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Chapter Text

"We could make camp in the Temple of Time. It should provide us shelter enough from the elements and the bokoblins." 

Purah huffed. They were so close, the shrine itself just up the hillside. But it was late. The part of her mind that was old and experienced well-recognized that it would be best to settle in after their long journey and sleep before making the final ascent to the Shrine of Resurrection. But the rest of her was only about seven years old, impatient, and exhausted. She felt the urge to stamp her foot and demand they climb the hill path right now, but a voice that sounded strikingly like her sister reminded her to take a breath. 

"Fine. Let's get to the temple." 

Her entourage seemed to sag with relief, and the four of them began their way up the cracked steps into the ancient Temple of Time. Whatever awaited them in the shrine would still be there in the morning, and if something changed in the night, they were easily close enough to notice it. 

A small side chamber sat just to the right of the entryway, the wall separating it from the main room long-since decayed, but it would work well for a temporary shelter. They set up camp quickly, electing to eat their food cold rather than light a fire and potentially attract stray monsters roaming through the ruins. Lookout shifts were decided for the night, and as Symin moved back into the main chamber to keep watch, the rest settled in. When Purah curled up on her sleeping mat, her mind ran in a hundred dizzying directions. 

Was Linky okay? What awaited them in that old cavern?

Had the shrine even worked? Were they walking towards the grave of her friend?

What if Link had already woken up and left? 

What if the shrine had worked but something else had gotten him? 

What if, what if, what if?

Purah gritted her teeth, her eyes stinging with tears. She didn't want to cry. She would not --

When the first tear slipped past her defenses, the rest rushed after like a damn river. She managed to stay quiet, her hiccoughs petering off into sniffles instead of morphing into the sobs that threatened to take her, but that didn't stop her whole (tiny, so tiny, and so, so frustrating) body from trembling. 

"Ms. Purah?" The whisper cut through the temple's stillness.

She swallowed, furiously scrubbing away her tears, but didn't bother turning away from the old stone wall. It felt better to hide her face. "I'm asleep, go away," she whispered back. 

A quiet sigh. "Then rest well. But know that we are here if you need anything." 

Purah nodded and pulled her blanket tighter around herself. She didn't fall asleep until Symin finished his night watch shift. 

~.~

She had to admit, the Great Plateau did look rather lovely in the early morning light -- if one looked past the overgrown ruins of their once great kingdom and the monsters that had taken over in their absence. 

She turned towards her crew. "All right, no time to waste. To the shrine!"

As they trekked up the hillside, Purah told herself that her accelerating heart rate was simply because her short legs were no longer suited to such exercise. When they reached the top, Symin tried to entreat her to take a quick break, perhaps eat an apple from one of the nearby trees, but Purah wouldn't have it -- not now. She was at the entrance to the cave before she could fully catch her breath. 

The interior was dark, almost gloomy, but a faint blue light shone from the back. 

"I'm coming, Linky."

She scrambled down the short ledge just inside the cave, yelping as her feet sank into a puddle of cold water. Her escorts were just a step behind her, and Cado lit a torch so they could all see a bit better. Purah trudged forward through the puddle and onto the dry shelf at the back of the cavern. A pedestal for the Sheikah slate stood just by the large door that she knew led straight into the shrine itself, and despite knowing Link was just on the other side, Purah found herself hesitating. Every worried what if from the night before began surfacing in her mind.

What if . . . ?

She shook her head and marched straight for the pedestal. There was an override she and Robbie had built into it for situations much like this one, and she found it quickly. The door slid open, disappearing into hidden depths with hardly a sound, and Purah felt her heart skip a beat. The pool sat just where she remembered it 100 years earlier, still and silent, glowing a soft blue. It was still sealed. Link hadn't woken up yet, then. Purah felt those worries, at least, fade. She took a halting step towards the pool, her escorts filing in behind her, then redirected to the other pedestal in the chamber. The Sheikah slate ejected smoothly, and Purah took it up with surprisingly steady hands. When she pointed it towards the resurrection pool, the screen hardly changed. A small error message appeared in the bottom righthand corner. 

Error627: Unable to Read Object

Purah groaned, nearly dropping the slate in her frustration. Of course the slate would refuse to work properly after a century; it was just what they needed. 

"Take this." 

She passed the slate off to Cado and steeled her nerves. There was nothing else for it. She could do this. 

Purah strode forward, stopping at the side of the resurrection pool. There was a small secondary readout screen around here somewhere; it wouldn't give her all the information the slate could, but it would be enough. She circled around to the head of the sealed pool and found it, dimly glowing with old script dancing along a blue background. Squinting, Purah adjusted her glasses and began reading. She skimmed over the basic technological status updates and went straight for the medical readouts. Her eyes widened. Link was merely in stasis? Fully healed, fully rested even, and yet he hadn't been woken up? There must have been some kind of glitch in the protocol. Thank the goddess she had come, otherwise Link may have slept for eternity!

Purah began typing away, entering the override to start the wake-up process. Code flashed across the screen, and with a final flourishing tap, two boxes popped up on the screen with a question: /Confirm?/

Yes/No 

This time she didn't hesitate. She pressed the box labeled "yes," and the screen went blank. The sealed pool hissed, the lid dislodging and slowly beginning to retract into the ceiling. Blue light spilled through the widening crack, and Purah caught sight of familiar blond hair. The gentle sound of draining water trickled through the otherwise quiet room, and with a "woosh" the lid of the resurrection pool fit into its place. Purah blinked, looking down at her friend. 

He looked . . . Different. He was still obviously Link, the Champion of Hyrule, the personal knight of Princess Zelda. His skin was pale and nearly-smooth, scars that Purah had known from over a century ago long-healed and faded, leaving behind only the pink, puckered scars of his near-death. His hair was a little longer, but not drastically so. A distinctly Zora-designed necklace and pendant sat around his neck still. Purah remembered not having the heart to part him from it, even if the inorganic metal might have unforseen effects on the resurrection pod. Perhaps that had been the cause of the glitch?

But ultimately those were all things she had expected. She hadn't, however, expected -- 

Where those gills? 

Purah blinked. As the water finished draining, she could see more clearly, and she noticed folds of skin along Link's throat that hadn't been there before. They looked strikingly like the gills she'd seen on the Zora. And his nails were sharper? She reached out to touch his shoulder, noticing that his skin felt odd -- her mind was drawn to the Zora again, but it wasn't quite the same blubber-like texture. 

