stone platform he had pointed out. Glowing lines marked the landscape, and they appeared to be infused into the ground and grass rather than dug in. It was fascinating, to say the least, and definitely had not been there before the Upheaval.
Impa stood on the platform next to a fire and some kind of basket, something Zelda had also seen at Lookout Landing that Robbie had appeared to be working on. Zelda could hear the elderly Sheikah muttering to herself as she approached and ascended the stairs.
“What could it be depicting?” she was saying, and at the sound of footsteps behind her, she turned around. Her eyes widened at the sight of her visitor. “Oh, Zelda!” Zelda smiled and knelt down, and Impa gladly returned the hug she received from the princess. “What a relief it is to see you, my dear.”
“It is good to see you too, Impa,” Zelda replied as she released the old woman. “I’m sorry for any worry I have caused you.”
“Oh, none of that,” Impa scoffed. “I’m just glad to see you back in one piece. Now, what about Link?” It was wearing on Zelda to have to keep recounting his disappearance. It was an ever-constant thought in her mind, but having to keep bringing it to the forefront was mentally and emotionally exhausting.
“So he still has yet to return?” Impa said once she was finished. “In that case, we must use all available means to search for him.” She took a moment to collect her thoughts. “My dear Zelda… When you and Link went missing, something else happened all over Hyrule.” She turned and gestured to the field around them. “During the Upheaval, huge pictures appeared out of nowhere, images that sprawled across fields and hills. We are calling them geoglyphs. I understand they have been found in locations across the kingdom. Cado and I are traveling from region to region in hopes of seeing them all. I noticed this geoglyph from a distance while I was standing on high ground.”
“I saw it as well when I was in the sky,” Zelda said, and Impa stared at her. “Er, Purah asked me to help with testing the Skyview Tower at Lookout Landing.”
“Purah…” Impa grumbled, shaking her head. “Regardless. Examining this geoglyph up close, I could not make out what it depicted. And if you saw a better view of it from the sky, I would like to see it for myself. I had taken to the air in the balloon Purah gave me, but then, alas…” She pointed with her staff at the basket next to them. “The wind struck and completely seared the balloon off the base. I have racked my brain for ways to reattach the two parts, but to no avail.”
“Oh, I can help with that!” Zelda said, brightening up. “This is absolutely incredible, Impa. Please, take a look at this.” She looked down at the balloon on the ground and held her hand out, and her Ultrahand ability activated. Impa watched, fascinated and all but stunned, as Zelda manipulated the balloon and attached it to the base with ease.
“How in the goddess’s name?!” she blurted. Zelda held up her hand and Impa looked over her adornments. “How did you do that?”
“This is ancient Zonai power,” Zelda said warmly, an excited smile on her face. “I received that ability and several others while I was on the Great Sky Island where I woke up. They were given to me by a Zonai named Rauru.”
“A Zonai named Rauru…” Impa echoed. “Truly incredible. Zelda, you never cease to amaze.” She frowned in thought for a moment. “I heard word that Tauro is currently visiting Kakariko Village in order to study Zonai ruins that had fallen near there. My granddaughter is assisting him, and I'm sure they would both love to hear of your discoveries.”
“I'll be sure to visit them as soon as I can,” Zelda replied. “But first, shall we examine this geoglyph?” Impa smiled and nodded, and she boarded the balloon.
“May I ask one more favor?” she asked. “Could you light the fire here?” Zelda nodded and picked up a torch next to the fire, then used it to transfer the flame to the balloon. She hurried and climbed on before it rose out of her reach. Before long, they had ascended quite a distance, and the geoglyph was much more visible below.
“Well done, Princess!” Impa said as they both peered down at it. “You know, I read something in the village’s old literature- a passage about what the ancients called Dragon's Tears.”
“Dragon’s Tears?” Zelda repeated. “I’ve never heard of them.”
“‘Where the Tears rest upon the earth, we marked down the images to which they gave birth,’” Impa recalled. “I believe this geoglyph is one such ‘image.’ But even from this vantage, its meaning is no clearer to me, nor can I figure out what ‘Dragon’s Tears’ might be.”
“I don't know about Dragon’s Tears, but this image does remind me of Rauru,” Zelda said. “I believe it is depicting a Zonai.”
“I see…” Impa nodded thoughtfully. “Hm. If the literature is correct, one of the Dragon’s Tears should be quite close- near the geoglyph, or even within its borders. Would you look around? Perhaps this will give us a clue to Link’s whereabouts.” Zelda wasn't sure what the exact connection could be between this and Link, but if the geoglyph truly did depict Rauru or another Zonai, it was certainly worth investigating. She pulled out the Purah Pad and looked through the scope. Upon scanning over the geoglyph, she noticed a strange indentation in one of the depicted creature's “eyes.”
“I know that look,” Impa said with a humorous smile. “Go ahead with your paraglider. I can manage a simple landing on my own.”
“You’re sure?” Zelda asked, and Impa nodded. “All right. Thank you, Impa. I'll see you back on the ground.” With that, she jumped from the balloon and glided down toward the eye that had caught her attention. She landed a few places away, and as she came closer, she found that the indentation in the ground was a small, perfectly round pool of water. She started to kneel down to examine it, and as she did, the opening on the back of her hand lit up with a golden glow.
“Oh!” She lifted her hand to inspect it as it continued to glow. The water reacted to it, and it also took on a brief golden light. It shimmered and, as if moving backwards through time, gathered into a large drop that rose into the air. It pulsed, and the glow from it overtook Zelda’s vision.
-
Somewhere filled with green grass and trees rustling in the wind, a glowing burst of light appeared. As it faded, Link appeared from within it, and he fell the short distance to the ground. His face tensed in pain, his eyes squeezed shut. He held the Purah Pad in his ruined hand, clinging to it as if his life depended on it, and his other hand was curled into a fist surrounding a small glow.
“What?” a soft voice gasped, and two figures quickly came to his side. “Oh, oh dear!” A woman knelt down next to him. Her gaze lingered on his injured arm and the dark substance coming from it. The man, a Zonai, came to her side as she reached her hand out to Link’s shoulder. He stopped her by gently placing his hand over hers.
“Don’t,” he cautioned. “I sense great darkness coming from him.” She glanced up at him and took her hand back, then adjusted to prop Link up in her arms while minding his injury.
“You may sense darkness, but can you not also sense the great light within him?” she asked. He nodded, then reached his hand out toward Link’s shoulder, and a great light shone from it. Link groaned and stirred, and the woman smiled slightly. He managed to open his eyes, and as he focused, he looked around wildly. As he tried to scramble up, he hunched over and groaned, bringing his good hand up to his injured shoulder.
“It’s okay, you’re safe,” the woman said, and he looked back up at her. His eyes betrayed the pain he was in. “We didn't mean to startle you, but we were worried when we found you lying here.” His lips parted slightly, but he hesitated. “It’s okay.” Her smile was warm and gentle, and it reminded him of a certain someone else. “My name is Sonia.” Link continued to hesitate. Between the pain and his own habits and coping mechanisms, he didn't know what to say.
“And… could we ask what your name is?” the Zonai man asked as he stroked his chin thoughtfully. He could do that, right? He could answer that well enough.
“M-My name is Link,” he managed to say, voice raspy from pain. “I am the appointed knight,” he winced and sucked in a breath through his teeth. “Of Hyrule’s Princess Zelda.”
“What an unexpected answer,” the Zonai man said as he exchanged a brief look with Sonia. “We are the king and queen who founded Hyrule, after all. Or at least we were the last time I checked.” His tone was light as Link looked from him to Sonia and back. “My name is Rauru, King Rauru of Hyrule.”
“King Rauru… and Queen Sonia…” Link said, and his eyes widened. If that was true… “Please forgive my manners!” He sat up with a start, surprising Sonia, but couldn't stop himself as he curled over, groaning as he held his injured arm close to his core.
“Relax, Sir Link,” Sonia bade. “If I may, what happened to your arm?” She gently placed her hand on his good shoulder, and he peeked up at her.
“I… It…” He felt nauseous and was fighting to stay awake. Rauru knelt down alongside Sonia and light illuminated around his hand as he moved it over Link’s arm.
“Whatever happened, your arm has been corrupted by a dark and evil power.” He looked up to Sonia. “If we do not deal with this immediately, it may take his life.” Already, Link's gaze was blurring again, and Sonia gasped softly as he fell back. She caught him and attempted to rouse him, and when he didn't respond, she looked up at Rauru and shared a concerned gaze with him.
-
Zelda opened her eyes, snapped back to reality, and the drop before her fell to the ground and vanished entirely. She took in a breath as she processed whatever it was that she had just witnessed. That had to have been the same Rauru she had met on the Great Sky Island. He really was the first king of Hyrule alongside Queen Sonia. He was her ancestor. But… that could only mean that Link had somehow gone back in time. But how?
“Zelda,” a voice roused her from her thoughts. “You look distracted. What’s wrong?” She turned to find Impa a few paces away, watching her with concern.
“I… I think I had a vision of some kind,” she replied, and she told the elderly woman what she had experienced. Impa intently thought all of this over.
“The geoglyphs, the literature, the Dragon's Tears… and now, a vision of your missing knight.” She looked back up at Zelda. “What if these are all connected?”
“You said these geoglyphs have appeared all over Hyrule?” Zelda asked, and Impa nodded. “Then I’d like to continue examining them.”
“I agree. They may contain further clues that lead to Link. According to the literature, there is something to do with the geoglyphs in the Forgotten Temple. You know where that is, yes?”
“I do,” Zelda nodded. “I was on my way to Rito Village to pursue a lead about Link and survey the damage caused by the Upheaval. I’ll visit the Temple on the way.”
“Very good. Cado and I will make our way there as well. Of course, I will not make you wait for us.” She smiled. “These old bones don't move like they used to, but they still have some life left in them to serve Hyrule. I hope we’ll see each other again at the Temple.” Zelda felt such fondness and gratitude.
“I cannot begin to express how much your support has meant to me, Impa,” she said. “Thank you for everything.”
“It is my pleasure, my dear princess.” Impa dipped her head. “Now, go on. And be safe. If you need anything at all, my people will be glad to aid you.”
“I know, and I will keep that in mind. You travel safely as well, Impa, and I will see you again soon.” With that, she waved, and Impa saw her off as she headed back to the stable to retrieve her horse. She looked out toward the Hebra region and the towering cloud still situated there, and she thought back to the vision she saw.
“Link…” she murmured. “Wherever you are, whenever you are, I will find you.”

