Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Ah yes, thank you all for coming. As much as I love the lecture hall, there’s something much more fun about hands-on experience, don’t you think? Besides, I think we all like some fresh air instead of listening to my hot air all the time.” There was some polite laughter as Professor Gaepora thoroughly enjoyed his own joke too much. “I believe it’s important to begin the semester with a good overview of everything we’ll cover in this class, and nowhere is better than the Hyrule Archives! …and not just because I’m the director.”

You rolled your eyes. It wasn’t the first time you’d heard his jokes, and it wouldn’t be the last, considering he was your father. The class shuffled through the entry, past statues depicting the rulers of days past. Of course, at the entrance was Zelda the Luminary, founder of the University of Hyrule, holding an eternal blue flame in her hand to “light the path to wisdom” for all students.

Being at the University was a treat in itself, let alone the Archives. It was the oldest learning institution in Hyrule, said to have been established after the Calamity by the aforementioned Zelda – people stopped attempting to count which Zelda she was by that point. It was highly exclusive to the best and brightest – or the richest. Classes were small. Even this gen-ed class, HIS-103 “Hyrule Historia: Age of Legends”, had only about thirty students.

As much as you hated the feeling of using your father’s privilege to get into the University of Hyrule, it was hard to resist, considering it was the best place to study history in the country. It didn’t hurt that it meant working in the Archives, somewhere that you’d practically considered home since you were a baby. It also didn’t hurt that both the Archives and University were housed in the former castle of the royal family. Being around all of this history was like a drug to an inquiring mind like yours, something you imagined you shared with the school’s founder.

As Professor Gaepora’s introduction continued, you decided to let your mind wander. You strolled past cases of artifacts, such as a strange brass beetle, a pair of winged boots, a cane said to make blocks appear, and a jar said to generate wind. You stopped next to a case filled with Goron-made items, including an oversized rusting sword. “Think they used this to inspire the weapons in TriFighters?”

Your friend Corbus nodded. “Definitely, but I doubt this one shoots energy beams.” Corbus was a Goron himself and a brilliant engineering student. The two of you had bonded early on over your love of games like the popular tournament brawler TriFighters and various comics. Even today, Corbus wore a worn T-shirt of his favorite anime, Kaito Keaton, the Midnight Thief. “Maybe that’s what I’ll do my paper on, the inspiration for the game!”

“Ne-e-e-erds,” your other friend Avil said, resting his chin on your head. He clearly inherited the Gerudo height gene, towering over you, despite his usual slouch. Despite his teasing, Avil was just as much as a nerd as you and Corbus, making fast friends since the two of you would often help him figure out coding bugs in his programs. The two of you were also his biggest support during his transition. Despite Avil’s loose, billowy clothing and rail-thin build, he was also an athlete – often trying to get you and Corbus to join his workouts to little success. “Don’t you wanna do something a bit more exciting than that?”

“Like what? And get off my head, your chin hurts!”

Avil laughed. “Wouldn’t it be more fun to study the inspirations for monsters from the Legend of Saria?”

“Class, if we could gather over here a moment? I know you’re all excited to delve into the mysteries of the past,” Professor Gaepora chuckled. Most of the class didn’t sound all that excited as they all gathered around him.

“Ancient texts and legends often describe a curse and a cycle of reincarnation, sometimes called the Curse of Demise, where an evil would arise in Hyrule, only to be defeated by a hero and a member of the royal family. We believe these curses were stories told to explain natural disasters, which led to Hyrule’s technological stagnation for centuries. The last of these popular legends ends with the final defeat of the Demon King and thus breaking the supposed curse on the land and ushering in a golden era. Whether it’s true or not is fun to imagine, but we can’t deny that after the destruction of the Demon King, Hyrule flourished and underwent the industrial revolution that led us to the comforts we enjoy today.” Professor Gaepora paused to gesture to the many exhibits. “As you know, the legends are important parts of our culture. To start familiarizing yourself with them, you will be preparing a paper on one legend or topic and its impact to the modern world.”

One girl, named Romani, sighed next to you. “Ugh, where do you even start, there’s hundreds of these.”

“Maybe I’ll do the legends of the animal spirits?” Her friend Ilia wondered aloud.

You noticed someone sidled up next to you. “So, you got a topic yet?” Ivan asked, wearing his trademark newsboy cap and smug grin. His fellow fraternity cronies backed him up. “Maybe we can turn it into a partner project?”

“I’m not gonna do all the work for you Ivan.” Ivan frowned, but you could tell it was more based on the person who now stood behind you. You turned around to the bulky red Rito and his rival frat bros. “That goes for you too, Groose.”

“Aww c’mon don’t wanna give me a try?” The big guy waggled his eyebrows.

“No, because I think the homoerotic tension between your gang and Ivan’s gang would make me feel like a third wheel.”

“What?!” Groose and Ivan both blurted out. You walked away as they spluttered. Any attempted flirting from those two was always just for an easy grade anyway. Instead, your eyes wandered over to the one guy you’d help in a heartbeat. 

You sighed, looking over at Link. He just seemed so perfect… hair like gold and eyes like sapphires. He was the strong silent type, but you lived for every time he smiled, and the mask slipped ever so slightly. He was also the best out there when it came to sports, especially the Knight Games. While your country’s obsession with its medieval past was a little strange, you had to admit watching the swordfights and impressive obstacle runs was fun. Link was a star, possibly the best in a generation at them. If only you could work up the courage to talk to him and ask him out…

“Oh Link! There you are!”

Oh, and there was the little problem of him currently dating your cousin.

To say Zelda was popular was an understatement. Zelda seemingly had her hands in fifty extracurricular activities at any given time; you swore she had to be cloning herself somehow. Her side of the family was filthy rich. She always had the newest fashions, tech, anything. You swore what she was wearing today was imported directly from Hytopia, probably taken off the model who wore it yesterday. Worst of all, you couldn’t be mad at her for being some kind of snob or general mean girl. She was nice – sort of, terms and conditions apply. She seemed to always know when something was bothering someone and always managed to turn up at the right times to lend a helping hand. She was untouchable, impossible to hate. Which, of course, only made it worse to see her with the man of your dreams. The weird part was that around you, she seemed to run hot and cold. Back before high school, the two of you were inseparable, but then she seemed to be pushing you away as she drifted towards Link. She was perfectly cordial to you now, but it really felt like it was out of obligation.

Instead of facing them, you decided to peel off from the group and clear your head, almost running smack into another student.

“Oh sorry! I’m so clumsy,” the professionally dressed upperclassman said. She straightened her glasses that made her red eyes seem even brighter. Despite being the top of the business degree program, she always seemed to have her head in the clouds. This was especially apparent when, as your dorm RA, she tended to constantly forget her popcorn in the microwave.

“No problem, Impa,” you said. “I didn’t know you were taking a history class.”

“I’m not,” she said, straightening her papers. “It’s a paper I’m doing on leadership styles. So hard trying to navigate all the changes in court politics… Wish I had someone who was an expert to help me…”

You groaned internally, but to be fair you did owe her a favor. “If you want, I can help you a bit tomorrow. I’ve already narrowed down my topic on my paper, and I practically live in here anyway.”

“It’s not too much trouble?”

“Consider it a thanks for fixing that mess with the dorm shower and tearing that plumber a new one.” Thank the goddesses for that new water heater.

“Oh, you’re the best, thanks!” Impa said, giving you a quick hug before dashing off again. All you could do was shake your head and continue on your walk.

You stared out of the windows of what used to be the Dining Hall. Castle City spread out for miles in all directions. The towering skyscrapers, impressive as they were, still were lower than the spires of the castle. It made you wonder what it must’ve been like to live in the castle in its heyday.

“Hey.”

You jumped, spinning around to see Link. He stared at you, hands in his pockets. “Uh, hi!”

“Hey,” he said again. “You know where the exhibit on monsters is?”

“Oh… uh, yeah. I’ll show you!” You led the way, while Link followed, hands still stuffed in his pockets. “So… monsters are pretty cool! No one has seen any real monsters around here for a while, not since after the whole Demon King thing at least. A lot of people say they don’t really exist, more just things to scare little kids, but they really did! Well, maybe not all of them, some of them do sound pretty silly.” You laughed nervously, as Link simply followed you silently. You led the way past a wall filled with magical rods and staves from the well-known Fire Rod to the mysterious Tri Rod. “Um, I think some would be cool to see though, like Lynels sound so cool – super deadly but cool, y’know? I was always scared of Dead Hands though, I got so many nightmares after reading about those! Did any stories scare you when you were a kid?”

Link gave you a slow blink and simply shrugged. The silence was almost stifling. “Uh, yeah…” you continued, as you rounded the corner towards another room with a carved dragon. “Dragons were probably the rarest you know,” your mouth running away from you again. “We really don’t know a ton about them, considering there’s so many depictions from Aquamentus to Valoo to the Zonai cults, but they’re basically the kings of monsters, if you ask me. Kinda appropriate since once of our kings was literally called the Dragon King, right?” All too soon, you found yourself at the entrance of the monster exhibit.

Link gave you a nod. “Thanks.” He slowly strode away, giving you one final look. You waved awkwardly as he walked around the corner.

Once he was out of sight and earshot, you wanted to rip your hair out. “Ugh, why did I ramble so much! He probably thinks I’m some kind of know-it-all!”

“There’s a difference between being a know-it-all and trying to teach,” came a voice. You looked up to see your father. “Now what has you in a tizzy?”

“It’s nothing, really.”

Your father followed your line of sight towards Link. His bushy eyebrows rose. “Ahh… I see. Sometimes it’s hard to find the courage. Why, I remember when I first saw your mother, I was stunned – stunned I tell you! I fell straight into the fountain! She came back to help me pick up my sopping books and notes. I could hardly string together a thank you.”

“Thanks for the words of encouragement,” you said, “But Dad… he’s already dating someone else. Zelda?”

He shrugged. “Is he? The way he walks around her, you could’ve fooled me.”

“You’re just saying that.”

“Don’t worry son, things have a funny way of working themselves out.”

Chapter Text

Central Plaza. Change here for Red and Blue line trains.

Given the University was housed in the castle, there weren’t enough rooms for dorms within the castle walls. Most students stayed in a small community called the Lookout Quarter just outside the Old Town walls. Those were the original boundaries of Castle Town, long before it became a city. Apparently, the neighborhood had been named after some old fort, but most records of said establishment had been destroyed in a fire. Regardless, that meant making a short commute on the subway every morning to your classes.

You stepped off the subway and made your way through the station. Screens throughout the passageway played today’s news.

“…in other news, Prime Minister Nabooru Makeela has returned from her first state visit to Gamelon. We’ve received the following press release, saying that a new trade deal is in the works to lower import tariffs on fine fashions from overseas. Opponents are concerned about how this could affect the Rito-made fashions domestically… Our final story, the pop group INDIGO is gearing up for their final stop on their world tour, performing in their home of Zora’s Domain.” The newscaster was replaced by live footage of five handsome Zora, though the frontman outshone them by far. “Lead singer Ralon, better known as Prince Ralon to his fans, said their homecoming has been a long time coming.” The camera zoomed in on the pink Zora, who gave a winning smile to the camera.

You left the station, absently checking your phone as you made the last bit of the walk to the castle. It was easy moving along with the flow of students up the path and past the old fortifications as you skimmed through social media apps. Despite the sun dipping low, several still had late lectures. Others spent time at the various gardens and courtyards, catching up, studying, and in several cases, flirting. You rolled your eyes, thinking of all the times Zelda would be out there with several guys trying to get her attention, only for her to hang off Link’s arm.

You lingered for a moment at the training fields. Your favorite spot against an old tree was free, giving you the perfect view of field. Here, student athletes practiced for the Knight Games, all under the eternal watch of the Hero of Time, as his statue stood at the far end of the field. It was a bit of a guilty pleasure, coming by to watch or study. There was something so captivating about a good match, especially when Link was involved. His swordplay looked like an art, almost effortless. Of course, it didn’t hurt that he also tended to wear tight training gear.

Today’s practice match pitted Link against Groose. Link, of course, was a true “board and sword” type, shield-bashing to get his opponent off-guard before charging in with a slice. Groose tended to like two-handed weapons like spears and claymores, which was much more fitting for a guy his size. When Link fought, it was like the world faded away around him. You could tell it was his element. Groose did his best to attack with a flurry rush, but Link had no trouble sidestepping him and striking his weak left side.

“Groose should know by now to protect his left,” Avil commented beside you. He laughed as you jumped. “Dude, you really zone out when it comes to pretty boy, huh?”

“Shut up,” you muttered. “I just really admire his ability.”

“His ability with a sword, huh?” Avil winked, rolling his hips.

“Stooooop…”

“Fine, fine. Besides, Link doesn’t need anyone else worshipping him, his head is big enough already. He’s gonna start making mistakes if he’s not careful.” Avil then leaned in with a catlike grin, “Though I notice he doesn’t brag so much around you. Maybe you leave pretty boy a little tongue-tied?”

You hugged your knees. “Don’t say things like that. Why would he be interested in me? Besides, Zelda’s always hanging off his arm.”

“I didn’t say it to be mean,” Avil soothed, pulling you into a side hug. “Just saying what I’m seeing. Take a chance.”

“I…” You sighed. “Maybe.”

“C’mon, if all those heroes you constantly ramble about can face literal demons, then you can suck it up and talk to your crush.” He patted you on the back. “Besides, pouting isn’t hot. Confidence is.”

“You could say that again, Avil,” came the smooth voice of the coach. Professor Owlan served double duty, advising on swordplay for the Knight Games as well as teaching literature. The fine-featured man was also one of the most popular educators on campus, more than partly due to being complete eye-candy. “You know, [Y/n], with how much you come by and watch, I’m starting to wonder why you don’t join the team.”

