Chapter Text
Chapter One: The Sword that Seals the Darkness
Evening had fallen when Mipha’s magic returned Link to the entrance of Zora Domain. He could feel the slight change to his body, now that he had been gifted with her healing ability, “Mipha’s Grace”, as it had been dubbed. Jogging up the stairs, he was surprised at the large crowds that were gathered. The group of Zora split quickly allowing him to easily reach the throne room.
“Link! You did well to survive your trial! I have been awaiting your return!” King Dorephan said as the Hylian Champion drew near. “The violent downpour has disappeared, as has the threat to Zora’s Domain! It is all little more than a bad dream now. Thanks to your efforts, there is no longer any danger of a great flood laying waste to Hyrule! You appeased the Divine Beast Vah Ruta and thusly saved Zora’s Domain! We are all truly grateful! What you did for us is more than we could have ever expected of you.”
Muzu’s voice came from Link’s left. “Link… I must sincerely apologize for my harsh treatment of you. That whole time, you were thinking of Hyrule’s and Lady Mipha’s well-being, just like the rest of us. All of the members of our council humbly fold our fins back in gratitude, along with the rest of our people,” the elder Zora paused. “Perhaps the older generation of Zora, myself included, misunderstood Hylians after all. It would seem so. That said, I would be overjoyed if you could find it in your heart to forgive me. If not now, then perhaps one day.”
The Hylian gave a small nod of acknowledgement, and opened his mouth to address Muzu, but the Zora King interrupted him.
“Link! I must reward your efforts! Now then, I implore you to collect the treasure inside that chest over there. It was cherished by Mipha. A memento of sorts. I would like you to have it as a token of our friendship. Please take good care of it.”
The Champion nodded again. “Thank you, I shall do my best.”
“By the way, Link. I see that you are without your trusty blade… the sword that seals the darkness. Did you perhaps lose it when you lost your memory?”
“What sword?” the blond youth was slightly confused.
“Hm. So you have forgotten that as well… That is the legendary blade that only you, the Hylian Champion, can wield. It is no doubt resting somewhere in Hyrule even now… waiting for its master to return.” The King was deep in thought for a moment, pondering this, then shook his head, snapping back to the present. “Link, all of the Zora thank you from the depths of our hearts for your heroic and selfless work…. And you too, Sidon,” he said, addressing his son. “As your father, I am proud of you for fighting the Divine Beast alongside Link. You have grown much recently. I know you will be a worthy heir when your time comes.”
The usually eloquent and exuberant Zora Prince was rendered nearly speechless. “Father… I… Thank you!” he stammered.
King Dorephan continued. “The heavy rains have stopped, and the Divine Beast is our ally once again. How glorious! Truly splendid! Wa ha ha ha!” he gave a low chuckle.
His father’s chuckle helped bring Sidon back to his normal self. “Link! This is wonderful!” He gave his signature fin up with a glistening grin. He closed the distance and knelt in front of the Hylian, shaking his entire arm firmly. “Link! Thank you so much! Truly I could never thank you enough! You helped save our home from vanishing away! This calls for a top-tier expression of gratitude! ZO! ZO! RA! RA! RA!” He cheered, not willing to let go of Link’s arm. “With all of my heart… Thank you!” He finally released him. Stepping backwards, the Zora Prince gave a deep bow at the waist in gratitude.
A loud, collective cheer arose from the Zoras gathered in the throne room. Link turned to face them, a soft blush on his cheeks from the attention. This was the fourth and final Divine Beast he had completed, and he’d received accolades from each nation. This was also the fourth time that the leader of the nation that he spoke to had referenced a specific sword. “The sword that seals the darkness” must be important. The memories he had regained thanks to the help of the photographs on the Sheikah Slate had all shown a specific sword that he carried, but he had no idea why he was the only one to wield it, or where he might find it. He needed to go and visit Impa again for more insight into the sword.
Finally, the applause died down, and the blond youth turned to the chest and crouched to undo the latch and flip it open. Inside was a trident, one that he remembered seeing in his memories of Mipha. He gently lifted it out, and stretched it out in his hands, admiring the craftsmanship. If there was one thing that the Zora excelled in, it was the fine handiwork on their blades and weaponry. He lifted the pack off his back and fastened it snugly into the weapons case, then shouldered the bag.