Chapter Text

Once Zelda returned to the stable, she sat down at the cooking pot and looked through the ingredients she had picked up. As she started cooking, she looked up to find Ariane approaching her.
“Beggin’ your pardon, Princess,” she said.
“Please, don't worry,” Zelda replied with a smile. “What is it?”
“I just wanted to ask: You said last night that you’re on your way to the Hebra region, right?” Zelda nodded. “I used to be employed at the Rito Stable. There’s been an unbelievable cold snap up that way. It’s practically a never-ending blizzard and the temperatures will freeze you solid. Got so bad that the stable had to close up and a lot of us relocated.”
“I see…” Zelda frowned. “Did this come on suddenly?”
“It did,” Ariane nodded. “About the same time the castle rose up. I feel bad for the Rito. I doubt even their feathers are doing them much good now.”
“I'm planning on visiting Rito Village, so I'll be sure to check on them,” Zelda said. “Thank you for the information, Ariane. I have some spicy peppers, I'll throw them in with my meal.”
“Oh, speaking of which!” Ariane reached into her pack and retrieved a bottle with a red liquid inside. “Here, I’d like you to take this with you. I had a stock of spicy elixirs from when I was still up at the Rito Stable, but I don't need them anymore. It’d… make me feel better to know you’ve got one, Your Highness.” Zelda stood up and placed both her hands on the bottle that Ariane was still holding. The stablehand stared at her as the princess gave her a warm smile.
“Thank you. I appreciate your concern, your hospitality, and the conversation.”
“M-My pleasure, Princess! We’re happy to be of service.” Ariane dipped her head, and she released the elixir. Zelda took it and put it away with her supplies. “Give me a moment, and I’ll get your horse ready!”
“Thank you!” Zelda called, as Ariane was already turning around and heading for the paddock. She returned to her cooking and tossed two spicy peppers into the pot. As she waited for everything to finish, she looked up at the swirling column of clouds above the Hebra region. Was that the source of the cold snap? How bad was it there? Did the Upheaval somehow cause the weather change? She swallowed as she transferred her meal to a plate. If the power behind the Upheaval, that mummy under the castle, could so drastically impact the weather and climate, she had to find a way to reverse it as quickly as possible before it did any more damage to the Rito or it expanded to other parts of Hyrule.
Ariane returned with her hand holding Gale’s reins, leading the stallion to his master. Zelda thanked her for all of the help and for looking after her horse, and once she had made sure all of her supplies were in order, she hoisted herself up into the saddle. She looked up to the northwest and spotted a Skyview Tower not too far away. It would certainly be a help in the long run to make sure she had up-to-date map data on the Purah Pad, and it didn't look to be much of a detour.
“All right, Gale,” Zelda said, leaning forward and patting her steed’s neck. “We have a long journey ahead of us. Shall we get started?” Gale snorted and scuffed his hoof on the ground, ready and raring to go. Zelda flicked the reins, and Gale took off toward the Skyview Tower.
Zelda rode up the steadily inclining side of Hyrule Ridge toward Lindor’s Brow, and she came to a small grove of trees where something caught her attention. There was a large plant that was moving quite a bit more than the surrounding vegetation. She slowed her horse, and as she got closer, she realized that she was looking at an unusually large Korok.
“That must be Hestu!” Zelda said to herself. While she had seen many of the Koroks in their forest, she had never met him personally, but Link had mentioned him and his love of song and dance. However, Hestu currently looked stressed, even frightened, as he watched the trees a short way in front of him. Zelda halted Gale and dismounted, and she approached the Korok.
“Those trees over there…” he was muttering. “So scary… Shalaka…” Zelda frowned as she looked over at the trees. What was so scary about them? Whatever it was, Hestu was apparently so worried about them that he hadn't even noticed her.
She walked toward the trees to investigate further. As she got close, two of them suddenly jumped up out of the ground, and she yelped as she stumbled back. Trees walking around on their own was new. They scrambled on their roots toward her, and one leaned back. She raced out of the way just as it threw itself forward, attempting to slam its trunk into her. She quickly drew her sword and hit it, but the blade got caught in the wood. She looked up as the tree bent forward, and she stifled a grunt as it knocked her down and sent her sprawling.
“Ow…” She grit her teeth and got back to her feet. With her sword stuck in the wood, she had to think of a new plan. “Oh!” She pulled out an axe that she had picked up while she was on the Great Sky Island, large and heavy enough that it had to be wielded with two hands. If anything, an axe certainly should be able to do some damage to these things. She adjusted her grip, and one of the trees came skittering at her. She didn't feel like she had enough time to strike, and her footing was uneven on the slope. As it reared back, she tensed, and once it lunged for her, she sprung out of the way.
A golden glow appeared from the back of her right hand. The tree slowed down considerably, and Zelda glanced around wildly. Everything around her was moving in slow motion. Much as this confused her, she decided to capitalize on the opportunity she had been given. She swung the axe as many times as she could, and after a few moments, everything returned to normal. The tree fell back and the branches and roots both vanished in a burst of dark smoke, leaving behind the trunk. She turned as the other tree came for her, and she cut through it with her axe. It fell like the other, and once the danger had passed, Zelda straightened up and lowered her weapon. She placed it on her back and went to retrieve her sword, and as she wrapped her right hand around the handle, her eyes fell on the adornments she wore.
There were times she had seen Link in combat, and especially when he was in the air with his bow drawn, when he suddenly appeared to be moving with superhuman speed. She had no idea how he accomplished such a feat, and no matter how she had tried to study it, she had never come close to an answer. He told her that he didn't know either, and it was just instinct. Perhaps he wasn't moving faster, but somehow made the world around him move slower, if that were even possible. She wouldn't have believed it if she hadn't just experienced it herself.
Had he somehow passed whatever ability he had on to her? It must have been at the same time she had received the Recall ability. Zelda lost focus on the world around her as her mind raced. Link had given her Recall, which gave her the ability to briefly reverse time for an object. He was apparently able to slow down time on instinct when he was in combat. And somehow, he had met King Rauru and Queen Sonia, the founders of the Kingdom of Hyrule.
“Shalakala?” Hestu’s voice roused her from her thoughts, and she turned back toward him. “The scary things are gone!” he said excitedly. Zelda walked over to him and looked up at his leaf-masked face. He observed her curiously for a moment. “You see me?”
“I do see you,” she said with a nod.
“You see me!” He sounded thrilled. “My name is Hestu! I'm the musician of Korok Forest, up northeast. I'm known for my maracas AND my dancing.”
“I've heard,” she replied with a smile. “Link has told me all about you. It’s nice to meet you for myself.”
“Shala?! You know Link?” Hestu lifted his maracas up and swayed them back and forth. “Any friend of Link’s is a friend of mine!”
“I'm glad to hear it, Hestu. My name is Zelda.”
“Zelda…” Hestu pondered her name for a moment. “Oh! Then-den you must be the princess Grandpa likes so much! Thanks for your help! To show my appreciation, I'll do a little dance for you!”
“Oh? I’d quite like that!” Zelda said warmly. Hestu started shaking his maracas, but stopped suddenly, startled.
“Shoko… My maracas aren't working anymore. The Korok seeds inside are all gone.” He looked absolutely dejected. “How am I supposed to dance now? The children of the forest must have taken them again.” He huffed. “If I had even one Korok seed, I could sing and dance and use my powers to help you.”
“How would one obtain Korok seeds?” Zelda asked.
“They’re…” Hestu pondered this for a moment, then answered quickly. “You’d have to get them back from the children of the forest. They're playful little mischief-makers, so they’re probably off playing hide-and-seek or having fun out traveling. If you find any, please bring them to me, Princess! I'll be here for a little bit, but I'm thinking about heading east next.”
“If I find any, I'll be sure to give them to you. I'm also in the midst of my travels, but I do hope we meet again soon, Hestu! I'd love to watch you dance.”
“Shalakala!” Hestu said. “I can't wait! And please tell Link that I said hi!” Zelda's smile faded a bit, but she nodded nonetheless.
“I will. Until next time, it was a pleasure to meet you!”
“You too, Princess! Bye-bye!” Hestu waved as she returned to her horse, and once she was in the saddle, she looked down at her right hand again. As Gale started toward the Skyview Tower again, Zelda’s mind drifted back to her earlier thoughts.
“Link…” She brought her hand to her chest. “Could you possibly… Do you possess power over time?”

