"Don't you think it's a bit unsettling that we ran into the Yiga Clan this far away from their headquarters?" I mused out loud, recalling the events from yesterday. Link and I had quickly continued on our way, reaching the Woodland stables around dusk. I tended to my injuries, jotted some notes in the Slate, and then fell asleep.
In the morning we left, trudging along the path that would lead us to the Lost Woods, our horses left behind at the stables. Currently we were passing by the Military training camp, the sounds of weapons clashing, weights being thrown about, and people shouting filled the air.
"Do you think they followed us?" Link said.
I shook my head, "No, the Blademaster was surprised to see me. They must have lost us after we left the desert. They must have disguised patrols all throughout Hyrule. Maybe to gather information?"
"Of to stir up trouble." Link added, "Seems like that group was trying to lure travelers into an ambush. Probably would steal anything valuable and dig any information out of them."
"That could be a problem. And now that they know where we are, they may send more clan members after us." I said, worry in my voice.
"They won't follow us into the Lost Woods. And I doubt they'll tread into the Eldin region. It's not exactly a hospitable region."
"True." I said, "I guess that does give us time to slip away from them." I sighed. We would have to deal with the Yiga Clan soon. They could cause quite the problem otherwise, especially if they captured someone with connections to the royal family.
As we continued our way north, the trees around us began to thin, replaced by rocks on either side of us. I could see the path narrow up ahead, and a thin layer of fog was beginning to form at my feet.
It was at this moment that Link stopped, "This is it."
I peered past him, my eyes finding a strange looking forest which was saturated in fog, making it hard to see anything. We tentatively took a few more steps into the woods, stopping before a decaying arch, the rocks composing it, crumbling with age. All around us were pale, skeletal trees, not a leaf on them, their bare branches reaching up into the gloom. The sky was blocked by a dense layer of fog, providing little light. No matter what time of the day, it always seemed to be night time here. It would be all too easy to lose track of time in such a place.
"It's…." My voice trailed off as I continued to gaze around, a hollow feeling in my gut.
"Spooky?" Link finished for me.
I thought for a moment. "It's eerie." My eyes fell on the Master Sword, "Mine as well see if your idea works."
Link grabbed the hilt of the sword and slid it from its sheath. He held it up in front of him, and I gasped as a faint blue light emanated from the sword. "Has it done that before?" I pointed at the sword, "Glowed?"
"Once. When I first pulled it from the stone it was trapped in. It was much brighter then." Link answered, his eyes fixed on the sword.
"What does it mean?" I asked, even more curious about the sword.
Link shrugged. "I don't know. But let's see if it can help us." Link turned, pointing the sword in several different directions, pausing between each turn to see if the sword changed. It was when he turned north that the sword suddenly turned an even brighter blue, shining light around us.
"You think that's the way?" I asked hesitantly. The hollowness inside me had only grown the longer we stayed here, turning into nervousness and unease.
"One way to find out." Link gave me a smile. I blinked at him several times. How could he be so calm right now? It was as if he did not realize the magnitude of what could happen if his hunch was wrong.
"Link, if this doesn't work, we'll be lost." I reminded.
He must have heard the unease in my voice, for he gave me a reassuring look, "Don't worry Zelda. I trust the sword to lead us correctly." I bit my lip, still not convinced. The fog, the bone-white trees, the creepy nature of this place in general was getting to me. And pressure was beginning to build in my temple.
Suddenly Link was right in front of me, his eyes intense. I felt his free hand take mine and give it a gentle squeeze, wary of hurting my bruised hand. "Do you trust me?"
I met his deep blue eyes, which normally I found quite comforting. But right now there was something about this place that was agitating me, and not even Link could calm my nerves. I felt ridiculous that I was so unsettled by such a place, especially when I had gone on many explorations of the catacombs in the castle, which were arguably much more scary than this place. And yet I was fine going into the catacombs alone.
Despite how I felt, that didn't change the fact that after all we had been through, I had come to trust Link. And if he truly trusted that sword of his, then I would too. "Yes." I breathed.
Link gave me a quick smile and then released my hand, turning northwards. "Let's go then. Make sure you stick close. It's easy to get lost."
I nodded and hurried behind Link, who was stepping further into the forest, the fog swallowing us up. I kept close to Link, making sure to stick right behind him. The fog was so thick, that only a few paces of distance and I'd lose him.
We continued walking, the grass underneath our feet a pale green and damp. The trees around us appeared like apparitions and the fog swirled about, like ghosts dancing. I swallowed hard, deciding it would be best to focus on Link's back and ignore my surroundings.
My head was starting to hurt, the pounding in it much worse, turning into a full on headache. I squinted my eyes and focused on the blue of Link's tunic.
