Wild Hearts, Stifled Breaths

The Hero of Hyrule and the Princess of the Zora have more than their fair share of burdens and buried feelings. Where will their fates take them in when they fall into the clutches of the notorious Yiga Clan?

Chapter Text

The land of Hyrule was a place unlike any other. It sported a variety of unbelievable landscapes that offered something exciting around every corner. If you managed to get to the right vantage point, you could turn one direction and see a vast expanse of scorching hot desert, and then turn another direction and see a large, active volcano. Or maybe a dense field of wetland, or a forest surrounded by a foggy haze. This diversity even extended to the life forms that dwelled these environments, from the amphibious Zora, to the humanoid birds that were the Rito, to the rock-skinned Gorons, and many more, ensuring that there would always be interesting company of some kind. The size and scope of Hyrule would prove more than daunting for any explorer. But it also made it a haven for those with the right skills, attitudes, and desires for adventure and discover.

Such was the case for the blond-haired, blue-clad figure standing atop one of the higher peaks of the area he was currently in. His tied-up hair was gently blown in the crisp breeze, as did the looser flaps of his clothing. He wore a stern, neutral expression on his face, and a large, powerful sword on his back. Said sword was the clearest sign of just how much importance this figure held to the lives and settings surrounding him. But right now, he was trying to block all of that out of his mind, focusing instead only on the view before him.

Link, Knight to Princess Zelda, chosen Hero of Hyrule, and wielder of the sword that seals the darkness, relished moments like this when he could get them. He could just appreciate the beauty of his surroundings, thinking of the possibilities that each area offered, the amazing secrets that the wild held, just from his view atop a peak next to the Mogg Latan Shrine. It was a welcome respite from the trials and stresses at hand, while also a sad reminder of a life just out of reach.

From a young age, Link had trained relentlessly to be the skilled knight that he now was. Even as a toddler, he had shown potential to be the best swordsman Hyrule had ever seen. But as he grew older, he started to notice how many people were watching him, as if anticipating him to achieve some sort of miracle. It turned out that they were correct when he ended up pulling that legendary sword out of its rocky sheathe. And just like that, the pressure he'd felt just to be a great knight multiplied exponentially. For it meant that he was the Chosen One, the hero meant to stop the dreaded evil that was reincarnated time and time again. And endless cycle that he wound up being a part of now. Needless to say, it wasn't very common that Link felt at ease, at peace.

More times than he'd like to admit, Link would wish he had failed to claim that sword. He would wish that he could just be a knight, no more. Then he could at least have at least part of his life free, able to traverse the land more often, able to perhaps purchase some land and build a life of his own. But above all, he wouldn't feel the crippling degree of weight on his shoulders. It was this burden that prompted him to put up walls around himself, becoming closed off from almost all outward emotion. Additionally, while Link hadn't forsaken speech altogether, he used it far less often than when he was a smaller boy. And when he did speak, it would often be in a low, quiet, methodical manner, almost as if he were afraid to go beyond that and risk exposing the fact that he was a human being, rather than the great, perfect legend that he was supposed to fit into. He felt it his duty to bear the burden alone, silently.

Such was the curse of destiny, of being a chosen one. His path was made for him, rather than Link being able to make it himself.

"Lost in thought, Link?"

The boy turned his head at the voice, which came from Princess Zelda. The young woman was smiling amusedly at him. If she was feeling the same burden Link was, she was surely better at hiding it. Link just gave a tiny smile and made a head gesture that seemed to say "Guess so."

The princess walked up to where he stood, looking out in the same direction he had been. "I can't say I blame you. Being up here, realizing just how small we are compared to this great land. It's breathtaking, to say the least." She turned to him, and curiously her expression of awe seemed to only increase if anything at the sight of him. Not that the oblivious Link could notice.

"Hopefully on our travels, we'll be able to see it all eventually," the princess expressed.

That brought a new shimmer to Link's blue eyes, as well as an uncommon breaking of silence on his behalf.

"Perhaps." One word, but coming from the soft-spoken champion, it spoke volumes about his hopes and ambitions. He looked back at the princess he'd come to call a friend, and the two just drank in the moment as the brisk wind blew through the duo's blonde hairs. Zelda's face, however, was a bit more heated through it, especially seeing her knight so calm. Moments like this could very well make everything all worth it … that is, assuming they succeeded in their tasks.

Link had been tasked to essentially be Zelda's bodyguard, a job that, as with everything else, he took very seriously. And at first that was difficult to do, given her cold, harsh demeanor towards him, seeming to stem from a bitterness that Link could just vaguely identify. But somewhere down the line, she seemed to have warmed up to him, being far kinder and friendlier in his presence. This not only made the job more bearable, but it also allowed him someone he could turn to as a friend, and who seemed to understand the burden of his position more than almost anyone else.

She had been one of two people that would be able to lower his defenses like that. The other person, as it turned out, was his next destination once he and Zelda returned to Hyrule …

In the beautiful realm of Zora's domain, a burst of bright red zipped through the water with tremendous speed and skill. It eventually breached the surface, revealing the form of a lovely young woman sporting red and beige skin, a fish-shaped head, and a light blue sash across her torso. She contrasted brilliantly with the bright shades of blue that surrounded the advanced, watery structures that her people called home. With glimmering architecture that was fit for royalty, an array of ascending pathways leading to many amenities, and all of it surrounded by lush waterfalls and towering cliffs, the figure smiled at the beauty that never ceased to entrance her.

This figure was Mipha, princess of the Zora and one of the four Champions chosen to assist the chosen hero and Hylian princess in their destined battle to save the world from being plunged into darkness. Being so crucial to such a monumental effort didn't sit easily with her, especially when it was piled on top of the many other obligations she had to her subjects. Every day felt like her head was reeling, and the meek Zora found herself second-guessing more frequently if she could possibly be up to the task. Thankfully, though, she had plenty of support and encouragement, whether it be from her family or the Zora people in general. Her father in particular never failed to make her feel loved no matter how she fared, and that allowed her to still go through many of her days with renewed determination and hope that everything would turn out okay.

But there was one other being who gave her a unique kind of determination: the chosen hero she was meant to assist, Link.

Link had spent many days of his youth in Zora's domain, practically considered family by many of its denizens. She still remembered the first time he showed up amidst a group of outsiders. He'd been an adorable - albeit extremely reckless - child that Mipha quickly grew a soft spot towards. But his training eventually caused his visits to their home to become increasingly infrequent, and the two sadly went years without seeing each other. As it would turn out, however, their fates would bring them back into each other's lives once more. While Mipha was certainly surprised to hear that Link had pulled that sacred, fabled sword, she was more looking forward to reuniting with him.

But when they did meet, she was quick to realize that things would not be the same, nor could they ever be. Link was no longer a bouncy little boy whose height barely reached her waist. He was now practically an adult, at least full head taller than her, a result of Hylians aging faster than Zoras. And while she'd expected this to come with more maturity, she wasn't prepared for just how much he had changed. Link wouldn't speak nearly as much as before, relying more heavily on non-verbal gestures. He wore a neutral expression on his face almost like a mask, and carried himself far more seriously. He just seemed so distant, and it hurt her heart to think that his years had caused him to grow cold, even to her.

But as she got to spend more time with her friend due to their intersecting duties, she saw that this wasn't all that was left of him. Slowly but surely, the traces of who he used to be reemerged from the stoic walls he had built, obviously no longer so childish but still recognizable. That boyish smile came back, he spoke more often, she discovered that he could have quite the dry wit, and it seemed like being with her was making him happier than he'd been in years. To her relief, it was clear that he had still carried a special place for her in his heart. It was just now matched with a newfound maturity and sense of duty. While their interactions were briefer than before, Mipha was thrilled to have him back in her life.

However, she soon found herself with a few new reasons why. Link had become a unique source of comfort for her when the stresses of her many duties felt like they were overwhelming her. The two had spent hours talking through what they've been through and how much they felt the weight of their lives. Link admitted that he'd become more silent out of fear that he'd tarnish his image as the great hero, and Mipha acknowledged that as loving and supportive as her family were, they could never truly comprehend how concerned she felt about all this. But additionally, she was quick to notice that Link's growth and physical maturity had turned him extremely attractive. His flowing hair, his dashing face, and the outline of his chiseled form that could be vaguely made out under his Champion's clothing made that undeniably clear. On top of all this were the same endearing traits that Mipha had been fond of in Link as a younger boy. They just had now manifested within a skilled, handsome young man.

No matter how much she denied it, it was clear: she'd grown feelings for Link. And the more they interacted, the more those feelings were blooming into love.

But insecurity held her back from making a confession to him. For one, who knows if he was already married to his job, unwilling to make way for any future with her or move into the Zora domain permanently? For another, she was a Zora and he was a Hylian. She didn't have any insecurities about her appearance in general, but she didn't know if Link would be interested in a wife of a different species. Would he prefer the touch of skin over scales, of flowing hair over her bare head? Would he be turned away by the fact that she would be unable to give him children of his own? Especially when he had a gorgeous Hylian woman practically attached to the hip at nearly all times, one who could provide him with everything she couldn't? How could she ever compete with any of that? It didn't matter how badly she wanted him; she saw very few ways that he would want her the same way. And for those reasons, she would always hold back on telling him how she felt, no matter how many chances she had or how many times she tried to summon the courage.

I had my chance to tell him, yet I didn't … Perhaps it's for the best, Mipha thought bitterly. Perhaps these fantasies should remain just that.

She simply had to steel herself. Link was supposed to be at the domain by the end of the day, and she had to push these foolish desires down. For both of their sakes.

The following morning, slowly making his way to Zora's domain, the young man in question was having similar thoughts.

After having dropped Zelda off at Hyrule Castle, Link was off on his own, as the task he'd been called for didn't require Zelda's assistance … at least not enough to convince the king to let her go with him. He likely found it more useful for Zelda to focus on unlocking her divine powers.

And on his journey, the boy's thoughts constantly dwelled to the Zora princess he was on his way towards.

When he was a child, Link was very attached to Mipha. With her having warmed up to him so quickly, was similarly quick to grow a deep affection for the "nice fish lady", as he'd so eloquently put it. And the adventurous kid he was, young Link had wanted to take her on all sorts of wild antics and quests. Link smirked at the memory of how silly he had been, practically driving Mipha up the wall at times. It got even worse when she also had to look after her equally-rambunctious little brother. Nevertheless, she always found a way to make him feel safe, especially in the many instances where she would use her mysterious healing abilities that went unexplained even to this day. All in all, the time they'd spent together made for a strong big-sister-little-brother relationship that he would always hold dear to him.

Now that he was older, however, that relationship was different. Initially when they were reunited, Link tried his best to retain the front he'd built for himself. He couldn't show weakness, couldn't show his burden to anyone else. But in the presence of the Zora princess he'd been so fond of, the princess who was still just as sweet, generous, and calming as he remembered her to be, he could only hold out for so long. Even more than when he was with Zelda, the front was fading away, and they'd begin interacting in the way old friends should. With him being older and more reserved, their time together was of course never going to be the same as it was before. But it was a good different in Link's mind, and felt no less special to him. It was like a piece of his carefree, childlike innocence came back, mixed in with something new …

Mipha retained everything he remembered her for: the graceful way she carried herself, her lovely, eloquent voice, her charming humility. And of course, how she still insisted on healing him every time he so much as got a bruise, promising to always do so at any cost. To have someone so steadfast in their protection of him, especially in contrast to her more adorably shy demeanor, was enough to make his heart swell. As a near-adult, Link was able to see and think about all of these characteristics of hers on another level, and fully appreciate just how wonderful of a person she was. Plus, anyone who denied that Mipha was beautiful was either a liar or delusional. Even as a kid, Link knew this. But she wasn't just pretty in the same way that a toddler would find a rainbow pretty anymore. It now went much deeper, with him able to admire many more details of her beauty. Her face was pure perfection to him. Her legs were toned and powerful, her form elegant, her skin a striking shade of red. When added to every other reason he admired her so, along with their history, and Link made a startling realization of just how much he cared for the Zora.

But every time he admitted it to himself, Link would grimace and sigh sadly. He had to remind himself why it was foolish to even consider taking things further with Mipha. It would only get in the way of what needed to be done for Hyrule. He needed to keep himself vigilant, unwavering. Everyone was counting on him, and he couldn't let them down because his personal feelings got in the way. Besides, why would she want a Hylian like him anyway? With their different lifespan, he'd grow old and die before she even hit the second half of her life. What kind of life would that be for her?

The saddening thoughts made Link lose his appetite, a notion that no one would have thought possible with his gluttonous eating habits.

Stop doing this to yourself. You have a duty, a destiny to fulfill, and she has hers. The two of us … it just wouldn't work.

… It couldn't work.

Chapter 2 Summary:

As Link makes his way to Zora's Domain, he comes across a friendly traveler, but all is not as it seems. Meanwhile, Mipha's patrol of her domain's borders resuts in her own deadly encounter.

Chapter Text

Link had left Hyrule Castle early in the morning. After he and Zelda had returned to the castle from their previous outing, she had stayed up late studying the results of her latest scientific research (which she was careful to keep her father in the dark on), while Link had turned in early in preparation for his own trip the very next morning. If all went as usual, he'd probably be able to make it to Zora's Domain by late-afternoon at most.

Currently, the young hero was just past Crenel Peak, about to cross a fairly modest river that led into the Lanayru Wetlands. His trusted mount, a friendly, mild-tempered mare that Link had named Jacklyn, was walking across shakily and nervously; she never did enjoy being above water. But Link gently stroked her neck, shh-ing her and promising her an apple once they were across.

As Link looked onward, he could make out the mountain range that served as a sort of natural wall for the Zora's home. He also knew that it allowed many large, majestic waterfalls to grace their home. Just the sight of it was enough to bring a small smile to Link's face, the memories of both his past and present coming back to him. His eyes focused on a certain peak, and while he couldn't see most of it, Link knew it to be the location of his most recent memory with the dear Mipha.

Link watched as Mipha dove into the water from the steep height they had been on. She landed in the water with such perfection that she resembled a bright red bullet, powering through the surface like it was merely air. After staying submerged for several seconds, she reemerged, effortlessly swimming to the shore. She turned her head to look up at Link and flashed a grin as the water rolled down her slender body.

Despite all of the lands Link had explored, it was possibly the most beautiful sight the hero had ever seen.

"I do hope you have your own way of getting down here!" Mipha shouted, cupping her hands to her mouth to be heard with the distance between them. "You're not exactly built to handle that!"

Link, however, flashed a subtle, mischievous look down at her, one that he wasn't sure she could even see. He got on one knee, took in a breath, and ran for the edge of the cliff before jumping off. As he fell at an increasing speed, the young man brought his arms out in front of him to execute a diving pose.

"LINK!!" Mipha screamed. She instantly jumped back into the water and darted towards the falling Hylian. Just before Link hit the surface, Mipha burst from the water and collided into him, knocking him off course but preventing him from the hard hit into the water she feared.

Once Mipha released her hold around him, Link swam to the surface and headed for dry land. He looked at Mipha with a playfully annoyed look for ruining his stunt.

But Mipha appeared less jovial, also leaving the water and crossing her arms. "Do you realize what could have happened? The impact could have seriously hurt you, or worse!"

Link remained ever-calm, however, and simply gave a half-apologetic shrug. Mipha scoffed at that, looking Link in the eyes. And while she tried to keep up her angry look, that was very difficult when the man she was in love with was wet with his shirt clinging to his form, his hair drooping around his pretty face.

Mipha shook off the feeling and went over to him. She kneeled down and checked him over, looking for any place that required healing. This elicited an amused smile from Link, the kind that she'd been worried she'd never see from him when they were first reunited.

Link was amused, yes, but he simultaneously loved and admired his friend for her efforts. As always, she was so caring, so concerned about the well-being of others. The way she would always fuss over him even at his current age made him suddenly not feel so alone. She was someone he could always trust to be there for him the way very few people could be. And having her right beside him, her beautiful face inches from his as these emotions swirled in his head, made his heart beat elevate. He thought he'd caught a glimpse of longing in her eyes, but brushed the thought aside as wishful thinking. All of this was worsened when her wet, tender hands began softly running along his frame, diligently looking for even the slightest injury.

Satisfied that there were none present, Mipha backed up a few inches, trying to maintain her composure in her tense state. "I swear to Hylia, one of these days you'll be the death of me, I'm certain," Mipha gently scolded, but her gentle voice didn't match the frustration of her words.

"Some things never change, I suppose," Link retorted. And yet the two of them then shared a look, Link wondering what would happen if they moved their faces just a bit closer. And it reminded them both that one thing certainly did change between them.

Mipha was the first to turn away, desperate to end the torrent inside her. "Well, I suppose we were on our way back to my father before you delayed us," she said, narrowing her eyes but failing to convincingly fake her anger. "What say we continue?"

Link said nothing, but he gave an affirmative nod. And so Mipha took to the water and dove in, with Link right behind her. She went more slowly than she was capable of in order to stay by Link's side. But of course, she wouldn't stay that way; couldn't give the Hylian any ideas that he could outswim her.

And so the two figures darted in the water, Link coming up for air while his Zora companion caught up to him. In that moment, they forgot about the duties that brought them back together, only relishing in their relationship returning to its former glory from years ago.

"Excuse me, young man!"

Just as he crossed the bridge and gave Jacklyn her promised treat, Link's bittersweet reminiscing was swiftly interrupted by the sound of a stranger's voice. He turned his head to see a frail-looking old woman slowly walking towards him, sporting a traditional green cloak that appeared to cover up rather tattered garb, especially if her frail, matching legwear was any indication. She removed the hood of her cloak, revealing thin grey hair, soft red eyes, and a kind disposition. Link's eyes expressed concern for this stranger.

"Pardon me for the intrusion sir, but I seem to be lost. I'm in need of a horse, much like that lovely one you have there. But I don't know where the nearest stable is. You wouldn't happen to know, would you?" she asked, a very pleasant, unassuming tone in her voice.

Link, always eager to help someone in need, gently replied, "The Woodland Stable is just down this road," he pointed to the left, "At Pico Pond." He essentially knew all the stable locations by heart, as they were some of his favorite establishments throughout Hyrule.

"Oh! Perfect! Thank you so much, sonny!" the woman replied. "Safe travels to you!"

But Link was more than willing to ease her journey, even if her destination was just a few minutes from here. Plus, I suppose this will help take my mind off of things, he thought. "Would you like a lift down there?" Link asked, patting Jacklyn's back invitingly.

"Oh, there's no need for that. You look like you're quite busy at the moment!" the woman replied.

"It's no trouble," Link reassured.

The stranger gave it a few seconds thought, before deciding. "Oh, why not? What a nice young fellow you are!"

Link was surprised that the elderly figure was able to keep hearing him with how softly he was speaking. For her age, he would have figured her hearing was on its way out. But he guided Jacklyn over to the woman, grabbed her hand, and helped lift her up. She wrapped her arms around Link's torso with a surprising strength, and Link called for Jacklyn to take a left.

As expected, the trip was only a few minutes long, barely a diversion from Link's own journey at all. It took them through a small stretch of trees that extended from the modest Minshi Woods, as the running of the river to their left graced their ears.

However, as they neared closer and closer to the stable, Link noticed an unusual quietness around him. While the wilderness didn't often provide too much commotion, he expected it to pick up a bit near a stable, as it usually did when he approached one. It was slightly eerie, but he brushed it off as just an odd day.

Thankfully, when the travelers finally arrived, Link saw not only several workers he was familiar with at the Woodland Stable, but a few happy-looking customers browsing around. Link always enjoyed visits to the stable. The warm vibe of the people, observing how they cared for their horses, and the fresh farm smell always made him feel refreshed.

The stable clerk whispered something into a customer's ear, and the customer waltzed away before the clerk turning his attention to the new arrivals.

"Hello there! Welcome to the my stable! We deal in all things horse related. We also double as an inn. What can we do for you?"

Link got of the horse with ease, and then went to help the old woman down. After she thanked him again, he gestured his hand for her to follow him. She went up to the clerk and spoke up.

"Why yes, I'm looking for a steed. I'm making a trip to Gerudo Desert, you see, and I'm sure you can tell that someone of my age can't possibly get there on foot."

Gerudo? Link pondered. That's unusual. What would someone like her be doing there? He stepped up to the counter with her with a look of confusion.

