Chapter Text
Zelda trudged down from Mt. Lanayru with heavy footsteps and heavy thoughts. Usually, she’d be admiring the stunning scenery and wildlife decorating the trail, but she had bigger things to worry about. Once again, her illusive birthright escaped her. Where was she going to go now? What else could possibly awaken her power? Not only that, what were the people going to say about her failure? What would her Father say? What… What would happen to Hyrule? Maybe her father was right… She couldn’t waste time on those frivolous things.
Zelda sighed, her thoughts weighing down on her. She slowly lifted her gaze, trying to clear her head. She searched the path ahead, seeing the gate and immediately wished she hadn’t. Thinking of who awaited them there made her drop her head again in shame.
Link, who had been glancing at her worriedly the entire hike down, finally walked a little closer, dipping his head near hers.
“Are you okay, Princess?” he asked quietly.
Zelda glanced over, meeting his cerulean eyes and quickly straightened up, muttering back. “I’m alright, Link. There’s no need to worry.”
Link seemed a little hesitant to accept her reassurance, but let it go nonetheless. “Alright Princess…”
Zelda felt a little guilty for lying to him, but she didn’t want to pass her burdens onto her knight more than she already had. Link had really become one of her greatest confidants, on par with Urbosa. Even if he still wouldn’t call her by her given name...
After a few minutes of silent walking, Zelda doing her best to avoid Link’s worried gaze, they finally reached the gate. Four figures awaited them there, completely silent as the pair slowly approached. She forced herself to lift her gaze, but not meeting their eyes. Daruk finally broke the silence, asking the dreaded question that was surely on everyone’s minds.
“Well? Don’t keep us in suspense. How’d everything go up there on the mountain?”
Zelda stopped, looking down in shame once again. She silently shook her head, and out of the corner of her eye saw the Champions wilt. It was her fault. Revali spoke up next, disappointment in his tone.
“So you didn’t feel anything? No power at all?”
Zelda looked up to him, then back down quickly, holding her arms together in front of her, a poor attempt at a barrier from their disappointed eyes. Quickly, she mumbled, “I’m sorry, no.”
After a short pause, Urbosa looked up, determined. “Then let’s move on.” Looking at Zelda, who cast her gaze away yet again, she continued.
“You’ve done all you could. Feeling sorry for yourself won’t be of any help.” The Gerudo Chief turned to the gate, looking up the mountain. “After all, it’s not like your last shot was up there on Mt. Lanayru. Anything could finally spark the power to seal Ganon away. We just have to keep looking for that… thing.”
Link, along with the rest of the Champions looked to her, seeming to agree. Though she was grateful for the reassurance from her closest friends, all Zelda could muster was a small, “That’s kind of you, thank you.”
Staring at the dusty ground, Zelda fought the urge to cry. Everyone around her was so disappointed, even if they tried to hide it, all because of her.
Mipha then spoke for the first time since Link and Zelda had arrived.
“If I may,” Mipha paused, and Zelda looked up to the other princess. Stumbling over her words, Mipha continued.
“I thought you… Well, I’m not sure how to put this into words… I’m actually quite embarrassed to say it. But I was thinking about what I do when I’m healing. You know, what usually goes through my mind… It helps when I think--When I think about someone I lo-” Here Mipha paused, blushing. Zelda didn’t miss the little glance she threw at Link, and felt a strange feeling curl tightly in her stomach. “When I think about someone I really care about.”
Zelda paused to ponder this, ignoring the strange sensation. Just as she opened her mouth to respond, a beastly call sounded seemingly from all around them. It shook the ground and knocked the group off balance and Link reached out to brace her.
Revali turned toward a rock face covering their view of the castle and soared upward. As he did so, another roar cut through the silence, a clap of thunder quickly following. The princess’s eyes widened in terror as she looked up, knowing exactly what the Rito was going to say.
Revali fell down to earth and told the group what they already knew. “It’s here.”
Daruk clenched his fists, looking toward the castle. “So this is it then.”
Mipha turned to Revali, fearful. “Are you sure?” Revali responded with conviction.
“Positive.”
Zelda looked up in desperation and fear, green eyes wide. “It’s awake…” She spoke breathily. “Ganon!”