Link's eyes flew open, and he sat up so sharply that Purah couldn't move away fast enough. Their heads bashed together, sending the Sheikah inventor stumbling away with stinging eyes and a yelp of pain. Link didn't seem to notice, his gaze fixed on the far wall. He whispered a single word. 

"Mipha." 

Purah rubbed her head, stepping forward. "Linky? How are you feeling?" 

He twisted, meeting her gaze with blue eyes that were just a bit too bright. When he spoke again, she noticed his teeth had sharpened. 

What had happened to him?

"Where --" He coughed, his voice rough. "Where am I?" He slowly rubbed at his forehead, his other hand gripping the pendant on his necklace. "Where is Mipha?" 

Her heart broke. She didn't want to tell him, not like this. Goddess, she should have thought of some kind of answer to give him when he woke up. Of course he would ask about her. Purah took a step towards him.

"Link," she started, "she's not here right now, but we have more pressing matters at the moment." She winced -- What could be more pressing than his wife? -- and forged ahead anyways. "We need to get you to Kakariko village."

He stared right past her, his gaze locked on some distant thing in his mind. Tears began to fill his eyes, spilling over his cheeks, and he threaded his fingers through his hair. He pulled at the strands as he began hiccoughing with quiet sobs, and Purah rushed forward.

"Linky, it's okay, just --"

"She-she's in pain," Link rasped. "Why can I-I feel her pain? Who-who is she?" 

A stone dropped in Purah's stomach. She had vaguely worried about memory issues, but that had been outweighed at the time by dire circumstances. Perhaps she should have thought about it more. Yet, as usual, there was something else to demand her attention; namely, keeping one confused Hero from spiraling into a panic attack. But Link continued to cry almost hysterically, and the sheer grief of it all had Purah and her childish body shaking and tearing up right alongside him. Cado rushed forward, a towel in one hand, and began quietly guiding Link out of the pod. 

"Come now, Master Link, let's get you dry and clothed first. You must be cold." 

Symin came up to Purah and laid a hand on her shoulder. "It's all right, Ms. Purah. We'll get this figured out." 

She nodded. Of course they would; they had to. She took shaky breaths as Cado helped Link calm his breathing. When he was able, he turned towards Purah again, his words still wavering with unshed tears.

"Who are you people? What is this place?" 

Purah gnawed on her lip. Maybe she should focus on the memory issues; Linky's brain was clearly as scrambled as an omelet.

"It's me, Purah. I'm your friend, Link, remember?" 

He looked her over, face blank of any kind of recognition, and turned towards the others in the room. Introductions were passed around, and finally, Link shook his head, exasperation creeping into his lost expression.

"I'm sorry, I don't --" He rubbed at his forehead again. "I feel like I should know you, but I-I'm sorry."

Purah would be lying if she said she wasn't disappointed. They were friends -- how could he not know her? But it wasn't Link's fault. They could fix this. No problem.

She pulled out her notebook and scribbled a few ideas down, observations and things that may help them recover Link's memory, then flashed what she hoped was an encouraging smile. 

"That's okay, Linky! We'll get there eventually. But first, we've got to visit my little sister in Kakariko." 

Link frowned in confusion, glancing towards Symin. "Why is the child giving orders?" 

Purah sputtered in indignation while Symin chuckled beside her. She elbowed him in the leg, and her assistant sobered up quickly. 

"How rude! Both of you! I'm not --" She caught herself before she stamped her foot. Purah quickly crossed her arms, remembering her diminutive stature. "Okay, fine, it is a reasonable conclusion to jump to, but I'm not a child! I'll have you know I'm over 120 years old. I had some trouble with an anti-aging experiment, which is why I look like this. But that's beside the point! We've got places to be." 

Link nodded absently, his expression still vaguely confused and gaze roaming about the room. Purah held back a sigh. 

It would be a long journey back to Kakariko.

~.~

Far over Hyrule Field a weary, cracked castle stood wreathed in ruddy malice, a sight unchanged over the course of a century; spread across the four corners of the continent four ancient machines stood much the same. Each a fixture of the land in their own right. Each a slumbering terror. Each a grave. 

And for a moment, a light flickered in the midst of them all.

But only a moment. 

Chapter Text

There were two things he was absolutely certain of.

Number 1: His name was Link.

(They called him "Master Link." Did that mean he was important?

He didn't feel important.)

Number 2: Mipha needed him.

(Who was she? Why did her name inspire a tumult of emotions that threatened to strangle him? Why did every bone in his body demand he run and run and run until he found her?

He needed to run.)

Link rubbed his face and turned away from the crumbling wall their group stood near. Supposedly, it was only this wall and a sharp precipice that separated them from the rest of Hyrule. Instead of discussing how to descend it, though, the group of five - Sheikah? Was that what they called themselves? - seemed much more focused on the lifeless tower nearby. Purah sat at the base, fiddling with that tablet of hers. Link finally approached and crouched beside her, something she acknowledged with a simple hum.

"What's the issue?" he asked.

Purah huffed. "I can't get the slate to synch with this tower. Everything worked great the last I checked it!" She deflated slightly. "But I guess a lot can happen in 100 years."

"Can I help?"

"There is a control panel at the top of the tower. It's possible to manually connect the two there, but it's not meant to work like this! The towers were never meant to extend until after the connection was established. All of these glitches are going to drive me nuts!"

Link glanced at the sheer face of the tower. It clearly wasn't meant to be climbed, but he could see spots that would function as perfect handholds . . . He needed something to do. Might as well be this. 

He plucked the slate from Purah's hands - "Linky, what?" - and hooked it to his belt; then, he began to climb. His swirling thoughts immediately settled, his body setting about the task with practiced ease. Despite the pull of tight muscles, this felt good. Familiar. If nothing else, he knew he could do this well.

Link finally pulled himself onto the top landing, huffing slightly from the exertion. He glanced back over the ledge and noted the height he'd scaled with a calm indifference. 

I'm not afraid of heights, then.

Purah waved at him from below, yelling something that was lost to the wind. Link turned back towards the center of the landing where a pedestal stood. This was probably the control panel Purah had mentioned. He approached it, unclipping the tablet from his belt, and suddenly realized he had no idea how to connect the two. Perhaps he'd been a little impulsive in coming up here. (It was better than sitting still.) Well, he was here now; surely he could figure it out. 