“Just fun to watch,” you said quickly. “I don’t think I’d be any good in a fight.”

Professor Owlan laughed good-naturedly. “Then let’s hope you never have to be in one.” He turned and strolled back to the field.

Avil stood as well, tossing his sweat towel over his neck. “I gotta get changed, wanna head to get food after?”

“Promised to help Impa out with something.” You checked your phone. “Actually, I should probably get going. I’ll see ya tomorrow for game night?”

“Duh, I’ve got a one-shot that’ll knock your socks off. Don’t forget it’s your turn for snacks!”

“I got it, don’t worry,” you laughed, grabbing your stuff and booking it up the path to the Archives.

The Archives always felt different after sundown. The warm lights inside seemed to cast a different glow across the statues. Even the statue of Zelda the Luminary seemed a bit more foreboding in the light of her blue flame. Some found it unnerving, but you always felt a little safer, as if she was on the watch for the return of monsters.

Just then, you heard something fall around the corner. You hurried, hoping not to find a mess. Instead, you found Impa, examining a case of artifacts. “Oh, Impa, gosh… you scared me, I thought something broke.”  

She adjusted her glasses with a little giggle. Her bag had spilled open, clearly falling off of the bench she set it on. “Just me, I’m afraid. Thanks for helping again.” She looked back at the case with interest.

“I… thought that your paper was on politics?”

“Oh yeah,” she said, dismissing it with a wave. “Just looking at these though you know. It’s crazy to think about that these were once dangerous weapons the heroes used. Now, they’re barely interesting. The magic is basically gone from them, just pretty showpieces these days.”

“I… I’m not sure I follow,” you said carefully. “These are historic artifacts, not actually magic. Half of it was just advanced tech anyway. You don’t… really think all those stories were real, do you?”

“Oh, they’re very real,” Impa said. “It might be slumbering, but powerful magic still flows through Hyrule. It’s funny,” she said, pointing at your pointed ears. “They say the Hylians have long ears to hear the whispers of the Goddesses, yet you’ve fallen so far off the path, I bet you wouldn’t hear a thing – even if they decided you people were worthy of their time.”

You did your best to hold back your disgust. “What are you trying to say?”

“I’m saying, Hyrule has fallen from grace. No Goddesses will save you now, not when you’ve all decided to grow lazy and weak. It happened to the ancient Sheikah, and now it’s happening to Hyrule, and like the Sheikah, so too will this world fall.”

You took a step back. This was all wrong. “W-who are you?!”

Ite looked like her skin was bubbling and melting off, but it was merely an illusion. As it peeled away it revealed a voluptuous woman in a shiny black and toxic purple dress that almost looked like a spider’s carapace. For a moment, you thought she was choking as her skin turned a pale blue. She looked down at you with venom and insanity in her eyes. “Not that it will matter for long, but my name is Veran, the most powerful sorceress in Hyrule, and I’m here to exact my revenge on the royal family.”

“B-but the royals aren’t around anymore!”

“Oh, you know so little. Once I’m done with you, Hyrule will finally be restored to the way things should be.” Her hands dripped with evil magic that seemed to sear the very air around you. “Now, hold still, little worm.”

You scrambled out of the way just in time, as a bolt of magic burnt the floor, eating away at it like acid. “Don’t make this harder for yourself,” she taunted, heels clicking on the floor. “It’ll only hurt more if you run.”

You ran as fast as you could, scrambling through the exhibits. You reached for a bow on the wall, only for a blast of magic to ignite it. You dove into the next room and hid behind a display case. C’mon, calm down, breathe… you’re not gonna escape her by panicking! Your eyes darted around the room. As much as you wished you could crawl into a vent and hide, there was no way you’d fit, let alone get the grate off quietly and quickly. As the click of her heels approached, you knelt down and crawled over to a statue of Queen Zelda XIV, opposite an ancient mirror. Your majesty, I could really use some of that wisdom right now!

“Ah there you are…” Your chest was seized in an icy grip as you saw Veran’s face reflected in the mirror. Her visage was twisted, looking more monstrous than ever. She reached around, grabbing your throat in her clawlike grip. “How wonderfully fortunate for me, the Magic Mirror of old… they say it shows the true nature of a man, let’s see what it does to you!”

The magic bounced off the Magic Mirror and knocked you to the ground. Instantly your lungs filled with fire; it was impossible to breathe. You writhed on the floor, feeling your skin burn. You wanted to scream, but you had no air left.

“There we go, that little curse should do the job nicely,” Veran leaned down with an acidic grin. “You just play the part you’re supposed to, and everything will be fine.”

You weakly tried to claw at her face, but all you received was white-hot pain down your arm. Your bones felt like they had turned to molten lead and your muscles to stone. Your vision swam as unconsciousness slowly gripped you, though you feared it may be death instead. You heaved one final breath before all went dark.

It could have been moments, or it could have been hours, but flames danced behind your eyelids. You slowly opened your eyes to find yourself in a simple wooden chair at a table with a crystal ball. Your body had disappeared, replaced by a floating blue flame. Across from you sat a stately elderly woman, looking prim and proper but with a permanent scowl. Perched atop her perfectly curled grey hair was a black witch’s hat. Two young Gerudo girls in cute dresses giggled by her side, only silenced by the raise of a finger from the crone.

She studied you for a moment before narrowing her gaze. “Well now… it seems you’ve met with a terrible fate.”

Chapter Text

The witch stared at you, while her assistants watched on with mischievous grins. “Well boy?”

“W-where am I? Who are you?” You looked down and realized you couldn’t see your body, just a burning blue flame. “What happened to me?! Am I dead?!”

“Calm down, you’ve been through quite the ordeal.” She waved her hand and a cooling sensation drifted over you, helping to slow your beating heart – or whatever equivalent a flame had. “You’re not dead, but you have been cursed. You are safe, for now.”

Safe seemed to be an odd descriptor, considering the void you were in. She nodded her head and continued. “I am Maple, the last of the great witches of Hyrule. While the legends may slumber now, my people have been tasked to keep watch and advise the Royal Family. For many years there has been peace, but now, the flames of sorrow, destruction, and despair have been relit. It means someone wishes to bring great evil to this land. Someone wishes to drive Hyrule back into darkness once more.”

“I know who it is, it’s V-urgh!” As soon as you attempted to say her name, bile rose in your throat, threatening to choke you.

“Has it been so long that even basic magic rules have been forgotten?” Maple shook her head. “The victim of a curse cannot speak the name of the person who cursed them, nor the effects of the curse. Given this particularly evil magic, you likely can’t even speak your own name.”

You tried, only to be choked by bile once again.

“He doesn’t learn very quickly does he,” one of the Gerudo girls giggled.

“You’d think he’s never even seen magic before,” the other snickered.

“I haven’t,” you admitted. That sent both of the girls into a laughing fit.

“Koume! Kotake! Behave yourselves!” Maple scolded. “It’s not his fault he’s new to magic.” She turned back to you. “The curse is a poison in your system. I have slowed its effects for now, but my spells will not hold forever. It will be up to you to break your curse.”

“But… how? And what about… the person who did it,” you said carefully. “They did it for a reason, but I’m nobody!”

“Incorrect. You are a descendant of the Royal Family.”

“No, no, no, that’s Zelda’s side of the family. The royal blood didn’t come down through my side. It’s not like it even matters, Hyrule’s been a republic for centuries. No one cares about the Royal Family except for history nerds like me!”

“Poor boy,” Maple said. “You’ve been lied to. The royal blood and the blood of Hylia flows through you. Perhaps it may be something forgotten in these modern days, but the members of the Royal Family have a duty to protect Hyrule from all danger, whether they wear a crown or not.”

Your flame shrunk a bit. “But I’m no one, how am I supposed to stop,” you paused, slowly learning, “her and a bunch of monsters?”

“Fate never comes when one is prepared. But, as with every evil that faces Hyrule, a hero must arise again.”

“Is…”

“It’s not you.”

You frowned. “You said that awfully quickly.”

She stared at you for a moment, leaving you feeling cold. “You have a different role to play. You must provide guidance to the hero. Your curse may hamper you, but your mind is still sharp. Use your wisdom to guide him. Through power, wisdom, and courage, Hyrule will overcome evil once more.” For once, she gave you a softer look. “You will know what to do, and there are those who will help to guide you. I have watched you from afar since you were but an infant. You are ready, boy. I have faith in you and the hero. Let him be your sword, and he will trust you to be his sage.”

“But how will I know who the real hero is?”

Maple suddenly laughed. “Dear boy, I figured you would know. You seem to pine after him so.” You hoped your flustered body language didn’t somehow translate through your flame.

“He is really cute,” Koume added.

Kotake nodded. “It’s just like one of our manga.”

“You two aren’t reading inappropriate things again, are you?” Maple shot them a look only a grandmother could. She shook her head, turning her attention back to you. “Dear boy, time is growing short. Please listen carefully. Your curse will grow stronger over time, and my magic may not be able to hold it back. Remember who you are, and focus on what makes you, you. That should help you to stave it off until you can break the curse. If you fail, you will become one of the monsters that threatens all you hold dear.”

“N-no pressure,” you murmured.

“I know this is difficult, but you will succeed. The Royal Family of generations past have prepared for this day. In the many legends of which the people still share, the swordsman and the one with a cursed heart shall awaken the new sages and save Hyrule from ruin. Find the swordsman, find the source of the corruption and end it. I would also recommend finding the Great Fairy Queen Venus. She will be able to guide you to the ancient treasure that will help you and the hero to destroy the darkness. I have the upmost faith in you. Now, hurry along and return. Hyrule is counting on you. We will be watching and helping as much as we can.”

“Good luck, silly boy!” Koume said.

“You’ll do great!” Kotake added.

“Hylia watch over you,” Maple said, as everything faded into darkness.

You groaned as you tried to get up. Everything hurt. You realized your arms were wrapped in bandages, inscribed with strange runes in Ancient Hylian. Your phone was smashed and half had melted from Veran’s magic. After chucking it in the nearest trash can, you hobbled as quickly as you could to the bathroom. Your clothes had been replaced with a comfortable tunic and your shoes by sturdy boots. Your entire body seemed to be wrapped in these bandages, even your head. Stray locks of hair poked out from under the bandages, bleached white from the curse. The only spot free was your nose and mouth, which was covered by a black mask so that you could eat and drink. You pulled it away, wincing as the cold air stung your raw skin. The skin underneath looked horrifically burned, and your teeth were as sharp as a Zora’s. You quickly put the mask back. Last and most noticeable of all were your eyes. Your non-dominant eye had swollen shut and was wrapped under the bandages. The other glowed with an ethereal soft blue light.

There was no time to feel sorry for yourself, let alone cry. You could hear someone approaching outside. “I heard noises over here!” You held your breath, waiting for the guards to run past, before slipping out the door and hurrying towards the exit.

“What do I do, what do I do?” you muttered to yourself. The curse warped your throat, distorting your voice. “No one’s gonna recognize me like this, and I can’t even say anything about it!” Your stress walk led you down the courtyard paths and back to the training fields. You nervously picked at your bandages, trying to ignore how much everything ached. A chill ran down your spine as you made a terrible realization. “If Veran was hiding as Impa… can I trust anyone? What if she has other spies?” You nervously gripped your tunic. “I need to find Link, and fast.”

As you walked further, you passed through a dark area near the bleachers. There was only a pale yellow glow from a lone streetlamp, casting long shadows. You heard a can clink along the sidewalk. “Hello?” you asked. “Is someone there?”

The dim light flickered behind you. The shadows seemed to writhe. The shadows rose and twisted, forming into a monster before your eyes. Tentacles formed under a bulbous head. “An Octorok?” You breathed. Your curiosity had to wait, as a rock whizzed by your head. “Yikes!” You hurried – as fast as your aching body would let you – towards cover under the bleachers, but the Octorok was faster than you expected, driving you into the open field. “This is not my night!” Your foot snagged on the sprinkler, sending you tumbling into the grass. You spun around and threw up your hands, ready for the worst.

Suddenly, the rock thocked against something hard. You looked up to see it bounce off a trashcan lid. Your savior jumped forward, smacking the shadow with a training sword. It writhed and disappeared in a puff of dark smoke. “You okay?”

You looked up at Link, standing over you. “Y-yeah, thanks. You came at the perfect time.”

“It was nothing, Coach’s drills are harder than anything that little guy can dish out,” Link replied, the smallest of smiles appearing on his face. “What was that thing?”

“An Octorok, I think. But… no one’s-”

“Seen them for years,” Link finished. He then looked you over. “You aren’t a monster, right?”

“No!” You blurted out. “…though I get why you’d think that. I’m actually here looking for you.”

Link sheathed the training sword. “Yeah?”

“I’m afraid that guy might only be the first of many. Something evil’s coming, and Hyrule needs a hero… you.”

“Okay. Sure.”

“I know that probably sounds crazy and…” You stared at him. “You… took that well.”

He shrugged. “Been waiting for something like this all my life. I’m the best fighter around, of course I’d be the new hero like the legends. I mean, even Coach has trouble keeping up with me. It’d be fun to try a real challenge like some monsters, but if that Octorok is the worst they’ve got, I’ll have this fixed by sunrise.” You frowned behind your mask; this was certainly a one-eighty from the usual interactions with Link. Hopefully, this cockiness wasn’t going to cause problems. “Who are you, anyway?” Link asked.

“I’m…” You stopped yourself, remembering last time. You looked up at the statue of the Hero of Time. “Navi. Call me Navi.”

Chapter Text

The next morning you stared into the mirror. It wasn’t a nightmare; you were still cursed.

Your body still ached. The bandages helped to soothe some of the burns, but the ache remained. Worse was the growing itchiness that made you want to scratch for hours. You couldn’t help but look at your sharp teeth under the mask as you took wheezing breaths. Worst of all, it felt like something was trying to claw out of your stomach. You could only hope that fixing whatever evil had come would lift this curse and return you to normal.

