Skull Lake
"Aughahh!" The strange man said as he turned around and looked at Zelda. "Don't scare me!"
His back had been turned and Link and her had been quiet coming up. It hadn't been on purpose, but it was night. It was best to avoid making loud noises. "I'm sorry if I frightened you. Do you know a great deal about monsters?"
"Monsters?! I love monsters! I know everything there is to know about monsters!" He was almost jumping up and down. "My name is Kilton and I am the monster expert!"
A very happy person, Zelda could see that. "Kilton? Do you know about malice?"
Blank stare. "It's what monsters are made of. I thought you had something better to ask me." He seemed depressed now.
"Do you know how to get rid of malice?" Zelda asked him.
"Malice is what makes monsters, monsters!" He insisted. A small squeal. "Get rid of malice, you'll get rid of the monster!"
Yes, she knew that. "Do you know how to take some away without killing it?"
Kilton was quiet now. "You could chop off a hand and some would go with the hand? Unless it was a skeletal monster. Sometimes."
It was a nice try by Link. She looked toward Link as they walked away. "Thanks for trying."
Link looked absolutely disappointed. "You could do a shrine."
"Prove my worth to continue to be healed." It was an idea, except for one thing. "They were made for the chosen hero."
"If you went in and did a shrine, it would count," Link insisted.
Even if she did get a shrine's blessing, what good would it do? How much longer would the goddess help? "Do you know of any shrines you haven't completed?" Yes. That look said it all. He didn't.
"I can find one." His voice was so soft but determined.
"Then as I said before, you can leave my side anytime," Zelda reminded him. He could go explore to his hearts content. It would be better that way. If I can't find a way to stop this. She never wanted him to see her in that state. Then, she saw him raise his sword to her. "Do you wish to kill me to end this charade now?" No, that didn't fit.
Link lightly tried to touch where her clothes had black seeping through. Nothing happened.
"The sword was for Ganon and monsters, not malice," Zelda reminded him. "It couldn't do damage to any of the malice before Ganon left. The countryside was caked in the evil. I have that same evil inside, Link."
"Substance," Link corrected her.
Evil substance. "Please go and look for a shrine, Link," she told him. He seemed to catch on to what she was doing though.
He shook his head. He wouldn't go now. "Purah. Impa. Zelda."
Yes. "The last ones left besides you, I know." She looked toward her hands. "Relics of a lost time, we aren't needed for you to have a happy future." No budging. "You can grow now. Start again. You can explore the world, the whole of the worlds to your heart's content. Discover new places, maybe find a new career you like." Nope. "I can't change my fate. Purah will outlast us all. You can visit her, stay in touch."
No. Link wanted the same thing she wanted. A connection to 'home'. Three people he had known before the Great Calamity were still alive, while no one else knew of their troubles. The uniform he once wore was an antique almost next to nothing in price in Hateno. When she was gone, he would be down to two. Then he would lose Impa soon at her age. He had Robbie, but . . . he didn't know him. Purah and Link.
They would be the last ones. "The malice isn't bad, Link, inside of me. It's safe to touch. But. Hyrule, it won't . . . it would never let this go." There was only one choice left. The future of Hyrule was more important than her life. "I must go to Zora's Domain." Link didn't look at her kindly. "I need to talk to King Dorephan."
Link nodded, not quite knowing what to expect.
Link was a loyal knight at heart. No matter what.
He took her to Zora's Domain.
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Zora's Domain
"No way would it work, she's already got her arms around another guy!"
Zelda turned and looked at who spoke. There was some water between her and the true ground away from the shrine. It shouldn't take very long to get over there. She noticed a small crowd forming. They no doubt heard the rumors too. "Hello. May I please have a word with King Dorephan?" The ladies weren't giving her the kindest looks, but Link seemed to know the way. He left the shrine and guided her up some stairs. She needed permission to be in Zora's domain if she was going to simply show up within it so quickly. She should be able to make some kind of deal with King Dorephan. As she reached the top with Link right behind her, she heard his mighty voice address her. She greeted him with a smile. Yes, it shouldn't be too hard.
She curtsied toward him, but did not lower her head. "Greetings, King Dorephan. I'm sorry to intrude on you. I wish to ask a favor?"
"Princess, no, Queen! Queen Zelda!" He laughed triumphantly. "Hello! No, please, stay as long as you like."
"I won't wear out the welcome. I wish to get an injury sealed, but first I would like to talk to you about something important," Zelda said. "I seem to have the sunfly that won't go away during the day." He looked at her oddly. "Eager gossip mongers." A hundred years might be too old for him to remember the sayings. "Journalists writing articles over each other about me and others I've met to make a name for themselves." Ah, that seemed to meet with some reasoning. "I wanted to come by to tell you that I am sorry if, during this time of a hunt against me, that anyone in your kingdom gets pulled into speculation. Several people have been pulled through many articles already."
"Ah yes, I remember. Yes," he admitted. "Still? Sidon is a wonderful son of mine, and even through a hunting, one cannot forget important details included in it." King Dorephan kept his focus on her. "I know the perfect healer for you. I'll send for him right away to fetch her."
That was not the response she was looking for. He seemed to be swayed by the article too. Link stayed close beside her as Prince Sidon came up the steps. As usual, he had a smile on his face.
"So you have had some trouble on the way here and need some healing?" He asked. "Look no further." He indicated a pink Zora next to him. Not happy looking. "Well? Perhaps so," he teased. "She is not the same as Mipha. No one is, her powers were legendary, but if you permit a one night stay in the domain, this healing Zora should have you well enough to move back on your journey."
"Thank you for your hospitality," she said. "If there is anything I can do for the Zora's to show my thanks, don't hesitate to ask."
"Oh, I am very sure we won't," the healer answered back.
As they headed down though, Zelda knew the decision she had to make. She wouldn't be able to hold it back much longer. She went to the hotel, paid a fee for herself and Link paid for his own bed, intent on staying with her by her side. Of course. He was worried.
"Okay, where's the injury?" The healer asked bitterly. "Come on."
"It is in a sensitive, private spot on a Hylian," she answered. She noticed Link then turn around. "Link, could you ask the King if we could talk in private later with him?" Normally, Link wouldn't fall for that trick, but he understood it was to attain some privacy better.
After Link went upward, Zelda got off the bed. "I will be back, I am going to meditate on my powers before I see this through." The healer was a little stupefied but didn't much care either.
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Ploymus Mountain
"I was running out of time." Link may have made a fuss when she tried to climb a mountain for rushrooms, but climbing was a part of life. As well as this. She wouldn't put Link into danger again for something like this. Neither Brigdo, Hino, or Nekk either. None of them.
She took her top layer of clothes off as well as the bottom. With only a thin shirt and shorts to keep her warm through the cold, she proceeded to shred her garments. She left them up near the Lynel that was rumored to be up there and slipped away.
There was only one more place left to find, and whether it would be shelter or her ultimate end, she had reached a point that she had to risk it.
Time was running out. Time was almost over.
And Link would not get involved this time. He had a second chance, and she'd make sure he took it.