Chapter Text

Night was falling by the time Zelda made her way to the top of the hill. She found that the Skyview Tower was in the middle of a small lake and situated on a large stone structure that, unfortunately, did not look very easily climbable. She frowned and dismounted her horse, and she started around the perimeter of the lake to see if a different angle would provide a better access point. There did not appear to be much to offer, but there was a pile of leftover lumber and building materials from when the Tower was being built. Zelda did wonder if the construction crew planned on returning to build a way up to the tower, but that didn't help her at that moment.
She did spot a part of the rock island that jutted out, and she figured that if she had something to stand on below it, she could Ascend through it and reach the tower. The extra building materials could probably provide the footing she needed. As she made her way back to the stockpile, she slowed down as a chill ran up her spine. Something felt… off, and it made her skin crawl. She glanced around her surroundings and couldn't find anything of note, but then, she looked up to the sky.
The moon was full and covered in a sickening red glow, and the sight frightened her. She hadn't seen such a phenomenon in years, not since the Calamity’s defeat. But there was no mistaking it, especially as gloom began to drift through the air. The sky turned dark red and clouds rushed across it, and as the moon reached its peak, Zelda jumped as she heard a voice.
“Witness the Blood Moon’s rise…” She whirled around, trying to find the source. “Under the glow of its red light, the spirits of slain monsters return to flesh… Just as they did in a war long ago. Once again, the world is threatened by darkness.”
Zelda took a deep breath as her heart hammered. That voice… It had to have been Link’s. Perhaps he had been trying to warn her, but he had sounded so… sinister. There was none of the care and warmth that she was used to when he spoke to her. She realized that she was trembling. Between the Blood Moon and Link's words, she was terrified.
As the red glow in the sky subsided, she took a few deep breaths and managed to calm herself down. All she could do was be vigilant and try to solve the mysteries she had been presented with as soon as she could. Even so, Link’s tone stuck with her and made her heart sink. She shook herself back to the matter at hand and focused on her Ultrahand ability, then took a large plank of wood and positioned it under the overhang of stone. She swam out to the plank and looked up, then Ascended through the stone to the Skyview Tower. She made her way around to the front and opened the front screens, then placed the Purah Pad to the terminal inside and activated both the Tower and the travel point. She stepped onto the lift, thankful she at least knew what to expect this time. The arms deployed and connected the data cable to the Purah Pad, and the Tower launched her up into the air. Once she reached the peak of her ascension, she held out the device and scanned the landscape, and once it was complete, she took it in both hands and looked over the updated map. Everything seemed to be in order.
She placed the Purah Pad back on her belt and spread herself out for her descent, taking the time and opportunity to scan the surface for herself. At night, the glow of the Geoglyphs should have been easier to spot, if there were any around. Sure enough, she was able to find three of them, not counting the one she had already investigated with Impa, and one wasn't that far away from the Tower. If she could launch herself again, it wouldn't be out of the question to be able to glide to it, and with the Purah Pad’s travel function, she could return quickly. After what she had seen from the Dragon's Tear, she couldn't contain her curiosity about what the others would show her.
Zelda returned to the Tower and launched herself up again, and with a careful combination of diving and paragliding, she was able to make her way to the Geoglyph that had been drawn into the mountainside.
“Woo!” she huffed as she crossed over Tanagar Canyon and into the Hebra region. The air temperature took a drastic dip, shocking her. She knew there was some kind of phenomenon going on with the weather, but no amount of warning could have prepared her for such a sudden onslaught of cold. As soon as she landed, she quickly drank the spicy elixir that Ariane had given her at the stable, and thankfully, its warmth managed to raise her body temperature against the extreme cold around her.
Now that she had taken care of the temperature problem, she climbed up the cliff side and made her way to the middle of the Geoglyph. There, she found a small, perfectly round pool of water. As she approached it, the back of her right hand began to glow, and the glow intensified as she lifted her hand. The pool reacted to it and gathered into a single drop that lifted into the air, and bright light overtook her vision.
-
There was a cliff overlooking a forest, and beyond it, the expanse of a world both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. On the edge of this cliff stood Link, and a few paces behind him, Rauru and Sonia watched him. Link’s right arm was… gone. His shoulder and right side were covered by a piece of fabric tied around his torso. He appeared deeply lost in thought as his eyes swept over the horizon. He knew this view, no matter how far back he had gone. He would never forget the view of Hyrule he witnessed after he emerged from the Shrine of Resurrection. He took a breath and shut his eyes for a moment, then turned back to his company.
“If I may ask a question…” His words were hesitant.
“Of course,” Sonia nodded, giving him a smile.
“Thank you. This… This is truly the era of Hyrule’s founding?”
“I suppose it is,” Rauru replied. “Your presence here is just as strange to us, Link. But if you, like Sonia, have a secret stone and are able to manipulate time, then your story makes sense.” Link looked down and opened his left hand, revealing the tear-shaped stone he held. He’d never known himself to have any kind of power like that, or what a “secret stone” was meant to be.
“Oh?” Sonia glanced up at Rauru with a playful look on her face. “I believed him right away. You needed the secret stone as proof, Rauru?” She looked back at Link. “I can sense great light within him, and an unshakable spirit. I sense power over time as well. He shines in a way I have never known before.” Link was even more lost for words than usual.
“I see…” Rauru said. “In any case, Link. You had said that you needed to return to your era as soon as you possibly could.” Link nodded.
“I… need to get back and make sure that Zelda is safe. I can't leave her. Not again.” His eyes widened briefly and he snapped his mouth shut. He composed himself quickly. “I don't know how I got here to begin with, let alone how to get back.” As Rauru watched the young knight somewhat helplessly, he grunted as Sonia elbowed him in the side. She approached Link, and he looked up at her.
“Now, Link,” she said gently. “You don't need to solve your problems all at once. Why not come back to the castle with us?” Link hesitated, and Sonia reached out and took his hand in both of hers. “We’ll tell everyone that you’re… an honored guest dear to our family. From the sound of it, that much is true!” She smiled warmly. “We’ll get you fresh clothes, too.”
“I… Thank you for your hospitality and generosity,” he replied. “I’m honored.”
“You can relax, too,” she teased lightly. “I’m sure an answer will come to you. You are brimming with courage, and with time, you will no doubt find the wisdom you seek.” After a moment, Link nodded, and he gently retrieved his hand from her.
“I wonder,” Rauru thought aloud. “Mineru. She may have some idea of how to get you back to your era.” Link looked up at the Zonai king curiously. “She knows far more than anyone about our people. And like us, my older sister has a secret stone. We’ll call on her.”
-
Zelda opened her eyes and watched as the drop of water fell to the ground and vanished. Her eyes lost focus as she tried to process what she had seen. Link really had gone back in time to an era that had become legend. According to Queen Sonia, he did have power over time. And despite everything, his journey through time and losing his arm, his greatest priority and concern was… her. She placed her hand over her nose and mouth, trying to keep a hold on her emotions.
“I’m all right, Link,” she said, hoping that somehow, wherever and whenever he was, he would hear her. Once she had steadied herself, she pulled out the Purah Pad and traveled back to the Lindor’s Brow Skyview Tower to resume her journey toward the Forgotten Temple. Gale dutifully waited where she had left him, and she rode along the edge of the canyon until she was right above her destination. Once she dismounted, she jumped from the cliff side and deployed her paraglider, and as she descended toward the Forgotten Temple's entrance, she found herself contemplating how much her view of heights had changed in such a short time. Just a few days ago, she never would have been diving from such high places, let alone without a second thought.
As she landed at the temple’s entrance, she found Impa’s balloon waiting. She supposed it shouldn't have surprised her that Impa beat her there, considering the detours she took. Inside, she found that they weren't the only visitors, as several Bokoblins had set up camp there. She started across the vast, ancient structure, sneaking past the monsters. As she neared the opposite side, unfortunately, one of them spotted her, and she heard it squeal as it summoned its comrades. She hurried and leapt over a gap to a crumbled platform, and as she had hoped, they couldn't follow her.
“Ow!” What she hadn't expected was for them to start picking up rocks and loose stones and throwing them at her, and one managed to hit her right in the arm. It wasn't debilitating by any means, but it stung something awful. She readied her shield and kept it up until she was out of range, and one of the Bokoblins snarled at her but turned away, thwarted. Zelda placed her shield on her back, then Ascended through the overhanging stone to the opening in the wall that led into the next chamber.
Here, she found a Shrine of Light, and just beyond it, she saw Impa standing and looking at the entryway that led to the deepest part of the temple where the great statue of the Goddess stood. As Zelda approached, Impa turned to her and smiled.
“Ah, I'm glad you made it safely, my dear,” the elderly woman greeted. “I believe there is something related to the Geoglyphs somewhere within this temple.”
“Yes, you mentioned that when we met before,” Zelda said. “Have you found anything?”
“Sadly, no. I am searching, but so far, it has been in vain. The chambers here are enormous, so it will be a difficult task at best. Where could it be…?”
“Perhaps a fresh pair of eyes will prove useful,” the princess offered. “I'll take a look around, and I will let you know if I find anything.”
“All right,” Impa nodded. “Be careful.” Zelda dipped her head and made her way to the next chamber, where she stopped dead in her tracks.
“What- How?” The statue of the Goddess lay toppled on its side. “How could this have happened?” It was such an immense monument, it would have taken great strength and power to displace it. Seeing it in such a state made her heart ache. She approached the statue’s face and bowed her head. Once she lifted it, her gaze traveled down the rest of the statue, and she spotted something behind it. On closer examination, it appeared to be a doorway that had opened, and as she looked closer, she realized it bore the same circular design as the door into the Temple of Time on the Great Sky Island.
“...Could the Zonai have built this temple?” she said to herself. Given how old this place was, it wasn't out of the realm of possibility. She entered the chamber beyond it and found an altar of some kind surrounded by seven stones of varying sizes. This chamber certainly appeared to be Zonai in design, and it must have served some purpose. What that purpose was, Zelda hadn't the foggiest idea.
As she crossed the chamber, she found a stone in the far right corner with three beautiful golden flowers growing around it. They reminded her a bit of Silent Princesses, but she did not recognize them. Much as she wanted to take one for further study, something about removing them just felt… wrong. The stone itself was about half her height and surrounded by a circle of small rocks. This was deliberately placed here, and the flowers likely were as well.
Through the next doorway, Zelda emerged into what looked to be the deepest chamber in the temple. It was round and open, and most of the center of the chamber was sunken further into the ground. There was a marking overlooking the area below, and she stepped onto it and looked over what waited there.
“Oh!” She gasped. It appeared to be a map of Hyrule carved out of stone, and there were markings placed about the map. The map itself wasn't completely accurate, but it must have been at the time it was made. To think Hyrule had changed so much over time was fascinating. The markings, however, caught her attention, and two of them in northwest Hyrule looked quite familiar. She smiled. “This must show where all of the Geoglyphs are!” She took out the Purah Pad and recorded a picture of the map for future reference, then zoomed in on each of them. She wasn't sure what most of them were depicting, but some, she could guess at. One in the southeast appeared to be a curved sword or dagger, and one on the eastern edge of Hyrule looked like the depictions of the tear-shaped objects she had seen. In the vision she had witnessed, Rauru had identified the object as a “secret stone.”
East of Hyrule Castle, there was a Geoglyph that bore a strong resemblance to the Purah Pad. Link had it with him when he went back in time, so perhaps he had found use for it even in that era. Then in the north, between Korok Forest and Death Mountain…
“The Master Sword!” she realized. It had to be. But how, and why? Had Link somehow found the sacred blade in the past? Her eyes drifted to the top of the map, and there appeared to be a tablet just above it. Zelda looked around and found an entryway, and within it, a staircase leading down to the map. Once she emerged, she heard footsteps approaching.
“Ah, this place…” She looked up to find Impa and Cado standing above, overlooking the map.
“Lady Impa, let's head down,” Cado bade. “We must investigate up close.” Zelda waited until they had joined her, and Impa glanced at the carvings on the walls. They matched up with the depictions on the map.
“Impa!” Zelda couldn't contain her excitement. “I believe this is a map detailing where the Geoglyphs can be found across Hyrule!”
“Incredible,” Impa remarked. “I can hardly believe what my eyes behold. Who could have guessed that this old ruin still held such secrets? It is said that the Geoglyphs appeared all over Hyrule during the Upheaval when Link went missing. Hm…” She shut her eyes in thought for a moment. “There is no time to dawdle! Let us hurry and investigate the remaining Geoglyphs.”
“Oh! L-Lady Impa…” Cado bade. “Perhaps you should rest a bit before such a trying journey.”
“I will investigate the remaining locations,” Zelda said. “I actually already found another not far from here.” She pointed at the corresponding mark on the map. “I had another vision when I found the Dragon's Tear. Link was… quite concerned about returning to this time, and Queen Sonia invited him to join them back at the castle. King Rauru also suggested that someone named Mineru might be able to help.”
“Two Geoglyphs, two Dragon's Tears, and two visions of Link in the distant past…” Impa mused. “The evidence grows ever stronger that all of these are connected.” She looked up at Zelda. “Perhaps they are trying to give you a message.”
“They… almost seem like memories,” Zelda said. “Like I'm seeing Link’s memories. But if that were true, why would they be connected to the Dragon’s Tears?” All three of them puzzled over this for some time.
“Perhaps visiting more of them will enlighten you, Princess,” Cado offered. “When we next meet, I'm sure Lady Impa shares my sentiment that we will share everything we have learned as well.”
“Of course,” Impa agreed. “You have a long, daunting path ahead of you, my dear Zelda. But you are strong and wise. I know you will rise to the challenge.” Zelda smiled a bit.
“Thank you, both of you. I will also be sure to tell you of what I have uncovered when we next cross paths. And until then, please travel safely.”
“You as well,” Impa agreed. “May the goddess watch over you.”