We turned twice, deeper and deeper into the Lost Woods. I continued to stare at Link's back, gritting my teeth as my head throbbed. It was then I heard something, making me pause. I lifted my head and turned to look into the Forest. I froze, my eyes fixing on a shadow through the gloom. The shadow flickered and then slunk back behind a tree.
My body went rigid, a shiver running up my spine. Then several wisps of fire appeared, just floating about in the air around me.
"The blood of the Goddess runs through you." A faint voice whispered. I spun around, expecting someone there but there was no one.
"She can hear us!" Another faint voice called, excited. I looked around, trying to spot something, anything. Was I going crazy?
Several white fluffy balls joined the wisps of fire, having pale purple tips. Through the fog I spotted movement, a dark tendril. Noise sounded behind me and I whirled around, my heart racing. Movement caught my eye but I could not distinguish what it was. I stumbled backwards, tripping. I landed on the ground, my hands touching soft, wet grass.
"We won't hurt you." My eyes widened as a pale creature appeared from the fog, standing on four legs and cat-like in size and structure. But it's ears where much longer and looked like long, coiling leaves. The tail was the same, a long, coiling leaf. The cat-like creature was white, which transitioned into a dark green on its ear, tail, and paws.
"You must be Zelda." The creature looked at me with pale irises, the pupils elongated slits. And although the beings mouth did not open, I knew it was this cat-like animal that had spoken.
I shuffled away, my head spinning and pounding all at once. More shadows appeared in my peripheral vision, and the air around me was blooming with balls made of fluff and fire. "Link!" I cried and scrambled to my feet looking ahead of me. My knees collapsed when my eyes found nothing but fog in front of me.
Link was gone.
"No." I whimpered, dragging my knees to me so I was curled into a tight ball. I clutched my head with my hands, the pounding in my head making it ache.
"You haven't awakened your powers yet, have you?" The voice came again, followed by a chorus of:
"Oh no!"
"Oh no!"
"Oh no!"
"It must be painful." And then the cat creature was in front of me, its eyes searing into me. "The sight of the Goddess is not meant for mortals."
"Please stop." I cried, tears streaming down my cheeks.
"It will only get worse, I'm afraid."
"Stop." I begged, my head throbbing.
"We all wish to speak with you. We've been waiting for someone with the blood of the Goddess to visit us. But you are not ready. I'm sorry, Zelda." And with that the cat-like being disappeared back into the fog, gone in the blink of an eye. The shadows began to recede as well, and the wisps in the air danced and flickered about until they were swallowed by the fog.
And I was left alone.
But the pounding in my skull had lessened.
"ZELDA!" The voice was familiar and filled with panic. And then firm hands were grasping my shoulders, and I looked up to see beautiful blue eyes.
"Link." I whispered, wondering if I was seeing things or if it was really him.
Link wrapped his arms around me, pulling me to him in a fierce hug. "I told you to stay close to me!" He said urgently, but his voice was filled with relief.
"Did you hear them?" I asked softly.
Link pulled back and looked at me quizzically, "Hear what?"
"The voices…" I murmured, my eyes desperately searching Link's face. He had to have heard them.
His eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Zelda, I didn't hear anything."
I grabbed at Link's arm, "What about the shadows? Did you see them? And the flames? And then there was the cat… but not a cat." I could tell I was rambling, but what had just happened made no sense. I needed to know I wasn't the only one that had seen or heard those things. That I wasn't going crazy.
Link looked at me with concern. "Zelda, I didn't see anything. Maybe you just thought you saw those things? The fog can play tricks on people."
I swallowed and nodded my head, a numb feeling creeping over me. I felt Link's eyes on me, but I couldn't meet them. I had no idea what just happened and my head was still hurting. Link stood up, picking up the master sword which he had set on the ground next to him. He extended his other hand to me and I took it. He pulled me up and then proceeded forward, his hand still holding mine.
But I hardly paid attention to it and allowed Link to lead me onward. I stared at the ground as we went, trying to ignore the pain in my head as well as coming to terms with what had just happened. Had anything happened? Had it all been a trick of the fog? But it seemed so real.
Link lead me deeper into the forest, the glow of the Master Sword leading us. After some time, the fog began to fade and a passageway appeared in front of us. On the other side of it was bright green grass, flourishing vegetation, and trees brimming with leaves. I let out a sigh, happy to be out of the gloomy Lost Woods.
As we passed underneath the passageway a sharp pain shot through my head. The pounding in my head flared up and I felt my legs give out. My vision blackened and I was lost in a realm of darkness.
Minutes passed until the darkness began to ebb away. I looked up and blinked in shock. Before me were two figures, clearly Hylians. One wore a green tunic with a familiar sword strapped to his back. As he turned to look at his companion, I gasped as I saw his face. He looked like Link, but not, perhaps an older brother. His face had the same calm expression and his eyes were a perfect match. His hair was the same color, but shorter.
