Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

[SHEIKAH SLATE OPENS]

ZELDA

Testing, Testing… Alright, I think it's working.

[SHUFFLING PAPERS, CHAIR CREAKS]

Ahem - This is Zelda Bosphoramus speaking, Head Archivist and Scholar of the Hyrule Institute. The Hyrule Institute researches the paranormal events of the history of Hyrule, from the dawn of the kingdom to present phenomena. It is my job to organize our physical records into our new Sheikah Slate, as a means of preserving them. 

The Head of the Hyrule Institute is my father, Rhoam Bosphoramus. He’s worked here since the death of my mother, though I know he finds it…an unproductive institution. It was her greatest passion, he always said - after me. So, he keeps it open in her memory.

I’ve practically been raised in this building, and worked here since I was old enough to do so. I was recently promoted to the position of Head Archivist, much to the chagrin of my father, who believes I could be doing something more important than ‘reading paranoid nonsense all day’ - his words, not mine. 

I believe these statements are crucial to understanding our past, present, and even our future. By researching the dark experiences of the Hyrulean people, we can learn more about whatever dangers arise in the future. Then, perhaps we will be prepared to meet them.

[ZELDA PAUSES, TAPPING HER FINGER AGAINST HER CHIN]

Lets see, what else - oh! My colleagues, of course.

I have four assistants - ugh, no, five now. They help me by collecting statements, as well as gathering evidence and artifacts into our archive for research.

Urbosa I’ve known the longest. She was a dear friend of my mother, and we would often visit her in Gerudo Town. I’m honestly surprised this position didn’t go to her. But she’s very happy for me, and told me she hadn't seen me so eager like this in a long time. I must say, I am excited to take on the challenge. I’m ever grateful to have her support. 

Then there’s Daruk, a very friendly Goron man who’s only been here a few months, or so. Nevertheless, he is committed to doing his work with a positive attitude. He gets along very well with everyone, and I get the feeling he’d defend us all from danger in an instant. He’s a little loud and boisterous, but his optimism is crucial in an institute like this. For that I admire him deeply.

Mipha is a very sweet young woman. She used to be a nurse, according to her records. I haven't seen it myself, but I’m told she’s a very talented healer. I often wonder why she came to work with us all those years ago, but she’s a good assistant. Quiet, maybe, but endlessly kind. Honestly, for someone so timid, I am impressed she is able to handle the more gruesome statements. Perhaps it is her experience in the medical field. Anyway, she’s a calming presence to be around.

Revali’s worked here about as long as Mipha. I actually did know him at school, though not very well. He was a top athlete in archery and the best flier the school has ever seen. The reason I know this is simply that he won’t let anyone forget it. He’s very prideful, I’ll be honest, but not without reason. His work for us is impeccable, after all. Though I do think his competitive side sometimes gets the best of him, he’s the most reliable of the group.

And lastly, our newest employee - Link. I swear, my father only sent him to the archives to keep an eye on me. He was a security guard on the top floor, for goodness sake! Now, his job is to accompany my other assistants on their research tasks and guard the archives throughout the day.

Unfortunately that means he also follows me everywhere. Goddess, I can’t stand it. And he won’t even talk to me! 

[ZELDA PAUSES BRIEFLY]

Well, he doesn’t really talk to anybody, to be fair. He’s Deaf, and he can speak, but I believe for the most part he chooses not to. Which isn’t a problem of course, I am fluent in seven languages, including Hylian Sign Language. Despite this, the only person he signs with frequently is Mipha. I can’t get a read on him…

[ZELDA SIGHS, FRUSTRATED]

I’m getting off topic. I believe that’s more than anyone needs to know about my role and the roles of my colleagues in the Hyrule Institute Archives, so I’ll get on with my actual job.

[ZELDA AHEMS AND PULLS OUT A FEW PAPERS AND TAPS THEM ON THE DESK]

Statement of Izra Tule, regarding a gardener at the Floret Sandbar in West Necluda. Original statement found in the personal writings of Izra Tule, estimated to be written about 500 years ago. Sheikah Slate recording by the Head Archivist of the Hyrule Institute, Zelda Bosphoramus. Statement begins.

ZELDA (STATEMENT)

The first time I met the flower keeper was an accident.

I used to spend a lot of my spare time at the docks by the stables. It’s a lovely view, sparkling water, tall green trees, blue sky filled with fluffy clouds. It’s only because I spend my days here so often, admiring the view, that I noticed the garden immediately.

I started calling it the Floret Sandbar. It used to be just a regular sandbar, sandy and dull and flat, right in the middle of the river where it splits into two streams. It was a bit of an eyesore, honestly. 

Then, suddenly, there were flowers - grass, and trees, and bushes too, but most especially flowers. The sandbar had flourished overnight, bright and beautiful and so colorful it was a little hard to look at. The sweet smell of the flowers wafted over the river with wayward petals on the wind. It was gorgeous, but utterly mind boggling.

I was a gardener myself. I didn’t grow flowers, mostly endura carrots and hearty radishes instead, but even I knew flowers don’t bloom overnight. 

It must have been because of this mystery, that one day I set out from the docks on my raft, and sailed towards the garden.

The smell was even stronger up close. It was so overpowering, it began to sting my nose, and my eyes watered. I could hardly breathe the thick, cloying air when I stepped foot on the sandbar.

No one was there when I arrived - this I am sure of. It’s a small spot, and even with the vibrant, distracting hues of the flowers, I knew I was alone. There simply couldn't have been anyone there.

I stepped towards the flowers to admire them. They were in full bloom and attracting bees and butterflies to gather their pollen and drink their nectar. Amoranths and blue nightshades, swift violets and silent princesses, all grew unnaturally tall, taller than any of their variety I had seen before. Some flowers I didn’t even recognize seemed to glow in the sunlight. 

Without thinking, I reached out a hand, gripped the stem of the mysterious flower, and plucked it from its roots.

Maybe, if I had been paying attention, I would have heard the strange crackling sound it made. Noticed the dark liquid dripping from the end, or caught the faint smell of iron amongst the other flowers’ scents. But at the moment, I was instantly distracted by the horrible scream from behind me.

I dropped the flower, and whirled around. There was a woman there, mouth still open in a silent scream, looking for all the world as if I had stabbed her myself. 

“What do you think you are doing to my garden?” she said, clutching her hands to the side of her head.

Now that I look back on it, it was more like she was covering her ears.

I apologized instantly, explaining I had no idea the flowers were hers. She shook her head at me in anguish.

“You must never harm the flowers.” She said, “Oh, how am I going to fix this… “.

I felt terrible, even if her reaction was a bit much for something as small as a picked flower. I tried to calm her, and offered to lend my own tools from home for her.

This actually did seem to help, and she asked if I had a garden too. I told her I did, but she became significantly less interested when she found out it was only fruits and vegetables, not flowers.

Still, she accepted my offer, still clearly distraught over the flower I had picked. In fact, even though I offered the tools, she sort of demanded that I bring them as soon as possible.

“Watch out for the flowers,” She said as I left the garden to return to my raft, “You don’t want to hurt them… do you?”

She sounded so earnest, I paused for a moment, compelled to ask what she meant. It was as though she was talking about living beings, real living beings, like her and me. 

“They are.” she hissed.

I decided to leave it at that, thoroughly creeped out, and still suffering from the overwhelming smell of the flowers. I boarded my raft and took off.

The second time I met the flower keeper, I was bringing my tools to her as I promised. 

Goponga Village sits on an island in the middle of a lake, with plenty of water to spare. When it rains, it rains hard, and it floods quite easily. It rained for a few nights, and flooded the river, covering the bridge that was my usual way to work. I wondered how the Floret Sandbar garden was faring in the weather. And as I did, I heard something.

A gurgle.

It was still raining, so I didn’t think much of it. But it became louder and louder, right outside the window facing my garden. The more I listened, the more gruesome it sounded - like someone choking, drowning in water, trying to breathe, but to no avail. 

Soon, the gurgling turned into crying.

I know I heard it, something sobbing outside my window. I rushed out, expecting to find one of the village children lost in my garden, and when I opened my door, the volume grew tenfold.

No one was in my garden, and the crying had gone from one voice to multiple, all sobbing and choking on nonexistent tears.

Water. Drowning. Dying.

It was the garden. The garden, crying out for help. 

I crouched in the muddy ground and lifted up a fortified pumpkin - it was rotted through, the roots suffocated in the watery dirt without any oxygen for days. The pumpkin wriggled and sobbed in my hands, alive , alive and dying, and I ran in fear.

I locked myself in my house, hoping to drown out the noise. The crying never stopped. The crops wailed and cried out, dying, dying, dying.

When I couldn't take it anymore, I gathered my tools from the shed as quickly as I could. I jumped on my raft and sailed towards the Floret Sandbar.

I guess I thought the woman could help me. She seemed so passionate about her unnatural flowers after all, but as I grew closer, I heard voices again. My heart dropped, but I did not hear the sorrowful cries of dying plants. I heard singing.

Magda. Magda. Magda.

Magda. That must have been her name.

The flowers were even more beautiful than before, with raindrops glittering on their petals like stars. The water didn’t seem to have risen around the banks of the garden at all, even though I knew that was impossible. 

The woman, Magda, was there this time when I arrived, standing in the shallow water of the river, staring at me. Like she’d been waiting.

I climbed off my raft and she said nothing to me, simply walking towards her garden, winding through the complicated path. I took my tools along as I followed her, asking my burning questions as we went.

How did your garden grow so fast? Why can I hear my crops crying? Can you hear them? How do I make it stop?

She smiled at me, as if this was good news, “A good gardener listens,” she said.

I told her I didn’t want to listen, I wanted peace and quiet and not the haunting sounds of drowning plants constantly filling my ears. I got quite angry. I told her it didn't make any sense, the speed and size her flowers had grown, their powerful sweet smell, and their song chanted in harmony.

When I said this, the flowers’ chorus stopped.

Magda’s flowers murmured at me.

Magda. Hungry. Food.

Magda looked at her flowers, then at me. Not wanting to find out what that meant, I turned around and charged out of the garden.

Except I ran right through the garden. The path I had been sure was there before had shifted, and this time, when I crushed the plants beneath my feet, I noticed.

The crystal clear sound of breaking bones. The smell of iron. And when I looked down, streaks of dark blood on the ground where the flowers used to be.

I heard a scream behind me, just as I had before, but I heard it below me, and all around me, Magda and the flowers screaming in anguish.

Killer! Killer! Killer!

“No!” Magda screeched, “They are screaming out in pain - look what you’ve done!”

I stumbled around, trying to find the path that evaded me. More flowers were crushed underfoot, their flesh and bones breaking, blood seeping into my shoes. The garden felt larger than before, the already tall flowers suddenly growing up over my head, blocking my view.

I felt a hand grab my shoulder, and only barely managed to yank it off before I crashed through the edge of the garden. 

I launched myself onto my raft once more and sailed away as fast as I could.

The third time I met the flower keeper, I never intended to.

It had been weeks since I escaped her garden. Weeks since I lent her my tools. And weeks filled with the now screaming voices of my plants.

Without my tools, there was nothing I could do to save my plants. They drowned in the water, dried up during the day, and screamed and screamed and screamed.

My head was ringing every time I escaped the house to go to work. I apologized to one of my neighbors for the noise, who simply looked at me in confusion. They hadn’t heard a thing - though, they did mention they could smell the rotting plants and asked me to at least throw them out.

Somehow, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. When I went outside and tried to rip the plants from the ground and be done with them, they only screamed louder. It was deafening, and I gave up.

I couldn’t take it anymore. I was sure Magda was the one causing this, ever since I stupidly plucked that flower, and recklessly ran through her garden. And somehow, I was sure, if she was gone, I’d never hear the voices of our gardens again.

I snuck over to the Floret Sandbar in the dead of night. All I brought with me was a single torch.

I set sail on my raft down the river, docked at the banks of the sandbar, and stood before the garden. The path was even more twisted and complicated than before. The flowers' colors were vibrant, still glowing under the moonlight, the smell still overpowering and made me want to vomit more than the rotting stench of my own dead garden.

Magda wasn’t here, and the flowers were quiet. I guess I thought they were asleep as I neared the edge of the now towering flowers, several yards above my head, stretching closer to the edge of the sandbar than ever before.

I came close to the garden, when an arm shot out from the shrubbery and grabbed me by the throat. 

Inhuman strength lifted me into the air and I caught sight of Magda’s eyes, reflecting the colors of the flowers all around her. My torch fell to the ground as I clawed at her arms, to no avail.

“Have you come to make up for what you’ve done?” She asked.

I couldn’t have responded if I wanted to, with her fingers closing around my throat, and all I could do was watch as the flowers drooped down to surround me, covering my view of Magda, wrapping around my arms and legs, and swarming around my face.

This close, with the light of my torch hitting them from below, I could see the center of each flower where the petals meet, opening up into dark red maws. Sharp teeth lined the inside, and the flowers grew bigger, and bigger, snapping at me, until they were big enough to swallow my head whole.

I flailed and kicked and screamed with all my might, as thorns dug into my skin, tearing it with my every movement. I was about to die.

It must have been pure luck, that in my flailing, I managed to kick the torch at my feet into the garden.

The fire was instantaneous. The flowers retreated, writhing in the air as they burned. In the middle of it all was Magda, screaming.

She dropped me, as flames caught on her sleeves, but she didn’t care, only turned around to try and cradle the blazing flowers in her hands. 

I stayed on the ground for only a moment, trying to catch my breath and recover from the horrible sight of the living flowers about to eat me alive. I tried to stand once, twice, falling to the ground before finally standing on shaking knees to face Magda one last time.

“I worked… day after day…” She croaked, the smoke coating her lungs and turning her voice into a horrible, grating shout, “to plant these flowers.”

She was engulfed by the flames, kneeling in the destruction of her garden. She was lifting something from the ground - my own shovel. I could feel terror and adrenaline rushing back through my veins as I realized the danger I was in.

The flowers may be dead, but Magda was not.

“Then you come and hurt them… over and over.” 

She started to turn around towards me. I stumbled back to the river, back to my raft, too slow, too overwhelmed by the smoke and fire and fear to see properly.

I barely made it to the shallow water of the river when my own shovel whisked past my ear, splitting my cheek and drawing blood.

It landed in the river, and I reached for it as Magda’s voice came closer.

“I will make you understand… the flowers rage!”

She grabbed my shoulders, nails digging into my back and screamed, pushing me down and pulling me by my legs. I kicked and yelled as she dragged me back towards the flaming garden. 

We came closer, the fire burning my eyes, and I swung.

The shovel hit her in the arm first, and she dropped my leg with a shout. Then I aimed for her knees, slicing through skin as she fell. 

The blood I expected to start gushing from her never came. Instead, it was dirt, soil, spilling from the wound and joining the ground beneath my feet. 

She laughed, despite being scorched, and cut, and bruised. I raised the shovel once more, and stabbed her in the back.

Again.

And again.

And again.

More and more dirt. Eventually she simply laid on the ground, laughing, until the dirt filled her mouth, and she was quiet.

Eventually I could no longer tell if I was hitting her body or the ground beside her, and I had to retreat. I left the shovel. I left the burning garden. And I left Magda.

I realize now she can never truly die. Only join the earth,become the dirt and soil, until she grows again like the flowers in her garden.

I hope that will not be for a long, long time.

ZELDA

Statement ends.

When we originally received this statement, it was of course very fragile because of its age. It was given to us by an archaeology student who wished to remain anonymous, who said they found it while exploring the ruins of Goponga Village. It’s hard to verify many of these statements, especially physical artifacts, but I do have a friend of a friend at the Hateno Ancient Technology Laboratory who confirmed its validity and approximate age.

Given the contents of the statement, I feel it is important to note that this section of Izra’s writings was the only one largely untouched by bugs eating away at the remaining pages. Apparently the rest were completely unsalvageable. I wonder why…

I sent Mipha out with Link to investigate the Floret Sandbar and Goponga Ruins - which, may I say, the etymological implications are astounding - this very well may be evidence of how the title of the Floret Sandbar came to be! 

It’s been a bit of a joke that the Floret Sandbar has such a floral name for something so barren. I fell into a bit of a blupee hole back in college trying to figure out the origin - nearly changed my major because I was so obsessed with it, actually -  but at that point the oldest reference to it was a newspaper clip about a travelling vendor who was on the sandbar looking for Energetic Rhino Beetles, but the sandbar only had Bladed Rhino Beetles and he got so upset he started throwing them at passers-by –

Ah, I’m getting off topic again. Mipha reported that the area is much like Izra described it to be in the beginning, mostly sand and gravel, only with a few sprouts of stubborn grass. No sign of a garden or ancient tools. Disappointing, but not altogether unsurprising. 

The Goponga Ruins did seem to have lots of water damage, and is almost completely overgrown by wildflowers and weeds. Mipha took the Slate with her to take photos, which I am referencing now. One house stands out in particular, overgrown like the others, but the plants around it are all dead and rotting.

If I had to make a guess, I would say this was Izra’s home.

Could the events of this statement be what caused the ruin of Goponga Village? The timeline seems to match up - Goponga was destroyed about 500 years ago, possibly soon after Izra recorded his experience. That event is largely a mystery, but this could be a clue to what happened to them all those years ago. 

I would submit it to local historian groups, but most organizations don’t accept anything from the Hyrule Institute as… reliable information.

[ZELDA SIGHS, FRUSTRATED]

Speaking of unreliable information, there are unfortunately no records of a ‘Magda’ in or around Goponga village at the time of the incidents. The lack of a last name certainly doesn’t help since we can’t try to track down any distant relatives for more information. As far as our research shows, this is the only instance of any record of Magda the flower keeper.

Magda’s appearance in this statement is hardly believable either. A woman with dirt instead of blood, raising a garden with flesh and bones and an appetite for living beings, apparently. I wouldn’t even know where to begin researching something like that, outside of our very own archive. And with so many statements to go through, that task seems nearly impossible.

As for Izra Tule, he has no direct descendants either. His records show he died in the ruin of Goponga along with the majority of the village. We’ve found a few people with the surname ‘Tule’ that I sent Daruk to interview, but with no luck. 

That’s all the information our research provided on the case, but if any more evidence is found, I will record it myself and add it to the file. I wish I could do more, perhaps go out and investigate the sandbar myself…

[ZELDA SIGHS]

But no, I trust Mipha’s work. That’s all there is.

[ZELDA HUMS, DISAPPOINTED, LIKE SHE DOESN’T WANT TO END THE RECORDING]

Well, with that - 

[THE CHAIR CREAKS AS SHE SHIFTS]

Recording ends.

[SHEIKAH SLATE CLOSES]

Chapter Text

[SHEIKAH SLATE OPENS]

ZELDA

Statement of Dr. Calip, regarding his research into an ancient weapon buried at Fort Hateno. Original statement given 23 years ago. Sheikah Slate recording by the Head Archivist of the Hyrule Institute, Zelda Bosphoramus. Statement begins.

ZELDA (STATEMENT)

My name is Dr. Calip.

I’ve spent my entire life researching the relics of the ancient past. It was always my dream to make a great discovery, to write my name down in history, to be known and praised by the world for my achievements. I’ve worked harder than anyone to understand the past - I’m sure an institution like yours knows what I mean.

This discovery, however, I have never told anyone. Until now. 

Around 50 years ago now, I was part of a team of researchers at the ruins of Fort Hateno. We had been called upon by the Hyrulean Army to uncover an ancient weapon built by the Sheikah tribes over 10,000 years ago, though records show they were rediscovered and brought to Fort Hateno about 500 years ago. Now, it was our job to retrieve them again.

I was quite young at the time. I had just turned 20, and was utterly convinced this would be my moment to shine, to bring back these ancient technologies and use them to protect us in the here and now. 

I was cocky and arrogant, I’ll admit. Even with a large team of researchers to rely on, I was only interested in working by myself. I wanted it to be my name in every household, and my name alone.

We scanned the grounds, preparing to dig where we thought the ancient weaponry may be, all while coordinating with Hateno historians to not disturb the ruins, which deeply annoyed me. I only saw them as getting in the way of my work.

We stayed in trailers not too far from the site. I would stay up day and night researching the weapons we were looking for. There was so little information about them, it was hard to know what we were looking for at all. 

A few weeks into the search and I was getting frustrated that my great, historical success was not simply falling into my hands as easily as I had expected. We had dug hole after hole and found nothing, and we were running out of ground. The historians were annoyed, the Army was breathing down our necks for results, and one night, everything went wrong.

I started noticing strange behaviour from one of the researchers - Lecia, a Sheikah woman. At the beginning of the search, she was eager and very knowledgeable about what we were looking for. But as the weeks passed, and everyone became more desperate to find the thing, she became closed off and jumpy, disengaging from the search as much as she could. She seemed like she couldn’t wait for the search to finally be declared a failure and for all of us to be sent home.

I was immediately suspicious. Why was one of our smartest researchers suddenly so hesitant to get the job done? I tried confronting her about it on multiple occasions, but she started avoiding me. 

It made my blood boil . Not only did I believe she was jeopardizing our research, I hated the idea of vital information being kept from me. 

Eventually, I’d had enough. I saw her behind her trailer sometimes, late at night, scribbling in a journal she hid in the hollow of a fallen tree trunk. I could tell it was a personal diary, rather than one of the journals provided for us to record our findings, and I was absolutely certain she was hiding something from us.

I waited until she left, which was difficult due to how often she spent her time there, avoiding the other researchers. When the time was right, I snuck behind the trailers, pulled out the diary, and started to read.

My memory isn’t what it used to be, and I can’t recall it word for word, but what I found in that diary, I’ll never truly forget.

In earlier entries, she gushed about how excited she was to be part of the team, to be studying the ancient Sheikah technology she had grown up hearing about in myths and legends, passed down by her family for generations. She wasn’t sure what device it was yet, but she believed her experience as a Sheikah would be valuable to the search.

Then, after a few more entries, she became worried. She said her findings ‘concerned her’, that the shards of metal we had excavated were corrupt. The metal was warped, the wiring fried, and the chunks of glowing accents that were meant to be orange were pink.

She wrote that these things could have been a product of its age and poor preservation, but I believe she was only trying to convince herself.

The last few entries were the most damning and confirmed my suspicion of her. Lecia had been in charge of one of the dig sites around the Ash Swamp, and as they dug deeper, she heard a faint, muffled song. Despite it being so difficult to hear, she states that it gave her an intense feeling of anxiety. She asked the other researchers if they could hear it, and they couldn’t. 

She ordered the other researchers to different sites, leaving her alone at the bottom of the deepest pit in the Fort. She dug with her hands, the faint music rumbling beneath her hands, until she hit something. 

She cleared the dirt away, and a blank, black orb was revealed, embedded in intricate stone carvings part of a much, much bigger object. 

She brushed away the last of the dirt to see her own reflection in the orb, when tt lit up in a spiraling, pink light.

The music became deafening.

Lecia writes that she cried out, but couldn’t hear her own voice over the pounding music, reverberating on the walls of the pit and giving her a headache. The orb, the eye of the weapon, swung and rolled in its socket. When Lecia managed to regain her focus, she saw a bright red laser coming from the eye, pointed straight at her heart.

Lecia jumped up and kicked the dirt back over the eye, music still ringing in her ears, and the laser disappeared as the eye was covered. Without wasting a moment, Lecia climbed out of the pit.

She writes that her heartbeat hasn’t calmed down since, and that now every time she comes too close to the pit, the music would start again in an instant, loud and terrifying.

She knew what it was, now. A Guardian.

The Sheikah apparently created the Guardians for the Hyrulean Royal Family thousands of years ago, but the creatures ignored their coding and turned against them, killing hundreds. They were buried, never to be used again for the safety of all of Hyrule. Lecia wrote that she believed the Guardian must not be dug up, and that she would do her best to keep it a secret from the other researchers, and warn the elders of the Sheikah Tribe about what she had found.

Once I finished reading, I regret to say that I didn’t believe a word of her warnings. I had already decided at that point that she was a traitor, she was trying to keep this historical discovery to herself, and that she was planting this record to scare anyone who found it away from the site. 

I was angrier than I had ever been in my life. So angry, that I didn’t notice night had fallen by the time I had finished reading, and that Lecia had returned to her spot behind the trailer, catching me with her diary in my hands.

Without saying a word, I threw the book at her feet and headed towards the pit.

She came running and screaming after me when she realized what I was doing. I’m surprised it didn’t wake up the other researchers as she yelled at me to understand how dangerous the Guardian was, that it would kill us all, that the glory of the discovery wasn’t worth the consequences.

I, foolishly, disagreed.

She tried to pull me away from the pit in the Ash Swamp, but she wouldn’t descend into the site after me, frozen with fear, but still calling out for me to run. I ignored her.

Like her, I dug with my hands. I wouldn’t admit it at the time, but I could hear something faint, music like, there at the bottom of the pit. I brushed it off as my imagination, running wild with what Lecia had written. Very soon, my fingernails scratched against something, and throwing all caution to the wind, I began to dig with even more fervor.

I wiped the dirt off of the stone body of the Guardian, running my hands along the twisted patterns leading me to the socket, until I found the eye. It was black, just as she wrote, but as I grinned deliriously at my own reflection in the dark orb, believing I had finally made my famous discovery, the eye blinked to life.

This is when I truly heard - no, felt - the music for the first time.

It rumbled up through the ground, and I could feel the powerful vibrations running up my fingers, pounding into my skull and making my teeth chatter. It seized my heart in an instant, adrenaline running through me, panic coursing through my veins, as I finally came crashing back into reality. 

When the laser appeared, aiming for my eyes, I barely managed to jump to my feet and run.

I should have kicked the dirt back over the eye like Lecia had, because once the Guardian was targeted at me, it didn’t let me leave its sight. The ground shook even more as six, spider-like robotic legs burst from the ground, swinging wildly. Then, it planted its clawed feet into the ground to push the Guardian’s body out of the dirt. 

I didn’t look back, I just climbed and ran and ducked behind piles of dirt and tools to try and escape the eye of the Guardian. When I reached the top, Lecia was still there, frozen with fear. I started to yell at her - I don’t even remember what I was saying, in my panic - but it didn’t matter anyway. The music was so loud, it drowned out everything I said. 

She didn’t move until the Guardian’s massive head rose from the pit, the legs twisting upwards to pull itself up to its full height, towering above us. The eye was pointed right at me, and I felt frozen in place. It was all I could see. I was certain, this is where I would die.

At the last moment, I saw a rock go flying at the Guardian’s eye, cracking it with a burst of white light. It burned my eyes and I was finally able to look away, seeing Lecia with her arm outstretched, another rock in her hand.

The laser suddenly switched to her. Lecia hit it again, then shouted to me.

“Calip!” she yelled, “Hit it! Distract it! Do something!”

I could only watch.

I watched Lecia look back and forth between me and the creature, throwing rocks desperately as they ricocheted uselessly off of the Guardian’s metal body. I watched her backing away, the Guardian advancing forwards, I watched her stare into the Guardian’s eyes when - 

A burning white blast streaked from the orb. In a millisecond, it hit Lecia in the chest, and I watched her disintegrate into pink dust. 

Gone.

I watched the Guardian’s vibrant glow fade, its target eliminated. When its massive head began to twist, searching for a new enemy, I took off to the trailers and hid.

When everyone realized Lecia had gone missing that morning, I didn’t say anything. I was too distracted by the Guardian crawling around the site in broad daylight, though no one else seemed to see it.

I avoided it’s eyes. As I observed it from afar, usually from the safety of my own trailer, I watched it crawl directly over my fellow researchers, laser activated, before wandering off again when they didn’t react. It was looking for people who could see it - people like me.

I heard the tune constantly , warning me when the Guardian was coming close. It haunted me in my dreams. Every night, I would dig, and see Lecia’s face buried beneath the dirt where the Guardian should have been. Then, the music would swell, and I’d turn my head, and the Guardian would be towering above me, eye alight. 

After Lecia’s disappearance, the search was called off. I should have felt relieved, as we packed up our tools and our findings. But I could see the Guardian, and it was still digging.

Every day it would dig, and dig, with its massive razor sharp claws. Every day, it would find what it was looking for - more Guardians.

It was nearly impossible to avoid them. Everywhere I walked, I had to wind through their spider-like legs, hear the whirring of their mechanical movements, and talk to the other researchers as if there wasn’t a massive killer robot standing right behind them.

On the last night before we were all set to leave, twenty Guardians were swarming the area. That night, I woke up to the sound of music.

It was dark, but I could hear the tune, clear as day. The Guardians were marching around the trailers.

I could see the light of one of the Guardian’s eyes shining through the window on my door. I silently thanked Hylia I had closed the curtains that night. I watched, hardly breathing, as the Guardian paused. It felt like eons before it crawled away again. I laid frozen in my bed waiting for the music to fade into nothingness.

For a while, it seemed like I was safe. Like I would make it through the night, and leave with the rest of the researchers, and never have to see a damn Guardian again.

And yet.

I’m a researcher. I ache to know, to learn, to see. And despite all logic telling me to stay still, I was overcome with a fatal curiosity. I had to know for sure that the Guardians had passed me by.