On his third attempt, the tablet's face lit up, and the central column of the tower flashed, changing from dull orange to bright blue. He could hear cheers from below as he descended, and when his feet hit the ground, he turned to face Purah. She stood with her hands on her hips, swiping the tablet as soon as Link pulled it off his belt. 

"Next time you decide to go galivanting up a sheer climb, at least take the paraglider with you. Almost gave me a heart attack, Linky." 

Link frowned, wondering if he'd done something wrong, when Symin clapped him on the shoulder. The Sheikah researcher presented him with a bundled red cloth.

"Your paraglider, Master Link. And don't worry about Ms. Purah. She's turned into a bit of a worrier in her old age." 

Purah shouted in outrage, and Symin made himself scarce. Link shoved the paraglider in his pack, watching the proceedings curiously. If these people were truly his friends, then he had strange friends indeed. 

After determining that the tower had synched properly, the party began their descent from the Great Plateau. Supposedly, there was a stable nearby, and they planned to reach it by nightfall. Considering the number of monsters he'd seen roaming about the Plateau, Link didn't blame the Sheikah for not wanting to stay any longer than necessary. 

With a deep breath, Link hefted his pack and fell into step with the group. His hand drifted to the necklace he wore, tracing the three crescents and settling on the small, red scale nestled within. Though Purah had been reticent to give him much information, constantly pushing off his questions and saying that they would be answered in Kakariko, she had at least told him where the necklace had come from. He gripped it tightly. 

I'm coming, Mipha. I promise.

~ . ~

The third day of unnatural rain dawned, and Prince Sidon of the Zora entered his father's throne room. King Dorephan sat in his opulent throne, a frown marking his face as he spoke quietly with the elder Muzu.

"Good morning, Father, Muzu." 

They looked up from their conversation, and the King forced a gentle smile. 

"Good morning, Sidon. Any word yet from Kakariko?" 

"No, which marks the second week since our messengers returned. Considering also the disturbance with Vah Ruta, I believe it's time we try something else."

Dorephan straightened. "What do you suggest, son?" 

"I could lead a search party first to Kakariko Village and then, based on their news, beyond to find what has happened with the Shrine of Resurrection." 

Muzu started. "Absolutely not! We've already lost two of our royal family to the machinations of the Sheikah; we cannot risk a third!"

Sidon took a breath. He knew Muzu would be the hardest to convince. 

"Something must be done, though. We have to locate this elusive shrine, it is the only way -" 

"No! There are other means at our disposal."

"Sidon is right." Muzu froze, looking up to the king with disbelieving eyes. "We cannot sit and wait on the Sheikah any longer. We were wrong to trust they would ever disclose the location of such a shrine of theirs, and I have regretted the decision to not have them followed for a century. But," Dorephan met Sidon's gaze, an old grief in the ancient Zora's eyes, "Muzu is also correct. You are our last heir, Sidon, my last living child. I cannot risk your life on something so dangerous." 

The prince's shoulders slumped. He had expected Muzu's rejection but not his father's.

"Choose a party of four that you trust," the king continued, "and they will carry out your plan. They must ready to leave by the end of the week."

Sidon forced a smile and bowed, hoping it was enough to mask his disappointment. "I'll see to it, Father." 

King Dorephan smiled in return, and he and Muzu resumed their conversation as Sidon left. The prince strolled from the palace, glancing around for any sign of Bazz. The Zora were no strangers to water, certainly, but the endless torrent of the past few days had begun to wear them down. Fewer Zora could be found out and about throughout the day. Sidon looked toward the far ridge, peering through the haze of rain towards the silhouette of Vah Ruta. Something had to be done to stop it, or the Divine Beast would flood the Domain. 

"Sidon!" The prince turned, spotting Bazz rushing over to him. "How did it go? What did the King say?" 

Sidon glanced around. "Why don't we discuss this elsewhere, my friend?" 

Bazz nodded, and they relocated to one of the secluded falls underneath the main plaza of the Domain.

"Is it bad news?" 

"My father doesn't want me to go, says that he cannot risk my life on such a dangerous endeavor. I'm to put together a team of four to search in my stead." 

"I'm sorry, Sidon. I know how desperately you wanted to lead the search. I will gladly be the first to volunteer to go for you, my prince." 

Sidon placed a hand on Bazz's shoulder, smiling more like his usual dazzling self. "I appreciate it, my friend, and I accept your offer. I trust you will lead this party well. However," he paused, assuring their privacy, before continuing, "I do not intend for this to be a search party of only four. While I am loathe to go against my father's wishes, I cannot stand idly by as our home slowly floods. I know my brother is best equipped to help us. We must find him as soon as possible." 

Bazz stared at him with wide eyes. "You're going against the King?" 

Sidon nodded. "Will you help cover my involvement until we leave?" 

"Of course, my prince." 

"Good. You'll leave dawn at the end of the week. I'll meet you and the others at Luto's Crossing."

"It shall be done." 

Preparations moved swiftly thereafter. Bazz quickly recruited Dunma, Rivan, and Gaddison to join the expedition, and supplies were gathered. By the end of the week, the four Zora guardsmen presented themselves before their king and prince for a final blessing and departed. 

And no one questioned when Prince Sidon quietly excused himself from the throne room. 

~ . ~

It had taken them three days to travel from the Great Plateau to Kakariko Village. Link felt certain he could have made it in two, but they'd taken it slower to accommodate Purah's waning energy and also seek shelter in the midst of a raging thunderstorm. But they'd made it, and the village felt . . . cozy? Link wasn't sure. It was a nice place, tucked into a luscious valley, but it certainly didn't seem familiar. 

(And he felt bad. These people were kind, and they weren't angry with his lack of memory, but there was disappointment in their eyes. He didn't want to disappoint them.)

Upon passing through the main gate, Purah had taken his hand and immediately led him to the main building, saying something about her "little sister."

Link had expected a child, not a woman with more wrinkles than crumpled cloth and bowed over with age. She sat upon a raised dais in the midst of hangings and tapestries, and ornamented straw hat adorning her head. As Link approached, she smiled down at him with warm, welcoming eyes.

"Now, I know that much changes in a century, but is that truly you, Link? You appear much differently than my memory recalls."

Purah cleared her throat. "Ah, yes, I'm still working that one out. But rest assured! This is our Linky." 

The old woman's gaze didn't move. "And are her words true?" 