"Well, certainly! What kind are you looking for? A creature of speed, endurance, strength? We've got all kinds …"

As the two continued their conversation, Link was noticing more and more things that were just slightly off. Everyone seemed to be moving in coordination with each other, as if they were all active parts of some machine. There wasn't much talking, nor did anyone seem invested in the tasks they were performing. Peeking into the inn, for instance, showed him that the worker making a bed was doing a rather sloppy job, the sheets barely neatened over the mattresses. Even the local salesperson that he would often find at these stables looked more distant than his usual, more outgoing self.

And out of the corner of his eye, Link saw one of the stable hands suddenly placing a loosely knotted rope around Jacklyn's neck, guiding her away. The boy narrowed his eyes, feeling a surge of protection for his steed. This wasn't right … something didn't add up here.

Link darted in the stable hand's path, blocking the way as he asked in a tone quite firm for him, "What are you doing?"

"Apologies, but I was just putting this one in for storage. You likely won't need her now," the hand replied. There was a twang of urgency in his voice, as if he was anticipating the resistance from the boy.

Link's expression turned more agitated, hands on his hips and expression stern, but he kept his cool as he replied, "What makes you say that? She's the one who needs a horse; Jacklyn is still with me."

Suddenly, a chuckle came from behind him, one that sent a chill rolling down the hero's neck. It was the old woman he'd brought here, staring him down with a glimmer of mischief in her eyes.

"Oh come now, my boy. I've come to quite enjoy your company, and thought that we could travel together. It would certainly be easier for everyone if you came willingly, after all," the woman said. Her voice was suddenly sinister, her face growing a sickly grin, her red eyes brightening.

Link tensed up and took a few steps back. But when his back came into contact with something, he turned around to see that two other workers were now directly behind him. Additionally, a few of the customers now flanked him, all of them getting into a crouching stance as if about to pounce on prey. It reminded Link of …

… Oh no …

Out of nowhere, all of the figures surrounding him suddenly exploded in bursts of red smoke. The shape of an eye with an upwards-dripping tear could be seen in all the smoke clouds, confirming Link's fears. When the smoke cleared, the once friendly-looking civilians were replaced with figures wearing red-and-black outfits, each gripping a dagger or sickle. The eye symbol appeared on the faceless white masks they all wore.

Link was all too aware of who these were.

Yiga!

"Good day, Lady Mipha!"

"Your Highness, good morning!"

"Greetings, Princess!"

Mipha responded meekly but kindly to every subject that gave her a fond hello as she passed them. Not a day went by that she wasn't grateful for the relationships she had with her people. She did her best to follow in the footsteps of her father, respecting all denizens as being on her level even if it wasn't "legally" the case. Yet at the same time, she never felt she truly deserved that level of respect. Through her tasks and interactions with her people, there was still a sort of veneer that she felt necessary to keep up, one that made them believe that she was as confident in herself as they somehow were of her.

Thankfully, she didn't need to keep that veneer up when she was around her family. She entered the chambers of her father, King Dorephan, and gave the rather large Zora the best hug she could muster for their size differences.

"Mipha, my dear! You're up quite early! I would have thought you'd like to take the morning in, seeing as Link won't be arriving here until late afternoon."

"I know, Father, but sleep has eluded me these past few nights. So I thought that I could at least be of use whilst awake," the Zora girl replied.

Her father raised a brow at this. "Oh? And what do you have planned for today?"

"Well," Mipha started, "I would like to take up today's surveillance of the bordering mountains. I imagine that I'd be taking the task off the hands on a lucky Zora," she said, head humbly low.

"Really? Mipha, there's no need for you to worry about that. You've already kept well ahead of your own royal duties. I dare say that you don't need to concern yourself with others'," the king remarked.

"I understand. But I feel it would do me some good." Indeed, not only would it allow her mind to focus on something other than her expected arrival, but helping her people and exploring the outskirts of the domain usually brightened even her darkest days.

Dorephan thought it over for a moment, before stating, "Very well, dear. But be careful. And make sure you're back in time! I'm sure Link would be disappointed if you kept him waiting," the Zora king said to his daughter. The teasing tone in his voice was unmistakable, him being very aware of the connection Mipha felt for the Hylian.

Mipha's eyes suddenly glued themselves to the floor to hide her embarrassment. She knew her father meant well, but must be tease her so? "Oh ... yes, of course. I will be quite punctual."

She turned to leave, but suddenly felt a small force latch onto her leg. She was briefly startled, but chuckled when she looked down and saw that it was merely her little brother Sidon hugging it.

"Now, now, Sidon. We'll have some time to play when I return," she said lightly, patting the little Zora's head. "Now go and finish your chores. And be nice when Link shows up."

The mention of Link only made the prince even more excited, as he'd come to see him as a surrogate big brother. So he pumped an arm up and gave a cheerful, bright grin of approval.

The princess rolled her eyes playfully as she crouched down to hug her brother. And with that, she grabbed her sacred Lightscale Trident and headed out to complete her task.

Mipha always loved swimming through the crisp, clean waters of her domain. As she dove in and carried on to her destination, she zipped, spun, and propelled herself through rather frivolously, doing what Zoras like her were born to do and having the time of her in the process. And of course, there were very few thrills that could match the Zora-exclusive ability to swim up a waterfall. And that's just what she did, zooming up it and watching the ground beneath her get further and further away through a watery curtain.

As she was catapulted out of the waterfall, Mipha let out a very un-princesslike holler, and positioned herself to make a smooth and acrobatic landing on the ground. Letting out a deep breath, she turned around to look down on the waterfall from the edge of Ploymus Mountain.

From then on for the next hour or so, her surveillance was pretty standard. She scanned the area for any major threats, or anything out of place in general. She was happy to see that everything seemed to be as expected. Which meant that most of her time could be spent marveling at the majesty of her surroundings and enjoying the view. She doubted that the guards could complain about surveillance when they had this to look forward to.

After ten more minutes, Mipha was almost ready to head back down and call it a morning. However, out of the corner of her eye, the Zora just barely made out something moving … something large. She turned her head, and let out a quiet gasp as she nearly froze up in shock.

Roughly 100 feet away from her was a lone figure. Its lower half appeared to be that of a horse, strong legs and hooves supporting its black-furred torso. But resting upon that horse body was a huge, thickly-muscled black humanoid torso with thick red tufts on its arms, which matched not only its tail but also the small mane resting on the figure's neck. Two imposing horns lay on its head, and it carried fearsome-looking weaponry on its massive back.

Mipha was familiar with this kind of creature. It was a dreaded Lynel. These were regarded as some of the most dangerous beings in all of Hyrule. They were fast, tough, intelligent, and could potentially finish off an opponent with a single blow.

The princess unfortunately knew all of this firsthand, due to an encounter that she and Link once had with one. Link fought it to the death and saved her life, and it was the day that cemented how she had come to feel about him.

A Lynel's lifeless body lay still on the ground, bloodied and mangled from the vicious fight it had just lost. Dirt and debris were kicked up around it, and various bits and pieces of its flesh lay grossly from its corpse. But all of this was the least on Mipha's mind right now. She was instead worried about the young man responsible for vanquishing the creature.

"Link! Are you okay?!"

Link placed a palm on his head, worn out by the fierce battle with the now-dead Lynel. He sported many scrapes and cuts, and felt prominent aches along his waist and an arm. He heaved in and out heavily, the effort having nearly drained him.

Mipha had been amazed by what she saw Link capable of as he took on the Lynel. She always knew he was talented; he'd been great with a sword as early as four years old. But to see his developed abilities now, all these years later … it was almost hypnotizing, and beautiful despite the violence and carnage. But it wasn't just his skills that she was shocked by. It was also the fierce dedication that he had to not only slay the creature, but to keep her safe at any cost. And nowhere was that clearer than when she looked in his eyes after the fight. While they were ablaze with anger and ferocity in combat, they now were a calming, gentle flame. His breathing slowly steadied, but her heart was doing anything but remaining steady.

Earlier, Link had been insistent that Mipha not accompany him to fight this beast, trying to gesture her back with many points of the arm and a few short but stern exclamations. But the headstrong, stubborn Zora refused to leave him to face the threat alone, and relentlessly stayed with him until he eventually gave up trying. As worrisome and frustrating as it was, Link's chest swelled at her determination to be there for him, as well as the bravery and selflessness that it displayed in her. The Zoras couldn't have been blessed with a better princess. Nor he with a better companion.

And sitting beside the hero, Mipha held no regrets for coming. For as she watched him fight, moving with the skill and grace of a veteran dancer, determined to do whatever it took, a grand epiphany hit her. This young man, the one she'd had many happy memories with, had grown into someone who would always stand in between a threat and those who the threat intended to harm, no matter the cost to himself. As she observed him in their few recent encounters, she had never seen so many admirable traits in one individual. He was someone she could be inspired by, someone to feel safe with ... and to her, so much more than just a friend. He was everything that she could admire in a person: brave, caring, selfless, strong, loyal ... she was doomed to love him.

In answer to her frantic question, Link simply huffed and nodded. But of course, that wasn't enough for the princess. Her hands glowed warmly as she began using her healing abilities on Link. She briefly closed her eyes and let her heart guide her powers, feeling relief upon seeing the Hylian's wounds slowly fade away.

After a few more minutes of healing letting Link rest, Mipha stared at the ground and asked, "That last move you performed … it … it was … amazing," she stammered, attempting to keep herself together and not get flustered out of shyness. "… What was that?"

A glint of excitement, though barely noticeable, showed in Link's handsome blue eyes. "I call it a Spin Attack," he said matter-of-factly.

"Oh …" Mipha responded. "Well … perhaps I could perform it with my own trident. Would you be so kind as to demonstrate for me some time?"

Link responded with a nod, and a small look of encouragement that Mipha appreciated.

After a few more minutes of letting Link recover from the fight, Mipha stood up and reached her hand down to Link. The knight graciously took it, and she pulled him on his feet. It seemed to be somewhat strenuous, but Link was already looking better than when the fight ended. He gave her a quiet and tender, "Thank you."

This simple statement, packed on top of her newly-realized feelings, gave Mipha a big enough bout of courage to slowly wrap her arms around Link's neck in a warm embrace.

"I-I should be thanking you, Link," she whispered into his ear.

Both of them felt a warmth enter their faces. This was the first time in a long time that Link had ever received such a true, loving gesture, and though it took a second for him to even process it, but he returned the hug by slipping his arms around the Zora's back. He did so gently, nervous about showing such vulnerability.

Mipha drank in the feeling of his strong arms around her body, wanting more than anything to press herself deeper into his embrace. She let out a sigh of peace, tightening the hug.

It was all such a simple act. But for the head-over-heels Zora, it was more than she could have asked for.

And now, another Lynel was in her presence. In the same location no less!

And unfortunately, before Mipha could make a move, the creature's eyes locked onto her. The air was thick with tension, the already-minimal sounds around her seeming to cut out instantly. As cautiously and silently as she could, the Zora girl started to slowly back away.

Lynels were known to stare down any quarry, and if said quarry remained in their sights long enough they would attack. Otherwise, they would simply move on. Mipha was desperately aiming for the latter. She kept inching her way towards a thick tree to her right, hoping to get behind it and block the beast's sight of her.

She was almost there … just a few feet away from the trunk, and she'd be able to wait the Lynel out until she was able to sneak away … one foot … mere inches …

But just then, to Mipha's horror, the Lynel began charging. There was no sneaking away now; she was exposed.

Things looked grim for her right now. She and Link had a hard enough time taking down a Lynel together; how could she on her own possibly stand a chance?!

But as the beast got closer and closer at an alarming rate, Mipha knew she would have to try. To protect her subjects as well as herself.

Perhaps she could finally try that Spin Attack in action.

Chapter 3 Summary:

Link and Mipha separately engage in their toughest battles yet. And unfortunately, neither of them have the outcome they desired.

Chapter Text

As Link looked around, he counted ten Yiga soldiers now surrounding him on all sides. They started slowly moving towards him, as if daring him to make the first move against a small army of powerful fighters. Link, in turn, drew his legendary sword, raised his shield, and put his legs in a fighting stance. He tried to mask the anxiety on his face, but this caused one of the Yiga to laugh - the same one who'd tricked him into coming here.

"Surprised to see us, hero?" she said with snark. "I should think so. We took a lot of effort into setting this trap up for you."

Link's expression grew slightly angry at that. He felt foolish for having been deceived so effectively, but at the same time couldn't blame himself for having wanted to help a seemingly innocent woman. But this did cause him to make a shuttering realization: this stable must have been operated by actual good people at one point, people whose appearances the Yiga must have used for their disguises. Which begged the dark question:

"What have you done with everyone who was here before?" Link asked in a low, bitter tone.

Out of the corner of his eye, the hero caught a Yiga to his left side crouching lower; he was about to strike. But the traitorous member he'd been speaking to answered him coldly.

"Don't fret for them, boy. For their fate was mercy compared to what you're in for."

With that, Link's assumption was correct, as he ended up with a figure sprinting towards him. Link expertly flipped out of the way just in time for the soldier's sickle to barely miss him. Taking advantage of the opening, Link went in for a counter-attack, slashing his sword at the Yiga and sending him crashing into one of his peers. But before he could make another move, another Yiga suddenly appeared directly above him and slammed down right onto the Hylian. Link let out a yelp of pain as he was knocked to the ground.

The same Yiga was then joined by another, and they towered above Link and raised their weapons to strike him while he was down. But the skilled warrior thought quickly, managing to hook both of their sickles with his sword at once. He pulled one of the members in to kick them hard in the gut, followed by striking the other member. This allowed him to swiftly get back on his feet before another member charged at him, swinging at him with a Demon Carver. Link blocked it with his shield, while slashing his sword behind him to hit the Yiga who betrayed him.

Because of the number and coordination of these Yiga, Link had to follow up each and every movement he made with another. He had no room to rest for even a second, the ambushing group was closing in on him more and more, and he was taking a several hits that each weakened him a bit. He had to create some distance, and fast.

When he saw two members telegraph an attack with a glowing red ring of nine Hylian letters, he knew that it meant they would be teleporting away to strike him. This left a brief opening, and when they disappeared, he took it. The knight sprang his powerful legs up and, with a midair flip, landed his booted feet on a Yiga soldier's shoulders. He sprang off of them and landed with another flip outside of the circle of attackers, using his shield to block the swinging of their weapons while he was in the air. The papers left behind by the two disappearing Yiga ruffled at the Hylian's skillful movements. Said Yiga reappeared above where Link formerly was, only to slam down onto nothing. Link swiftly spun around, combat stance firmly reengaged.

The Yiga were quick to readjust their strategy, however. Three of them spread out to a distance, drawing Duplex bows. Two more looked ready to charge at him, spinning themselves about midair as a sign of intimidation. And five others were getting ready to teleport. And then, all at once, Link found himself overwhelmed. He was able to dodge the soldiers charging at him, but couldn't strike back at them before needing to roll out of the way of two Yigas appearing above him to attack. He wasn't fully successful, though; he took a solid brunt of the blow, knocking the wind out of him briefly and knocking his shield out of his grasp. He then made out three Duplex bow arrows firing at him, and the lack of a proper window between attacks enabled one of them to graze his lower left waist, causing him to grunt out through his teeth and collapse onto one knee.

This left him unable to properly react when three more Yiga teleported around him, the smoke getting into Link's throat and making him cough. All three then lashed out at him. Link narrowly managed to dodge the first two blows, but wasn't so lucky with the third as it knocked him onto the ground. He then had to roll weakly to avoid another series of arrow attacks. He could feel his stamina drained from the exertion he used up until now, not having any time to get it back. It made it that much more difficult for him to keep up in this losing battle.

But he had to endure. He couldn't allow himself to be taken down by these treacherous thugs. What they stood for could threaten Hyrule's peace as they knew it. He had to be there to fight back.

In all of this, the tenth Yiga member had been waiting on the sidelines for the right moment to make her move. Link's feeble rolling on the ground seemed to indicate that this moment was now. With a wave of her arms and a summoning of symbols, she disappeared from her current position, and reappeared directly above the weakened hero, ready to give the blow that would end this fight.

Link was able to turn his head, and his eyes widened at the sight of the footsoldier. Battered, drained, and vulnerable as he was, he wouldn't be able to dodge the attack in time.

This is going to hurt.

Miles away, a Zora princess was having that same grim sentiment.

Mipha was able to dodge the Lynel's charging swing of his massive blade by less than a second, jumping to the best of her ability just out of its reach. She nimbly rolled back onto her feet, but the Lynel just turned around and began another charge. She backflipped away to dodge it again, and this time the beast remained in place once he missed. Narrowing her eyes, Mipha saw this as an opening and took it. She ran up, Lightscale Trident firmly in her grip, and rapidly jammed it fiercely into the Lynel's flank. The creature roared in anger and pain, but was able to quickly turn around to face his smaller foe.

Mipha gasped as the massive attacker spread his arms and smashed them together. The Zora had to collapse onto the ground to avoid the strike, and then had to back up on her hands and feet when he started swinging at her multiple times. She made to get up and add some distance, but the Lynel then decided to charge at her headfirst, and in her position she couldn't get out of the way in time. The princess let out a piercing scream as she was hit and sent flying several feet in the air. She landed harshly on the ground with several aching pains, moaning in agony of the brutal blow.

She knew she had to force the pain back, however, as this creature was relentless. With distance drawn between the two, he began to spew massive fireballs out in her direction. Mipha darted out of the way as more came at her. As she ran, she recognized that this left an opportunity for her. She made her way over to a large tree and, in one of the most daring things the Zora girl had ever done, made a gesture for the Lynel to come at her, brandishing her trident. The beast let out a roar and obliged, ready to strike again. With determination glistening in her golden eyes, Mipha bravely waited as he got closer. And just as he was about to reach her, she deftly leapt up into the tree, swung herself around a thick branch, and vaulted her way onto the Lynel's back.

Before the creature could react, his Zora foe relentlessly swung, stabbed, and pierced him the head with her trident, using her expertise and unmatched skill with the weapon to yield the most efficient results. But the Lynel was able to just get enough of an opening to shake himself about violently, forcing the smaller Zora off his back. Mipha, thankfully, was able to land directly behind the monster, giving herself just the right opening for a few more strikes. They did less damage to him than she was hoping for, but it was something.

Unfortunately, the Lynel then quickly turned to her and brought his fists down onto Mipha, smashing rapidly and getting many devastating hits on her. Mipha tried to suppress her screams, but even as she managed to roll out of the way she could feel the toll the hits had taken on her. She stumbled as quickly as she could away from the large creature, shakily jumping behind a large boulder that graced her with its shelter.

It came as no surprise considering her last sighting of a Lynel, but this beast was relentless and overpowering. With how much damage she'd taken and how relatively little damage she seemed able to give back, the Zora was now under no delusion that she could ever win this fight. She gasped and panted furiously, her exhales choked and heaving from the exhaustion and heavy toll on her body.

Then, something peaked into Mipha's sight from above. She looked up, and her heart dropped at the sight. Five shock arrows were making their way towards her, the Lynel clearly having fired and arced them to land on her. It was common knowledge that Zoras were particularly vulnerable to shock-based weaponry, and so getting hit by one was not only unideal, but potentially fatal to the princess. In her weakened state, Mipha tried to get up and run out of the way. She was successful in avoiding the first four arrows.

But sadly, the last one was a different story.

The pain that burst through Mipha's body was unlike anything she'd ever experienced. She screamed at the top of her lungs, dropping her trident and clutching herself as if that would quell the searing burning in any way. It felt like she was on fire from the inside, and she could barely breathe. There was no way to recover from this; not quickly enough to save herself from this mad beast, who seemed ready to charge at her again.

Desperate for any means of protection or escape, Mipha looked around. Directly ahead of her was none other than Shatterback Point. This was a very popular diving spot in the area, in spite of - or perhaps because of - its dangerous height. Mipha had been successful in diving off of it several times before with little issue. But now, with her body on the brink of collapse, the outcome would be much less certain.

But as the Lynel began his fast charge towards her, Mipha's mind quickly made up its decision: a clumsy dive off the point was preferable to another strike from the Lynel that would likely be enough finish her off. Heaving desperately for breath, Mipha crawled and stumbled her way to the edge of the point, unable to get to her feet but able to move just quickly enough so that she'd have enough time.

Barely enough time, though, as once she reached the edge of the steep cliff, the charging Lynel was a mere second away from striking her with its brutal weapon. Mipha didn't look down, didn't second guess herself; she rolled herself off the ledge and let herself fall with no technique, just shy of the Lynel's swing.