I found myself sitting up, then standing from my bed, and slowly creeping towards the door. My hands barely hesitated, before tugging the curtain to the side ever so slightly.

Nothing.

I was… safe.

It was ridiculous to feel disappointed at such a moment. The Guardians had dispersed, probably to go dig up more holes, which meant they weren't looking for me. But then… why could I still hear the music?

The trailer lurched. I stumbled, pulling the curtain back even further as a Guardian’s head dropped from above, legs wrapped around the roof of the trailer. 

My heart leaped into my throat. The Guardian’s eye looked straight into mine. A laser found its way to my forehead.

I was dizzy with fear, but kept looking straight ahead even as I wobbled on weak legs. I was scared if I moved away from the door, the Guardian would know I could see it. So, my best idea at the moment was to subvert it’s expectations.

I opened the door.

The Guardian barely nudged it’s head back as I stepped out of the trailer so that we wouldn’t collide. It kept it’s laser pointed at me as I walked further into the night.

Hylia what was I doing? I had nowhere to go - should I go back to the trailer? But the Guardian’s legs, now gripping the side of the trailer as it followed me, were blocking the door.

I heard the other Guardians song getting louder. I had to leave.

So I started walking. Down the dirt road. Past the dig sites. I passed the other Guardians as I went, and they would swivel their heads to watch me. Soon, I had twenty lasers pointed at my eyes, my heart, my neck, my back. The music drowned out the sounds of the night.

The gates of Fort Hateno were in sight. All I had to do was walk through, and I’d be free - I could hike to Hateno Village, rent a room, and escape for good.

Something stopped me. Right before the exit, I froze, stiff as a board, as the inescapable urge to look behind me suddenly gripped me.

I started to turn my head. Started to see the glowing pink out of the corner of my eye. Started taking a step backwards, and another, and another - 

I squeezed my eyes shut at the very last second. In the darkness, I heard the Guardians shuffle around me. Completely blind, I began to walk forward again.

The music faded. The Guardians did not follow. 

I wish I could say that was the last time I heard them.

There are hundreds of Guardians now, stationed on top of buildings, or flying through the sky above, but most crawl like spiders, swarming the streets. I hear them first, and see them poking their heads through windows, shoving their arms through doors, swiping at completely unaware citizens of Hyrule. 

Every day I play the same terrible game I did 50 years ago, closing my eyes and walking into the darkness, where the Guardians can’t find me.

I don’t know how I’ve managed to survive this long. I’m old now, I don’t have much time left. I can only hope I’m lucky enough not to die the way Lecia did.

But, if I must die, I can’t do it without telling somebody. Anybody.

I believe reading Lecia’s journal gave me the ability to see and hear the Guardians. And I fear anyone who reads this statement in the future will have the same curse. 

I’m sorry for not warning you, before I came in here, before you agreed to take my statement. You seem like a lovely woman. I hate to do this to you.

I guess I still want my name to go down in history. Even if it means I destroy another life.

My advice to you - Look away. Listen close. Do not let them know you can see them.

ZELDA

Statement ends.

Looking into Dr. Calip’s records, he was an accomplished archaeologist, historian, and researcher. When he wasn’t excavating, he was a professor, and even worked at the Hyrule Museum for a short time.

I used to go there often as a child. The ancient artifacts absolutely fascinated me, especially those of the Sheikah that he mentioned in his statement. I was certain I would be an archaeologist myself, when I grew up. Though, I don’t recall any information about the Guardians in the museum. According to his statement, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.

Perhaps I should ask Purah about this - she’s a good friend of mine, and an expert on ancient Sheikah technology. But if she doesn’t know about this… creature… it may be wiser not to tell anyone.

Anyway, I did find something quite interesting about Lecia - there was a short investigation into her disappearance, now over 60 years ago. It was dropped due to lack of evidence, as well as the sudden disappearance of multiple investigators on the case. When I reached out to living relatives of Lecia, they declined to speak with me. I can’t blame them, I suppose. 

We also discovered Dr. Calip unfortunately passed away rather recently under mysterious circumstances. We did manage to track down a living relative - his husband Tauro. 

I interviewed Tauro myself, at his home in Kakariko. He’s an older gentleman, but despite his age he was quite upbeat and friendly. He greeted me warmly and welcomed me into his home.

He told me he knew something weighed on his late husband all his life. He was chronically anxious and stressed, which caused him to show his age rather rapidly. His hair fell out, he had constant tremors and insomnia every night. Then, a few years ago, Tauro came home to an empty house. Dr. Calip was never seen again.

Tauro told me he tried his best to get Calip to talk to him about his past, but he never would. He even asked me to tell him what was in the statement, if there was anything that could reveal what had happened to him in the end. Even if I could have told him, I wouldn’t - Dr. Calip clearly believed it would endanger others if they knew, and I couldn’t do that to his husband.

When I told Tauro we had to maintain client confidentiality, even after death, he seemed to understand. Still, he politely told me it was about time I left. Not wanting to upset him further, I did.

[ZELDA IS QUIET FOR A MOMENT - A CLOCK CAN BE HEARD TICKING FAINTLY IN THE BACKGROUND]

The, um. The original statement is a transcription, taken when Dr. Calip came to us all those years ago. We have an office where clients can give us their statements on paper. It is noted that Dr. Calip’s hands were too shaky to write the statement himself, so one of our employees did it for him.

According to the name at the top… it was taken by my mother.

I can only assume that was the ‘lovely woman’ Dr. Calip addressed at the very end. And, with his warning…

[ZELDA SIGHS]

My father always said… my mother could see things other people couldn’t. That she had a sort of sense, or, or power , that kept us all safe, that drove away all the supernatural dangers surrounding us in this Institute. I didn’t think he meant it literally, but…

23 years ago, when this statement was taken, I was only four years old. My mother would die two years later. We never knew what happened to her.

[ZELDA AUDIBLY RESTS HER HEAD IN HER HANDS, RUBBING AT HER TEMPLE]

I’m… speculating. There’s not enough evidence to… I’m just thinking aloud. Trying to wrap my head around this.

[ZELDA TAKES A DEEP BREATH, HOLDS IT, AND LETS IT OUT SLOWLY]

Recording ends.

[SHEIKAH SLATE CLOSES]

[SHEIKAH SLATE OPENS]

[CRICKETS CAN BE HEARD OUTSIDE - IT IS MUCH LATER THAN BEFORE. THE CLOCK STRIKES TWELVE]

ZELDA  

[VOICE MUFFLED]

Yes, Link, I’m leaving, I just need to grab my–

[THE DOOR OPENS AND ZELDA'S VOICE IS CLEAR AGAIN, AND SHE SIGNS AS SHE SPEAKS]

– coat, and things –

[MUTTERING, NO LONGER SIGNING]

– Hylia, he’s annoying.

[ZELDA SHUFFLES THROUGH HER DESK]

[A FAINT TUNE FADES IN. ZELDA PAUSES]

[THE DOOR OPENS AGAIN AS LINK WALKS IN. THE MUSIC STOPS]

ZELDA

[WHILE SIGNING]

Did you hear…

[ZELDA'S VOICE TRAILS OFF]

LINK 

[SIGNING]

Hear what?

ZELDA

Nevermind, it was nothing, don’t worry about it. I’m going - oh, why is this on?

[SHEIKAH SLATE CLOSES]

Chapter Text

[SHEIKAH SLATE OPENS]

[ZELDA IS MUMBLING UNDER HER BREATH WHILE RESEARCHING A CASE. THE DOOR CREAKS OPEN AND ZELDA SHIFTS TO LOOK UP WITH A CURIOUS HUM]

URBOSA

I hope I’m not interrupting.

ZELDA

Urbosa! Not at all, please come in.

[URBOSA HAS ALREADY MADE HER WAY IN AND SAT AT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DESK]

I thought today was your day off? Is something wrong?

[URBOSA CHUCKLES]

URBOSA

Of course not, little bird. You worry too much. I’m here to give my statement.

ZELDA

Your… your statement?

URBOSA

That’s what we do here, isn’t it?

ZELDA

Well yes, but… why?

[URBOSA HUMS]

URBOSA

It was about time. I couldn’t keep this secret to myself forever. And now that you are our Head Archivist, there’s no one else I would trust more with my statement. I know it’ll be in good hands.

That, and I believe I have information that would greatly aid in your work for the Institute. I know how important this job is to you, Zelda - like you always say, by understanding the darkness of the past, we will be prepared to meet it in the future, right?

ZELDA

Yes! I just hope you don’t feel as though you have to –

URBOSA

Ha! Believe me, nothing and no one can pressure me into anything. I’m here because I’ve made up my mind, and nothing can change it. Not even you, little bird.

[ZELDA LAUGHS QUIETLY]

URBOSA

Now then, shall we get started?

ZELDA

Yes, just let me - oh, it’s already on. Perfect.

Statement of Urbosa Naboris, regarding…?

URBOSA

The Yiga Clan.

ZELDA

– regarding her experience with the Yiga Clan. Recorded directly from subject. Statement begins.

URBOSA (STATEMENT)

Your mother and I were friends almost our entire lives. She and I did everything together. We both knew there were strange entities living amongst us in Hyrule, and wanted to do something about it. She wanted to understand the dark, and I wanted to protect the ones I loved from it. So when she invited me to join her working at the Hyrule Institute as a researcher, I accepted her proposal without hesitation. 

Your father despised the idea. He was only being protective, but he argued with your mother for hours about working for the Institute. She had already been working there for a few years, but she had just gotten pregnant with you when I joined her. It made your father very uneasy. I can’t say I blamed him.

I swore to look after her, and keep her safe. I didn’t change his mind about our work, I’m sure, but nothing could have stopped your mother from the pursuit of knowledge anyway.

This was our first case together. An ancient artifact of the Gerudo had been handed over to the Institute, along with a statement about an ancient cult called the Yiga Clan who had stolen it thousands of years ago. It was our job to do more research into the object, interview possible connections to the statement, and record it all. Most importantly, we had to keep the object safe.

The artifact was called the Thunder Helm, a beautiful piece of ancient Gerudo work. I recognized the style and craftsmanship of my hometown immediately. It was made of shimmering gold, with six lightning blue gems embedded in the face of the mask, and a halo of gold lightning bolts on the back. 

I took this task deadly seriously, proud to be studying and preserving the work of my people. I ensured it was packaged and preserved properly in the archives, and besides myself, your mother was the only one who had access to it. 

I decided our regular researchers wouldn’t do a sufficient job working with the Helm, without more personal experience with Gerudo history, so I managed to connect with a Gerudo-run laboratory from my hometown to do more physical examinations of the object. It was only because I knew the work of these historians to be practiced, efficient, and trustworthy, that I chose them to study the Thunder Helm. Still, I delivered it to the lab myself, and your mother joined me.

I should have known something was wrong right away. The drive was long, but of course I knew it by heart. The closer we got to our destination, the more difficult it was to find the laboratory.  We drove around for almost an entire extra hour, turning around over and over. It made no sense. Despite knowing the way by heart, I would suddenly end up on new streets, heading in the wrong direction. It felt wrong to be lost in the very town I grew up in. 

I was nearing my wits end, but refused to turn around and go back to the Institute empty handed. As we once again turned onto a street that shouldn’t have been anywhere near us, I saw a small, dark road splitting in the opposite direction. It most certainly was not where we were meant to go, but since going the right way hadn’t been working, I made the split second decision to flip us around and go straight through the new path. 

Your mother asked where I was going, but before I could answer, we found ourselves at the laboratory. I was frustrated, but didn’t question it as we got out of the car and entered the building.

Inside was a regular foyer with a desk to sign in, two bowls of bananas on either side. We spoke to the receptionist, who told us we weren’t showing up on the schedule. I insisted we had an appointment with the researchers, and your mother showed her the emails we had sent back and forth with the laboratory staff. 

She was telling us we would need to make another appointment, when Head Researcher Rotana walked in and apologized for the inconvenience. The receptionist looked surprised, but said nothing as we walked further into the building.

Rotana led the way to their laboratory full of equipment. Just like the streets, the building felt like a maze.

Two more researchers were already there when we arrived, looking at us warily. I assumed it was because of the reputation of the Thunder Helm itself, or even the Institute, making them hesitant to work with us. However, they quickly tried to take the Helm off our hands and told us they’d return it to us in a week’s time.

 Your mother quickly explained to them that due to its paranormal nature and our experience as paranormal investigators, it was within the policy of the Institute that we stayed with the item to view any reactions the Helm had. 

That was the second thing that made me suspicious. I had already looked into the protocols of the laboratory prior to our visit, and our presence in the lab shouldn’t have been an issue. They should have known we would be surveying the studies, and were even prepared for us, even if all we did was view their work from another room. 

I was adamant that we stayed, and eventually Rotana allowed us to join them for their research, but not before shooting a glance at the other two team members. 

Your mother and I donned the proper protective gear, and finally allowed the Thunder Helm to be removed from its box to be studied.

I was watching the researchers very, very closely. I was damn near grabbing the Helm back myself after how strange the group had been acting. But, your mother felt it to be of the utmost importance that we understand the properties of the Thunder Helm, and leave it to the experts. So, still on guard, I allowed it.

The researchers didn’t talk to us much. Your mother was bright and curious, and tried discussing the characteristics and history of the Helm multiple times, but Rotana would quickly shut it down or change the subject. The other two researchers didn’t even acknowledge her, focused solely on the Helm as they poked and prodded it. They didn't even look like they knew what they were doing. 

One researcher lifted it up, sticking a gloved hand inside to feel around the edges. Immediately, I felt my hair stand on end, static electricity coursing all around us. Your mother noticed it too. The fluorescent lights flickered from above, drawing my attention away for a mere second as I looked up.

I would have missed it if not for that flickering light. A slowly growing patch of blood seeping from an off-center panel on the ceiling. A single drop fell and landed on my cheek.

With a shout, I pulled your mother back, keeping my eyes on the ceiling. The lights flickered and crackled again, and the panel dropped from the ceiling.

Three heavy objects smacked against the floor. I didn’t know what I was looking at, until the dust cleared and I saw Rotana’s unmoving body atop the pile.

Three bodies had dropped from the ceiling. Three bodies, identical to the three researchers in front of us.

Rotana and the researchers looked up slowly from their intense focus on the Thunder Helm. They stared at us eerily, and I finally noticed the uncanny look the three of them had. The light’s went out, plunging us into darkness.

Your mother gripped my hand in the pitch black. I heard the sound of metal on metal, and the lights flickered briefly to life once more - bathing the trio in green light just long enough for me to see them lunging at me with sharp, curved blades.

The lights went out not even a second later, and I was barely able to dodge the attack. I heard the sound of the blade slicing through the air directly in front of me. I’m sure it was mere inches from slashing across my face. 

Your mother tugged at my hand and ran, but we only got so far before I remembered the Thunder Helm. I stopped cold and tried to turn back to get it, when the lights came back on.

It was momentarily blinding, but when my eyes adjusted to the light, the attacker who had been moments from killing me was gone. The bodies were missing. And the Thunder Helm was nowhere to be seen.

I was overcome by anger. Not only was the artifact I had sworn to protect gone, but three Gerudo had been murdered, their bodies and faces stolen by these murderers. 

I was so blinded by rage, that when your mother reached for my arm, I shoved her back. 

It didn’t take long for me to realize what I had done, hurting my friend while she was in such a vulnerable state, carrying her precious daughter, and my anger melted away into regret. I apologized immediately, but felt so terrible that I couldn't forgive myself.

Your mother told me it wasn’t my fault, but I could tell she was shaken. She told me this was the effect the Thunder Helm had on people, according to her research. It granted incredible power, but left uncontrollable rage in the hearts of those in its presence, until they died from it. I was still ashamed it had gotten to me. I was a fighter, but I would never turn on those I swore to protect.

We went back to the institute empty handed. That was only the beginning

I couldn’t forget what had happened that day. It left me feeling restless at work, haunted by my failure and my spontaneous violence. I dove into research about the Thunder Helm, which led me to the Yiga Clan, a cult of shapeshifters. These were the people who had taken the lives and identities of the Gerudo lab researchers.

 I was even more alert than before. I was suspicious of everyone who entered the Institute, afraid they had been replaced by someone else. My temper flared more than ever before. I wouldn’t let anyone close to your mother. She and I got into a lot of arguments at that time. All of them were instigated by me, and I hated it. I felt completely out of control.

One month passed, when I saw the Yiga Clan again.

I guess they thought they were funny, taking the form of your mother. I had just left the Institute after she refused to leave at a reasonable time - something I can tell she passed on to you, Zelda - which is how I knew she couldn’t have been standing across the street, smiling at me with a wave of her hand, beckoning me to come closer.

The dead body of Rotana flashed through my mind.

The smart thing to do would have been to turn back and try to find your mother. I had just left her - I should have realized they couldn’t have killed her in those few moments I left her alone. But all at once that rage returned, even worse than before. I was overcome by the thought that I had failed to protect both your mother and her unborn child. The disguised Yiga turned on her heel, and I ran after her.

She wove through the streets, and I noticed again the way the roads would twist and turn in ways they shouldn’t have, running in circles, just as they had in Gerudo. Crowds of people blocked my way, but I refused to let the Yiga out of my sight, and I shoved past them without care as she dipped into an unrecognizable alleyway.

The Yiga dropped down a set of stairs I had never seen before, and without hesitation, I followed.

The stairs led to an underground tunnel, dark and dirty, barely light enough to see where we were going. Without crowds of people in our way though, I managed to catch up to the Yiga, laughing in a voice that was not your mother’s, now sprinting at full speed. At the very bottom of the steps, I lunged, throwing us both to the ground. 

I grabbed the Yiga by the collar, demanding to know what she had done to your mother, raising my fist to strike her across the face. Which I did, once, then twice, screaming in anger.

It terrifies me, that I was able to do that. That I’d ever be able to look your mother in the eyes and attack her, even if it was nothing more than a monster in disguise.

Your mother’s face smiled up at me, bloodied and bruised. 

“Nothing,” The Yiga sneered, “We just needed you .”

Suddenly there were hands gripping my shoulders, my arms, my neck. The Yiga had lured me into their trap. I threw them off as they ambushed me, my anger strengthening me, but there were too many of them. They dragged me towards the center of the room, laughing.

There was a massive pit in the floor, pitch black and impossibly deep. Before it stood the leader of the Yiga, wearing the Thunder Helm on his head.

The Yiga chanted his name - Master Kohga.

He hollered at his minions to put me down, and started going on about their great plan to sacrifice me to the King of Demons, how they would bring about the age of calamity and darkness, wielding the power of the Thunder Helm. 

Luckily for me, Master Kohga was clearly very stupid.

He didn’t get halfway through his speech before I punched him in the gut, sending the Thunder Helm spinning off of his head as he stumbled back, towards the edge of the pit. I didn’t even have to push the fool - in his own incompetence, he fell backwards into the pit with a scream.

I had very little time to decide what would happen next. The Yiga had me surrounded before an endless pit, outmatched me twenty-to-one, with wicked blades in every hand. The golden glint of the Thunder Helm shimmered in the corner of my eye.

Being so close to the Helm muddled my thoughts. I could feel the rage bubbling up inside of me. And with no other option, I grabbed the Helm and lifted it to my head.

The last of my vision slipped away as I lowered the Helm over my eyes, replaced by a boiling, seething, burning fury, until it was all I had left.

Even though the Helm blinded me, I struck out against the Yiga with deadly accuracy. Lighting rippled around me as the Yiga screamed for mercy. I couldn’t see, but I could feel the electricity in the air, hear their bodies drop as they were struck, and smell the burning flesh left behind. 

I electrocuted every last one of them. 

I can’t say that I regret it even now.

The power felt… good. In a terrible way. I thought killing the Yiga would release that anger inside of me. Instead, with every Yiga that fell, it only became more unbearable. I had no outlet. It tore through my body, ripping me apart from the inside out. I screamed in agony as the last Yiga fell.

I was alone.

But then - someone descended down the steps - I heard their footsteps, fast approaching - I raised a hand, summoning a  shock of electricity -

That missed. Suddenly, I couldn’t sense their location, and started throwing my lightning bolts wildly around the room, until two hands gripped the Helm from behind and pulled.

Disconnecting from the Thunder Helm felt like dying. I screamed and fought back, but in an instant it was gone.

I collapsed, it was your mother there to catch me. The Helm tumbled to the ground, forgotten, and I was left with the crushing reality of what I had done.

I yelled in despair. The Yiga’s bodies crumpled all around me were the least of my sorrows. I had attacked my best friend. I had endangered her baby. I had forgotten they even existed. 

I’ve tried for years and years to make up for what I did. I’m not sure I ever will. But somehow, your mother still forgave me. 

Our relationship had suffered, with our fighting and my uncontrollable anger. But after she found me in the Yiga base, we both knew there was no way we would get through this without each other. Despite what the Institute had in store for us, we refused to give up on each other ever again.

The Thunder Helm caused irreversible damage. The anger I felt when I put it on has never left. It sits beneath my skin, waiting for the opportunity to release itself in a fit of rage and destruction. I try my best to keep it at bay, but there are still… side effects. She did her best to help me, but I’ve come to terms with the fact that this is something I’ll deal with forever.

When you were born, I considered leaving the Institute and going back to Gerudo. I was still struggling with the anger the Thunder Helm had left me with. Even as I worked to get my ‘powers’ under control, I couldn’t fathom ever putting you in danger. 

Your mother refused to let me leave. She told me, ‘Urbosa, never in my life have I seen you give up. You aren’t going to start now.’ 

I guess she was right. I’m still here. 

[THE LIGHTS ABOVE FLICKER ON WITH A BUZZ, AFTER APPARENTLY GOING OUT SOMETIME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STATEMENT]

[ZELDA AND URBOSA SIT IN SILENCE FOR A MOMENT]

ZELDA

…Statement ends.

URBOSA

My apologies. I didn’t notice the lights had gone out.

ZELDA

Urbosa… Thank you for telling me this. I had no idea…

URBOSA

Your mother and I agreed not to give a statement about this to the Institute. Not even your father knew.

When your mother passed, I knew it was only a matter of time before I had to give my statement. Without her, I was the only one in the Institute who had had a personal experience with the Thunder Helm and the Yiga Clan. I kept it secret until I was sure the time was right. And there was no clearer sign to me than when you were promoted to Head Archivist.

[A PAUSE]

You can ask your questions now. I know you have them.

ZELDA

[CLEARLY WAITING FOR THIS]

Where do I start? The side effects you mentioned. What are they?

URBOSA

Well, you just saw an example of it. I still have an affinity for electricity since wearing the Thunder Helm. Not that I have nearly any control over what happens or when. Only that is clearly connected to my emotions. Specifically, my anger, though I’m sure you’ve figured that out.

ZELDA

And the Yiga Clan. Are there more records of their activity? How long have they existed? Where are they now?

URBOSA

The Institute has at least one statement regarding the Yiga Clan, the one that came along with the Thunder Helm. If you dug around a bit, I’m certain you could find more.

The Yiga Clan originally split from the Sheikah Tribe thousands of years ago. They swore themselves to darkness, calamity, and the King of Demons, whoever that is. 

The Yiga are still a very, very large threat. To you, and to the Institute. They live amongst us in  disguise. I don’t doubt they’ll be here again, trying to take back the Thunder Helm. We cannot let that happen.

ZELDA

The Thunder Helm - Where is it? What happened to it?

URBOSA

The Thunder Helm is what I wanted to talk to you about most of all. I told your mother to hide the Helm - as far as the Institute knows, the artifact went missing. I knew keeping the Thunder Helm away from me was the safest option. The pain and the power it left me with is… dangerous, but manageable. It’s tiring, keeping control of it, but I refuse to let it get the best of me again. But if I were to come into contact with it again… the consequences would most likely be fatal .

Your mother was the only person who knew where it was. She took that location to the grave. If anyone can find it, it’s you.

ZELDA

You want me to find the Thunder Helm? I’m not sure–

URBOSA

I know it’s a big ask. But I know you are the only person capable of resisting its power. Your mother was the same way. You shed light on the darkness, rather than succumb to it.

ZELDA

I… don’t know if I truly can do that. 

[ZELDA PAUSES]

Everyone at the Institute says my mother had this power , this ability to see danger and steer us away from it. Like a lighthouse, saving ships from crashing on the rocky shore. 

I’ve never been able to do that. All I do is record statements, and I don’t even know what I’m reading half the time. Even my father believes it to be a waste of time. How can I keep anyone safe if I cannot see the way forward?

URBOSA

Oh, little bird… you’ve worked and sacrificed so much. 

Our work here is dangerous, but you have never given up. You seek out things most people wouldn’t encounter in their entire lives, if they're lucky. Your curiosity is your power. You may not have the innate sense your mother had, but you have determination like I have never seen before. You will find a way. Your own way.

Whatever happens, Zelda, know that you could never let me down. You have done more than enough already.

ZELDA

[QUIETLY, UNCONVINCED]

… I’ll do my best.

URBOSA

[URBOSA SIGHS]

I know you will.

[URBOSA GETS UP TO LEAVE, PAUSING AS SHE OPENS THE DOOR]

One last thing? Be careful, Zelda.

If something seems off in this place, it is. Don’t let it sneak up on you. You must - 

ZELDA

‘Face it head on’?

URBOSA

Ha! You know me too well. 

[EARNESTLY]

Stay safe, little bird.

ZELDA

I will. And thank you, Urbosa. For everything.

[URBOSA'S HEELS CLICK AGAINST THE FLOOR AS SHE LEAVES ZELDA'S OFFICE.]

URBOSA

[MUFFLED FROM AFAR]

And don’t stay up late working!

[ZELDA SCOFFS]

[SHEIKAH SLATE CLOSES]

Chapter Text

[SHEIKAH SLATE OPENS]

ZELDA

Statement of Sesami Koholit, regarding his final moments stranded on Eventide Island. Original statement found on the shores of Cape Cresia five years ago. Thirteen of the one hundred plus entries have been selected to condense the statement. Sheikah Slate recording by the Head Archivist of the Hyrule Institute, Zelda Bosphoramus. Statement begins.

ZELDA (STATEMENT)

Entry #1:

First day on the ship! It was a little hectic trying to find everyone’s rooms, but looking to be a great experience for us. The ship is small for a cruise, but with plenty of stuff to do. I knew getting these tickets was a great idea - I’d never even heard of the Eventide Island Cruise before, but the price was too good to pass up. 

My friends and I have been trying to find something like this for ages. We love traveling together, and a cruise has always been one of our dreams. I’m glad everyone was on-board. (get it?) I’m pretty sure Canolo thought it was a scam at first.

It’ll be a week-long trip, multiple visits along the coast of Necluda, and of course, a two night stay on Eventide Island! I want to look up a map of it before we get there. I can’t seem to find any information on the resort there. Flaxel says it must be a smaller one, which is fine by me. 

Oliff’s saying I shouldn’t spend all my time writing, and ‘live in the moment’ instead. I just feel so lucky to have this time with my friends. I don’t want to forget a single moment!

Well, we’re going to have a big day tomorrow - Palme has this whole trip planned to a T. Better get some rest.

Entry #2:

We made our first stop at Kitano Bay today! Palme arranged a tour for us throughout the city, and we all hiked Ebon Mountain in the evening. The view was incredible. I could have sworn I saw Eventide Island all the way out there, but Flaxel assured me it was more than a day away by boat and impossible to see from this far. I guess she was right, because whatever I had seen slipped out of sight not a moment later. 

Speaking of which, Oliff and I took a detour from Palme’s schedule to dip into a cartography shop for an hour or so. There were plenty of travel guides, souvenirs, etc, but we were looking for maps of the Necluda Sea. 

Strangely, we couldn’t find a single map with Eventide on it. We even asked the shop owner, who said she’d never even heard of the island. We told her we were actually on the Eventide Island Cruise headed there this week, but even the cruise itself was foreign to her. Weird, considering the route for the cruise was posted on their website, and they make this trip multiple times a year. Surely someone in Kitano had noticed.

With no success in finding Eventide on the map, the two of us rejoined the group for dinner before boarding the boat for tonight. 

Entry #3:

Reached our second stop at Tenoko Island. Flaxel says this must have been the island I saw in the distance yesterday, but it is much smaller than the silhouette I saw. I decided to stay on the boat this morning, to track down one of the staff and ask them about Eventide Island, and maybe see if they could show me our route on the map.

As I was wandering, I noticed the ship was quieter than usual. It must be that most passengers went off to see the sights of Tenoko, but it felt strange being on a cruise with no people.

I managed to find one of the navigators working on the lower levels of the ship. They were all alone too, but seemed to be occupied with their work. Still, I stopped them, and asked about what to expect on Eventide Island. What kind of resort, weather, sightseeing, etc. It’s weird that a cruise wouldn’t advertise their main destination, right? I was eager to get some answers, and the worker wordlessly guided me through the ship to the navigation room. 