Link lifted his chin, appearing far more confident than he felt. "That is my name."

"So you must remember mine." 

Purah's stage whisper was far less stealthy than she intended. "Impa."

Link rolled his eyes. "I'm sorry, my lady; I do not. But Purah informs me that it is Impa."

The yound (old?) inventor huffed, crossing her arms and mumbling something about ungratefulness. Impa ignored her and instead folded her hands in her lap. 

"Well, my old friend, this is certainly an issue, but it is not one that needs solving now. You've all traveled a long way. I'll have supper prepared and someone show you to the inn. We can discuss more tomorrow."

Link bowed his head respectfully and followed the Sheikah escort out of the main house. He could hear Purah and Impa's whispered argument as the doors shut behind him. He was quickly shown a quaint room at the inn - "Don't worry about cost, Master Link!" - and after washing off the dust of the road, he exited to find a meal laid out for him in the inn's common area. That evening, he'd struggled to sleep. The bed was too warm and stuffy, and every way he turned, he felt the bedclothes entangling him further. So he'd dressed and taken a walk. 

The village was quiet save for the gentle chirping of crickets. Fireflies flickered in the moonlight, darting through the mists thrown by a small waterfall. A breeze rustled his hair, calming his nerves. He drifted toward the waterfall, resting his arms on the railing protecting passersby from the drop-off. At its base sat a small pool, the stars reflected in its softly churning waters. 

Link took a breath. 

Maybe a little nighttime swim wouldn't be remiss. It certainly sounded better than his stuffy bed at the inn. 

He stripped off his shirt and shoes, setting them by one of the small, frog-like statues, and dove. The cool water wrapped around him as he sank below the surface, refreshing like an oasis in the desert and comforting like a hug from a loved one. He darted beneath the waterfall, venturing further down. Fish twirled around him as he explored the oddly deep pool until the tightness in his chest reached unbearable levels. He gradually rose to the surface, taking a deep breath of the night's crisp air. The stars continued to twinkle above him, and he settled on his back to better see them. 

Link felt sure many people would call this peaceful - perfect, even. And as much as he wanted to bask in the beauty, he couldn't. He just felt empty. Hollow. A shell of a person. 

He knew his name and nearly nothing else. These people seemed kind, seemed to respect him, but who were they? Did he actually even know them? How could he if he'd truly been - what, asleep? It had to be more than that - for 100 years? Impa made sense, she looked older than dust. But everyone else? Nothing made sense, and no one would quite explain to him what in the goddess' name was going on. He'd asked - they'd had three days of travel to fill, after all - but after the fifth time someone pushed his questions off, he'd stopped. So here he was, surrounded by questions and no answers. He just wanted to go home. 

But that was the crux of it. He didn't know where home was. 

(He didn't know who he was.)

Link dove beneath the surface again, angling towards the waterfall. The rushing sound drowned out his rampaging thoughts, settled his mind. He tucked himself just behind it, hidden from everything and everyone. The exhaustion of his journey finally began weighing on him, and he settled further into the water. Maybe he would just stay here for a moment, reset and relax, and then head back to the inn to sleep.

But the thrumming of the waterfall had him finally at peace since he woke up in that damned plateau, and before he knew it, his eyes slipped shut and he fell into a deep slumber. 

Chapter Text

Purah felt her heart stop as she spotted the figure floating in the pool below. A memory of her friend's dying body flashed before her eyes, limp and bloody and unresponsive, their only consolation that he wasn't yet gone the faint pulsing of his heart. Her hands were slick with blood, vision blurred with ceaseless tears. She didn't know which wound to press down on, and Robbie wasn't working fast enough.

By the goddess, she couldn't do it again.

"Link!"

Her shrill voice echoed down the sides of the rock walls surrounding the pool. The figure started, splashing about before surfacing. Link rubbed his eyes sleepily and glanced around as though confused. Purah felt faint with relief, and she almost dropped to her knees then and there, but frustration quickly took its place. What was Link even doing? Her heart refused to stop racing just yet, but she managed to keep the still-lingering panic from her voice.

"What are you doing down there? Get up here at once!"

Mind still fuzzy with sleep, Link noticed her standing at the railing above him. It was morning already? Had he fallen asleep? But how had he not drowned? Purah's expression was a convincing mask of frustration, but her tone had been full of terror initially. He decided to set aside his questions -- something he'd become quite skilled at -- and climb back up the ridge. Purah threw his shirt at him, and he noticed the way her eyes glistened.

"What on earth were you thinking? That was so stupid, Link! No more nighttime swims or whatever the hell it was you were doing."

Link did his best to dry off with his shirt, thankful that the water streamed easily off his smooth skin, and bit back his offense at Purah's words. He wanted to tell her off, explain how that bed was intolerably suffocating, but something held him back in the face of Purah's tirade. Maybe it was the way the other Sheikah villagers eyed the two of them, clearly eavesdropping. Or maybe it was the way Purah's hands shook as she rubbed furiously at her eyes. Either way, he held his tongue, glowering, until Purah also noticed their audience. Her jaw snapped shut with a huff, and she grabbed Link's wrist, mumbling something about talking to Impa. Link pulled his wrist from her grip, scooped up his shoes, and then followed the Sheikah inventor into the main house. She seemed put off at his unwillingness to be dragged around, but Link couldn't find it in himself to care at the moment. She hadn't been abruptly awakened and summarily yelled at. She could get over it.

They climbed the steps into the main house, and Purah pushed her way in with little fanfare. Impa, to Link's surprise, stood before a wall tapestry, examining the scene woven into the threads. She inclined her head at their entrance.

"Good morning," she said in her weathered voice. "I presume you slept well after your journey?"

"Guess where I found him this morning, Impa?"

Impa turned away from the tapestry, an amused smile on her face. "Climbing the trees?"

"He was asleep under the waterfall."

Impa's smile dropped, shocked confusion taking its place. "What?"

Purah became uncharacteristically serious, less like the child she appeared and far more like the ancient inventor she was. "You heard me, Impa. Something happened in the Shrine of Resurrection that none of us accounted for, and I have no idea how it's changed Link, but, apparently, he can now breathe underwater. Who knows what else it did, or what might still be happening."

Impa shuffled to her cushion near the center of the room, humming thoughtfully.

"Are you listening? We've got to figure out what's going on."

"Yes, give me a moment to think, Purah."