My eyes flickered to the Hylian next to him and my mouth fell open in shock. She looked like me… She wore a white gown and had beautiful golden blonde hair, an exact match to mine. Her face was the same structure as mine and her green eyes mirrored my own.
Who were these two?
I stared at them until the ground shook underneath me and my eyes looked past the two Hylians, falling upon a grotesque being. His body was strong and muscular, but seething in dark malice. His head was ablaze in flames and he wore a menacing expression, utter hatred radiated from his cold, black eyes. And in his hands was a giant, jagged blade made of black steel.
Waves of energy seemed to flow off him, and as they ran past me, I felt the complete evil and vileness of this entity. It was then a thought occurred to me… could this be… Calamity Ganon?
And before me… was this the Hero and Princess from ancient times who had defeated hatred incarnate 10,000 years ago? Could it really be?
As if to answer, the dark, ominous being let out a tumultuous roar, causing the male Hylian to draw his sword, the familiar purple hilt gleaming. The blade let off a whitish-blue glow. And then next to him, the Hylian female lifted clenched her fists, yellowish orbs of power forming around both fists. Was this the power of those with the blood of the Goddess? Was that what my power was supposed to look like?
And then the two Hylians charged the monstrosity. The beast swung his blade just as the two Hylians attacked, all three of them meeting head on in battle. Aftershocks radiated from their clash, blowing against me until everything turned white.
I sat up, breathing heavily. Sweat dripped from my forehead and there was a dull ache in my frontal lobes.
"Zelda!" I looked over to find Link sitting next to me, relief evident on his face. It was then I noticed I was laying in a bed, which seemed to be made of leaves, branches, and other forest material. I looked past Link then, finding I was in a dark room, the walls looking like bark from a tree.
"Where are we?" I asked, still looking around.
Link gave me a concerned look, "Do you remember what happened?"
"Vaguely." I mumbled, trying to think back to the last thing I recalled. Images of a sandy-haired boy and blond girl flashed in my mind, baring down against a demonic presence with flaming hair.
And then it was as if a light had been switched inside, everything that I had seen and heard came rushing back. The ancient versions of Link and I, the voices and odd creatures I had encountered in the Lost Woods, and Link diligently leading me through the woods until the foreboding forest began to melt away.
I leaned back in bed, uncertain what to make of everything. "Tired?" Link asked, and my eyes went to him, momentarily forgetting he was there. I shrugged in response. Link just gave a slight nod and then answered my earlier question. "We made it to Korok Forest. As soon as we entered, you passed out. You had me really worried."
I placed my forearm over my forehead, my eyes closed. "I'm sorry." I said, feeling bad. It seemed I had caused Link more trouble. "I had a bad headache."
"As long as you're feeling better now." Link said reassuringly and then yawned. "Although I think I'll get some sleep now. It's late, but I wanted to make sure you were alright."
I nodded, my mind still processing everything. Absently I replied, "Goodnight." If Link said something back, I did not hear him. I was too preoccupied in my own thoughts, trying to decipher the dream…. The vision… I had. And just what had happened to me in the Lost Woods? Was I hallucinating like Link had said…. Or had I really seen and heard everything?
I pulled my arm off my head and glanced at Link, who was sleeping soundly in the bed next to mine. I sat up and studied him, making sure he was truly asleep. Then, as quietly as I could, I crawled out of bed and out of the room. I walked through the open doorway and into a large hallow, a small fire in the center along with some wooden logs around it. There were several other doorways shooting from the main room I was in. To my right there was a large opening, leading out of this odd wooden cavern I was in.
Taking a step outside, the first thing I saw on either side of me were giant, coiling roots, bigger than I was. I gasped and spun around, my head looking upwards. My eyes found a giant tree before me, which apparently was what I had been sleeping in prior. The tree seemed to touch the clouds. It was so tall and the base of the trunk seemed almost as thick as the main part of the castle. The bark was dark and scaly, and all the branches were adored with glorious pink blossoms.
"You must be Link's companion. We are glad to see you well." I whirled around, not expecting to find anyone. As my eyes found what was before me, I wondered if I was seeing things again, for in front of me were two little creatures. One was tan with darker stripes while the other was light green with mossy stripes. They had tiny appendages and where their face should have been was a large leaf, one green, the other orange.
"Are you koroks?" I asked as my wits returned to me and I recalled what Link had said about the Korok Forest, how there really were little critters called Koroks.
"Yes!" The green one replied in a high pitched voice. "I'm Roto and this is Piklu."
"My name is Zelda." I offered, "It is nice to meet you."
"Haha!" They cheered. "Zelda!" I gave them an odd look, not sure what to think about the strange creatures. But they were cute.
"The Deku Tree wishes to speak with you." The brown one informed, pointing further ahead.
I nodded. "I also wish to speak with him." With that I moved around the two Koroks and weaved my way between roots, careful not to trip. As the roots began to clear, I looked out in wonderment at the beautiful forest before me. The trees were vibrant and swelling with life. There was an array of flowers scattered throughout, most closed as it was night. The grass and shrubbery was dense and fireflies danced in the distance.