Here, on a large table was a map of the Necluda Sea. The route was marked in red, along with a lot of technical sea-faring jargon I didn’t understand. The worker pointed out where we had gone so far, Kitano and Tenoko, but skipped right over our stop at Eventide, and on to the stops we would make on the way home.

I asked again about Eventide, and the worker pointed to an empty tear on the map I hadn’t noticed before. Right in the middle of Necluda Sea, a surprising hole on the pristine map. I wondered how it had gotten to be there, why it hadn’t been replaced, why they still used the same map with the same scratch where the island should have been.

It’s nice, they said. Peaceful. Private. Secluded.

Well it must be, since there’s no information on it anywhere. I’m starting to think this really is a scam and they're going to drop us off on a barren rock in the middle of the ocean, when Canolo finds me. I was surprised, but she just told me to get off my butt and join the group for some fun. I guess my obsession with Eventide has started to wear on the group. So I thanked the worker for their “help” and went on my way.

Tenoko is a fine enough island, small but filled with lovely people. I was distracted by my worries, scared that I had unknowingly brought all my friends along on a waste of a trip to the middle of nowhere. Oliff told me again that I shouldn’t be so stuck in what’s going to happen and just focus on the present. I haven’t told him yet about what was on the map - or rather, what wasn’t on the map. 

That night, when we boarded the ship again, I knew it was quieter than before. Quieter, even, than when everyone had been off the boat. But as the passengers boarded, I could have sworn there were less of us. Maybe some people just chose to stop at Tenoko and we’d pick them up later? But the route didn’t show a second stop at Tenoko.

But now, as I’m writing this, looking at the fading lights of our last destination before Eventide, I can’t help the pit forming in my stomach.

Entry #4: 

Bad news. 

We woke up in the early morning with the boat rocking hard enough to send our things sliding back and forth across the room. Palme immediately went to discuss with the Captain what was going on, and the rest of us went up to the deck to see how bad it was.

The sky was so dark with clouds it looked like it was night. The waves were pitch black, white foam crashing against the hull of the cruise. The wind was harsh and biting, and I was surprised more people hadn’t come up to check out what was going on. 

I became even more concerned about how trustworthy this cruise really was. Oliff suggested we go back below deck for today, but I decided to sit and wait for Palme to return. I was certain he was hashing out the plan with the Captain, ensuring our route was still safe. 

It took an hour of waiting before I went out to find him. 

When I approached the Captain’s quarters, I was surprised to find it locked. I started twisting the knob with all my might, about to shoulder the door down, when I heard a faint pounding to my left behind a small closet door. I opened it, and Palme came tumbling out. He knocked into my forehead pretty good, and we both stumbled back.

I was relieved to see him, but he was even more so relieved to see me. When I asked about how he’d gotten there, and what the Captain had said, he told me he’d never found them - Every door he came across had been locked, except this one. When he entered, it closed behind him, trapping him. He’d been stuck the entire time.

Even though we were together now, we both felt worry settle over us at the predicament. If the Captain or staff were even on this boat, they were locking themselves in - or locking us out. In the middle of a storm heading to an island that, according to the rest of the world, didn’t exist. 

We considered trying to find the control room of the ship, to try and steer us to safety. But neither of us had any experience with anything larger than a sailboat, and we figured that door would be locked too, so we decided against it. The two of us rushed back the way we came to find the others. Now, the quiet of the ship was even more haunting. The sound of the wind and waves was louder than ever.

We found our friends below deck, knocking on every door, trying to warn the other passengers. Flaxel told us it was no use - they couldn’t find anyone. Canolo even tried breaking down the doors, ramming them with her shoulder, but they wouldn’t budge. Down the whole row of doors, not one passenger responded. No one was there at all. 

We are completely alone.

Whatever is driving the ship now, it’s keeping us on course. Through the thrashing, cutting waves, we continue to sail. None of us know what’s going to happen tomorrow. If the storm will calm, if we’ll ever make it out alive.

We are staying in our rooms right now. Oliff wants to find the control room, but both Palme and I advised against it, at least until the storm is over. Whatever we do, we can’t be separated.

This is all my fault. 

Entry #5:

So much has happened. I don’t even know where to start.

The last time I wrote in this journal, I didn’t sleep all night. I was too afraid of what was going to happen. The storm continued, and got worse and worse. Eventually, I stopped trying to rest and gathered the group together.

We looked for lifeboats, though in this weather I wondered if the cruise would still be the better option. It didn’t matter anyway, because when we found where they should have been on deck, every rope had been cut, sending the boats into the thrashing waves below. 

Someone, or something, didn’t want us to leave.

The wind howled stronger than ever and sent us flying across the deck. The waves rose and fell, the cruise crashing along with them. Lightning flashed across the sky, striking the sea over and over and over. I turned to go back below deck but the stairs were suddenly covered and locked. Flaxel and I pulled at the handle to no avail. The boat was sealed.

The first to go overboard was Oliff. I watched him crack his head on one of the railings when the rocking of the boat pushed him off his feet. He was out in an instant, and not a moment later, a giant wave crashed over us and swallowed him whole.

I cried out for him, but it was too late. One by one, each of us fell with him - Next was Palme, who was held tight to Canolo’s arm. When he started to slip, he dragged Canolo with him, and the two of them went overboard into the dark ocean. Then, when the lightning hit the deck, splintering wood and debris in every direction, a plank hit Flaxel, spearing her directly in the stomach, and she slipped into the storm. 

The last thing I remembered was a dark silhouette in the distance, illuminated by thunder and lightning, before everything went dark.

A few days ago, we washed up on the shores of Eventide.

Somehow, all four of us made it, in varying states of injury. Flaxel has it the worst. She lost a lot of blood, and wouldn’t wake up when the rest of us found her. Oliff cleaned and wrapped the wound, but she didn’t wake up until the next day, and she was pretty out of it.

Canolo is angry with me. I imagine they all are, but she’s the only one to say it to my face. Palme is trying to come up with a plan to get us off the island, and has been gathering debris from the shore for days. Scraps of the ship washed up with us, but nothing substantial enough to take us home. 

I was shocked that my journal survived the storm, but lo and behold, I found it buried in the sand at my feet. It didn’t even look wet, the pages were all intact. I wish I could say I felt grateful to have it, but I only feel guilt.

I can hardly look at my friends without being overwhelmed by the fact that I’m the one that got us here. I can’t believe it’s all gone so wrong. A few days ago, I was writing in this journal so I could remember our great trip. Now it feels like I’m writing my own obituary. 

It’s getting late. I offered to watch over everyone tonight. It feels like the least I can do.

Entry #8:

Canolo’s gone.

She said she’d be keeping watch for us last night, but this morning, no one could find her. Not even a trace of footsteps in the sand hinting at where she might be headed now.

Now everyone's anger and frustration has turned to worry and fear. Oliff wants to go looking for her, but doesn’t want to leave Flaxel behind in her vulnerable state. Palme and I agreed to venture into the forest to look for her.

We called her name for hours and hours, until our voices became scratchy and weak. We hiked all the way to the top of the highest hill, where we could see the shore and the endless ocean all around us. But no Canolo.

I could have sworn I saw her. Or, saw something. As we were wandering through the outskirts of one forest, I saw a shadow of a figure standing behind a tree. I was certain it was Canolo, it shared her exact silhouette. But the sun was high in the sky, shining through the trees, and the shadow was not standing in the shade. A pitch black figure was standing in broad daylight. Featureless, flat, and unmoving. 

I ran towards it, calling her name warily. The shadow slipped back behind the tree and disappeared.

Palme asked if I’d found her. I told him no. I was too afraid of what I’d seen. And I didn’t want to get anyone’s hopes up. By the end of the day, we were tired, hungry, and empty handed as we walked back to our makeshift camp on the beach.

I don’t know what to do. I can’t process the fact that Canolo is gone, whether she’s simply lost, or worse - I feel numb. I feel… distant. 

Everything I know and love is drifting further and further away from me. And I don’t know if I’ll ever get it back.

Entry #9: 

Something’s wrong with the rest of the group.

I wanted to go looking for Canolo again this morning. I couldn’t sleep not knowing whether she was alive or dead, lost or injured. She couldn’t have gotten off the island. We could still have found her.

I approached Oliff and asked if he’d be willing to look for her with me, since Flaxel was still unable to move very much but well enough to not need constant supervision. He asked me what I was talking about, and I assured him that Palme would be willing to look after her in our absence. 

He then asked me to repeat who we were looking for. Canolo, I said. He said, ‘Who?’.

Canolo, our best friend, the one who had gone missing only 24 hours ago! I told him I knew it was hard to talk about but we couldn’t give up and pretend she never even existed. I yelled at him as he continued to play dumb, when Flaxel and Palme overheard us. They too insisted a Canolo had never existed, never been part of our friend group, and never been on the ship with us.

No one remembers her. No one but me.

I showed them my journal, showed them where her name was written multiple times. Reminded them of all the trips we’d gone on as friends. Nothing. There was no recognition in any of their faces. 

I stormed off, angry and confused, to look for Canolo myself. My head hasn’t stopped aching since. I don’t know what’s happening, why I’m the only one who remembers her. But as I walked, I saw the shadow again. And again, and again, standing behind trees and bushes. I started running after it, and even though it never seemed to move, it was always out of reach. 

I cried out her name, but the shadow never reacted. I didn’t notice where I was until I realized the sun was setting, and I was standing in the mouth of the cave I’m in now.

I don’t know how I got here, but I’m too afraid to try and find my way back into camp in the dark. There’s a shipwreck in here - not the cruise we were on, but what looks like a classic pirate ship, crumbling and split in half, almost entirely flooded. I can just make out the lettering on the side of the ship - The Eventide.

I don’t know what this means. Is the island named after the ship, or is the ship named after the island? What does the cruise have to do with this? And why is there not a single trace of anybody having ever been on the island before, when an entire ship still remains?

I can still see Canolo’s shadow. Standing by the edge of the cave, unmoving. She’s staring off into the ocean.

 I don’t try to chase her anymore. 

Entry #10:  

It’s gotten worse.

Today I went back to the beach. Canolo’s shadow was gone, but I managed to find my way on my own. When I arrived, Oliff was missing.

My stomach dropped. I didn’t want to believe it, but when I asked the others where Oliff had gone, they didn’t know who I was talking about. They were angry at me for leaving for an entire day, and even angrier when I wouldn’t stop asking them about Oliff. I questioned Flaxel, asking her who had been taking care of her the whole time if not Oliff, and she said Palme had. 

I’m so scared. Two of my friends are missing and the other two don’t even remember them. Eventide Island is swallowing them whole and leaving nothing behind. Not even a memory.

What if there are others? What if I had more friends I've forgotten on this island? No, there’s no one else in this journal. It must just be the five of us. 

Right?

Entry #11: 

Flaxel disappeared today. I can’t look Palme in the eye without knowing he’s next. 

I convinced him to join me at the top of the island to watch the sunset. He thought that was unproductive in getting us home, and I couldn’t explain to him that all I wanted was one last good memory with him before he was gone.

The view was beautiful.

Entry #12: 

I’m all alone now. 

Entry #29:

I guess it’s been three weeks since the crash. I’ve wandered around the island over and over again. I don’t think I’m eating, or at least, I don’t remember eating. I don’t know how I’m still alive. The sea is empty as always. No one is coming for me.

Entry #57:

Palme, Oliff, Canolo, Flaxel, Palme, Oliff, Canolo, Flaxel, Palme, Oliff, Canolo, Flaxel, Palme, Oliff, Canolo, Flaxel, Palme, Oliff, Canolo, Flaxel

Entry #88:

Eventide. Eventide. Eventide. Eventide. Eventide.

Entry #121:

I’ve been writing every day for four months.  

Every day, the shadows of my friends beckon me towards them, across the island. I wish I could join them. I wish I could forget. 

I’m getting rid of this journal.

Maybe, if it’s gone, there will be nothing left to remind me of what I’ve lost. Maybe I’ll finally fade into nothingness with them. I can’t be alone anymore. 

I hope it falls to the bottom of the ocean. I hope no one reads it. I hope no one ever finds Eventide.

ZELDA

Statement ends.

This statement reminds me of the very first one I recorded, of Izra in Goponga Village. Only, I was able to find plenty of evidence of Goponga, even if its downfall remains a mystery. However I cannot find any sort of record of Eventide Island. Not on any map, not in any news articles, nothing.

I was able to find the cruise’s website at least. Eventide Island Cruise is still in business, but there is no mention of a crash anywhere. I even tracked down the exact ship Sesami was on based on the dates in his journal, but according to the records, that ship returned seven days after setting sail, right on schedule. 

I tried finding a record of the passengers aboard, but came up empty once again. It was like no one was on that cruise in the first place. I did manage to find a map of the route the Eventide Island Cruise takes to this very day, and based on the timing of the journal I’ve marked out the approximate location of where Eventide should be on this map - around 4500, -3500, if I’m correct.

I decided to send Revali out to investigate the location where the cruise docks in Hateno. Link went with him, and I will admit it makes me less wary knowing Revali wouldn’t be going alone, given what happened to Sesami’s friends. Revali is particularly sour towards Link, but they made it back in one piece - with very little new information, unfortunately. 

No one was around the ship, and no one seemed to be on deck. I had told them not to board the ship under any circumstances, but for whatever reason Link decided to scale the side of the ship anyway and take a peek over the edge, according to Revali. Revali didn’t do anything to stop him, saying if Link wanted to get himself killed that was his own problem.

Unlike Revali, I can’t just let them suffer the consequences of their own actions, as that would fall on my hands. I had a very serious meeting with both of them about not rushing into danger and having each other's backs. Otherwise, they’d be bringing harm upon themselves and the Institute’s work.

The last piece of evidence I could find is a photo, tucked into the pages of Sesami’s journal. I’ve already scanned it for the Slate, but it’s a picture of Sesami posing at the top of what looks to be the Dueling Peaks. His handwriting on the back dates it to a little over a year before the cruise ever left. Hiking with friends, it says. He is the only one in the picture.

As Sesami noted in one of his entries, his journal remains miraculously intact. I see no water damage or even a speck of sand from where it washed up on the shore. 

While I did find a few records of Sesami Koholit, they were entirely isolated from anyone else. Meaning, I couldn’t track down anyone who knew him or was even related to him. The rest of the friends mentioned in his writings are completely obsolete. There’s nothing to prove they ever existed at all.

I wonder why Sesami was the only one to remember his friends, and the only one to not disappear… though it’s entirely possible he’s died by now.

A part of me wonders if it was his writing that kept him alive. And if so, what does me reading it mean for him?

End recording.

[SHEIKAH SLATE CLOSES]

Chapter Text

[SHEIKAH SLATE OPENS]

ZELDA

– you wanted to give a statement, right?

DARUK

That’s right! I hope you don’t mind, tiny Archivist. But I heard Urbosa gave hers, and it got me thinking about my own, uh, statement, as you call it. 

ZELDA

Urbosa told you about her statement?

DARUK

Uh, no… not really. I think Revali overheard some of it, he brought it up with Urbosa in the break room last week. He didn’t say what the statement was about, but Urbosa seemed pretty mad at him. Rightfully so! Revali shouldn’t have been sticking his beak in other people’s business. But anyways, it was on my mind, so I talked to her privately about giving my statement. She told me if I had something to say, I should say it, for the good of the Institute.

ZELDA

I’ll have to have a talk about that with Revali. Thank you for bringing it to my attention, Daruk.

DARUK

[CHUCKLING]

Oh ho ho, I wouldn’t be too worried about him. Urbosa certainly taught him his lesson alright! Didn’t you notice he had a few feathers missing?

ZELDA

Is that what happened? He has been acting a little more… amenable, this week. 

[MUMBLING TO HERSELF]

Should I have a talk with Urbosa?

DARUK

What was that, Archivist?

ZELDA

Oh, nevermind. Back to your statement. And, you can call me Zelda, if you like.

DARUK

Sure thing tiny Archivist!

ZELDA

…Right. Uh, statement of Daruk Rudania, regarding…?

DARUK

Regarding… my experience on Death Mountain.

ZELDA

Recorded direct from subject. Statement begins.

DARUK (STATEMENT)

This all happened a long time ago, when I was a much younger Goron. I used to work in the mines around Goron City, digging up gems and crystals, but mostly rock roast, ha! 

Anyway, I was always the biggest and strongest of the miners back then. The Great Daruk, they called me! I could crush stone beneath my fists with no problem! I didn’t even use a Cobble Crusher  most of the time like the other goros. I really liked my job! I was good at it, felt appreciated, you know. Made me even a little overzealous.

My boss called me in one day, and told me because of my skill, I was being sent to work in the mines up at Death Mountain.

This was a big deal, for us Gorons. Death Mountain was notorious for all sorts of weird things going on - even though it was supposedly an inactive volcano, the miners up there reported fire falling from the sky, and earthquakes, and avalanches, that seemed to be caused by nothing. And, y’know, the name makes it a little obvious. A lot of people died up there.

Gorons are built for this kind of thing though, and we were the only race allowed up there for that reason. Some of us even saw it as an honor, that only the toughest and strongest Gorons were chosen to mine up there. 

Others saw it as a death sentence. Usually, it was the ones who knew someone who went up there and never came back down. They argued that whatever we were mining up there couldn’t be more important than our lives. I hate to say, I disagreed with them at the time.

I was determined to use my skills and be the best worker in the field, protecting my fellow Gorons at the top of Death Mountain, recovering the most precious gems and delicious rock roast. I was excited! I was more than ready to rise to meet the challenge. Didn’t want to be seen as weak, maybe. Whatever it was, I accepted the boss’s offer proudly.

Soon enough, I was on the trail up to Death Mountain with a crusher in my hand and my new work crew by my side.

I think I was a little too optimistic for them that morning. They didn’t seem as eager to get to work as I was. But I kept up that attitude the whole way up the mountain, and I like to think some of them warmed up to me. I figured, if it really was so gloomy up here, someone had to bring up their spirits, and I was happy to let that be me.

It was hot up there, I remember. Hotter than I expected. We weren’t allowed to bring any wooden tools with us, because they’d burn right up in our hands! We were high enough that the clouds had sunk below us, and nothing was obstructing the Eldin sun from shining on us all day. But I knew even then, the heat wasn’t coming from above - it was coming from below.

The volcano may have been dormant, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t any lava left. I could feel it, rising up through the stone beneath me and burning my feet that usually wouldn’t have felt a thing. We would go mining just below the very peak of the mountain, where it dipped down into the crater of the volcano. I was curious to take a peak, but the other goros warned me not to. The last one to do that, they said, burnt his eyes and went blind.

The curiosity didn’t eat me up for very long, as I descended into the mines and got to work. I could see quickly why they only let the best of the best up there. I had to use my Crusher now, because the stone was too hot for my hands to punch through for very long, and on top of that the stones were nearly impenetrable. It was tough work, but I wouldn’t back down.

There were certainly plenty of crystals and rock roasts up there, but I got the feeling the other miners were looking for something else. I never got to find out what it was.

One early morning, I was up at the top of Death Mountain, much higher than where the usual mines were. I had seen a Rito soaring above the volcano, and while the temperatures were a nuisance to me, they would be deadly to anyone else. They must have been lost, and the heat wasn’t helping. They dipped as though they were about to land multiple times, but if they touched the ground, they could be badly burnt, so they flew right back up again. 

Up and down they went, flying in circles, unable to see where to go with the clouds obscuring the view below. I was hollering and shouting at the top of my lungs, trying to get them to understand where they were, yelling directions as best as I could. 

It got the attention of the other miners pretty quick. They all started yelling too, but not towards the Rito - they were shouting at me. Tellin’ me to get down and stop yelling, but I wouldn’t. The way I saw it, this is what I was here to do. Keep everyone safe from the dangers of Death Mountain. I refused to back down, even climbing higher up the mountain, thinking maybe if the Rito drifted low enough, I could catch them. 

I made it to the lip of the crater, as the Gorons’ panicked yelling grew, and gave one final holler to the Rito to come down.

My voice bellowed and echoed across the entire volcano. I felt the stones beneath me start to shake, and wondered if my voice was truly that powerful. But I wasn’t what made the earth quake. 

My eyes fell to the crater, and I watched the dark ash and stone crack open, revealing bubbling, boiling lava spurting up from the ground.

The volcano shook so violently I fell to my knees. Flaming boulders showered down from above. Death Mountain was erupting.

I lost sight of the Rito as I turned to see the other Gorons running down the mountain. I should have followed them, but as I stumbled down the rocky surface, the stones crashed down in front of me, nearly crushing me. My feet were burning, the heat even more oppressive than before. I ran back and forth, avoiding the falling debris, until I had no choice but to retreat to safety inside the mines.

The walls rumbled all around me, and I barely made it past the threshold before the walls crumbled all around me. When I turned back, the entrance had been completely blocked. 

The safety I thought I would find in the mines was nothing more than an illusion. I was safe from the fiery boulders, but the mine was like an oven, even hotter than it had been outside. It was stifling, I could barely breathe, and the stone burned me everywhere I touched it. 

I must have thought the mines would be cooler the further I went. I should have just pounded my way through the barrier and taken my chances with the other Gorons running down the mountain. But I could have sworn I heard something, down there. Something that made me think I wasn’t alone, that one of the other miners could be here, and I could help them find a way out. So deeper I went.

The mines got thinner and thinner the further I went, and I went far. Past every excavated jewel and rock roast, through twists and turns, going deeper and deeper no matter what direction I chose. I called out, but only my voice echoed back. The walls rumbled, and I didn’t make a sound again. 

It was so long. The mines felt never ending, leading to places I hadn’t even known existed, paths I didn’t recognize. I was lost, and I knew it. Turning back wasn’t an option anymore - I didn’t even know where ‘back’ was to begin with. 

On top of that, there was still the heat. The thick, inescapable heat, cooking me alive in the depths of Death Mountain. My feet were blistered, breaking open on the sharp rocks and leaving a trail of blood, only to be cauterized and close up again. Over, and over, and over. 

Then, the mines became so slim I couldn’t get through. I nearly got stuck, for a terrifying moment, the immense weight of the mountain pushing against me from all sides. I managed to break through with my fists, but it hurt. I’d only ever used my Cobble Crusher on the tough stones of Death Mountain. But now, I had no other choice. I swung back my fist, and pummeled forward. Over, and over, and over.

My fists suffered the same fate of my feet, blistering, bleeding, burning, repeat. I shouted in frustration and pain as I crushed my way through the volcano.

Not only was I being buried alive, I was being cooked alive. I was badly, badly burnt, all around my entire body. I must be the first Goron to burn like that. I felt it seep into my flesh and bones, until it was all I felt. I could hear the lava pooling all around me, only a few swings away from flooding into the grave I had dug for myself. Any wrong turn, any mistaken punch, could kill me in an instant. 

I was this close to being toast so many times. But I could still hear something calling to me, telling me to go deeper, if I just went deeper I could escape, if I just went deeper it couldn’t burn me. It was all I could grab on to in my blinding pain, so I followed it. 

And followed it.

And followed it.

At some point, I don’t know when, I turned to look at the path I had made. It was gone. Somehow, along the way, I had dug myself into a pit with no exits. It was just me. Burning alive. Buried alive. 

I sat down for the first time since I’d entered the mines. I felt truly hopeless.

The thing I heard screamed at me in my head, telling me to get up, to keep digging. I was too exhausted, and only closed my eyes as the heat intensified. The voice told me I was bound to one of them - though, I don’t know who they are even now - whether I was taken by the fire, or taken by the stone, I couldn’t truly escape. Not really.

But the voice said it could protect me. If I dug just a little further, I’d be free from the lava, the heat, the fire. I’d be able to live a little longer, it said. As long as I just. Kept. Digging.

I think there was a bit more to it than that. I couldn’t escape the feeling that I had just signed my life away as I mustered up the last of my strength to swing one more time at the ground all around me.

Another, the voice said. And another.

I’ve never felt so pathetic in my life, following the orders of a nonexistent voice, crawling further to what very well could have been my death. But, just as I was certain it had all been a trick and I was truly going nowhere, the heat began to dwindle. I could breathe a little easier, move a little faster, strike a little stronger.

I was totally reinvigorated, as I crushed the stone around me, escaping the lava with every inch I progressed until finally, finally, I struck through the outer wall of Death Mountain.

I roared with relief, pride, shock, everything. I didn’t know what to feel or what to do. The adrenaline was all that was keeping me up at that point. I’m sure, if I looked, my fists and feet would have been worn to the bone.

When I got all my emotions out, I finally took stock of my surroundings. I was at the base of Death Mountain. I don’t even know how far I had to dig to get down there, it should have been impossible - it was impossible! But I had done it. And I’d lived to tell the tale. 

I noticed the fire was no longer raining down from above too. The skies were clear, the ground stable. I was about to run up there and help the other Gorons get down, when something below me caught my attention.

A Goron on the bottom of the mountain, clutching a fistful of crystals in hand. I recognized him from my old mining team. Elated, I stomped down to meet him, and when I was close enough I finally saw the haunted look in his eyes.

He was so shocked to see me, he was completely frozen at first. His gems tumbled to the ground. He looked like he’d seen a ghost, which maybe wasn’t entirely inaccurate. I must have looked awful - burnt head to toe, bloody and bruised. 

He didn’t believe it was me at first, but I went on to tell him we had to get back up the mountain to retrieve the others. I told him about the fireballs falling from the sky, but he looked at me blankly. Then he looked down where his crystals had fallen.

A multitude of gems and crystals of every kind had been laid out at the base of the mountain. I finally realized what I was looking at.

When a Goron dies, instead of flowers, we leave precious stones at their grave. Some as expensive as diamond, others nothing more than a pebble with sentimental value. At the base of the mountain, where the trail leads up to the mines I was trapped in, was rows upon rows of crystals and rocks.

I asked what happened, and I was told.

The fireballs had come crashing down, filling the sky with smoke and ash. They rolled down the mountain, crushing the miners as they ran for their lives. Not a single one of my friends had made it down the mountain. Most didn’t even make it halfway. 

The blazing stones were only the beginning. The volcano had awakened, and sent a devastating stream of lava down the side of the mountain. It hit Goron City dead on. They tried to evacuate but… only so many people made it.

Where have you been? He asked. I told him I’d been inside the mines the whole time, and he asked how I’d possibly survived that long. 

Until now, I was certain I’d only been there a few hours - treacherous, horrible hours, but still, less than a day at least. But with the way he asked, I had the sickening feeling I’d been in there a lot longer. 

How long? I asked.

My old friend, in a manner that was not usually associated with the Goron, quietly told me the incident had happened almost a month ago. 

I had been inside the Mountain the entire time. I shouldn’t have even made it out. Something had kept me alive, and it was whispering in my ear at that very moment to go back.

It was the worst thing I’ve ever lived through. I left Goron City immediately after that. I… I couldn't handle it. It was my fault.

I didn’t take the dangers of the mountain seriously. It was my shouting that opened up the volcano. And when it all came crumbling down, I ran and hid. I didn’t save anyone. They all died, because of me. 

The worst part is when I emerged from the ground, I was the center of attention. Everyone wanted to know how I survived, what had happened up there. I was the last living testimony, after all. 

And my boss - Hylia, I hate that Goron now. The mining expedition was apparently shut down after the incident. But because I had survived, he tried to use that as a reason to start it up again. Spin the tragedy on its head to be about resilience, how the Gorons could survive incredible things. 

I didn’t even quit. I just left. I’ve never heard from him again. I don’t know if he’s still sending Gorons up there. If he is… I don’t even know what I’d do. I have to believe it’s really been shut down. I already lose enough sleep as it is.

In the years since I’ve been haunted by the experience, and I mean that literally. That voice, that calling, whatever it was, has followed me everywhere. It’s always telling me to dig, that I’m not safe in the open air, to return to the ground. 

I nearly succumbed to it, once. After leaving Goron City, and wandering around Hyrule with nowhere to go. Late one night, as I slept under the stars, mourning everyone who was gone or who I’d left behind, the urge came to me.

Bury yourself, it said, leave the pain behind.

It was promising me everything I wanted. I wanted to escape the memories, the shame, the horror, forever. If I just let myself sink into the earth, let the dirt and rocks cover my eyes, I could be free.

I was about halfway submerged in the ground when I snapped out of it. I don’t even know when the earth had opened up beneath me, but I was looking up at the sky in remorse, when I saw it.

A Rito, soaring high above me. 

I remembered the Rito on the mountain that day. I never found out what happened to them, but no one mentioned a Rito casualty of the eruption. I remembered what I had done all of this for - to protect those around me. I didn’t save the miners, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t save anyone.

I wasn’t gonna go down that easily. I clawed my way out, emerging like I’d been reborn. I’m not letting whatever was in that mountain control me. I’m the Great Daruk, after all!

That doesn’t mean it’s not hard. I still hear whatever called me deeper in the mountain. When I’m above ground, I feel weak, and unstable. Below ground I feel… safe. Powerful. 

It’s part of the reason I jumped at the opportunity to work here. The Archives being underground was too good to pass up.  Despite nearly dying miles below the surface, I can’t help but seek out the underground. I’m always fighting the urge to go deeper, but I do.