Scanning the room, his eyes landed on Muzu once more. He made his way over to the elder Zora, and grasped his fin in his hand. “There’s nothing to forgive. I hold no ill will toward you, or anyone else.”
Muzu’s eyes widened, then softened, and he gave a slight bow to the Hylian. “Thank you, Link. Safe travels to you. We shall meet again soon.”
Link gave a slight nod, and headed back down to the courtyard, where the statue of Mipha stood. He bowed his head in respect to her spirit, and then pulled his Sheikah Slate from the holder on his belt. Locating the shrine above Kakariko Village, he tapped the travel command, and felt the unusual sensation that signaled his nearly immediate transferral to the chosen travel gate. The first several times it had occurred, he had nearly vomited or fallen over upon arrival. Now it was nearly second nature, just like using his paraglider had become.
As evening fell on Kakariko Village, Link jogged down the hill from the shrine into the heart of the town. Pikango waved from his spot by the Goddess statue, but didn’t try to stop him. The pair of guards that stood by the stairs up to Impa’s house stepped aside, not interrupting their conversation to allow the Champion by.
Link opened the door slowly, his head cautiously peeking in. Impa lifted her eyes from her meditation, a smile forming across her face. “Link. Come in. I sense that you have several things you wish to discuss with me.”
He nodded, slipping inside and closing the door behind him. “I just completed the fourth Divine Beast, as you had recommended.”
“Well done. I expected nothing less from you. Here, let me see your slate,” Impa replied in acknowledgement, encouraging him to close the distance.
Link removed the Sheikah Slate from his hip and relinquished it to her. She scanned through it for a moment, and smiled, handing it back to him. “Good. You’ve obtained all 12 of the memories here. Come, I have something to show you.”
Link followed her as she hopped down from her chair and walked over to an image on the wall. “Do you recognize this spot? It’s about a half-day’s walk from here. This will give you the final memory you are missing.”
The blond youth glanced at her. “Will it tell me about this ‘sword that seals the darkness’ that I’ve heard referenced several times now?”
Impa chuckled. “No, but it will give you the final piece of your missing memories. The location of the sword’s resting place is within the Lost Woods. You will need the sword in hand when you face Calamity Ganon. I don’t need to remind you to make haste. You’ve done remarkably well to reach and complete all four of the Divine Beasts within a mere few months.”
Behind them, a soft gasp was heard. “Oh, Master Link! I-I didn’t know you were here! Forgive me!” Paya bowed low, her head nearly touching the floor.
“Paya, there’s no need for formalities with Link,” Impa chided. “He’s been our guest enough times that we can drop such things now.”
“No need to seek forgiveness. My visit was brief this time.” Link smiled awkwardly. He wasn’t sure how to act around Paya. It was clear that she liked him, but he didn’t feel the same way, so he tried to maintain a quiet composure as much as he could.
The girl blushed, and quickly ducked into the kitchen.
The Hylian Champion cleared his throat in the silence, and turned back to Impa. “I’ll take my leave. Thank you for your insight and wisdom."
Impa gave a slight nod and smile. “Promise me that you’ll make your way back here once she’s free.”
Link bent onto one knee in front of her. “Upon my honor as a Champion, I promise I will bring Zelda to see you once we defeat Ganon.”
She thumped him on the shoulder. “Get up. I’m not royalty that you should bow to me. But I thank you for your promise. May the Goddess Hylia smile upon you.”
Link rose to his feet and turned on his heel, leaving Impa in her orthodox state of repose. It was already dark outside when he stepped back onto the porch of her house. He pulled out his Sheikah Slate again and selected the shrine in Hateno Village. It would feel good to sleep in his own bed for a change. As soon as his feet were solidly underneath him in Hateno, he walked the short distance across the bridge to his house. He sighed when he opened the door, relaxing as he lifted the weight of his pack off his shoulders. He would unpack and sort, tomorrow. Leaving the pack by the door, he didn’t bother with any light sources. Too tired to care about much more, he trudged up the stairs to the loft where his bed was. He tugged off the Zora Armor he had never removed, and set it down on the bedside table. He kicked off his shoes and trousers and flopped onto the bed, falling asleep within moments.