You changed into a hoodie and long pants. Thankfully it was a colder-than-usual fall, keeping you from overheating while you covered your bandages. Only your eye was visible from within the dark hood, due to the soft glow. You sighed and headed out the door.

The sun shone almost aggravatingly. It was like every other day; the city continued on outside as if there wasn’t some insane witch out there creating monsters. You had to warn people, any way to let them know something was wrong… but who would listen without thinking you were crazy? Or worse, one of the monsters? You hurried down the hall, knowing your friends would have to have some advice.

You knocked on Corbus’ door. No answer. You knocked again. Again, no answer. You frowned. Corbus should be in his dorm, he was usually the type to hole himself up for hours playing games. But the other side of the door was silent, not even the click of his keyboard. “Maybe he’s just sleeping,” you muttered. It wasn’t the first time he’d slept late.

You decided to try again with Avil’s dorm room. Once again, all was silent. That was much more concerning. Avil was always up by this time of day, usually already back from his morning run and watching an episode of whatever anime had caught his eye. Yet, after another knock, there was nothing.

You weighed the pros and cons to going to one of your other classmates, but none of them you trusted with this. Zelda was an option, but to be honest she was the last person you wanted to see like this. That left only one person left.

For a moment, you stood outside his room, heart pounding. The strange twisting feeling grew stronger; you grabbed your stomach, half expecting something to rip through it. With a shaky hand, you knocked weakly on the door. Almost immediately, it swung open, revealing Link in an old T-shirt and gray sweatpants – both of which left just enough of a hint for your imagination to go wild. “Hey, come in.” Normally you would’ve been much more excited to be in Link’s dorm room, but there were more important things to worry about.

You sat stiffly at his desk chair as Link flopped onto his bed. His room was a little messy, with stray workout equipment and knight gear strewn about. His textbooks were stacked on his desk, coated with a thin layer of dust. Among the posters on his wall were a few photos of his teammates and who you assumed to be his family. One that stood out to you was one with a farm girl in flannel, holding him in a headlock while he lifted her off the ground. Both had smiles from ear to ear.

“So…” Link said.

“Yeah…” You said.

“You, uh, good at fighting?”

“Uh, not really, more of a book kind of guy,” you admitted. “But I know these monsters inside and out.”

Link gave you a lopsided smile. “Good, you can help strategize and tell me their weak points. Then, I can take care of business.”

“Exactly, and I can try to help figure out how to stop this.”

“Good,” he nodded, picking up his backpack. You recognized his training sword sticking out of the top. “You see the news?”

“Uh no, phone kinda broke last night. That Octorok wasn’t the first monster on my tail.”

“Gotcha.” He then flipped you his phone, showing a news story. “First stop is Kakariko. People are saying they’ve been seeing some weird things around. Sounds a bit like your shadow monster last night.”

“Then I guess that’s our first stop.”

You and Link headed to the train station. You nervously straightened your hoodie, trying to keep as much of your bandages covered as you could. At the same time, it felt like everyone was looking at you. Embarrassment aside, a worse thought stayed in your head. If Veran could disguise herself as Impa, could she disguise herself as anyone? If she was working with someone, could they disguise themselves too?

You slipped on some sunglasses to hide your eye and followed Link onto the local train. Thankfully the car was mostly empty, but still, the two of you took seats in the rear. With the usual chime, the doors closed, and the train lurched into motion. Soon, the metropolis gave way to the rolling hills of Hyrule Field as the train rumbled past Mabe Village and across the New Rebonae Bridge.

You couldn’t resist asking the question that burned in your mind. “Why did you trust me so quickly?”

“I don’t.” Link shrugged. “Not yet at least. But, let’s be honest, weird things have been happening. Then I have a guy who looks like he crawled out of the backrooms of the Archives, glowing with what anyone would call magic? I’m pretty sure you’re at least telling the truth about some of this.”

You frowned. “Thanks, I guess.”

“Would help if you could tell me more about what’s going on.”

“I would if I could. All I know is there’s monsters and someone’s making them. No idea what they’re after.” You sighed. “I’m supposed to help guide you, but I’m not even sure where to start.”

“Guess we have our work cut out for us.”

The train wheels squealed as you began to slow. The speaker crackled.

Kakariko… now arriving… Kakariko Station…

Kakariko Village hadn’t changed all that much over the past few centuries. Sure, the traditional houses now had satellite dishes on their thatched roofs, and there were Malo Mart convenience stores at the end of the blocks, but for the most part, it remained the sleepy town it always had been.

At first, the two of you wandered the streets, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The sun was already high in the sky by the time the two of you took a break. Link stepped out of the convenience store, tossing you a soda as he tore open a bag of chips. You were careful to not let him peek under the mask as you took a sip. “Maybe they only come out at night?” Link suggested.

“Maybe, but if they’re shadows, you’d think it’d work as long as there’s light.” You looked down to your own shadow, spread out over the cracked sidewalk. “There’s nothing else in the news about where?”

“Nope,” Link said, scrolling through his phone. “It’s all over town.”

You wracked your brain for anything from your time in the Archives that might have a clue. “Kakariko, Kakariko… once was a ghost town in the Age of Twilight… one of the only safe settlements during the Calamity… wait.” You tried to snap your fingers, but it was a bit hard with all the bandages. “The Old Graveyard. It was once home to some of the worst atrocities in this kingdom. If there’s restless evil, it’s gotta be there.” Link nodded, one hand resting on his sword.

The air in the Kakariko Graveyard felt stagnant, despite being not all that different than anywhere else in town. “Something just feels wrong,” you muttered. “Keep your guard up.”

“Don’t need to tell me twice.” You scanned over the graves. “Hey, heads up,” Link whispered, pointing with his sword. You turned to see another group of graves. At first, you were going to ask what was wrong, but then you saw it. One of the shadows was reaching towards the sun, not away from it. Link jabbed his sword down on it, rewarded with a squeal as the shadow condensed into a Skulltula before disappearing into wisps. “Huh, not too bad.”

“Link, look out!” You said, pulling him back as another larger shadow rose from the graves. The shadows bent and formed into a towering creature built like a wall with a spear and a shield. It snarled, sending spit flying across the grass. “Moblin!”

“I got this,” Link said, gripping his training sword. He charged in, but his training sword thonked uselessly on the shield. Link skirted left, easily hopping over the spear before jumping in again, only for his sword to snap in half. “Uh, okay, Navi? Any ideas?”

“Good question,” you said, grabbing him and pulling him behind another gravestone as a second Moblin grew from the shadows. “How do you feel about a tree branch?”

“It’ll snap when I attack,” Link said. “I knew I should’ve snuck one of the better swords from the team shed.”

“It’s better than nothing,” you said, shoving the branch in his hands. “I’ll look for… do you hear something?” A low buzzing filled the air. A black quadcopter drone with a glowing gold eye zipped by your head, hovering just before Link. It fired a small steel bolt, driving back the Moblin as it dropped a case. It turned back for a brief moment, as if to give you a nod of support, before zipping away. Link knelt and pressed his hand to the case. With a little jingle of “Da-da-da-daaaa”, it popped open to reveal a black and silver sword. The edge had been tempered and seemed to glow in the light.

Link gave it a test swing. “This’ll work.” He launched forward, swiping at the shadowy figure and striking down one of the Moblins. The other swung, narrowly missing Link’s head.

You watched the Moblin carefully, its defenses were good, but you noted it didn’t have a helmet or any real armor. “Link! Vault over the shield!” You shouted. “Strike from above!”

“Right!” Link charged the shield at full speed, parkouring up before slamming his sword down and into the beast’s shoulder. With a wheeze, the Moblin disappeared, leaving nothing but a wisp. “And that’s that.”

“Are you okay?” you asked.

“Never better, especially with this new sword,” he grinned. “Those monsters are nothing!”

You bit your tongue, debating on pointing out how things went off the rails at first. “Problem is, we’re not any closer to figuring out where they’re coming from.”

Suddenly, there was another buzz, this one from Link’s phone. He looked down and hesitated for a brief second before putting the call on speaker. “Hey Zelda, what’s up?”

“Li-i-ink, where are you? You promised you were gonna help me with the fundraiser today! I’ve been texting for the past two hours!”

Link frowned. “Zelda, I told you, I had to go to Kakariko today. Remember, the whole monster thing?”

“You told her?!” You mouthed. Link made a slashing motion.

“Oh, that’s right… for your research project.” Zelda sighed. “Well, guess I should be happy you’re such a good student, getting started early and all.”

“Gotta get it done before the championship. Rather just get it off my plate.”

“Oh, okay Link…” Zelda said. “Just promise me you’ll be careful. And especially stay away from Death Mountain. Did you see the news? They’re saying that people are seeing some kind of monster man running around up there! Don’t do something stupid, okay?”

“I’ll be careful, promise.”

“Okay then, come see me when you get back! Bye!”

“See ya,” Link said, tossing his phone back in his bag.

“So now what?” You asked.

“We’re going to Death Mountain, obviously,” Link said. “Gonna need to gear up first though. Not gonna take chances on equipment breaking.”

“Back to Castle City then,” you said.

Chapter Text

That evening found you back in Link’s dorm room. You jotted down some notes as he packed his bag. You hoped your little travelogue would shine some light on who might be behind this. Unfortunately, it led to the discovery you couldn’t even write Veran’s name without your hand cramping up. “Octoroks, Skulltulas, and Moblins,” you murmured. “What’s next, Tektites? Zols?”

“Bring ‘em on!” Link said, digging through his drawers. He must have sensed your stare in his direction.  “Oh, come on, you can’t tell me this isn’t at least a little bit fun for you.”

You pursed your lips. It would be more fun if I wasn’t cursed to a crisp. But that said, you did have to admit, spending time with Link was nice. “I guess it’s a little fun, but still. We have to take this seriously.”

“Navi, you take this seriously enough for both of us.” Link grabbed some padded gear and tossed it into the duffle bag. He paused, examining his new sword. “Wonder who our new friend is…”

“Not even sure if it’s a friend,” you remarked. “But, I guess we have someone looking out for us. Good to know.” You had to wonder if Maple had something to do with it, but flying drones didn’t seem like her style.

“No complaints from me, this one’s pretty badass.” He grinned. “Think I look like a hero?”

“Don’t you think it’s a little early for the title ‘hero’? All you’ve done is beat a handful of enemies.”

“You’re no fun,” he said. “With this new sword, those monsters don’t stand a chance.”

“Li-i-ink!” You groaned silently, recognizing the voice. Link quickly hid the new sword and opened the door to be hug-assaulted by Zelda. “So glad you’re back safe! I was worried those monsters might’ve hurt you.”

“I’m fine, Zelda,” Link said, “You didn’t think they’d actually hurt me, did ya?” He smiled, flexing his arm.

Zelda blushed. “No, of course not. You’re the best for a reason…” Her eyes drifted behind him and suddenly she realized the two of them were not alone. Zelda screamed and jumped behind Link. “Who, what? Is that a Gibdo?! Link please tell me you didn’t bring a monster back with you.”

“Zelda, this is Navi. Navi, Zelda. He’s helping me.”

Zelda paled, “Oh Hylia, I’m so sorry. I… I didn’t mean to… well… you scared me – not that you’re scary! Just took me off guard; not that I make assumptions or anything! I… I’m just gonna stop talking.”

You just tried to ignore your internal exasperation. Link also looked a bit upset. “Navi and I are trying to figure out what’s going on.”

“I see,” Zelda said, at least having the decency to look embarrassed, despite keeping Link between the two of you. “Well, I’m not sure what I can do, but I’ll help as much as I can. I’m a descendant of the royal family after all.” You bit your tongue.

“Zelda, you should stay safe,” Link said. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

She put her hands on her hips. “Oh, come on Link, I’m not going to get kidnapped.”

“Kidnapped?” you asked.

Link set his jaw, but Zelda seemed fascinated by the topic. “Didn’t you hear? Some students have gone missing. The weirdest part is that there’s no sign of a struggle or anything. One moment they’re here and the next they’re gone. It’s almost like some hand dropped down from the sky and plucked them away.”

You cocked your head. “That’s… concerning to say the least. Who’s missing?”

“I’m not sure of the whole list, but the police posted it online.” She then sighed, hugging herself tightly. “I… some of my friends from my class are gone. I know my cousin’s friend Corbus is one.”

“Corbus?!” You asked before you could stop yourself.

“Oh! You know him?”

“Uh, yeah,” you said, wracking your brain for a cover story. “Um, we play games online together.”

Zelda sighed. “I’m so sorry, it must be hard for you to hear he’s missing.” She seemed lost in thought for a moment. “Do you two have any idea who might be behind this?”

“None,” Link said. “Monsters here and in Kakariko and that’s about it.”

“Hard to think the kidnappings are unrelated though,” you added.

Zelda paced. “Well… if there’s monsters coming back and people disappearing without a trace, do you think it has something to do with time travel?”

Link shook his head. “That’s kinda a weird jump.”

“Actually,” you said, “we can’t rule that out. If magic is real, perhaps more in the old stories is real too. Several legends talk about time travel. That said…” You crossed your arms. “The monsters almost seemed incomplete. They were shadows of what they should be.” All except for Veran, but of course you couldn’t say that.

“I’m not sure that’s a bad thing,” Zelda said with an uneasy laugh. “Incomplete monsters might mean they’re at least weaker, right? I’ll see if I can dig up anything in the Archives on time travel.”

“Or any other weird phenomenon like this,” you added.

“Sure,” Zelda said, “but what will you two do? I really don’t like the idea of you two rushing off into danger…” She leaned into Link, wrapping around his arm. “Can’t you just stay here?”