Then, I met my new friends, Urbosa, Mipha, Revali, the little guy - he’s the one that suggested the Institute to me, you know - and of course you tiny Archivist. 

It sort of feels like I’m right back where I started. I still figure, if it’s so gloomy down here, someone’s gotta lift our spirits. And I’m willing to let that be me one more time. 

Then, maybe, I can protect you all the way I should have protected the others. I won’t let anyone down again.

[AWKWARD PAUSE]

That’s all, tiny Archivist.

ZELDA

Statement ends, in that case. Thank you, Daruk.

DARUK

Ah, don’t worry about it. It felt good to let it all out in the open, I think. Like that urge to burrow and escape has… weakened, just a bit. Kinda funny, if you think about it!

ZELDA

Still, I admire your strength to relive those unpleasant memories. I’m so sorry that happened to you. 

I want you to know, I’m very grateful to have you here. You’ve already kept this place from becoming unbearably depressing, so I thank you for it.

DARUK

Thank you, tiny Archivist. I promise I’m gonna keep protecting everyone in these archives, as best as I can!

[DARUK PALM STRIKES HIS FISTS TOGETHER ENERGETICALLY]

[ZELDA LAUGHS QUIETLY]

ZELDA

I believe it!

I’d like to ask you a question, if you don’t mind?

DARUK

Go ahead! I’m an open book.

ZELDA

Could you tell me more about this voice you’re hearing? What does it sound like?

DARUK

Well, maybe voice wasn’t the most accurate word. It’s more of an urge, a need, even. When I was in the mountain, I didn’t actually hear the voice strike a deal with me. I just knew, somehow, that if I kept going like the urge told me to, I’d be able to get out. And I could feel it connect with me, burrow into my body and stay there all these years. I want nothing more than to be rid of it.

ZELDA

I see. Interesting.

[ZELDA WRITES SOMETHING DOWN]

While I’ve seen plenty of statements with experiences like yours, I’m afraid I haven’t found a definitive answer for getting rid of any side effects. But if I do, Daruk, you’ll be the first to know.

DARUK

I appreciate that, Archivist. 

Y’know what, I think I’ve discovered something…

ZELDA

[INTRIGUED]

Yes?

DARUK

Talking makes me hungry! 

ZELDA

[NO LONGER INTRIGUED]

Oh–

DARUK

Y’know, there’s a new Goron rock roast place that’s opened up nearby. I’m planning on inviting everyone to join me there after work. You should come along!

ZELDA

Oh, I’m not sure, I… have a lot of work to do.

DARUK

I’m sure you’d love it. The little guy’s already accepted, ha! He can’t resist rock roast.

ZELDA

Little guy…? Didn’t you mention him in your statement?

DARUK

Yeah, the little guy! You know him, blonde, quiet, guards the Archives?

ZELDA

You mean Link?

DARUK

Yeah, he and I go way back! He’s small, but surprisingly tough! He could beat me in a fight any day. I imagine he’s the best security guard in the Institute!

ZELDA

Well, my father would agree with you… anyways, if that’s the case I really must decline your offer.

DARUK

Oh ho ho, you two not getting along?

ZELDA

It’s… it’s nothing. Maybe another time, Daruk. I’m not very hungry.

DARUK

You’re always welcome, tiny Archivist! Just let me know when you change your mind.

[ZELDA SMILES]

ZELDA

I will.

[DARUK GETS UP AND STARTS TO WALK AWAY]

Daruk?

DARUK

Hm?

ZELDA

… It wasn’t your fault.

[DARUK HESITATES, THEN SIGHS]

DARUK

… Goodnight, tiny Archivist.

ZELDA

Goodnight, Daruk.

[SHEIKAH SLATE CLOSES]

[SHEIKAH SLATE OPENS]

ZELDA

I managed to do a little extra research without going too far past closing hours, in my opinion. Anyway, it unfortunately doesn’t look like good news.

There were a lot of articles to go through concerning the Death Valley eruption, but I managed to find the company Daruk worked for at the time - YunoboCO, it’s called. These articles do say the Death Mountain operation was shut down after the incident, but ever since then there have been rumors of the mines being infiltrated. I have a feeling it has something to do with Daruk’s old boss.

As Daruk said, there have always been mysterious occurrences on Death Mountain, and there still are. Though luckily, not as tragic as his experience, but concerning all the same. I wish there was a way for me to put a stop to it, but without going up to the mines myself, I don’t see a way for that to happen. 

I’m going to keep looking for similar statements to Daruk’s that might lead to a solution for him. At this point, it feels like all I can do. I’m not sure such a solution exists, but I have to try.

End recording.

[SHEIKAH SLATE CLOSES]

Chapter Text

[SHEIKAH SLATE OPENS]

ZELDA

Statement of Jerrin Firly, regarding a horned statue outside her apartment. Original statement given seven years ago. Sheikah Slate recording by the Head Archivist of the Hyrule Institute, Zelda Bosphoramus. Statement begins.

ZELDA (STATEMENT)

One year ago, I thought I was about to lose everything.

I just turned 23. I had been living on my own since I was 18 years old, with no friends or family to support me. I hated my job, hated my apartment, hated my roommate.

Then, everything seemed to get even worse all at once. I lost the job, and the roommate moved out. Leaving me with no income and a high rent to pay all on my own. I was utterly hopeless, and sure that I would end up on the streets by the end of the month.

I started getting these dreams. Or, I thought they were dreams, at first. Until one night, I found myself waking up to a whispery voice calling out to me - Hear me, it said.

It was coming from outside my window. I lived on the third floor of the apartment, with the world's worst view of a brick wall, so I knew it was impossible for someone to have been outside my window speaking to me. Fear shot through my heart all the same. Was it a burglar? A stalker? I laid frozen in my bed all night, not by choice. The voice whispered and whispered until dawn broke through my window.

Hours after the voice had faded, I crept to the window and took a peek - nothing but the same dingy alleyway, heaps of trash and puddles of rainwater scattered about. It was just as unremarkable as before.

Except, there was something different. A black tarp discarded in the furthest corner, draped over an unseen object. I assumed it was just another piece of trash thrown carelessly away, but the thought of it, along with the late night whispers, followed me all through the day.

I had enough worries at that point. I was still unemployed and rent was due in only a few weeks. I would spend every day trying to get a job, or a place to stay and packing up my things if the worst case scenario were to occur. My worries would distract me, and I would almost forget it, but every night that same voice would come back and say, Hear me.

It kept me up night after night, and on top of everything else rushing through my mind, it was unbearable. I had failed to find a job, the deadline for my rent was now less than a week away, and the last of my money I'd been able to save still wasn't enough. I was 100 rupees short.

I stopped being afraid and instead became angry, annoyed, and frustrated. After another night of restlessness, I'd had enough.

In the early morning, I took my umbrella and made my way downstairs and into the alleyway beneath my window. I caught sight of the black tarp and made a beeline for it.

Once I reached it, however, I hesitated. What did I expect to find? It was draped over something a little over the height of my waist. Why should I believe this would be anything more than a coffee table or an old TV someone wanted to get rid of without any hassle? I stood there, ruminating for a moment, and decided to crouch down and feed my curiosity anyway. At least then, I'd know for sure.

I kneeled on the wet pavement, the water seeping into my pants. I reached out for the black tarp and pulled back a corner to see what was underneath.

I caught a glimpse of stone underneath. Pulling off the tarp completely, revealed a solid stone statue - a winged creature wrapped in a cloak, crouched on the ground with it's arms wrapped around its legs, and two horns protruding from it's head.

I dropped the tarp and just stared. The more I thought about it, the more confusing and eerie the whole thing seemed. How could an entire statue be moved here, and why? Could it have anything to do with what I'd been hearing at night?

I was at eye-level with it. It's gaze was despondent.

I stood up to get a more complete view of it, when I heard the voice again. This time, I saw a faint glow rise from the statue's feet, illuminating it's face and horns.

So, you can hear my voice.

It was actually speaking to me. Was I going crazy? I shivered, and took another step back.

Not so fast - I offer up a bargain for anyone who can hear my voice.

I hesitated.

Tell me. What is your deepest desire? I can provide longevity, power, or wealth - for a price.

Unwillingly, the struggles I was going through came to mind. I didn't need a perfect health or physical strength - I needed money, as shameful as it felt to admit it.

I didn't answer the statue. I just stared, not willing to expose my weakness. The statue hummed in response to my silence.

I should have known. It's all anyone asks for these days.

Like a machine, I watched the arm of the statue begin to move. It rose in a perfect arc, hand now curled up towards me.

In an instant, I felt the hand literally grip at my heart. The sensation of a stone hand reaching into my ribcage and taking my heart in it's fist. Then it retreated, and a piece of me went with it.

I gasped for breath, a wave of weakness wracking my body. I felt it travel down my arms and legs, and I dropped the umbrella and fell to the ground. I could barely hold my head up enough to see what was in the statue's hand.

My heart. Still red, soft, and beating, hovering just above the unmoving palm. The statue stared blankly.

I reached out desperately, but couldn't manage to grasp it. I began to panic, and watched my heart begin to beat faster before my very eyes. How was I even still alive? What had happened to me?

Fear not, said the statue, I can give it back.

The arm of the statue lowered once more, tantalizingly close to my face, but I was too weak to reach for it.

But.

I looked up at the statue again, shaking.

The other hand began to move, until they were mirrored. A silver rupee hovered just as my heart did. Side by side, I looked between the two floating objects with shock.

A silver rupee - worth 100 rupees. The exact amount I needed to pay my rent for the month.

If you let me keep it for the day, I will reward you.

I didn't consider the statue's offer - the sight of my own heart terrified me to my core. Without letting the statue finish, I took my heart from the statue's hand.

It was warm, mushy, and disgusting. I didn't know what to do with it, now that I had it, but I pressed it to my chest anyway. It passed through my skin and bones and returned to it's rightful place. I felt myself relax, my strength returned to me.

When I looked up, the statue had returned to it's original position. The silver rupee was gone. I stared for a moment longer, waiting for the statue to speak, but it said nothing. The light faded. It was over.

I quickly picked up my umbrella, and at the last second, threw the tarp back over the statue. Quickly, my heart beating in my chest, I ran back up to my apartment.

Even in my own space, I didn't feel safe. I stared at the shared wall of my apartment building and the alleyway, shut and locked all my windows, drawing the blinds and avoiding even a glimpse down at the black tarp I knew would be there. But nothing made me forget what had happened.

I kept reaching for my chest to feel my heart beat and know it was there, and couldn't help remembering the moments I had been without it. Miraculously, I hadn't died on the spot. I was still living and breathing and moving and thinking. The blood was still moving through my veins.

Then I thought about what I had truly given up. A chance to get back on my feet. Without the statue's offer, I still had rent to pay, a stomach to feed, and no way to do either.

I started to wonder what would have happened if I'd taken the deal. If I had lived a few minutes without it, could I have gone through the whole day? Just once, just so I could have enough to keep going?

Either way, it was too late now.

That night was the first in weeks that I didn't hear the statue's voice. I laid in bed for hours, staring at my covered window. It never came. After weeks of the voice keeping me awake, I suddenly couldn't fall asleep without it.

I got up the same time that morning, and made my way down to the alleyway with my umbrella once more.

The tarp was unmoved, protecting the statue beneath it from the nighttime rainstorm. I wasted no time in reaching out and flinging the tarp off the statue's head.

The statue was no different than last time. I stared, and wondered if I truly had missed my chance and could no longer hear the statue's voice, if it was even speaking to me. But then, the faint light reappeared, the horned face illuminated, and it spoke to me.

So, you've returned. A wise choice.

I sat on the ground to look the creature in the eyes, and asked if I could truly survive a full day without my heart.

Of course, it said, In my hands, you and your heart are safe.

The statue's arm began to twist in the same manner it had the day before, hand cupped and gathering a small pool of rainwater. This time, the sensation of a stone hand entering my chest was welcome.

The weakness came over me again. My body struggled to hold itself up, but it didn't affect me quite as much as the last time. Still, I found myself on all fours, staring at my own haggard reflection in the puddles below.

When I looked up, I saw my heart, beating in the palm of the statue.

Return tomorrow, and you may retrieve both your heart and the payment. Any earlier, and you keep your heart, but the deal is off.

Furiously, I argued that it had offered me the silver rupee upfront yesterday, and that I gave it my heart expecting the payment right away.

You declined that offer, it said. Come tomorrow morning. You'll receive your reward.

The hand curled down, and my heart vanished with it.

The statue became quiet and didn't respond to my shouting. I was more afraid than angry - what was I thinking, giving up my heart for nothing more than a silver rupee?

Tomorrow was the last day of the month, the day my rent was due. What if the statue had been lying? What if when I returned the next day, it would keep both my heart and the rupee? What if I died in the next hour despite what it told me?

Alone in the alleyway, I was left with only my thoughts. I straightened my back, and tried to calm my breathing. I raised my shivering hands to my chest.

No heartbeat.

I was frozen with anxiety, but I was still breathing. Still alive. I didn't drop dead in the damp alleyway like I thought I would. When the rain stopped, I managed to stand and slowly, carefully, make my way back to my apartment.

I was terrified that the slightest slip up could be my demise. My body ached, and I could feel the hollow pit in my chest where my heart should have been. I moved so carefully I was almost silent.

I spent the entire day like that, hyper aware of my vulnerability. I regretted my decisions and expected to drop dead at any moment. I didn't.

Night fell, and I crawled into bed. I didn't rest, but this time it was not the voice or lack of it keeping me awake. I was afraid that if I were to fall asleep, I wouldn't wake up.

I waited until the sky turned light. I was running on empty, after multiple nights with no rest, and the weight of my heart hanging over my head.

I heeded the words of the statue - if I returned even a minute too early, I feared it would refuse my payment, and it all would have been for nothing. So I waited, and waited, until I was sure I was safe.

For what I thought was the last time, I took my umbrella and went to meet the statue.

I realized I'd forgotten to put the tarp back over the statue the morning before. Exposed, it sat, waiting for me to approach. Too afraid to speak, I stood in front of the statue and held out my hand. The lights flickered, and the voice chuckled.

Straight to business. Clever girl.

I didn't dare to blink as the arms moved simultaneously, my heart on the right side and the rupee on the left, until they were raised to meet my waiting hand.

I grasped for my heart and shoved it into my chest, the relief flowing through me like a crashing wave. The ache in my back faded, my heartbeat returned, and I sighed, tears coming to my eyes.

I'd done it. I'd survived.

The statue stayed still as I reached for the rupee, and I gripped it with all my might. Hylia forbid I be too careless and lose what I'd suffered so much for.

Our transaction is done. The statue said, but before you go, I have another proposition for you.

I felt a pit form in my stomach at the words. I was absolutely certain I wanted nothing to do with this statue ever again, but foolishly, I waited to hear what it said.

If you let me take it for another day, I will triple your reward.

I think, deep down, I knew I would say yes as soon as a heard the price.

My heart beat against my chest, pounding at my ribcage as if to scold me for even considering it. I had just gotten it back, could feel my blood warm and healthy running through my veins, my body stronger than ever. And yet.

I had survived one day without a heart. What was one more?

When I went back to my landlord to pay, I didn't tell them I had another three silver rupees in my pocket.

That night, when I laid down,, a thought occurred to me for the first time. Why did the statue want my heart in the first place? I puzzled over it, until for the first time in weeks, I finally fell asleep.

The next time I spoke to the statue, I asked.

I don't intrude on your reasons for giving it up. You can have your privacy, and I'll have mine.

That was that. I left the statue with an empty ribcage and twice as many rupees as before.

It went on like that for quite a while. I got used to the weak feeling rather quick. I often had the shivers, couldn't stand for long, and found myself taking longer and longer to get up the stairs to my apartment. When I passed by a mirror, I noticed gray hairs and dark circles under my eyes. The only sensation I couldn't get used to, was the nothingness that had replaced my heartbeat.

I always had needs, whether it was food, bills, or replacements, that convinced me to go back to the statue. Until, at least, I found a job. It felt perfectly suited to my skills and paid well enough for me to finally live on my own without the statue's help. I made it through the multiple rounds of interviews, until the employer asked if I'd be willing to move out of Castle Town to be closer to their offices.

I didn't hesitate to say yes, and got the job. I figured that I'd keep using the statue's services until I had enough money to move, and then I'd be free of it forever.

So, on and on we went, trading hearts for rupees again and again. The statue started lengthening the time it would hold on to my heart, a few days, a week, a month. The prices increased with them, so I always said yes.

Eventually I had moved into my new house, and laid in my new bed, ready to fall asleep and retrieve my heart the next morning. Our transactions would finally be over, and with my life on track I'd be free of my financial burdens for good. It was a brand new start, so different than my life had been almost a year ago.

This morning, I walked through my bathroom to get ready. I passed by my mirror, and was struck by how much I've changed. My skin was wrinkled and sagging, my eyes bloodshot, my hair grayer than ever. I looked malnourished, and over a decade older than my real age. The sight frightened me - I could only hope getting my heart back would reverse the damage. Suddenly, my need to get back to my old apartment was even more urgent.

I took the earliest train possible. It was raining, just as it had on my first few visits with the statue. It didn't rain as much in my new area, and I'd forgotten my umbrella. When I got off at my stop, I shivered violently in the cold.

Walking to my apartment was more taxing on my body than I could have expected. My entire body was failing, my muscles weak. I gasped for air, barely able to breathe until I reached the entrance of the old alleyway for the last time.

There it was - the same black tarp as before, in the furthest corner. Relieved, and eager to be free of my contract, I jogged with the last of my energy to put an end to all of this.

I didn't hesitate to throw the tarp up and away as soon as I reached it. Rainwater scattered over me, sticking to my face as my eyes widened, and my jaw dropped.

A pile of trash, and nothing more, sat beneath the tarp.

I stared in shock, and dropped to my knees to dig through the garbage, trying to find the horned statue. It had to be there - it couldn't have left. I scrambled through the trash until I was covered in muck, but found nothing.

It was gone. The statue had tricked me again, and taken my heart for good.

I looked down at the puddles forming in the street. I was even older than before. My hair was white, my teeth rotten, my skin ghostly pale and bruised.

I collapsed entirely, my head hitting the pavement, the water soaking my hair. I sobbed and wretched, panic consuming me entirely, until I passed out.

I woke up a few hours later, and I was… oddly calm. It was exceedingly off putting, but I knew it deep in my soul - I was going to die. Without my heart, I would continue to deteriorate, until I was gone. Dead before my 24th birthday. Not that anyone would believe I was that age, not anymore.

I stood, disconnected from my body in a way I've never felt before. I was completely empty. I found myself walking down the streets, knowing I would never make it back to my new home.

This was the only place I could think to go to. The only place that would believe my story.

I just want to say one thing, before I go. I never meant for things to go this way. All I wanted was a fresh start, and nothing and no one else gave me the opportunity. I never thought it would lead me here. But I was desperate, and I was used.

I think that's why I could hear it's voice in the first place. It knew I couldn't say no.

If you ever come across the horned statue, I beg of you - do not entertain it's bargains. Not even once. You'll never escape it.

ZELDA

Statement ends.

I actually recall when this statement was given. I had just begun working in the Archives as an assistant back then. I remember ambulances arriving in the middle of the day to retrieve an old woman. She had died in her chair moments after finishing her statement. These were her final words.

I remember rushing up the stairs to the main floor to see what was the matter. I didn't see her face - just a thin, wrinkled hand poking out from underneath a covering on a stretcher. When her statement made it's way into the Archive, I was shocked to find out she was only a few years older than me.

As an assistant, I didn't do much more than data entry work. I wasn't allowed to look into the statements the way the researchers did, no matter how much I wanted to, especially with how much my father tried to prohibit me from doing. Now, of course, I have the resources to do exactly that.

Jerrin Firly's identification does confirm she was 23 years old when this occurred. However, the woman who died in the Institute was never identified - she was unrecognizable. So, "officially", Jerrin Firly is recorded to have gone missing the same time an unnamed old woman spontaneously appeared.

I did manage to find the autopsy report for her after her body was taken from the Archives - don't ask how - and they do note her body deteriorated rapidly after death, until it was impossible to work with, and that her heart was missing entirely. But with no leads as to who she truly was, there wasn't much they could do about it. No family to contact, no wounds to imply how it had been removed in the first place. If they used her statement as evidence, it isn't mentioned.

Urbosa went to check out the alley way the statue was said to have been in. It's not far at all. I walk past it on my way to the train. Of course, she found nothing, not even the black tarp Jerrin says she used to cover it.

Now, the truly interesting part of this statement is the statue itself. I recognized the description of the statue to be that of the Horned God. He's not a well known deity, but some believe he was the opposite to Hylia, a god of darkness, power, and bargaining. It's said however, that he was cast away and defeated by her, left to dwell in the shadows.

Was this truly the Horned God, or some other creature using it's face? Or was it that the Horned God was never a god at all, and was based on the statue first? They are clearly connected, but unfortunately there isn't enough information on the Horned God for me to be certain how.

It poses a lot of questions about Hylia herself as well. My family have been devoted to the Goddess Hylia for generations. Everyone says she's the one who gifted my mother with her power of sight, but she's never granted me the same. If she's even real. And with the kinds of things I read everyday, I feel myself doubt more and more.

But if the horned statue truly is the Horned God, what does that mean for Hylia? Where is her influence in all of this?

[ZELDA SIGHS]

Well, it's not my job to speak on religion. There isn't much else I have to say about this statement. I only wish I knew where the statue is now.

Recording ends.

[SHEIKAH SLATE CLOSES]

Chapter Text

[SHEIKAH SLATE OPENS]

[THERE IS A QUIET KNOCK AT ZELDA'S OFFICE DOOR]

ZELDA

Just a moment-!

[ZELDA GETS UP FROM HER DESK TO OPEN THE DOOR]

Oh, good morning Mipha! What can I do for you?

MIPHA

Hello Archivist, um, I was wondering if I could speak to you about something? In private, if that's alright.

ZELDA

Yes, of course, come right in.

[ZELDA SITS BACK DOWN AT HER DESK AND MIPHA FOLLOWS, GENTLY SITTING IN THE CHAIR OPPOSITE ZELDA'S DESK]

ZELDA

What is it you wanted to talk about? Is anything the matter?

MIPHA

Oh no, of course not! I actually wanted to talk to you about giving a statement. My statement.

ZELDA

… Did you overhear Urbosa and Revali's altercation as well?

MIPHA

No - Well, I mean yes, I did. But it's not what convinced me to talk to you. It was actually Link's suggestion.

ZELDA

[SURPRISED]

Link?

MIPHA

Yes. I'm sure you already know he and I are quite close. I've known him since we were children - he used to spend the summers in the Zora's Domain with his family. We've been friends ever since.

He's one of the only people I've ever shared my experience with, back when he first started working down here in the Archives with us. With the kinds of statements we both read, I knew he'd believe what had happened to me. And he did.

He told me I should give my statement, if I ever got the courage to do so. Link is… very dear to me. I trust him more than anyone. It took a while, but here I am.

[A PAUSE]

You seem surprised?

ZELDA

My apologies, I… well, I just didn't expect him to go out of his way to encourage you to come to me. Especially for something so personal.

MIPHA

I've always looked after him, since we were young. I think he was just doing the same for me. He seemed to believe, if I gave my statement, you'd be able to help me…?

ZELDA

[HONESTLY]

Of course, Mipha. I'll do anything I can.

Shall we begin?

MIPHA

Yes, please.

ZELDA

And what is the subject of your statement, if I may ask?

MIPHA

… my healing abilities.

ZELDA

Statement of Mipha Ruta, regarding her healing abilities. Recorded direct from subject. Statement begins.

[SOFTLY]

Whenever you're ready.

[MIPHA TAKES A DEEP BREATHE BEFORE SPEAKING]

MIPHA (STATEMENT)

Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamt of being a doctor. I've always wanted to help people, do everything I could to support someone when they were hurting, or when they couldn't support themselves. My family always told me it was the perfect career for me. I couldn't bear to see someone else in pain and do nothing about it.

I used to fix up Link's injuries all the time. What a reckless child he was. My little brother, Sidon, looked up to Link so much when we were children. They both wanted to help others too, in their own way, which usually ended up with a lot of scraped knees and bruises. But Link never let Sidon get hurt under his watch. He always took the blows for him when they got into trouble.

When I was older, I started out as a caretaker for some of the elders in my community. Then, I went to medical school, still driven by that need to help others.

I excelled in all my classes, but it was still a grueling task. In my darkest moments, when I doubted my skills, I'd visit my dear brother. Sidon would always cheer me up with the biggest grin I've ever seen. Every time he smiled at me, I'd be filled with determination again. He told me to never give up, and I told him to never stop smiling.

Soon enough, I began my residency at Ploymus Hospital, where both my brother and I were born. I felt so lucky to be there, to be able to provide aid directly to my community and the larger Zora population.

I was doing rotations in the Emergency Room as part of my training about six years ago. It was hectic, and terrifying, knowing you had so many people's lives in your hands and so little time. But no matter how stressful it became, I had to maintain a calm demeanor for my patients. One of the most important things about being a doctor is making sure your patients feel safe, comfortable, and relaxed, even in the most dire of situations.

It was heartbreaking working with some of these patients, people I knew, friends and neighbors and classmates going through some of the worst days of their lives. But that only made me more determined to bring a smile as bright as Sidon's to their faces.

There was definitely a spectrum of emergencies people came in for. Some didn't need to come to the ER at all, but I always believed it was better to be safe than sorry, so I don't blame any of them for it. Others had fairly minor injuries, usually due to reckless activities or unsafe working conditions. There were some who needed immediate surgery, and were rushed to the operating room as soon as they entered the doors. And, in the worst case scenarios, in natural disasters or tragic events, people came in ambulances with very little time left.

It was in one of the first of these cases, that I discovered my unusual ability.

An older Zora named Muzu had come in. He had actually been one of my teachers when I was a child. I remember walking into the patient room with my supervisor and he recognized me immediately. He was quite happy to see me, and I was happy to see him, even though I new him to be a bit of a grump most of the time.

He told me his worries, that he'd cut his hand and needed treatment. It didn't look like a deep cut, but I cleaned it thoroughly to make sure no infection would come of it. With a small bandage on his palm, and some instructions on what to do if it didn't heal properly, I was ready to discharge him.

He was still a bit grumpy, and asked me why he wasn't being fully admitted to a hospital room like the others he'd seen from the waiting room. I let him know that luckily, he wasn't in as much danger as they were, and that he'd be able to heal comfortably and quickly at home.

He continued to insist that it was unfair for some people, who arrived later than he had, to get better treatment than him. My supervisor stepped in, explaining that we didn't admit people based on when they arrived, but by how dire their situation was, and that is was a very good thing that he didn't need to prolong his stay. Nevertheless, Muzu only became more agitated.

As he and my supervisor argued, I remember wishing I could just make the wound go away as though it had never existed, and send him on his way. Deep down though I knew he was only acting this way out of concern for his own health, so I sat beside him and gently rested my hands over his.

Because I knew him so well, I knew he'd trust me more than anyone else in the hospital at the moment. I told him he was such an important part of our community, and that I'd never let him leave the hospital if I truly felt there was something wrong. I told him he was strong, and more than capable of getting through this, and that I was completely certain he'd be okay.

As I spoke, I felt a prickling sensation on the palm of one of my hands, but I didn't look at it, keeping my focus on my patient. Muzu finally seemed to calm down, and listened to me intently. Then, he told me he felt better already, like the cut had never even been there, and agreed to leave the hospital.

The change was sudden, but I was grateful for it. I walked him to the exit after he was discharged and wished him a speedy recovery. It was as I waved goodbye to him, that I noticed something dark beneath the blue latex of my gloves.

I removed them to take a quick look, and was shocked to see a cut on the palm of my hand, identical to the one I had just bandaged on Muzu's. I looked at my gloves again, but there was no puncture, no way I could have cut it on something. It was like the wound had opened up on it's own.

I cleaned it up quickly, but I couldn't work with a cut like that, both for precision and sanitation purposes. I alerted my supervisor, wrapped up my own hand, and went home.

The next day, Muzu stopped by unexpectedly. Right in front of me, he tore off the bandage I'd given him and showed me his palm. It was unmarked, not even a scar remained.

He went on about how wonderful of a healer I was, and I didn't tell him that no matter my skills, the cut should never have healed so fast. I asked him when he noticed, and he said he hadn't felt any pain since he left the hospital. That morning he had taken a peek to see if it was healing properly, only to find that it was completely gone.

He thanked me again and went on his way, and as I closed the door I looked at my own injured hand again. There was dried blood on the bandage, and the cut was still very visible on my palm.

I remembered my wish from the day before. Somehow, I'd taken his wound from him just as I had wanted, but in turn I had given it to myself.

I had so many questions, and only saw one way of answering them - going back to the hospital.

The next time I clocked in, I wrapped the foot of a young woman who had sprained her ankle. She walked away pain free, and I limped home. I rested my hand on the head of a man who was suffering intense migraines, and could barely focus the rest of my shift with the pounding in my head. I rubbed the back of a sick child, and had to take multiple breaks to vomit in the bathroom.