The inventor scoffed, crossing her arms. She turned away from the both, and Link glanced back towards the Sheikah elder. She sat with folded hands, eyes closed and face scrunched. He felt his irritation grow. These two women seemed content to constantly talk around him, and he was beginning to get fed up. As it was, he knew he'd get nothing out of the sisters at this moment. So he turned his attention to the tapestry Impa had originally been examining.

It depicted a scene crowded with characters. At the center stood a figure of shadow and malice, and Link's gut twisted at the sight of it. He quickly looked away, past the white and green figures that danced at the edge of familiarity, past the small, domed creatures that sent his heart racing with adrenaline, until his gaze landed on a large beast with wings. It had been woven with green thread, poised as though in flight. On its back, a figure was depicted -- a rider, perhaps?

Revali.

Link frowned, the word bouncing around his mind. It was important, he knew that much. He decided to tuck it away for now.

His eyes drifted down to the next corner beast, this one below the green, winged one. That same familiarity plagued him, but no words made themselves known. He moved on, counter-clockwise, to the beast on the bottom right. His heart clenched in his chest, and he lifted a hand to trace the threads of the figure on the trunked beast's back. It wasn't red, and yet he could almost see the shine of vibrant red scales. A soft voice, a ringing laugh.

"This is Vah Ruta."

"Link?"

He started, spinning around and reaching over his shoulder for . . . he wasn't sure. Impa watched him with eyes that were somehow both shrewd and kind. Purah had turned back around at the sound of her sister's voice. Link forced himself to relax and tried to ignore the ache in his chest. Impa spoke again, her words measured.

"Are you enjoying the tapestry?"

Link took a breath. Was she really asking such a simple question, or was she digging at something deeper? Screw it. He didn't want to play games. He wanted answers.

"Lady Impa, please tell me: Who is Mipha?"

Impa sighed. "I am sorry, Link, but I do think it would be best --"

Purah huffed. "She's your wife."

Impa hissed an admonishment, and Link felt the floor drop out beneath him even as a puzzle piece slotted perfectly into place in his mind.

His wife.

Of course. That smile, dancing just beyond his visible memory. A voice, beautiful and kind and strong and --

"You two were married only a few months before -- well, before."

The floor settled beneath his feet even as his heart hammered. "Before? Before what?"

Her death? No, she couldn't be dead, he could feel her. (Burning, boiling pain, but by the goddess, he could feel her.)

"Purah, I really think it would be best for Link to recall things naturally."

"He's been asking about her since he woke up! How can we keep him in the dark?"

Before their argument could really gain momentum, Link grabbed Purah by the shoulders, startling her.

"Purah, what happened to my wife?"

The inventor sighed, gently pulling Link's hands from her shoulders. She guided him over to the tapestry and slowly began to explain.

An ancient evil. Divine Beasts. Pilots, Champions, chosen to defend Hyrule alongside a princess descended of the goddess herself. Link's head swam as she spoke, the beginnings of a migraine throbbing behind his eyes.

"So . . . Mipha and I were two of these . . . Champions. And she was the pilot of a Divine Beast. But what happened? This doesn't explain how --"

How he'd lost his memories. How he'd ended up in the Shrine. How everything had gone wrong.

"There are many questions to be answered, dear Link," Impa finally spoke up, "and they cannot all be sorted in one morning. Have you eaten yet?"

Link rubbed his eyes. "No, I haven't."

"I'll have my granddaughter Paya fetch you a meal, then. Please, eat and rest. I'm sure you don't want to stay in wet clothes all day. We'll speak more this afternoon."

He accepted the dismissal and left the main house, his thoughts swirling. He wanted -- needed -- to know the things he'd forgotten, but the throbbing migraine that was slowly growing gave him the impression that Impa may be right regarding his recollection.

Paya met him on the porch, stuttering and not meeting his gaze, and led him to an outdoor seating area near the falls. She disappeared into the nearby building, and Link settled at a table. He wondered how long Impa and Purah would argue this time. His answer came shortly as Purah exited the main house and began walking his way. She settled down in the seat across from him, smiling wearily.

"So, Linky, how are you doing after all of . . . that?"

Link huffed, reaching up to rub his forehead. He found his gaze drifting back towards the falls, remembering the calming touch of the water, before meeting Purah's eyes.

"It's a lot, I've forgotten a lot, and I," he faltered, searching for the right words.

Paya finally emerged, plate in one hand and cup in the other.

"Oh! Auntie Purah, do you need anything?"

Purah smiled at her great-niece. "No, dear, I'm fine."

Paya placed Link's food before him and quickly disappeared back inside the main house. Link finally noticed his aching stomach and inhaled half of the meal without tasting it, swallowing a few gulps of unknown juice before looking back up at Purah. His migraine had begun to dull a bit, and as such, his thoughts seemed a little more organized.

"I need to find her, Purah," he started. When the inventor opened her mouth to speak, he held up a hand to stop her. "I know we have no idea what happened to Mipha, but I know she's still alive. I --" Link abruptly stopped, closing his eyes. He took a long, slow breath through his nose. He'd ignored it since they'd left the shrine if for no other reason than sheer practicality, but if he pulled down the barriers he'd built up around his thoughts, it was there: At the edge of his awareness, pain raged like skalding water against flesh, a sobbing voice crying out for help amongst it all; sometimes with words, sometimes with shrill screams, and sometimes, the voice fell entirely silent. (And those moments were almost worse than hearing her. At least then, he knew she was still there.) It washed over him, ready to cripple and paralyze if he let it. It was the only connection he had to who he'd been, and he was desperate to cling to any anchor, but he couldn't. He would be useless to everyone if he gave in.

When Link spoke again, his voice was hoarse, echoing the ephemeral wails. "I can feel her pain, Purah. I have to save her, but I don't know where to start. I need my memories. How do I get them back?"

Purah's eyes glistened as she searched Link's expression, letting out a watery chuckle. She averted her gaze, watching as villagers went about their daily tasks. Link wondered where her thoughts traveled, and the longer the silence stretched, the greater his desire to ask grew.

"Purah . . ."

She turned, forcing something like her usual peppy smile. "Well, the best place to start would be to go to familiar locations." She placed the Sheikah slate on the table and pushed it towards him. "As Princess Zelda's royal guard, you traveled with her quite often, and she used to take many pictures on the slate. Traveling to those locations might trigger some recollection."

Link picked up the slate. "It's worth a shot, I suppose, but how am I supposed to find the locations in the pictures?"