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Morning came early for the Hylian Champion. He took only a few minutes to get himself dressed for the day, pulling on his blue tunic. Taking the stairs two at a time, his eyes landed on his pack. He gingerly unpacked the trident he was gifted at Zora's Domain and slid it into one of the weapon display mounts on the wall. Beside it, the Great Eagle Bow, the Boulder Breaker, Scimitar of the Seven, and the Daybreaker shield hung, showcasing the varied weapons of choice belonging to each nation.
Returning to his pack, he kept several single and double-handed swords attached, and checked his arrow stash, smiling to himself when he saw the quiver was full, and he still had a good variety. He removed several rotten food items, and munched on a meat skewer while sorting the last items into his pack that he would need. Shouldering the pack, he did a final scan of the house, then closed the door behind him.
“Morning,” Bolson greeted from his place by the cooking pot outside the house. Despite the repairs being completed on the building, this was still Bolson and Karson’s favorite area to hang out. With Link being away so frequently, he couldn’t find it within himself to complain about it much.
“Good morning,” the blond greeted.
“Off again?” the man half-sang.
“That’s right. Keep an eye on the place. Don’t need any Bokoblins deciding they want to move in while I’m gone.”
Bolson gave a salute, but didn’t bother standing. “You got it.”
Link didn’t give the odd pair of construction workers a second glance as he started down the path to Hateno Tower. It was a lovely morning, and he didn’t much feel like taking the easy route and traveling to the shrine to where the last memory was supposed to be waiting. It would only take several hours for him to reach there on foot.
Reaching the area close to midday, it didn’t take long for him to locate the specific spot from the painting that Impa had shown him. The soft golden glow on the ground reacted with the Sheikah Slate, and he closed his eyes as the memory washed over him.
Smoke filled the air, and the usually tranquil field was filled with burning wreckage, as well as the ominous red glow the possessed Guardians carried. In front of Link, four Guardian Stalkers made their way behind the burnt remains of another two that the Hylian Champion had already destroyed. Said Champion was wounded, leaning heavily on one knee and supporting his weight with the Master Sword as he gasped for breath. Behind him, the Princess was frantic.
“Link, save yourself! Go! I’ll be fine! Don’t worry about me! Run!”
Hearing her words only filled the blond with more determination, and he staggered to his feet, stumbling backwards a couple of steps.
One of the Guardians saw the movement and skittered toward the pair of Hylians, bracing itself up on the broken pieces of fallen machinery. The foreboding eye of it focused, then manifested the laser sight that spelled destruction for anything in its path, the beam landing squarely on Link.
“NO!”
In a flash, Zelda threw herself between the weakened Champion and the Guardian, raising her right arm toward the sky, intending to shield him from harm. A brilliant, golden aura emanated from her hand, washing over her entire form. The Triforce flashed on the back of her hand for a split second, then vanished. That same instant, a shockwave of golden light burst forth, blinding any in the surrounding area, concluding with a beam of light that shot straight upward from the wave’s source.
As the light faded, the Guardian that had been targeting Link shook and broke, a burst of red light coming from it for a moment, then faded as the machine grinded to a halt. The lighting slowly returned to normal, and Zelda could see that all of the previously possessed Guardians had collapsed, returned to nothing more than pieces of metal.
She slowly lowered her hand, looking at it in a state of disbelief. “Was… The power…” she stammered slowly, realization striking her. Remembering Link, she spun quickly and her eyes landed on the Champion. He had collapsed again, and was lying in a crumpled heap on his side in the dust.
“No, no… Link! Get up!” she ran to his side and knelt beside his prone form. She cradled his shoulders as he weakly sat his head up and coughed twice, concern filling her expression. “You’re going to be just fine,” she promised, forcing herself to sound more confident than she felt.
Link struggled to keep his eyes open, blinking slowly, then locking eyes with her for an instant. The next moment, his eyes rolled back, the weight of his head becoming heavier in her lap.
Zelda’s eyes widened, and she panicked, her ear going against his chest. Tears spilled from her eyes when she heard how shallow and labored his breathing was. She cuddled him tightly, her forehead remaining pressed against his chest as she prayed fervently.