As she heard her assailant roar from atop the cliff, Mipha silently prayed to Hylia that she would not be another casualty of this diving spot.

Link weakly squirmed in the grasps of the two Yiga gripping his arms and dragging him along, but the loss of the fight had sapped out nearly all of his strength. After that crippling blow from above, he was too weak to prevent the ensuing onslaught of the rest of the soldiers, who quickly overpowered him, took his sword, and gave him no room to fight back or escape. The Hylian was beaten and at their mercy.

The two Yiga eventually dropped their defeated foe on his knees, and brought his arms behind his back. Link initially resisted them and tried to get loose, but when another Yiga - the one who'd initially tricked him - brought a sickle right to the boy's throat, he begrudgingly ceased his efforts.

"So this is the great hero of Hyrule. The one chosen by the sword to save us from this supposed 'evil'," she spoke with scorn. Link glared up at her with equal disdain. He started to feel his wrists being crossed and what he assumed was rope being wound around them, while at the same time his feet were pushed together and also looped with rope. The fallen hero took a deep breath, needing to keep reminding himself that he was too vulnerable to turn around and fight against it.

"In all fairness, I must say I'm impressed you fared as well as you did," the Yiga continued. "I assumed that with ten soldiers against you, you'd go down in mere seconds … I suppose that's our mistake for underestimating one of such high esteem." She tilted Link's chin up with her sickle as she spoke, and while Link was able to keep his steady scowl, he gave a very slight wince as he felt the ropes around his wrist being pulled tight and knotted. The other ropes dug deeply into the fabric of his boots, making it impossible for him to slip a foot free.

"Well?" the Yiga asked, removing the sickle once she saw his ankles were tied. "Nothing to say, do you? The great knight is too ashamed to speak up in his hour of defeat?" Link breathed in and out slowly and steadily, not wanting to show any weakness. But this was doubly difficult when the ropes kept coming, now being wound around his lean torso to weld his arms to his sides. But he merely hardened his glare, trying to hold back a gasp as his chest was constricted achingly by the tightened ropes.

"Don't bother, Jora," a male Yiga interjected. "Word is that the Hylian never speaks. Probably a mute, I'd say." He looked at Link mockingly as his thighs were being tied together, the ropes particularly stinging him there. Between the humiliation and the increasing discomfort as he was continuously tied up, Link's resolve was becoming harder to maintain by the second.

"Oh, he speaks," Jora corrected. "Just barely. But seems he's gone cold on us now." She crouched down to meet Link's gaze, the boy internally wincing as his ropes seemed to squeeze harder with the slightest movement he made. "How about it, sonny? Any last words you'd like to spit at us?"

Last words? Link wondered. They're obviously not going to kill me right now. Why would I- "Mmmmph!"

Link let out a startled but stifled shout as a cloth fabric of some kind was shoved into his mouth. Another one was quick to follow, one that was white with red markings of the Yiga's symbol emblazoned upon it. Link shook his head in resistance, but it was ultimately placed over his lips and tied securely at the back of his head, the knot covered up by his thick blond hair.

"Well, even if you're the silent type, can't take any chances here," another Yiga spoke up.

Link couldn't help but squirm now. He was now bound, gagged, and at the mercy of the most feared organization in all of Hyrule. They had played him like a fiddle, beaten him mercilessly, and were now free to do whatever they pleased with him. He tugged at his bonds, forced to breathe through his nose as he did so, but this only made it clear that they weren't budging in the slightest.

"Now then, hero," Jora said, a hateful bitterness in her tone. Link's blue eyes pierced brightly above the gag, his only means of showing disdain or resistance now. "We're taking you on a vacation from all your responsibilities. And I promise you, it'll be one that you'll never forget … if you even live to forget it."

It took a lot for Link to suppress a muffled moan of dread.

Mipha's vision was blurring. Her body was numb, her hearing nearly muted, and her mind feeling like it was fading.

When she hit the water of the East Reservoir Lake, it felt like just as much of a slam on her as any of the Lynel's attacks. Her inability to properly pose herself was to thank for that. Now, after mustering all the strength she had, Mipha found herself feebly swimming, her usual mastery of the water now replaced by a mighty struggle to simply stay conscious.

She could see her way out; an elegant platform that also served as the top of a great structure used to access the elevated, artificial lake from the Zora Domain. She just needed to get there, crawl down, and she would be home.

But the closer she got to it, the closer Mipha felt to slipping away. Her limbs splayed in an uncoordinated effort to reach her destination, slowly propelling her mere inches at a time. The burning inside of her from the shock arrow was still present, but it grew numb as she lost feeling in her body. But the princess was determined even in this current state. She was out of harm's way. Just a little further.

Mipha did ultimately make it, collapsing onto the surface and heaving mightily. At this point, dark circles had appeared around her vision, everything becoming an unidentifiable haze. She couldn't make out any sounds of the waterfalls despite them being clearly present around her. She could only just make out her sanctuary beyond the blurry veil, and it drove her to try desperately to get the attention of anyone who was close enough to hear her.

"H-Hel..."

But with just that feeble, barely audible shout that took far more energy than it should ahve, there was practically nothing left in her. The Zora made one final push, but all this did was cause her to roll off the edge of her current platform, falling limply into the water that surrounded her home and would lead out into the Zora River.

Mipha had already lost consciousness before she hit the water.

With the full knowledge that his team had Link fully subdued and helpless, a lone Yiga rode alone the edge of the river on his horse. He had been set to the task of searching around for any supplies or potential food for the long journey to the lair that he and his fellow soldiers called home.

In the distance, he saw a limp, red form just on the river's edge. As he got closer, the form appeared wet, as if it had recently washed up onto the shore. At first he believed that this meant an easy meal for him and his team. However, he soon got close enough to realize that it was actually a Zora. But this only got the Yiga more curious.

As he and his horse reached the downed figure, many thoughts wandered through his head regarding how this happened. But these thoughts were quickly pushed aside when he noticed the bright blue sash this Zora was wearing across her torso. Its color and design were similar to that of the hero they had just tied up. Additionally, her entire body sported beautiful jewelry that was fit for royalty.

The dots quickly connected in the Yiga's head. And behind his mask, an evil grin formed on his lips.

"Why hello there, little Champion."

Chapter 4 Summary:

Captured and helpless, Link must endure a physically and mentally taxing ride. Meanwhile, Mipha awakens and finds herself just as much a part of the nightmare.

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

"Gmmrrph!"

Link grunted in discomfort as he was carelessly tossed into the back of one of two carriages helmed by the Yiga. He hit the hard wooden floor on his side with a thud, sending a jolt of pain through his body, which was already aching from both the battle and the tight ropes wrapped around him. He rolled over onto his other side to face the two villains who had thrown him in, his fierce blue eyes trying to muster the most defiant glare possible in the state he was in. But the soldiers just slammed the carriage doors shut, and Link could hear them fiddling with some sort of mechanism that would likely lock the doors from the outside.

Wanting to have as close to a defensive position as he could get, the bound and gagged Hylian wriggled his way over to the nearest wall, and used his bound feet to push himself up to sit against it. Faint little grunts slipped past his gag as he did so, and he took a few breaths through his nose as he leaned his head against the wall as well. He began lightly fidgeting in his bonds, not necessarily expecting to get free but looking for any weaknesses in the ropework that he could take advantage of at the right moment.

After a few minutes, the voice of one of the Yiga suddenly spoke up.

"What … who is this?"

Link turned his head to the doors that blocked his view. He tried to peak out through the cracks, but couldn't see the source of the commotion.

"I found her knocked out down the river. She look familiar to you?" another voice responded.

A few seconds of silence passed, before the original voice spoke again. "Well I'll be damned … what're the chances we just stumble upon her like this?! We've struck gold today!"

A pleased grunt of agreement followed, along with several more members quietly uttering enthused statements that Link couldn't make out. Soon another voice, one that Link recognized as Jora, chimed in. "Looks like she'll be out for a while. Bind her up and put her in the other carriage. The Master's going to be quite happy with what we're bringing home to him," she said, satisfaction clear in her voice.

Link could then hear some scuffling and movement, followed by the familiar sound of carriage doors being closed and locked. The boy listened closely and tactfully, trying to decipher the events with only the sounds being made. But there were no clues to be heard, only generic utterances like "get her in there" that gave no useful information to him. Without any way to see any of the activity outside his own carriage, all he could make out from any of this was that some poor girl had been found, presumably unconscious, and was now a captive alongside him. She sounded important to the Yiga, but that made little difference to the noble hero. All he had to know was that an innocent being was now in danger, and that alone reinvigorated his desire to get free.

He twisted his body around, tugging his arms and shifting his legs methodically yet quickly, keeping himself un-phased by the lack of any effect it had. "Rrmmrrghmm! Rrmmrrghmm!" Link shouted at the Yiga, demanding they release the new captive. But they were dismissive of his incoherent shouts, only responding with a few snickers at the legendary Hylian reduced to such a state.

Suddenly, Link's carriage began moving forward with a jolt. A startled grunt escaped the thick cloth gripping his mouth, and the momentum tipped him gently onto his side. The Yiga were clearly finished here, and were now moving out, heading to Hylia-knows-where. The carriage got into a steady rhythm, and the Hylian could hear the sounds of horse hooves trotting along around him.

Link could feel his heart begin to race, as if the full implications of what was happening were finally hitting him. He was beaten and weakened in a brutal battle, physically helpless, captured, and now being taken away without anyone knowing where he was. It probably wouldn't be until night before the Zora got concerned about his delayed arrival, and it would take even longer for word to spread to Hyrule Castle. By then, there would be almost no clues to go off of. The Yiga had done well to cover all traces of the fight; the only signs of anything wrong would be an empty stable, if Link were to assume the worst of what they did to its rightful owners.

Anger surged through the tied up hero at the treachery of his captors - calling them that only adding more fuel to his fire - and how he had failed to stop their vile deeds. He needed to escape, get away from them, and plan some way to prevent anyone else from getting hurt.

He couldn't just bust open the carriage doors and roll out. Not only did they seem too strong for that, but he could tell by listening that there were horse-riding soldiers behind his carriage. If he were still tied up when he got out, they would just put him right back in. The only way he stood a chance was by getting himself untied. But the pressure and strength of his ropes told him that was a very unlikely option.

I'll have to settle for unlikely.

It started with a numbing feeling. Every sense in her body felt as though it had to relearn everything all over again. Slowly, over the course of what felt like hours, her body started to come back to life, the hazes finally clearing up enough for her to be able to register … anything.

And yet, Mipha still felt almost no energy to move a muscle. Her eyelids heavily opened and closed, trying to return her to the world of consciousness, despite the rest of her body feeling like it was begging for her to retreat from it once more. But she fought through it, fought through the multiple aches and pains that were making themselves known in every inch of her form.

Thankfully, the Zora soon felt she had enough strength to move … and yet still couldn't when she tried. With her vision finally cleared up, she was shown the unfamiliar sight of two thick wooden doors, a similarly wooden room surrounding her. She was laying on her side, and yet it felt like she was moving. Her breathing felt horribly limited, and she felt an inexplicable sense of claustrophobia.

"... Rrrrnngg … mmmm …"

What in Hylia's name is wrong with me?!

Looking down at herself, the answer to Mipha's question turned out to be the biggest shock of her life. Her legs were bound with coils of light-brown rope winding tightly around her ankles and thighs. She kicked them impulsively, only for the aches to surge greater. She also instantly saw that her arms were bound to her sides with more rope going around her lower chest and torso, and she could feel her wrists tied together in a crossed position behind her back.

"HHHHMMMMHHH!!??!" Mipha screamed fiercely at this horrid situation, her first and only instinct to struggle madly in the ropes. She tossed and turned, bucking herself and thrashing all over her mysterious cell with no method or strategy. It gave her the appearance of a fish that had just been taken from the sea and plopped on land … which in some ways wasn't too far off from reality.

"Whnnnmmmnnn?!! Whnnhmmphnnmm?!! HRMMNN?! HRRMMNN!!"

As she shouted out and grunted hysterically, Mipha was made aware of what felt like a rag or towel wrapped over her mouth to gag her, weaved underneath the "fins" dangling from her head and tied off aggressively tightly. She also felt that there was another one stuffed inside her mouth. But that felt almost trivial at this point in her terrified state.

A million questions rose through the princess's head as she kept floundering wildly. How did this happen?! When did this happen?! Who did this?! Where am I?! Why do I hurt so much?!

Suddenly, Mipha heard soft laughter seeming to come from behind the wooden doors. "Well, it looks like our other captive is awake," a female voice said. Another voice, this one male, responded by saying, "Seems like she's going to be a bigger handful than our golden boy."

This caused Mipha to freeze, rapidly taking in what little air she could. Obviously these voices belonged to the ones who did this to her. But who were they? When would they have even had the chance to take her? What was the last thing that she could remember …

And then, like the splitting headache she sported, her memories all came crashing back to her. The Lynel battle on Ploymus Mountain, and the crushing defeat it brought upon her. And then afterwards … that's right! She jumped off Shatterback Point, somehow surviving against even her own concerns! And then, she … she …

Out of the corner of Mipha's eye, she made out some sort of symbol in the wall of what she had since realized was a mobile carriage (the constant feeling of motion and sounds of turning wheels below her enough of a giveaway). She turned her head to it, and effort greater than it should have been, and narrowed her eyes when she saw that it was some sort of eye with what looked like a tear dripping upside down. The symbol looked so familiar to her, but she couldn't quite place it …

The voices resumed again. "Ugh, how much farther do we have to go? Ghira just ate the last banana!"

"Stop whining. We just passed Batrea Lake, so we should be home in a few hours at most."

A few indignant grumbles came then, followed by silence once more.

Batrea Lake?! That's miles from the domain! How far have we traveled?!

The Zora's heart was pounding against her rope-constricted chest. She couldn't remember a time feeling this scared and helpless, having no idea what had happened to her or why. The events from her dive off Shatterback to now were still blurry, adding to the unknown surrounding her current distress.

Getting onto her stomach, Mipha used her bound legs to push off the ground and worm her way to the doors of the carriage. There was a small crack between the doors, and so she used it to peek out at a slice of her moving surroundings. She could barely make out several normal-looking Hylians riding on horseback, wearing nothing out of the ordinary for a group of travelers or folks conducting business, and carrying themselves quite casually. At a glance, one would never guess them to be kidnappers - which she was sure was intentional on their part.

Mipha mustered up as much of a regal, authority tone as she could with her mouth sealed up, and shouted out at them. "Hmm! Whnnmmnmm mmrnnnph nnmm?! Hmmmrrrnnn?!" It was so humiliating to sound the way she did, but the gag wouldn't allow her anything better.

"Silence, worm!" the woman barked back. "You're in our hands now, so don't make any efforts to escape!"

Another sound jumped in. This one was very faint, and sounded just as stifled as Mipha's currently did. It sounded furious. Are there other captives? The thought gave Mipha even more dread, as well as fury for how these captors were taking away innocent people for whatever nefarious purpose they had in mind.

The Zora screamed out into her gag and slammed her bound upper body against the doors, using as much force as she could muster in her awkward positioning. Unsurprisingly, they didn't break open, barely budging under the miniscule weight of the small girl. But that didn't stop her from trying several more times, wrenching herself against them and ignoring how this only flared up her injuries even more. "Lmmmmmnnn!! Lmmmnnn rrrrnnnnn!!"

"Yeah, keep trying!" another male voice shouted from seemingly the left of the carriage. "All you'll do is cost us a few minutes of tossing you back in!"

A few more attempts followed, with Mipha then shifting tactics and trying to kick the door open with her feet. This, predictably, was just as futile. Mipha tossed her restrained shoulders about in rage. She knew that what her captor said was true. As long as she was tied up, she could do nothing even if she did bust out.

Well then, she thought grimly, I suppose I shall have to correct that.

It was far easier said than done.

The Zora was quick to learn just how effective these captors were in their ropework. Every slight movement she made was met by some resistance from the cords. She twisted and kicked about wildly, but she remained just as securely bound as when she woke up, the ropes not budging in the slightest from her smooth, scaly form. She grunted out as she fought, the cloth holding every sound back to a quiet muffle. "Mmmgph! Mmmgph!"

After a bit of time, she took a moment to regain some strength. The countless questions that had been pushed to the back of Mipha's mind came forth again. She still had no idea what any of this was about, or how it even happened, and it was making the situation even more frightening for her. Mipha had come across many challenges as a princess, but nothing like this. Nothing that made her so scared for her life and unable to do anything about it. The weight of her distress truly setting in, a whimper emerged through Mipha's gag. Her throat was particularly sore, probably due to the cloth stuffing that soaked up all the moisture in her mouth and made swallowing nearly impossible. She squeezed her eyes shut for a few seconds, as if trying to will herself out of this mess.

It was certainly in the realm of possibility that she was being used as a hostage for her royal status or something like that, but she believed firmly that the Zoras were on good terms with pretty much everyone. Would any individual, let alone a group of people, find it worth it to take her like this?

I can't imagine so … well, perhaps except for …

A pang of dread slowly overcame the girl, and Mipha looked at the symbol on the wall again.

And suddenly, she recalled where she knew that familiar image from.

Mipha's father had informed her of a deadly clan known as the Yiga, who were known for their allegiance to Calamity Ganon, the evil force that the kingdom were rigorously trying to prepare for - the one that had caused her so much pressure and stress. They apparently once even tried to go after Princess Zelda herself, only for Link to intervene and stop them. He had shown her a photograph of one of their masks, and Mipha now put together that said mask sported the same symbol that she now saw before her.

Mipha had been kidnapped by the Yiga Clan!

"Nnnnmm!!"

The pounding in her heart quickly doubled, and she went back to the reckless, mad struggle that she had started with. As if her predicament couldn't have possibly gotten more hellish, she now found herself in the grasp of possibly the most feared group in Hyrule. The ones who were most determined to stand in the way of her and her fellow Champions' efforts to save their homes from the evil Calamity Ganon. It was more than enough fuel to reignite her efforts to be free, and she screamed wildly through the silencing cloths as a million scenarios of what was to happen pounded her mind.

"MMMPH!! GHRRRMMMPH MMMMMNNN NNNRRRRGH!!!"

No, please, let me get out! Hylia, please, don't forsake me! Let me get out!!

At least Mipha was able to spend a good chunk of the journey in darkness, blissfully unaware of her predicament. Link had been awake for every grueling moment of it.

The bound and gagged Hylian had been given no time to heal from the damage he'd sustained in his brutal fight with the Yigas, feeling jolts of pain continuously surge through his body. Compounding that was the pain and discomfort of his bondage, the tight ropes squeezing his form mercilessly. His wrists and thighs were receiving the worst of it, the sensitive areas feeling the sharp, unrelenting sting of the thin yet strong material digging into them.

The ride itself was bumpy, with his carriage frequently going over crooked terrain at a haphazard pace. The tied up hero found himself josted around regularly, throwing off his concentration or just plain annoying him. Top it off with his inability to get into an even remotely comfortable position on the rough, wooden floor thanks to his limbs being restrained, and he felt completely physically miserable through the entire trip.

Link had spent a large portion of his forced journey trying to get himself free of his bonds. He was able to keep calm and, for a while, focus on a more methodical form of struggling. Without the gear or weaponry that the Yiga yanked from him, he only had his own flexibility and strength to aid him.

Link slowly twisted his crossed wrists, grunting through his gag from the ache that shot through them each time they moved. He tried to get a feel for how they were tied, hoping to maybe find just the right position to slip out of them or snap them. The ropes around his arms and torso greatly hindered his options in that regard, his broad shoulders bulging out as he tried to get some workable angle. He shifted and pulled his legs, unable to move them much at all due to his ankles and thighs both being tied. He could hear the leather of his boots creak and stretch, the ropes digging into them as he tugged his feet. They were far too tight to even consider the possibility of slipping a foot out of its boot, not that that would be likely anyway with the ropes around his thighs.

His whole body would scream in pain throughout his efforts, but Link ignored it, only allowing his discomfort to be shown via muted grunts sneaking past the cloth. He would try to shake that material off of his face, if only to get some much-needed air and rid himself of the other fabric sealed in his mouth. It tasted bitter and gave him the constant sensation of choking, as well as drying up all moisture and leaving his mouth feeling like a sore, arid desert. But his efforts to be rid of it did no good, another testament to how expertly secured even the gag was.

With one final, futile tossing of his bound body, Link collapsed onto his back, tightly tied legs sprawling out, loud huffs coming in and out of his nose. Nothing that he did showed him any pathway that could lead to freedom. He was just too well-tied, the ropes too much of a match for even the skilled champion. And so he lay there defeated, his body immensely sore, tired from his continuous, rigorous struggling.