“Not if people are in danger,” Link said. “Besides, you know how great I am at fighting, there’s nothing to worry about!”

“That’s true,” Zelda giggled. “The monsters are in more danger than you are.”

You crossed your arms and huffed. “Can we get back on topic please?”

“Don’t you need to pack too?” Zelda said innocently. “Link and I need to have a chat anyway. I promised to help him with some studying.”

Your eye flicked over to his untouched textbooks. “Yeah, sure, whatever.” With that, you stormed out and down the hall, slamming Link’s door behind you. “Stupid Zelda, I swear she does it to flaunt him in front of me… even if she doesn’t know I’m me.”

The dorm was quiet, most people out at the Friday night parties. You lingered for a moment near Corbus’ door. “I’m sorry man, we’ll find you soon.” You also stopped by Avil’s door, disappointed to receive nothing but silence. “Avil… I hope you didn’t disappear too…”

As you approached your room, suddenly your door opened up, and a handsome man emerged. You ducked behind the wall, peeking around the corner. “Professor Owlan?” you murmured. “What is he doing here?” The professor checked the hallway, then quietly left your room, shutting the door behind him. Once out of earshot, you crept over, silently opening the door.

At first glance, nothing seemed different or out of place. That said, the doors all automatically locked, and you always double checked. For obvious reasons, no professors had access to room keys. That was left for admin staff and… resident assistants like Impa. “Okay… no, that’s not proof on its own,” you murmured to yourself. You then saw your desk drawer was left slightly open.

You checked and thankfully nothing seemed missing – not that there was anything to worry about in there aside from pens, tape, paper clips and other random junk. Shutting the drawer, you turned your attention to the rest of your room. Everything seemed exactly where it should be. “But why…” you murmured. You reached for your backpack when your eyes caught your bookcase. Your textbooks were neatly arranged, and you had a specific organization system – you were raised by the Director of the Archives, after all. Two books were out of place: the first Legends of the Holy Triforce and the second Hyrule in the Age of Industrialization. Neither book had much to do with the other, one being more of a religious analysis and the second being much more focused on the post-Demon King era. “Why…” you said again. “Owlan could’ve just gone to the library, why would he come here?” You set the books back in their proper place.

You packed your backpack with extra clothes and your laptop. As much as you wished you could just use the Archives or your own book collection, carrying half a library with you for research was simply not logical. Before leaving, you caught yourself in the mirror again with a sigh. “No closer to figuring out what’s going on or how to fix my curse.” Hesitantly, you pulled your mask back again. Your burned skin was still raw and red, but at least some of the pain was gone. Now your skin was starting to scab, making it look almost scaly. You sighed again, “Just gotta keep moving. Maybe Link and Zelda are right, maybe he’s good enough to take care of this quickly. Then everything could go back to normal…”

Normal. What was normal? Pining and staring at Link while he barely said a sentence to you at a time? At least the two of you had a reason to talk now. That odd writhing in your stomach came back, this time stronger than before. You clutched your stomach, trying to keep whatever it was from clawing its way out. Everything felt warm and stifling. You stumbled to the door and barreled out of the dorm to the fresh air in the courtyard.

Almost immediately, the writhing subsided. The cool air and autumn leaves helped to calm you down. You fell back onto a bench with a huff, staring up at the sky. As you focused on your breathing, a buzzing filled the air.

Another drone whizzed by, pausing before you. It beeped and chirped, its golden eye flashing. “I have no idea what you’re saying.” It responded with a sad beep. “Who are you, I wonder…” You leaned in. “Maple?” The drone turned side to side. “Ah yeah, I didn’t think so.”

It dropped another case and then rose, hesitating for a moment to chirp at you. Then, it whizzed away towards the west. “Still don’t know what you’re saying, but thanks?” You said. You picked up the case. You tried to open it, but it refused. A red light flashed. “Guess you’re for Link then.”

You carried the awkwardly long case back towards Link’s room. The door opened before you even had a chance to knock. “Oh hey, was just gonna look for you,” Link said. Zelda seemed to be absent, but you noted his hair seemed a bit messier.

“Done with your girlfriend?” you muttered, shoving the case in his hands.

“It’s not like that,” Link retorted quietly. “Brought me a present?” Link opened the case with another “Da-da-da-daaaa” chime. Inside, there was a compound bow with a full quiver of arrows. “Sweet! This is a top-of-the-line bow!”

You had to admit it was pretty nice, but your mind was on bigger things. “How did our mysterious benefactor know to find us here?”

“Come on, Navi. Can’t complain about new free gear. This is better than anything the archery team has!”

You had to smile at the way his face lit up, though you did add, “Let’s not forget, you’re the one getting the new gear. Besides, my job is to look out for you. I don’t want you to get stabbed in the back by someone pretending to be our friend.” Like I was… you thought.

“Promise I’ll be careful,” Link said, rolling his eyes. “Anyway, got your stuff?”

“Yeah, we should have just enough time to grab some food before the next train leaves.”

“Awesome, I’m starved!” Link said. His bow easily folded down and fit into his duffle bag with his new sword. “C’mon, race ya to the station. Loser pays for the train tickets!”

Chapter Text

Hyrule Central Station ran under the Old Town. The place was a labyrinth of tunnels leading to platforms for trains headed to every corner of the country. You gripped your tickets tightly. It had been a pretty rupee – and you might have dipped into your savings – but the overnight train seemed worth the cost… especially since Hyrule was in danger. The news broadcast played in the background, though you barely registered their stories.

We have reports of several missing students from the University of Hyrule. Authorities are asking for anyone with any information to come forward. In other news, multiple reports of strange creatures have been sighted in the Central, Necluda, and Akkala Provinces. The most frightening of these appears to be in the Eldin Province, where reports mention a strange man on horseback… this story is developing, more tonight at 11 along with our exclusive interview with INDIGO.

Link followed behind you with bags of snacks and to-go meals for the both of you. “You didn’t have to pay for the ticket, y’know. I was only joking.”

“It’s fine, it’s my pleasure,” you replied on auto-pilot. “The faster we get there the better.”

Link frowned. He grabbed your shoulder and lowered his voice. “Hey, you okay? Not gonna help if you worry yourself to death.”

No, I’m not, everything is wrong, and I want you to hold me instead of her. But you couldn’t scream that as much as you wanted to. You stopped and took a deep breath. “Yeah, I’m fine. I just… I really don’t want anyone else to get hurt.”

“Anyone else?” Link asked. He looked down at your bandages. “…right. Don’t worry about it. We’ll figure it out.”

You came to the platform where your train was already waiting. You nearly shoved the tickets into the conductor’s hands. “Uh, sir…?” The conductor murmured in surprise, studying you.

“It’s cosplay,” you said.

“Ah, I see.” He clearly didn’t. “Room 3, Car 5. Enjoy your trip.”

As soon as you were out of earshot, Link hissed at you. “Room? You got us a room?”

“You need the rest,” you said. “We’re not getting there until after midnight. Not taking any chances.” You led the way into the room, quickly shutting the door behind Link as you stepped in. It was cozy – a bit cozier than you expected. It was a tight squeeze with two of you. A tray table folded out from the wall next to the window with two sofa seats facing each other. One bunk bed folded down from above while one of the seats became the second.

“Take whichever, I don’t mind.” Link said, setting down the food. You tossed your stuff on your preferred choice. Link handed you a take-out box as he voraciously tore into his.

“Hungry?”

“All the time, love food,” Link muttered, and you made a mental note. “Uh… thanks, by the way. For thinking of me with the room and all.”

“Well, you’re the one doing the fighting.” Link looked oddly uncomfortable as you said that. “I’d rather we both get plenty of rest, just in case.” That seemed to placate him. The two of you ate in silence – or at least you tried your best to eat. While Link wolfed his food down, you could only manage a couple bites. Even though the writhing was gone for now, none of the food you picked at sounded good. You then noticed Link was watching your to-go box with the same energy as a puppy begging for a treat. “Go for it, my stomach’s kinda messed up.”

“Thanks!” Link happily started on it as you sipped your drink. A small snicker escaped from you. “What?”

“You’re kinda a dork.”

“Hey!” He said, but the impact was somewhat lessened by his full mouth.

“I didn’t say it’s a bad thing,” you added. There was a soft chime, and the train smoothly pulled out from the station.

“So, what about you?” Link said, pointing at you with his plastic fork. “Are you a dork?”

“Absolutely,” you said airily. “I’ve given up trying to be what others want for me. My dad was pretty big on that growing up. He always said that the key to happiness is being who we are despite what others might think, don’t need to impress anyone. So, I fully embrace the dork title.” You grinned, despite it being covered by your mask. Though… there is still one guy I wanna impress…

“Huh, nice…” Link said, a little quietly. “Your dad sounds cool. Rest of your family?”

“Dad’s the best. Uh… didn’t know my mom. She passed away when I was born. Always just been Dad and I. How about you?”

Link tossed the empty container. “I grew up with my grandma, my uncle, and my sister. We’re from this small place called Suthorn Village down in the Faron Grasslands. My family has a farm where we raise cows and goats.”

“I admit, I didn’t take you for a farm boy.”

Link snorted. “Half the reason I’m any good at athletic stuff is because I can wrestle a bull to the ground. Not to mention how I got the scholarship to go to the University.”

“Damn.” That would be quite the sight to see.

Link then stood and stretched. “I’ll be right back.”

While Link was out, a knock came at the door. “You’re back already?” On the other side, you saw a girl in a Hyrule Railways uniform with a ruby necklace. “Koume? Or are you Kotake?”

She giggled. “You were right the first time. Granny Maple asked me to see how you’re feeling.”

“So far, so good, seem to be staying in one piece.”

“That’s good, it should get easier over time.” She pressed a bottle into your hands, filled with some green goop that you hoped tasted better than it looked. “Granny made this, it should help to ease the pain and restore your stamina.”

“Thanks,” you said, pocketing the bottle. “Do you have anything else you can share with me?”

Koume’s smile dropped. “I’m sorry, we don’t know much else. But, while you’re going east, you should go to Akkala. You’ll find the Fairy Queen there, and she has a better memory. She might know how to work on breaking the curse. Both the one who cursed you and the Magic Mirror are old magic, far older than anything Granny’s worked with.”

You thought about Zelda’s theory. “Do you think it has something to do with time travel?”

Koume thought for a moment. “It might… but usually that leaves some kind of leftover magic, like a snail trail! I’ll ask Granny, in the meantime…” she cut herself off as a door opened. “I hope you enjoy the rest of your trip, sir. Please do not hesitate to ask for anything should you need it.”

You could see Link returning from the bathrooms. “Uh, right. Thanks!”

Koume gave you a little nod and strode down the hall. “Any problems?” Link asked.

“No, just checking in on us,” you said truthfully. You and Link headed back into your room, and you booted up your laptop, typing up your notes on the trip so far, along with what Koume added. “It really doesn’t make sense,” you muttered. “Monsters appearing and people disappearing into thin air.”

“Navi, you can’t just keep charging at it and expect to figure it out. That’d be like me just hammering on that Moblin’s shield.”

“I know, I know…” You sighed.

“You kinda remind me of this guy I know,” Link said. Your ears perked up. “Groose is this guy on the knight team. He likes charging at every problem head on, but he doesn’t take the time to really look at the angles. It’s been months, and he still loses to me because I keep hitting his weak side,” Link laughed. “And you’re supposed to help me find the weak spots, right? So, you should know this. You’re smart.”

It wasn’t who you expected to be compared to, but he had a point. “Yeah, no I know,” you said, your weak smile kept private. “Speaking of…” You closed the tab you had open to look up curses and instead you shifted over to the news, clicking on the stories about the new monster.

The article showed most of the sightings were in Goronbi Village on Death Mountain. You scrolled through the story, stopping dead on a picture of the supposed monster. For some reason, you were struck with déjà vu, but that was quickly replaced by fear. Even though it was blurry, you knew this was a far bigger threat than Veran.

“Hylia,” you swore under your breath, “this is bad. This is very bad.” You shoved your laptop towards Link. “They’ve got pictures of the monster up on Death Mountain. It’s not just anyone; look at the size of him. He’s huge, red hair, massive sword… sound familiar?” Link blinked and looked up at you blankly. “Ganondorf!” You spluttered as you nervously picked at your bandages without thinking. “It’s impossible but… oh man, how are we going to deal with him? I should’ve known he’d have something to do with this. We’ve barely started and-”

Link cut you off. “So, we’ll take him down, easy peasy.”

You stared at him aghast. “Link, this is Ganondorf – you know, King of Evil? If this is his ghost or something, he’s not going to be that easy to take down.”

He shrugged. “He’s never fought me.”

You took a breath to hold back your rising anxiety and frustration. “Are you serious right now?”

“Look, I’m the best swordfighter in the country. I’m undefeated for nearly ten years. I’ve taken on masters and pros since I was twelve and won. Besides, Ganondorf didn’t fight with all the modern tech we have now. I won’t even need the Master Sword to take him down.”

“You’re insane,” you muttered. “You really think you’re better than the heroes of the past? Even fully kitted out, some of them barely escaped their duels with Ganondorf alive. Hell, the Warrior Hero and the Champion King are probably two of the strongest swordsmen in history, and they both took a beating from him. He’s puppeted multiple people including past kings and princesses. He has chewed up and spit out more swordsmen and soldiers than we can even fathom. Can’t you take this a little more seriously?”

“C’mon, it’s gonna be fine,” Link said, patting your shoulder. You ignored the sting from your healing skin. “Don’t worry, I’ll take him down, Hyrule will be safe, mission complete.” He laughed. “You can just sit back and relax while I take care of Ganondorf.”

You sighed. “For your sake, I pray to the Goddesses you’re right.” You looked out the window as the train exited the tunnel and crawled its way uphill past the national forest. Veran… Ganondorf… you thought to yourself. And this curse… can we really stop this? Your eyes traveled up to the cloud ring around Death Mountain. It was dark and stormy.