"A peaceful forest, would you not agree?" A deep and wise voice spoke behind me.
I turned and looked up at the great tree before me, finding a face carved into the trunk of the tree. I bowed my head in respect to the ancient spirit. "It is." I answered, my eyes glancing back up at him.
"You have questions." The Deku tree observed.
"Yes. I was hoping you could help me."
"I will try. Although I have the wisdom of ages imbued within me, I do not know all the answers. Although I know I can answer some of your questions."
"You do?" I asked, curious.
"You must be wondering about what happened to you while traversing through the Lost Woods. And I assume since Link asked about his sword's power, you are here to ask about your own."
"So you know why the Master Sword isn't at full power?" I inquired.
"Indeed." The Deku Tree sighed, "But first It would be wise to explain some other things. Tell me Zelda, in the Lost Woods, did you come across any spirits?"
I swallowed, recalling the strange beings I saw. "You mean the shadow like creatures and the fire wisps and then there were these fuffy orbs…. As well as some cat-like being."
"Yes, those are all spirits of the Lost Woods. I imagine they also tried to talk to you."
I nodded, thinking back to what they had said. "Yes. They seemed eager to talk to me."
"I can imagine." The Deku Tree started, "It has been a long time since someone has traveled through the Lost Woods that can see and talk to those spirits."
"Why can I?"
"Surely you know the answer." The Deku Tree mused.
I paused for a brief moment, "It's my blood."
"Indeed."
I frowned, thinking back more on what the cat-like creature had said. "One of the spirits… she said it must be painful… but I don't know what she was talking about. I remember my head throbbing all throughout the journey through the Lost Woods. But I'm not sure if that's what she was talking about."
"Ah yes, the Sight of the Goddess." The Deku Tree fixed with with knowing eyes. "As I'm sure you are aware of by now, Zelda, you are unique. Within you resides the blood of our beloved Goddess, Hylia. And because of that, you have miraculous powers. But in addition to that, you have a special bond with Hylia that no other mortal has. Those who carry the blood of the Goddess are sometimes allowed to see things that others cannot; this is called the Sight of the Goddess."
"So all these things that I've been seeing are this Sight? Why is it so painful?"
"Because the Sight of the Goddess is not meant for mortals. Those who do accidentally see through the eyes of the Goddess will find it painful, only mildly at first, but it will get more and more painful the more they use the ability. However those with the blood of the Goddess seem to be immune to those repercussions." The Deku Tree explained.
I frowned, "But I… I get really bad headaches." I thought back to the times I had dreamt about the champions, each time I had awoken with a headache. The one in Faron was mild, while the one in Gerudo was worse, and the one in Tabantha the worst yet… that is until recently. The one I had in the Lost Woods was the worst I had ever experienced.
The Deku Tree sighed. "I fear it is the same reason as to why the Master Sword hasn't awakened fully yet."
"What do you mean?" I asked, my voice hesitant.
"Your powers are still dormant, Zelda." The Deku Tree said, "I believe it is your powers that will grant you immunity to the Sight of the Goddess… until then it will get progressively worse. And as for the legendary blade, it's true power was supposed to awaken when Link was united with the one with the blood of the Goddess. However since your abilities have not been unlocked, the sword's true power was never triggered to awaken."
I stared at the Deku Tree, my hands shaking. "So it's my fault." I looked down at the ground, shame running through me.
"There is no reason to shed blame. There are other ways to unlock the sword's power. Link will manage. However until your powers surface, I'm afraid the Sight of the Goddess will cause you great pain. I will make sure the spirits do not bother you when you leave. Their presence will trigger the Sight."
My body felt numb as the Deku Tree told me this. Once more my failures were affecting others. If anything, I deserved the pain of this Sight of the Goddess. "What are those spirits I ran into? I've never heard of such beings."
"I can imagine that you haven't. Spirits seldomly roam from beyond the Lost Woods. And even if they did, they keep out of the affairs of the clans…" The Deku Tree frowned, "Rather most of them do. There are four spirits that seem to enjoy partaking in the affairs of the clans. However most reside in the Lost Woods and Korok Forest. It is a sanctuary for spirits."
"Is the fog to keep us out?" I asked.
"We bear no ill will against the clans, however the Lost Woods over time has become a defense to protect Korok Forest and the spirits. This Forest is sacred; it has kept the Master Sword safe for millennia."
"Has it always been kept here?"
"Not always. When a Hero rises, they eventually come to take the sword. But after the Hero's life draws to a close, the sword is returned here to rest until it is needed once more."
I recalled the vision I had earlier, when entering Korok Forest. "I think… I saw them. The Hero and Princess from 10,000 years ago." I started, "When I entered this forest, I had a vision and it showed me a man who held the master sword as well as a woman with sage powers. They were fighting a dark being with flaming hair."