He wasn't faring much better psychologically. For one thing, he had the knowledge that someone else had been kidnapped, with Link unable to do anything to help her. He should be saving those in distress! What kind of chosen one was he to end up in a situation like this? To wind up as such a failure when so many were counting on him? This feeling of being so small, so weak, was only allowed to simmer more and more as his journey continued.

But then another form of mental taunting came when the carriage abruptly stopped, sending the young man rolling on the floor. "Rrrrrng!" he moaned, rolling onto his back.

Then, he heard a new voice, one that he was sure wasn't from any of his Yiga captors. He'd listened closely enough to know that much.

"Sorry to bother you folks, but we seem to be lost right now," the female said.

Listening in to the ensuing conversation, Link inched himself to stare out of the tiny hole in one of the walls of his prison. He saw that a pair of travelers, a male and female Gerudo in fairly modest garb that nonetheless still befitted their culture, were sitting on horseback less than ten feet away from him.

"We'd be happy to help!" one of the disguised Yiga said cheerfully. "Where are you two heading?"

As the Gerudo and Yiga went on with their exchange, Link's wrapped up body became tense, breathing slowly, fighting back every impulse that was begging him to scream through the gag for help and bang around, to let the would-be rescuers know that he was in need of such rescuing. It was probably unlikely a traveler would have gotten close enough to hear his muffled yells.

But Link couldn't take the temptation. It would accomplish nothing. Even if these people did hear him, they would simply end up as two extra prisoners for the Yiga. His captors wouldn't take the risk of anyone getting suspicious, and Link highly doubted that even a pair of Gerudo would be able to defeat the horde of Yiga they would be up against.

So while the disguised Yiga conversed with the unsuspecting duo, the hero stayed silent and still, much to his own dismay. He leaned away from the small opening, not giving these travelers any hints that there was a captive mere meters away from them.

Soon, the Gerudo had the information that they were looking for. "Farewell and safe travels, my friends!" the male said. And with that, Link heard the sounds of their horses trotting away, while his carriage lay still.

Once Link could tell that the Gerudo were out of hearing range, he banged his bound, booted feet against the floor in anger, letting out a soft moan of frustration. "Mrrrmmm!!" It didn't matter that it was the right thing to do; the Hylian still hated the feeling of turning away even a small chance at rescue. He hated that he even needed a chance at rescue.

And he hated it the few additional times he heard other denizens passing his captors by. But he held that hatred back.

For the sake of everyone else, Link chose to be on his own.

Funny how it always seemed to go that way. And how now more than ever, he didn't wish to be on his own.

Notes:

Link's gag speech translated:
"Rrmmrrghmm! Rrmmrrghmm!" - "Let her go! Let her go!"

Mipha's gag speech translated:
"Whnnnmmmnnn?!! Whnnhmmphnnmm?!! HRMMNN?! HRRMMNN!!" - "What is this?!! What's happened to me?!! HELLO?! HELLO!!"
"Hmm! Whnnmmnmm mmrnnnph nnmm?! Hmmmrrrnnn?!" - "Hey! What is the meaning of this?! Who are you?!"
"Lmmmmmnnn!! Lmmmnnn rrrrnnnnn!!" - "Let me out!! Let me out right now!!"

Chapter 5 Summary:

As the two star-crossed lovers finally arrive at the Yiga Clan Hideout, they learn that they're not alone in their captivity ... but seeing who the other prisoner is quickly makes them wish that they were.

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

"Look out there, Jora," said Ohram.

From atop the tall peak they both stood on, Jora did as she was told. She was amazed by the view before her, her eyes wide. She'd never seen anything so majestic, vast, and diverse. A volcano in one corner, a forest in another, then a desert, and more! She immediately wanted to go, to see it all and discover what every crevice had to offer.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Ohram asked. He crouched down to stand on eye level with the nine-year-old girl. "It's the kingdom of Hyrule. But it's not just the landscapes that are to marvel at. There are whole civilizations out there, people free to roam and explore it to their hearts' desires."

"Really?!" Jora gasped enthusiastically. She lifted up her small Yiga mask, revealing the wide, excited eyes of an adventurous child wanting to see the world. "Can we go there? Can we?! Please?!!" she begged, bouncing on her toes.

Ohram let out a sad sigh at the child's joy, knowing what he had to tell her. He put a gentle hand on her shoulder, trying to calm her enthusiasm.

"That's what I wanted to tell you. No, my child, unfortunately, we cannot. You see, they don't want us there. No one of our kind is allowed. Once, many years ago, we were free to live among them, accepted and loved. But now, we are forced to make our own lives, removed from the luxuries such a home would provide."

Jora's eyes suddenly took on a more confused look, mixed with sadness and a hint of budding resentment at being denied. "Why don't they want us? Did we do something bad?"

A bitter chuckle escaped Ohram, as he briefly grimaced. "No, not at all. On the contrary. Once we were among the most respected beings of those lands. We provided great technological advances, and saved the kingdom several times with our resources and knowledge. The innovations that we enjoy, those were ours, my girl, take pride in that."

Jora nodded as he continued.

"… But little did we know the true, crooked nature of Hylian civilization. Rather than revere and thank us for all we did for them, they instead feared us. In their stubborn resistance to change and the unknown, they worried that we would seize their precious control away from them. They feared us, despite us having no desire but to serve them. And so, little Jora, we were exiled. Cast out, away from those we cared about, the homes we'd created, and forced to start life anew … including your parents."

Jora was indignant as she took in her father's story. "What?! That's not fair!" Her fists were clenched and shook downwards. Indeed, the young one felt it a great injustice that anyone would be banished after doing good.

"No, it isn't," Ohram replied. "But you see, Hyrule is not a fair place, nor does it house fair people. They care only for what they know, and do away with anything that poses a threat to their traditions, their rules. They act as though they are the superior beings even now. But they are truly savages, taking away from those who deserve it. That, Jora, is what you must learn to accept. They are the cause of what befell your family. They are the enemy."

A pause lingered between surrogate father and daughter, allowing for Ohram's words to sink into the young girl's impressionable mind. Her eyes seemed ready to well up with tears, the sudden revelation of her family's cruel history weighing down on her.

But then Ohram reassured her. "Oh, don't weep," he said, gently stroking her little face and giving a small smile. "One day, we shall take it back from them, and have it as ours. For there is a force that will one day rise to challenge these scum, seeking to cleanse their corrupt filth from these lands. And unlike Hylians, those who serve him will be rewarded. As Yiga, we must swear to serve only this entity, do his bidding always and only. And we must show no mercy to those who would oppose him. Enemies of his are enemies of ours."

He then removed his own mask, and looked his daughter in the eye. "Do you understand, Jora? Understand what we must do, and why?"

A surge of fatherly pride surged through Ohram when he saw the storm of fire brooding behind the little girl's eyes. He knew from the moment he took her in that Jora would grow into a woman of great resolve, and never was that more evident than right now. Yes, she would carry on the Yiga's mission, would do whatever it took. Even at the age of nine years, his powerful words had gotten through to her.

With a determination far beyond her years, Jora simply replied, "Yes. We'll help him. And we'll make them pay."

That determination only grew as Jora did, all the way to right now.

After hours of traveling, she and her small army had finally arrived at where they called home. By traversing through the scorching hot Gerudo desert, aided by Heat Resistance potions, they made their way to a winding canyon. The air close to the sandy ground steadily became foggy, but the Yiga masks protected from it getting blown in their faces. As they got closer to their entrance, flags were hanged off of clotheslines, up above, and large sacks were spread out in an orderly fashion as they passed by. The wheels of the carriages were digging into the sand, making it much harder to move them through, resulting in them moving in a much jerkier manner that was none to kind for the two stashed inside them. The soldiers were weary after such a journey, and this wasn't helping them in the slightest, but being in their familiar environment again was the push they needed to finish the trip.

And finally, the group arrived at a rectangular opening carved into the rock walls. Through this opening was the dreaded entrance to the structure that the Yiga called home. A circular chamber was the first sight, a series of torches on a raised platform at the center. Multiple door-like curtains were strewn across the walls of the chamber, and banners sporting the iconic Yiga symbol proudly decorated the ominous area.

This was as far as the troops could go with their loads. The horses, both with and without carriages, came to a stop at their riders' commands. Jora watched as her fellow Yiga got off their steeds, and a few of them went to the back of the two carriages, ready to unload their captives. She turned to a middle-aged footsoldier named Mason and spoke to him.

"Go and alert Master Ohram that we've returned with our prisoner … and an extra prisoner as well," she said, grinning under her mask at the end of her request.

"Aye, ma'am," Mason responded. "Should we check that they're still secure?"

"No need," another member, Ghira, shouted back. "They're just as we want them."

As she said this, she walked towards them with a bound and gagged Zora princess's shoulder held painfully in her grasp. She dragged a whining, struggling Mipha out to the front of her carriage, where she was indeed just as effectively restrained as when she first woke up. But she was far more physically shaken. When they had entered the desert, the rising heat soon started to overwhelm the poor Zora, who was even more unaccustomed to such conditions than most species. She had been panting through her gag, trying to get air as the thick fabrics in and over her mouth suddenly felt even more stifling and hot. She barely had anything left in her, her squirming very weak and her mind feeling a bit hazy.

Ghira tossed Mipha onto the ground, her gagged face roughly planting into the sand. With a muffled "Mmnhh nnrrrmmh!" she shook her head to try and get the coarse substance out of her face, ending with a sneeze. She kept flopping in her bonds, knowing that it was pointless but still driven by discomfort and panic. The only knowledge she ever had of the Yiga's primary home was through rumor and speculation. But it seemed she was about to find out the truth, and needless to say, it was a truth she would have rather had be left a mystery.

Meanwhile, as a Yiga soldier opened the door to Link's carriage, he was met with a powerful kick to the face by a pair of bound boots. Being caged up and in emotional distress had brought out a more restless side to the fuming hero, and he'd been prepared to let out some form of release on the unfortunate Yiga.

However, this only caused the Yiga to be twice as rough on him, grabbing him by both shoulders bulging out above the ropes, eliciting a "Mmmmph!" from the Hylian boy. He was dragged along the side of his carriage, obstructed from Mipha's view. Link put up as much of a fight as he could in his state, trying to thrash out of the Yiga's grip, but it only delayed the inevitable. He was brought up to the front, and thrown onto the sandy ground as well.

Mipha turned her head at the commotion to her left.

And in that moment, a wave of a new fear and panic, one beyond anything she'd felt up until now, crashed down upon her like the grand waterfalls of her home.

Link turned his head as well.

And his heart nearly stopped; he felt as if his whole world was just ripped apart right then and there.

Both of their eyes widened in pure shock and horror. For each captive saw none other than the person that they were in love with, bound and gagged just as they were.

"RNNG!!!"

"MMMRM!!!"

No. No, no, no. This couldn't be real. This horrid mess couldn't possibly be this much of a nightmare. This was what both captives told themselves as they proceeded to fight, struggle, and scream like neither ever had before. Sand was kicked up everywhere, the two oblivious to it getting into their faces, as they tried with all their might to break free of their bonds in the face of this terrifying revelation.

"HMMNNNNMM HRRMMNN?! HMMMNN GNNNNRMM?!! MMMRM!!" Link screamed at the top of his lungs. Despite being thoroughly gagged, it was quite possibly the loudest and most vocal he had been in a very long time. Seeing that the mysterious captive girl was none other than the princess he loved so dearly was like a wrecking ball barreling through the walls he'd built up, his inhibitions all but abandoned.

"NN, RNNG, PRRMMNNRMM!! MRRMM, MRRM, NNRGHNNMMN GRRNNNYNNNNMM!!" Mipha was in similar hysterics. The physical toll she'd taken from the heat was suddenly forgotten, all her distress now centered around seeing her best friend trapped in this hellish situation with her. Just when she thought it couldn't get any worse!

Link and Mipha began worming violently towards each other, eyes seeming to have widened to half the size of their heads. But they were both stopped as a Yiga grabbed each of them by the rope-welded arms and kept them in place.

"NRM!! GHMMMRRN NNGRMMNN HNNNPHMPHHRR!!!" Link snarled, thrashing like mad. He shuffled his tightly bound legs about, trying desperately to trip up the Yiga holding him.

"LRRNNHMMGNN!!! RRRNNHMMGNN!!!" Mipha wrenched her body around, her head fins flailing wildly. She tried to headbutt her captor, flip him over her shoulders, anything! She had to do something!

"Aaugh! Guys, can we put these two in their cages, they're really putting up- AH! Putting up a fight- HEY!!" the Yiga holding Link shouted in between his efforts to not be jostled around by the tied up Hylian. Both Yigas dug their feet in the dirt, doing their best to prevent the relentless, soul-shattered love interests from making their way towards each other.

Link did manage to use his legs to sweep his captor off his feet, releasing his hold. The boy then squirmed over to Mipha as quickly as he could, grunting loudly into his gag for these beasts to let her go.

But just as he got a mere foot away from the Zora, he was pulled by his bound ankles by Jora. His face banged against the set of stairs he was being dragged up, but he could only focus on his beloved as she too was pulled along.

"NNNN!!" Link roared.

They both fought it as best they could as one of the curtains in the wall was raised, revealing a staircase built into the mountain. Two footsodliers stayed behind to stand guard at the bottom of the staircase, while the rest joined in leading their prisoners.

Once they reached the top of the staircase, directly across from them was a gate that served as an entrance to a cell. Beyond that was a ladder leading down to a corridor, the contents of which were mostly hidden from the current vantage point by a wall. It was no secret who was going in the foreboding cage, the dread building more and more as the group approached it.

Just when he was a few feet away from the cell, Link's ceaseless efforts and struggling miraculously managed to dislodge his gag off his mouth, with it now hanging loosely around his neck. He swiftly spat out the other fabric stuffed inside, and began shouting with a vigor that would shock those who knew him.

"MIPHA!! Let her go! Do whatever you want with me, but don't ever drag her into this! DON'T YOU DARE LAY ANOTHER HAND ON-HRRMM!!"

Link's rare bout of rage was cruelly cut off when Jora shoved the filthy rag back into his mouth, holding it there with her hand. Ghira brought the thicker, symbol-clad cloth back up to his face, but due to Link's thrashing head and continued garbled shouting, she ended up tying it between his lips. She pulled it into the corners of his mouth and tied it off behind his head through his hair, being sure to tug the knot as tightly as possible.

"GRRMMMRR!! RRRRRGRMM!!" Link continued shouting, but it only caused the fabric to dig further into his lips.

Mipha's eyes blazed in a fury like she never felt before as she observed Link's foul mistreatment. "NHHRNMM GRMMNNPH, LMHPHMHNM HLNNM!! LMHVM MM HLHNM!! … N-NH!! MHNTPHM MMHTHMRM!!" she yelled, the thick material in and over her mouth holding her ire at bay.

But as hard as she fought, she couldn't do anything as she felt herself being dragged into the cell. It turned out that there were two other gates inside that cell, spaced a few inches apart and serving to split the cell into two separate cells. Mipha was tossed into the deeper one haphazardly, before she heard the two adjacent gates be closed and locked. She then heard Link grunt out in pain, followed by the final gate being locked shut.

As Link wiggled onto his knees and inched his way to the gate leading out, Jora walked up and put her hand on that gate, looking down on the poor tied up Hylian.

"Well this is certainly different from when we first took you," she bemused. "The silent, stoic chosen one suddenly has a pair of lungs on him. Figures that the only way to get it out of the selfless hero is to have someone else in peril … Well, now it seems that gag is well-warranted."

Link responded with a low growl through said gag, his blue eyes searing as he looked up at her. Meanwhile, Mipha resorted to plowing her bound body into her own gate with a muffled snarl, rattling it but not making Jora flinch in the slightest. The Yiga did, however, turn her attention to the Zora princess.

"I must say, the last thing we expected was to come home with two of you. But while we don't have any plans for you specifically, having you in our possession opens up many new possibilities for us."

"Rrrrhrrrnnmnn!" Link growled at that.

Jora glanced back at the boy. She took a few moments to think about the behaviors of these two, and how their mannerisms and expressions, while limited by their restraints, seemed to indicate that there was more going on between them than just concern for the safety of another individual. She kept the thought in the back of her mind.

Then, a strange calm came across her posture, one that showed less hostility and more curiosity. She squatted down to face Link, which prompted him to try and ram the gate himself. It didn't matter that he'd still be tied up if he bust it open; his impulses were taking over, for the first time in years.

But Jora remained calm as she spoke. "I understand that this is not a … desirable situation for you," she said, her tone firm but also with an unexpected hint of softness to it. "But hard to believe as it may be, we are not the monsters here. Everything that we do is in service of the great Calamity Ganon. The one who will bring about the cleansing that your rotting kingdom so desperately needs.

The flashes of rage in Link's eyes made it clear he was having none of this, and he shook his head in defiance. The Yiga were villains; there was no way around that.

"What? You think your Hyrule is so much kinder to you? Have we really taken you from a life of such luxury and happiness?" Jora clicked her tongue. "Still so naïve. But with those in power, how could you not be?"

The Yiga reached out through the gate to stroke Link's chin with her fingers, causing the hero to grunt and turn himself around in a huff.

This allowed him to make eye contact with Mipha, and an overwhelming sadness overcame both of them. They didn't attempt to speak, didn't move; it was as if their captors no longer registered to them. They just looked into each other's eyes, bright blue meeting shimmering brown. Mipha felt her heart break in that moment. Seeing her brave hero so vulnerable and defenseless, and yet still so clearly concerned for her over himself, was enough to send a few tears down her cheek, catching on her cloth gag. Link didn't know how to react to that; the beautiful, wonderful Zora who always was there for him, now in tears, was the most distressing thing he could remember ever seeing. He squeezed his eyes shut, unable to look at risk of his own emotions overpowering him, his parted lips slightly trembling over the cleaving cloth.

Jora sighed bitterly, seeing that she'd lost the prisoners' attention. She got back upright and said, "I can see you two have some catching up to do. Enjoy your time together while you still can."

The Yiga turned and made for the ladder beside the cells. Before she descended, however, said one last thing over her shoulder. "Hylia is dead, hero. We are the holy servants, fighting the true evil. And if we can make you understand and accept this, what we want out of you will be far less excruciating."

And with that, she was gone.

But Link and Mipha could have very well not known whether or not she'd even left. All they could focus on was each other. And the overwhelming horror, misery, and sense of unmitigated defeat that seeing the other like this brought them.

Notes:

Link's gag speech translated:
"MMMRM!!!" - "MIPHA!!!"
"HMMNNNNMM HRRMMNN?! HMMMNN GNNNNRMM?!! MMMRM!!" - "HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?! HOW DID THEY GET YOU?!! MIPHA!!"
"NRM!! GHMMMRRN NNGRMMNN HNNNPHMPHHRR!!!" - "NO!! KEEP HER DISGUSTING HANDS OFF OF HER!!!"
"NNNN!!" - "NO!!"
"GRRMMMRR!! RRRRRGRMM!!" - "GET OFF ME!! LET US GO!!"
"Rrrrhrrrnnmnn!" - "Leave her alone!"

Mipha's gag speech translated:
"RNNG!!!" - "LINK!!!"
"NN, RNNG, PRRMMNNRMM!! MRRMM, MRRM, NNRGHNNMMN GRRNNNYNNNNMM!!" - "NO, LINK, PLEASE NOT YOU!! PLEASE, PLEASE, THEY COULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN YOU TOO!!"
"LRRNNHMMGNN!!! RRRNNHMMGNN!!!" - "LET HIM GO!!! LET HIM GO!!!"
"NHHRNMM GRMMNNPH, LMHPHMHNM HLNNM!! LMHVM MM HLHNM!! … N-NH!! MHNTPHM MMHTHMRM!!" - "YOU VILE CRETINS, LEAVE HIM ALONE!! LEAVE US ALONE!! … N-NO!! DON'T PUT ME IN THERE!!"

Chapter 6 Summary:

Trapped, tied up, and helpless, Link and Mipha come to grips with the cruel reality before them ... and try to console each other in what few ways they can.

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Horror. Rage. Misery. Regret. Failure.

These were the most succinct ways to describe the variety of negative feelings Link and Mipha felt in this moment.

The two of them had let a minute pass since Jora left them. They just continued staring at each other through the bars that separated them. As if they believed that by doing so, they could fool themselves into believing that what they were seeing was an illusion, or a bad dream … anything but reality.