Chapter Text

Death Mountain and Goron City had long been the industrial center of Hyrule dating back to ancient times. Today, that had yet to change. Massive factories powered from geothermal vents worked on building the construction materials and manufactured products Hyrule needed.

The train slowed to a stop at Goronbi Village, a small hamlet in the shadow of Goron City. Once a magma lake, it had long cooled and become a popular stop for travelers. Many of the factories here had shut down when the Southern Mine dried out. You breathed in the cool mountain air, trying your best to focus on the task ahead, not your racing heart. “Ready Link?”

Link had changed into his knight gear, with his new sword and bow strapped to his back. He tied his hair back. “Let’s destroy a king of evil.” He said, flashing you a thumbs up.

You led the way through the quiet streets. It was well after midnight so most activity was centered around one of the few bars. Even the famed restaurant here, the village’s main claim to fame, was silent. You kept your eyes peeled for any monsters, but you and Link were alone, save a stray alley cat or two.

“This should be it,” you said, as you stood at the rusted chain-link fence outside an abandoned facility. A faded sign proudly named it Linebeck Manufacturing in peeling paint. “The news stories said that most of the sightings seem to be around here.”

Link vaulted the fence easily. “Why would Ganondorf hang around an old factory?”

You fumbled your way down the fence, almost falling and almost tangling your bandages on the rusty metal. “No idea, other than it’s a quiet out-of-the-way place most wouldn’t mess with,” you said, before quietly adding, “or it’s a trap.”

Link drew his sword. “Not a trap if I beat him.”

“Link, please be careful.”

“Stop worrying Navi, it’s gonna be fine. We’ll be home in no time. Here, hold the flashlight.”

Link led the way into the old warehouse. Old pipes creaked and hissed as you walked along the catwalks. Pools of lava deep below the catwalks kept the place sweltering – which was no fun for you, considering your bandages. “Link, I have a really bad feeling about this. We shouldn’t be here.”

“Yeah, and if every hero turned around and decided to leave when they felt danger, nothing’d ever get done,” he replied, seemingly relaxed with his new sword resting on his shoulder; but you could tell he was keeping his guard up.

“There’s a difference between courage and recklessness,” you muttered.

“If you’re scared, you can go back. I’ll take care of Ganondorf, and we’ll be good to go.”

“I’m not going anywhere!” You spluttered. Someone’s gotta drag your ass back out if things go south.

A deep voice rumbled around you. “Fools, you should not have come here.” The shadows twisted around you. Above the sound of the pipes, you heard a steady thump.

“Hoofbeats?” Link asked.

“Get down!” A horse charged through the air, narrowly missing your heads. It galloped around and into a dark portal.

Link whipped out his sword, taking a ready stance. “Navi! Weak points?”

“Oh, I thought you wanted me to go back.”

“Are you serious right now?!” Link shouted. Just then another portal appeared on the wall and the horse slowed, giving you a good look at the enemy. A hulking war horse with a flaming mane snorted before you. A Gerudo man built like a wall rode atop it in armor as black as moonless night. He glared down at you. Link stood, pointing at him with his sword. “So, you’re Ganondorf? Figured you’d be taller. Oh well, you’ll make a fun distraction before I save Hyrule.”

Ganondorf laughed. He wiped his hand over his face, as if pulling back a mask. His face was replaced by a horned skull surrounded with blue fire, with eyes glowing like tormented souls. “As if you are worthy to call yourself a hero.”

“Phantom Ganon,” you said, trying to stand your ground, despite everything screaming inside you to run. The pressure of the evil aura rolling off of him was oppressive, constricting your chest. “Good news Link, he’s not the real thing.”

“And the bad news?”

“He’s still pretty bad.” Phantom Ganon smirked and bowed mockingly.

A wave of dark magic crackled through the air. Your legs gave out, nausea rising. You clung to the railing. “What… what is this?”

“Magic binding,” Phantom Ganon said. “An honorable duel should be one on one. You shouldn’t get involved, little mouse.”

“Don’t worry Navi, I got this,” Link said. You couldn’t help but feel worried.

Phantom Ganon cracked his horses reins and began to gallop around the catwalk. A polearm formed in his hand. He swung and if you had been a second slower, you might have lost your head. Link unfolded his new bow and nocked an arrow. As Phantom Ganon turned to make another pass, the arrow flew and struck him in the chest. “Bullseye!”

Phantom Ganon, however, reached up and ripped the arrow free without so much as a drop of blood. “Unless those arrows are silver tipped, it’s not going to leave much of a scratch on him,” you said. You closed your eye, thinking of all the legends you’d read, tales of the Hero of Time returning to you. “Aim for his horse.”

Link looked at you like you’d just asked him to shoot his sister. “I can’t shoot a horse!”

“I know, but it’s not a real horse,” you said. “The horse is part of the illusion, just like how that’s not actually Ganondorf!” Link looked at you, then back at the horse. “Link, please, trust me.” Wincing, he let another arrow fly.  

The arrow struck true, and the horse seemed to shimmer, faltering in its steps. Link relaxed, sending another volley. The horse melted away, leaving Phantom Ganon floating above the catwalk. With a flick of his wrist, the polearm was replaced by a massive claymore. “Oooh, big one, compensating for something?”

“Link, focus!”

“Navi, first rule of the Knight Games,” Link grunted as he blocked Ganon’s strike, parrying, “is to get in your opponent’s head. Your trash talk has to be good.”

“Only for those trying to compensate for their weak skill and cowardice,” Phantom Ganon growled. His sword clashed against Link’s again. “You’re hardly a challenge.”

“I’m not a coward!”

Phantom Ganon sneered, knocking him back against the catwalk railing. “You wear a mask so plainly on your face. You hide behind it so fearful to live the life you want; comfortable to hide in fear and live the life prescribed to you. That is the mark of cowardice.” Lightning crackled around his hand, forming into a glowing orb of magic.

“You don’t know me,” Link spat, knocking the orb back.

“Link! He’s playing you! Don’t listen to him!”

Phantom Ganon knocked the orb away, sending it flying into a wall. Suddenly he was upon Link, claymore baring down on him. Their swords clashed, sending sparks flying. Link struggled against his opponent’s sheer strength, before sliding his sword up and knocking him off balance. Link rushed Phantom Ganon’s side, landing a direct hit, before dropping back. The catwalk swung with the force of their hits; the supports squealed.

Unfortunately, the hit to Phantom Ganon did little. He swung his claymore again, easily cleaving one of the supports. The catwalk began to tremble. “Now who’s the coward?” Link taunted. “Can’t beat me on my own so you’re gonna make gravity do the work?”

“Or the boiling pools of lava,” you muttered, clinging for dear life to the railing.

Phantom Ganon laughed, sending chills down your spine. “If only your sword worked as well as your mouth. I merely want to see how you handle a little change in arena.” He swung his sword down again, but this time seemed slower to you. Link blocked it easily, parrying each swing. At first, it looked like Link was winning as he drove Phantom Ganon back. Then, you realized Link was now on a new section of the catwalk.

“Link, he’s guiding you away to separate us!”

“Crap!” Link hissed, but it was too late. Phantom Ganon disappeared and reappeared by your side, trapping you between his body and his sword. “Let him go!”

“You seemed rather eager to leave him though, I figure you don’t need your little friend.” Phantom Ganon charged another orb in his gauntleted hand. “Maybe I’ll just take him with me back to my master.” He raised his sword and severed another support. The catwalk trembled. “Show me what you’re made of, hero.” He launched the magic orb towards Link.

Link growled, knocking it back. Back and forth it flew, faster and faster as the two struck. With each strike, Link took another step closer to you. “Tell me hero, are you truly the one meant to stop my master? Do you really hold all those holy qualities the heroes of yore have?” Link grit his teeth as he was forced to stand his ground. “So eager to listen to the lies of those around you and let your skills fester and rot. So preoccupied with looking pretty instead of cultivating what truly matters. You are by far the weakest hero to ever cross swords with me!” Suddenly, Ganondorf appeared behind Link, smacking the orb down with blistering speed.

The orb crashed into Link. He screamed as he fell back, writhing on the floor. “Link!” You groaned as you fought against the magic binding. You clawed your way across the floor to his side. “C’mon Link, get up!”

“Farewell, false hero.” Phantom Ganon sneered as he lifted his sword for the fatal strike.

“No!!” You shouted, shielding Link with your body. Foolishly, you stuck your hands out to stop the blade. You shut your eyes.

SHNK!

There was no pain, just an odd pressure. You hazarded to open your eyes. Phantom Ganon’s sword had stopped, caught in your hand… except your hand had changed. Terrible black claws had torn through the bandages, sharp and long as hunting knives. They had stopped the sword dead in its tracks. Dark twisted energy seemed to drift from the sword and spiral down your claws. You could feel the corruption dripping into your hands, making you burn yet also feeling oddly good. A spiderweb of cracks began to form along the sword. Phantom Ganon hissed, pulling the sword back, but not before the tip had decayed to rust and crumbled away.

Phantom Ganon glowered at you. “You… intriguing. This isn’t over,” he rumbled before disappearing in a swirl of dark clouds. “Prepare yourself, hero,” his voice echoed around you. “Your companion will not be able to save you next time.”

Hands shaking, you stared at your claws. “Breathe,” Link wheezed from under you. You sucked down a blisteringly hot lungful of air, shifting off of Link so he could as well. Slowly and steadily, the claws retracted back into your hands. The bandages glowed with a soft light, repairing themselves around you.

“What… what the hell was that?”

“How the hell would I know? You’re supposed to be the smart one,” Link coughed. He refused to look at you.

It stung, but you had bigger problems, watching the blood drip down his face. “Come on, we need to get out of here.” You propped him up on your shoulder, praying to any deity that would listen that the claws wouldn’t pop back out and stab him. Then, step by staggering step, you helped Link out of the power plant.

Chapter Text

“Thank you,” you told the proprietor of the Stock Pot Inn, accepting your room key. With the late hour and the nearest major hospital all the way in Tarrey Town, you and Link opted for the quiet hotel on Goronbi Village’s outskirts. You helped Link limp his way to the room. The room was simple, but it was clean. You silently groaned, seeing as there was only one lumpy bed and a lumpy couch. “Okay, easy does it.”

Link groaned as he sat back onto the hard mattress. It was the most noise you’d gotten out of him since the fight, even when you used his new sword to hack open a hole in the fence to get the two of you out. You didn’t say anything, instead turning to a plastic bag and pulling out a sports drink and a first aid kit from the nearby Malo Mart. You popped open the cap and handed it to Link. He accepted wordlessly.

You popped open the first aid kit and took stock of everything. It was a good thing your father was adamant about you learning basic medical care. You grabbed some cotton balls and the hydrogen peroxide and started with disinfection. “C’mon Link, let’s get a look at the big one first.” You removed his chest and shoulder pads easily, but his shirt was more of a struggle as you nearly had to peel it off. The sight underneath was enough to make you forget that you were now next to your shirtless crush. The pads had taken most of Phantom Ganon’s strikes but there was still a large bruise and a cut across Link’s chest. You clenched your jaw. “Okay… nothing I can’t fix. Doesn’t look like you need stitches”

You hummed as you got started patching Link up. “What song is that?” You were so surprised you nearly dropped the cotton ball. His voice was hoarse. “It sounds familiar.”

“Song of Healing. Dad always hummed it when I got hurt as a kid. He said it would help speed up the healing.”

Link nodded, a small hiss escaping his lips as you dabbed at the cut. “You can say it now. Just get it over with.”

You looked up at him. “Say what?”

Link refused to make eye contact. “‘I told you so.’”

You pursed your dry lips and continued cleaning his wounds. “That hardly seems appropriate right now.”

He didn’t want to let it go. “You were right. I shouldn’t have underestimated him.” Suddenly he slammed his fist into the pillow, sending feathers flying out the end. He huffed, gripping the pillow carcass tightly.

“… you done?”

“… yeah.”

You gently released his hand from the pillow and got back to work. “It’s not the end of the world, we’ll just approach it a different way. First step is going to be figuring out how to get you the Master Sword. We’ll start by heading east to find the Great Fairy Queen. After that…” your voice trailed off.

“After that?”

“Working on it. I’ll come up with something. For now though, you need to get your rest.”

“How can I rest?!” He snapped. “You said it yourself; people are in danger! They’re counting on us! And what about the people who are missing, huh? How can I rest if they’re Hylia knows where? For all we know Ganondorf could be torturing them!”

You froze. “I… I’m sorry. I…”

Link looked away. “No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled.”

You gently patted his arm. “Hey, we’re going to save them all, promise. That’s what a hero does, and I’m gonna be by your side the whole way.” You sucked on your teeth for a moment. “So that’s why you were so adamant to go fight him?”

“That… and Zelda texted me when you were in the store. One of my friends was added to the missing list.”

Your chest tightened. “Missing? Who?”

“This guy in my history class, [Y/n] Gaepora.” Link scratched his head. “I guess friend might be a bit of a strong word. We didn’t talk a whole lot, but he was always super nice, and he always watched my training sessions. Well, maybe he was there more for his friend Avil, but he always cheered me on too.” You clenched your jaw, trying not to react. “Super smart dude, honestly, I’m a bit jealous of him. I wonder if they took him because they needed him to find whatever they’re looking for, or maybe he wanted to investigate the monsters and got too close.” Link sighed.

You chose your words carefully. “I’m sure they’ll find him.”

“Yeah,” Link said. “Still… maybe we could keep an eye out for him?”