At first, I would only heal the minor injuries - bruises, sprains, food poisoning, and the like. It would give myself and the other medical staff and students more time, energy, and resources to help those in greater need. And with this power being so new to me, I didn't want to overdo it, and cause serious damage to myself. At home I would treat myself as best as possible, but the various symptoms still lingered.

Then, the more serious injuries started coming in - this time because of a devastating mudslide. There was one Zora woman who was unconscious and on the brink of death. She was losing too much blood, but we were struggling to stop it with how large her wounds were. In a split second, when all seemed lost, I laid my hands on her shoulder and willed her body to mend itself.

The blood flow trickled to a stop, as before our very eyes, her skin stitched itself back together. I immediately felt the pain transfer to me, and, feigning a stomach ache, I let go and departed as soon as she was healed enough to be safe in the doctor's hands.

The blood seeped through my scrubs as I ran, and I barely made it to the bathroom before it dripped onto the tiled floor. I had only taken half of her suffering. Any more would have surely caused me to pass out. But even half the pain was unbearable, as I tried to absorb the excess blood with a towel.

I had to stitch my own wound shut, clean and bandage it, and find new scrubs, before I went back to work trying to act as though nothing had happened. I found out the woman survived her injuries, though the others struggled to explain how she managed to push through. It didn't matter to any of us, really. We were just happy she survived.

After that, I would start taking half the injuries of some of our worst cases, the ones that seemed near impossible to save. I don't even know how I managed to hide it. It's not uncommon to see someone with blood on their scrubs in a hospital, I suppose. I spent many nights cleaning, stitching, and wrapping my own wounds. I was in unimaginable pain every moment, but knowing I was saving someone else from that pain convinced me that made it all worth it.

Eventually, others noticed. The other students could see I was in pain, even noticed some of my injuries and insisted I check in to the hospital as a patient myself. I couldn't bring myself to do it, though I know I should have. I was so afraid they'd find out what I was doing.

I don't know what I thought they'd do if they found out, but deep down I knew this was something I couldn't tell anyone about. What if they tried to profit off of it, or worse, take it away from me? It wasn't manageable in the slightest, but I stubbornly pushed through anyway. This is what I had always wanted to do, help my community. I saw it as a gift I had to give.

The very last day I used it, was the most terrifying day of my life.

It was late. I was already worn out with all the injuries I had healed that day, and ready to go home, when I received an emergency alert for an incoming patient. I ran to the operation room as my supervisor explained the situation - a Zora, mauled by a lynel on Ploymus mountain. They were barely alive and the odds didn't look good.

When we arrived, I looked down at the table to see my own brother, Sidon.

Perhaps I should have expected it. He loved to go on adventures with Link, and had insisted he was old enough to explore alone when Link was out of town. It wasn't unusual to see him come home with little scrapes and bruises after sneaking out. But I never, ever, expected to see him like this.

He was caked in his own blood and viscera, his torso badly, badly wounded. His skin was torn apart, his face dirty, a broken bone poking up and out from beneath his skin. I could see some of his ribs through the gashes. He was unconscious, barely breathing. The image has been burned into my brain forever. I'll never forget it.

We all jumped into action, but it didn't take long for us to realize there was almost nothing we could do to save him. We had run out of time, and he could die at any moment.

I refused to let that happen. I didn't think about the injuries I already had that day, too afraid that if I let him die, I wouldn't be able to bring him back.

I pushed past the other doctors as they discussed what to do, holding his head in my hands and ordered him to heal. His face was unmoving, but I had to see him smile again.

The pain started in my abdomen. I felt my body being compressed, my ribs cracking under the pressure. I felt the blood rush out of me as my skin broke, my spine collapse, blood clogging my throat. My legs gave out and I crashed into the table, barely holding myself up on my elbows and refusing to let go of my little brother's head.

My memory gets quite fuzzy at that point. I remember shouting, and hands trying to pull me away, but I only screamed louder and dug my fingers into Sidon's skin until it bled. I felt the cuts heal as quickly as they opened on my own face, blood streaming down my neck.

The next thing I remember is waking up in my own hospital bed. My vision was blurry and my thoughts muddled. I couldn't feel anything for a few, blissful moments. But as my vision cleared and my senses return to me, the pain made itself very, very known.

I started to panic as the sharp pain rocketed up my back, through my veins, into my arms and legs, behind my eyes, and most especially in my chest. I was too weak to call out, but I must have started gasping. Doctors and nurses rushed to me, administered more pain relief through an IV in my elbow, but it wasn't enough to ease my pain entirely.

I think I started to cry, but not from how much I was hurting. In a scratchy voice, I asked the doctor if my brother was alive.

She assured me he was, and went to go fetch him. I drifted back into unconsciousness before they came back.

The next time I woke up, it was just me and Sidon. He sat in a chair by my bed, more still than I have ever seen him in his life. When he noticed me turn my head towards him, he jumped up and stood by my side.

He looked like he was about to hug me, but at the last second, he faltered. I was confused, and a little sad. I wanted nothing more than to hug him. But when I tried to move my arms, they retaliated with such a stinging pain I had to grit my teeth together to keep from yelling.

Sidon redirected himself, pulling up his chair with him and ever so gently resting his hand on my forehead. I could see his face clearly now. He looked terrified.

He asked me what I'd done. I hated seeing his face so sorrowful. I missed his smile. But he didn't seem like he wanted to let go of the topic when I asked him what was the matter, so I did my best to answer his questions.

I told him it had started with Muzu's cut. I told him to flip over my hand to see the faded scar on my palm. Then I told him about all the other injuries I had healed, the sprained ankles, the migraines, the sickness and the bruises, and then the more serious wounds, the gashes, the stitches, the bleeding. All up until I'd seen him on the operating table.

Why? he'd asked me, after I explained it all. I let out a short burst of laughter and stopped when it sent another wave of pain through my chest. I told him the obvious, that he was my brother, and I'd do anything to save him.

He shook his head. Why did you take all of my injuries? he'd asked. Why not only half? That would have been more than enough to save me. You nearly died.

Honestly, I hadn't considered it until then, but he was right. His skin was smooth and unmarred by the scars I could feel forming on my body at that very moment. I hadn't let a single bruise remain. I didn't regret it one bit.

The answer was that I couldn't bear to see him in pain. I wanted to let him smile again. And if it meant taking on his pain instead, I would do it all again.

Though now, as he moved his hand from my head to hold mine as gently as possible, he didn't smile. I could see the lines of dried tears rolling down his cheeks, could tell that he hadn't been sleeping with the bags under his eyes. He was quiet for a while. I could tell I'd shaken him, and I felt terrible for it.

He told me he never wanted to see me like this again. He was terrified that I would have died before he ever even knew what had happened to me, what had happened to him.

He said if I'd died it would have been all his fault. I was quick to tell him that wasn't the case. I was the one who made the decision, knowing full well it could have killed me, and I would have been okay with it as long as Sidon lived.

He asked me how he could possibly have known that. That from his point of view, it was his wounds that had somehow cursed his sister and killed her. I didn't know what to say to that.

Then he made me make a promise to him.

Sidon told me never to use my ability again. Not for a sprain, not for a bruise, not even for a paper cut.

In that moment, he was asking the unthinkable. This is what I had always wanted - to serve my community, to support them, to heal them. And somehow, someway, I had been given the opportunity to do exactly that.

This is the power that had saved his life. How could I let such a thing go to waste?

Obviously, I told him no, and he was quiet for a moment. Then he held both my hands in his, and told me I could keep using my powers if I gave back his injuries instead.

I don't know if that was even possible, but I didn't care either way. I pulled my hands away from his.

Weeks later, when my body was healed enough to leave the hospital, I resigned myself from the residency program and dropped out of school.

I couldn't bear to treat more people knowing I had the power to take away their pain for good and couldn't use it. So I left. I became a disappointment to every friend, professor, relative, and neighbor who saw the potential in me. None more so than Muzu, who visited me once to ask why I had given up. I didn't know what to tell him, and he left in a huff. I think as my teacher, he saw it as a poor reflection on himself.

Some people wonder if being a bystander makes you guilty. If when you could have done something, but you didn't, that puts the blame on you. I've been wondering this for the past six years.

I never became a doctor. I wandered around for a couple years, struggling to find a place where I felt useful without my abilities, until I ended up here. Sometimes I regret leaving the program. Sometimes I regret making that promise to Sidon. What more could I have done, if I'd kept healing people? How many others have lost their lives because I wasn't there to save them?

While most of the scars have faded, Sidon's have taken the longest to heal. Every day it's a reminder of what I lost. But as long as Sidon is alive, I have to be alright with that.

[MIPHA LETS OUT A DEEP, SHAKY BREATHE]

ZELDA

[QUIETLY, TO THE SIDE]

Statement ends.

[TO MIPHA]

Mipha… thank you, for telling me. I can't believe you went through all of that.

MIPHA

Thank you, Archivist. It's strange telling someone. Someone besides Sidon or Link, that is.

ZELDA

I'm honored that you trusted me with it. If you'd like, I can keep this statement out of our files, or delete the recording -

MIPHA

No, no, don't worry about that. I'm not bothered by it. There's a reason I wanted to give it to you, after all.

ZELDA

Oh? What is it?

MIPHA

I was hoping you could… promise me something.

[ZELDA HUMS, SURPRISED]

ZELDA

What kind of promise?

MIPHA

I want you to promise me that if something happens, in the Archives, and someone gets hurt - you, or Link, or any of the others - well, I want you to promise that you'll let me heal them.

ZELDA

… I couldn't possibly let you do that.

What about your promise to Sidon?

MIPHA

I hate to lie to him, but I've kept that promise for six years - he's now as old as I was when I gave him my word. And you and I both know that something's coming.

These statements aren't popping up out of nowhere, and they're leading up to something bad. Something dangerous. But that's never stopped you from reading them, studying them, preparing to meet whatever lies ahead. I want to be prepared too.

ZELDA

And you're sure this is what you want?

MIPHA

This is all I've ever wanted to do, Archivist. Help people.

And if I may be so bold, I think it's what you want too. I know you stay overnight reading these statements over and over again. Your dedication has inspired me. Please, let me be of service to you and the Archives.

ZELDA

I hope it never comes to that, Mipha. But if it does…

I'd be honored to have you by my side.

[MIPHA LETS OUT A SIGH OF RELIEF]

MIPHA

Thank you, Archivist-

ZELDA

Zelda. You can call me Zelda.

[MIPHA SMILES]

MIPHA

Thank you, Zelda.

[SHEIKAH SLATE CLOSES]

Chapter Text

[SHEIKAH SLATE OPENS]

[SHUFFLING BOXES AND BOOKS CAN BE HEARD, AND THE AUDIO HAS MORE OF AN ECHO THAN USUAL]

ZELDA

Alright - this is Zelda Bosphoramus, Head Archivist of the Hyrule Institute. apologies if the audio isn't quite the same - I'm actually at my childhood home right now.

This is a rather unique statement, if I can even call it that. I came here trying to look for the Thunder Helm for Urbosa, actually. I thought, perhaps, my mother had hidden it here, but… I haven't found it yet.

[ZELDA SIGHS]

Anyway, as I was searching I came across some of my own items, from when I was a child. I didn't have the types of things you'd expect a child to have, for the most part. I've found microscopes, construction tools, knitting kits, bug collections, a typewriter. The closest thing to a toy I had was this 3D model of a hot-footed frog.

[ZELDA CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

I remember begging my parents for it - my father said I was too young to properly take care of such an item, thinking I'd treat it like a toy. But my mother recognized my curiosity for what it was and encouraged me to study it. When we came home with it, I went outside to catch frogs in our backyard and compare them to the model, and write down all the differences in my notebook.

[SOLEMN]

Those all got thrown away after mother passed. I wish I still had them.

Well, point is, I was a very studious child. With every new interest I had, I got a lot of books to go along with them. One of my first interests was the history of Hyrule itself, which has persisted throughout my entire life. My mother found this set of illustrated children's stories by an author who retold ancient folklore in a format young children could digest. It looks like the author's penname is Kass.

I found this set again as I was looking, and recognized every title - except one. There were ten in all, and I read them so often I could probably recite them by memory alone. But there's this eleventh one I have absolutely no memory of.

[ZELDA PICKS UP THE HARDCOVER BOOK ON HER HANDS AND FLIPS THROUGH THE PAGES]

It's called Commander Ka'o Makagh - I don't recognize the name off the top of my head, but the character on the cover, I do recognize.

It looks like Malanya, or the Horse God, a minor deity sometimes considered one of the Great Fairies in the Hyrule mythos. I - very briefly - tried learning how to ride horses when I was a teenager, and the stable I went to had a mask of Malanya above the entrance. I asked my teacher about it, and by the end of the lesson I was far more interested in the folklore of the Horse God than horses themselves.

When I started reading through this book, I realized it was very different from the others. Darker, and more explicit and the child-friendly versions of folk tales I'd grown up with. And, well, I happened to have the Slate with me while I was searching in case I actually found the Helm, so I figured, why not record this while I'm here?

So, without further ado -

[ZELDA FLIPS BACK TO THE FIRST PAGE]

Statement of… myself, I suppose. Regarding the contents of a mysterious book by children's author 'Kass'. Sheikah Slate recording by Zelda Bosphoramus, head Archivist of the Hyrule Institute. Statement begins.

ZELDA [STATEMENT]

The history of Hyrule is storied and long

Once such story is that of Commander Ka'o Makagh

Mountains and valleys were conquered and taken

Terrorized and agonized the Hyrule people were shaken

Commander Ka'o Makagh traveled the lands high and low

Searching for a power only the Gods could bestow

He slaughtered and slaughtered in his violent upheaval

Until he came across the stable of the Highland people

One horse did he ride, but never did feed

He hated his mount and used it only for speed

In return the horse kicked and threw the Commander off it's back

With the crack of a whip the horse was put back on track

Take in my horse, the Commander said, and provide me only the best -

Your heartiest meal and a grand bed for me to rest

Do me these things, and I'll spare you for now

Or else I'll burn you and your stable to the ground

The master of the stable provided what was due

He took in the horse and cooked up a fine carrot stew

And when the Commander laid down to rest

He laid in the bed they claimed was the best

A canopy high and a mask mounted on the headboard

Looking down at the Commander as he shuffled and snored

In the Commanders dream he heard a voice in the dark

He listened close to hear it's remark -

I am Malanya, God of Horses and Mounts

Near a stable in Faron my spring can be found

When the Commander awoke he was set on a new goal

To find who had spoken to him and put them under his control

The Commander went to the stable master to know more

To find the Horse God, he said, where should I explore?

The stable master was reluctant but shared what he knew

To find the Horse God go past Haran Lake so blue

And then ride alongside the wall of the Nette Plateau

Across the Horse God bridge, rushing waters below

There you would find Malanya's magical spring

But be sure to prepare a payment to bring

Only then could he speak to the Horse God, the master said,

And Malanya would bring back one steed from the dead

The Commander amazed set out at once to see this power

He took up his horse and left at the earliest hour

When he approached the bridge, he dismounted his horse with a sinister plan

He kicked it about and pulled at the reigns till in panic it ran

Down the rickety bridge with no where to go

The horse galloped straight into the waters below

Satisfied the Commander crossed all alone till he reached his destination

And stopped at the base of Malanya's Spring to have a conversation

The voice from the night returned in his mind, loud and clear

A giant jeweled hand from the spring did appear

Said the voice of the God, 1,000 rupees I require

Only then will I reveal myself and grant you your desire

The Commander paid the price at once in full

With the riches he stole from people all across Hyrule

When the price had been paid, the Horse God arose from below

Towering over the Commander, Malanya spoke with a voice low -

I see that one horse under your care has passed away tragically

Drowned and washed away by the river quite dramatically

I'll bring your horse back for freeing me from the spring, if that's your request

But if I find out the horse died at your hands I'll eat you myself - but I jest

Fearless, the Commander assured Malanya he'd done nothing wrong

And with a flick of the Horse God's wrist, his steed reappeared, healthy and strong

Not only was the horse in top shape, it obeyed every command

The Commander was pleased, and as he rode off he planned

Three powerful horses the Commander decided he would slay

And bring them to Malanya to revive and do all he would say

First on the Commander's list was the white stallion of the wilderness

Said to be descended from Royal horses, no horse was more vigorous

He chased down the steed, which was quite a chore

Till he cornered it on a cliff, and the white horse was no more

He returned to Malanya, another tragic death to reverse

The God was dismayed by the loss, and undid the curse

I'm happy to revive such a loyal companion, the Horse God expressed

But if I find out the horse died at your hands I'll eat you myself - but I jest

The second of the horses was larger than any other, and stronger too

The giant horse of an ancient evil king, a challenge through and through

The Commander sparked the giant horse's temper and got it to charge at him alone

Jumping out of the way at the last second, the horse cracked it's own skull open on stone

He returned to Malanya, more lies to tell

The God undid the death, and made the horse well

I'm troubled to see you lose another fine steed, the Horse God professed

If I find out the horse died at your hands I'll eat you myself - but I jest

The last of the steeds was a mystical creature

The Lord of the Mountain, with little horse-like features

The Commander went to sneak up on the Lord one fateful night

And set it aflame, letting the mountain come alight

One last time to Malanya the Commander returned

But the multiple deaths had the Horse God concerned

I'll revive one more steed, but grant me one truthful answer

How did your horses perish in such tragic manners?

The ruse was up, and the Commander confessed

I killed them myself, so they'd serve me best

Four horses I killed to sacrifice to you for your power

Now join me in my conquest, and the land of Hyrule will be ours

Malanya was angered beyond comprehension

Even the Commander noticed the violent tension

The Horse God raised one hand to the four steeds under the Commander's reign

The white stallion, the giant horse, the Lord, and the first he had slain

All four horses raised up on hind legs prepared to stampede

Straight for the Commander they charged at full speed

The Commander was crushed under powerful hooves, barely alive

His body was broken, bruised, and he begged the God to let him survive

The steeds ran free as the Horse God's masked head lowered

Over the body of the once-great Commander as he cowered

Piece by piece, Malanya ripped him to shreds

And ate and ate until the Horse God was fed

With one last swallow the Commander was no more

And Malanya retreated to the spring as before

The history of Hyrule is storied and long

But this was the end of Commander Ka'o Makagh

ZELDA

This story is by far the longest of Kass's work I own, and easily the most gruesome. I'll be taking pictures with the Slate to capture the illustrations that went along with each verse, but I'll say now that they are… extremely detailed. Certainly not at all appropriate for the age group they were written for.

I'm going to head to the library for now, because it's closer than the Archives, to see if I can do some more research. It's not like I was making any progress on finding the Thunder Helm here. At least now I'll be doing something worth while.

I'll update with what I find when I get there.

[SHEIKAH SLATE CLOSES]

[SHEIKAH SLATE OPENS]

[THE LIBRARY IS MOSTLY QUIET, WITH THE MUFFLED SOUNDS OF PEOPLE WORKING AND FLIPPING PAGES IN THE BACKGROUND. ZELDA SETS ALL HER THINGS DOWN AT A TABLE BEFORE SITTING DOWN HERSELF]

ZELDA

[WHISPERING]

So, there have been some developments. First, I went to the kid's section to try and find the original set of books by Kass that I had as a child. He is still quite a popular author, though he hasn't published anything in years, I found plenty of his books on the shelves. Despite this, I didn't find a single copy of Commander Ka'o Makagh.

I asked one of the librarians if they could help me find it, but she didn't recognize the title. When she went to look it up, she told me no book of that title existed.

Honestly, I was a little relieved by this. If the book had existed, that meant somebody would have had to break into my house and put it there themselves, which… greatly disturbs me. I suppose that's still a possibility, but a single book with no record of existing in the first place appearing spontaneously seems more likely.

I thanked the librarian for her help and went to the computer station instead. There was only one person who could possibly have any information about the book, and that would be the author himself.

With a little digging, I managed to find his phone number and address in Rito Village.

Rito Village isn't too far by train. I'm going to head there now - I even checked out a few books to read on the ride.

[ZELDA GATHERS UP HER THINGS AGAIN]

[SHEIKAH SLATE CLOSES]

[SHEIKAH SLATE OPENS]

[THE AUDIO IS MUFFLED FROM THE INSIDE OF ZELDA'S BAG. IT IS WINDY OUTSIDE, AND RITO CAN BE HEARD BUSTLING ABOUT THE VILLAGE IN THE BACKGROUND]

[ZELDA KNOCKS ON A DOOR. NO RESPONSE. ZELDA HUMS A TUNE WHILE SHE WAITS]

[SOMEONE APPROACHES FROM BEHIND, BUT ZELDA DOESN'T NOTICE. SHE BEGINS TO KNOCK ONCE MORE-]

KASS

Excuse me-

ZELDA

Oh! I'm so sorry, I didn't see you - are you Mr. Kass?

KASS

I am! Please, no worries. You actually came at the right time - I'm usually out in the wild rather than at home. I hope you didn't have to wait too long. What can I help you with?

ZELDA

No, not at all, I just got here. I'm Zelda Bosphoramus, I'm work at the Hyrule Institute. I hate to drop by unannounced, but - well - I wanted to talk to you about this.

[ZELDA PULLS THE BOOK OUT OF HER BAG TO SHOW IT TO KASS]

[KASS TAKES THE BOOK WITH A SURPRISED HUM]

KASS

…Commander Ka'o Makagh… how did you—

ZELDA

So… you recognize it?

KASS

I do - I wrote it. The question is, how did you manage to get a copy?

ZELDA

That's what I'd like to talk to you about, if that's alright.

KASS

Of course, of course - here, join me.

[KASS TAKES A SEAT ON A ROCKING CHAIR ON HIS PORCH AND ZELDA FOLLOWS]

So, tell me, how did you came across this book? This is a story I'm very interested to hear.

ZELDA

Well, as I said, I work for the Hyrule Institute - have you heard of it?

KASS

I can't say I have.

ZELDA

We collect statements from people about… strange happenings. Anomalies, the supernatural, etc. I was recently promoted to Head Archivist, so it's my job to organize them and do additional research with my team.

KASS

Oh, congratulations! That sounds like important work.

ZELDA

[PLEASANTLY SURPRISED]

It is! By studying the strange events of the past, we may be better prepared for what comes in the future. Or at least, that's what I think. Not everyone agrees.

KASS

You know, that's one of the reasons I started writing my books. I'm inspired by ancient songs and legends from cultures all around Hyrule, and what they can teach us now. I think children especially benefit from these stories. They are our future, and I think, in a way, my books help prepare them.

So yes, not everyone agrees, but I certainly do. There's a lot we can learn from the past.

ZELDA

I actually had a set of your books as a child. I loved them - that's actually what led me to discover this book.

I was doing some… research, I guess you could call it, for a different statement. And I came across my old books, and found this one among them. I'd never heard of it before, even though I recognized all of your other books in my collection. And with a little more digging, I realized it didn't exist at all.

You said you wrote this book?

KASS

I did. I finished it only a year or so ago actually, but never moved forward with publishing it.

I like to travel a lot. It allows me to learn so much more about the legends I use in my stories. A few years ago, I made my journey to the Fural Plains by chance, and stayed at the Highland Stable. The stable master recognized me, and eagerly told me about her own people's legend of the Horse God, Malanya.

She offered to let me rest in their finest bed, which according to her, would sometimes give you dreams and messages straight from Malanya themself. Intrigued, I said yes, and laid down to rest.

That night, I was plagued with the terrifying visions of what the Commander did to those horses. It was like I could feel every stab and breaking of bones just as the horses did. And by the end, I felt the same fury as Malanya.

When I woke up, I was amazed and a little scared by what I'd seen. Usually, I do my own research, but this was truly a vision. And if it really was from the Horse God, I had a feeling they showed me these things for a reason.

That morning, when the stable master asked if I'd seen anything, I asked her about the Commander I'd seen in my dreams. Delighted I had received a vision, she told me I must be talking about Commander Ka'o Makagh - an ancient colonizer who had supposedly disappeared not too far from here. However, she didn't seem to know it had been Malanya who got rid of him when I told her everything I'd seen.

The imagery haunted me for a long time. I had to get it out, and set to illustrating right away. No matter how detailed it was, I never really managed to capture what it was truly like. The Commander was a violent man, who met a violent end.

Eventually, I finished the first draft and sent it to my publisher. I wasn't really surprised when she said it was far too gruesome for a children's novel, and that I should scrap it. I knew as I was writing it that it was different from all of my other published books, and not suitable for my usual audience.

Still, I always had this feeling that these darker stories needed to be told. I just didn't know to whom. Not until now.

ZELDA

"Stories" - as in, you have more?

KASS

I do. This isn't the only dark story I've come across that I couldn't publish. Hyrule has many epic legends and heroic stories, but just as many tales of violence and tragedy.

I didn't use these stories because I wanted to bring lessons of hope and perseverance to the children of Hyrule. But that doesn't mean these legends should stay in the dark forever.

Perhaps it is time someone shed some light on them.

ZELDA

If you'd allow me to, I'd be honored to add your writings to our Archives. I believe it would do us a lot of good.

KASS

I'd like that as well. It's been a while since I took a look at them, but if I find any I think could help you, I'll be sure to send them your way.

I am truly inspired by what you are doing, Miss Bosphoramus. I believe something dark is approaching Hyrule - so many legends I have read, warning of times like these when impossible horrors sprout up across the land. I am glad to be able to provide my assistance in preparing for it.

ZELDA

Thank you very much. With your help, I am certain we will prevail. I am very grateful for our conversation.

[ZELDA STANDS FROM HER CHAIR TO GO]

KASS

As am I. Oh, one last thing -

[KASS HOLDS OUT THE COPY OF COMMANDER KA'O MAKAGH TO ZELDA]

I believe this is yours.

[ZELDA REACHES OUT FOR IT HESITANTLY]

ZELDA

Are you sure? It's your writing, after all-

[ZELDA GRASPS THE BOOK, BUT KASS DOESN'T LET GO, KEEPING HER THERE FOR A MOMENT AS HE LOWERS HIS VOICE]

KASS

This book came to you for a reason. I encourage you to remember it as you progress in your goal.

Do not test the entities and their powers that you encounter on your journey. Don't let them take over, and do not abuse them. Be very careful, Miss Bosphoramus. I don't want you to end up like the Commander.

ZELDA

I understand.

[THE BOOK SLIPS FROM KASS'S HANDS AND ZELDA PUTS IT IN HER BAG]

KASS

And feel free to drop by whenever you'd like. I'd be happy to see you again.

ZELDA

Well, I have a lot to do for the Archives, but - I'll see what I can do.

Thank you, Mr. Kass.

[AS ZELDA WALKS AWAY, SHE HEARS A PING ON THE SLATE AND PULLS IT OUT]

Oh, Hylia, I didn't mean to record all that— how did it even—

[SHEIKAH SLATE CLOSES]

Chapter Text

[SHEIKAH SLATE OPENS]

ZELDA

—don't have to do this, you know.

REVALI

Believe me, I'm aware. This is for your benefit, or the Institutes benefit, however you want to put it. You need my knowledge and experience to defeat the evils of Hyrule, and in that case, how can I refuse?

ZELDA

Well, thank you, Revali, these statements really do help uncover—

REVALI

Yes, yes, I get it. I've been working here long enough to understand the situation. Whatever it is we're up against, I won't hesitate to take it down when the time comes. And if that little bodyguard of yours can't handle it, don't come crying to me.

ZELDA

Link’s not my - I know you don't like him, Revali—

REVALI

Oh, noticed have you? It's not like I've been down here for years, actually reading these statements and understanding the danger we're in every day. And Bosphoramus thinks he can send just any old guard from the top floor to protect us from it? It's insulting.

If anyone's equipped to protect us, it's me. That fool doesn't even know what he's getting into.

ZELDA

Listen, if I could get rid of him, I'd do it in a heartbeat. But for whatever reason, my father believes he has what it takes to work down here, and try as I might, there's nothing I can do to change his mind. And I've tried, trust me.

I dislike him just as much as you do Revali. But we can't afford to let that distract us. The best we can do is try to keep him out of our way, and do our work.

REVALI

[REVALI HUFFS]

Fine. It seems both our hands are tied.

ZELDA

Indeed.

[AWKWARD PAUSE]

REVALI

Can we get on with it then?

ZELDA

Oh, right. First, would you mind telling me what your statement is about-—

REVALI

Oh, for Hylia's sake, just give that to me-

[REVALI PICKS UP AND SPEAKS DIRECTLY INTO THE SHEIKAH SLATE]

Statement of Revali Medoh, concerning his otherworldly flying skills. Recorded direct from subject, blah, blah, blah. Statement begins.

REVALI (STATEMENT)

I am - I was a professional athlete for many years. I'm sure you remember my skills in college. That was only the beginning of my flying prowess, and I was already the best flier and archer that school has ever seen. I competed for many years after, traveling all across Hyrule to prove myself to be the champion of the Rito.

That all changed a few years ago.