"Ah, yes. The original Hero and Princess. They were the first to pick up the fight against evil incarnate."
"The first?" I questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"Do you think there has been nothing but peace in the 10,000 years since the original evil rose? There have been other heroes and princesses since, and if the pattern continues there will be more after you. Although I pray to Hylia that this cycle will cease."
I remained silent for a minute, digesting what the Deku Tree had just said. There had been more besides Link and I and the Princess and Hero from long ago? "I've never heard of these others. Surely if they fought such a terrible being as Calamity Ganon, their plight would be remembered."
"Ah yes." The Deku Tree pondered for a moment, "Perhaps it is time to provide a little bit of history on the entity Calamity Ganon. You see the force that you are dealing with now is not quite the same force the original Hero and Princess fought against. Long ago a wretched being rose, infusing himself with dark power and hatred. Eventually he became something more than a mere mortal, his origins lost. He was called many things… demon king, hatred incarnate, but the one most remembered is Ganon. He was defeated by the original Hero and Princess, however so great was his hatred and the evil inside him that it did not die with his body. Instead it took root inside the land of Hyrule, festering and waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. Over the years there have been some who've tried to awaken and use that power for their own malicious intentions, some more successful than others. In instances such as this, a Hero and Princess have been called forth to vanquish these corrupted individuals. But after so many years this force has grown and taken on a will of its own. It has become the entity we now call Calamity Ganon. It is not a physical being, but rather a natural force that will lay siege to Hyrule."
Taking in everything the Deku Tree just told me, I swiftly sat down, feeling overwhelmed with all the knowledge I had just acquired. I was at a loss for words on what to say about finding out the origins of Calamity Ganon and the history associated with this being. It seemed as if the cycle of bloodshed and turmoil would never end. "Is there a way to defeat it? To rid Hyrule of this evil forever? To stop the cycle of suffering?"
"Only a Hero wielding the Master Sword and one with the blood of the Goddess can truly defeat this entity. Up to this point none have succeeded in eradicating it. I do not know how to destroy Calamity Ganon for good, however it can be done. Do not lose hope, Zelda."
I looked down at my feet dejectedly. "But I can't even use my powers. Tell me, do you know of any way to awaken them?"
The Deku Tree frowned, "I do not have much to offer you. The sage powers bestowed by the blood of the Goddess have been different for each Princess, thus how they unlocked them has varied considerably. Some had their powers from birth, while others had to train hard to awaken theirs."
I put my head in my hands. "I've trained so hard. I've done everything I can think of. I don't know what else to do. Hylia came to me in a dream and said 'The answer is already in front of you.' But I don't know what that means. Is it to be taken literally or figuratively? I just don't know."
"The answer is in front of you?" The Deku Tree mused. "Then perhaps it isn't a matter of training but a matter of connection."
"Connection?" I glanced up at the Tree's withered face.
"The answer is already in front of you. Perhaps what will unlock your powers has been near you all this time, you just need to connect with it."
I sighed, "That doesn't really help. How am I supposed to know what to connect to?"
"Perhaps it is something you've had in front of you all your life. Or something that just recently appeared?" The Deku Tree offered. "Otherwise it may mean that the answer is something you've contemplated, but haven't actually done yet."
I thought for a moment. "I've made arrangements to visit the Spring of Wisdom when I turn of age. That is something I've been planning for years."
"Then perhaps that is what the Goddess was referring to."
I pursed my lips, hoping beyond hope that that was the answer. However if it wasn't… then what? Was it a connection then? But what one? I shook my head, wariness filling me as well as fatigue.
Sensing my tiredness the Deku Tree spoke, "Why not sleep for the remainder of the night, Zelda? It has been a tiring day for you and I'm sure there is much to contemplate now. Rest and maybe some clarity will come to you by morning."
I dropped my hands from my face and rose. "Thank you. I appreciate the insights you have given me." I gave a slight bow to the Deku Tree.
The Deku Tree gave a soft smile. "Of course." With that I walked closer to the Deku Tree, weaving and climbing over the roots. As I neared the trunk of the Deku Tree, I squinted my eyes, trying to find the opening that led to the hallow inside the mighty tree.
"It's this way, Princess!" An excited voice came and I turned to see the two koroks from before. One was pointing slightly ahead of where I was.
"The hallow is that way?" I asked, grateful to the tiny creatures.
"Yes, yes! Just a little further." They cheered.
"Thank you." I smiled down at them, earning little laughs from them. I continued in the direction they had pointed until I reached the opening. I walked through, stopping in front of the fire. The heat felt nice as the night was cool. Once warmed, I walked over to one of the doorways, ducking into the room I had been in earlier.