Chapter Text

One thing that proved quite convenient was the Ascend ability, as once Zelda was out of the Sheikah’s line of sight, she used it to exit the Forgotten Temple rather than having to make it all the way back to the entrance. She figured Impa had enough on her plate than figuring out how the princess managed to jump up through solid rock. She emerged on top of the temple and pulled herself out and to her feet, then looked up and began the climb to the top of the cliff where Gale waited for her.
Much as she wanted to go and investigate the other Geoglyphs, especially now that she had a map, Zelda couldn't ignore her responsibility to the people of Hyrule and investigating the regional phenomena plaguing them. Once she reached the top of the cliff, she gave Gale a scratch behind his ear and mounted her horse, then set off back on the path leading to the Hebra region and Rito Village. The Rito were deeply connected to the skies, and Zelda could only imagine the difficulty they were having with this immense winter storm that was bearing down on them. She dearly hoped that they were okay.
As she rode, her mind drifted to the last time she had gone to Rito Village under threat of calamity. The Rito Champion Revali would no doubt be soaring into the clouds themselves, Great Eagle Bow in wing or talon and determined to find and stop whatever was causing this extreme weather. His power over wind had been unmatched in his time, and he was the only one that Zelda knew who could match Link in archery. Revali had been a proud warrior and fiercely protective of his home and people, and even now, the Rito strived to emulate him, taking inspiration from his example.
Something nearby caught Zelda’s attention, what appeared to be the ruins of a home. Next to it was a well, and gloom covered the ground around it.
“Whoa,” she commanded, and Gale came to a stop. She dismounted and headed over to the well, careful to watch where she stepped. If there was something in there causing gloom to appear, she’d need to alert someone to block it off before anyone was accidentally exposed. She leaned over and peered into the well, but was so dark inside, she couldn't make anything out from there. She'd been in wells before, so she figured she could drop into this one and get to the bottom of whatever was producing the gloom. She climbed up and swung her legs over the side of the well, then pushed herself off.
There was no ground where she expected it to be.
“What in the goddess’s name?!” Zelda blurted as she continued to fall. She appeared to be in some kind of chasm, the walls covered with thick gloom that made her skin crawl. Her heart raced as she adjusted herself to dive more smoothly. Eventually, after far more time than she could have reasonably expected, the chasm opened up and she could barely make out the sickly glow of gloom as well as a few torches. Otherwise, it was pitch black, and she couldn't make out for certain where the ground actually was. Upon approaching it, she pulled out her paraglider and slowed her descent to a much safer rate, though next thing she knew, she was landing in some kind of body of water. It was deep enough that she had to swim, and glowing purple fish darted away from her.
Zelda swam to the side and quickly found solid ground, and she got to her feet and scanned her surroundings. It didn't do her much good, as she could barely see a thing. The torches she had spotted appeared to be monstrous in origin, so despite the light there, she had a feeling that would be a poor choice of destination. Further out, she saw some kind of cloudy blue glow. She couldn't tell what it was from her current position, but at least it would provide a waypoint.
“Oh, wait!” She reached into her pack and pulled out a Brightbloom Seed, and she tossed it a few paces ahead. It broke open and illuminated the immediate area around her, and she found she was standing at the base of some kind of statue. She couldn't quite make out what it was supposed to be, but even so, she couldn't help her excitement. This was a sign of civilization deep underground! Something had placed this statue here, though for what purpose, she couldn't be sure.
Beyond it, she spotted the cloudy blue glow again, and it appeared much closer than she had originally thought. Further away, there was some kind of round, slightly obscured object that contained an orange glow. The glow pulsed slowly, growing brighter and then dimmer repeatedly.
Zelda made her way to the blue glow, finding that it was atop a pile of rocks that proved difficult to climb. She made her way to the top, and her eyes widened at what she found. The glow actually appeared to be surrounding the silhouette of a human form, and upon closer look, she recognized the outline of a Hylian soldier’s armor and uniform. The soldier was holding a claymore that had apparently been spared from the decay of the weapons on the surface. The soldier seemed to be holding it as if offering it to her. Zelda lifted her hands, but hesitated. She took hold of the blade and looked up to where the soldier’s face should be.
“Thank you for your service to the Kingdom of Hyrule,” she said gently. “I promise that I will use this to defend this land and her people.” She took the blade, and the soldier lowered its arms. It rose up slightly, then disappeared. Zelda lowered her head for a moment, then stowed the claymore and hopped back down to the ground. She wanted to investigate the orange object next, but unfortunately, that meant finding her way around a large expanse of gloom. She tossed another Brightbloom Seed to illuminate her path. As she walked, she passed something that looked somewhat like a large root emerging from the ground. Gloom pulsed through it as if it were a vein, and Zelda shuddered. Did the mummy beneath the castle draw power from this place deep underground? Or had it caused all of this gloom to appear? Neither thought proved comforting to her. She continued on, looking for a way around the gloom.
“Ah!” She yelped as a trio of chuchus suddenly popped up from the ground. They looked to have an aura of gloom about them, and their eyes glowed red. Zelda pulled out her weapon as the three rolled toward her, and she managed to knock one away. Another, unfortunately, got the jump on her, and it knocked her to the ground. A wave of illness overtook her body, and it took her a moment to gather herself enough to get to her feet. She swung her weapon and managed to destroy the chuchus, and she collected the jelly left behind. As her immediate stress subsided, she noticed that her body still felt weak.
“Monsters engulfed in gloom,” she murmured. “I'll have to take great care around them.” She continued on and was immediately greeted by several flat, one-eyed creatures that she didn't recognize. They must have been native to this deep underground region. Unfortunately, they were not friendly, and Zelda fought them off as they lunged for her. One slammed itself into her and knocked her down, and she grit her teeth and scrambled back to her feet. She managed to defeat all of them, and thankfully, they did not carry gloom. She panted, trying to catch her breath and assess her injuries, but before she could, a trio of skeletal Bokoblins pulled themselves from the ground. They, to her horror, were wreathed in gloom.
“You must be joking,” Zelda grumbled as she readied her sword and shield. The Stalkoblins came charging for her, and she struck one and managed to dislodge its skull. She struck it again and the head vanished, but she left herself open, and another managed to strike her with its weapon. She fought to stay on her feet, but she felt more of the fatigue caused by the gloom seep into her body. She wasn't sure how much more she could take.
She mustered what strength she had and knocked another Stalkoblin apart, then turned and hit the final one. She hurried over and struck the skulls before they had a chance to reform, and the remains vanished. Zelda hunched over and braced her hands on her knees as she tried to catch her breath. She felt weak and sick, and her limbs were shaking from exhaustion.
“I can do this,” she breathed. She straightened up and looked up at the orange orb. She was close, and it looked like she had a clear path to it. There was some kind of light extending from the bottom of it, and as she peered closer, she recognized the rune that appeared from it. It closely resembled the runes that appeared in front of the Shrines of Light and across the Great Sky Island. Zelda forced her body to hurry to it, and once she was under the rune, she lifted her right hand up toward it. The light retracted into the orb, and a bright glow passed through the structure around it. Zelda shielded her eyes as the area around her lit up, and a column of light appeared from above her and shot down, creating a mark underneath her. She heard a chime from the Purah Pad and pulled it out, and she discovered a new layer to her map labeled “Depths.”
The lightroot dispelled the darkness and brightened the surrounding area.
The light from this “lightroot” felt almost like sunshine, and while her injuries remained, Zelda felt the illness from the gloom leave her body. Some of her energy returned, and she took a more careful look around now that there was some light. The region looked quite foreign to her, and there were all sorts of trees and plants growing that were very different from the ones on the surface that she was used to. There were glowing white insects flitting around, and every so often she saw clusters of small blue lights that she couldn't identify.
She looked back down at her map and noticed that the lightroot was marked like a travel point. How was that even possible? How did this lightroot integrate with the Purah Pad? Perhaps it had something to do with Link using the device in the distant past. She looked forward to asking him about it once they were reunited. But for now, she knew it would be dangerous to continue exploring the Depths without a better plan to do so. She moved to the surface layer on her map and selected the Lookout Landing Skyview Tower travel point. It would probably be best to report her findings to Purah as soon as possible, and with that thought in mind, she teleported away.
When she arrived at Lookout Landing, she found a Rito observing the Skyview Tower and muttering something. He turned to her and watched her from behind his goggles.
“Well, look at this,” he said. “You’re the one I saw flying around the sky. It’s great to meet the first one to ever be launched from a Skyview Tower. A real historic moment!”
“I suppose it is,” she agreed.
“Hey, what’s your name?” he asked, and the question actually caught her off guard. She was so used to everyone knowing, or at least guessing at, who she was. She smiled a bit.
“My name is Zelda,” she said.
“Zelda, you say?” He thought it over for a moment. “Hold on there… Really, your name is Zelda?” She nodded. “Hey, miss… You’ve got the same name as the princess! Ha, good for you!” She blinked. He looked entirely serious and even a bit excited about it. “Pretty big name to live up to, though,” he remarked. “I’m Penn, by the way. I work for the Lucky Clover Gazette. I'm writing an article about this event, so folks everywhere will know about the Skyview Towers being activated!”
“It is a good piece of information for them to know,” she said.
“Right, so I’d better get to work. Our newspaper is short on staff, so I've had to flap all over the place to cover the news. Hey, we could use another reporter! You should join us. Seem like a brave type and all- that’s what it takes.” He really did look serious about it. “Our newspaper is based in Hebra to the northwest. You'll find it near the bridge that leads to Rito Village. Stop by if you’re up for the adventure of a lifetime… in the newspaper biz!”
“I actually plan on going that way soon,” Zelda said. “I’ll stop by.”
“Excellent,” Penn nodded. “Until then… Soar long!” He waved, then gave a great flap and took off into the air.
“Nice to meet you, Penn!” she called up after him, and he dipped his wing in response as he flew off. She couldn't help herself, she started giggling softly. It was oddly refreshing to meet someone who didn't immediately fall into formalities with her. On the other hand, it was a bit concerning that a reporter of the Lucky Clover Gazette, whom Purah had said she had recruited to help search for her and Link, didn't recognize her even after she gave her name. But Penn was quite enthusiastic about his job, and perhaps he assumed that the “missing” princess wouldn't just be wandering around Lookout Landing.
Zelda made her way up to the second story platform where she found Purah observing the castle, and the doctor turned to her. A smile grew on her face as the princess approached.
“Heya, Princess!” she greeted. “Didn't expect to see you back so soon. I take it the travel point is functioning as expected?”
“It is,” Zelda confirmed. She took out the Purah Pad and showed its namesake the map. “It seems that the Purah Pad not only functions with the Shiekah-made points, but with particular Zonai points as well. Each Shrine I've visited has been marked on the map with a travel point, but also, I discovered a chasm leading deep underground.”
“Oh, right!” Purah tapped the side of her head. “I completely forgot to tell you about our Depths research. Sorry about that. Josha has been heading up the team responsible, so she can tell you more about their findings. Still, if you stumbled your way there without warning, I'm glad you made it back okay.” She looked Zelda over and frowned. “Well, mostly. You look like you could use some rest and a good meal, Your Highness.”
“I know, and I'll rest shortly,” Zelda replied. “But I have so much to tell you.” She dove into everything she had learned about the Geoglyphs and the visions she had of Link in the distant past, the discovery she and Impa had made at the Forgotten Temple, and the lightroot in the Depths. Purah listened intently and pulled out a notebook to jot things down.
“Wow, you’ve been busy,” she remarked once Zelda had finished. “But I'm glad to hear you’ve picked up some leads! And that you met up with my sister. I know she’s been worried sick about you. May I?” She held out her hand, and Zelda handed over the Purah Pad. Purah adjusted her glasses and looked over the device and its functions. “It does look like it’s been modified slightly, and considering it took so long for Robbie and me to reverse engineer the Sheikah Slate, it’s quite impressive that someone was able successfully mess with it.” She handed it back to Zelda. “Wish I could meet whoever did it and talk shop!”
“I'd love to know how they did it,” she agreed as she put the Purah Pad away. “Now, I'd like to speak with Josha about the Depths. The gloom down there is quite prevalent, so if I end up down there again, I want to make sure I’m prepared.”
“I hear you,” Purah said. “But do yourself a favor and take some time to rest.”
“I will, I promise.” With that, the two bade each other farewell, and Zelda headed back down to find the young Sheikah.