I was preparing for the most grueling competition of my fields - a combination of archery and flying. A centuries old Rito-tradition, that had begun making it's way into the entertainment industry for all of Hyrule.

The rules are simple. The athletes will start at top of the Tabantha Flight Range, soar as high as possible, and then dive straight back down, hitting targets before landing at the bottom. The competitor with the highest flight, most targets hit, and shortest time, will win.

The challenge itself is difficult for multiple reasons. One, the winds in Tabantha are cold and fierce. It's difficult to keep control of yourself in those winds, especially when trying to fly straight up. Two, you can't afford to lose momentum and soar down slowly enough to hit the targets with total confidence. You have to have enough precision to hit the targets in a full-speed dive. And last, you have to know your own limits. Go too high, or dive too fast, you'll become dizzy and almost uncontrollable.

Several athletes have faced terrible wounds due to these conditions. But to me, it would be nothing.

I was confident in my ability to win, but not so arrogant that I wouldn't keep myself in shape in preparation for the competition. I was better than everyone else, but my true opponent was myself. I refused to just win. I had to be better than ever before.

In the months leading up to the event, I trained every hour of every day at the Flight Range. My coaches thought I was overworking, but I was just pushing myself to my limit. It was nothing I couldn't handle. The Flight Range became my home. I would only leave to sleep, then wake up before dawn and make the my way there again.

First, I worked on my control. I had to be able to cut through violent wind and possibly snow like it was nothing. So, I would perch myself at the edge of the Flight Range, harness the wind all around me, and launch myself up with all my strength.

At first, I could only manage to shoot straight upwards for a few seconds. Eventually, the winds would tear at my wings, throwing me off balance, until I went spiraling back down to the cliff. The icy snow would break my fall, but I suffered soreness and bruises every day. It didn't matter to me though. As soon as I fell, I'd shake myself off, and go at it again.

It took weeks for my work to pay off. Eventually, my technique was perfect. I didn't even wobble in the wind and I had perfect control over my trajectory, landing gracefully on my feet whenever I decided to return to the ground. But it wasn't enough for me. I had to be more than perfect. I had to harness the wind itself.

So when I was urged to head back to Rito Village when a terrible storm was forecast, I knew exactly what to do.

The Rito that came to warn me seemed concerned when I brushed off their message and instead turned to look at the dark clouds rolling in over the mountains in anticipation. I told them to go one back without me, and knowing better than to start a fight with me, they did.

Watching the storm clouds roll in with increasing ferocity and speed pumped my heart with adrenaline. The suspense was enough to get my heart pumping more than any of my previous drills had. I only had to wait a few minutes before the storm was on top of me.

The sky went dark, covered entirely by the clouds. I felt the sharp sting of hail coming down on my feathers and grinned at the extra challenge. No Rito would ever dare to fly in a storm like this, much less expect to make it out alive. No one but me.

With a powerful flap of my wings, I flew straight into the storm.

My body was already shaking from the strain I'd put on it in my training that day, but flying through the storm brought it to a whole new level. I felt like I was on fire, as the wind whipped around me, I continued my ascent with determination.

I only got to experience a few moments of success in my hard work when things went wrong. I could feel myself start to lose my coordination as the clouds blinded me and the hail pelted my body. Refusing to give up so quickly, I pushed myself even higher.

Then, I saw something. A pinprick of the sky, shining like a beacon. I thought it was the eye of the storm, and I knew I had to reach it, in order to escape the situation that was becoming more dangerous by the second. Though the thought of giving up was unbearable, I changed course until the spot was directly above me.

To my surprise, the winds only became fiercer when I lined myself up with the swirling clouds above me. I quickly realized this wasn't the eye of the storm - but then, what was it? Curious and desperate, I tried to push myself to reach it, hoping I would still find safety on the other side.

Instead, my wings gave out, and the storm ripped me away across the sky.

I landed in the snow and took shelter at the Flight Range until the storm passed. Disappointed in my failure, I refused to tell anyone what had happened.

Despite the blow to my ego, I didn't slow down in my training. I started practicing my archery, striking the targets over and over again. I swoop up and down and around the flight range, dizzying myself on purpose to prove I could push through it.

Sometimes I'd clip my wing on the stone walls of the Flight Range, and go tumbling down, or my arrow would go flying in the wrong direction. I grew more and more frustrated, and more and more determined not just to get it right, but to get it perfect.

I was improving quickly. I could hit almost every target with a perfect bullseye, even firing multiple arrows off at once. It was growing late, but I decided not to leave until I hit every target at once, right in the middle.

The sky was clear that day, and I was unobstructed by the clouds or snow as I dove down towards my targets. This would be it, my perfect run, I could feel it in my bones. I stretched my bow between my claws, aligned three arrows, locked my sight on the targets and—

A sudden roar came from above. Instinctively I whipped my body around, changing course at the last second and sending all my arrows astray. I looked up at the sky, but it was as empty as before.

The roar was loud, and long, but it sounded as if it was coming from far, far away. I didn't think about the implications of that at the time. Just landed at the top of the Flight Range, angry that my attempt had been interrupted. I was tired, and it was late, and I was not in the mood to deal with any monsters.

I didn't let any of that stop me, and took flight once again.

I twisted and dove, spinning and twirling through the air, sending arrows flying. Three by three, the targets where hit. I was back where I'd started, the last three targets in sight, when the roar came again.

I didn't look up this time, but I let the arrows fly too early, sending them down to the very bottom of the Flight Range. As I gathered my arrows, and looked to the sky once more.

This time, I saw it. The spiral of clouds I'd seen in the storm.

It was high, high above me. A barely visible gray pinprick against the stars. There was no wind, but the clouds turned slowly anyway, the only clouds in my entire field of vision.

I nocked my arrow and aimed for the sky.

From the bottom of the Flight Range, my arrow flew, fueled with all my anger and frustration at being interrupted. It soared, higher and higher, right into the eye of the clouds.

I intended to wait for my arrow to come back down to collect it, but as soon as my arrow flew through the loop, the clouds dispersed, and the sky was empty once more. The arrow never came back down.

I no longer had enough arrows to hit all the targets in one go, so I abandoned my goal, cursing whatever had distracted me the whole way home. I purchased an entire new quiver of arrows, not wanting to explain to anyone why one was missing.

Soon enough, the competition was upon me. I worked myself to the bone right up until the day of. It's usually good practice to take a week of relaxed exercise before competing, but I knew I hated the thought of loosing any progress, and knew I'd be able to handle the strain, unlike my competitors.

It was lightly snowing that day. Nothing like the storm, but not as ideal as a clear sky would have been. Of course, that didn't bother me. I knew I'd come out on top no matter what.

Many Rito where there to participate, and hundreds of people all across Hyrule came to watch. The other athletes and I all lined up in a circle around the flight range, ready to take off. The judges stood on the dock overhanging the flight range, watching all of us with sharp eyes.

Before starting we all received a tracking device to clip to our feathers - this would measure the peak of our ascent, and keep everyone withing the bounds of the Flight Range. If we went out of bounds, we'd be disqualified, and if something went wrong, Rito lifeguards could catch a fallen athlete before they crashed.

I was eager to get going. I could feel the adrenaline coursing through me, just staring up at the sky, and the challenge ahead. This is what would energize me, fuel me, push me to the highest height I had ever flown. My bow was strung across my back, and the weight of it kept me grounded and focused. I brushed my wing against the arrows at my hip, ready to pull them out at a moments notice.

The bell rang. I surged into the sky.

For the first few moments, everything was a flurry of multicolored feathers and wings as we all fought our way to the top of the pack. I twisted and turned around the other athletes in record time, flying out the top of the group like a bullet.

It didn't take long for the other's to start catching up to me, but I knew they'd never make it. Higher and higher I soared, pushing harder than every before. The snow became a blur at the corner of my vision.

The excited cheers of the crowd faded, until all I could hear was the biting wind rushing past me.

It was perfect. Flawless. I expected nothing less.

The air grew thin, but I didn't stop. I was miles ahead of everyone else, cutting through the sky like a knife, unstoppable.

I had surely blown past my personal record, and was in perfect shape to veer back down to take my shots at the targets, when something above me faded into view.

The spiral of clouds was back, and closer than ever before.

For a brief moment, the competition was forgotten. If I flew a little higher, I'd reach it, finally see what it was, and what was on the other side.

My muscled burned, the wind and snow grew stronger, but I flapped as hard as I could until I finally flew through the other side.

What I found was… nothing.

An endless expanse of clouds, all around me, in every direction. My pace slowed as I soared through the clouds, but I was still rising upwards with incredible speed. Even as I passed layers and layers of clouds, I felt like I was barely making any progress. There was still so much sky above me.

The first thing I noticed after the clouds was the lack of snowfall. My feathers were still covered in the snowflakes I'd flown through, but here, there were none. Then I noticed the lack of wind, the cloudy sky undisturbed and eerily silent.

My breaths came out in puffs as I remembered where I was, what I was doing - I was in the middle of a race, for goodness sake. With a shake of my head I flipped straight back down, diving at top speed.

I pierced through the clouds one after another, dragging a trail behind me as I fell, faster and faster.

Everyone knows you fall faster than you fly, and that the longer you fall the more momentum you gather. It's simple physics. But after a minute or so in a perfect dive, I was still surrounded by clouds.

I kept waiting for the mountains of Hebra to fade into view, but they never did. I started to worry that a storm had rolled in, obscuring the ground below me and that I could crash at any moment. But that didn't make sense, because I couldn't hear the crowd, or my fellow athletes, or the rushing wind, or feel the cold pinprick of snow.

I swooped out of my dive, soaring slightly downwards as I figured out what was going on. I had to be lost, right? That's the only explanation I could come up with, at least.

All I had to do was keep flying in a large circle until the life guards noticed my tracker was out of bounds, and came looking for me.

It took an hour for me to give up on that plan.

So, no one was coming for me. Maybe my tracker was broken, maybe I'd flown so high it didn't know how to compute it. Whatever the reason was, I couldn't rely on it anymore.

I abandoned my endless circling and drifted along, keeping an eye out below me at all times, hoping something would reveal itself. Another hour passed, and nothing. Then another. And another.

A day passed. I shouted out but only heard my own voice echo across the vast sky. No one responded.

I didn't sleep that night - or, what I could only assume was night. The clouds didn't change, and I had only my internal clock to rely on. I couldn't close my eyes even for a second, afraid that I would plummet to my death.

The Rito are built for the skies. We used to migrate across distant lands in ancient times, for days on end. But journey like that takes a lot of preparation, resources, and sustenance to keep us going.

I had none of that. I'd spent months pushing my body to the limit for this competition, and couldn't handle the strain of endurance like this. My stomach ached. My throat was parched. My eyes were dry and my vision blurry. I was barely conscious.

With the state I was in, no one would believe what I told them. But I know what I saw.

There was a shadow in the distance. Faint, but certainly there, twisting behind the clouds. I followed the line of the shadow, but it never seemed to end. Suddenly, I was back on high alert. My claw twitched for my bow.

Suddenly the air was charged with electricity, my feathers puffing up uncontrollably. My ears popped, and a shiver ran through me. Then I heard the roar, the one I'd heard in my training practice, the one that was so loud and yet so distant. It rose into a crescendo, assaulting my ears in such a manner that I instinctively covered them.

I fell quickly, but the roar was so loud I didn't move my wings until it was over, tumbling head over heals in a dizzying plummet. By the time I had slowed my fall, the shadow was gone.

I swiveled my head back and forth, rising and falling, trying to catch a glimpse of what made that noise. I didn't see anything in my peripheral vision, but I felt something. A presence behind me.

I didn't hesitate to flip myself around and draw my bow.

There was an eye, larger than anything I had ever seen. It cast a green glow on me, just enough for me to see it's feathery mane and scaled head. This was only part of a much, much larger creature.

The eye stared down at me, wide but unfeeling. Like I was nothing to it. A speck on the endless cloudy horizon. That moment was the first time I have ever truly felt insignificant.

I hated it. I was the best of my sport, a champion of the skies, and all of a sudden I was nothing more than a buzzing fly to whatever this creature was. I couldn't handle feeling lesser than something. So I let my arrow fly.

It was a perfect bullseye. It struck the massive creature in it's pupil. Golden blood spewed from the spot like a glittering waterfall. The eye rolled in it's socket, and I felt the roar like never before. It physical pushed me back, my body shaking from the force of it. I shot desperately at it once more, but the arrow veered off course. It struck the creature on it's eyelid, and an electric green scale was shed.

The roar became overwhelming. My head felt as though it was about to explode. Blood began streaming from my ears, as the last of my energy abandoned me.

My vision faded fast. The last thing I saw as I fell, was the glittering scale falling alongside me.

When I woke up, I was at the bottom of the Flight Range.

I knew instantly I was horrendously injured. My wings broken, my beak chipped, bones shattered by what must have been my impact with the ground.

I heard screams of terror and worry, blearily saw Rito land and rush to my aid. I didn't have the energy to push them away if I wanted to. I was lifted onto a stretcher, and rose from the Flight Range.

My could barely see, but I when we reached the top, I saw the crowds from the competition, still there, all standing in their seats to lean and catch a glimpse of me.

Why were they still there? I'd been in that void for over a day, and the competition only lasted for a few minutes. What was going on?

I saw the judges still at their post. I saw the other athletes, staring at me with pity. It made my insides curdle. I was the Great Revali. No one should look down on me with pity.

We reached the infirmary, and I was told my tracker had disappeared. I'd vanished from the competition, as the others made their runs and hit the targets. First place had been taken, then second, and then third. Until I was the last one left. The Rito where already in the skies looking for me, when I came crashing down.

I was going too fast for anyone to catch me. Some said it should have been impossible for me to gather that much momentum, but I had fallen an impossible height.

Only a few minutes. That's how long they said I'd been missing.

I was disqualified from the competition, of course. They tried to do so politely, tell me that my injury wasn't my fault, but it was the single most humiliating moment of my life.

It made the news. Everyone's top pick to win the race, half dead at the bottom of the flight range. I haven't flown competitively since. Not only could I not show my face again after that, I couldn't imagine flying knowing I would never reach that same height again.

You know me. I have to be better than ever before. But I could never beat that record.

REVALI

There you have it Archivist, statement's over, or whatever you say-

ZELDA

Statement ends.

REVALI

That's what I said.

ZELDA

[UNIMPRESSED BUT NOT WILLING TO ARGUE]

Right. Thank you for sharing this with me, Revali. It truly does make a difference.

REVALI

Oh, I know. And I hope this wasn't a waste of time - I expect you to use this information well.

ZELDA

Of course. I also want to say, I'm s—

REVALI

[DARKLY]

Don't. I don't want your pity.

[SILENCE]

ZELDA

Very well. Can I ask a few more questions?

REVALI

Go on.

ZELDA

What did you do, after the competition?

REVALI

I quit. That was the last race I competed in professionally. I tried to disappear, and that's how I ended up here - a crummy archive in Castle Town. A nobody.

I hate it but - I know I'll never be the same athlete again. Never be the same person again. I'd give anything to return to my former glory, but the sports world has moved on without me.

ZELDA

That… sounds difficult.

[REVALI SCOFFS]

Have you heard the creature since then? Or seen the spiral of clouds?

REVALI

No, but not for lack of trying. Sometimes I think I see the portal from the corner of my eye when I fly. I swerve to look every time, but it's always just a stray cloud on the horizon.

I still fly at the Flight Range, on occasion. But I've never heard the roar again. Never found the arrow I shot at it either.

There was one thing I did find, however-

[REVALI LIFTS AND DROPS A BAG ON THE TABLE]

Take a look.

[ZELDA OPENS THE BAG, AND GASPS]

It's —

ZELDA

[IN AWE]

—The scale!

[ZELDA PULLS THE SCALE FROM THE BAG WITH TWO HANDS. IT IS LARGE, AND CRACKLES SLIGHTLY WITH ELECTRICITY]

How on earth did you find this?

REVALI

I know those mountains like the string of my bow. Once I was healed, I searched the mountains for weeks. The scale had fallen right next to me, so I believed it would have gone back through the portal with me. And I was right.

There was another storm brewing the day I found it, though not nearly as bad as the one I saw the portal in for the first time. As I pushed through the winds, I saw it - a green glow coming from the top of Hebra Peak. I landed immediately, digging it out of the snow until I finally held it in my hands.

It was my only proof that everything I'd gone through had actually happened. That that creature was real, and wherever I'd gone, it wasn't Hyrule.

I've kept it for all these years, waiting for the opportunity to use it. To find out exactly what I encountered in the sky.

[REVALI PAUSES]

I said this statement was for your benefit - which it is - but there is something I want.

ZELDA

You want me to find out what creature this scale belonged to.

[REVALI SIGHS]

REVALI

I would do it myself, but… you know these archives better than anyone. And in all my years here, I haven't found a single lead.

I figure it's impossible anyway, but I must admit, if anyone would be able to identify this thing… it would be you.

ZELDA

Thank you for your trust in me, Revali. I'll do everything I can.

REVALI

You better.

[REVALI GETS UP TO LEAVE]

And if that puny security guard gets his hands on this statement I'll—

[SHEIKAH SLATE CLOSES]

Chapter Text

[SHEIKAH SLATE OPENS]

[ZELDA IS OPENING AND CLOSING SHELVES IN HER OFFICE, MUMBLING TO HERSELF]

[SOMEONE CAN BE HEARD APPROACHING THE OFFICE, VOICE AND FOOTSTEPS MUFFLED BUT GROWING STEADILY CLOSER]

[THE DOOR OPENS, AND IMPA WALKS IN, FOLLOWED CLOSELY BY LINK]

IMPA

—don't worry, the Archivist is my friend— Zelda!

[ZELDA IS SURPRISED BY THE ENTRANCE, AND DROPS WHAT SHE WAS DOING TO FACE IMPA WITH A SMILE]

ZELDA

Impa! You didn't tell me you'd be dropping by.

IMPA

And you didn't tell me you'd be here. Why are you still working?

ZELDA

[CAUGHT]

Oh, uh, I was just - just doing a little organizing.

IMPA

[NOT FOOLED]

On a national holiday? Zelda, the Institute is closed.

ZELDA

I know, I know- wait, how did you even get in?

IMPA

Same way I always do, through the window above the dumpster in the back. Only this time I got caught by -

[SIGNING AND SPEAKING]

What's your name again?

[IMPA TURNS TO LINK, WHO HAS BEEN STANDING THERE AWKWARDLY THIS WHOLE TIME]

LINK

Link.

IMPA

[AUDIBLY GRINNING LIKE SHE JUST GOT THE JUICIEST GOSSIP]

You're Link?

ZELDA

[WARNING]

Impa-

[TO LINK]

She's a friend of mine, and perfectly safe with me. You're free to go.

[LINK HESITATES, BUT STEPS OUT AND SHUTS THE DOOR BEHIND HIM. ZELDA SITS DOWN, AND IMPA LEANS AGAINST THE DESK]

IMPA

So that's the guy you hate so much? He seems fine to me.

ZELDA

You already know my reasons for disliking him. And didn't he just catch you sneaking in?

IMPA

Exactly! None of the other security guards have caught me before - do you know how hard it is to sneak up on a trained Sheikah warrior?

ZELDA

I do recall a three hour game of hide and seek because you refused to come out of your hiding spot.

IMPA

Not my fault you didn't think to check the chimney.

ZELDA

You were halfway up—

IMPA

As long as someone's keeping an eye on you, I'm happy. Hylia knows what kind of trouble you'd get into unsupervised.

ZELDA

[ZELDA SCOFFS]

As if I'm going to let him stop me.

IMPA

[LAUGHING]

Now that's the Zelda I know!

But enough about that. What's been going on with you, recently? I haven't heard from you in a while.

ZELDA

[GUILTY]

I'm sorry, Impa, I've just been… busy.

IMPA

Well, it seems like now would be a great time for a break! Y'know, I'm suddenly really hungry—

ZELDA

Oh, I really shouldn't, there's a lot I need to—

IMPA

—and there's this place that just opened up nearby, I hear it has some amazing fruitcake.

ZELDA

…

I suppose… a short break wouldn't hurt.

IMPA

That's what I like to hear! C'mon, let's get outta here before your security guard notices.

[IMPA GRABS ZELDA BY THE HAND AND DRAGS HER OUT OF THE OFFICE, BOTH OF THEM LAUGHING]

[SHEIKAH SLATE CLOSES]

[SHEIKAH SLATE OPENS]

[THE STREETS OF HYRULE ARE CROWDED, CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAY. IMPA AND ZELDA SIT OUTSIDE OF A CAFE, ENJOYING THEIR MEAL - ESPECIALLY ZELDA, WHO IS EATING HER SECOND SLICE OF FRUITCAKE LIKE NOBODY'S BUSINESS]

IMPA

…You really needed this didn't you.

[ZELDA SIGHS]

ZELDA

I did. Thank you Impa.

[ZELDA FINISHES HER LAST BITE AND PUTS DOWN HER FORK]

How have you been, Impa? How has your work been in Kakariko?

IMPA

It's been going well. It's hard work for sure, but being an advisor on the council means I can make a lot of good changes for the villagers, and unite our community with the rest of Hyrule.

Assisting the Elder has taught me a lot too. Hopefully, I'm going to be able to do even more for Kakariko - they're getting ready to pick potential trainees to become the next Elder of Kakariko, and my name has been brought up a few times.

ZELDA

Really? Impa, that's incredible! I couldn't think of a more perfect candidate for the position - I'm sure they'll pick you.

IMPA

Purah said the same thing - and, well, I hope so. I'd be the youngest to begin this training in recent Sheikah history. Though, even if I am chosen, I won't become Elder for a while yet.

But that's not what I brought you here to talk about —

[IMPA LEANS TOWARDS ZELDA ON HER ELBOWS]

Talk to me. How have you been? Insomnia any better?

ZELDA

Oh, you know I haven't slept since Mother… since I was a child. It hasn't gotten any easier, unfortunately. But thank you for asking.

IMPA

Really? I thought you had new medicine for it.

ZELDA

It didn't work, not that I expected it to anyway. It just made me drowsy all the time. But I manage well enough on my own. It hasn't stopped me from working yet.

IMPA

That's what I'm worried about, Zelda. You can't keep going on like this forever - you're going to burn out, and soon. I can't imagine working at the Archives has been of any help.

ZELDA

I know, but… I can't just quit. I'm already a failure to my father—

IMPA

Ugh, Zelda, your father has never offered you a word of praise in all the years I've known you. Why should you care what he thinks?

ZELDA

I don't. I already know I can never please him. I just wish I could prove to him that the things I care about aren't a waste of time. The work we do in the Archives is important, I know it.

But I was also going to say, I can't leave my colleagues behind. That would be failing them too.

IMPA

Zelda—

ZELDA

Please, don't worry about me Impa. I'll be fine.

[IMPA STARTS LIKE SHE HAS MORE SHE WANTS TO SAY, BUT CHANGES HER MIND WITH A SIGH. ZELDA POKES AROUND HER EMPTY PLATE WITH HER FORK]

IMPA

… You want another slice of cake don't you.

ZELDA

[RELIEVED]

Hylia, yes. It's so good.

[IMPA GETS UP OUT OF HER CHAIR]

IMPA

You got it! More fruitcake, coming up! I'll be right back.

[IMPA ENTERS THE CAFE, AND ZELDA TAKES A FEW DEEP BREATHS]

[SHE LISTENS TO THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF CASTLE TOWN. THE CITIZENS LAUGH AND SING, CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAY OF THE GODDESS DIN]

[THE PEOPLE PLAY SONGS TO THE GODDESS - OR- NO]

[THAT'S NOT THE PEOPLE]

[A FAMILIAR TUNE BEGINS TO PLAY. FAINT. BUT DISTINCT]

ZELDA

[QUIET]

What?

[THE SONG COMES CLOSER, TEMPO RISING]

ZELDA

It can't be—

[ZELDA'S CHAIR CLATTERS TO THE GROUND AS SHE STANDS UP IN A HURRY. THE SONG OVERCOMES ZELDA, DEAFENING HER SURROUNDINGS AS SHE BEGINS TO PANIC]

IMPA

[MUFFLED]

Zelda?

ZELDA

No, no, no—

IMPA

Zelda!

[IMPA REAPPEARS FROM THE CAFE, GRIPPING ZELDA BY THE SHOULDERS. THE MUSIC LOWERS TO IT'S TRUE VOLUME, BUT IS NOT GONE ENTIRELY]

What is it? What's wrong?

ZELDA

I…

I can't. I can't tell you.

IMPA

What do you mean you can't—?!

[THE MUSIC GROWS LOUDER. ZELDA FLINCHES, AND IMPA STOPS SUDDENLY]

[SHE WHISPERS, DEADLY SERIOUS]

Zelda…

Do you hear them too?

ZELDA

…What?

[THE MUSIC SPIKES, AND THE MECHANICAL WHIRS OF THE GUARDIAN APPROACH RAPIDLY]

IMPA

We have to go — NOW!

[IMPA TAKES ZELDA BY THE HAND AND THEY TAKE OFF DOWN THE STREET. THE GUARDIAN FOLLOWS]

ZELDA

Impa, you know about—?

IMPA

I'll tell you later. Right now we have to —

[A SEARING BLAST SHOOTS FROM BEHIND THEM. IMPA PULLS ZELDA AWAY JUST IN TIME]

— break it's line of sight. This way!

[IMPA AND ZELDA RUSH THROUGH THE CROWDS, TURNING THIS WAY AND THAT. THE MUSIC SWELLS AND FADES AS THEY TRY TO GET AWAY]

[A SECOND SONG STARTS TO FADE IN, JUMBLING WITH THE FIRST. ZELDA GASPS AND STOPS IMPA]

ZELDA

There's another one! Straight ahead.

IMPA

[IMPA IS TEMPORARILY DISTRACTED BY THIS INFORMATION]

What? How did you—

[ANOTHER BLAST]

Never mind. In here!

[IMPA AND ZELDA SWOOP INTO A RESTAURANT, PUSHING PAST WAITERS AND CUSTOMERS UNTIL THEY END UP IN A BOOTH NEAR THE BACK]

[THE SOUND OF THE MUSIC FALTERS, AND FADES, BUT THE GUARDIANS REMAIN CLOSE BY. IMPA AND ZELDA PAUSE TO CATCH THEIR BREATH]

IMPA

Stay sitting -- if they see us through the windows —

ZELDA

—They'll come after us.

IMPA

Correct. Otherwise, they'll circle the building until we come out.

ZELDA

Damn-it.

IMPA

It's alright, Zelda, we have some time. Let's just… take a moment to collect ourselves.

[THEY SIT SILENTLY FOR ONLY A MOMENT, BEFORE A WAITRESS COME BY]

WAITRESS

Good afternoon ladies, what can I get you two started with?

IMPA

[IMMEDIATELY]

Noble Pursuit.

ZELDA

Oh, uh, just a water for me. Thank you.

WAITRESS

They'll be ready for you in a moment.

[THE WAITRESS LEAVES. THERE'S A BRIEF PAUSE BEFORE ZELDA STARTS TALKING]

ZELDA

I can't believe - I had no idea you knew about the - about them. How long have you known? How did you find out?

IMPA

I could ask you the same thing. Only, I have a pretty good guess about where you came across this knowledge.

ZELDA

There was a statement, in the Archives. That must have been… over a month ago, by now. Right after I became Head Archivist.

I only heard the music once since then. It was so late at night, I thought I was hallucinating. I hadn't actually seen them until today.

IMPA

Seen them? I thought you heard them?

ZELDA

I did. Well, I heard the first one, and I saw the second crawling towards us.

IMPA

Interesting… I can only hear them. Purah sees them, but she can't hear the music.

ZELDA

Purah knows too?

IMPA

I should probably just start from the beginning. I never thought I'd be giving you a statement about this - It's a good thing you brought the Slate with you, huh?

ZELDA

[CONFUSED]

What? I didn't—

IMPA

Right there, in your pocket? You've had it on you the whole time.

[ZELDA REACHES INTO HER POCKET, AND LO AND BEHOLD, PULLS THE SHEIKAH SLATE OUT]

ZELDA

It's been recording this whole time… I don't even recall taking it from the Institute!

IMPA

[CONCERNED]

That's—

BOTH

Strange.

[A PAUSE]

ZELDA

No matter. It's here now.

Please, tell me what happened?

IMPA

… Can you say the thing?

ZELDA

[BAFFLED]

What thing?

IMPA

You know - the statement thing!

[BAD IMPRESSION OF ZELDA'S ACCENT]

I, Zelda Bosphoramus of the Hyrule Institute, speak to you from the deep dark Archives—

ZELDA

[EMBARRASSED]

— I do not sound like that. How do you even know about —Have you been listening—!

IMPA

Only to the interesting ones. Sooo…?

[ZELDA SIGHS]

ZELDA

Statement of Impa Lueburry, regarding her and her sister's experience with… the Guardians. Recorded direct from subject. Statement begins.

IMPA

There's not much to tell, but I'll start with this; My sister and I are similar in a lot of ways, and different in many others.