But when Link heard an agonized whine slip through the Zora's sealed-up mouth, he knew that nothing so vividly crushing could be imagined or dreamt. This hellish situation was real.

As Mipha let out the sound, she turned around, wrenched herself to her knees, and pressed her ruby-red forehead to the bars of her cell, staring at Link with fear and loving concern.

"Rnng," she cried softly.

As if the moan was some beckoning call, Link hobbled over on his tied knees to her. His luminous blue eyes peered through the bars at the Zora he so deeply adored. He could hear her rapid breathing through her nose, likely a combination of her mental distress and the hot air continuing to assault her amphibious form.

"Rrrphr," he grunted. The Hylian felt his own heart beating what felt like a thousand times per minute, and the fresh rush of despair caused his arms to tug at their bonds.

There had been no real warning for the two of them that this was coming. Practically no way of them being able to deduce that the other would be trapped with them, and therefore no way to prepare to see one of their deepest nightmares come true - if there were any way at all to prepare for such a thing. But now they knew, and while they were far less frantic about it once the initial shock died down, they were no less terrified.

"Rrrrrggph!!" With a deep, determined, stifled growl, the Hylian boy wrenched his body about in the ropes with the ferocity of a true warrior. He twisted his wrapped-up torso vigorously as he wrenched his pinned arms. It didn't matter that hours of prior struggling had done no good. Now, he knew how high the stakes truly were. His tight, athletic body and legs were perfectly trained for some of the most grueling physical feats imaginable, and yet couldn't seem to get out of a few ropes … albeit expertly-tied, sturdy ropes. But they fought hard, the lean muscle straining with all its might as he shifted his shoulders, wrists, and legs in any direction possible.

Spurred on by the hero's struggling, Mipha was putting in no less of an effort. Her body was taking a serious toll from not just the past few hours of fighting and bondage, but the grueling Gerudo heat. It felt like the princess was slowly being roasted from a fire inside of her, causing her to pant quickly through the only airway not cut off, the surging temperature as inescapable as the ropes and gag. But she shoved all of that down, and rolled and kicked herself around in her cell.

"Gmmmph!! Mrrrrgh!!"

While her toned, powerful legs usually did amazing wonders for the Zora in the water, they suddenly seemed powerless against these squeezing cords. No matter how she pulled and shifted them, the only result was the sensation of them biting further into her scaly skin. But she squinted her eyes shut as she kept trying.

Neither captive had any luck even as the minutes passed by. Whether they were fast and forceful or slow and methodical, nothing they did seem to make their situation even a little more hopeful. All it did was cause more aches and pains to surge through their bodies, the gags reducing their abilities to breathe the pain in and out.

Drained from the effort and requiring a moment's rest, Mipha turned around to face Link. She saw that he was laying on his side, looking at her with clear concern and pity. He was still struggling, but now seemed to be focusing his gaze on her. He probably heard her strained heaving and moaning and grew even more worried about her. As if he didn't have enough reason to.

Mipha sat upright, scooted herself back over to the bars, and tried her best to speak to the Hylian past her gag.

"Rnng?? Gnnrmm nndrrnnnnmm??"

Hearing the garbled voice of his beloved Zora, Link stared intently at her from his lying position. He only widened his eyes, not knowing if she was even trying to say something or not.

The lack of a proper response caused the princess even more distress.

"Prrmm, Rnng, prrmm drmmmn mmgnn nndrrnnnnmm. Nrnrrmmhnnh mphmmghn! Prrmm!!" She begged him to understand her, to nod his head if he could, her eyes welling up as they desperately willed him to understand her somehow. But the young man she loved just continued looking at her. His beautiful eyes shimmered with as much emotion as she had ever seen in them.

"Rrphr …" the gagged hero stammered. "...Rrnnrr nnrrrnn …" Link lamented, his muffled voice starting to break. He felt his will deteriorate further and further with every moment he saw just how heavily Mipha was breathing and heard the faint moans she was emitting past her gagging cloth. It was clear that the heat was only getting worse for her.

"Mmghrr … mm …"

And then, his emotions boiled over in a fit of turmoil. Link kicked his bound feet at the bars with all his might.

"RRRRRGPH!! GRRRRRPH!! RRRRRMMMPH!!!"

The bars were buckling under the might of the distressed Hylian, but they were too strong and too firmly rooted in place for his kicks to have any impact. But he kept trying, if only to distract from the depths of his despair.

There was so much he wanted to say to her. So much he wished to tell her, whether it be words of comfort from this situation, or words of confession buried for months. Yet he would always hold back, only lowering his defenses completely in a small handful of moments with her. And now, in a cruel, twisted irony, when he wanted to speak up and show his heart more than ever before, these thick, foul fabrics in his mouth make such a thing impossible. The front tips of his lips could only barely touch, the gag was that effective. As if Hylia herself were determined to keep him silent even when he didn't want to. He anxiously rubbed the intrusive fabric against the ground, but it remained painfully embedded into his cheeks and the corners of his mouth, too tightly tied to be dislodged.

He'd always forced himself to go along with his service, his destiny. Why couldn't he, for once, have taken destiny into his own hands? It seemed that it all led to their demise either way.

As she watched Link thrash about a bit more, the exhausted Mipha felt her own regrets bubbling to the surface. She had always been a shy, introverted person, speaking in a somewhat timid tone and avoiding eye contact more often than most. And this shyness and insecurity was undoubtedly a factor in her love for the Hylian knight going unrevealed. But in the face of both of them facing captivity and likely death, she realized that she should have stepped up and taken the chance. While she didn't fully believe Link would return her feelings, those odds were zero if she didn't try. And now … she couldn't even try. She wouldn't know the possible months, maybe years, of happiness she could have known had she just been brave enough.

And her family … her kingdom … what would they do now? Would her captivity be used by the Yiga to harm them even further? What would become of them if she were to perish and die here? Her father would be devastated, as would her mentor Muzu, and …

Sidon. Oh, my dear, sweet little Sidon … I didn't want to leave you so soon … I'm sorry, I'm …

Mipha clenched her fists behind her back, letting out an agonized wail of sadness and rage that came out as no more than a garbled moan. Her eyes were hot with tears that she was unable to wipe away, her whimpering growing louder as her body trembled under the physical and emotional pain. She turned her back to Link and pressed it against the bars, not wanting him to see her cry.

The whimpering and heaving that came through her gag gave it away for him, though. And unable to bear the sound, Link tried to soothe her in whatever minimal way possible.

The weeping Zora suddenly felt a light brushing across her fingers. She turned her head back behind her, and saw that Link had put his own back to his bars. His bound hands peaked through the bars and reached out to hers. He could only manage to touch her fingertips with his own.

The gesture was much appreciated despite its limits. However, looking at her hero's wrists, Mipha got a good look at how bruised they had become. The ropes' grip was like a vice, digging into the exposed skin and causing red marks to appear underneath them. It seemed to match the bruises he must be sporting on the rest of his body, although those were mostly covered up by his clothing.

It brought her back to one of their most heartfelt moments together. And a promise she'd made to him that day.

Link and Mipha sat atop the trunk of Divine Beast Vah Ruta. The sky was tinted a foggy blue, with a strip of orange indicating the approach of dusk and silhouetting the surrounding mountains. The Zora was currently tending to another of Link's injuries, this one on his right forearm. Each sat there in blissful peace, enjoying each other's presence as usual. The setting sun outlined their features, the wind blowing gracefully through hair and fins.

"I thought it was funny how, being a Hylian, you looked grown-up so much faster than I did," Mipha stated gently. Her gaze focused on the wound as she spoke, taking extra care to ensure she didn't miss anything. Link turned his own gaze to meet her, a look of tenderness and trust plain on his face. As well as sadness at what she said: he had aged faster than her, and would continue to do so until he left her behind. Such was one of several curses of them being different species.

"I was ... I was always willing to heal your wounds. Even back then," the Zora continued. She kept glancing downward, both to finish the job on Link's arm and out of nervousness. She could feel her heart racing, and found it harder and harder to get her words out.

Finally, the wound was fully healed. Link inspected it, seeing that as usual, the princess had done a flawless job. It was as if it were never there.

Mipha continued on, professing her fears of what was to come regarding Calamity Ganon, and how little they knew or understood about it. Link could only silently agree, having the same fears as her but doing a better job at hiding it.

It was then that Mipha felt a need to profess something to him. It wouldn't give away her romantic feelings, but it carried the great weight of a true friend nonetheless.

"If you - if anyone ever tries to do you harm … then I will heal you." She looked down shyly as she continued, as Link continued looking at her in awe.

"No matter when, or how bad the wound … I hope you know … that I will always protect you."

Hands clasped together in her lap, Mipha continued. "Once this whole thing is over … maybe things can go back to how they used to be when we were young." She clasped her hands tighter, willing herself to continue.

"You know …" she turned her head to face Link, longing clear on her face as her fins continued blowing in the wind. "Perhaps we could spend some time together."

More than anything, Link wanted to embrace her right then and there, and tell her just how much that would mean to him. But he instead simply responded, "I … I'd like that." His lips curled upward and his eyes lit up, showing that while his words were low and quiet, he meant them with full sincerity.

Mipha's ruby lips beamed in a grin at that.

"Thank you," Link added, referring to her healing. For everything, he thought.

And even now, in whatever small way she could, Mipha intended to stick to that promise. However pointless it may be.

Fighting through the fatigue, she closed her eyes and concentrated all of her thoughts and energy to her hands. She did what she always did when healing: thinking about the person she was healing, usually someone she cared deeply for. And often, that was Link.

Looking behind her back down at her bound wrists, she saw that her hands were glowing. She extended her wrists and fingertips as far as the ropes and cage allowed. Her reach was greatly limited, but it was just far enough to be able to hit Link's bruised wrists. She kept looking back, seeing that, while more slowly than usual, Link's marks were starting to fade.

It took a little bit, but as he lay there defeated, Link started noticing that the throbbing ache in his wrists was suddenly numbing. He figured that his body was growing used to the bonds, but as he turned around, his heart swelled when he saw Mipha healing his rope marks.

Even in the most dire of situations and for the most inconsequential of injuries, and even though the bruises would likely return if the ropes stayed on, Mipha was keeping her promise to heal him. Mipha caught him glancing, and their eyes met in a loving gaze not unlike their moment atop Vah Ruta.

Tears started slipping down the Hylian's face like leaks in the Rutala Dam, but he hardly even noticed. He clenched his eyes shut, a broken sob slipping out of the gag as his head gently leaned against his bars. He felt his lips trembling, pulling at the tight fabric involuntarily.

How had he been so blessed to have such a wonderful friend? Someone as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside? And how was Hylia so cruel that she felt it necessary to put her in this misery she so clearly didn't deserve?

And he couldn't do the same for her. He couldn't do anything for her. He was unable to keep his own promise, made that same day weeks back.

"Mipha."

Mipha's eyes widened slightly upon hearing his voice.

They had been making their way from Vah Ruta back to the Domain, the sun now halfway set below the horizon. And suddenly, Link spoke up, his kind yet unusually firm.

She turned around to face him, and was taken aback by how handsome he looked in the glow of the coming twilight. As she stood there, he slowly walked up to her.

"I promise you as well …" he started. Mipha just kept looking up at him, tilting her head in confusion as to what he meant.

"I will protect you as well," he near-whispered to her. "From anything. I … I promise."

She knew he meant it. Just as he knew she meant it. They had sworn it to each other long before uttering it out loud.

Mipha took his hands in hers and squeezed them gently. The two gazed at each other, smiles on their faces, their bodies inches apart in a moment of unspoken but unfiltered affection. Reminiscing on what they had been, pondering over what they could be.

"I know you will," she whispered.

Now, the two just sat in their cells back-to-back, hand in hand once more - or as close as they could get it, their fingertips rubbing and stroking each other. They couldn't comfort each other through words, and this was the closest they could do it through touch. But even that miniscule touch gave them a warmth and reassurance that couldn't be replicated.

Among the sadness and heartache, the two also felt a new determination sweep over them in this moment. They would have already been determined to save themselves; but now, they were doubly, triply determined to save the other person, the one they had fallen in love with.

She will be free, Link thought.

He will be safe, Mipha thought.

And hopefully they could be free and safe together … in whatever way it would be.

They had to make themselves believe:

We will get out of here.

Notes:

Link's gag speech translated:
"Rrrphr," - "Mipha,"
"Rrphr ...Rrnnrr nnrrrnn …" - "Mipha … I don't know what …"
"Mmghrr … mm …" - "I can't … I …"

Mipha's gag speech translated:
"Rnng," - "Link,"
"Rnng?? Gnnrmm nndrrnnnnmm??" - "Link?? Can you understand me??"
"Prrmm, Rnng, prrmm drmmmn mmgnn nndrrnnnnmm. Nrnrrmmhnnh mphmmghn! Prrmm!!" - "Please, Link, please tell me you can understand me! Nod your head if you can! Please!!"

Chapter 7 Chapter Text

The great, imposing Hyrule Castle began its day as it would any other. Along the wide pathway constructed atop the tall, formidable walls, knights valiantly did their duty, patrolling in a well-practiced rhythm and keeping their eyes peeled for any threat looking to cause trouble to their home. They would be passed by esteemed members of government, looking to continue their tasks from behind the front lines, greeting them usually with an impersonal but polite wave.

One such passerby stood out far more than most, however. This was a tall, blond, teenage girl who strolled along the passageways in poised, regal fashion. She sported long, flowing blond hair, with which went perfectly the rich blue, white, and golden dress she was adorned with and vibrant emerald eyes. She would greet her fellow castle-dwellers more warmly than most, accompanied by a smile that some might compare to the sun. The thickly-accented voice that came with this gesture was unmistakable: it belonged to the famous Princess Zelda, heir to the throne of Hyrule.

"Greetings, dear daughter!"

The girl turned around, and saw that her father and current occupant of the throne, King Rhoam Bosphoramus Hyrule, was approaching her, as both entered the hallway providing a direct path to the dining chambers.

The king, who was massive and rotund enough to make many wonder how he could walk at all, was able to catch up to his daughter once she slowed her pace enough. They walked side-by-side as she returned his hello.

"Good morning, father," Zelda said politely.

"I trust you slept well?" the king asked. She nodded. In truth, she had slept as well as she's slept a majority of nights these past few months. That was to say, moderately well, albeit with the many anxieties and challenges awaiting her stealing several precious hours of her slumber.

"Very good," Rhoam reacted. "You'll need all the awareness you can get in your efforts to unlock your power. We don't want any sleep deprivation to bring you to any further failure."

And of course, he found it seemingly necessary to bring those anxieties right back to the forefront of the princess's mind. His words were spoken in such a casual, indifferent tone. But to Zelda, they were but a few additional papercuts to her dignity, to add to the mounting collection that seemed determined to make her feel worthless.

She was trying her best to unlock these blasted sealing powers; must everyone around her constantly rub in her lack of success?

Well, almost everyone, she thought, thinking fondly on her appointed knight. Despite having spent more time with her than perhaps anyone lately, Link often felt like the only person who would never think less of her with each day of failure that passed. It turned out that he understood the burdens of expectation far more than he seemed to. She sighed in her mind as it lingered on him, wishing that today she could be graced with his presence as she was most days.

But out loud, the Hylian merely nodded her head and responded with a short, "Yes, father." As usual, it was better to just stand and take it, hoping that soon she would no longer have to.

However, the thoughts of the knight brought her to ask her father about his mission to the Zora Domain, on which he'd embarked yesterday. "Has Link sent any updates on the Zoras?"

The question should have been innocent and simple enough. However, King Rhoam responded to it with slightly narrowed eyes and a ponderous sigh. Combined with the sensation that was suddenly present in her gut, and Zelda got the feeling that something wasn't right.

And surely enough, the king's answer justified her unease. "Well, Zelda, we've received word that Link has yet to arrive at the domain. No one reported seeing him near it, in fact."

Zelda's face contorted into confusion as he continued.

"Peculiar, wouldn't you say? I would think that he'd have been able to arrive well before the sun's setting."

Strange, indeed, Zelda thought with slight alarm. What could have gotten Link so sidetracked? She knew that he had always been one to try and appreciate the scenery on his travels, often slowing down to allow it to last. He would also make small diversions at several points, often to gather and prepare food to satisfy his seemingly-bottomless hunger. But nothing like that would usually delay him to this degree. Especially if he was to be expected shortly.

But that slight alarm doubled when her father finished. "Additionally, we've also been told that Lady Mipha has disappeared as well. According to the message we received, the princess has not been seen since yesterday morning."

"What?!" Zelda shouted, stopping in her tracks. The king halted his momentum with her.

Why hadn't she heard about this? Why wasn't there a mad rush as they spoke to get a search party started?! Not one, but two of their champions were missing! And on top of that, the proximity of their disappearances gave Zelda the suspicion that there could be a connection. Were they still together? Do they know of the other's whereabouts?

But when Zelda saw her father's surprised look at her outburst, she reeled herself in a bit. "Father, this is highly concerning. Not to mention an awfully big coincidence." Rhoam nodded at her words. "Should we send out our people to conduct a search? What other information did we receive?"

To her surprise, her father didn't seem the least bit phased by this. If anything, her questioning on the matter seemed to slightly irk the large man.

"Are the Zoras alright? Did-"

"Now, now, dear Zelda," the king cut off his daughter's many questions, his voice firm and commanding even at a typical speaking volume. "Let's not be so hasty. There is little need to panic quite yet." Zelda's eyes narrowed slightly, but she said nothing as her father kept speaking. "I have considered a search, and have several knights on standby should matters escalate the urgency. However, I feel it best to give it another day before we go forth with an investigation for Link. He's quite capable of handling himself after all."

"And Mipha too, I presume?" Zelda asked.

"While I'm concerned for Lady Mipha, her whereabouts are not our responsibility. I'll leave any investigations for her to the Zoras. They are her people, after all.

I would think that everyone should be considered 'our people', Zelda thought to herself. Nonetheless, the princess didn't like the idea of waiting, even if just for an extra day. The idea of him being in any sort of trouble fastened the beat of her heart, and the last thing she wanted was for him to end up in trouble when they could have done something.

But reluctantly, she decided to agree with her father on the matter. "Very well. An extra day, then we move if there is still no word. I shall be prepared for the journey by then," she said.

Thinking that was all there was to say, the girl turned from her father and resumed her stroll down the hall.

But she was halted once again by her father's voice. "You won't be joining them, Zelda."

His daughter spun on her heels sharply. She saw that Rhoam had a disapproving look on his face, a look that all but told her that what he'd just said was final.

Nonetheless, Zelda's body tensed up as she retorted, "Father, this is my personal knight who's vanished, in addition to one of our champions and a friend!" She was struggling to keep the ire out of her regal voice, and could tell that the king had picked up on it anyway. "Don't you feel it worthwhile for me to assist in finding them?"

"Zelda," her father said sternly. "This matter is beyond your capabilities at the moment. If there is danger, I won't have you going near it. Besides," he stated, and Zelda bitterly knew what was to come next already. "You should be focusing your time and attention on your powers. Time could very well be of the essence, and I don't want you spending it where it is not essential."

Of course. It always comes down to that, doesn't it?

But Zelda persisted, desperate for a compromise. "Well then, perhaps I could go about the Hyrule fields, asking around locally for possible witnesses? Or maybe I can-"

"No," Rhoam spat back. "You are not to leave this premises without Link's accompaniment. Which means that until he is found, you are not to leave this castle."

Zelda gasped indignantly. Her gloved hands balled into tight fists at her hips, her eyes deeply narrowed in anger. She leaned forward to confront her powerful father, not caring how petulant she would sound. "Th-that is unacceptable! How am I meant to stay in this one location for days on end?! You expect me to spend-"

"ENOUGH!!" the large man's eruption stopped Zelda's tirade dead in its tracks, his voice seeming as large as his gut. "I will have no more of this defiance! My decision is final, young lady! Is that understood?"

Zelda was stunned. She had so much she wanted to say. But just as she opened her mouth to speak, she found that she had no suitable rebuttal. He'd made it clear that he wouldn't budge, and after several moments of tension thick enough to be cut with the Master Sword, she barked out through gritted teeth, "Yes, father."

But she wasn't about to grace him with her presence any longer. The princess, without another word, nearly pushed her way past the king in the opposite direction she'd come from. As the hallway walls zoomed by her, she tried to keep her composure long enough to be out of her father's range of hearing.