Chapter Text

Upon arriving at the ground floor research station, Zelda found Josha and Robbie arguing about something or other. The princess decided to detour for the time being and not interrupt them, instead heading for the emergency shelter so she could recover from her journey. She descended the ladder and greeted Jerrin, who was dutifully sweeping up dust and dirt that had accumulated. Zelda turned and her gaze fell upon the goddess statue set up on one side of the shelter, and several offerings lay before it. She had claimed another four Lights of Blessing from the shrines that she had come across, perhaps the goddess would be willing to grant her a blessing again. She approached the statue and knelt down. An ethereal light illuminated the statue.
“You who have conquered the shrines and claimed their Lights of Blessing… In exchange for four Lights of Blessing, I will amplify your being. So tell me what it is that you desire: Vitality, or Stamina?” Zelda looked up at the statue's face, surprised. The statue on the Great Sky Island hadn’t offered her a choice. If she was going to be traveling so much, more stamina would serve her well, especially if it meant using the paraglider for longer when she was in the air.
“I wish for greater stamina,” she said, dipping her head again.
“I shall grant the power you seek.” A light shone above her, and from it, a green object decorated in gold descended. As before, she reached up to take it, and it pulled into an orb of light that sunk into her chest. Her body immediately felt revitalized, energy surging through her.
“Go, and bring peace to the world…” the voice through the statue bade, and Zelda nodded and got back to her feet. She walked over to the cooking pot and greeted the chef on duty, then made herself a small meal to sate her hunger for the time being. Once she was finished eating, she climbed back up the ladder to the main grounds of Lookout Landing, and it looked like Josha and Robbie were still arguing. The princess frowned and approached them, deciding that it was time to break up whatever the two Sheikah were fighting about.
“If anything were to happen to Purah’s favorite student, it’d be the end for me! The END!” Robbie was saying quite pointedly.
“Pardon my interruption,” Zelda spoke up, and both Josha and Robbie turned to her.
“Oh, welcome back, Princess!” Josha greeted.
“Yes, it’s good to see you in one piece,” Robbie agreed. “Perhaps you can help me convince the kid here that it's way too dangerous for her to go into the Depths herself!”
“But how am I supposed to lead research on the Depths if I can't go down there myself?!” Josha retorted.
“All right, all right, both of you,” Zelda said, lifting her hands slightly. “Take a moment and a deep breath. Josha, I've just come from the Depths myself, and I would not be comfortable with you going down there, especially on your own. If I hadn't had the Purah Pad to get me back here, I don't think I would have survived.” Josha’s face fell at this information, and Robbie nodded.
“I’m not thrilled about you going down there either, Princess,” the old Sheikah said. “I'm VERY glad that you were able to make it back okay.”
“I know it’s dangerous, but there are so many things down there to discover!” Josha said. “Princess, you’re always saying that we need to expand our understanding of the world and search for clues to the past. I think the Depths have those clues!” She hurried over to the side where Zelda found her gesturing to a stone tablet of some kind. “See this? It was brought back by one of the investigation teams. I think it could be evidence that a mysterious people once lived in the Depths. That’s why I want to go down there- so I can see if there are any more depictions like this one. I want to see for myself!” Though Zelda kept her outward demeanor firm, inside, she wanted to smile so badly. Josha’s enthusiasm certainly reminded her of her own when they had discovered the Ancient Sheikah Technology.
“I do understand where you’re coming from, Josha, and I admire your intellect. But it truly is too dangerous for you to go to the Depths yourself. It would be disastrous for the research team if something were to happen to you, never mind how terribly we would all grieve if you were lost.” Josha's mouth pressed into a thin line, but evidently she found it difficult to argue with the princess on this matter. Robbie groaned softly and joined them.
“All right, all right,” he grumbled. “Tell you what. I’ll go down there myself and see if I can't find anything about the figure on the slate. And the princess will join me!” He hopped into his trademark pose and pointed skyward.
“I will?”
“She will?”
“Yes!” Robbie said firmly. “I need you to come along so you can use the Purah Pad's camera and snap a picture for Josha to see. That is, assuming we find what we’re looking for.”
“Oh, I couldn't ask the princess to do something like that,” Josha said. “I know there’s so much you already need to do, Your Highness.” Zelda thought it over for a moment.
“No, this is important,” she said. “The Depths are filled with gloom, and I want to know what’s down there and where it’s coming from. I wish I could just relinquish the Purah Pad, but I need to be able to travel quickly and keep track of the regional phenomena.”
“You should absolutely keep it!” Josha agreed quickly. “Doc wants you to have it, Princess. I…” She bowed somewhat awkwardly. “Th-thank you for assisting in our research of the Depths!”
“It is my pleasure,” Zelda replied.
“All right, now that that’s all settled,” Robbie said. “Let’s see… I guess we should enter through the chasm to the south of Lookout Landing. I’ll go on ahead. Once you're ready and rarin’ to go, come and find me there, Princess. Ta-ta!” With that, he turned and hurried off, leaving no time for either of his company to object. He moved with surprising vigor for a man that had seen thirteen decades and counting.
“Wait, hang on!” Josha called after him, but he didn't stop. “And he’s gone…” She turned back to Zelda. “Thank you again for your help, Your Highness. Here, take these with you.” She moved over and gathered up a stash of arrows and Brightbloom Seeds, and Zelda gratefully accepted them. “As you probably know by now, the chasms are pretty deep, so light from the surface doesn't make it down there. It's pitch black!” Zelda nodded. “But if you attach a Brightbloom Seed to an arrow and shoot it, it’ll light up the area from a safe distance! Definitely a useful trick down there!”
“I hadn't thought about attaching them to arrows,” Zelda marveled. “That is a good trick, thank you.”
“It’s the least I can do!” the Sheikah girl insisted. “So you’ll want to head straight out of Lookout Landing's southern gate. You’ll find the chasm Goggles used just outside. Please be careful descending and when you’re down there! Doc will flip if something happens to you.”
“I’ll be careful,” Zelda assured her with a smile. “I’ve learned so much about travel and survival from Link. I'll be back as soon as I can with a picture for you.”
“Okay,” Josha nodded. “Thank you again!” Zelda waved, then turned and headed out of Lookout Landing’s southern gate as she had been directed.
The chasm was uncomfortably close to Lookout Landing, and Zelda figured they should count themselves lucky that it wasn't even closer and didn't cause any damage to their base. It was also much larger than she had expected, given the first one she found had been in a standard well. Around the area, pieces of what she assumed were ruins from the Sky Islands littered the landscape. Not far from the edge of the chasm, the survey team had set up camp. One member was resting under a tent, and another was at the edge and peering into the chasm itself. Zelda approached the latter, trying to do so in a way that didn't startle him too badly.
“Pardon me,” she spoke up, and the man jumped.
“Whoa!” He spun around. “Hey! What’s the big idea? You can't just walk up behind- OH!” His face turned a shade redder. “Excuse me, Princess Zelda! I didn't realize it was you.”
“No, I apologize for not making my presence known sooner,” she replied. “I’m glad you’re unharmed.”
“Yes, right,” he dipped his head. “Doctor Robbie passed through here not long ago and said we should expect you. If I may, I'm glad to see you safe, Princess. We were all worried sick when you went missing.”
“I appreciate your concern,” she said. “I’m here to follow Robbie to the Depths, as you may already know. Please excuse me.”
“Of course.” He started to step aside, but hesitated. “Er, Princess, have you been briefed on the Depths?” She nodded. “Okay, good. I just wanted to make sure that you know what you’re getting into. Please be careful.” She nodded her thanks, then took a step back. She hurried forward and leapt from the edge of the chasm, and she set herself into a dive underground.
Like the other chasm, this one was covered with thick gloom until it opened up as she reached the Depths. The survey team had already set up a landing spot, and both a fire and a Brightbloom blossom lit the immediate area. Zelda spread her paraglider as she approached the ground, and she touched down without issue. At the landing site, another young man was waiting, peering off into the distance. As she approached, he turned to her.
“Ah, Princess Zelda!” He bowed slightly. “It’s an honor and pleasure to meet you. I'm Ponnick, from the Zonai Survey Team. Robbie told me to guide you to him once you arrived.”
“Thank you, Ponnick,” she said. “Where am I heading?”
“I think he was taking a short walk over to that glowing area over there.” He pointed to an orange glow not far from their current position.
“Oh, a lightroot!” she observed, then turned back to Ponnick.
“A… lightroot?” he echoed, and she nodded. “So that’s what those things are called. Anyway, he went that way, then just kept going… and going… Last I saw him, he was heading way out there, off to the west.” Zelda looked back over and could make out the glow of fires in the indicated direction. “Do you have any Brightbloom Seeds, Your Highness?”
“I do,” she confirmed.
“Ah, that’s great news. It can be quite dangerous to wander around here without a light source. If you’re going to explore the Depths, take plenty of those seeds with you.”
“I will, thank you.” With that, she bade Ponnick farewell and started for the lightroot. Once she was under it, she lifted her right hand, and the lightroot illuminated the surrounding area. The princess marveled at the power these lightroots possessed. They were also apparently quite numerous, as she saw another dormant one not far from where she was. It also appeared to be in the same direction Robbie had reportedly gone off in.
Zelda climbed up a boulder that provided a bridge across the gloom spread about the ground, and she hopped off and back to safe footing. Nearby, she heard the sound of something striking rock repeatedly, and she found a handful of Bokoblins that appeared to be attempting to break down and mine a deposit of some kind. A Moblin looked to be supervising their efforts. All of the monsters were wreathed in a sickening aura of gloom, and it made Zelda shiver. The monsters were bad enough as it was; Adding gloom was even worse.
With the help of Brightblooms, Zelda arrived at the next lightroot and found Robbie just beyond it. He stood next to a campfire, and the light of it flickered and barely illuminated a structure next to them. The eyes of his goggles both adjusted to look at her.
“Ah, you’re finally here!” he said. “Take a look at this.” He turned around to the structure. “I can barely make it out, but this statue here… It’s standing tall on two legs, one arm raised high…” Zelda squinted a bit and could make out the general shape of what he was talking about. “It looks an awful lot like the figure Josha showed us on that piece of slate, don't you think?”
“I think you’re right,” she agreed. “Hold on for a moment, please. I'll be right back.” He started to protest, but didn't stop her. She returned to the lightroot and lifted her hand, and as expected, the lightroot illuminated and lit up the surrounding area. She returned to Robbie, who had one eye of his goggles staring at her and the other at the lightroot. “There, now we can observe the statue more clearly.”
“Look at how bright that thing got!” he blurted, and she wasn't certain if he was listening to her or not. “That light down in this dark is downright refreshing.” He straightened up and relaxed a bit. “In fact… it’s so luminous, it's almost like we’re on the surface! Just standing near it makes me feel so much better. How strange.” He turned to her. “You never cease to amaze, Princess. Now, let’s get a better look at this thing.” Zelda smiled, and they both looked up at the statue. “Yep, this definitely looks like Josha’s slate. Not sure what it’s supposed to be, though.”
“I saw a similar statue in the Depths northwest of here,” Zelda said. “The figure depicted was different, though. I wonder why they were built.”
“Hm…” Robbie mused. “Be sure to tell Josha about it. Speaking of, get that camera ready! It’s time to put it to work.” Zelda pulled out the Purah Pad and moved to the front of the statue, and she recorded several pictures. She returned to Robbie and showed him what she had captured, and he gave an approving nod.
“Stupendous!” he nearly yelled. “I’m sure Josha will be satisfied with this.” She nodded and put away the Pad. “What with the root lighting up and these statues… Leave it to you to surge our research forward. Soon enough, we’re going to have even more to investigate. But until then, it’s time I head back up to the surface.”
“All right,” Zelda said. “I think I’ll take a look around here a bit more, but I'll see you back at Lookout Landing.”
“You be careful, Princess. And don't make Josha wait too long for that picture!”
“I won't!” With that, Robbie departed, and Zelda looked back up at the statue. It was quite similar in design to the one she had seen before, even if the creature depicted was different. She turned and looked in the direction the statue was facing, and her brow rose as she found another identical statue not far off. And beyond that one, there was another, and another.
“Could these be leading somewhere?” she wondered aloud. Much as she wanted to follow them, she figured it would be best to reconvene with Josha and make a plan from there. Besides, she needed to get back to her travels to Rito Village and find a way to stop the cold snap. There were certainly times she wished she could be in multiple places at once, but while that wasn't possible, at least she could return to places quickly. She took the Purah Pad back out to do just that, traveling back to Lookout Landing.