"Remember that tower you climbed in the Great Plateau? If you find more of those, they'll update your map on the slate. It will be a lot of traveling and searching, but it's the best starting point we've got."

Link nodded, scrolling through the slate's pictures as he finished his meal. "Do you have any suggestions of where to go first?"

Purah pulled the slate closer and flicked through the photos before pointing to one of a foggy pathway between trees. It was fairly generic, in all honesty, and Link wondered how he was supposed to discern that location from any other forest.

"This one shouldn't be too far away. I think it's near the Lanayru Wetlands Stable in Hyrule Fields."

"Do you know how to get there?"

"You'll have to follow the road back towards the Great Plateau and then head northeast once you go through the Dueling Peaks."

"Can I leave in the morning?"

Purah chuckled. "Never one to sit still for long, huh, Linky? Impa has a gift for you before you leave, but we can easily gather you some supplies and have a horse ready by the morning." The inventor reached out and took Link's hand. "And, Link, please be safe. If you ever need anything, come find me in Hateno."

"Of course, Purah."

~.~

Three days after Link departed for the Lanayru Wetlands clothed in his bright blue Champion's tunic, five Zora arrived in Kakariko Village, Prince Sidon at the lead.

The journey had only taken them a day as they were able to swim most of it, and they were greeted with smiles as they were ushered into the main house. The day was bright and blessedly dry, and after a week of endless rain, the group reveled in the warmth of the sunlight even as they stepped into the shaded home of Lady Impa. She sat on her cushioned dias, as regal as ever, and her eyes widened as she noticed her visitors.

"My dear Prince Sidon," she began, "I am so sorry. It seems my age is finally catching up to me. I - I can't believe, but I did. In the rush of these last few days, I entirely forgot to send word."

Sidon's heart leapt into his throat, and he tried in vain to swallow it before he spoke. "Lady Impa, are you saying you have news of Link?"

The Sheikah elder smiled, a tinge of sadness in her expression. "Yes. He's awake and well."

A collective sigh of relief left the group of Zora as the pressing weight of unknown fell away. Their prince was alive; whatever else happened, he was alive, and they would bring him home.

Impa spoke again, cutting off their short-lived joy.

"There is, however, the issue of his memory."

Sidon blinked, his stomach dropping, but it was Baz that replied.

"What do you mean?"

"Link seems to have lost most of his memories. He knows little, and we have explained a few things, but he has forgotten much." She sighed, shifting in her seat. "There is also something I hope you might be able to shed light on. Link has . . . changed. Not in personality, but in his appearance. Subtle differences. His teeth are sharp, eyes reflective, and considering we found him asleep under our waterfall, he seems able to breathe underwater. Is there anything you know of that might explain this?"

Sidon considered Impa's words. In the grand scheme of things, he was still young for a Zora. There were many things he had yet to learn despite his education as heir to the Domain. He looked to his companions, most of whom had known Link well before the Calamity. Baz, unsurprisingly, stepped forward.

"To be honest, Lady Impa, many of us expected something like this. Link and Mipha were married according to an ancient Zora rite. I don't understand all of the specifics, but it is not one often used as it binds two souls together. We Zora live much longer than many of the people of Hyrule, and the story goes that this particular magic was discovered long ago by a Zora that desired to share his long life with his beloved. We assumed Link would change over the years sharing Lady Mipha's lifespan."

Impa nodded, her gaze unfocused. Prince Sidon quickly filled the silence.

"If we may, we would desperately like to see Link ourselves, Lady Impa."

Her gaze snapped to the prince's face, and she sighed, her shoulders dropping.

"And this is where my apologies truly extend, Sidon. Link has already gone three days hence, heading for Hyrule fields."

Behind him Rivan gasped sharply, Gaddison quietly cursing. Sidon bowed.

"Then, if you will excuse us, we must be after him. Thank you for your time."

"Please, stay for the night and rest. It's the least we can do after you've come all this way. There's no need to rush; from my understanding, Link is traveling rather unhurriedly."

"All the better for us to catch up with him, then. We must find Link and return to the Domain as quickly as possible."

"Is there an emergency? Do the Zora require aid?"

"Vah Ruta has awakened, and with it, an endless rain descended. The Domain may flood if we delay for too long."

Impa's face paled. "Awakened? Hylia protect us. By all means, take whatever provisions you need on your journey. We will send scouts across Hyrule, and if they find Link before you, they will direct him to the Domain. If the Divine Beasts are awakening, then the situation is far more dire than I anticipated."

Chapter Text

Link urged his horse towards the rightmost path and the distant smoke he'd learned signified stables. He wanted to search the surrounding area for the spot his slate depicted, but the sweet mare, Lily, that had gotten him this far deserved some rest. The end of his third day of travel was quickly approaching, and he felt disappointed. The scenery was gorgeous; Hyrule certainly had beautiful landscapes. But none of it was familiar. Nothing sparked any semblance of recognition. He'd surely traveled in his twenty-some-odd years before the Shrine of Resurrection. Why did everything look new?

Link sighed as they trotted across a short bridge. 

He couldn't give up yet. Three days was nothing. He had plenty of time.

(Except, he didn't. Urgency nipped at his heels like an unruly dog, and he knew something bad would happen if he didn't hurry. He had to hurry, he had to go --)

"Excuse me!"

Link shook his head, pulling back gently on the reins. A traveler stood just a few steps ahead of him off to the side of the pathway. Her brown hair was pulled into a bun, and she wore a modest pack. In her hands she gripped an old map. 

"I'm afraid I'm a bit lost. Could you help me with directions?" 

She offered the map. 

"I'm sorry, miss," Link replied. "I don't know this area very well. I doubt I would be much help." 

The woman chuckled. "I'm sure you know more than I do. Maybe we could compare maps?" 

Link glanced at the sky, noting the distance between the sun and horizon, then at the stable down the way. He supposed he had time. 

"All right," he said, dismounting. 

The young woman unfolded her map, tilting it towards Link. He pulled the Sheikah slate off his hip, unaware of her intense gaze as the screen lit up. 

"That's a strange map you've got there." 

"A friend gave it to me." 

She hummed, her eyes traveling over the blue tunic partially concealed beneath his traveling cloak. Link stepped closer and glanced over the aged parchment. 

"You know, I've waited an awfully long time for this, Link." 

A glint of steel. 