A slight flash from off to the side and coupled with a voice in her mind brought her head up. Beside Link, the Master Sword flashed a blue glow faintly, once, then again.
“The sword… “ she whispered. “So he can… He can still be saved?” She barely dared to hope.
“Princess!” The shout came from one of two Sheikah warriors who raced across the field toward her.
“Princess, are you all right?!” The second asked as both dropped to their knees, panting, before Zelda.
“Take Link to the Shrine of Resurrection,” she commanded. “If we don’t get him there immediately, we are going to lose him forever! Is that clear?”
The two warriors nodded, catching their breath.
“So make haste and go! His life is now in your hands.”
The scene shifted away from focusing on her face as the pair hastened to carry out her orders, once more showing the defeated Guardians.
Link gasped softly as he came back to reality. Now he’d seen all of the memories of himself with the Princess. According to Impa, all that remained was retrieving the Master Sword, then he would be equipped to face Calamity Ganon and free Zelda from where she’d been keeping the beast at bay for the past 100 years.
Impa told me that this sword that seals the darkness can be found in the Lost Woods. Time to find out if this is true, he thought to himself, pulling up his Sheikah Slate. According to the map of Hyrule that he had, the only area that might match the description of being “The Lost Woods” was located by the Woodland Tower. Selecting the travel gate, he prepared himself for whatever trials he might face.
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The Hylian mumbled a curse under his breath as he returned to consciousness. He’d just lost his way for the fourth time, and was beginning to lose his patience. He had figured out a way to traverse through the first section of the Lost Woods, but he’d gotten turned around, and before he knew it, he had passed out. Every time this had happened, he found himself either back at the entrance to the Lost Woods, or at the pair of stationary torches that he could only assume marked the first checkpoint of this “trial”.
He rolled to his feet, and relit his torch from the torch stand on the right. He took a deep breath and set off again, following the trail of embers that blew in the nearly imperceptible wind swirling through the trees. When he couldn’t tell which direction the embers went, he paused for a second, allowing it to reset itself, then jogged in the new direction. He lost track of how many times he turned left and right. After a few minutes, the trees started thinning, and Link’s eyes caught sight of a narrow pathway through a rocky canyon. He headed in that direction, the swirling mists fading. The Champion kept a sharp eye on the walls that towered above him, thinking it would be the perfect place for an ambush. No enemies dropped down to attack him, however, and the walls ended abruptly.
He stood in a woods that was very different from the ones he had just traversed. Koroks bounced on both sides of the path, trilling excitedly. The light here was brighter, and there was a sense of serenity over the atmosphere that caused Link to relax. The Sheikah sensor dinged, letting him know that there was a shrine nearby. He followed the sound of the sensor a few paces, ducking under a large tree root until he came to the shrine. He activated the travel gate but he didn’t go inside the shrine. Something had caught his attention.
Ducking back under the root, he slowly stepped toward the clearing. A stone square surrounded by silent princesses sat serenely, and at the center was the sword. The purple hilt was at waist level, the bottom portion of the blade sealed in a triangular pedestal. Link was immediately drawn to it. This was the sword from the memories. This was the sword that sealed the darkness.
He approached it slowly, then grasped the hilt with both of his hands, and went to draw it from its pedestal. Immediately, his vision clouded, swirling snippets of memories filled his mind, along with Zelda’s voice.
“Link, you are our final hope! The fate of Hyrule rests with you!”
Shaken, Link let go of the hilt and stumbled backwards a couple of steps. Before he could make sense of what had just happened, a low voice spoke from above him.
“Who is that... ? Did I doze off again? Hrm? Well, well… it’s you. You finally decided to return.”
Link’s eyes widened and drifted up to the giant tree in front of him that was now addressing him directly.
“Better late than never. After 100 years, I’d nearly given up hope on seeing you again. Even my patience has limits, you know… That look on your face tells me that you have no recollection of me, however. I have watched over Hyrule since time immemorial. Many have referred to me over the ages as the Deku Tree.”
Link nodded silently in acknowledgement as the self-proclaimed Deku Tree continued.