Clouds of Malice inched their way over the cliffs, magenta lightning arching into view. Zelda stumbled back into Link at the sight, gasping. She was too late! Next to her, Daruk turned to the group.
“Let’s stop wasting time! We’re going to need everything we got to take that thing down!” Shouting, Daruk flung his arm out, gesturing into the distance. “Now Champions! To your Divine Beasts! Show that swirling swine who’s boss!” Daruk turned back, and looked to the Champions before laying out the plan. “Link will need to meet Ganon head on when we attack! This needs to be a unified assault!”
Zelda was relieved he took charge, because she wasn’t sure she would be able to do much of anything so suddenly. She desperately tried to calm her breathing as Daruk continued his orders.
Daruk turned to look at Link. “Little guy! You get to Hyrule Castle. You can count on us for support. But it’s up to you to pound Ganon into oblivion!” Link nodded, and Zelda stood, worried and guilty.
Urbosa set her hands on Zelda’s shoulders to guide her away, but Zelda broke out of her hold, unwilling to leave them.
“I am not a child anymore! I may not be much use on the battlefield… But there must… There must be something I can do to help!” The warriors looked to each other, until Link spoke up hesitantly.
“I can take her with me to Hyrule Castle, and hope her power awakens on the way. Something in Castle Town might do it, or maybe even the Calamity could trigger it. If she stays hidden, she should be fine if we approach trouble. If all else fails, she can use a bow, or even a dagger or rapier in an emergency. I could even leave her with a general or commander if needed. She can protect herself if I can’t.” The Champions shared a glance, surprised at the knight’s suggestion, until Zelda nodded energetically, silently thanking Link in her head for speaking up.
“Yes! I think that might be our best chance at victory, especially if I awaken my power on the way!” Mipha looked to the pair of Hylians, clearly worried.
“What if the power doesn’t awaken before you get to Ganon? Will you be okay?”
Link and Zelda glanced at each other, before Revali loudly interjected.
“Well, we’re going to have to take that chance. We don’t really have any other options, do we?” Zelda nodded to the Rito, turning to the rest of the group.
“I’m willing to try. I refuse to let you do this alone.” Each Champion looked nervous, but agreed when they saw their princess’ conviction. “Thank you. Now, we must hurry! Head to your Divine Beasts! Every second counts!”
With the Champions heading to their respective lands, Link turned to their horses, untying them from a nearby tree. Zelda walked over quickly, mounting her horse, Storm. Steering Storm to follow Link on Epona, they rode out of the canyon.
oO0Oo
Link and Zelda raced past Hyrule Garrison, gripping desperately to the reigns as their horses stumbled in the mud. Zelda caught quick glimpses of soldiers, fighting the hordes of monsters Link and Zelda had been doing their best to avoid. Zelda shuddered, hard rain and the memories of monsters slain on their journey invading her thoughts.
In front of her, Link sat up on his horse to shoot a pair of moblins that had gotten a little too close. As Zelda looked ahead, she could see the castle, her home, suffocated by the Scourge of Hyrule. Link shouted to her suddenly, catching her completely off guard.
“LOOK OUT!”
Zelda heard the whoosh of an arrow whiz by her ear and felt her horse collapse from under her. Before she could contemplate what had just happened, Link had dismounted and taken hold of her arm.
“Princess! Take your bow and Epona and get to those trees! Try to stay out of sight! There are too many enemies!” Zelda finally tore her gaze away from her poor horse and looked to Link with desperation.
“What about you?! I’m not leaving you here!” Link turned back to her, gesturing to the nearby forest. “Go! I’ll be fine!”
Biting her lip, she considered her options before reluctantly turning to the forest. With one last look at Link, she mounted Epona and rode to the trees as fast as she could. When she was forced to, Zelda quickly dismounted and led the horse to the center of the grove. Resigned to waiting, she put Storm out of her thoughts. There would be time to mourn later. She glimpsed Hyrule Castle out of the corner of her eye, and she stumbled back in shock.
Her home was utterly surrounded by the thick clouds of malice, and at the center, the beast. She fought the urge to look away, bile climbing up her throat. Suddenly, four lasers slowly flickered on, aimed at the sanctum, one after another. Those must be the Champions! They had made it!