You weren’t sure what to say. “O-of course! We’ll keep an eye out for all of the missing people, but we’ll definitely keep an eye out for him!” Part of you wanted to read into that more, but you didn’t want to set yourself up for disappointment. Instead, you busied yourself with rubbing antibacterial cream on his chest. “Hey, keep drinking. You need to replace those fluids, especially since they were out of elixirs and red potion. Gotta do this the long way.”

“Yes sir,” Link muttered. He drunk faster as you kept a careful eye on him.

You peeled a bandage and stuck it to his chest. “Keep this up, and you and I are gonna look like twins.”

That got a smile out of him. “Nah, they’ll still know I’m the pretty one.”

“Eh, that’s probably true. Scoot closer, gotta fix up your pretty face now.”

Link seemed to preen a bit as he leaned closer. As you started to clean the smaller cuts on his face, he asked, “Hey Navi… this is gonna sound weird, but what do you look like?”

“A supermodel,” you snarked back.

“I didn’t realize supermodels had razor sharp claws.” You paused. “Navi… the whole trust thing goes both ways.”

You looked down at your hands. “I wish I tell you why. I really don’t understand it.” Thinking back to the battle, one second you were fine, the next there was claws. The only thing that changed was you knew Link was in trouble. You acted without thinking. “I don’t think you need to worry about me accidentally spearing your pretty face though.”

Link paled. “I wasn’t before but…”

“I promise you’re fine.” You absently picked at your own wrappings, pulling it back a hair before anxiously shoving it back down. You couldn’t bring yourself to show him yet. “Once I know more, I promise I’ll tell you.”

“Okay,” Link said quietly.

The clock ticked as you sat silent for a moment, focusing on your breathing. The twisting in your stomach returned, but it was weaker than before. Maybe it was going away? You looked up at Link and frowned. You shoved another sports drink into his hands. “Drink.”

“What happened to bedside manner and tender loving care?” Link muttered as he sipped.

You put another bandage on him. “You get what you pay for, and until I get some kind of magic fairy powers like my namesake, this is the best I’ve got.”

“Joy.”

You continued with cleaning and bandaging, but your mind kept coming back to the transformation and the fight. Phantom Ganon was far more independent than any of the stories you’d heard before, but that wasn’t all. There was something else bothering you about the fight. “Something was weird though. Like… okay, promise to hear me out on this?”

Link watched you with interest. “Okay…”

“Phantom Ganon’s attacks… some of them were oddly slow. Others were taken straight out of the legends. All things considered, he wasn’t going hard on you. Maybe it’s just me, but didn’t it seem like he was holding back?”

“Sure didn’t feel like it,” Link muttered, failing to hide a hiss as you swabbed another cut.

“Sorry,” you said. “I’m not an expert, but I’ve watched a lot of swordfights, between the knight games and chambara. I can tell he wasn’t going all in, almost like he was feeling you out.”

“No, you’re right, he wasn’t.” Link frowned. “There’s something else though. He knew my weak points. Either he’s really good or…”

“He is Ganondorf, phantom or not,” you said hopefully.

“Navi, you know that’s not what I mean.”

“No… yeah…” You sighed. You really didn’t want to imagine someone you knew was also behind this, but with the whole Veran-Impa thing… who knew? You then realized Link was watching you closely. “What?”

“That was a pretty solid analysis, takes a trained eye to see that stuff.”

You were thankful for the bandages covering up the heat rushing your face. “Like I said, I watch a lot of swordfights.”

“Hmm,” was all Link said.

You finished patching him up and yawned. “I think we both could use some rest. You can have the bed; I’ll sleep in the couch.”

“Are you always such a pushover?” You stopped cold, turning on Link. He must’ve sensed your anger as he quickly backtracked. “You don’t have to do all this stuff for me.”

“What if I want to do it to be nice?”

“So, it isn’t because I’m supposed to be the hero?” Link leaned back on the bed.

“…maybe a bit.” You took a seat at the edge of the bed.

“That’s what I’m talking about. You don’t have to give me special treatment or anything. I get enough of that crap at the school. Zelda’s always talking about how I’m special or the best or how I deserve things. But really… I don’t, especially after having my head up my ass tonight. Just because I’m good at fighting doesn’t mean I’m better than anyone.” He huffed, shoulders dropping. “It’s not just her. Everyone on the team is always like ‘Oh you’re so great, you’re perfect,’ even my coach. You’re the first one besides my family to actually tell me I’ve got work to do.”

You weren’t sure what to say, considering just a few days ago you would’ve been the same. Link always seemed to be this untouchable paragon, but when all was said and done, he wasn’t some god. He was a normal person. Maybe you were doing both him and yourself a disservice thinking that.

“We’re doing this together. You’re my partner in crime for this, so don’t act like you’re not important. The ‘hero’ isn’t just me, it’s both of us,” Link hesitated, then hastily added, “and I’m sorry I haven’t been acting like that. So… can we maybe start over?” He held out his bruised hand.

You took Link’s hand in yours. “Apology accepted, but considering you’re beat to crap, you need the bed to rest.” Link sheepishly nodded as you shook his hand. “Hi Link, I’m Navi.”

Link laughed, a completely genuine laugh that made you smile. “Hey Navi, I’m Link. Let’s get some rest so we can save the world, okay?”

Chapter Text

It was a cold, misty morning in East Akkala. The region was infamous for its thick fog which rolled in from the chilly Great Sea. The lighthouse beam swung out to sea even in daylight. The small fishing village of Windfall was eerily quiet. The two of you made your way down the flagstone sidewalks, huddled in your coats against the chill and salty spray. Eventually you came to a small gym and entered.

Link paid for a day pass as you warmed up at a table. “Are you sure about this Link? You’re still healing.”

“I need to practice harder than ever,” he said. He stripped off his coat revealing his workout clothes and started to warm up.

“Just please don’t open up your wounds again.”

He paused and smiled. “I’ll be fine Navi. I’ll try to go slow.”

“You better, I’m out of bandages.” As Link continued with his warmup, you turned to your laptop to review your notes. There was seemingly nothing concrete on a Fairy Queen hiding in Akkala, but you figured you were looking in the wrong places. You had filled out your notes on Veran and Phantom Ganon with as much information as you could, trying to find any and all weak points. The problem was that magic tools like the heroes had were the best things you could use… too bad that wasn’t an option. You had just started typing up some extra notes on other villains when you were cut off by a ringtone coming from Link’s gym bag. Link half-jogged over and grabbed it.

“Hello?... Oh, hey Zelda… No, I don’t have a special ringtone for you… Yeah, one second.” He tapped a button and Zelda’s face appeared in a video call. Link held her up so you were in frame too.

“Oh good, you’re both alright. Where are you at? A gym?”

“Just gettin’ in a workout,” Link said quickly. “What’s up?”

“I wanted to talk to Navi actually,” Zelda said. “I’m sorry Link, I didn’t know Navi’s number.”

Link shrugged, “No big deal, I’ll get back to training.”

As he walked back, Zelda smiled sheepishly. “I figure you’d understand my thoughts more than Link. He’s great, but he’s not always the best with remembering stuff from class. I’ve been doing research, and I haven’t found anything about time travel or what might be causing these weird monster sightings, but I did find something interesting. After the Demon King was defeated, apparently the Dragon King ordered a special project to keep away any future danger.”

“What kind of special project? A special weapon?”

“That’s the weird part,” Zelda said, sharing a map of Hyrule on her screen. “The history books aren’t clear what it was, but it was expensive. The projects were set here, here, and here.” Glowing dots appeared on the map. One was in the Gerudo Province, in the snowy highlands. One was in Lanayru, near a small forgotten pond in the forest near the marshes. The final spot was in Faron, near the coast.

“But those are all in the middle of nowhere. Why would he build stuff out in the wilderness?”

“I’m not sure, other than maybe it was so people wouldn’t find it. But do you see it? Please tell me you see it, and it’s not just me on too much caffeine.”

You stared at her map, letting your eye unfocus a bit. “They’re all equally spaced from each other for one… wait.” Zelda squealed excitedly. “They make a triangle.”

“Exactly!” She shouted. “And I’d bet all my rupees its not just any triangle! That’s gotta be what the monsters are after, right? The Triforce?”

You thought and frowned. “No one’s seen the Triforce for centuries, but I suppose that’d make sense. Maybe that’s where Link and I should head next…” You hastily added. “We’ll be careful, of course! Trying to keep Link away from the monsters. Promise we won’t do anything stupid!”

Zelda nodded. “You’re one step ahead of me. I was hoping to ask you and Link to take a look. I’m trying to cover for him being absent here, but most classes are cancelled anyway. I’ll keep looking for more info. I’ll call Link when I find something, okay?”

“Sounds good, thanks Zelda.”

“Good luck Navi! And thanks for looking out for Link.” She hung up, leaving you staring at the lock screen picture of Link and his sister. You set the phone down and stared pensively at your laptop. There was something you didn’t mention to Zelda; you saw another interesting thing about the mysterious locations. At the center of the triangle was the Temple of Time, something the same king restored during his reign. It was almost certain they were related, but were they linked to the monsters too? What was he planning?

Just then your laptop pinged with a news alert. Scrolling past a story about Lake Hylia seeming colder than usual, you came to what you expected to see. “More people are disappearing,” you muttered, looking at the story. Your heart sank, seeing Avil was added to the police’s missing persons list. Link struck the training dummy harder than ever, knocking it over. He led out a shout of anguish. “Link?”

He was breathing heavy. “I feel so useless. I don’t even know where to start and people are getting into more and more danger.”

“I know,” you soothed. “I feel the same way, but getting worked up over it isn’t going to help.” You thought for a moment and then shut your laptop. “C’mon, I think what we need is some fresh air.”

Link sulked as you walked, but the farther you got from the gym the more he seemed to relax. You led him to the village’s park, known for its pathways lined with flowerbeds featuring specimens from all over Hyrule. You knelt to get a closer look at a bulbous blue flower from beyond the Great Sea, creatively named the Sea Flower, when you felt Link kneel next to you and put his hand on your back. Instinctively you flinched, especially as he leaned in and pointed. “Look.”

Above the blossoms, two strange gold antennae bobbed through the garden. An owlish face popped up, searching and seemingly missing you. It glowed as it happily frolicked in the garden. “It’s a Blupee,” you murmured. “I thought they were just a fairy tale…”

Link watched it carefully. “If the bad legends are true, then maybe some of the good ones are too.” He reached for his new bow.

“What are you doing?!” you hissed.

Link shrugged. “Shooting it? Isn’t that what the fairy tale says? The sharp-eyed hunter who shot the Blupee received wealth beyond imagination?”

“You can’t shoot it! What if this is the last one?”

“Oh, so the magic horse was fine but not the magic rabbit… owl… thing.”

“It was Ganon’s horse and it wasn’t real!”

“Oh, come on, the fairy tale also says they can’t be killed by arrows anyway.”

“I’m not about to let you take a chance on that!” You squeaked.

“Quiet! …hey, look?” The Blupee bounced in place, almost as if beckoning to you. “Do you think…?”

You shook your head. “At this point, why not? What’s the worst that could happen? Getting abducted by a Satori?”

Link lowered his bow. “Please don’t tempt the Goddesses.”

The Blupee hopped and darted along, pausing every so often to make sure you kept following. The grass grew longer as you strayed farther and farther into the wilds. You slid down a slope into what appeared to be an ancient quarry. The Blupee seemed to be slowing as it darted through a crack in some ruined pillars. “Crap, too small for us,” Link muttered. He looked over the rubble. “Here, come on.” He bent down patting his knee.

“What are you doing?”

“Giving you a boost, come on!”

“Um… right…” You carefully stepped up on his knee. “Not high enough.”

“No prob… one… two…”

“Link, what-”

“THREE!” Suddenly you flew up, just high enough to snag the top of the collapsed pile. Scrambling, you flung yourself up. “Hey, hand?”

You spun around and reached down to help Link up. “Could’ve warned me.”

“Aww, come on, everyone knows Navi is supposed to fly!”

“I hate you.”

“No you don’t!” He said, jumping down the pile of rubble without a care.

The Blupee waited as you carefully made your own way down. “Oh wow…” On the other side, you found an ancient spring. Crystal clear water flowed freely. Stone pillars, centuries old, ringed the spring. At the center of the spring, an ancient statue of the Goddess Hylia stood, before the emblem of the Triforce. As you stepped forward, the emblem glowed for a brief second.

“Oh my… do I have guests? It’s been such an awfully long time, and here I am completely unpresentable. Please give me just a moment to prepare myself! Step into the water if you would.”

The water began to glow with magic. Link gave you a look then hesitantly stepped into the knee-deep waters. “It’s warm!” He said with surprise. “It feels… nice.”

You followed, feeling as though you stepped into a bath with the water at the perfect temperature. Soothing magic flowed up your body, easing the aches and pains from your curse. Link let out a sigh as his wounds healed before your eyes.

Suddenly, the water began to bubble and froth. All around you, pink fairies appeared from the water, floating and dancing. A beautiful woman burst from the water with a laugh. She towered over you in a skintight dress made of leaves and clover, with glossy butterfly wings unfurling from her back, shining with the light of the rainbow. “Hello darlings, I am the Queen of the Fairies, Venus. It has been quite some time since I was last summoned.”

“Y-your majesty,” Link stuttered, bowing and blushing.

“Oh my, such a cute little gentleman,” she said, patting his head. “You must be Link, the heroes are always so cute and flustered around Great Fairies. And who are you, my darling?”

“Navi, ma’am.” You said with a polite bow of your own.

“Navi, is it?” Venus giggled at that. “That’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time. Are you one of my fairies?”

“That’s a loaded question,” you murmured.

“Fair enough, but I’ll look after you too,” she winked. “I was hoping my little pets would find you.” The Blupee bounced up to her shoulder, snuggling into the crook of her neck.