We are both deeply interested in Sheikah technology and history, proud of our ancestors and culture, both have successful careers within the Sheikah community. But my sister Purah has always been looking ahead. She works at the Ancient Tech Lab, studying the old inventions of our tribe, in order to remake them into something new. She's made incredible discoveries and achievements, and made a lot of mistakes, all with her reckless experiments.

The history and culture of our tribe is priceless to me, and I dedicate my time to preserving and remembering the past, teaching it to others, not letting it fade away into nothing more than legends. Her tampering with Ancient Sheikah technology has sometimes rubbed me the wrong way, even with her successful experiments. She's one to take the technology of the past, rip it apart, and put it back together into something new, and often dangerous.

Even with our differences, we work together frequently. She makes new inventions at the Tech Lab by studying the old ways, and I provide her with supplies, and ensure no ancient artifacts are destroyed.

This was why she and I ended up digging at an old archeological site in Hateno some years ago - she'd gotten word that some Sheikah technology was buried there. I was cautious when she told me the rumors that they were old weapons, but she was determined to take a look and see what she could find. Even though I didn't agree, I went with her still, to protect her.

I'm sure you can tell where this is going. She did her research and enlisted her lab partner Robbie to help her dig, while I supervised and ensured the utmost care was practiced if we ever came across these artifacts.

We did come across something eventually. The two of them found a slate, engraved in Sheikah. Sheikah-language speakers have dwindled over the centuries. Luckily, I had studied the language as part of my training with the Elder, so I got to translating at Purah's request.

What I found was alarming, to say the least. A warning, buried with whatever it was Purah was looking for.

The slate documented the short history of the Guardians. A robotic creature designed by the Sheikah to defend Hyrule, commissioned by the last of the Hyrulean Royal Family. But soon, the Guardians began to malfunction. None of the Sheikah experts could find anything wrong with their work, but the Elder at the time recognized them to be possessed.

She recounted old legends of a Calamity that was inescapable, dark forces taking over Hyrule after thousands of years, before being defeated, only to rise again. She saw the Guardian's misbehavior as a sign of this very event, and she was correct.

The turning of the Guardian's on their makers was the end of the royal bloodline of Hyrule. It brought about an era of uncertainty and chaos. The Guardians were shut down and buried by the Sheikah, but they garnered a nasty reputation for it.

Even though the Royal Family were the ones to ask for such a weapon in the first place, and the Sheikah where the first to act when the Guardian's began to rebel, Hylian's turned on the Sheikah and cast them out of their good graces. They forbade our tribe from expanding our technological prowess.

Much of what I do is trying to repair that relationship. The Sheikah tribe has been blamed for this for too long, and treated poorly for it. Finding this slate was an incredible discovery, but also a terrible reminder of the past.

Immediately, I ordered them to abandon the excavation. Confused, Purah asked what I'd discovered. This is the moment I regret most deeply.

I told her what I'd found. I didn't know what it truly meant. I didn't know this would bring the Guardians down on us like packs of rabid wolves. I didn't know I was putting my dearest sister in danger.

Purah pouted the whole way back to the Lab, empty handed and itching to find a Guardian for herself, but I forbade it. I felt it was essential that we honor the wishes of our ancestors. They buried these creatures for a reason. And if they got out again… I feared they would undo all my work to redeem the Sheikah in the eyes of the people of Hyrule.

I didn't realize what I'd done until that night, dozing off at the Lab while Purah and Robbie did their best to learn more about the Guardians with absolutely no results. I stuck around just in case they did find something, but it was no use. The slate was all we had.

That all changed very quickly. I was resting my eyes, but still alert enough to catch the sound immediately. A faint, agitating tune, growing louder, as though it was coming up the hill towards the Lab.

I asked Purah and Robbie if they heard anything. Robbie looked up, as though he heard it as well, but Purah didn't. She was absorbed in her work, and became annoyed when both Robbie and I became distracted by the noise.

The music got louder, and I poked my head out the window - nothing. That's when Purah screamed.

She told me to get out of the way, and I did, just in time for a white hot laser to shoot through the window right where my head had just been. I grabbed Purah, and Purah grabbed Robbie, and we all started up the stairs for cover.

Now, I could hear the rickety footsteps of too many legs, and the quiet whirring of the machine, over the heart racing song that came with it. I heard it crawling up the side of the building, approaching fast.

I got the two of them to hide as the sound came closer and closer. Suddenly, only I was left, with no place to go. Purah whispered at me to hide with panic in her voice, saying she could see the pink glow getting brighter. I could hear it too - I knew the Guardian would spot me through the window before I managed to escape.

I approached the window. At first my plan was to just… lead it away. Jump out the window and run across the field, making sure the Guardian came with me and left the others alone long enough for them to get some help. But the music became too loud to bear, and Purah gasped in horror, and that's when I knew it was too late.

Or, I thought it was, until I saw one of Purah's prototypes. A shield of the Sheikah, equipped with all sorts of mechanical doodads that didn't seem to work and was thusly abandoned.

I heard the buzzing sound of the creature about to fire, grabbed the shield, and swung.

The timing was perfect. I was momentarily blinded by the light, but I could hear the machine combusting, hear it's song turn into a robotic scream, and hear the monumental thud it made when it's destroyed body crashed to the ground.

I waited just a moment more, listening for the music to return, but heard only the sound of my heavy breathing. It was dead.

…

Statement ends.

[IMPA IMITATES A DRAMATIC VOICE. ZELDA BREEZES RIGHT PAST IT]

ZELDA

You mean - you killed a Guardian? All on your own?

IMPA

Mhm. And it wouldn't be the last time.

Once Purah puts her mind to something, no one can really stop her. She was dead set on studying that Guardian - at least, what was left of it. I was utterly against the idea, and argued with her about it for days, and then weeks. It became one of our worst fights to date.

Then it all came to a head when she decided she wanted to find more Guardians to study. I told her I wouldn't allow it, that she was bound to get herself killed. She wouldn't answer me, giving me the silent treatment as she did when we were children. I was fed up, and in my anger, I tried to swipe what she was working on from her.

She shoved my arm away and finally whirled around to face me. I saw her face, wet with tears.

This was how she was protecting us, she said. That if she could understand the Guardian, she could find a way to keep us safe from it.

The whole time, we'd been fighting for the same thing. We just had different ways of going about it.

After that, we struck a deal. I would search out the Guardian's, using the parry technique I'd discovered at the Lab, and bring the pieces to her to study. That way she could learn as much as she likes, and I would keep her out of harm's way.

ZELDA

Then… you've been doing this for years. Hunting Guardians, all this time?

IMPA

I've only found nine, including the ones outside. They're tough buggers to find, but they've been appearing more and more frequently. I've become perfectly attuned to the sound.

I could hear it when I went in to get you that extra slice of cake. At the time, but best course of action was to not alert you to it, and just get you somewhere safe before it spotted me. I had no idea you could hear and see them too.

ZELDA

I'm sorry. I should have—

IMPA

No. You made the right call, not telling me.

[THEIR WAITRESS RETURNS, TWO DRINKS ON A PLATTER]

WAITRESS

Alright, one Noble Pursuit and—

[SHE TRIPS OVER SOMETHING, AND ALL THREE OF THEM GASP AS THE WAITRESS AND THEIR DRINKS CRASH TO THE GROUND]

ZELDA

Oh! Let me help you, are you alright?

[ZELDA IMMEDIATELY GETS UP TO HELP THE WAITRESS TO HER FEET]

IMPA

Wait, Zelda don't—!

[AS SOON AS ZELDA HELPS THE WAITRESS UP, SOMETHING BEGINS TO BEEP. THE GUARDIAN'S SONG BEGINS TO PLAY, AND A RED DOT AIMS FOR ZELDA'S EYE]

IMPA

Zelda, get down!

[A SHOT FIRES INTO THE BUILDING, BARELY MISSING ZELDA'S HEAD AS SHE DUCKS DOWN. THE HEAT OF THE BLAST SINGES ZELDA'S EAR AND SHE SHOUTS IN PAIN}

Your ear! Are you okay?

ZELDA

[WINCING]

Agh - I'm fine.

IMPA

[THE GUARDIAN AIMS FOR ANOTHER SHOT. IMPA GRABS ZELDA BY THE ARM AND STARTS TO RUN]

Then it's time to go!

ZELDA

Wait! We can't leave everyone in here!

IMPA

The don't know what we know— they'll be fine. Just follow me!

[ANOTHER LASER, AND IMPA AND ZELDA MAKE A RUN FOR IT]

[SHEIKAH SLATE CLOSES]

[SHEIKAH SLATE OPENS]

[IMPA AND ZELDA HAVE NOW LEFT THE BUILDING, TUCKED AWAY IN AN ALLEYWAY. THE GUARDIANS CAN BE HEARD SKITTERING AROUND NEARBY]

ZELDA

[WHISPER SHOUTING]

A pot lid. Really?

IMPA

It'll more than enough to parry the blast. You're lucky I was able to snag this from the kitchen.

ZELDA

It's wood.

IMPA

Shush. I hear them.

[ONE GUARDIAN ENTERS THE ALLEYWAY, MUSIC BLARING AND HEAD SWIVELING FROM SIDE TO SIDE, LOOKING FOR ZELDA AND IMPA]

[IMPA BEGINS TO STAND, BRACING THE POT LID IN HER HAND]

Stay here. This won't take long.

ZELDA

I couldn't possibly let you—!

[IMPA PUSHED ZELDA BACK DOWN BY THE SHOULDER]

IMPA

I got this, Zelda. I'll be okay.

[THE GUARDIAN HAS SPOTTED IMPA - IT STARTS TO BEEP, PREPARING TO FIRE]

[IMPA STEPS TOWARDS IT, BREATHING DEEPLY, FOCUSING EXACTLY WHERE IT IS, READY TO PARRY—]

[A SECOND SONG FILLS THE ALLEYWAY, CLASHING HORRIBLY WITH THE FIRST, OUT OF SYNC AND DISORIENTING]

[IMPA WHIPS AROUND AT THE NEW THREAT, THEN BACK TO THE FIRST. SHE SWEARS]

ZELDA

[SHOUTING]

Impa! What is it?

IMPA

I can't tell where they are— this music—!

[THROUGH THE CACOPHONY, ONE GUARDIAN'S BEEPING BECOMES EVEN LOUDER. ZELDA ABANDONS HER HIDING SPOT AND STEPS INTO THE OPEN]

What are you doing, run!

ZELDA

Listen to me Impa — You've got one at four o'clock about to strike, and a second aiming at ten o'clock, halfway up the alleyway wall. On my mark, you need to parry the first, then turn around and hit the second laser right away.

[THE TWO GUARDIANS ARE AIMING TOWARDS IMPA. ONE LIGHTS UP AS IT PREPARES TO SHOOT]

And…

[THE GUARDIAN FIRES]

NOW!

[IMPA SWINGS AND PARRIES THE SHOT PERFECTLY. THE GUARDIAN SCREAMS, THE EXPLOSIONS RINGING THROUGH THE ALLEYWAY. IMPA TURNS AROUND JUST IN TIME TO PARRY THE SECOND GUARDIAN AS IT SHOOTS, THE POT LID DESTROYED COMPLETELY BY THE IMPACT]

[THE GUARDIAN ON THE WALL CRUMBLES IN A BLAST OF LIGHT, CREAKING AS IT BEGINS TO FALL. DIRECTLY BELOW IT, ZELDA CRIES OUT IN FEAR]

IMPA

[SHOUTING]

Zelda!

[IMPA REACHES ZELDA JUST IN TIME, PULLING HER OUT OF THE WAY AS THE GUARDIAN CRASHES TO THE GROUND. SMOKE AND DEBRIS FLY EVERYWHERE, CLATTERING ALONG THE ALLEYWAY, BUT IMPA AND ZELDA HAVE MADE IT OUT UNSCATHED]

ZELDA

Oh Goddess, Impa — are you alright?!

IMPA

I'm fine, I'm fine — I should be asking about you! That thing nearly fell on you! And your poor ear…

ZELDA

I'm…

…

I'm sorry.

IMPA

[UTTERLY BEFUDDLED]

What?

ZELDA

This was all my fault. I caught the attention of the Guardians — I nearly got you killed—

[IMPA STOMPS UP TO ZELDA, ANGRY]

IMPA

Now you listen to me!

You saved both of us, just now! Without your keen senses, and your quick thinking, we both would have been toast!

[ZELDA IS SURPRISED BY IMPA'S OUTBURST, AND STAMMERS A BIT]

ZELDA

W-well, it was thanks to your strength, really -

IMPA

If you hadn't been here to guide me, I wouldn't have been able to tell where the Guardian's were. It's thanks to you, Zelda. Your knowledge is your greatest strength, you know that right?

ZELDA

I… I don't know that that's true.

[A PAUSE]

There's so much I don't know, Impa. So much I don't understand. And no matter how hard I try, I just can't grasp it.

[ZELDA'S VOICE BECOMES SHAKY]

Everybody is relying on me. My coworkers, my father, the Institute itself. They keep coming to me for answers I don't have, and I don't know what to do.

[BEFORE ZELDA CAN CONTINUE, IMPA WRAPS HER IN A HUG]

IMPA

All of your effort, all of your research, is not in vain, Zelda. Everything you've done today has proven that. But it's not shameful to need help.

I can only defeat these monsters with the help of Purah and Robbie. Your assistants can only run the Archives under your support. It's time you started to rely on them, the way they rely on you.

And Zelda?

[IMPA PULLS BACK JUST ENOUGH TO LOOK ZELDA IN THE EYES]

You can always rely on me.

[ZELDA BREATHES A QUIET SIGH]

ZELDA

Thank you, Impa.

[THE TWO SEPARATE]

IMPA

Now then - time to tear these apart and bring them to Purah.

You know… if you were ever interested in learning about the Guardians yourself, I'm sure Purah would love to give you a crash course.

ZELDA

[IMMEDIATELY INTERESTED]

Really?

IMPA

She's dying to nerd out with someone about it. How about… tomorrow, you and I can stop by the Tech Lab?

ZELDA

That would be great!

[ZELDA MOVES TO HELP IMPA RUMMAGE THROUGH THE GUARDIAN PARTS, BUT IMPA STOPS HER]

IMPA

Ah ah ah! You need to take the day off. Get that last slice of fruitcake, go to the library, or… whatever you do in your spare time nowadays.

[IMPA PULLS THE SHEIKAH SLATE FROM HER POCKET, AND ZELDA GASPS IN OFFENSE]

And I'll take this back to the Institute for you. Because I'm so nice.

ZELDA

How— When did you get your hands on that?

IMPA

Don't worry about it. Now where's that end recording button again? Aha—!

[SHEIKAH SLATE CLOSES]

Chapter Text

[SHEIKAH SLATE OPENS]

PURAH

Ohoho, I will never get over that sound! What fascinating technology - you know, I've been toying with a design of my own—

IMPA

We know, Purah. You've only mentioned it every time Zelda has pulled out the Slate.

PURAH

—if I could just borrow it for a little bit—

ZELDA

Um, I'm afraid this is the Institute's property, so I can't lend it to you…

IMPA

Trust me, even if you could, you should never let her get her hands on it. She's broken every other Sheikah Slate she's owned in the name of "science".

PURAH

Hey, those were improvements!

ZELDA

Er, perhaps we could get back to—

ROBBIE

I too am intrigued by the Slate.

IMPA

Oh, Goddess, here we go again—

ROBBIE

[ROBBIE SHIMMIES CONSTANTLY AS HE TALKS]

Despite modern technology rapidly evolving over the ages, the Sheikah Slate model has held up for centuries! The fact they are even usable today is downright astounding, and many individuals such as myself believe there is still much to be uncovered—

ZELDA

That's… really great Robbie, and I don't disagree, but we do have a lot to—

IMPA

[LOUDLY]

For Hylia's sake — everyone be quiet! Zelda is trying to talk here!

[EVERYONE IS QUIET]

ZELDA

Ahem - This is Zelda Bosphoramus speaking, recording the first update on our progress creating the… what were we calling it again?

PURAH

Theeeee Efficient Guardian Guide! E.G.G. for short!

ZELDA

…Right. The Efficient Guardian Guide project. This will be the first in a series of recordings to document our findings as we progress. I'm joined by my associates here at the Ancient Tech Lab, Purah Lueburry —

PURAH

Check it!

ZELDA

— Robbie Dampé —

ROBBIE

[SINGING]

Hee Hee!

ZELDA

— As well as Impa Lueburry of the Kakariko Village council, to supervise.

IMPA

I still think this is a terrible idea.

ZELDA

Purah and I have been communicating regularly for the past week or so — she's been showing me all the research she and Robbie have done on pieces of the deceased Guardians Impa brings them. I must say it's absolutely incredible!

As we went over all this new information, we began talking about a potential project to make a Guardian of our own; one that would protect us, rather than attack.

We also discovered some recording capabilities in the eye pieces of the Guardians, likely to track their targets, as well as audio output technology used to play the warning song. Both of these aspects invited a whole new realm of possibilities for our project! Not only will the E.G.G. fight for us, it will also act as an accessory to the Sheikah Slate, able to capture video footage to compliment the audio recordings of the Slate.

IMPA

So it'll be like, a backup?

ZELDA

Exactly! Sheikah Slates can be rather hard to come by, and if we were to lose or damage the one we have, I'm not sure the Institute — or my father — would be willing to replace it. But with the sturdy armor of the Guardians, the E.G.G. will have no problem entering dangerous territory.

PURAH

Not only that! It's a Guardian after all, so we're gonna deck it out with weaponry to protect us with. I haven't decided if it should get an axe or a sword yet…

IMPA

See, that's where I start to have a problem with this. Don't you remember what happened to the original Guardians in the first place? They became corrupted, turned on their makers and wiped out hundreds. What's stopping this one from doing the same as soon as we turn it on?

[PURAH WRAPS AN ARM AROUND ZELDA AND ROBBIE, PULLING THEM INTO A TIGHT HUG]

PURAH

Because the three of us are making it!

[ROBBIE STARTS MAKING CHOKING SOUNDS, PURAH LETS GO AND HE GASPS FOR AIR]

ROBBIE

Agh, augh - also. The Guardian's remains return to their original form after being defeated. Completely non-functional, but carrying no signs of the corruption that controlled them before. That's why Purah and I have been able to reuse these spare parts in our experiments safely.

Whatever corrupted them in the first place is long gone by now, so we get to reap all the benefits of a brand-new-never-before-witnessed Guardian model! It'll be technology the likes of which we have never laid eyes upon!

PURAH

And it's all thanks to the Archivist herself! She came up with the majority of our blueprints for the E.G.G. — I'm honestly amazed at how quickly she caught on to the Guardian technology, but maybe I shouldn't be surprised.

ZELDA

Oh, well, thank you Purah, but this really is a collaboration more than anything. None of this would have happened without everyone's contributions.

PURAH

You came up with the idea in the first place! Even if you hadn't, Impa never would have let me build something like this on my own.

ZELDA

[AUDIBLY SMILING]

Would that really have stopped you?

IMPA

Absolutely not.

PURAH

Aaanyway, as Zeldie was saying — we've got all the plans and materials in place to start this project right away. And with our combined genius, I'm sure the E.G.G. will be up and running in no time!

I can't tell you how excited I am for this. It's the opportunity of a lifetime!

ROBBIE

Then what are we waiting for? Let's get this party started!

ZELDA

Well then, with that, our first update ends—

[A KNOCK AT THE DOOR]

PURAH

Ugh, did they not read the sign? The Lab is closed!

IMPA

I'll get it.

[IMPA GOES TO THE DOOR, OPENS IT, AND SAYS—]

Oh, it's you! Link, isn't it?

ZELDA

Link?!

[ZELDA GETS UP AND RUSHES TO THE DOOR, WHERE LINK STANDS, AND SIGNS WITH HIM]

What are you doing here? How did you even find me?

LINK

The Head of the Institute —

ZELDA

Oh, of course my father would find out about this. Just my luck.

Listen, I don't care what he told you, I do not need to be followed 24/7. So do everyone a favor, and leave us alone.

[ZELDA SLAMS THE DOOR IN LINK'S FACE]

ROBBIE

Youch!

PURAH

Harsh.

ZELDA

I don't care if it's harsh! I'm tired of him hovering over my shoulder all the time. Goddess, let's just get back to—

IMPA

Hold on a sec, Zelda. What if…

[IMPA HESITATES]

ZELDA

What if what?

IMPA

What if we told Link? Let him in on the whole Guardian thing?

ZELDA

Excuse me?

IMPA

I knew you wouldn't like it, but here me out! I know from experience he's skilled enough to protect the both of you, and I mean he's already here—

ZELDA

Absolutely not. You honestly want to bring more people into this? It'd be putting him in danger too, you know. No, it's best we keep this secret to as few people as possible.

IMPA

We don't even know if telling people about this Guardian will have the same affect as telling someone about the others. It's made of broken Guardian parts, which means it's completely visible to everybody. We could just tell him this is a protective robot and leave out all the rest.

ZELDA

Do you really think he wouldn't question that? And even if he did, he'd take that information straight to my father, and if I know him at all, he'd have the E.G.G. destroyed immediately.

IMPA

Okay, then let's say something were to happen. A Guardian ends up near the Institute, or worse, in the Archives themselves, and you're the only one who knows about it. It would come straight for you, and you'd have no way to defend yourself.

ZELDA

You deal with them on your own all the time. I could parry it!

IMPA

You don't know how to parry.

ZELDA

[DEFENSIVELY]

I could. You don't know.

[IMPA THROWS A SCREW AT ZELDA'S HEAD]

Ow!

IMPA

So, you don't know how to parry. And there's a Guardian out to get you, and unless I'm there for some reason, you've got no way to escape.

ZELDA

Well… That's why we're building the E.G.G. isn't it? Even if the design is small, it'll have enough power to hold off—

IMPA

Hey, remember what I said last week? About how it's okay to receive help sometimes?

ZELDA

He's the last person I want help from.

I know you're just looking out for me Impa, and I appreciate it, I really do. But Link is just another one of my father's pawns, trying to control what I do, and I won't have it.

We're keeping this project to ourselves. That's my final decision.

IMPA

… I understand. In that case, it'll be hard to keep him from finding out. Even if he can't hear, it won't be hard for him or anyone else to spot it.

ZELDA

Then he won't come into the lab, under any circumstances.

[TENSE SILENCE]

PURAH

…So I gather Linky is not gonna be helping us? Cuz he's still outside.

[THE FOUR LOOK OUT THE WINDOW TO SEE LINK A FEW STEPS AWAY, BACK FACING THEM, GUARDING THE TECH LAB]

ROBBIE

At least we'll have some extra security.

ZELDA

Ugh, let's just move on.

[SHEIKAH SLATE CLOSES]

[SHEIKAH SLATE OPENS]

ZELDA

This is Zelda Bosphoramus speaking, recording the second update on the Efficient Guardian Guide project.

We decided to start with the less complicated pieces first - the frame, the armor, and whatnot. The most delicate and important pieces will be finished last. I've ensured there is more than enough room inside the E.G.G.'s shell to house it's hardware and the weaponry accessories Purah suggested, so fitting everything else into place at the end shouldn't be an issue.

That being said, things are currently… not going so efficiently.

PURAH

[IN THE BACKGROUND]

Where is it?!

IMPA

Under the table, it's getting away!

ROBBIE

I got it, I got it!

[THE SOUNDS OF PANIC AND VIOLENCE CONTINUE IN THE BACKGROUND]

ZELDA

As I was saying, we started designing a miniature set of legs for the E.G.G. based on the full scale Guardian models, but as soon as we activated them, they began crawling about on their own. Likely a glitch as a result of their previous coding to act autonomously. However, no real pattern of intent has been observed, and have so far simply wriggled into obnoxious spaces purely by chance.

IMPA

OUCH! It swiped at me!

PURAH

I told you not to reach for it's claws, reach for the stump!

IMPA

Why does it even have claws?!

ZELDA

This is still truly a fascinating discovery. Are all Guardians sentient in this same way? They all seem to be geared towards death and destruction, which I assumed to simply be a sympton of their corruption, but are they instead following specific orders? If so, whose, and is there still yet a way to rewire them and return them to their original function, to protect the people of Hyrule?

ROBBIE

Ah—! No—! It's in my hair! Someone get it out!

PURAH

Hold still then!

[COMICALLY LOUD CHAINSAW SOUND]

ZELDA

I haven't been able to spend as much time here at the lab as I'd like. I still have work to do at the Archives, and while some of it can be done remotely, there are some duties that must remain in the Institute. Still, I'll do my best to bring whatever work I can with me, to best optimize my time.

The only truly aggravating thing about this arrangement is that Link is still here. He hasn't tried to butt in again at least. But he always follows me here from the Institute, even if his shift is done, just to stand outside the door and keep watch. All according to my father's orders, I'm sure.

IMPA

That's it, this thing can't be trusted!

ROBBIE

Don't break it, you fool!

ZELDA

Despite the… issues, we are having right now, I have hope for the future of the project. Now that it's officially underway, I am eager to get to work. End recording.

[SHEIKAH SLATE CLOSES]

[SHEIKAH SLATE OPENS]

[THE LAB IS SIGNIFICANTLY QUIETER THAN BEFORE. ZELDA SEEMS TO BE THE ONLY ONE IN THE LAB AT THE MOMENT, TINKERING WITH THE FRAME OF THE E.G.G.]

[IT'S RAINING LIGHTLY OUTSIDE]

ZELDA

This is Zelda Bosphoramus, recording the third update on the E.G.G. project before we turn it on. The E.G.G. is almost entirely finished, and is currently powered down. I've been running some tests to make sure it's functioning properly without letting it's legs roam free all on their own again.

I've transcribed a few audio-only statements from the Institute while keeping an eye on the results of my experiments. Everything's been running smoothly so far.

Impa and the others are out right now. Purah spotted a Guardian roaming around Hateno, and didn't want to risk letting it get to close to the Lab while we were working, so the three of them have gone out to confront it instead.

The uptick in Guardian sightings really is worrying, though I'm certain they'll be safe, of course. I expect they'll be back any minute.

And lastly, Link. He's still out there, Goddess knows why, in this weather. I offered to stay behind, keep an eye on the E.G.G., but of course that meant he stayed too. I don't understand him. I don't think I want to either.

[THE RAIN COMES DOWN A LITTLE HARDER. LIGHTNING STRIKES, AND SOME OF THE MACHINERY STARTS TO BEEP.]

Oh, Hylia—

[ZELDA FIDDLES WITH SOME BUTTONS]

There's some error — it must be because of the storm.

[MORE BEEPING AND ERROR NOISES, UNTIL SUDDENLY, EVERYTHING SHUTS DOWN. THE LIGHTS CLICK OFF, AND ZELDA GROANS]

ZELDA

No, no, no—! Ugh, great. Just what I needed. At least the Slate has a flashlight.

[SUDDENLY, THE DOOR FLINGS OPEN, THE RAIN BECOMING LOUDER]

What on earth— Link?

[LINK POINTS A FLASHLIGHT INTO THE ROOM, SHINING ON THE WORKTABLE, AND ZELDA STOMPS TOWARDS THE DOOR. SHE PUSHES IT SLIGHTLY CLOSED, BLOCKING LINK'S VIEW OF THE E.G.G.]

I thought I made it clear you weren't to come in. What do you think you're doing?

[LINK TUCKS THE LIGHT UNDER ONE ARM TO SIGN BETTER]

LINK

Are you alright? I saw the lights go out.

ZELDA

[ANNOYED]

Yes, I noticed. Everything's fine, I have it under control. You should have knocked.

LINK

I can go find the breaker.

ZELDA

No, no need. Purah and Robbie will be back any second now. They'll know what to do best.

[THUNDER CRASHES. LINK HESITATES]

LINK

You're sure?

ZELDA

Yes, I'm sure. I'll manage just fine in the meantime, and you should really go home and get out of this weather.

[LINK SHAKES HIS HEAD]

Fine then, stay out there and get hypothermia, see if I care.

[SOMETHING SHUFFLES ALONG THE FLOOR. ZELDA GOES TO SHUT THE DOOR, BUT LINK SUDDENLY STOPS IT, STARING INTENTLY INTO THE DARKNESS OF THE LAB]

LINK

I saw something.

ZELDA

[ANNOYED]

What, in the Lab. Link, I’m the only one in here.

[ZELDA TURNS BACK TOWARDS THE LAB, THEN GASPS]

No, no, it couldn't have—!

[ZELDA RUSHES TO THE WORKTABLE AND LINK FOLLOWS]

It's gone!

LINK

What's gone?

[ZELDA DOESN'T ANSWER]

ZELDA

How could it possibly have gotten out? It wasn't even powered on! And the power outage—

[THE SHUFFLING SOUND CRAWLS UP THE WALLS, ACROSS THE CEILING, AND AWAY]

Wait. I hear it!

[ZELDA SHINES THE LIGHT OF THE SLATE ACROSS THE ROOM SLOWLY. NOTHING LOOKS OUT OF PLACE]

Damn-it, where's it gone?