Once she was, however, the usually-dignified princess let out a high-pitched, huffy shout of exasperation, not caring who around her heard.

How dare he?! How dare he insist that I limit myself to one location, let alone this cold, soulless castle that I've spent far too much time in already?! Could he not find a bodyguard for me to substitute for Link?! He wouldn't be a chosen one, but it would be sufficient! I just … AUUGHH!!

All these thoughts festered in the frustrated Hylian's head as she stormed all the way to her room, ignoring the greetings of any guards she passed. Once she reached her room, she slammed the door fiercely and pounded her fist against it in a fit. Her vision had slightly blurred in her fury, and only now cleared up once she reached a destination.

Zelda stormed over to her large bed and sat down on it, her arms and legs crossed so tightly that her entire body went rigid. She hunched over in sadness and rage, a tiny growl slipping through her mouth.

She hated this feeling. The feeling of being put in this box, not allowed to pursue that which she was most passionate about. Whether that be taking up scientific research, traveling at her own heart's desire, or in this case, reaching out to help a friend. And yet it had been happening to her more and more over these past several months. Ever since that legendary sword was pulled from its sheath, all eyes instantly turned on her to fulfill her own destiny. And as she continuously failed to do so, they slowly were beginning to see her as little more than a failure. A princess who couldn't perform her Hylia-given duty, unlocking the power that all generations before her were able to wield when needed. She felt caged, and yet she was expected to have the key to unlock the cage.

She never felt like this when she was out in the open. Studying new, exciting developments, collecting data for the advancement of the technology that had been unearthed. Visiting Purah was always a highlight of any day it occurred, her snappy and enthusiastic personality managing to rub off on Zelda every time.

Then of course, there was Link, and the ways she had been able to truly know and open up to him. He was able to understand and, to her surprise, share in her plight. She never would have expected him to have had any sort of struggle or self-doubt, but beneath the veil of stoicism, she'd uncovered a true heartfelt soul who was not so different from her. From there, the two grew closer, and she found herself admiring him more and more with each passing day. It had grown into feelings that she was very unfamiliar with, but wouldn't dare chase away.

And now he was lost, for reasons that were a mystery to all. Logic and common sense told the princess that it wasn't really a big deal. As her father had said, Link was more than capable on his own and could tackle a variety of trouble thrown his way, if there was even trouble at all.

But not only did Mipha's disappearance pile on to the strangeness of this whole thing, but … something deep within Zelda was telling her that the situation was darker than it appeared. It was hard to pinpoint why, exactly; she felt almost as if someone was screaming at her from a far away distance, only barely able to reach her ears. But that screaming came from inside, and seemed to be trying to say that something serious was going on.

Something that required immediate action. Not the delayed responses of indifferent soldiers, who would be more worried about losing Link due to his hero status more for his person.

And right or wrong, Zelda would not take this lying down. She wouldn't be put in that cage today, being denied the right to take action. She was a princess, whose duty it was to protect her people and solve any problems that were plaguing her kingdom. And that's what she intended to do.

Whether her father approved or not.

If Zelda knew her father, she felt it a rather safe bet that he would be quick to spread word that she was not to leave the premises. As such, she knew that a majority of the castle's guards and keepers would not allow her to leave were they to see her attempting an exit. So of course, she knew as she changed into her field getup, she had to sneak out.

Unfortunately, with the castle being almost entirely surrounded by a moat, and with that moat putting anyone who attempted to swim in it in clear sight of watchful guards, Zelda's only possible way out was through the front entrance. But that, of course, would be even more carefully watched. How could she possibly go through without anyone seeing her?

Fortunately, as she casually (or as casually as she could) wandered around the rooms and halls closest to the front entrance, Zelda caught a glance at a large, white carriage being hauled over the drawbridge and into the castle. As she watched closely, she saw that inside said carriage was a variety of food, clothing, and supplies. It was a common daily occurrence, deliveries coming in to ensure that the royals' home had everything it needed. Conversely, the Hylians would practice a form of trade in return, sending back out their own unneeded goods through carriages as well.

That's when the idea came to Zelda.

She waited. Ever so patiently. Hiding behind a heaping pile of chopped up logs that had come in yesterday, peeking out in anticipation. And then, after what felt like hours, she saw a carriage pull into view. One that was being loaded up with three tan, wooden crates, each hauled by a large worker bulky enough to handle what appeared to be quite heavy. But the contents didn't matter to Zelda; all that mattered was that they were big enough to hide behind.

And hide behind them she did. In the narrow ten-second window she had in which all of the workers had their backs turned to the carriage, the princess made her move. She darted as swiftly yet quietly as possible and hopped her way inside, quick to dart to the far end of the carriage where she could crouch down into a sitting position. She contorted herself until her entire frame was concealed.

And then, she waited once more. Praying that the final check of this vehicle's contents would be little more than a skim.

After several minutes of going undetected, never did she think the sound of closing carriage doors could be so beautiful.

It had taken patience. Enough patience to keep herself from bursting through the carriage doors when she could feel it entering the outside world. For she had to wait until she was far enough away from the castle to slip out without being seen.

Thankfully, Zelda could see through the cracks between the doors that, soon enough, it would be safe to do so. She also saw that no one was riding behind her, giving her the opportunity she needed to open the carriage doors and quickly hop out. She landed on her knees and rolled around in the dirt, but quickly brushed it off and scrambled back onto her feet. Clinging onto the dark blue cloak that she brought to help keep her inconspicuous, she darted off as fast as she could. Looking back, the carriage doors were still open because of her … hopefully those crates were heavy enough to not slide out.

Continuing her journey on foot, Zelda sneakily weaved her way out of sight of the castle guards, including the robotic Guardians patrolling the premises. The dark, hooded cloak helped her stay hidden in the shadows of the structures, artificial and manmade, around her. Soon, she found herself able to cross the port bridge over Hylia River. She made her way in between Crenel Hills and Crenel Peak. After passing them, Zelda was convinced that she'd be well clear out of sight of the castle's denizens.

She found it quite absurd that she needed to pull such a stunt to escape her own people, but it got her here in the end. Away from the eye of her father, the eyes of those who would judge her. Free.

However, as she began her journey and crossed a second bridge overlooking the river, Zelda knew that she wasn't going to get very far on foot. She had been unable to acquire one of her horses back at the castle, and so was left on her own now.

Thankfully, though, she had thought to bring along a plentiful stash of rupees with her for just this occasion, as well as for anything else that she may need. Which meant that she could get a horse from one of the many stables spread throughout Hyrule. While she could have just declared any goods hers under royal authority, such a move was never her style.

And she just so happened to know that Pico Pond was home to one such stable, not far from her on foot. She'd go there, pick up a steed, and be on her way.

As the Woodland Stable entered her sights, however, something didn't feel quite right. Typically, one could see the hustle and bustle of a busy, thriving stable as soon as it came within one's field of vision. Especially at this time of day, when many would be ready to begin their journey to whatever they had planned for that day. Here, however, no one was in sight. No customers, no stable hands, no clerks ... nothing.

Zelda was wary, but kept her pace towards the structure. It looked too well-kept to have been abandoned, and a closed stable at this hour was practically unheard of. But surely enough, when she finally reached it, it appeared as though its services weren't being offered. Whatever horses had been here before were all cleared out - Zelda had to presume to different stables.

She loosely scoured the surrounding land. Was everyone just out giving the horses a ride? No, they wouldn't have just left the place completely unattended. As she ventured into one of the pens that would usually hold horses, Zelda could smell the unmistakable scent of the creatures. It was faint, but the fact that it was there at all told her that this place had been active at most a day ago. She also found that a few of the walls were sporting small drops of some dry, dark red liquid, haphazardly sprinkled around. A few strands of hay also seemed lightly coated in the dried liquid. She prayed to Hylia that it wasn't what it looked like.

Something even more peculiar that caught her eye, however, was a small rock sitting haphazardly beneath a pile of fallen wood. "Rock" was being generous, however; it was closer to a pebble. Nonetheless, it stood out to Zelda as seeming out of place. She bent down to pick it up and study it, holding it carefully between a finger and thumb. Surely enough, she was quick to recognize the material as only occurring in the barren Gerudo Desert. She'd studied it before, and knew it to be highly valuable … at least, when there was more of it. It must have been chipped off from a larger piece.

How peculiar, she thought. What would such a find be doing all the way out here?

"I'd try your business elsewhere."

A deep, raspy voice suddenly burst through the silence, startling Zelda into releasing a light, high-pitched yelp. She turned around abruptly, and saw a middle-aged Hylian man on a dark gray horse. His face was rather solemn as he gazed upon the princess and the empty structures surrounding her.

In order to avoid being recognized, Zelda concealed her eyes and upper face beneath the cloak. In a quiet tone, she asked the man, "What do you mean?"

"Word's gotten around of a massacre that happened here yesterday," the Hylian responded regretfully. "Dozens of workers and clients were found dead. Not humanely either, as if there's a humane way to kill. Stabbed, decapitated …"

The man paused mid-sentence as he shuddered. He looked truly pained to even recount what he'd heard ... almost as if someone he knew was among the slain. Zelda wasn't faring much better; this was horrifying news, causing her legs to tremble beneath her.

"It's been happening all over the kingdom, apparently. And no one knows who's behind it," the stranger added.

Zelda's eyes brimmed with shock and fear. All over? And I'm only now learning of this? Does Father know??

"I ... I-I'm so sorry, sir ..." she stammered. She didn't know why she was apologizing; it just seemed like this was somehow partially her fault.

The man turned away with what sounded like a snifle, before facing her again. "Just be careful, sweetie," he warned. "It's getting more and more dangerous out there." And with only that, he slapped the reins on his horse and rode away, leaving Zelda alone to fester in this new information.

There was little time to really take it in, however. Because just then, a loud, distressed neigh reached the princess's ears. The galloping of hooves followed. Zelda froze, terrified at the idea of this being whoever was responsible for this crime, coming to finish off any stragglers.

But as she slowly turned her head around, she felt that her eyes were deceiving her.

... No ... it can't be ...

"Jacklyn!?"

Indeed, coming up in front of her was none other than the mare Link had left on yesterday. Her light-yellow mane was in a tangled mess, her orange coat littered with healing scrapes and bruises. A noose dangled loosely around her neck, flapping through the air as she moved. But she still ran with the swiftness she was known for, and just barely stopped herself from barreling into Zelda. She did fiercely plow her nost into her chest, though, appearing overwhelmed with relief to see her.

"Jackie? Jackie, easy girl. Easy, you're safe," Zelda crooned, stroking the poor girl's neck in a soothing gesture, removing the rope from her neck. The horse let out little whinnies of sadness. She was clearly shaken by something.

And Zelda, in return, was now even more shaken. For she now knew that something indeed had gone horribly wrong with Link. There was no reason for him to be separated from Jacklyn like this, nor for the mare to have been through something so obviously frightening for her. He cared too much for her to let that happen.

And when she looked around at the rubble surrounding her once more, the dots quickly connected in the princess's mind.

Whatever took place here, Link was involved in it somehow. This stable was just barely off the path he'd take to Zora's Domain, so he would likely have gotten wind of it had it occurred at the right time.

As a flurry of possibilities entered the princess's mind, she could barely bring herself to speak.

"Jacklyn ..." Zelda said, voice heavily trembling. "... What happened here?"

Chapter 8 Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

The night was, unsurprisingly, grueling.

Link and Mipha remained bound and gagged, as they were before, from sunset to sunrise. They were unable to make any progress with their ropes, no closer to the freedom that they both so desperately longed for.

Everything from their wrists, ankles, legs, and shoulders, were unbearably sore from their bonds' merciless, continuous grip. It was the kind of soreness that usually only occurred after a fierce battle … although their struggles to get free could arguably qualify as such, flaring up the pain with every fierce tug or shift. Link's mouth in particular was achingly dry, the fabric having since embedded itself deeply into the corners of his mouth, absorbing all the moisture that could have cooled his burning throat. Starvation and thirst were heavy on their minds, the sensations and sounds of growling stomachs doing little to ease their plights. Sleep was a pipe dream for them both, of course. The two of them only ended up amassing a combined hour and a half, and only when their bodies begged them to stop their efforts and attempt to rest.

Link's wrists continued to get bruised as he struggled, and every time it got too bad Mipha would wordlessly plead to heal them. He direly wished he could do something, anything, to return her generosity. Especially seeing how much worse off her own wrists were with no one to heal them.

There was a slight silver lining, however. The Gerudo desert got significantly cooler at night, which meant that the overheating of Mipha's body had slowly faded away. But unfortunately, now that the sun was back up, the Zora princess could already feel it kicking back in, at an agonizingly slow rate that allowed her to feel every slight rise in body temperature.

It was seeming hopeless for them for a while, despite their silent vows to each other that they'd escape. There was nothing in their empty cells to provide any aid to them, they were separated from each other, and the fatigue of their experiences kept their minds from fully functioning properly.

That is until Link's finally broke through with an idea.

It came as the Hylian watched Mipha once again plow her small, roped-up body against the bars separating her from Link. Her efforts were admirable for someone of her size, especially considering how often the gate buckled, but she was never going to be successful. However, Link eventually took note of the silver, stringed jewelry that adorned the Zora's body, perfectly accentuating the beautiful princess. Among it were two three-moon pieces dangling off her head, that swung about in her struggles. The edges of each moon weren't the sharpest things in the world, but they were narrow.

Narrow enough to slip inside a knot? Link thought in his epiphany. It wasn't a guarantee; far from it, in fact. But right now it was all they seemed to have at their disposal. As uncertain as it was, they had to try it.

That is, if Link could communicate his plan to her with their speech taken away.

He called out to Mipha, his meaningless grunts getting her attention.

"Rrphr. Rryrrrphrr," Link uttered. He accompanied this by tipping himself onto his side deliberately and scooching his head up to the gate.

"Hmmh?" Mipha grunted, head now turned to him intently.

Link looked her imploringly in the eyes and rubbed his head against the bars, wriggling his body in place a bit. The act looked quite ridiculous, but he had to get his point across to her somehow. He grunted more urgently, eyes still on her.

Mipha stared at her love interest, confused. He clearly was trying to tell her something, obviously hindered by these horrible gags. As his grunts and shaking intensified, however, she got the impression that he wanted her to join him as closely as possible. And so she got onto her side as well, and similarly put her head up to the bars. But then she started rubbing her head back and forth as he was.

"Nr, drrm," Link grunted, ceasing his motions and willing her to do the same. "Drrm!"

At his surprisingly snappy grunt, Mipha halted abruptly, exhaling lightly through her gag. She didn't move, instead waiting to see what Link did next.

This did, however, put her in a position where her left-side three-moon jewelry piece was left dangling in between the bars, the ornament now resting halfway between their cells.

Link kept his breathing steady, focusing now that he was a step closer. "Drrr," he tried to order her to stay put. He risked getting on his stomach in order to raise a finger behind his back. He hoped that the Zora could see it and would understand its meaning. "Drrr," he repeated, more firmly and slowly this time.

Mipha's eyes narrowed heavily, somewhat resembling a scowl. She did indeed see the hand gesture, and continued to not move a muscle … the ropes certainly helped with that.

What is he trying to do here? she wondered. She certainly knew that there was some method to all this. Link was highly intelligent and, even more than that, resourceful. That much was clear to her.

After a few moments, the bound Hylian rolled onto his side and scooted himself up to have his back against the cage. His fingers then slipped through the bars, and made their move to grab the jewelry against their limited reach.

So he wants me to grab his hands? Mipha thought. Not sure what else to do, she put herself on her back and put her own fingers through.

But this clearly wasn't what her fellow captive wanted.

"NH!!" Link shouted, causing his love to freeze with a light, stifled shriek.

The two just looked over their shoulders and stared at each other, breaths heavy through their noses. Link fought to maintain his patience, while Mipha's expression resembled a puppy scolded by her owner. In the ensuing silence, the two tried desperately to get inside the other's head. In their days together, the duo showed a strong connection and understanding of each other without it having to be explicitly said. Surely they could use that connection now.

Composing himself in spite of his rising nerves - neither of them knew how much time they had for this - Link slowly put his head back to the cage, and grunted. Mipha then did the same once more, very confused. "Whnnmmthnn?"

Link then turned back and put his fingers through again. But the ornament was slightly further away this time, just out of reach.

"Grrn!" he shouted in anger, bound legs kicking in frustration. This is ridiculous! he thought, futilely rubbing his gag on the ground.

He's reaching for … something, Mipha speculated. She looked at the ground between their cells, only her jewelry sitting there.

It hit Mipha at that moment. Is he … is he trying to reach my … ?

And then it all clicked. He wanted to rip it off and use it to get untied! He must see some way to do it. Maybe slipping it into a knot, or using it as a blade. Could that really work?!

It's Link, the princess thought fondly. Of course it can work.

To confirm her realization, Mipha shook her head to rattle the bars with the jewelry, the resulting sound accompanied by a questioning grunt on her part. Link saw this and, beyond relieved that she seemed to be getting it, nodded vigorously. "Mm hmm!" he added.

Mipha, with a look of renewed resolve, gave a curt nod of her own.

And like clockwork, the two dear friends put themselves back into the right positions simultaneously. This time, Mipha thrusted her head to get the jewelry piece as close to Link as possible, needing to rely on precise movements to slip it through and maneuver it into position.

It took an agonizingly long minute and several readjustments on Mipha's part, but the tied up Hylian was ultimately able to get the ornament barely between his fingers. Working very carefully, he shifted it to try and enclose his palm securely around it.

In his fumbling, however, he accidentally gave it a sharp tug, causing Mipha to jerk forward. And the sudden, unexpected movement pulled the three moons right out of Link's grasp.

Mipha turned her face to him, embarrassment plainly written on it. "Phrry," she mumbled.

They didn't dwell on it, instead trying the process again. This second time fared better; Link was ultimately able to grasp the object without it slipping out.

Now for the least pleasant part: he had to pull it free from the Zora's pretty head.

Mipha's jewelry was securely fastened to her head, locked on tightly to prevent it from coming loose without a specialized tool ... ironically, exactly what they were trying to do now. And so when Link began to pull on the string, she fully expected the discomfort that followed. And when it was clear that more force was necessary, she braced herself for it to escalate. The Zora squeezed her eyes shut and forced herself to contain the moans of pain she wanted to let out. She didn't need Link distracted by her own well-being, as much as she loved him for such a trait.

Indeed, Link hated doing this to her and knew she was in distress now. But she clearly understood the necessity, or else she would have pulled away. And so he kept pulling and pulling, each tug more powerful than the last. He was trying his best not to hurt her any more than he had to. Clasping both hands over the ornament now, the hero soon resorted to digging his rope-wrapped boots into his bars. His upper body bound as heavily as it was, Link had to rely on the momentum of his entire body. He kept yanking, able to barely hear the pained little yelps from behind the Zora girl's gag.

I'm so sorry, Mipha. Just hang in there, he thought sadly. Okay, this is coming loose ... looser ... one last pull ... one … two … THREE!

With a muted grunt of exertion, the Hylian gave the jewelry the strongest tug that he could muster. And gratefully, it was enough.

Joined by a fierce yelp from Mipha that was quite sharp despite being muffled, the string connecting the ornament finally snapped. It flew clean off and smacked into Link's gate, hitting the floor with a small jangling sound.

Mipha breathed in heavily, several deep moans accompanying the heaves as she threw her head back. Just when she thought her head would be the one part of her body free from feeling sore. Laying on her back, tied legs sprawled out, she at least was thankful that it was done, and more importantly, that it was a success.

Wasting no time, Link hastily made to reach through and grab the item.

He barely got his fingers through, however, when a cold voice suddenly caught the captives' ears.

"Let's see how our guests are doing this morning!"

On her makeshift bed in her assigned room, Jora sat quietly in thought. Any moment, she was expected to be called in by her father to confront their two prisoners once more. It was primarily by her request; she wasn't content with simply leaving the prisoners to themselves until it was time to go forward with the plan. Rather, she found herself in a state of mental conflict, one that was rather unexpected to her.

The Hylian hero was not quite what she'd expected him to be. From everything she knew about Hylians, she assumed she'd encounter a cold, soulless, greedy being who cared little for others and only sought to help those he was told to help. She hadn't expected him to give her old lady persona that escort without being asked first; it was their backup plan under the assumption he wouldn't be so generous. Additionally, despite his quiet demeanor, she saw an unmistakable fire in his eyes in their fight, one that told her clear as day that he truly believed himself to be the hero of his story. He fought for what he believed was the greater good … it just so happened that he'd been lied to regarding what the greater good really was.