You took a deep breath. “We’ve come to ask for your guidance. Monsters have returned to Hyrule, and we need to stop them. People are disappearing without a trace. Hyrule is in danger…but we don’t know where to start.”

“Oh darling, is that all? Here I was worried it’d be something difficult like money or romance.” She giggled, and it was hard to miss how her eyes glinted playfully in your direction. “Let’s see what Mama can do for you.” She closed her eyes and the air seemed to stand still for a moment. Suddenly she pounced forward, face to face with Link. “Let’s start with you, hero boy!”

Startled, Link fell back, landing in the water with a sploosh. “Please don’t do that!”

“Oh darling, I’ve been cooped up here all alone without anyone to entertain, do let me indulge a bit.” She peered at him. “Ah… well now, aren’t you a bundle of repression? Mr. Big Man on Campus… and yet there’s something that scares you more than-” Link suddenly jumped forward slapping his hands on her lips with sheer terror in his eyes. “Normally you should buy a girl dinner before layin’ a smacker on her.”

Link turned several shades of red before stumbling back with a soft “Sorry.”

“I’m just teasing you, poor boy. It’s okay, I have something for you.” She reached into the pond and produced a small pouch. “You will need protection – and not just the kind for a tumble. In the vaults that hold the treasures of the past, you’ll find a tunic that belonged to one of the heroes of old. Sprinkle the magic powder on it, and you’ll find it renewed and enhanced, ready for you.”

She sat up again. “That’s not all you’ll need. The Book of Mudora will likely help you to find your way, but the path will only open to you in the land beyond.”

You and Link shared a look. Link cleared his throat, “…One of us has to die?”

“Oh, Hylia no, that’d be ghastly!” Venus gasped. “My apologies, I mean, the path will only open to you in sleep. Forgive me, I’m out of practice on the hero guidance thing. Listen, just get the book, read it, go to bed.”

“That might be a bit tougher to grab,” you said. You knew from experience the Book of Mudora was kept behind lock and key in your father’s office. “We’ll figure out something by then, I’m sure.”

“I’m sure you will,” she said with a smile. She then took notice of Link trying to get her attention. “Yes?”

“Um, thank you for the gift and advice,” Link said stiffly. “But what about Navi?”

“Oh yes! I can’t forget about my newest fairy!” She bent down to you and cooed as she gently brought you closer to her. “Darling, I know you have other questions even if your voice will not let you speak them. You will find your answers back where this began. Remember, our eyes can play tricks on us. Things you thought were clear can actually be far more complex. Sometimes, we need to step back and… reflect,” she said with a wink. She then kissed the tip of her finger and booped you on the nose. Your bandages glowed with the magic, each of their runes lit by a soft blue light to match your eye. “There, that should help ease the pain.”

She drew herself back up to her full height. “Now my darlings, I must let you go. You have a lot of work to do, but please come back should you need assistance or should your body become weary. Ta-taaaa!” She sunk into the pool once more with barely a splash. The magic faded from the water, and the fairies flew away.

“So… I’m guessing what she said meant something to you?” Link asked.

“Yeah,” you said. “The vaults of the past? Everything leads back to one place: the Archives.”

Chapter Text

You didn’t know what to expect upon returning to the University, but it seemed jarring how little had changed. Sure, it had only been a couple days, but you figured with all that had happened to you and Link, people would be more worried. Yet, here they were, continuing on as if the country wasn’t on the brink of destruction.

Things only seemed weirder as you got to Link’s room. At the door, you found a tin wrapped in a ribbon with a small pink card. Link picked it up, but both of you were surprised to see it was addressed to “Link and Navi.”

“Who’d send something to me?”

“I’m betting it’s from Zelda.”

“Navi, I’m so sorry that I screamed when I first saw you, I hope you can forgive me. Signed Zelda,” you read. You opened the container to find a bunch of sugar cookies. Each was decorated to look like you and Link. You picked up one of the mini-you’s, pleasantly surprised that Zelda had made it look really cute. “That’s really nice of her.”

“Yeaaaah…” Link said, gently taking the cookie out of your hand and putting it back in the container. “Listen, her heart’s in the right place but trust me, you don’t want to eat that. Zelda’s really smart… until it comes to cooking.”

“Ah.” You weren’t surprised. Zelda used to make little treats for you when she was little, but you and the rest of your family quickly figured out her taste buds were a bit different from the rest of you. The results of her experiments were… inedible. Cake made with salt. Vegetable curry made with heaps of sugar. Let’s not forget the cherry on top, her attempt at a magic pudding that involved a frog. “I can pretend to eat it and then toss it somewhere in the city?”

“Good idea, just don’t let her catch you.” Link grabbed your shoulders, fear in his eyes. “Trust me.”

After disposing of the hazardous cookies, you made your way to the Archives. The Archives were usually pretty dead in the middle of the day. Most research seemed to be done in the afternoon, so you and Link basically had the run of the place. “Okay, the faster we get in and out the better.”

“Sure, thinking we split up? I’ll grab the tunic, and you grab the Book of… whatever it was?”

You laughed. “Mudora, and yes. You know where the Hero’s Tunic is, right?”

“Uh…” Link scratched his head. “Um, I think it’s near the monster exhibit, right?”

“Yeah, you got it.”

Link nodded, but he looked a little unsure. “Hey, how do you know the Archives so well?”

“I’m your guide,” You replied.

“That’s not an answer.”

You shrugged. “I’ll tell you the whole story sometime, but I did a lot of studying here. Now, let’s go before someone finds us. Professor Gaepora usually takes his lunch now, so we’ve got the place all to ourselves.”

You turned down one hallway and Link took another. You strode as quickly and quietly as you could. As you walked through the exhibits, you couldn’t help but feel like something was missing, but everything seemed to be in the right spot. There was no time to worry about that now. You hurried to your father’s office in what used to be the royal library.

Your father’s study was apparently the secret study of King Rhoam prior to the Calamity. The wooden door was usually locked, but you knew your father was lazy about locking it when he went to get his lunch. You turned the knob, and sure enough the door swung open easily. Inside, your father’s cozy study was an absolute mess as usual. Piles of books and papers were strewn over his oak desk, and the bookcases looked ready to collapse from being overstuffed. The only part that remained organized was the glass cabinet in the back of the room.

You carefully made your way over the haphazard stacks of books to the cabinet. Inside, you could see various treasures your father had collected, such as an Ikana burial mask to more personal treasures, like a little pot you sculpted for him when you were six. In the very back was a carefully preserved book, the original copy of the Book of Mudora. You tried the cabinet doors, but they were locked. “No matter,” you muttered, stealing a paper clip from the desk. You began to untwist it. Your father hated when you did this, but you had been sneaking into this cabinet for years with the same trick. Once bent into the right shape, you slid it into the lock and jiggled it until the tumblers fell and the door swung open.

It wasn’t the only door that swung open. “What are you doing?!”

You spun around, one hand still on the paperclip. Professor Gaepora stood in the doorway, fuming. “What in Din’s blazing fires are you doing?”

“I… I…”

Professor Gaepora strode over like an approaching storm. “I ought to call security right now and have them throw you…” His voice quavered as he noticed the paperclip. Suddenly, Professor Gaepora grabbed you tightly by the shoulders, his face slowly shifting from confusion and anger to despair. “…it’s you, isn’t it? Oh, my poor boy, what happened to you…” He pulled you into a tight embrace.

“You recognized me?”

“Of course, I’m your father,” he said. “My dear boy… I thought I had lost you.”

“I-I’m sorry Dad, I didn’t have a choice…” He reached up, pulling off your hood. He then reached for your mask. “Please, don’t-”

But it was too late, he pulled it back. You froze. He didn’t react, he only gently replaced your mask. “This is magic, isn’t it? My boy, who did this to you?”

“I can’t say.”

“Ah yes, curses…” Professor Gaepora mused. “I wish you came to me right away.”

“I’m sorry, I was scared and… and I had to find Link.” You then explained as much as you could to your father, from Maple to the monsters to the Fairy Queen. By the end, you were exhausted, clutching the Book of Mudora close to your chest. “That’s why I’m here. I knew you had the Book of Mudora. I didn’t want to tell you, I wasn’t sure you’d believe me, and even if you did, what if you got hurt too?”

“It’s okay son, but I’m your father. I’ll always protect you, no matter what. Now,” he said, walking to the door. “I think we ought to inspect the Magic Mirror.”

On your way to the mirror, you ran into Link, struggling to get the Hero’s Tunic off the mannekin. “Professor!” He gasped, hastily backing up. “I… was just trying to get a bug off the tunic!”

“Nice try Link, I’ve already heard the whole story.” Professor Gaepora chuckled as he unlaced the side of the tunic. “I’m very curious to see what this magic powder does.”

Link sprinkled the powder across the tunic. The faded colors became brighter, and the worn spots repaired themselves. Suddenly it grew heavier as shiny new chainmail appeared under it. Finally, two silver pauldrons appeared on the shoulders, each stamped with the emblem of the winged Triforce.

“Astounding!” Professor Gaepora gasped. “Why we should try that magic powder on more things! I wonder what else it could restore? Imagine the possibilities!” He turned to you excitedly.

“Imagine indeed.” Your blood ran cold. Veran walked down the halls, magic twirling between her fingers. “Didn’t learn your lesson I see, boy. I hear you call yourself Navi now?”

Professor Gaepora understood immediately and stepped forward. “I don’t know who you are, but change him back immediately!”

“Or what? Be lectured to death, old man? I don’t think so.” She raised her glowing hand. “Maybe I should just finish the job.”

“No!” He shouted, standing in the way. The blast of magic faded, and your father had been replaced by a large owl.

“No!” You echoed.

“I’m losing my touch,” Veran muttered. “I’ll kill him this time.”

You grabbed your father and ran to the nearest window, practically throwing him out. Lucky for you, flying apparently came naturally. You didn’t have time to relax. Link grabbed your arm and dragged you down the hall as fast as he could.

“Oh dear, you boys don’t want to play?” Veran taunted from behind you. “I thought the best swordsman would want to fight?”

Link grit his teeth as the two of you ran through the maze of rooms. “Oh crap, Link, wait!” You broke away and skidded to a stop. “I need to look at one of the exhibits!”

“Now?!”

“Please, it’s critical! Just keep an eye out here, I’ll just be a second!”

“Fine, but hurry!”

You ran as Link quickly changed into the tunic. Inside the next exhibit room, you found where the curse began, the Magic Mirror. After the curse, the mirror had been left cracked and the glass cloudy. Even the frame seemed to be duller than before.

You read quickly. “The Magic Mirror was used by the Hero of Legend to maintain his form in the Dark World. The Dark World twists those with impure hearts into beasts, representing the dark aspects of their personality. Those who wished to steal the Triforce were often transformed into terrible monsters, under the rule of Mandrag Ganon, King of Thieves.” You looked up at the mirror. While your reflection was still covered in bandages, you could see your own eye looking back at you for a brief moment before returning to your cursed appearance. “But what’s the darkness inside me that’d cause this? What am I even becoming?”

“NAVI!” Link shouted. You could hear Veran’s cackle down the hall. In a split second, you grabbed the broken mirror and ran.

Back in the hall, Veran swung at Link. You leaped without thinking, your claws growing again as you slashed her cheek. “You wretch!” She hissed. Link took the opening to strike her stomach before grabbing your hand again – careful to avoid your claws.

As the two of you rounded the next corner, Link breathed a sigh of relief, seeing someone you recognized. “Professor Owlan! You have to help us!”

“Help with what?” He replied with a chilling smile. “You really shouldn’t be running around so many artifacts, I figured you would know that. And stealing something? My, my, I am disappointed.”

You and Link skidded to a stop. You then looked down at the mirror. Owlan didn’t have a reflection. “What… how?”

Link instantly drew his blade. “He’s one of them.”

“Revealed sooner than I would’ve liked, but no matter. Soon, none of this will matter, and the world will drown in darkness.” His features paled like a corpse as acidic tears dripped from his eyes, turning them rancid yellow. His shoulders drooped as bones cracked and reshaped. His lips grew dry and split along the corner of his mouth. “Soon all will return to nothing.” His clothes grew longer and darker, his sleeves drooping long over his hands. Finally, a grotesque stone helmet formed over his head. “Be consumed by the darkness! Fall by the hand of Zant!”

Link raised his sword just in time to block Zant’s attack. In the blink of an eye, he produced a second sword in his other hand and swung at you. “Navi!” Link gasped.

The sword hit your forearm but stopped cold. Instead of the bloody gash you expected to see, the sword was blunted by thick black scales. This time you were ready. You reached over and grabbed his sword with your clawed hand. In mere moments, the sword rusted and disintegrated. “What is this?” Zant growled, stamping his foot.

You leaped after Zant himself, swinging your claws, but he easily backhanded you across the room. You groaned, the wind knocked out of you, and your scales and claws now gone. He then turned back to Link, swinging wildly. Link struggled under his strength. “N-Navi!”

Your eyes shot around the room. You knew Link’s sword alone wasn’t enough to take down the Usurper of Twilight. Nothing was helpful: an antique Picto Box wouldn’t really help, and the Fire Rod was out of magic. Then you remembered what Impa, or rather Veran, had said. “They’re out of magic… that’s it!” You snagged the pouch off Link’s belt and tossed a bit of powder on the Fire Rod. As you snatched it off the wall, you could feel it thrum with energy in your hands. “Take this!”

You waved the wand. Suddenly the end unfolded and the ruby at the end glowed, sending an inferno at Zant. As the usurper screeched, Link grabbed you again and ran. The fire rod slipped from your hands, cracking on the ground. “Link!”

“We can’t, not yet!” He said, an edge of fear creeping into his voice.

“What the hell? What happened to being ready to kick ass?”

“I’m…” he huffed, yanking you around the corner. “I’m not ready! Okay? I’m scared. And I don’t want to make a mistake that gets either of us hurt! Professor Gaepora’s now gone, and I don’t even know what to do to stop them.”