[LINK STEPS UP BESIDE ZELDA, EYES PEELED. HE STOPS, LOOKS UP, THEN SHOVES ZELDA OUT OF THE WAY]

ZELDA

Hey!

[THE E.G.G. DROPS DOWN WHERE ZELDA STOOD. IT'S CLAWS SCRATCH AGAINST THE FLOOR AND IT BEEPS LOUDLY]

[IT SWIVELS IT'S BODY TO FIND ZELDA, CHASING AFTER HER, WHEN LINK GRABS IT WITH TWO HANDS AND LIFTS IT HIGH INTO THE AIR, AWAY FROM ZELDA]

[LINK SHOUTS, ABOUT TO SWING THE E.G.G. BACK INTO THE GROUND TO CRACK IT, BUT ZELDA GRABS HIS ARM TO STOP HIM]

ZELDA

No! Don't break it!

[SUDDENLY, THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON. IMPA, PURAH, AND ROBBIE ARE STANDING IN THE OPEN DOORWAY OF THE LAB]

ROBBIE

Whoa! What's going on?

PURAH

Linky? What are you doing in here?

IMPA

Why is the E.G.G. active?

[THE E.G.G. BEEPS IN DISTRESS, SWIVELING AND KICKING IT'S LEGS IN LINK'S HANDS TRYING TO GET TO ZELDA]

ZELDA

I don't know. There was an error message, the power went out, and when I looked back it was gone.

ROBBIE

A power surge perhaps? That activated the E.G.G. prematurely?

PURAH

Should Linky be holding that?

[EVERYONE LOOKS AT LINK, WHO IS STILL HOLDING THE E.G.G. AND LOOKING VERY ON EDGE]

IMPA

Here, I'll take it.

[IMPA REACHES FOR THE E.G.G., BUT IT SWATS AT HER]

Hey! Who do you think you are?

[THE E.G.G. POINTS AT ZELDA AND BEEPS PROFUSELY. IT POPS OUT OF LINK'S HOLD, AND RUNS TO ZELDA'S FEET]

[ZELDA TAKES A FEW STEPS BACK, BUT THE E.G.G. JUST LOOKS UP AT HER AND LIFTS IT'S CLAWED LEGS WITH ANOTHER BEEP]

ZELDA

Oh, um, hello.

[ZELDA CROUCHES DOWN TO THE E.G.G.'S LEVEL. THE E.G.G. HOPS JOYFULLY AND RUNS CIRCLES AROUND HER. SHE LAUGHS QUIETLY, TURNING TO WATCH IT RUN]

PURAH

How strange! I never expected a Guardian would act like this!

IMPA

All on it's own too. I don't like it.

ROBBIE

And why is it so attached to Zelda?

ZELDA

I don't know, but… I think we can trust it. It seems to be on our side.

[THE E.G.G. LOOKS UP AT EVERYONE, BUT STAYS CLOSE TO ZELDA AS SHE STANDS UP AGAIN]

This is a good sign! It's functioning fully, despite any effects the storm may have had on it's software. All we have to do now it make sure it can connect to the Sheikah Slate—

IMPA

Not so fast, Zelda. Aren't you forgetting something?

[IMPA GESTURES TOWARDS LINK, WHO HAS RECOLLECTED HIMSELF AND STARES AT THE REST OF THE GROUP]

We have to tell him.

ZELDA

What?

IMPA

We've got no choice. He's seen it, he knows this is what we've been working on now. If he's gonna know about the E.G.G., he has to know about everything.

[ZELDA LOOKS BETWEEN IMPA AND LINK AND THE E.G.G. RELUCTANTLY. LINK STARES AT ZELDA, WAITING FOR HER RESPONSE]

ZELDA

Fine. Then you can tell him.

[ZELDA WALKS OUT THE DOOR AND SHUTS IT BEHIND HER. THE E.G.G. BEEPS SADLY]

[SHEIKAH SLATE CLOSES]

[SHEIKAH SLATE OPENS]

ZELDA

This is Zelda Bosphoramus, recording our final update on the E.G.G. project. The E.G.G. has been up and running since last night, and is showing no signs of corruption or faulty programming. I can confidently say this project has been an overall success! A challenge for sure, but ultimately worth it, at least I hope .

Last night, Purah managed to connect the E.G.G.'s audio and visual technology to the Sheikah, so that we can see through it's eyes, so to speak. However…

She found something, while transferring her test photos from the E.G.G. to the Slate. There was a hidden recording in it's files, and she managed to extract it. She decided to wait until everyone was back before we crack it open, so here we are.

PURAH

It's strange isn't it? There shouldn't be a previous recording of any kind, the E.G.G. was literally born yesterday!

IMPA

It must have been recording since it woke up then, right? During the power outage? It's probably just it's point of view of what happened last night.

ROBBIE

The E.G.G. does technically record it's surroundings constantly, but it shouldn't save those recordings unless prompted too. Hence, why it was so interesting to find such a recording among Purah's selfies.

PURAH

They weren't selfies, I had Linky take them for me! He's the one that told me to wait for you to come back before watching the video, you know. Otherwise I totally would have peeked at it, haha!

[LINK COUGHS AWKWARDLY FROM A DISTANCE]

ZELDA

…Right. Well, since we're all here, we might as well get on with it. Everyone ready?

[VARIOUS MHM'S AND SOUNDS OF AGREEMENT. THE E.G.G. BEEPS HAPPILY. ZELDA CLICKS ON THE E.G.G.'S VIDEO FROM THE SLATE'S SCREEN]

[TERRAKO ACTIVATES]

The sky is the color of blood.

It's all the little robot can see. It's eye is badly cracked, it's vision cutting out and glitching uncontrollably. Dark clouds spiral up ahead. Chaos is unfolding where the little robot cannot see, people screaming, running, fighting, just out of reach. The little robot cannot move. Not until someone's hands reach into frame, cradling it's frame with remorse.

The hands turn it's sight down from the sky, and Zelda's face appears.

IMPA

What?!

PURAH

Is that—?

ROBBIE

It can't be!

Her hair is cut short, and her eyes are bloodshot. Blood dirties her face and clothes, washed away by tracks of tears running down her cheeks. Her mouth moves as if to speak, but the audio is corrupt beyond recognition. She cries for the little robot, but her requests are unheard.

The ruins of Hyrule Castle paint an ominous silhouette against the sky, multiple figures by Zelda's side cropped just enough that their faces cannot be seen. One is a tall Zora, another a young Gerudo, a sheepish Goron, and a Rito with a small hatchling wrapped around his leg. An unfamiliar hand rests on Zelda's shoulder, and the others surround her from afar. The only face that can be seen clearly is Zelda's.

Her words barely make it through the crackling sound of her voice. "Terrako!" she yells, "Terrako!"

The little robot's legs flail weakly. It's losing power fast.

Zelda's head drops down to her shoulders as she cries. Another figure is standing behind her. They are unrecognizable, face hidden by the constant glitching of the robot's vision. A horrible sound plays, grating and jumpy. The figure is laughing.

[TERRAKO DEACTIVATES]

[EVERYONE STARTS TALKING AT ONCE]

IMPA

Zelda… that was you.

PURAH

That's impossible! Her hair doesn't look like that, and the blood—

ROBBIE

Who were all those people? Those looked like the Hyrule Castle Ruins — when could this have possibly happened?

[LINK WATCHES ZELDA, WAITING FOR HER TO REACT. THE E.G.G. CRAWLS UP THE WORKTABLE TO BE AT EYE LEVEL WITH ZELDA, WHO STARES AT THE SLATE SILENTLY]

[THE E.G.G. BEEPS, TRYING TO GET ZELDA'S ATTENTION. NOTHING. THEN, IT BEGINS TO PLAY A SONG]

[ZELDA RECOGNIZES IT. SHE LIFTS HER HEAD IN SHOCK, AS THE E.G.G. PLAYS HER LULLABY. IT SWAYS TO THE BEAT ON THE TABLE, AND EVERYONE WATCHES IN SILENCE]

[THE SONG COMES TO A CLOSE, AND ZELDA REACHES FORWARD TOWARDS THE E.G.G.]

ZELDA

"Terrako"… is that your name?

[TERRAKO JUMPS IN THE AIR AND SPINS, BEEPING JOYFULLY. ZELDA SMILES, SADLY]

IMPA

So… what does this mean?

[ZELDA RECOLLECTS HERSELF]

ZELDA

I don't know for certain. It is obvious it should be impossible for Terrako to have seen or heard these things before. And yet… that was the song my mother sang for me. So there is some truth to what it's shown us.

I could mean that, this recording… may be a vision of what is to come.

PURAH

So you're saying the E.G.G.—Terrako, I mean— was warning us?

ZELDA

Yes.

[TERRAKO BEEPS]

IMPA

Then… maybe this is only a possible future. Maybe there's a way to avoid such an outcome entirely! Why else would Terrako show us such a thing? It's giving us the opportunity to change it.

PURAH

How do we even prepare for such a thing? We don't even know who those people where or why they were at the Castle.

ZELDA

The Archives. This has to have something to do with the Archives.

[SHE STANDS FROM HER SEAT QUICKLY]

I need to go back. I've been away too long.

IMPA

Wait, Zelda—!

ZELDA

[IN A RUSH]

If there's anything that can stop this, the Institute is our only way of figuring out what it is. The answer is in the statements, it must be. I only hope we have enough time.

Thank you, all of you, for what you've done.

[ZELDA SPEEDS OUT THE DOOR, TERRAKO HOT ON HER HEELS. LINK STARTS TO FOLLOW AS WELL, BUT IMPA STOPS HIM, SIGNING—]

IMPA

Look after her, Link. If anything happens, I swear to Hylia—

[IMPA'S THREAT IS UNFINISHED, BUT LINK NODS IN UNDERSTANDING. SHE LETS HIM GO]

[SHEIKAH SLATE CLOSES]

Chapter Text

[SHEIKAH SLATE OPENS]

[TERRAKO IS SCUTTLING AROUND THE OFFICE, BEEPING WITH CURIOSITY. ZELDA IS CLEARLY TRYING TO GET IT TO STAY PUT]

ZELDA

I understand you want to protect me, but you really can't run freely like this. No one is supposed to know you're here, remember?

[ZELDA PICKS UP TERRAKO AND BRINGS IT OVER TO HER DESK]

Listen, the work day is nearly over, and everyone's heading home soon anyway. I should have just enough time to record this statement, and when everyone's gone, you and I can take a tour of the Archives so you can get to know your surroundings. Deal?

[TERRAKO BEEPS AND GIVES ZELDA IT'S CLAW TO SHAKE. ZELDA LAUGHS]

Great. Now stay put.

[ZELDA SHUFFLES AROUND HER PAPERS]

ZELDA

Statement of Symin Oman-Au, regarding the disappearance of his young sister Josha Oman-Au. Original statement given almost one year ago. Sheikah Slate recording by the Head Archivist of the Hyrule Institute, Zelda Bosphoramus. Statement begins.

ZELDA [STATEMENT]

To this day, I cannot explain what happened to my sister. No one believes me when I tell them what we experienced, and I'm starting to doubt myself too. This seemed like the only place that would give my story the benefit of the doubt, so here I am.

I come from a long line of Sheikah technicians, all the way back to those who invented the original Sheikah towers hundreds of years ago. It's a family business, one I am happy to take on and continue the tradition.

My job is to build and repair cell towers all across Hyrule. The designs of these towers evolved from Sheikah towers themselves, though they've changed enough that none but the Sheikah still call them that. Still, my history and experience makes me one of the best at my job.

Even though I love my work, no one has shown more enthusiasm to take on the mantle than my little sister, Josha. She's always been a bit of a nerd, begging me to take her to the Ancient Tech Lab in Hateno, studying everything she could about ancient Sheikah technology. Sometimes, I felt as though she was too smart to waste her potential on repairing towers, but it's all she's ever wanted.

Soon enough, it was time for her to get some hands on experience, and she asked me to train her. We started small, I showed her how to use the tools, the terminology she needed to know, and most importantly, how to stay safe hundreds of feet in the air. Those are some of my favorite memories, spending time with my sister sharing one of the things I loved most. After weeks and months of preparation, I knew the towers would be in good hands.

I started taking her to work with me, to watch the construction of new towers, and the fixing of old ones. She loved it. I got her her own communicator, something I was usually equipped with when working on a team, so that those of us on the ground to communicate efficiently with those up on the tower. She always wanted to up the tower herself, but I gave her a communicator instead so she could talk to me when I was up there, and ask about what I was doing.

She was young to be on a worksite like this in the first place, even coming from our family of experts. But eventually, after hours of training and observation, she finally got the chance to go up herself.

It was a small one-man repair job on an old tower out in the Faron Region that had been experiencing some disruptions, calls cutting out and radio stations going to static too frequently. I figured this would be a good opportunity to send her up her first tower, not in an active construction zone with dangerous machinery and workers on a tight schedule. She was ecstatic, and we drove out to get to work.

The tower was small, and in good enough shape that I was certain it could hold both our weights at the same time. But after I'd gone over the safety protocols for the third time that day, Josha was determined to go up on her own.

To be fair, that was how my mother had taught me. Like throwing a kid in a pool to get them to swim. It wasn't a teaching tactic I had ever planned on using, but the difference was that I had been terribly afraid of heights back then, and Josha was quite the opposite.

We compromised and I said I'd let Josha go up a short distance before I started following. I hope that that way, were something to go wrong, I could catch her. I rigged her up to the pulley system, made sure her communicator was working, and sent her up the ladder.

I wasn't far behind, but it was obvious she was born for this. She ran up the ladder quickly, but efficiently, without disregarding her safety. She only ever stopped to straighten her glasses every once in a while and look out at the bird's eye view of Faron. Even though it was covered in fog and mist, she said it was beautiful. Before I knew it, the both of us had reached the top.

She looked right at home and ran over to the panel where I was supposed to do the repairs, which is when I realized I'd been so concerned with getting her up there in one piece, I'd forgotten my tools back on the ground. So, double checking her rigging and instructing her to stay put, I climbed back down to retrieve them.

I pulled out my communicator as soon as I reached the ground to check on her, and she was doing just fine. I could hear her already poking around the top of the tower, told her to be patient and went to grab my tools.

It took less than a minute. Less than a minute to go to the truck, grab my tools, attach them to my uniform, and make my way to the bottom of the ladder. But when I pulled out my communicator to let her know I was on my way back up, all I got back was static.

I tried a few times to get through to her, but it didn't work. I craned my neck upwards to try and catch a glimpse of her at the top, but the fog of the Faron region blocked my view. I called her name once, but I knew she wouldn't hear me from this distance.

I thought maybe it had something to do with the tower itself, the disruptions it'd been causing, but our communicators weren't connected to this tower. I wanted to think nothing of it, but climbed the ladder twice as fast anyway.

I shouted her name twice more as I made the climb. I got no response, even when I was close enough I was sure she should have heard me. The panic started to set in. I was certain she hadn't fallen. I would have heard her scream, or worse, seen her body on the ground. So what was it that kept her from responding?

I pushed myself up onto the platform at the top, and found no one.

It's not a big space at all. Most of it is reserved for the workings of the tower itself, and had just enough space to walk in a circle around it. I must have run around that circle dozens of times, hoping Josha was playing some cruel prank and was just around the corner, just out of sight. But the more I screamed and called her name, the more I realized she wasn't here.

I was hardly aware of my surroundings anymore when something cracked beneath my feet. I looked down.

It was Josha's glasses.

Now crushed beyond repair, I picked them up with shaky hands, searching for answers I knew they wouldn't provide. Josha had disappeared without a trace, and I had no clue how to get her back. If I even could.

I was about to go right back down the ladder to look for her hopelessly, when my communicator crackled to life. The static was louder than ever, but through the disruption, I swear I heard—

[A HEAVY KNOCKING RATTLES THE DOOR, BEFORE OPENING IMMEDIATELY]

ZELDA

[ZELDA QUICKLY PUSHES TERRAKO BENEATH HER DESK, OUT OF SIGHT AS SHE ADDRESSES THE INTRUDER WITH ANNOYANCE]

Excuse me—?

[SOMEONE ENTERS THE ROOM UNINVITED. THEIR FOOTFALLS ARE SLOW AND HEAVY, AND ZELDA QUICKLY SHUTS HER MOUTH]

RHOAM

Zelda.

ZELDA

…Father.

I wasn't expecting you. You know, I typically prefer people not interrupt when I'm recording, as the sign says outside—

RHOAM

I'm well aware of the practices within my own Institute. This was an important matter. I'm sure you don't mind.

[ZELDA HUFFS]

ZELDA

No sir. I'll… re-record later, I suppose.

RHOAM

Indeed. Speaking of which, go ahead and stop the recording, please. I'd like this conversation to be private.

ZELDA

Oh, um, right.

[ZELDA HESITATES TO TURN IT OFF, BUT WITH A CLICK—]

[SHEIKAH SLATE CLOSES]

[TERRAKO ACTIVATES]

Terrako is tucked into the furthermost corner beneath Zelda's desk, vision completely blocked. It stays very still, but listens intently to the voices of Zelda and Rhoam from above.

Zelda is mid-sentence. "—wanted to talk about? Anything I can do for you?" She asks.

Rhoam doesn't seem to take a seat at the other side of the desk. Instead he walks in the direction of Zelda's bookshelf, perhaps just for something to look at as he speaks indirectly to Zelda.

"Less important matters, first," Rhoam says, "Give me an update on the Archives. How is your progress?"

"Oh—! It's going well, actually." Zelda shuffles through a few papers, "I'd say we're over a quarter of the way through recording the statements, and doing additional research for every one. We've gathered a lot more context that is really putting the full picture together."

"Ah yes. Your assistants." Rhoam sounds disinterested, "How would you rate their performance?"

"Excellent!" Zelda says honestly, "Revali is reliable, Mipha is loyal and polite, Daruk has a great attitude and Urbosa is an incredible support. Together they create the best team I've ever worked with."

Rhoam grumbles at Urbosa's name, as though he disapproves, but says nothing.

"I'm glad you are making good use of them." He says instead. Pulls a book off the shelf, looks at it, puts it back.

"Of course. This wouldn't be possible without them. I'm very thankful for their work."

"Interesting." Rhoam says, stepping away from the bookshelf to face Zelda, "You're saying you have plenty of employees working under you, then? You don't feel a need for extra support?

Zelda stutters a bit, confused, "Yes— Well, I mean, no, I don't feel like we need more employees. Everyone is handling the work well."

"Why is it then, if you have such good help here, that you've been spending valuable time at the Ancient Tech Lab in Hateno?"

Zelda freezes. The two of them are silent, Rhoam staring Zelda down who grasps for something to say.

"He told you, then." Zelda finally responds. The pride in her voice for her assistants has vanished, replaced by careful neutrality.

"The security guard? No." Rhoam says, "The Institute has safeguards to prevent the Slate from being stolen. Your assistants already know they have to sign a form before leaving the Institute with the Slate for research. It was quite strange then, to see it had been taken to the Lab without notice."

"It was for personal research," Zelda says, "And you should know the Head Archivist has no limitations on carrying the Sheikah Slate outside the Institute. It is my responsibility to take care of."

Rhoam's voice becomes louder, angrier, as he cuts Zelda off.

"Personal research? You may be responsible for it, but the Sheikah Slate is the property of the Hyrule Institute. No one is to waste it's technology for their own frivolous goals."

Rhoam backs off again, thinking.

"I should hope my own daughter isn't the type to abuse her power in the Archives for selfish means. So tell me, what were you really doing at that ridiculous establishment?"

Zelda pauses. Rhoam truly didn't know what she'd been doing at the Lab, the experiments, the Guardian— which meant, under no circumstances, could she tell him.

"The Ancient Tech Lab is highly respected and run by a good friend of mine. I won't have you slandering her hard work."

"The Ancient Tech Lab is a poor mimicry and insult to scientific research." Rhoam argues, "Obsessed with 'upgrading' age-old weapons that should never have resurfaced in the first place. It's dangerous. You could have been hurt."

"You mean your Sheikah Slate could have been hurt," Zelda shoots back, "That's what you really seem concerned about."

"You're changing the subject. Quite acting like a child and answer me."

"I won't." Zelda stands, placing her hands on the table with a slam, "I'll concede, this was not personal research, but on behalf of the Institute."

Rhoam waits to see where this is going.

"The Archives have privacy policies in place that even you, as the CEO, are not allowed to overrun. The research I was doing with the help of the Laboratory staff involved a statement that I cannot share the details of. That is all." Zelda's tone is final.

Rhoam scoffs at her after a moment, finally taking a seat.

"A clever excuse. Not that I believe it, mind you."

Zelda lets out a short breath, relieved at having avoided the subject, at least temporarily. She sits back down in her seat.

"Thank you for understanding," She tries very hard to sound polite, "Is that all? Because I really would like to finish this statement before the day is done."

"No."

Rhoam leans back in his chair, shaking his head.

"I had hoped it wouldn't come to this, my dear." He says, "But you've given me no choice—"

Zelda is about to speak, but Rhoam raises a hand to silence her.

"I'm shutting down the Institute."

Zelda's jaw drops, and she is frozen in her chair. Her father's announcement hangs in the air, the tension that had just been resolved spiking all at once.

"…What?" Zelda whispers.

Rhoam's voice is cold.

"That's what I came to tell you. The Institute has run it's course, and I have been planning to collapse it's activity in the upcoming weeks. As the Archivist and my daughter, I decided you should be the first to know—"

"You can't!"

The air grows cold. Zelda has spoken out of turn, and Rhoam waits for her to amend her mistake. Instead, Zelda doubles down.

"You can't. This is… this is mother's —"

"This is my Institute."

"She loved this place!"

"This place got her killed!" Rhoam shouts. He pushes himself back up and out of the chair, towering over Zelda's desk.

"I know damn well everything she put into this Institution, and that was the only thing stopping me from suing it into bankruptcy when she passed." Rhoam's voice is laced with fury and grief, "It was a temporary truce. I worked my way up from the bottom to take control of this Institution to put it out of business once and for all. This was always the plan."

"Why now, then?" Zelda demanded, "Now, of all times, when we are so close to figuring out what's happening in Hyrule? You've been CEO for years, you could have done this whenever you pleased. Surely, you saw that there was good work being done here."

"I was giving you a chance." Rhoam says darkly, "A chance to prove your ridiculous theory, chase your childish dreams into these empty Archives. All these years you've wasted your time, working towards a goal that doesn't exist."

Rhoam's volume has lowered but is no less devastating. "Your mother had a gift. She could see through the darkness and bring forth light—"

"I know, Father, you've told me—"

"—A gift that was passed on to her from her mother, and her mother's mother, generations of women blessed by Hylia, but when that gift found it's way to you, you squandered it. You severed your connection to Hylia—"

"I prayed to her every day of my damn life!" Zelda gets up and starts pacing angrily, hands in her hair, "I prayed, and I went to the Temples, and I worshiped her just like everyone else, worshiped her harder than anyone else. There was never a connection to begin with. She never responded."

"Then you haven't done enough."

"At least I've done something!" Zelda shouts, "I haven't been wasting my time here in the Archives as you are so determined to believe. My assistants and I have been working tirelessly to organize these statements and piece them together into something comprehensible. You have no idea how much we've uncovered—"

"Prove it then, Zelda." Rhoam says, "Tell me the name of this great evil. Tell me when it will arrive. Best of all, tell me how to stop it."

Rhoam waits for an answer. Zelda cannot give it to him.

He sighs in disapproval.

"This Institute has done nothing but draw in evil and darkness. I have entertained you for long enough. I cannot let it hurt you too."

Zelda's voice is weak, her father's insults hitting her like physical blows, "It hasn't—"

"Your ear."

Zelda reaches for her ear, scarred by the Guardian's laser, before realizing she's incriminated herself.

"Your ear is burned." Rhoam says, "I assume that's the consequence of another 'personal statement' you can't tell me about?"

Zelda won't say anything. Rhoam grumbles under his breath.

"Please understand that I am not doing this to hurt you. I'm doing this to protect you, as your mother did."

Rhoam reaches out for her. Zelda doesn't reach back.

"She wouldn't have wanted this." She says.

Silence falls. The clock ticks in the background.

"You have two weeks," Rhoam ignores her statement, "To prepare the Archives for closure. You and the rest of the team will be let go, with letters of recommendation and a months pay. Please let them know and prepare for the closure of the Archives at the earliest convenience."

When Zelda doesn't respond, Rhoam makes his way to the door.

"Good afternoon, Zelda." Rhoam says. And then he is gone.

[TERRAKO DEACTIVATES]

[SHEIKAH SLATE OPENS]

[ZELDA IS TAKING DEEP BREATHS, TRYING TO CALM HERSELF DOWN. SHE HOLDS HERSELF UP AGAINST THE BACK OF HER CHAIR, HEAD HANGING LOW]

ZELDA

I can't believe he would… how could he?

[ZELDA IS ON THE VERGE OF TEARS]

I can't fail her.

[TERRAKO MAKES HIS APPEARANCE FROM UNDERNEATH THE TABLE, PLAYING A LOW, CONCERNED NOTE. ZELDA GASPS AND WIPES THE TEARS AWAY]

ZELDA

I'm sorry, little one. I'm fine.

[THE SHEIKAH SLATE PINGS. ZELDA SIGHS AND PICKS IT UP]

Now it decides to start recording. After… all of that. Ugh, how am I supposed to explain—

[THE SLATE PINGS AGAIN, AND A NEW FILE APPEARS. ZELDA TAPS IT, AND IT BEGINS TO REPLAY TERRAKO'S RECORDING OF THE CONVERSATION. ZELDA GASPS]

You… you recorded it? The whole time?

[TERRAKO BEEPS, UNSURE IF ZELDA IS MAD AT IT OR NOT. ZELDA LAUGHS AND PICKS UP THE ROBOT, HOLDING IT TIGHT TO HER CHEST]

What a little trickster! It's no wonder I made you myself. What possessed you to do that?

[TERRAKO MAKES THE I DON'T KNOW SOUND]

Well, I can't explain it, but having these recordings makes me feel… I'm not sure. Secure? Satisfied? There really was no reason to have this conversation recorded, but when he told me to turn off the Slate, I felt uneasy. Like it was wrong, somehow.

Thank you, Terrako. I'm not sure this recording is something I can share with… well, anyone, but… thank you all the same.

[TERRAKO PLAYS A HAPPY JINGLE]

I will still have to finish that statement, however. This recording must be such a mess, it's probably best that I just start over tomorrow. Ugh, my father has such terrible timing.

[THE MOOD FALLS AS EASILY AS IT LIFTED. ZELDA SIGHS]

I can't let the Archives close. I just… can't.

My assistants — Urbosa, Daruk, Mipha, Revali — They'd lose their jobs. After all they've trusted me with, to just let then go like that… it's unthinkable. I can't tell them about this.

And Mother… she put so much into this Institute. She practically raised me here. My memories of her have faded, the longer she's been gone. But I still remember Father bringing me to visit her at work, how she'd let me sit at her desk which was far too big for me, pretending to organize her papers. I probably made such a mess.

[ZELDA LAUGHS AGAIN, BUT IT IS WEAKER, SAD]

She used to tell me she was preparing me for the future. She never explicitly told me that something dark was stirring in Hyrule. Just that… she was sure my light would shine on the world. And the Institute was her way of helping me. Preparing me, maybe. But for what, I don't know.

I can't help but feel that… I've already failed her.

[TERRAKO BEEPS SADLY]

I know, I shouldn't think such things. But what am I to do?

[ZELDA SOUNDS HOPELESS. THE CLOCK TICKS IN THE BACKGROUND]

I've done everything. Everything, to try and convince my Father I'm not a— a waste of time.

[QUIETLY]

Then again. Maybe he's right. What have I done, but rot away in these Archives, going on an on about crazy stories, putting my friends in danger? I don't know that any of this is leading us anywhere but to our— to our deaths.

[ZELDA LIFTS TERRAKO SO THEY ARE EYE TO EYE]

And that video of yours. That was a vision of the future, wasn't it? What could possibly happen, to bring us to that moment? Is it me?

Please — please, show me what I am supposed to do. How can I save the Institute? How can I save everyone?

[TERRAKO SEARCHES THROUGH IT'S DATA, AND COMES UP EMPTY. IT BEEPS SADLY, SHAKING IT'S HEAD]

[ZELDA PUTS TERRAKO BACK DOWN ON HER DESK]

No, no — I shouldn't have asked that of you. It's not your responsibility, it's— I'm sorry.

[ZELDA TAKES A MOMENT TO BREATHE, COMPOSING HERSELF]

I should pack up. It's too late to finish this statement now. How about we take that tour now, hm?

[TERRAKO BEEPS HAPPILY AND RUNS TO THE DOOR. ZELDA STAYS BEHIND. DESPITE HER OWN STATEMENT, SHE HESITATES TO TURN OFF THE SLATE]

[WHISPERING]

I'll fix this. Somehow.

I have to.

[SHEIKAH SLATE CLOSES]