“That is the weapon created by the ancient goddess. The sword that seals the darkness-- that only the chosen knight can wield against Calamity Ganon. Believe it or not… it was actually you who wielded that sword 100 years ago. But I must warn you to take extreme caution. The sword stands as a test to any who would dare attempt to possess it. As you are now, I cannot say whether you are worthy or not... If you sought to free the sword in any sort of weakened state, you would surely lose your life where you stand.” The Deku Tree gave a slow chuckle as a pair of Koroks mimicked pulling the sword by using a twig, one of them falling over in a “faint” after failing to withdraw it. “Best of luck, young one…”
The Koroks trilled and chittered with each other, scattering as the Deku Tree fell silent once more. Link watched them fly off with their spinning leaves, then his gaze fell once again on the sword. He had strengthened himself greatly with the help of the Goddess as he had traversed Hyrule to defeat the Divine Beasts. He was confident that he would be able to pull the sword without succumbing to death. He didn’t have a choice but to put his faith in the Goddess and the additional strength she had provided him.
He crouched beside the blade, and grasped the hilt with both hands once more. Concentrating, he focused his strength on pulling it upwards. Seconds passed, and he could feel the blade ease up an inch, then two. His muscles shook slightly from the exertion, and he could feel his strength begin to weaken; yet he refused to let go. The blade moved upward another inch, then another. Sweat ran down his forehead, dripping over his eyes. His strength waned, and he could feel his vision begin to blur, a sure sign he was about to pass out. Then with a slight blue flash, the sword pulled free of the pedestal, and Link straightened, feeling his strength rush back to him.
He stood there for a moment, feeling the weight of the sword in both hands. He then transferred the blade to his right hand and lifted up the edge to look at it. Reacting on instinct, he raised his hand to chin level, keeping the flat edge straight up in front of his face, his eyes closing. Opening his eyes after a moment, he fully extended his arm toward the sky in victory. As he did so, his vision faded to white as another memory took hold.
“Your master will come for you. Until then, you shall rest safely here.” Zelda knelt and laid the dinged and bloodied blade flat across the pedestal, addressing the spirit within the sword. “Although the Slumber of Restoration will most certainly deprive him of his memories, please trust me when I say that I know he will arrive before you yet again.” She closed her eyes in prayer, spending several moments in silence.
“If I may be so bold… what is it that you are planning to do next, Princess?” The low timbre from the Deku Tree startled her from her reflection, and her eyes lifted to the tree. She rose to her feet, and looked at her feet to ponder his question before she spoke.
“The Master Sword… I heard it speak to me. It seems that my role is unfinished. There is still something I must do.”
“I sense there is great strength in your dedication,” the Deku Tree responded.
Zelda was silent for a moment, then addressed him directly. “Great Deku Tree, I ask of you, when he returns, can you please relay this message… Tell him I--”
The Deku Tree interrupted her. “Now, then… Words intended for him would sound much better in the tones of your voice, don’t you think?”
She lifted her hands and clasped them in front of her chest, a soft smile crossing her face. “Yes.”
The scene transitioned to Zelda picking up the sword gently by the hilt once more, grasping it in both hands the same way that Link had drawn the sword. Closing her eyes, she raised the hilt to eye level as she said a silent prayer. As she opened her eyes, she lowered the blade into the pedestal. As the sword locked into place, a faint blue glow flashed. In the slightly ethereal lighting of the Korok Forest, the soft blue remained reflecting off the blade, even as a beam of golden sunlight streamed over the pedestal. The serene image of the sword sealed, waiting for the chosen knight was the last image as the memory faded to white.
Link gasped as the memory disappeared and his vision cleared. As he slowly brought the sword down in front of him, the voice of the Deku Tree came again.
“What you just saw happened where you stand 100 years ago… After you were separated from the sword, the princess thought to bring it here, where she knew it would be safe under my watch. She continues to fight, trapped deep within the confines of Hyrule Castle. Her heart cascades with faith that you will return. She has a smile like the sun… I would do much to feel its warmth upon me once again.”
Link looked up at the Deku Tree, then back down to the sword in his hand once more. At that instant, the entire blade glowed blue, and a voice reverberated in his mind. "Fulfill your destiny. Restore the glory to the Master Sword, Chosen Hero."