It was just as I had left it; Link soundly asleep on his bed, covered in a blanket made of plant fibers. The Master Sword was propped up against his bed, within arms reach if he happened to need it. Next to his bed was another one, which I walked over to and laid down on. It was surprisingly comfortable. I pulled the blanket over me and stared up at the ceiling, thoughts flowing through my head.
The Deku Tree had answered a lot of my questions and had provided me with information I didn't even know I needed. However the one thing that I had needed help on, even the Deku Tree didn't have any concrete answers. If not even the wisest being in all of Hyrule knew the answer to my question, then how was I supposed to figure it out?
I let out a long exhale and flung my arm over my head. I desperately wanted to fall into the pits of sleep, but my mind was racing. There was no quieting it now, which made sleep a distant thing.
"I just need to distract myself." I whispered, knowing if I could give my mind something else to focus on, sleep would come more easily. For some reason, a song suddenly came to mind, a song my mother would sing to me. Before I realized it, I was softly singing the song under my breath, my mind paying close attention to the lyrics, visualizing the journey the song told of a young girl traversing all across a foreign land. She climbed mountains, fought against monsters, road dragons…
It wasn't much longer and the words halted from my lips and my mind fell silent.
I groaned as I rolled over in bed, not wanting to get up. Opening my eyes, I saw a dark ceiling with the texture of tree bark. My head snapped over to my left, finding the bed next to me was empty. I closed my eyes and rolled onto my stomach. Of course Link was already up. He was able to get up at Hylia-awful hours in the morning as if it was nothing. All I wanted to do was curl into a ball and sleep, preferably buried under at least two blankets.
"Hey Zelda. You're up?" I heard Link's footsteps come into the room. I huffed in response, making Link give a little chuckle. "You must have been really tired from yesterday. It's almost noon."
I turned my head to look at Link, finding he was kneeling next to his bed, digging through his backpack. Of course it was hard to tell inside the room what time it was, for it was dark, little light came in from the main room. "I talked to the Deku Tree last night." I said dully, recalling all I had learned.
Link turned to me. "You did?"
"It's my fault your sword isn't at full power." Although the Deku Tree had told me not to blame myself, I still felt awful about it. If I could use my powers, Link wouldn't have to do any extra work.
"He told you about the sword?" Link said, looking concerned.
"It came up in our conversation." I answered.
Link exhaled, "There's no need to worry about it, Zelda. The Deku Tree already told me what I need to do to unleash the sword's full potential."
I frowned, "Which is?"
"I have to undergo a trial." Link answered. "If I complete it successfully, the sword will be at full power."
"A trial?" I inquired, "Where? And what do you need to do to pass?"
"It would be here in the Lost Woods. As to what I have to do, well the Deku Tree wasn't exactly clear as to what the trial would entail. I assume I'll just have to find out."
"Will you do it now?" I asked.
Link shook his head, "No. We don't have time right now for it. I shall return here on my own to complete the trials. After we have gathered the champions. That is our priority now."
"How long will this trial take? If it's a day or two, I don't see why we can't wait. The sword is critical in our fight against Calamity Ganon."
"According to the Deku Tree, the trial will take longer than a few days. He said it could be anywhere from a week to a month to complete. Maybe longer. So it's best if I come back later."
"A month!" I exclaimed, my eyes widening. "That's ridiculous. It takes you a month to complete the trail where in comparison if I had my powers all you'd have to do is meet me and the sword would be at full power. That's completely ludicrous." I turned away from Link, feeling bad.
"I don't mind. I'm kind of interested to see what these trials are. It could be fun. Plus it gives you a break from me always following you."
I sighed, "You always look on the bright side."
"Mine as well. Nothing we can do about it." Link replied, his voice upbeat. "Was the Deku Tree able to help you at all?"
"The Deku Tree was… enlightening." I answered.
Link arched an eyebrow, "Did he have any advice on your powers."
I sighed, wondering how much of what I had learned from the Deku Tree I should tell him. He certainly had a right to know about Calamity Ganon… but I didn't want to tell him about the Sight of the Goddess as I knew he would just worry. Although he deserved an explanation as to what happened to me yesterday in the Lost Woods. Swallowing, I looked up at Link and began to tell him what the Deku Tree had told me. I didn't elaborate much on the Sight of the Goddess, simplifying it to the vision I had yesterday had caused me to pass out.
"So you really did see something yesterday in the Lost Woods." Link said abashedly, scratching the back of his head. "Sorry I didn't believe you."
I shrugged, "I wasn't sure if I believed it myself. I thought I was going crazy."
"If I started seeing random spirits, I'd probably think I was going crazy too. Anyways, if you're hungry, the Koroks collected some fresh fruit for us to eat. And after, I can show you around Korok Forest."
I nodded, "That would be nice." I followed Link out into the main room and ate a few pieces of fruit, happy to have something in my belly. Then I walked outside, where Link was waiting for me. I maneuvered between the giant roots until I came into a clearing, a flat stone platform in front of me. Link was sitting on it, the Master Sword in his lap.