Link jumped back on instinct alone, grabbing the simple shortsword Cado had given him. The young woman cackled and twirled a gleaming sickle in one hand. 

"Welcome back, hero," she spat.

She brought the sickle up and --

Disappeared. 

Link turned slowly, gripping his sword anxiously. Where did she go?

A cackle. 

Poof.

Link dove to the left but still felt the bite of the sickle's edge on his shoulder. How the hell did she get above him?

He spun about, bringing up his sword to catch hers as it descended a second time. His muscles burned.

Her clothes were different now -- red, sleek cloth. Good for stealth, less so for protection. The white mask stared impassively, the inverted eye itching at the back of his mind. 

"You've gotten rusty, Link." 

He kicked her in the chest, and with a grunt, she disappeared in a cloud of red smoke. He spun, stepping to the right. He had to keep moving. If he kept moving, she wouldn't be able to jump him again. 

Poof.

He twisted toward the sound, spotting her a few paces away. She angled her sword and ran straight for him. Link dodged, swinging as she turned. He struck home, carving a path down her hip, and she stumbled only to -- 

Poof. 

Link nearly growled in frustration. 

Damn Yiga, just stay still!

Poof.

Above him again. 

She swung, and this time, Link used his free hand to grab her wrist and throw her to the ground. She yelped, dazed, and he drove his sword straight through her chest. 

The Yiga assassin flailed, wheezing, before falling still. 

Link let out an unsteady breath and reached down with shaking hands to pull off her mask. An orange-red light blossomed in her middle, and in a final cloud of red, the corpse vanished. The assassin's sickle clattered to the ground, the only sign she'd ever been there. 

That and, of course, the blood staining Link's sword. 

He took a step back. 

(There hadn't been another choice.)

He needed to clean his sword. 

(She would have killed him.)

He could feel his own blood dripping down his arm. 

(It still felt wrong.)

Link sighed and finally looked around for his spooked horse. 

(He would do what needed to be done to protect Hyrule.

But he didn't have to like it.)

Thankfully, Lily hadn't run off too far. She neighed as he drew near, eyes still wide, and stamped her feet. Link approached slowly, murmuring reassuring nothings until she let him stroke her snout. He pulled an apple from his pack as an offering, and the sweet mare accepted it gratefully. Daylight faded quickly, and Link pulled himself back into the saddle. Lilly stamped nervously, but a few pats and whispered words had her calmed right back down. They covered the ground to the Wetlands Stable in no time, the evening attendant greeting him as he dismounted. 

"What can we do for you, sir?"

"A bed for the evening if you've got it and board for my horse until tomorrow afternoon." 

The attendant took Lily's reins, patting her neck. "Of course. Regular beds are free. We've got some soup still if you'd like a bowl, only 15 rupees. The cookfire is still lit if you'd rather cook yourself. Let us know if you need anything else, sir."

Link nodded and circled around the stable. Two travelers sat by the cookfire, but everyone else had gone inside for the evening. Towards the back and near the cuckoo pen sat a modest well. Link wasted no time drawing up a bucket and filling his two canteens, then taking a long drink. The canteens disappeared into his suspiciously small pack (Impa had said something about "Korok magic," but Link was more concerned about just how much the enchanted pouch could hold), and he pulled out his dirty sword. The blood had turned tacky in its congealed, half-dry state. He set it on the ground. 

The nearby cuckoos clucked quietly, and soft laughter drifted from the cookfire. A cool breeze twisted through the air, turning the summer evening mild. Link paused, closing his eyes, and enjoyed the gentle wind against his face. It passed by slowly, lingering like a lover's caress. He relished the moment of solitude. It was a nice change after the endless attention of the Sheikah. No pressure or expectations, just him, his borrowed horse, and the breathtaking landscape of Hyrule. 

Link opened his eyes and pulled up a fresh bucket of water. He removed his travel cloak, his scant leather armor and bracers, and finally his Champion's tunic. The right sleeve was dark with blood, and Link frowned, glancing at his shoulder. The assassin had done more damage than he'd thought. With a sigh, he went about cleaning and bandaging the wound, unwilling to use for something relatively minor one of the precious healing potions he'd been given. He tied off the bandage and rolled his shoulder, wincing. All right, maybe he would use a splash of a health potion in his supper just to speed along healing. But just a splash.

Link quickly cleaned his clothes and sword, wringing out the tunic thoroughly before redressing. Dinner was a simple affair, some salted beef and vegetables thrown into the cookpot with a teaspoon of potion and some sauce Purah had insisted he take. He found himself humming as he cooked, the tune dancing along the edges of his memory. Once he'd finished eating, he rinsed the cookpot, gathered his things, and climbed into an open bed inside the tent. Despite the same, vaguely suffocating feeling, Link managed to find a comfortable spot and drift off. 

When dawn broke the next morning, Link tugged the scratchy pillow over his head. He'd slept, but his dreams had been plagued by shadowy figures and a bright line of red light that sent his heart racing at just the thought. 

Voices spoke quietly around him, drifting towards the large tent's entrance. Why was anyone up so early? Link just wanted to go back to sleep. 

After nearly an hour of drifting in and out of a light slumber, the Champion finally gave up. He stretched, sitting up and swinging his legs over the edge of the bed. A few travelers still laid in bed, sleeping soundly, and he eyes them with only a hint of jealousy. Ah, well; he was up. Might as well get going. 

Link easily gathered his things and threw on his cloak, then made his way towards the merchant wearing a strange, bug-shaped backpack. The man excitedly introduced himself as Beedle and eagerly sold Link his full stock of arrows. 

"Do you travel a lot, Beedle?" 

"Of course! All over Hyrule." 

Link pulled out the slate. "I'm looking for a specific spot in the area. Think you might know it if I show you a picture?" 

"I can certainly try!"

Link flipped the slate around, and Beedle bent forward to examine it. He hummed, frowning, before finally shaking his head.

"Sorry, but far as I can tell, those trees could be anywhere!"

Link sighed. "Thank you anyways."

"You lookin' for something, lad?"

He turned, spotting two men sitting at a table with their breakfast. 

"Yes, a specific spot in the woods in this area." 

"Let us see, maybe we can help." 

Beedle wandered off as Link approached the two men. They squinted at the photo, the younger speaking up first. 

"Definitely Hyrule Fields, but not sure where exactly."

The elder man pointed. "That there looks like the castle between the trees. You know, I'd bet this is over by the bottomless swamp. Let me see your map, lad."