Chapter Text

Josha had been thrilled with the photos that Zelda presented as well as the information about the lightroots and the additional statues. They hoped to investigate those statues soon, but needed to regroup and figure out a plan of attack. Zelda promised to check back in soon, but needed to get back on track to Rito Village. She used the Purah Pad to travel back to where she had left Gale dutifully waiting next to the well that she had originally investigated. Gale dipped his head for her to scratch when she approached, and she smiled and pulled out an apple for him that he gratefully ate.
“Thank you for waiting,” she said as she stroked the side of his neck. “It’s going to get cold where we’re going, so hang in there. I'll make sure I get some carrots for you as soon as I can! You’ll definitely earn them.” She hoisted herself up into the saddle and snapped the reins, and Gale took off again along the path around Tanagar Canyon.
Eventually, she reached the end of the canyon and followed the path along the curve, crossing into the Tabantha region. She shivered and slowed Gale down, then retrieved and drank another spicy elixir. As they approached the Tabantha Snowfield, Zelda frowned and took out the Purah Pad, then pulled up the picture of the map of the Geoglyphs. Sure enough, there appeared to be one nearby, and she debated with herself on detouring and finding it. It shouldn't take too long, and perhaps she would find another clue to Link’s whereabouts. The sooner she found him, the better, as he would be a huge help in investigating the phenomena plaguing Hyrule, never mind the relief she would feel upon his return.
Zelda directed Gale north into the Snowfield, her steed breaking into a gallop and kicking up snow behind him. Sure enough, Zelda spotted the glowing marks of the Geoglyph on the ground, and she scanned the landscape for the Dragon’s Tear. Once she found it, she dismounted her horse and approached it. The small pool of water looked very out of place in the otherwise frozen, snow-covered area. Zelda lifted her right hand and the rune on the back glowed, and the water gathered up into a single sphere and rose into the air. It pulsed in time with the rune, and light overtook her vision.
-
Sonia lay collapsed on her front side, unmoving.
“Queen Sonia!” Link called desperately as he knelt down at her side. He shook her shoulder with one hand, and the other- made of both organic and mechanical pieces- gripped the physical hilt of a blade made of glowing blue energy. Carefully, he turned her onto her back. Sonia did not stir, and Link grit his teeth and got to his feet. He positioned himself between her and the huge, menacing figure standing a few paces away. Fury blazed in his eyes, and he held his blade at the ready. The man before him, a tall, muscular frame with red hair and dark green skin, paid him little heed as he turned and looked at the object gripped in his hand.
“Finally,” he said, a dark satisfaction in his voice. He lifted the object and a maniacal grin spread across his face. “Finally, it is mine!” The object he held was a secret stone, and its yellow glow was overcome by darkness. The stone pulsed and grew slightly, and the man watched, enraptured, as a new marking etched itself into the stone’s surface. The stone lifted into the air, then quickly embedded itself in the man’s forehead where a crown of sorts appeared to hold it.
“Ah… I can feel my strength surging!” the man breathed, and an ominous aura that appeared similar to gloom began to envelop him. Link took a breath and a half step back closer to Sonia’s unmoving form. The barest flicker of fear crossed his eyes, but his stance did not falter. The night sky began to turn red, and the man grunted as his form grew even larger. He bellowed as gloom swirled violently about him. A shining blood moon appeared on the horizon as the gloom subsided, revealing the startlingly monstrous form that the man had taken. His eyes glowed and small horns protruded from his forehead, and his hair turned bright red and nearly reached his feet. Link’s eyes widened. It couldn't be…
A sinister smile split the man’s face, and he lifted one hand as a dark aura appeared around it.
“I must commend your foolish courage, boy,” he growled. His gaze fell upon the secret stone hanging from Link’s neck. “That you believe you can stand against me as I am now… How amusing.” He lifted his hand above his head, and a massive pillar of gloom shot up and spread across the sky. Pieces of it landed all across Hyrule, and from them, hoards of monsters were born. They immediately set out to attack without mercy.
The man lowered his hand and he returned his attention to Link, who pointed his sword forward and reached his free hand back toward Sonia. The man began to step toward them, and Link heard hurried footsteps behind him.
“Sonia!” Rauru cried out, rushing to his wife’s side. He gently lifted her up in one arm, and she still did not move.
“You are too late, Rauru,” the man taunted. Rauru looked from Sonia up to the man, and his anger was made plain on his face. “You took for granted the godlike power you had in your hands. Do you now see the potential you squandered?” Rauru carefully laid Sonia back down. “As for her, she is merely the first victim of your arrogance.” Rauru’s nostrils flared and his ears twitched back as rage consumed him. “You tried to control me, Rauru, and you will die knowing that you failed!” Rauru's third eye snapped open, and he lunged toward the man and past Link.
“Ganondorf!” the Zonai shouted.
“King Rauru!” Link snapped, stopping him in his tracks. “Don’t. He's provoking you. I know you’re hurting, but right now, Queen Sonia needs you.” Rauru hesitated, clenching his fists tightly, but after a moment, he nodded. The man, Ganondorf, lifted his hand toward them, and a violent burst of darkness and gloom shot toward them. Rauru brought his hands together and formed a barrier of light to shield them, and he grunted as he maintained it as well as he could against the onslaught of power. As the king struggled, Link retrieved the Purah Pad, and he used it to warp himself, Rauru, and Sonia away before they were overwhelmed. As they vanished, Ganondorf’s menacing laugh could be heard echoing across the land as the blood moon loomed.
-
Zelda took in a violent gasp as her heart raced. She felt like she had been punched in the chest, and she stumbled back as the Dragon's Tear dropped to the ground and vanished. She stared at nothing, her eyes wide with horror as she tried to make sense of what she had seen. She certainly knew the name “Ganondorf” and how it was a scourge on Hyrule’s history. Even through the vision, she could feel the darkness and evil coursing through him, and evidently, so could Link. He never showed fear even if he felt it, and yet… Then again, the power Ganondorf wielded appeared the same as the one the mummy underneath the castle had, the same power that took Link’s arm and shattered the Master Sword.
Zelda's feet carried her back to Gale without her even realizing it. King Rauru and Queen Sonia were the founders of the Kingdom of Hyrule, a union between a Hylian and a Zonai. They had battled the Demon King in the Imprisoning War… was that what these visions were showing her? Had Link gone back to that dark time?
Was that foul mummy underneath the castle… Ganondorf?
Gale pressed his nose against the side of her head, catching her attention and bringing her back to the present. He snorted softly, rustling her hair. She reached up to stroke him.
“I’m all right, thank you,” she told him. “I just wish these visions would give me answers instead of more questions.” Gale huffed and stomped his hooves uneasily, and Zelda hushed him gently. But he became more agitated, and she frowned. “What? What’s wrong?” Just as the words left her, she heard a loud, monstrous roar, and she whirled around to find the source.
Up in the air and rapidly flying toward the princess and her horse was a massive creature with three serpentine heads, each one sporting a single large eye. It had huge wings keeping it aloft and spikes of ice protruded from its necks and back. Zelda had no name for this creature.
“By Hylia…” she breathed as she stared, shocked, at the creature. She snapped herself from her trance and mounted her horse as quickly as she could. “Hyah!” She was barely situated in the saddle when Gale took off at full speed across the snow. The monster screeched again, and Zelda glanced over her shoulder at it. One of the heads snapped forth and exhaled freezing breath accompanied by shards of ice, and Zelda yanked the reins to jerk Gale to the side and out of the way. She could feel the dangerously cold temperature of its breath and had no doubt that it could prove deadly.
“Hurry, Gale!” She dug her heels into his sides, and she maneuvered him to the side just as the monster exhaled another burst of freezing breath. Gale whinnied in distress as shards of ice razed both him and his rider, but he did not stop. Zelda glanced back as the monster drew closer. Its speed in the air was incredible, and with the uneven footing of the snow, she was growing less and less confident in their ability to escape. If it absolutely came down to it, she could warp to safety with the Purah Pad, but she refused to leave Gale to fend for himself against this monstrosity. But what else could she do?
As the monster’s eyes tracked her, she thought back to her battle with the Hinox and everything Link had taught her. Creatures with such eyes often relied on sight, and blinding them could render them much more manageable. But how was she supposed to do that? How could she possibly be fast enough to hit those eyes without it freezing her solid? She recalled her encounter with the animated trees and how time had slowed down when she managed to dodge at just the right moment. Link was able to accomplish that feat when he focused in battle, and…
“Oh, Link, please be with me,” she said to herself quickly. “Gale, if this doesn't work, I'm sorry.” She pulled her bow from her back and retrieved three arrows from her quiver, then adjusted and pulled her legs up so she was crouched on her horse’s back. She turned as well as she could, wobbling to maintain her balance, and faced the monster. She gathered her strength and pushed off Gale’s back as hard as she could, launching herself into the air, and she drew back an arrow.
Sure enough, a golden light illuminated from the back of her right hand, and time itself slowed around her. She could feel her body straining to maintain it. She aimed and loosed the arrow, and it pierced the middle head’s eye. She quickly pulled back another arrow and took her shot, hitting the left head. She held her breath and drew her last arrow, thinking solely of her dear knight and her target. The arrow flew true, and it struck the final head’s eye.
The creature let out an unholy shriek as Zelda landed on the ground and stumbled, time returning to its natural flow. She felt absolutely exhausted and panted heavily. The monster crashed to the ground, kicking up a massive cloud of snow, and it floundered there as it was temporarily blinded.
Despite her limbs screaming for rest, Zelda managed to whistle, and Gale came running to her. She heaved herself up into his back, and he took off galloping. It didn't matter where they went as long as it was away from the monster.
Once she had caught her breath enough to move, Zelda straightened up and glanced behind her. The monster was recovering, and with a great flap of its wings, it launched itself back into the air. It circled around as it ascended, and after a moment, it flew off back to the north and away from her. She watched it a bit longer to make sure that it truly had lost interest or decided that she wasn't worth the trouble, then let out a breath of relief.
“Whoa,” she commanded, and Gale slowed and eventually came to a stop. Zelda reached over and patted the side of her horse’s neck. “What an incredible horse you are, Gale. Thank you for staying with me. I could not ask for a better companion.” She leaned her head back for a moment as she gathered her wits, then looked around. Thankfully, she spotted a stable not far off. “Just a bit farther, and then we can both rest.”

Chapter Text

After stopping to rest and recover from the very nearly deadly encounter with what the stable owner had identified as a “Gleeok,” Zelda set back out and finally arrived at the former Rito Stable where the Lucky Clover Gazette had now set up shop. She dismounted Gale and headed inside where she found the reporter Penn and the newspaper’s owner and editor, Traysi. Traysi was pouring over something on the table in front of her, and she looked quite focused.

“Hey!” Penn whispered loudly. “Traysi, our editor here, is getting ready for our big Hero Link investigation. You’re here about our newspaper, right? Then you can talk to me too. I'm next in charge.” Zelda approached, and Penn’s feathers puffed up a bit. “Oh, wait a minute… It’s you! Zelda, from Lookout Landing!”

“Wait, what?” Traysi looked up at the sound of the name. “Penn, what are you squawking about? I told you I was busy, but you keep bothering me!”

“I… S-Sorry, Traysi,” Penn replied sheepishly. “But there’s a new applicant for a reporter job. I wanted you to know…”

“New applicant?” Traysi repeated. She turned around, and her eyes widened. “Wait a minute… you…”

“Her name is Zelda!” Penn provided helpfully. “Isn't it funny that she has the same name as the princess?” Traysi looked back at her reporter and blinked blankly.