"Good morning, Zelda." The Deku Tree spoke from behind me and I turned to look at him, his rigid face smiling.
"Good morning." I replied back, giving a brief nod in greeting.
"Are you ready?" Link said, appearing next to me. I jumped slightly, not expecting him to be next to me so suddenly.
"Yes." I said, my eyes falling back on the stone platform. "Is that where the Master Sword lay dormant?"
Link nodded, "Yeah. That is where it rested. You can see there is still a hole in the rock where the blade was embedded in."
Curious, I walked onto the platform, instantly spotting the oval shaped hole. So this was where it had stayed, waiting for the next Hero to emerge. Quickly I returned to Link's side and then motioned for him to lead the way. He smiled and then we proceeded, walking to one side of the Deku Tree.
Korok Forest was smaller than I had anticipated, consisting of a tiny cavern at the center of the Lost Woods. However it was bursting with life. There were flowers and shrubs growing all about and small mammals and frogs scurried about. Butterflies and dragonflies flitting through the air and birds sang in the many trees. There were several pools of water scattered throughout the forest, the water crystal clear. And above us stretched the enormous branches of the Deku Tree, a blanket of pink cherry blossoms above us.
As we walked around, we ran into many of the strange little creatures this forest was named after. They cheered and spoke to us in excited voices, giving a joyous 'Yahaha!' when we were done talking with them. Overall it was a pleasant forest, one I wouldn't mind staying in longer. However Link and I had talked to the Deku Tree and received all the help the ancient spirit could give us; thus it was time to move on.
"Let's climb up there." Link pointed to the top of one of the ledges that surrounded the forest, a large tree growing at the top. Swiftly the two of us climbed up and as I stood at the top of the ledge next to the tree, I saw beyond it the familiar fog of the Lost Woods. If I narrowed my eyes I could make out the dead trees, their branches contorted in odd ways.
A hand on my shoulder distracted me from the Lost Woods. I turned to look at Link who was standing next to me. "Let's not focus on the Lost Woods. How about we enjoy the view of Korok Forest from up here."
I nodded and then sat down on the ledge, my feet hanging over. It certainly was a beautiful view from high up, although the Deku Tree still towered over us. "We should leave tomorrow." I stated.
"Yes. That was the plan." Link agreed.
"We'll make it back to the Woodland Stables and then we can head into Eldin. Which will take all day since we have to loop down into Zora's Domain slightly."
"That's out of the way." Link said surprised, "We have to go that far south?"
I nodded, "Unfortunately the terrain gets pretty rocky, so the road goes around it."
Link exhaled, "Makes sense. I am excited to see the Eldin region though."
"Right, you've never been." I murmured, remembering a talk we had earlier in our journey. "Be prepared for extreme heat."
"Worse than the desert?" Link asked.
"Far worse." I answered factually. "Don't bring anything wooden, otherwise it will combust."
"Seriously?" Link asked, his eyebrows raised in mild shock.
"Yep. Only bring what's necessary; We'll use the backpack I brought since it's heat resistant." I thought for a moment, frowning. "Did you bring any fireproof elixirs?"
Link gave me an apologetic smile, "I suppose you brought extra?"
I gave Link a dull look. "You can't expect me to pick up all your slack." I catechized. "I did bring extra… as well as my own version of it. I'm hoping it will be enough for our stay, otherwise we'll both be rocking flamebreaker armor." I huffed, "Which is exceedingly expensive and rather heavy. Not my type of armor at all."
"Do things like money really matter to you though? You're the Princess. Couldn't you just ask them to give it to you for the sake of Hyrule?"
"Do you know nothing about economics? I can't just go around asking for free stuff because I'm royalty. And it's not a matter of if I can afford it, but rather a matter of do I have the funds to cover it plus the rest of the expenses on our expedition considering I only brought a certain amount of rupees with me."
"Ah." Link said, "Well, can't we buy more before we enter Eldin?"
"Yes, we probably should. The stables right before Eldin should sell some. Although it will be limited. It is a hot commodity."
"Well, hopefully they'll have some."
"They should. If not, we will have to use what I brought sparingly." When I got back to the Woodland stables I'd have to tally how much Fireproof Elixir I brought. "Once we're done in Eldin, we'll stop in Akkala, and finally Zora's Domain. Are you looking forward to visiting Zora's Domain? I know you said you used to spend a lot of time there."
"That's right." Link nodded, "It will be nice to visit Zora's Domain again. I haven't seen my Zora friends in years." Link paused to think for a moment and then turned curious eyes on me. "You haven't really been to Zora's Domain much have you? Or at least not as much as the other clan regions."