It made Jora wonder about him. Was he truly different from the rest? Was there still hope for him? Even his Zora friend might not be beyond saving. She wasn't as exposed to the foul corruption of Hyrule's dastardly king, for one thing. But then again, her fondness for a Hylian raised further questions. It could be that her soul was corrupted as well. Or further evidence that this Link had good in him yet.

Did they really need to perform the ritual? Or could he see reason and join by choice?

"Milady," a Yiga subordinate said, cutting off her sea of internal questions. "The prisoners are ready."

Time to see for ourselves, isn't it? Jora thought. "Thank you, I'll be right in," she said cordially.

True to her word, Jora made haste to emerge from her bed and join her father. As she walked down the ensuing hallway, she passed by one of the Yiga Clan's storage rooms. This one in particular held several vials of a fluid they'd spent months perfecting. Next to them on the shelves sat jars containing only a dark-purple mist, the color's appearance slightly mystified by the sliver of sunlight shining through the translucent gas. She knew the purpose of these substances, and would be disappointed if they truly did require them.

Soon, Jora found herself in a room that she knew very well: her father's chambers. Inside, Ohram himself was currently seated on what was a throne in every way but name, his bearing proud and authoritative as always. He smirked with a subtle joy at seeing his adoptive daughter now in his presence. To his side lay a seven-foot-tall statue of the most famous incarnation of the legendary Ganon, that of a large, pig-like being. The holes in its eyes bore bright red gems resembling oversized rupees, which shimmered as if to remind Ganon's Yiga children that he was always watching over them.

She also saw a few Yiga soldiers carrying in the two prisoners she was summoned for, still securely bound and gagged. They seemed to have realized by now that resisting wouldn't yield any results, but that didn't stop their stubborn fidgeting and muffled grunts of disapproval. Two of the Yiga were required to carry the Hylian by his torso and legs, while his Zora companion was light enough to be carried in such a way by only one.

The two captives were tossed haphazardly onto the hard floor, kept mostly clean by Ohram but no more comfortable for it. By some miracle, the boy was able to just catch himself on his feet as he hit the floor, crouched low on his toes and hunched over. The girl was less fortunate, grunting in pain as she hit the ground on her stomach and face.

"Mmph!"

Her heavy, quick breathing told Jora that her cold-blooded form was once again suffering under the merciless Gerudo heat.

Link growled at her mistreatment, wobbling to stay on his feet as he began to hop over to her. But a Yiga then came and shoved him in the back, causing him to fall on his knees with a grunt.

Wanting to take advantage of finally no longer being separated from Mipha, Link hobbled on his knees over to her. She now lay on her back, trying to keep calm despite her rising body heat. The Hylian pressed his left leg against her side gently as a form of comfort. Mipha appreciated the loving gesture, leaning herself into him.

As the Yiga left the room, Ohram then rose from his seat, his imposing stature and hulking frame now notable. He was the height of a Yiga Blademaster, and wearing a more elaborate version of a Blademaster's usual getup. He slowly walked over to the captives, his face almost bearing a look of awe under his mask as his eyes locked on to Link.

"The great Hero of Hyrule, in the flesh," he began. His deep voice spoke with full knowledge of his authority, but also calm, humble, almost warm. Link's blue eyes darted to the source of the voice, his face furious.

"Allow me to greet you properly," the figure stated. "My name is Ohram, leader of the Yiga Clan. And you've already met my daughter, Jora."

Link gasped lightly through his gag, looking over to the Yiga who first brought him into this mess. She looked back at him firmly, but her body language was less hateful than he would have expected.

"She's told me of you from your limited time together," Ohram kept speaking.

"Indeed," Jora stepped in. "I told him that you are a man of few words. I told him of your abilities in combat, though we did prove ourselves quite superior." Link's eyes narrowed at that. Outnumbered ten-to-one, he thought.

As Jora spoke, Mipha began using Link's body as support to get herself up onto her own knees, with Link gladly acting as such support. She slid her way up his slim and fit form, a sensation she would have enjoyed had it not been for their predicament, and got to her desired position. However, she kept her head on Link's shoulder, not wanting to leave the comfort of his touch now that it was finally in reach. She found herself pressing her gagged face into it, and Link in turn put his head on her head, some of his blonde locks gently brushing onto her.

Jora observed the tender interaction between the two, momentarily caught up in it. However, she quickly snapped back into her speech. "I also told him of how you were quite generous to my disguised form. Though I doubt that the Hylians you serve have ever recognized that."

She strutted over to stand in front of Link, mere feet away from him. "Initially, I believed it to be because you only show concern towards Hylians. But this little display," she gestured with a hand to the princess, "Does not support that."

Link raised a brow, irritated and wondering what she was trying to get at here. She believed him to be good-natured? Was a Yiga really in a position to make such judgements of morality?

"I see your confusion," Jora spoke on, now slowly pacing around the tied up duo. "Allow me to reiterate what I said yesterday: the Yiga are the saviors." Her fists clenched, her voice full of conviction. "I'm sure you know that we were once Sheikah. And that we were exiled by the King. But do you know why?"

She now stood behind them, coming up to stand over the two. "Because they feared us. Nothing more. We offered them technology beyond their capabilities, and they spat in our faces," she barked. Mipha pressed her face deeper into Link, who wanted nothing more than to wrap his arms around the scared princess.

"They left our people to rot, all because they couldn't stand change," Jora continued her pacing. "Nor threats to their power. That is why we seek to raise Calamity Ganon. They cling to their ways and spread their elitism throughout the land. Now, we stand as servants, sworn to cleanse it from this world."

She truly believes this, Mipha realized. It saddened her to think that someone could genuinely believe this horrible gang of killers and thieves were heroes. That the master they wished to resurrect would bring the world anything other than darkness, devastation, and death.

"But I believe, Hero, that you are not beyond saving," Jora said. "That amidst the corruption that prevails across your Hylian government, the good in you is not forever lost."

Link just stared at this woman. He kept his resolve hardened, and not just in defiance of her words. He wanted to make sure her eyes were locked to his own and not to his bound arms.

For in his fist was the three-moon jewelry piece he just managed to grab before their Yiga captors arrived. And he was now trying to transfer the piece from his clenched hands into Mipha's.

Once Jora got back in front of the two, Link made his move. He reached over to clasp his hands with the Zora still pressed up against him. He heard Mipha suppress a gasp as she felt the object and recognized its feel. Link leaned himself further into her, trying to signal her to take it.

Mipha didn't want to leave Link with nothing. But as Jora began rounding their sides again, she knew that Link wouldn't budge on this, and didn't want them to get caught. So reluctantly, she took it, and concealed it tightly behind her hands and arms.

You never once think of yourself, do you? she thought bittersweetly.

"Hyrule doesn't see it," Jora continued her spiel. "They only see in you what they need you to be: their weapon. An unfeeling tool to protect themselves regardless of the cost to you."

"Phrrnnndrrr!" Link tried to protest, but the gag blocked his words.

This Yiga didn't know what she was talking about. He'd come to be very good friends with Princess Zelda, connecting deeply with her and seeing her as more than the spoiled girl she initially seemed to be. And ... he was sure there were others at the castle who cared for him. He just didn't open up to them is all. Although that didn't stop Zelda.

"You're in denial, young one," Ohram suddenly spoke again, standing near his seat with his arms crossed. "I've heard stories of you being trained from a very early age. Your father was apparently a fighter like you, setting your path before you. You never had a choice. Never could choose a different path."

Link felt a pit in his stomach as he was brought back to something Zelda once asked him: if he one day realized he wasn't meant to be a fighter, would he have chosen a different path? He never did answer her question properly, partially because he was afraid of what an honest answer would entail.

"Poor thing," Jora lamented, running her fingers through Link's hair. The boy harshly pulled away and grunted, forcing Mipha to readjust, no longer snuggled up against him.

But Jora simply grabbed a clump of Link's blonde hair and pulled his head up, forcing him to look up at the Yiga standing over him and breathe rapidly through his nose.

"Drnntrrphmm!!" the Zora growled, her bright copper orbs flaring angrily.

"We're giving you the opportunity to join by choice!" Jora spat, her tone far more aggressive now as she brought her face inches from his, bringing out strangled moans from the gagged hero. "Not only that, the chance to have everything you could ever hope for!" She tightened her grip on Link's hair, making him wince and groan in pain. "And yet you wish to continue as a slave?!"

She then turned to Mipha, who was squirming in a fit at seeing the abuse of her hero.

"Or," Jora said, "Would you rather you dear friend suffer?"

Link's eyes flared up with pure, unbridled hatred. He snarled through the fabrics in his mouth, wrenching his head to get out of Jora's grip. He succeeded, but it put him on his side. His head fell onto Mipha's lap, resting just above the ropes around her thighs. He looked into her beautiful brown eyes, which were welling up with unshed tears, as she stared back down sympathetically at his radiant blue ones.

I won't let them do anything to her, Link reaffirmed to himself.

"RNNRRRGHMM!!" he shouted, head turned to the father-daughter duo, demanding they release this innocent girl. "Ymmgrrrrn wrrnn, nnhrr! Phrrnnnphnm, jnnr rnnrrrghmm!"

Ohram sighed, seemingly remorsefully. As if reading his mind, he said, "She can be spared, boy. Were she to turn as well, her safety and happiness could be guaranteed alongside yours."

At the cost of thousands of innocent lives! Mipha thought hatefully. She couldn't believe these villains were even trying to turn them against their friends and family!

"Mmphrrm nnvrr jmmnynn! NNVRR!!" she screamed, her upper body thrusting in a fit against her bonds. She tossed and turned herself with reckless abandon, screaming out through the filthy fabrics, her one remaining moon ornament bumping against her head (thank Hylia they didn't notice the other was missing). The efforts brought her toppling onto her side, but she hardly noticed. Her already-heating body was getting hotter from the exertion, but she didn't care. Mipha couldn't stand to just sit there in the face of such heinousness.

As Link launched himself to sit upright, Jora chimed back in. "Or," she said to him, "You could allow her to suffer. As many more would suffer, in the decades and centuries that this endless battle between princess, hero, and Ganon endures. With us, that cycle ends! And with you on our side, the destiny you were set for can change as well."

She crouched down to meet the bound Hylian at eye level. Seething, he tugged his arms mightily and exhaled furiously through his nose, but it of course did nothing.

"You do want that change, don't you?" she said almost softly. "I can see it. The doubt, the emptiness, the longing to break free from everything … All of that can go away, Link. You can have the life you've always wanted."

The use of his name disarmed Link, but he wouldn't allow himself to feel any form of connection to Jora.

And yet … she was not entirely wrong. As recently as last night, the chosen hero felt remorse for the path he was on. He regretted what he never tried to do, and even went as far as to wish he hadn't pulled that sword from its sheath.

He'd wished for an opportunity to be rid of that. To live by his own decisions. Maybe he would be able to settle down with Mipha, live out his days with her, either with the Zoras or out in a bit of land they called their own. Or-

Stop! he scolded himself. It doesn't matter! You won't get that like this! Never like this!

He looked at the still-crouched Jora in the eyes and shook his head. It didn't have the conviction he wanted, which scared Link more than almost anything. But the message was clear: nothing she said would turn him into one of them.

Jora's head hung in disappointment. She truly did want to get through to this young man, to make him see the truth. But now, after this disastrous encounter, she was starting to once again believe that he was too far gone.

He'd chosen the life of a brainwashed slave … and so now they'd have to keep him as one. Only this time for their side.

Her father's voice caught her attention as he addressed her. "It's no use, my child. Your efforts were valiant, but they appear to be fruitless."

Jora got back upright and turned to him. She knew he was right, and forced herself to accept it.

Nodding, she replied to him. "I understand, father."

Ohram grunted in approval. In spite of it ending in failure, he couldn't help but be proud of Jora. She had the spirit of a true Yiga, and the determination to spread that spirit to others. He couldn't have asked for a better daughter.

But now, it seemed that they were finished.

"Now then," he continued. "The ritual draws nearer, and we must prepare. Guards!" he called out to the same Yiga who had brought the captives in, and they returned into the room promptly.

"Return the girl to her cell. We can still use her as leverage to gain control of the Zora."

"Whnn?!" Mipha grunted. "NN!! Rmmphmm phmmbnnmrmnn!! Mgh, nnhnndmm!!" she screamed shrilly. Not my family! You leave them out of this!! she roared in her mind. Her struggles and screams were worthless, however, as she was once again picked up by the largest guard. She squirmed like a dying fish as she was carried away from Link.

"HMMMNN GHPH!! NNNNNMMPH!!"

"Rrphr!" Link shouted, twisting his body and kicking his legs wildly. Both friends yelled through their gags as they were separated, and Link's struggles only increased as the Zora's garbled voice got fainter and fainter as she was hauled away.

"What of the boy?" another Yiga asked, cruelly indifferent to the distress of their horrified victims.

"We'll keep him here," Jora responded. "No need to go through the trouble of carrying him further."

She then grabbed Link's roped up arms and pulled him to a far corner of the room, where a metal door lay ajar. Despite the Hylian's admirable efforts, which didn't let up in the slightest, he was dragged through the door and into a small, empty, windowless room.

Jora shoved him down, his face hitting the rocky floor painfully. Link groaned as he rolled onto his back, directing yet another hateful glower to the female Yiga.

Jora stared back at him. Despite her mask, the disappointment and disdain she felt towards him was unmistakable.

"I tried," she said lowly.

There was nothing left she wished to say to him. Without another word, she sharply turned around, slammed the door, and locked the Hylian inside.

At the sound of the door slamming shut, Link let the back of his head fall to the floor. His blonde locks lay sprawled around him, his eyes tightly shut as if trying to block out this dark reality.

"Nnnnn …"

Physically and emotionally battered, Link didn't know what to do anymore. He was trapped and helpless once more, only this time without the comfort of the dear Zora princess's presence.

He could only hope that she could make use of those three moons.

Notes:

Link's gag speech translated:
"Rrphr. Rryrrrphrr," - "Mipha. On your side."
"Nr, drrm," - "No, stop,"
"Drrr," - "Stay,"
"NH!" - "NO!"
"Phrrnnndrrr!" - "That's not true!"
"RNNRRRGHMM!!" he shouted. "Ymmgrrrrn wrrnn, nnhrr! Phrrnnnphnm, jnnr rnnrrrghmm!" - "LET HER GO!! You clearly want me, not her! She's innocent, just let her go!"
"Rrphr!" - "Mipha!"

Mipha's gag speech translated:
"Whnnmmthnn?" - "What is this?"
"Phrry," - "Sorry,"
"Drnntrrphmm!!" - "Don't touch him!!"
"Mmphrrm nnvrr jmmnynn! NNVRR!!" - "I shall never join you! NEVER!!"
"Whnn?! NN!! Rmmphmm phmmbnnmrmnn!! MGH, NNHNNDMM!!" - "What?! NO!! Leave my people alone!! AGH, UNHAND ME!!"

Chapter 9 Chapter Text

A million different scenarios ran their way through Zelda's mind.

Was Link killed in this attack? No, it would have been reported if the body of the chosen knight was found. Did he fail to save everyone and flee? No, he would have come right back to Hyrule or even the Zora's Domain and told them everything. Not to mention he wouldn't have left Jacklyn alone. So he'd survived, and yet hadn't come back to them despite it being in his vested interest.

Then ... he was captured?

That possibility lingered in Zelda's head. It certainly made more sense than anything else. She took a look back at the stone, which she'd dropped during her and Jacklyn's reunion. She stared at it intently, deep in thought as she tried to not imagine the worst for her knight. Jacklyn poked her head in her face, to which Zelda lightly patted it.

"I know, I know," she whispered.

The princess had little to go off of: a tiny stone from Gerudo, a roughed-up horse, and a narrow field of possible-but-unconfirmed options regarding Link's whereabouts. Additionally, there was the mystery of what happened to Mipha. It was very strange that both of them just happened to go missing on the same day. And yet it wouldn't make any sense for the Zora princess to have been in this area at the time.

As she took one more look at the stone, a deep feeling slowly entered her body. She would have classified it as a gut instinct, but it felt deeper than that. It was as if the goddess herself was trying to contact her, give her an indication as to what to do. She felt a tingling sensation, like she was literally glowing from the inside. Something Zelda had felt only remotely when attempting to unlock her powers. And while it frustratingly never went beyond that, it now stirred a feeling within her as to what she needed to do next: follow the one clue she had.

The Gerudo Desert. Perhaps even Lady Urbosa could help me with this.

Her thinking was then interrupted by a gust of wind, ruffling her flowing blonde hair. It didn't seem to be naturally occurring, so she brushed her hair aside and looked up at the source. Descending towards her was a flying figure that she could easily identify as a Rito. And it was coming towards her.

As it got closer, she saw that it was a dark-blue male, sporting elegant brown and tan clothing topped off with a familiar light-blue sash around his neck. He had a heavy, elaborate bow strapped to his back, yet seemed to be carrying it with ease. She could make out white markings on his face and wingtips, as well as bright red dots on his cheeks.

To her great surprise, she recognized him. It was Revali, another of the four Champions of the Divine Beasts.

He came in to land a few feet away from him, sure to touch down in a stylish pose to make himself look impressive. He got upright and greeted the princess.

"Well, well. I wasn't expecting to fly past you today."

"Rivali!" Zelda shouted joyfully. "Thank Hylia you're here! I need your help!"

The Rito made little attempt to hide his satisfaction at those four words. It was widely known that he was a prideful one, always wanting to show off what he was capable of and more than happy for others to rely on him. Although Zelda had always sensed something deeper behind that pride, something not too far removed from what she once felt.

"Do you now?" he asked. "Well, might I then ask why you're out here alone? Shouldn't that boy be with you for your assistance?" he asked, his voice turning cold near the end.

Zelda's eyes hardened, but she answered. "That's why I'm here. Link, h-he's gone missing. He should have been at Zora's Domain yesterday, but he never got there. My father said to not get worried yet, but I … I just have this feeling that something's horribly wrong."

Revali's face gradually grew more suspicious as she spoke. As if this information added to worries he already had. It carried through slightly into his voice as he responded. "Oh … Well, I greatly appreciate the offer, but I'm afraid I'm preoccupied with a rather urgent matter." He walked up to her gracefully, wings behind his back. "As it would turn out, our dear Lady Mipha is similarly missing."

"I know," Zelda sighed. "None of the Zoras have seen her since-"

"Since yesterday morning," Revali interrupted. "Yes, yes, I'm very well aware. The Zoras are quite worried about her. They've already begun a search party to track her down, and not just within the realm of their homes. Someone actually found a piece of her jewelry washed up on, of all places, Mercay Island!"

Mercay?! Zelda thought. That's not terribly far from here! Does that mean she could have gotten caught up in the stable attack? What would she be doing there?!

The feeling that things were worse than initially thought was cementing within the princess even more now. It was becoming harder and harder to deny that the two Champions' disappearances could be connected to both each other and this stable massacre.

"That's actually why I myself am out here," Revali placed a wing on his chest. "I've been recruited by the Zora as part of this search party. They must have known of my expert-level flying capabilities and couldn't resist reaching out for help," Revali added, with confidence of course.

"That's perfect!" Zelda said, not bothering to be annoyed by his ego. "We can work together to find them both! I'm on my way to meet Urbosa in Gerudo. You can come with me!"

The Rito coughed awkwardly, not showing an ounce of the excitement the Hylian now had. Instead he seemed somewhat annoyed, and largely disinterested. To the point where Zelda became genuinely worried over where his priorities lay.

"I … beg your pardon, Princess," he said. "But I've been tasked with finding our Zora Champion, and her alone. That Hylian of yours is little concern of mine, unfortunately," he scoffed dismissively.

Zelda knew that Revali and Link had always been like oil and water, never getting along. It was clear that a primary cause of this was the Rito's jealousy of Link's status as the Chosen One, as the one that he was required to assist rather than the other way around. Initially, Zelda had actually taken comfort in Revali due to her own disdain for Link, with the two of them forming a connection in that regard. Now, however, her newfound friendship with the hero seemed to put her and Revali a bit at odds as well.

Nonetheless, she was still taken aback by how little he cared for Link's disappearance. Was he really that apathetic towards him? Even more discerning, Zelda thought, would she have been the same way had this happened months prior, when she was still so bitter towards him?