“Uh… yeah. Look, Penn, I’m sorry, but could you give me and Zelda a second here?”

“Oh, sure thing, boss!” Penn stepped outside, and Traysi watched him for a moment longer to make sure he was out of earshot. She returned her attention to her visitor.

“Sorry about that, Your Highness. It’s so good to see you alive and well.”

“I appreciate it, Traysi,” Zelda replied. “And I'm grateful for the help you’re providing in searching for Link.” Traysi nodded.

“About that… Mind filling me in on the whole story?” Zelda did so, largely focusing on what she knew about Link’s disappearance and the investigation into the Upheaval. Traysi listened with utmost attention.

“Interesting…” Traysi remarked. “That explains a lot. Well, coming here was a great call! What I mean is, we’re getting tips from all over Hyrule. So many, in fact, that it’s been hard to keep up! And among those tips, we’ve been hearing about someone who looks like Link appearing in all sorts of places.”

“Really?” Zelda said.

“Yeah. I was about to assign Penn to chase those leads, but he could use a partner. Maybe you and he could help each other out. I won't tell him who you are. It’s better if no one knows you’re involved.”

“I see…” Zelda thought it over for a moment, then nodded. “I’d like to look more into these reports, and Penn would be a huge help. I can act as his partner and we can investigate together.”

“Excellent!” Traysi grinned. “Thanks, Princess. Er… Would it be okay to call you ‘Zelda?’”

“Of course.”

“All right, thank you. On that note…” She turned her head. “Penn! You can come back in.” After a moment, Penn came back inside, ready for his next orders. “Starting now, Zelda here is your partner!” Penn turned from her to Zelda.

“Well, if our editor here says you’re in, then it looks like I had you sized up right,” he said. “Traysi knows how to pick ‘em.”

“I'm looking forward to working with you, Penn,” Zelda said with a smile.

“All right, you two. Here’s what you’re going to do,” Traysi said. “Visit every stable for leads. Penn, you’ll head this all up. Stables bring in people, and people bring details. And details are what we need. Now… get me some news!”

“You got it, boss!” Penn chirped. “I'll meet you out there, partner. Soar long!” With that, he waved, and once he left the stable, he took off into the air. Traysi shook her head and sighed.

“He’s a great reporter and eager about investigating his leads, but I worry a little that he couldn't put together that you're the princess we’ve been looking for. Ah well. You take care out there, Zelda.”

“I will, thank you,” Zelda replied. “And thank you for your help.” With that, she waved and departed the stable. Heavy snow was falling and it was quite windy, and even with the help of a spicy elixir, she was still shivering. She made her way to the bridge leading to Rito Village, but as she approached, she found that it was… gone. A Hylian woman was standing nearby where she had built a fire, and she was grumbling to herself. Next to her were several crates covered in tarps to protect them from the elements.

“Excuse me,” Zelda spoke up, and the woman looked up at her. “Do you know what happened here?”

“Well, the newspaper ran an article about the Rito food shortage, and a bunch of supply shipments have started to arrive.” She gestured to the crates. “But I guess the storm knocked out the bridge, and without it, there’s no way to transport the goods.” She sighed heavily. “I'm at my wits’ end here. And with the sun refusing to show its face, it’s cooold. I might throw another Hylian pine cone on the fire. Those things burn hot.”

“They do, but they can be volatile as well,” Zelda said. “If you do, please be careful. They…” She trailed off and looked at the fire, then across to Rito Village. “Actually… I’m sorry, but could you step back? I don't want you to get hurt.” The woman stared at her quizzically, then took a step back. Zelda looked around and found a pine cone, and she inspected it. It was quite oily, and hopefully it would be enough for what she was hoping to do. She stepped back as well, then tossed the pine cone into the fire.

The pine cone ignited and exploded, scattering burning pieces and creating a brilliant updraft. Zelda jumped into it and spread her paraglider, and it carried her high enough that she was able to glide to the stone pillar that marked the entrance to Rito Village. She landed and made her way through the deepening snow and across the remaining bridges. Strangely, it was very quiet. Usually there were lookouts posted to guide visitors and deter monsters, but she didn’t see anyone. Perhaps they were all hunkered down in order to stave off the cold.
Zelda arrived at the main rock spire that Rito Village was built upon, at the top of which was where the Divine Beast Vah Medoh once perched. She took a moment to pray at the statue of the goddess placed at the base of the stairs.

As she started up the stairs, she quickly came across a trip of young Rito- two fledglings and a nestling.

“How's it going, miss?” the nestling asked.

“We’re about to practice our song,” a fledgling said.

“A song?” Zelda wondered as she stepped closer.

“It’s called the Song of the Stormwind Ark,” the nestling chirped. “We’re all going to sing it together to save our village from the Upheaval!”

“Really?” Zelda’s curiosity was piqued. These poor children, stuck in these freezing temperatures as snow steadily buried their village… “May I hear this song?”

“Yeah, of course!” the other fledgling said excitedly. “We love an audience, so we’ll give our best for you!” The three of them shifted a bit into formation. “Everyone ready? A one, and a two, and…”

”Once, a god fell from heaven, stilling the Hebra winds.

The heavens grew lifeless, just as the air below thinned.

With the world in upheaval, we pledged to help the lord.

A line of ships soaring, built as a passage skyward.

The god ascended to heaven leaving behind an ark.

Its winds brought us new life, thanks to its great, divine spark.”

What a fascinating song, and clearly one telling of an event in Rito history. Zelda had never heard of such an ark. It must have been something separate from Divine Beast Vah Medoh, even with the “divine spark” mentioned.

“This song is about the ark that saved Rito Village a long, long time ago,” one of the fledglings said, confirming Zelda’s suspicions. “Something bad happened then, just like it’s happening now.”

“Something bad?” Zelda echoed. “Do you know what, exactly?”

“No, we just know the song,” the nestling said dejectedly. “But what if the Stormwind Ark was real? I'd be so happy if it was!”

“It definitely is!” one of the fledglings squawked. “Papa told me it’s always watching over us, high in the sky.”

“We could sure use its help with this awful blizzard,” the other fledgling grumbled. She looked back up at Zelda. “But since the adults aren't around, it's up to us to take care of the village!” Before Zelda could ask any further questions, the children split up and headed to different parts of the village. She didn't want to interrupt if they were busy trying to take care of things… Perhaps someone else could enlighten her further on the matter.

The local clothing shop was thankfully still up and running, and Zelda managed to negotiate with some ore she had dug up to acquire some clothing more suited to the freezing temperatures. Further up the spire, she came to a Rito hut with a fire and a cooking pot, and she decided that would be as good a time as any to change. The feathers were so soft, and they certainly made for great insulation.

The climb up the stairs was admittedly quite tiring by the time Zelda neared the top. She slowed her pace a bit, though the higher she went, the more she heard Rito voices- and adult ones among them. As she came to Revali’s Landing, she spotted Teba, the village elder, and his wife Saki. From the look of it, they were having quite the… intense discussion with their son Tulin.

“That’s not fair at all!” Tulin was arguing. “You know I can handle it! Checking out that huge cloud won't be hard. I could even do it alone!” Even behind them, Zelda could tell Teba was quite exasperated with this. “If we don't do anything, the village-” Tulin suddenly stopped, evidently finally noticing Zelda’s presence. He looked at her curiously and stepped closer, going between his parents.

“Is… Is that you…?” he thought aloud. He fluttered over to her, and a bright smile overtook his face. “It is you! Princess Zelda!” Both of his parents whirled around at the information.

“Princess Zelda!” Teba stepped forward, a smile on his beak as well. He looked every part the warrior Revali could be proud of, especially with the Great Eagle Bow on his back. Zelda had enjoyed listening to the story of how he and Link had worked together to free Vah Medoh from Calamity Ganon.

“They told me you were missing,” Teba went on. “It’s good to see you doing well.”

“It is good to see you as well, Teba,” Zelda replied. “You as well, Saki, and Tulin, of course!” She turned to the young Rito warrior. “My, you’ve grown since I was last here.”

“He has, indeed,” Teba agreed. “Though he still has some growing up to do.”

“Well, maybe I would if you didn't treat me like a hatchling all the time!” Tulin retorted.

“As long as you still think you can take on the world by yourself, you’ll always be my little chick,” Teba said sternly, though not without care. Tulin’s talons scraped at the snow as he huffed.

“What, you think I can't? I'm already full-fledged, you know!” He turned toward the edge of Revali’s Landing. “You’ll change your tune when I ace today’s scouting trip! You all can keep wasting your time treating the Song of the Stormwind Ark like it’s real, but not me!” With that, Tulin spread his wings and took off with his father calling after him.

“Unbelievable,” he grumbled, and he turned back to Zelda. “Tulin wants me to let him go find what’s causing the blizzard, and he’s having trouble hearing ‘no.’”

“I see…” Zelda said thoughtfully. “He mentioned the Song of the Stormwind Ark? Some of the fledglings sung it for me when I first came into the village.”

“Yes, it’s an old folk song here,” Saki said. “Like the song says: Long ago, when we faced a different sort of upheaval, the village was saved thanks to a great flying ship.”

“It’s a song for children, mind you,” Teba added. “Few adults still parrot it as if it were true. Still, every now and then, you get reports among the Rito of a flying ship. Combine that with the blizzard caused by this Upheaval, and it seems less far-fetched.”

“There is certainly merit to considering the song,” Zelda pointed out. “Many legends and stories do contain at least some grain of truth, especially those that have been passed down through so many generations. If it has survived this long, it may very well be quite important.”

“Mm,” Teba nodded, and he turned and looked up at the center of the swirling storm above them. “Even if it is just a children’s rhyme, I suspect that there is something lurking high in the sky. But the air is so turbulent now, no Rito can fly close enough to look into it.” He sighed. “This is why I say we need to make careful preparations to find the truth, but Tulin… He thinks we cling to that song out of cowardice.” He turned back to the princess again. “Ah, but forgive me, Your Highness. I imagine you did not come simply to listen to us discuss old folk songs. And, if I may ask, where is Link?”

“Ah, yes, well…” Zelda once again explained the events of what happened under Hyrule Castle. Both Teba and Saki looked utterly shocked at this news.

“So then, not even Hyrule Castle is safe…” he breathed. “And Link’s disappearance… If that and these strange phenomena are related somehow…” He pondered it for a moment. “Princess, you know I would do anything for you and Link, and he is a great friend and ally to both me and the village. Any other time, I would take to the skies myself to join the search. But with this blizzard…”

“Oh, no, I completely understand!” Zelda told him. “You must focus first on your people. They need your guidance through this crisis.”

“Thank you for your understanding, Your Highness.” Teba once again lowered his head in thought. “Ah!” He looked up with a brightness in his eyes. “But maybe I'm not the one you want. You should try asking Harth. He has many sources of information, so he might already have a lead about Link. I know he’d be happy to help if he can. Now… Do you see those two bonfires out that way?” He pointed out off Revali’s Landing, and Zelda followed the indication to the fires. “He should be in the lodge near there, if you’d like to visit him.”

“I will be sure to,” Zelda nodded. “Thank you, Teba. If I come across any information to assist you with this blizzard, I will bring it to your attention at once.” With that, they said their farewells for the moment, and Zelda directed her attention to the bonfires. It wasn't all that far of a distance. She leapt from the landing, startling the two Rito, and spread her paraglider.

Zelda landed at the edge of the cliffs surrounding Rito Village’s spire, and she managed to trek her way through the snow to the lodge. There, she found several adult Rito, including the one she recognized as the bow maker Harth. He appeared deep in thought.