Link was right. I had deep connections with all of the clans except the Zora, and that wasn't a coincidence. I had fostered deep relationships with the Sheikah and Gerudo, spending several months year after year training with them. Additionally I had strong connections to important individuals from both the Rito and Gorons. Yet I could not say any of that was true about the Zora.
"I have been to Zora's Domain twice." I informed Link.
"I see. At least you're familiar with the domain then. It tends to rain a lot, making it hard to navigate at times."
"I don't know if I'd say that." I advised, "It has been a long time since I've been there. I don't actually remember much of getting there."
"Ah, well good thing I know the area pretty well." Link assured me with his characteristic grin. "How long has it been since you've been there?"
I looked up at the Deku Trees branches, all saturated with pink blossoms. Every now and then a petal would flutter down, unnoticed and left to wither. "Probably around seven years ago." I answered, a bad taste in my mouth. "I had some royal business to attend to."
"Huh." Link said, a contemplative look on his face. "I think that might have been how long it's been since I've been there too."
I arched an eyebrow, "You don't remember?"
Link shrugged, "I traveled a lot with my father, so sometimes things just get jumbled."
I sighed, "Maybe you should keep a journal."
Link grinned, "That would probably help. Although I'd end up forgetting to write in it or I'd lose the journal."
I shook my head, trying to hide the smile emerging on my lips, "You're hopeless."
Link laughed, "You still keep me around."
I arched my eyebrows, "Do I have a choice?" I replied playfully.
"Not really. You're stuck with me until we defeat Calamity Ganon."
"Then it looks like we'll have to deal with each other for a while." I replied. My eyes flitted to the glistening hilt poking over Link's shoulder. "When do you think you'll come back to take the trials?"
Link thought for a moment. "Well I haven't given it much thought. But I suppose when we get back to the castle that would be the best time for me to take care of this." He pointed to his sword. "I don't think I should wait much longer since I don't know how long it will take to pass these trials."
I nodded, accepting his answer. A sliver of guilt crept inside me though, knowing this was partially my fault. "That would be best. I can manage on my own for a while." I assured and then frowned, "Although my father will probably just assign me another knight in your absence."
"Replaced already." Link fretted and I smacked his arm lightly.
"I'm not replacing you." I said forcefully, "My father will want at least one knight with me if I'm traveling."
Link frowned, "You plan on leaving so soon?"
I pursed my lips, then shrugged, "I don't know. I will have some business at the castle when I return, but eventually I will probably have to visit at least a few of the clans for political or military related reasons. You said the trails could take up to a month, so if you're gone that long, I will probably leave Central by then."
Link nodded, a resolute look in his eyes. "Well that just give me incentive to finish these trials as quickly as I can."
I narrowed my eyes, "What, you don't think I can handle traveling without you? I'll have you know I've been traveling all over Hyrule for years before I met you." I folded my arms over my chest.
"Zelda, that's not what I meant." Link scratched the back of his head, looking slightly… nervous? "I just feel that if someone is going to travel with you, it should be me. We're a team."
I stared at Link for several seconds. Then I turned to look away, a blush rising to my face at the intensity in his blue orbs. "I guess that makes sense." I mumbled and then stood up. "Why don't we forage for some food to cook tonight. We can make a big meal for us and the Koroks. I think they'd enjoy that. And we can show how much we appreciate their hospitality."
Link , standing next to me, nodded his head. "That sounds like a great idea. Although how about we leave the cooking to me."
I huffed and rolled my eyes at him. "I'm not that bad."
Link arched an eyebrow in disbelief, but he didn't say anymore.
We made our way down from the ledge we were on and began to gather whatever food we found in the forest. As we did so, I stopped dead in my tracks, spotting a gorgeous flower. The petals were a mix of blue and white, teal blue near the center and white on the edges. The anthers had bright blue pollen on them, while the stigma was a bright yellow color. I gently caressed the flower, awe filling me. I had seen images of these flowers in books and knew they were rare. Many had tried to breed them in captivity, however none survived very long. These flowers only grew in the wilderness.
"What's wrong?" Link's voice came from behind me.
I looked up at him as he stood next to me while I knelt next to the flower. "This flower is quite rare. I never thought I'd see one in real life."
Link crouched down next to me. He scrutinized the flower for a few moments. "What's it called?" He asked.
I smiled, "Well the scientific name for it is Tacet princeps, but everyone calls it Silent Princess."
Link thought for a moment, his eyes on the flower, "It's kind of like us." I furrowed my brows, uncertain what he was saying. Seeing my confusion, he continued, "When we first met, to you, I was a silent knight, while to me, you were just a Princess."
I smiled softly at his words, thinking back to when we first met. "And now look at us."
We didn't say anything, but I knew Link was thinking the same as I was.
Now we were so much more.
I'm not that well versed on Zelda lore so I kind of tweaked some things to fit the story I'm writing. I don't plan on going too much deeper into the lore, but I wanted to give some background information on how this all started.
As always, thanks for reading!