Her spirits renewed, Zelda looked back at Link through the trees, fighting off a horde of bokoblins. The Champions were doing their part, so she could do hers. Zelda drew her bow and lined up an arrow, feeling her heart jump in her chest as Link dodged a swing.
She would help.
TWANG!
A bokoblin fell, and Link glanced into the trees. Zelda nodded at him and continued to shoot. After a few more shots, Link gestured for Zelda to follow him. She kept the bow, but left Epona there when Link shook his head as she tried to mount.
After a few minutes of running to Hyrule Castle, avoiding the carnage around them the best they could, the duo reached the gates to Castle Town. When she saw the chaos all around, Zelda gasped.
Monsters crowded the entrance, with the knights fighting them off the best they could. In Castle Town, she could see a line of glowing blue Guardians aiming their lasers at the swarm of Ganon’s minions, moving out to the battlefield slowly. Strewn all around were the corpses of monsters and Hylians alike.
Zelda couldn’t tear her eyes away from the dead and dying soldiers, dread overtaking her. The subjects… Her subjects… they were all dying! And it was her fault! Oh, if she could have only awakened that dreaded power! The princess was knocked out of her thoughts by Link taking hold of her shoulders gently.
“Just look away Princess. There’s nothing we can do for them.”
Zelda just stared at her knight, not taking in his words. Suddenly, a high beeping started, getting closer and closer to them. Looking over to the source, the duo stepped back. There, facing them, was a guardian. Zelda glanced at the body and saw, instead of a calming blue light, a menacing magenta.
Something was wrong.
The guardian swiveled it’s head back and forth, landing on them again. The guardian’s eye started blinking rapidly, and Zelda realized with horror, that they were the target. Link seemed to come to the same realization, as he shoved the royal out of the way.
When Zelda came to her bearings, Link was yelling at her to run. He grabbed her hand and pulled her through a grove near Hyrule Castle Town. Crunching leaves alerted the pair of something behind her. Looking back, she met the eye of another guardian, just in time to see a mist of malice infect it.
Zelda was thrown behind a tree, and looking over, she could see Link standing in between her and the machine, sword and shield drawn. The corrupted tech fired a shot at Link, who barely managed to parry it. Zelda cried out his name in worry, and Link moved as the guardian set up another shot.
Zelda watched in horror as Link was thrown back onto the ground, his shield shattered.
“NO! LINK!”
She couldn’t lose him! He was the bravest, kindest, most understanding person she had ever known, the only one who fully understood her, her best friend! He didn’t deserve to die because of her failure!
As the guardian aimed at Link, who was slowly picking himself up off the burned grass, Zelda ran to him in desperation. The guardian noticed her then, moving it’s target from Link to Zelda. Seeing this, Link used the last of his strength to push himself up in front of the princess, putting his weight on the Master Sword.
Zelda cried out to him as he stumbled back, trying to gain some semblance of balance.
“Link, no! Run! Don’t worry about me, save yourself!”
Before she knew it, the guardian was set to fire. Without a second thought, Zelda pushed in front of Link, facing the guardian, arm outstretched. Just as the machine was about to fire, three bright triangles formed on her hand, and a golden light filled the grove, bursting from her hand.
Momentarily blinded, Zelda blinked rapidly. What… just happened? A slow whirring filled the air as the guardian slowly lost its glow and collapsed. Suddenly, from behind her, she heard a thud on the charred grass. Turning around, she saw Link had collapsed.
“Oh… no! No! Link!”
As she knelt beside him, tears streaming down her face, she noticed him slowly stirring, blinking awake.
“Oh, Link, thank the goddess! You’re alright!”
Link slowly nodded, stumbling as she helped him up. Leading him to a tree, she ripped the cleanest parts of her dress into makeshift bandages, as they had left their medical kits with the horses.
Suddenly, the realization of what had just happened and what was going to happen washed over her. If she had awakened her power, they could fight Ganon, and maybe, just maybe, win!
As she finished tending her knight’s wounds the best she could, she stared at the trees.
It was time to destroy the Scourge of Hyrule.