“Excuse me, Harth?” He looked up and turned to her.

“Oh, Princess Zelda!” he greeted. “You’re all right! I was worried after I heard you and Link had gone missing. What happened?” Zelda gave him the short version, and he crossed his wings thoughtfully. “Ah, so you’re looking for Link. I'm sorry to tell you that I haven't heard anything about him. Our feathers are, unfortunately, full dealing with a more immediate problem.”

“The blizzard, yes?” Zelda asked, and Harth nodded. “I spoke with Teba and Saki back in the village. I’m sorry you’re facing such hardship.”

“We appreciate your concern, Princess,” he replied. “We’ve been trying to investigate, as you know. But all that has been hampered by these sky monsters that seem to be everywhere.”

“Sky monsters? This is the first I've heard of them,” the princess said. That certainly was not good news.

“Yes. They appeared about the same time as this blasted blizzard. We’re spread too thin to deal with them properly. I'm sorry, Princess, I really wish I could do more to help.”

“Oh, no, I understand!” Zelda insisted. “I wish I could as well.” Harth dipped his head.

“Thank you, Princess.” He paused, contemplating something. “Though, now that I think of it… maybe Tulin could help. He’s developed a way with wings that puts the adults to shame. Even in this vicious weather, he patrols the skies and reports all kinds of useful information. His wind-gust technique is something to see. Far as I know, we haven't seen such mastery of the air since the Champion Revali.”

“Oh, really…?” Zelda brightened at this. No doubt Revali would be thrilled that someone was following in his talon steps.

“The kid does preen about it more than he should, but… I think it’s worth asking him. Last I saw him he was with Gesane and Laissa on a trip to find food.” Harth gestured for Zelda to follow him, and he led her outside. His feathers fluffed up as they left the lodge.

“I think they were on their way to Hebra South Summit Cave to the Northeast of here,” he said. “It’s last the cliff out front and up the mountain road. There should be a bonfire marking the spot.”

“I'll make my way there,” Zelda said. “Thank you so much, Harth. I appreciate the information.”

“Of course, Princess.” Harth dipped his head to her. “Please, be careful. The mountains are treacherous on the best of days.” Zelda nodded, and they parted ways. She looked up at the peaks and took a cold breath. It had been quite some time since she’d had to scale these mountains.

Chapter Text

1: My Name Is... (Where Am I?)
Somewhere filled with green grass and trees rustling in the wind, a glowing burst of light appeared. As it faded, Link appeared from within it, and he fell the short distance to the ground. His face tensed in pain, his eyes squeezed shut. He held the Purah Pad in his ruined hand, clinging to it as if his life depended on it, and his other hand was curled into a fist surrounding a small glow.
“What?” a soft voice gasped, and two figures quickly came to his side. “Oh, oh dear!” A woman knelt down next to him. Her gaze lingered on his injured arm and the dark substance coming from it. The man, a Zonai, came to her side as she reached her hand out to Link’s shoulder. He stopped her by gently placing his hand over hers.
“Don’t,” he cautioned. “I sense great darkness coming from him.” She glanced up at him and took her hand back, then adjusted to prop Link up in her arms while minding his injury.
“You may sense darkness, but can you not also sense the great light within him?” she asked. He nodded, then reached his hand out toward Link’s shoulder, and a great light shone from it. Link groaned and stirred, and the woman smiled slightly. He managed to open his eyes, and as he focused, he looked around wildly. As he tried to scramble up, he hunched over and groaned, bringing his good hand up to his injured shoulder.
“It’s okay, you’re safe,” the woman said, and he looked back up at her. His eyes betrayed the pain he was in. “We didn't mean to startle you, but we were worried when we found you lying here.” His lips parted slightly, but he hesitated. “It’s okay.” Her smile was warm and gentle, and it reminded him of a certain someone else. “My name is Sonia.” Link continued to hesitate. Between the pain and his own habits and coping mechanisms, he didn't know what to say.
“And… could we ask what your name is?” the Zonai man asked as he stroked his chin thoughtfully. He could do that, right? He could answer that well enough.
“M-My name is Link,” he managed to say, voice raspy from pain. “I am the appointed knight,” he winced and sucked in a breath through his teeth. “Of Hyrule’s Princess Zelda.”
“What an unexpected answer,” the Zonai man said as he exchanged a brief look with Sonia. “We are the king and queen who founded Hyrule, after all. Or at least we were the last time I checked.” His tone was light as Link looked from him to Sonia and back. “My name is Rauru, King Rauru of Hyrule.”
“King Rauru… and Queen Sonia…” Link said, and his eyes widened. If that was true… “Please forgive my manners!” He sat up with a start, surprising Sonia, but couldn't stop himself as he curled over, groaning as he held his injured arm close to his core.
“Relax, Sir Link,” Sonia bade. “If I may, what happened to your arm?” She gently placed her hand on his good shoulder, and he peeked up at her.
“I… It…” He felt nauseous and was fighting to stay awake. Rauru knelt down alongside Sonia and light illuminated around his hand as he moved it over Link’s arm.
“Whatever happened, your arm has been corrupted by a dark and evil power.” He looked up to Sonia. “If we do not deal with this immediately, it may take his life.” Already, Link's gaze was blurring again, and Sonia gasped softly as he fell back. She caught him and attempted to rouse him, and when he didn't respond, she looked up at Rauru and shared a concerned gaze with him.

-
2. An Unfamiliar World
There was a cliff overlooking a forest, and beyond it, the expanse of a world both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. On the edge of this cliff stood Link, and a few paces behind him, Rauru and Sonia watched him. Link’s right arm was… gone. His shoulder and right side were covered by a piece of fabric tied around his torso. He appeared deeply lost in thought as his eyes swept over the horizon. He knew this view, no matter how far back he had gone. He would never forget the view of Hyrule he witnessed after he emerged from the Shrine of Resurrection. He took a breath and shut his eyes for a moment, then turned back to his company.
“If I may ask a question…” His words were hesitant.
“Of course,” Sonia nodded, giving him a smile.
“Thank you. This… This is truly the era of Hyrule’s founding?”
“I suppose it is,” Rauru replied. “Your presence here is just as strange to us, Link. But if you, like Sonia, have a secret stone and are able to manipulate time, then your story makes sense.” Link looked down and opened his left hand, revealing the tear-shaped stone he held. He’d never known himself to have any kind of power like that, or what a “secret stone” was meant to be.
“Oh?” Sonia glanced up at Rauru with a playful look on her face. “I believed him right away. You needed the secret stone as proof, Rauru?” She looked back at Link. “I can sense great light within him, and an unshakable spirit. I sense power over time as well. He shines in a way I have never known before.” Link was even more lost for words than usual.
“I see…” Rauru said. “In any case, Link. You had said that you needed to return to your era as soon as you possibly could.” Link nodded.
“I… need to get back and make sure that Zelda is safe. I can't leave her. Not again.” His eyes widened briefly and he snapped his mouth shut. He composed himself quickly. “I don't know how I got here to begin with, let alone how to get back.” As Rauru watched the young knight somewhat helplessly, he grunted as Sonia elbowed him in the side. She approached Link, and he looked up at her.
“Now, Link,” she said gently. “You don't need to solve your problems all at once. Why not come back to the castle with us?” Link hesitated, and Sonia reached out and took his hand in both of hers. “We’ll tell everyone that you’re… an honored guest dear to our family. From the sound of it, that much is true!” She smiled warmly. “We’ll get you fresh clothes, too.”
“I… Thank you for your hospitality and generosity,” he replied. “I’m honored.”
“You can relax, too,” she teased lightly. “I’m sure an answer will come to you. You are brimming with courage, and with time, you will no doubt find the wisdom you seek.” After a moment, Link nodded, and he gently retrieved his hand from her.
“I wonder,” Rauru thought aloud. “Mineru. She may have some idea of how to get you back to your era.” Link looked up at the Zonai king curiously. “She knows far more than anyone about our people. And like us, my older sister has a secret stone. We’ll call on her.”

-
8. Birth of the Demon King
Sonia lay collapsed on her front side, unmoving.
“Queen Sonia!” Link called desperately as he knelt down at her side. He shook her shoulder with one hand, and the other- made of both organic and mechanical pieces- gripped the physical hilt of a blade made of glowing blue energy. Carefully, he turned her onto her back. Sonia did not stir, and Link grit his teeth and got to his feet. He positioned himself between her and the huge, menacing figure standing a few paces away. Fury blazed in his eyes, and he held his blade at the ready. The man before him, a tall, muscular frame with red hair and dark green skin, paid him little heed as he turned and looked at the object gripped in his hand.
“Finally,” he said, a dark satisfaction in his voice. He lifted the object and a maniacal grin spread across his face. “Finally, it is mine!” The object he held was a secret stone, and its yellow glow was overcome by darkness. The stone pulsed and grew slightly, and the man watched, enraptured, as a new marking etched itself into the stone’s surface. The stone lifted into the air, then quickly embedded itself in the man’s forehead where a crown of sorts appeared to hold it.
“Ah… I can feel my strength surging!” the man breathed, and an ominous aura that appeared similar to gloom began to envelop him. Link took a breath and a half step back closer to Sonia’s unmoving form. The barest flicker of fear crossed his eyes, but his stance did not falter. The night sky began to turn red, and the man grunted as his form grew even larger. He bellowed as gloom swirled violently about him. A shining blood moon appeared on the horizon as the gloom subsided, revealing the startlingly monstrous form that the man had taken. His eyes glowed and small horns protruded from his forehead, and his hair turned bright red and nearly reached his feet. Link’s eyes widened. It couldn't be…
A sinister smile split the man’s face, and he lifted one hand as a dark aura appeared around it.
“I must commend your foolish courage, boy,” he growled. His gaze fell upon the secret stone hanging from Link’s neck. “That you believe you can stand against me as I am now… How amusing.” He lifted his hand above his head, and a massive pillar of gloom shot up and spread across the sky. Pieces of it landed all across Hyrule, and from them, hoards of monsters were born. They immediately set out to attack without mercy.
The man lowered his hand and he returned his attention to Link, who pointed his sword forward and reached his free hand back toward Sonia. The man began to step toward them, and Link heard hurried footsteps behind him.
“Sonia!” Rauru cried out, rushing to his wife’s side. He gently lifted her up in one arm, and she still did not move.
“You are too late, Rauru,” the man taunted. Rauru looked from Sonia up to the man, and his anger was made plain on his face. “You took for granted the godlike power you had in your hands. Do you now see the potential you squandered?” Rauru carefully laid Sonia back down. “As for her, she is merely the first victim of your arrogance.” Rauru’s nostrils flared and his ears twitched back as rage consumed him. “You tried to control me, Rauru, and you will die knowing that you failed!” Rauru's third eye snapped open, and he lunged toward the man and past Link.
“Ganondorf!” the Zonai shouted.
“King Rauru!” Link snapped, stopping him in his tracks. “Don’t. He's provoking you. I know you’re hurting, but right now, Queen Sonia needs you.” Rauru hesitated, clenching his fists tightly, but after a moment, he nodded. The man, Ganondorf, lifted his hand toward them, and a violent burst of darkness and gloom shot toward them. Rauru brought his hands together and formed a barrier of light to shield them, and he grunted as he maintained it as well as he could against the onslaught of power. As the king struggled, Link retrieved the Purah Pad, and he used it to warp himself, Rauru, and Sonia away before they were overwhelmed. As they vanished, Ganondorf’s menacing laugh could be heard echoing across the land as the blood moon loomed.