Link quickly pulled up the slate's map and handed it over. The man mumbled something that sounded like, "strange map," before glancing over it. He finally pointed to a spot. 

"There. I'd bet you'll find your spot somewhere in here." 

"Thank you." 

"What do you need out there, anyways?"

"I asked a friend to help me find something, and she sent me on a bit of a scavenger hunt." 

The young man grinned. "Oh, did she now?"

The elder shoved his shoulder. "Shut up, you." He handed Link the slate back. "And good luck to you, lad. Hope you find what you're looking for."

Link nodded his thanks, taking the slate and departing. He wandered into the woods towards Hyrule Castle and turned south, meandering through the trees, sometimes staying on the path, sometimes keeping it just in sight. Birds chirped lazily, their song echoing. A doe stood ramrod straight, her white tail stiff, before bolting to safety. A breeze blew through the trees, carrying a scent of berries, and Link followed it. He gathered some wild herbs and finally found a berry bush, stuffing his finds into his pouch. The sun was nearing its zenith when he finally paused. He glanced down at the slate's map and the glowing dot hovering near the bottomless swamp. The man at the stable had said it should be nearby. Link shrugged and pulled up the picture. He twisted in place, glancing around. Hyrule Castle there, path here, trees on either side. 

It all lined up perfectly, and suddenly --

They were running. Rain pelted their heads in a relentless torrent, mud squelching and splattering with every frantic footstep. Zelda's hand slipped from his, and he spun around as she nearly face-planted with a cry. He dropped to one knee before her, reaching out to help her up. She shuddered, hugging herself. 

"How did it come to this?" she asked, voice wavering. "The Divine Beasts, the Guardians, they've all turned against us." 

Link placed a hand on her shoulder and glanced around. They needed to keep moving. 

"Princess --" 

"It was Calamity Ganon. It turned them all against us! And everyone -- Mipha, Urbosa, Revali, and Daruk -- they're all trapped inside those things. It's all my fault!"

Zelda began crying, then, a river of tears she'd held back for too long. Link's heart twisted in his chest at her words. He couldn't think about his wife right now -- she was strong, she could hold her own until help arrived. (He pushed back the feeling nagging at him that she was not okay, that she needed help quickly, before it was too late.) No. Right now, he had to focus on his duty and protect the young woman before him that had somehow wormed her way into his heart as another sister. 

"Our only hope for defeating Ganon is lost all because I couldn't harness this cursed power! Everything -- everything I've done up until now, it was all for nothing. So I really am just a failure! All my friends, the entire kingdom, my father most of all. I tried, and I failed them all. I've left all to die." 

"Oh, Zelda." 

She looked up at him with her red-rimmed eyes and finally shattered, falling into his chest with a wail. 

It broke his heart. 

Link gasped, stumbling backwards. The slate tumbled from his grasp, and he blinked rapidly, the scenery around him suddenly foreign and threatening. He stumbled into a tree and grabbed it like a lifeline. 

Trapped, they're trapped. 

He was hyperventilating. 

We need help, the Calamity, it's here.

His vision was going dark around the edges. 

I'm panicking. 

Another voice joined his thoughts, familiar and strange all at once. 

People who panic die, Link.

He needed to breathe. 

Link screwed his eyes shut and dragged a deep breath in through his nose, held it for four seconds, then let it out over four more seconds. His pounding heart rate slowed, as did the shaking in his limbs. He opened his eyes, breathing far more calmly again.

Not much time had passed, thank the goddess; the sun was still fairly high in the sky. He just needed to make it back to the stable, eat, and rest. Then he could decide what to do next. Easy. 

Another deliberate breath. 

Link scooped up the Sheikah slate and hooked it to his belt. He could find his way back to the stable without it. Double-checking the sun's position, he turned north-east and began walking. They were already serving stew and bread when he made it back despite being a tad early. His adrenaline gone and exhaustion creeping in, Link handed over the few rupees instead of trying to cook for himself again. He collapsed near the fire to eat.

She's trapped inside the Divine Beast.

A bite; not the worst stew. It could certainly use some salt. 

How do I find a Divine Beast?

He would have to ask Purah. How far was Hateno?

Link shook his head, tearing off a piece of bread. He could figure out all of this after some rest. 

The sun dipped lower, casting long shadows across the field. Link finished his stew but didn't yet move from his spot. He watched the flames dance lazily, small embers jumping from burnt logs, and turned the rediscovered memory over in his mind. He had a lead now, and sooner than he'd hoped. His best bet would be to head towards Hateno in the morning; surely Purah could help him track down the Divine Beasts. 

Link stood, turning back towards the stable tent. Behind him in the direction of the Wetlands, murmurs broke out among those still seated about the campfire. 

"That's a whole group of Zora." 

"Don't see them venture outside the Domain much." 

"I wonder what they're here for." 

Link's heart lodged in his throat, his mouth running dry, and he couldn't fathom the reason why. He turned around and caught sight of the cause of the confused mumbling: Five Zora approached the stable, towering over the nearby Hylians. At their head strode a shark-like Zora, his expression somewhat serious as he searched the faces of the men in the vicinity. He was the only one with bright red scales, and Link's stomach flipped at the sight of them. He took a few steps forward, the movement catching the Zora's attention. Their leader's eyes widened, and he froze. 

"Link?" 

The hero nodded, and, suddenly, he was surrounded by the group, their sharp teeth bared in joyous grins. He was picked up, dragged into a hug that nearly took his breath away. Voices overlapped, and he could only pick out a few words amidst the din. He didn't know these people, except maybe he did? It all felt so familiar, and was he crying? Laughing?

Link was swiftly but gently set down, the Zora taking a half-step back. The only female of the party spoke up. 

"Did we break him?" 

Link choked out another laugh, brushing away his tears. His head was starting to pound again, perhaps from mild dehydration or maybe from the memories he could feel shoving around just behind the veil. 

"No, not broken," he said, "just . . . I don't know. I'm happy, but . . ."

The faces around him continued to smile, but there was a knowing, sad twinkle in their eyes. Link shook his head, oscillating between pure joy and the same melancholic ache that had plagued him since his awakening. 

"I'm sorry to say that I don't remember any of your names, especially yours," he looked to the red-scaled Zora who stood so much taller, and the words tumbled from his lips before he consciously realized what he was saying, "Little Brother."