You gawked at him for a moment, before the sound of approaching footsteps brought you back to the situation at hand. “It’s going to be okay. We’re a team, right? We’ve got the tunic and book, we’ll figure it out.”

Link sighed. “Right.” He then reached over and pulled the fire alarm. The alarm blared. As you shot him a questioning look, he gave you a nod. “Gets everyone out of the school and away from these guys. I don’t want anyone else to get hurt.”

“Good idea,” you said, “let’s go.” You grabbed his hand and together you ran, hoping the Book of Mudora would have the answers you sought.

Chapter Text

You poured over the Book of Mudora, but it was hard to stay focused. Veran, Phantom Ganon, and Zant… how many more demons of Hyrule’s past would show up to haunt you? And your father… he was safe for the time being, but now you had two curses to break. You groaned, leaning forward on the desk.

“That bad?” Link asked. The two of you had returned to his room. He had barricaded the door while you worked at his desk.

“Just a lot to process,” you said. “It’s written in old Hyrulean. I can barely understand it.”

“What can you understand?”

“It’s… like a bunch of poems. There’s a long epic about a temple in the desert and songs of the ancient city of Skyloft, but I don’t get how this is supposed to help us.” You turned the page to another seemingly impenetrable wall of text.

Link shifted uneasily behind you. “Sorry I can’t help. I’m really not any good at this stuff.”

You frowned, looking at his stack of textbooks again. You knew his grades were pretty good. You phrased your question carefully, “Don’t you need good grades to stay on the team?”

“Yea-a-ah,” Link said as he leaned against the bed, shoulders hunched. “I… please don’t tell anyone, okay?” You slowly nodded. “Stuff like animals and fighting comes really easy for me, but academic stuff is a struggle. So, Zelda… she does a lot of it for me. I tried to get her to stop at first, but then she kept saying that she’d handle it.”

“Link, that’s not okay.”

“I-I know! I feel like scum every time. When this is all over, I’m going to get a tutor and get her to stop. It’s just every time I’ve tried, she tells me I should just focus on what I’m good at. I tried to get her to teach me, but she just laughs.”

“What the hell? That’s terrible.”

“Yeah, I know, I should-”

“No,” you cut him off. You stood so quickly, you bumped the desk, knocking the book to the floor. “That’s so wrong what she’s doing. When we’ve saved everyone, I’ll tutor you myself.”

Link blinked. “Really? That’d be awesome. You’re the best, Navi!”

“Don’t thank me yet, but I promise I’ll do whatever I can to help you catch up.” You bent down to pick up the book when you noticed a paper had partially slid out of one of the back pages. “Oh?” You flipped to the page and pulled out a piece of paper that was clearly newer than the rest of the book, especially as the writing was in neat modern Hyrulean. As you picked it up, you felt a wave of warmth shoot up your arm, and the runes on your bandages glowed gold for a brief moment.

“What is it?” Link asked.

“Notes… not from Professor Gaepora though. This page must’ve been in there for a while.” You quickly scanned the notes. “It’s on the bloodline of Hylia.” You looked at the pages it was stuck in, comparing the two. “Yeah, these are research notes adding history from after the book was written. As we know, the blood of Hylia flows through the descendants of the first Zelda, and therefore the Royal Family. The notes here suggest that there might be a link between them all, that the wisdom of each prior one passes to the next.” You then frowned. “There’s also some angry scribbles about not being able to find any timeshift stones.”

“So, who wrote it? The director before Professor Gaepora?”

You studied the page. “The family tree here ends with… the daughter of King Rhoam Bosphoramus Hyrule… which would mean Zelda the Luminary herself.” Your mind raced. “This is huge! Actual writing from the museum founder? Not to mention, what does this mean and…”

Link put his hand on your shoulder. “It means you should probably get some sleep before you stay up all night. And isn’t that what Venus said? You read the book, then you go to sleep?”

“But… but it’s just getting good! And we’re fine here, right?”

Link crossed his arms. “For tonight, but we’ll probably have to keep moving. That witch and Zant… they’ll probably be on the hunt for us.” Link reached over, sliding notes into the book like a bookmark and gently shut it. “You’ve been studying hard enough for the entire school. You should get some rest. Take my bed.”

“Are you sure? I can-”

“Navi,” Link said firmly. “You gave me the bed at the hotel; I’m giving you mine here. You need the rest. We’ll head out in the morning.”

“O-okay… thanks…”

Link flicked the light switch off. You could hear the smile in his voice as he said, “We’ll save them all. Get some rest. Good night, Navi.”

“Good night, Link.” You slid under the covers, warm and cozy. The bed also smelled a little like Link’s cologne. In no time, you drifted into sleep.

You jolted awake, no longer in Link’s bed, but standing in a city floating in the sky, high above Hyrule. The air was cold and a storm was brewing. There didn’t seem to be a soul around, and yet you could hear whispers on the air.

Look at Link, he’s such a great warrior! A total superstar!

And he’s gonna be a hero who saves Hyrule. Sure, Phantom Ganon set him back, but he’s gonna beat them all in the end.

I’m sure he’ll break that curse soon too.

The twisting in your stomach returned, this time growing stronger and stronger. It didn’t help the voices of the whispers sounded a lot like your classmates.

Link’s just being nice to [Y/n].

Yeah, after all this is over, I bet they won’t talk that much.

Things will just go back to how they always have been.

“Shut up,” you muttered, feeling the twisting become almost unbearable. You fell to your knees, clutching your stomach, bile rising in your throat.

Then came a voice you knew well: your cousin’s. Oh, I can’t wait for Link to propose to me after he saves Hyrule!

“SHUT UP!” You screamed, but it came out more like a roar. The city shook. Your hands flew up to your mouth, but you realized they had been replaced by claws. Slowly, agonizingly, jet black scales rimmed with gold tore through your bandages. “No… no, no, no!”

Your spine cracked as it seemed to grow longer, a tail beginning to grow and tear through your clothes. Your feet exploded out of your shoes, with long talons to match your claws. Your teeth grew longer and sharper, feeling like they couldn’t fit in your mouth. You clawed at the ground as the pain spread throughout your body. Your heart stammered and skipped beats, an unbearable heat growing in your chest. You coughed, sending a jet of fire from your mouth. Your neck stretched and cracked as the scales appeared, crawling up and building into a cowl over your head. “No please!” You shouted, your voice dropping deeper and deeper as your body transformed. You closed your eyes, wishing for it all to end. “Please no, I don’t want to be a monster!”

[Y/n]…

“Go away!!”

[Y/n]…

Open your eyes…

You gasped for air as a golden light surrounded you. Slowly, your monster form began to recede. A table had been set before you with a fancy tea set and several treats on a tiered tray. A group of women materialized out of the ether. Finally, you collapsed to your knees, back to normal with your clothes replaced by a simple rough tunic. “Well, you’re going to join us, aren’t you?” One of them asked, wearing a belted blue tunic and a lab coat. Various strange gadgets hung off of her, which you recognized as both Sheikah and Zonai in origin. You looked up at her braided hair and kind eyes and realized you recognized her – after all, she stood guard at the entrance of the Archives.

“Zelda the Luminary?”

She covered her mouth as she laughed. “No need to be formal, but yes.”

“I mean, he does have to distinguish us somehow,” another one said, this one dressed in Sheikah clothing. “Well, aside from some of us.”

“See, I told you Sheik and I were the smartest ones,” one with short hair and a vest laughed as she twirled her pistol.

You found yourself embraced by a plump motherly one in an older pink dress. “Oh, you poor dear!”

“Ladies please,” Zelda the Luminary said, clapping her hands. “Can we focus on the task at hand? We need to help our grandson.”

“Grandson,” you echoed. “Wait, you’re all… Zeldas?”

“Not quite,” one lady with platinum blonde hair in an ancient Zonai dress said. “I’m afraid I’m the odd one out; I am Sonia.”

“And I prefer Tetra over Zelda,” said the one with the pistol with a cunning grin.

“It’s better to just say your ancestors,” a younger Zelda with a bright red bow said. “We’re all here to help.”

“So, the whole link in your notes, it works!”

Zelda the Luminary laughed again. “Precisely. You have no idea how hard it was hide a spell in my notes, especially as someone who prefers technology over magic.”

“You have done well to get this far, grandson,” Sonia said. “But your journey with Link is just beginning.”

“Your mission is to help Link to free those corrupted by the shadows and to gain the sanctions of the Goddesses. After that,” the brunette Zelda with golden pauldrons said, “you will be able to face the darkness directly and save Hyrule from oblivion.”

“O-Oblivion?”

“Twilight’s right. The shadows threaten to destroy everything,” Zelda the Luminary said, stirring a large helping of milk and sugar into her tea. Twilight watched in disgust, considering her tea was completely black. “In my time, we worried a day would come when another hero would be needed. Thus, we worked with our friends to build temples to prepare the next hero for whatever challenges they may face. The sages that will help you are their descendants.”

“So… what do I do?”

Tetra rolled her eyes. “Little slow on the uptake for a smart guy. I swear he gets that from your side of the family,” she said, jabbing her knife in the direction of Sheik.

She scoffed. “Just because my hero couldn’t figure out who I was, doesn’t mean he’s dumb. By Hylia, you’re impossible.” A Zelda in a white dress with a harp cleared her throat. “Sorry, Sky.”

The Zelda in an elaborate dress with gold finery took your hands. “Don’t listen to them sweetheart. You must awaken the three sages of Power, Wisdom, and Courage and obtain proof of your deed, known as the Goddesses’ Sanctions. Only then will the way to the Master Sword will open. That’s the way things worked in my day.”

“Legend’s right. Proof of Link’s and your worthiness, that is,” Tetra added. “Gotta put your rupees where your mouth is.”

The one they called Sky strummed her harp. “One, a close friend, shall be saved from the waters of Hyrule’s heart and lift the darkness over the desert. One, a bard in forest retreat, shall lead you to hidden depths to purify the land. One, a maid fair of hero’s blood, shall bring forth the forest spirits to restore the light.” She strummed again. “Finally, the Sage of the Sword shall reveal themselves to you, and the hero shall retrieve the Master Sword to defeat the shadows.”

“Even though the world seems against you,” Legend added, “there are those looking out for you, no matter how dark it grows.”

“What about the curse?” you asked. “How can I break the curse on my father?”

“Veran’s magic was flawed, thanks to the Magic Mirror,” Sheik explained. “The Mirror shows truth and is slowly transforming you to reflect the darkness in your heart. However, by shattering the Magic Mirror, Veran unintentionally caused the power of the mirror to pass to you. Your curse is also your greatest weapon. It allows you to erase the shadows and to save those corrupted by this dark magic, like your father.”

“A word of caution,” Twilight added, “it may accelerate your transformation as well. Consuming more darkness will increase the danger of the curse overcoming Maple’s spell, even with Venus’ assistance. Remember who you are, and don’t lose yourself to the curse.”

“Right,” you gulped.

“You’ll do fine, I’m sure of it,” Sonia said. “We’ll be with you every step of the way.”

“But now it’s time to sleep again,” The motherly Zelda added, gently stroking your hair.

“Says the professional sleeper,” Tetra teased.

“Hush, don’t listen to her, just rest for your journey.”

“But I have so many… questions…” you yawned as your eyes slowly closed.

“Good luck, grandson,” Zelda the Luminary said, as the world faded away. “Hyrule is in your hands.”

“So, awaken the sages, get the Master Sword, and you might be able to undo curses?” Link said, as the two of you hurried through the station.

“Yeah, which makes me worried there’s more who’ve been hurt besides Professor Gaepora.” You wanted to tell Link that you were able to see your ancestors, but apparently the curse considered that as revealing your identity. You pulled your sleeves down to hide your bandages. It was much harder now with their soft glow, but at least your body didn’t hurt… for now.

“And from all of that, you think our first stop should be Lake Hylia?”

“One, a close friend, shall be saved from the waters of Hyrule’s heart and lift the darkness over the desert,” you recited. “Lake Hylia has long been the heart of Hyrule’s farmland. It’s also close to all of the potential sites Zelda sent to us.”

Link nodded. “Gotcha, I’ll call my aunt then. She’s got a boat business there and might be able to help us.”

You and Link hurried to the ticket machines, when suddenly the departure board changed. A wave of red “CANCELLED” statuses washed down the board until every train was held. “What the…”

“Navi?” Link pointed at the news screen. A huge steam engine smashed through a freight train, leaving a trail of destruction behind it. It had a terrible flaming face, screeching like a demon as it sped down the tracks.

“Malladus?!” You gasped. “How are we gonna get to Lake Hylia now? I don’t have a car.”

Link scratched the back of his head, then grinned. “No worries, I got it. C’mon, we’re gonna use my ride.”

“Your ride?” You asked.

Link led you down to the dorm’s garage. He threw off a dust cover, revealing a shiny, pristine motorcycle. “This,” he said proudly, “is my baby.” It was a sport touring hybrid, painted brown with racing stripes. A horse was custom painted on the gas tank. “Navi, meet Epona II.”

“You… named it?”

“Of course! She’s my pride and joy.” He slid his and your bags into the luggage compartment. Then, he tossed you a green helmet, matching his. “Alright, let’s roll!”

“Wait a sec!” You said, suddenly realizing what was about to happen. “Y-you don’t have a sidecar or anything?”

“No, of course not,” Link laughed. “Just hop on back.” You slid the helmet over your head, hesitantly stepping over the motorcycle. “Hurry up Navi, we’re burning daylight.”

You nervously wrapped your arms around Link’s waist, wanting nothing more than to lean into him. The engine roared, and the motorcycle shot out of the garage. You held Link a little tighter as he shot onto the freeway, southbound for Lake Hylia.