"He is the concern of everyone," she insisted sternly. "Like it or not, he is our responsibility, and this is your problem as well. And I'd believe our chances to be greater with you at our aid. Do you not see the peculiarity of this whole situation? Finding one of the two could very well lead us to the other."

The golden brows of Revali furrowed down, a stiff expression on his large beak as several seconds went by without a response. After taking a deep breath, the avian finally spoke again. "Yes, well," he started, "I certainly wouldn't want anything to happen to the chosen hero."

Wouldn't you? Zelda thought skeptically.

"But alas, as I said, I already have my own mission. But I wish you luck on yours."

The Rito gave her a wave with his wing and, apparently just deciding the conversation was over, prepared to take off with his trademark gale.

But Zelda wasn't having it. She was about to go low, but right now she didn't care. "Fine then …" she huffed, crossing her arms. "We'll see what the Rito think when they hear you've said that."

The winged champion's attempted takeoff ground to a halt. His body went stiff, the feathers on his neck rising. He got back into a standard position and slowly turned back to Zelda.

"… And how exactly would they learn that?" he asked accusingly.

Zelda merely smirked. "Oh, I'm sure someone will let them know … word tends to spread like that."

Revali narrowed his eyes, crossing his wings as well. He seemed to have no response other than to look at Zelda with resentment and even betrayal. This girl was once on his side, almost a confidante of his. He saw that she harbored great insecurities towards her abilities to fulfill her destiny, ones that he secretly harbored towards himself. (Not that he'd let anyone know about them.) For a while, he had felt a trust in the princess because of this. Surely she wasn't going to rat him out over that lowly boy!

And yet, as he kept staring at her, he saw that her face was unflinching. She wouldn't budge on this.

And so, he sighed out, head shot up in exasperation. This girl will be the death of me.

Voice almost too soft for her to hear, he mumbled out, "You said you were heading to Gerudo?"

"There you go, Jacklyn. Think you can make it the rest of the way?"

Zelda asked this to the faithful horse as she fed her a small apple, one of the many she had stored away after picking them from a tree on their path. The steed would need the nourishment for the lengthy trip to Gerudo Town.

In spite of the negative circumstances, Zelda couldn't help but feel invigorated by getting to go on this journey. Her favorite parts of her duties were, hands-down, the trips she got to take across Hyrule. Had she not been determined to complete this one as soon as possible, she would have probably stopped every fifty feet to examine some specimen or plant life.

Revali was, of course, less pleased. He kept his wings and legs crossed as he rode atop Jacklyn behind Zelda, trying to look dignified in spite of his mood. He initially demanded that he fly his way there, but Zelda insisted they stick together. Even his company was better than no company.

The trip was largely passing in awkward silence, only the worry of their friends and the tension between them enduring. And as content as she'd be to just observe and enjoy the environment, she figured she might as well attempt to initiate some conversation.

"So ..." she started with uncertainty, "How has your work with Vah Medoh been coming along?"

Revali turned his head to her, seeming surprised by the question. But with a more upbeat tone than he'd carried before, he answered, "Oh, well quite splendidly, actually. Not that it was any trouble to begin with, mind you. I've proven quite capable of becoming one with the beast early on," he boasted. "But there's of course always room for improvement."

Zelda nodded. "It seems you all have gotten a handle on your duties." How I wish I could say the same for myself.

"Indeed. My own gale technique has been perfected as well. I'd like to see these other Champions reach the heights I now can."

"Hmm ..." Zelda grumbled. This bird truly could be grating at times, and it certainly wasn't helping with her current stress. She thus couldn't help but poke him a bit. "We all have our own strengths that we bring. I'd like to see you come close to matching Mipha's speed in the water. Your value is high, but that does not diminish the value of those around you."

" … No, it doesn't …" Revali nearly growled slowly. "But you must admit, I would be quite a match for this Calamity Ganon, no?"

Zelda's grip on the reins tightened, with her trying to keep her head steady. "It is irrelevant," she said. "You were not chosen by the sword."

"Yes, yes, I'm quite aware," the Rito was now close to seething. "But all I'm saying is that if our Chosen One truly does perish ... as I said, there's always room for improvement.

That was it. Zelda pulled on the reigns as her way of commanding Jacklyn to stop. The horse did so, and the two passengers were jerked forward at the abrupt halt. They weren't going to continue, the princess decided, until she gave this arrogant avian a piece of her mind.

"Why are we-" Revali asked, but was cut off by Zelda.

"Can you put aside your petty rivalry for one day?!" she shouted. "I understand you envy him. Believe me, you know I've been there. But to wish death upon him simply because some sword called to him instead of you? I dare call that heartless!"

"I didn't wish death on-"

"You might as well have," Zelda cut him off again. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself, not wanting to create a situation where the two couldn't even work together properly.

"Link and Mipha are more than just pieces to a predestined plan, you know," she scolded. "They're people, just the same as us. With or without these frivolous roles we all have to play, we should feel obliged to help and protect them simply because it's right."

Revali scoffed. "Hah, you're certainly one to talk, Princess. I recall you feeling not too differently than me towards the Hylian. You recognized the lunacy of it all. Tell me, what changed there?"

Zelda looked down and sighed, knowing that she wasn't that much in the right to point fingers at him. Nor would it do any good to try and shame him. They needed to be unified, one team against whatever threatened their peace.

"You're right. I did look down on him. And really, Revali, I do understand your frustration." She looked back up at her feathered ally. "But then I actually got to know him better and understand him. And I saw so much more than what I thought was there. Maybe if you did the same, things would change between you two."

"You think I didn't try to?" Revali barked. "I attempted to acquaint myself with him. In spite of my own ambitions, I wanted to approach him as a friend. But he clearly had no such interest. So aloof, so uncaring towards those who mean well to him! It was clear by just the emotionless glance he gave me that he didn't want such a relationship, so why should it be my responsibility to show such care back? You know that he barely talks to anyone. I refuse to reward that!"

Another pause ensued, with the princess unsure how to answer. She knew what Revali meant; Link did give off a very cold, distant, even dismissive demeanor. But she now knew the truth behind it, and that it only hid the many layers of emotion, thought, and dare she say tenderness that all deserved to see ... layers that made her feel more strongly towards him than she could remember feeling towards almost anyone … just the thought of it caused her heart to start pounding.

"Zelda," Revali continued. His voice was no longer as harsh and cold. He seemed genuinely curious as he asked, "What has you suddenly defending him so?"

Snapped out of her reverie, Zelda turned back to the winged Champion. Choosing her words carefully, she simply said, "He's ... not all that he appears to be. I've seen it firsthand. I can talk to him about this. Perhaps … perhaps giving him a second chance could change things."

That was all she wanted to say at the moment. Little did anyone know how deeply her feelings for the hero went, and she didn't want to risk exposing them now.

Revali didn't add anything else. Dozens of thoughts were now swirling around in his head, evident by the conflicted look in his eyes. He just looked away contemplatively, practically signaling that the conversation was over for now.

So with that, Zelda started up Jacklyn, and the trio were moving once more.

One last thought came to her mind, though. "Oh, and giving him food will certainly help," she grinned.

Not much of note occurred since that argument. A few words here and there, but the remainder of their time heading for the desert passed in lingering silence. And both of them felt that was fine for now.

They could tell they were getting closer from the gradual temperature change, the air getting a little hotter by the minute. As they passed in between Mount Nabooru and Mount Hylia, they knew that a swerving canyon would be their last sight before they saw the vast, barren fields of hot, tan sand that was Gerudo Desert. And surely enough, after reaching the Gerudo Canyon Stable, that sight greeted them at last.

The two of them purchased cooling potions from a merchant at the stable, and fed Jacklyn a Chillshroom that would hopefully last her long enough to reach Gerudo Town. As they exited the canyon and started on the desert path, Jacklyn hesitated slightly, taking slow, deliberate steps further out into the open.

"Come on Jacklyn, just a bit further," Zelda cooed, gently slapping the reins.

At their destination dwelt not only the Gerudo people, but Lady Urbosa, Gerudo chief and Champion of the Divine Beast Vah Naboris. She would surely be of help in their quest to unravel this mystery and find their two missing Champions. Maybe she'd even utilize the help of her soldiers, for the all-female Gerudo army were well respected for their battle prowess.

But additionally, Zelda was just excited to see Urbosa again. The Gerudo was a dear friend of Zelda's mother, and so when she passed away, she proceeded to act as a sort of second maternal figure for the princess. She understood Zelda so much and never hesitated to express how proud she was of her, even through her failures. It all served to make the chief one of the people Zelda cherished the most in this world, and she couldn't help but smile at the prospect of being in her presence again.

Jacklyn, however, still did not seem so happy. She picked up her pace upon Zelda' request, but her head was twisting back and forth at an unusual rate. Zelda could feel the horse's body continuously tensing up, and none of the attempts at comfort from the princess or even a half-hearted Revali were helping.

Then at one point, Jacklyn just froze in her tracks, unprompted. She became twice as tense as before and lifted a leg up, head spinning around.

"Jackie? What is it, girl?" Zelda asked gently.

Revali gasped and, without warning, wrapped his wings around Zelda. He tossed them both off the horse, crashing into the sand. Zelda coughed in fury as the substance slipped into her mouth, and was about to ask what the meaning of this was. But then three sharp arrows suddenly landed inches from her face, piercing the sand and causing her to shriek.

The two scrambled up to their hands and knees, but were given no more time before seven clouds of red smoke suddenly surrounded them. Jacklyn was going into a fit, neighing loudly and kicking her hooves aimlessly.

Zelda's heartbeat accelerated when she saw the clouds. She knew what they meant, and could only look on in wide-eyed terror at her confirmed fear as the clouds faded away to reveal seven Yiga Footsoldiers, sharpened weapons and polished bows in hand.

Revali suddenly sprang up onto his feet, wings outspread and stance low, instantly ready for combat.

"Yiga," he growled. "To what do we owe this fine pleasure?"

Laughter ensued from two of the soldiers, while a third answered him. "What do you think, birdie? Two highly important figures like you just wandering through? Ripe for the picking. And we have others who would love for you to join them."

Revali flapped his way out of the range of a charging soldier's slash. He then quickly got out his famed Great Eagle Bow and fired at the Yiga's back. He was satisfied with the resulting scream of pain, but couldn't drink it in as he saw another Yiga advancing on Zelda. He ignored another enemy making a move for him as he flew towards the Hylian princess, knocking the soldier back with his feet and landing deftly after. Another Yiga prepared to fire an arrow at the two, but Revali was able to shoot one at her head first while barely looking in her direction. Her now-lifeless body collapsed.

Being preoccupied, unfortunately, left the Rito open to a Yiga teleporting above him and knocking him down to the ground. The impact knocked the bow out of Revali's wings, and he collapsed down with a grunt. As the Yiga then went up to finish him off point-blank, he thought quickly and swept his feet out to trip the soldier down, rolling to avoid the arrow that was subsequently released right at his chest.

But unfortunately, the rest of the ambush had since collected themselves and now surrounded the duo. Jacklyn tried to charge at them and kick out with her hooves, but a soldier slashed her in the flank. The injured horse whinnied horribly and slid down into the sand, thankfully on her unwounded side.

"JACKLYN!!" Zelda screamed.

Revali got back up onto his feet. He couldn't break his way through the surrounding enemies, and trying to fly up above them would make him an easy target to shoot down with their arrows. His options were looking slim, but he kept himself ready to spring back into action, as the Yiga slowly closed in on him and Zelda.

That was when the lightning struck.

Out of nowhere, a miniature storm seemed to form around the ambush, bright flashes of lightning crashing down on the fight. Only two Footsoldiers were struck down, killed instantly, but it was more than enough to scatter the rest of them. They looked around, wondering what in the world just happened.

And then they saw a tall, bulky Gerudo woman standing proudly and confidently, a devious smile on her face. She had a hand raised, her fingers looking to have just finished snapping. In her other hand was a large, powerful scimitar, and on her back was a gorgeous, elaborately decorated shield.

Urbosa! Zelda's mind shouted with joy.

"Seems I wasn't invited to the party," Urbosa quipped, her voice smooth and level. She strode casually forward, and the Yiga respectively slowly backed away from the approaching Champion.

One of the others ran towards the tall woman, but she simply raised her weapon and slashed it through the attacker's torso, sending him to the ground lifeless. She herself then sprinted gracefully towards another, using her shield to block his arrows until she was close enough to smash his head with it, sending him flying. Revali was pleased to retrieve his sacred bow and fire an arrow perfectly to hit the airborne Yiga, finishing him off.

The remaining two turned to the Gerudo chief and warily raised their weapons. But Urbosa, in a sequence not dissimilar in appearance to a seasoned dancer, then proceeded to parry and strike the duo with ease, a combination of her scimitar and shield dealing swift, deadly blows to them both before they could even counter. Within seconds, they joined their fallen members on the hot sand, never to breathe again.

Leaving only Zelda and Revali standing in awe of their rescuer, whose figure stood triumphant amidst the airborne dusts of sand. Revali had never seen her in action before, but his moment alone showed why she had been chosen as a Champion.

"Urbosa!" Zelda shouted. She ran forward and embraced the Gerudo in a tight hug, which she was quick to reciprocate.

Through a light chuckle, Urbosa commented, "Always in danger when you come to my side of Hyrule, aren't you?"

Zelda internally rolled her eyes, but did make note that maybe she'd need some extra training when venturing to this dangerous desert in the future.

When the two separated, Urbosa then looked over Zelda's shoulder to address the Rito accompanying her. "Revali. Always a pleasure to see you as well."

Not sure whether she was being sarcastic or not, Revali just nodded pointedly. "The pleasure is mutual, my Lady."

With a light smile, Urbosa turned back to Zelda. "As glad as I am to have you here, my little bird, I'm curious what the occasion is. And where that dear bodyguard of yours is," she asked, knowingly winking at the princess.

Revali scoffed lightly enough to not be heard, and while Zelda would usually be rendered a tad flustered at the suggestive wink, her expression became instantly somber as she recalled what brought them here to begin with.

Even more, she thought back to what that one Yiga said: "We have others who would love for you to join them."

She took out the little stone she'd found at the Woodland Stable. It, her logic, and that deep-seeded feeling inside of her that she couldn't quite place had led her here. As she connected this final piece of the puzzle, that feeling came back to her, confirming that she now had the answer to the biggest question that had haunted her all day.

The Yiga Clan had Link and Mipha.

Lifting her head back to face Urbosa, she shakily said, "We have a serious problem."

Chapter 10 Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Mipha's squirming didn't make a hint of a difference to the thug carrying her.

The adrenaline was still coursing through the princess's cold-blooded veins as she was taken away from Link and brought back to the original cell the two of them had spent what felt like an eternity in. And needless to say, she was not looking forward to any more time in there.

But she was helpless to do anything as they finally reached it, and she was tossed back in. This time the gates between her and Link's units were open, meaning she had double the space in her prison.

Of course, she tried to scream at the cruel Yiga. "Yrrrnnn gnnmwmmm nnrphthnnh!"

These people had threatened not only herself and her love, but now her entire home and family. She couldn't imagine the worry that would consume her father when he discovered what was happening, nor what he and the rest of the Zoras would be forced to do just to keep her alive. Was there truly no low to which these beasts would stoop?

Another Yiga then entered the cell, this one carrying a small bottle, small enough to be held in her palm. Not bothering with any introductions, she walked up to the tied-up Zora and knelt down to her level. Mipha's luminescent brown eyes shined with hatred that burned even stronger than the desert heat.

"Ohram tells us that you Zora get hotter than most in these conditions," the Yiga said apathetically. "Since you're still useful to us alive, we need to keep you at least somewhat sustained."

She twisted the cap to the bottle open, brought the bottle an inch from Mipha's covered mouth, and raised her other hand up to the gag. "I'm removing your gag, and you'll drink this water without a word. One peep and I take it away. Am I clear?"

Mipha breathed slowly, hesitant. The prospect of water sounded impossible to pass up right now. But was that really what they were giving her, or something contaminated? Was it worth the risk to possibly quench her terrible thirst? Could she in any way take advantage of this moment, however brief it ended up being?

But the guard, impatient, then repeated, "Am I clear?!"

Bolstered by the sudden exclamation, as well as the desperation and severe dehydration she was suffering, Mipha immediately nodded her head. The guard was then prompt to pull the cloth down to her neck, freeing her mouth to spit out the other material packed inside.

Mipha couldn't even take a deep breath, however, before the bottle was shoved into her mouth and the water was poured in. It tasted bitter and unclean, but once the sensation of the liquid touched her tongue, she didn't care. At this point, anything she could get was sacred. She felt herself starting to cool down with every gulp, her throat sighing in relief as it got its first source of moisture in a day.

Which made her all the more devastated when the drink only lasted four seconds. After that, the bottle was yanked away, water spilling onto the floor.

Mipha lunged forward to try and catch any extra drops, but it was too late. She scooted forward as the cap was tightened back onto the container, sealing away the precious water.

They can't possibly think that's enough! she thought indignantly. The brevity of her drink felt almost as cruel as not getting one at all; it only fueled her cravings for more, and made the prospect of waiting Hylia knows how long for another even more unthinkable.

She hated herself for begging, but couldn't resist any longer. "No, no, please, I need more. Just a little more."

The guard only sighed in response, only picking up the cloth previously in her mouth. Mipha's heart raced as it approached her face, panicking at the thought of returning to the dry, suffocating sensation of being gagged once more.

"No, please, don't gag me ag-rghph!"

She was cruelly ignored as the gag was shoved back in, with her jaw being roughly squeezed to keep her from spitting it out. The other guard was quick to get behind her and bring the other cloth back up over her mouth, tying it just as tightly as before.

"NN!! YNNPHMMPH, YNNNGNGMM RNNMMMHH!!! NNH!!!" she screamed, thrashing in her bonds. That was the most freedom she'd had in a full day, and now that she got a taste of it, her fight was renewed to get it back. She couldn't take this anymore; she'd had it with these blasted bonds.

But the Yiga didn't acknowledge her gagged protests. She doubted they would even if they could be understood. They just walked out and closed the gate, without another word. Leaving the poor princess to struggle and scream in unbridled fury and despair. She dragged herself over to kick at the gate for the latest of many times, but once again it was useless. It wasn't an immensely strong structure, but it wasn't coming down if she kept at it in her current, seemingly never-ending condition.

It took a few minutes for the princess to calm down. She kept struggling and kicking a bit more, but at some point the rush of the situation died down enough for her to begin thinking clearly again.

And her attention turned to the item that was still in her concealed grip.

The three-mooned headwear accessory, in a rare stroke of luck, had gone unseen by her captors as it was kept behind her arms and hands. But she wasn't questioning a thing. Her ever-selfless Link had been generous enough to allow her to have it, and it turned out to mean him sacrificing his own potential ticket to freedom for hers. She would not let it go to waste.

There were two ways she could think of to use this object. One was as a sort of knife or blade to cut through her ropes. The other was to try and slip it into one of the knots and loosen it that way. She tried her first option, twisting her head to look down and aim her jewel. She maneuvered her hands as well as possible to rub the edges back and forth against her bonds … and could immediately tell that this was going to be strenuous at best. The ornament wasn't the dullest thing in the world, but it certainly wasn't sharp. She wouldn't be cutting the ropes so much as fraying them; either way, it would take an extremely long time.

Time that Mipha believed herself to be short on. Even though that pitiful amount of water had cooled her down a little, she knew that the heat was going to catch up and overwhelm her not too long from now. She still was in a large amount of discomfort from that alone, and could tell that her breathing was only going to get worse than it already was.

So, Mipha tried the other method in mind. She repositioned the jewelry, trying to feel around for a knot on her wrists. She had to twist her hands and transfer the moons between fingers, more difficult than it sounded in these ropes. Thankfully, she was able to feel that the Yiga had tied a knot within reach. Mipha then pointed a tip of the decoration at said knot, and brought it down to test it.

"Mmnnh," the Zora groaned when she realized that this was barely going to be any easier. The knot was expertly tight, having practically no slack whatsoever. She could have pieced that together already given how long they'd held her, but this, combined with the minimal leverage she had, meant that she'd likely spend an agonizingly long amount of time on this as well.

But it felt like it might be the slightest bit easier than the alternative solution. And with her options so limited, that's what she would have to base her decision on.

Mipha poked at the knot again, rubbing the moon tip against it to locate what felt like a micrometer-wide (at best) gap between the ropes. The dips and bumps of the weaving strands gave this location away. She poked at it again, wedging and turning it but still not having any more of an effect. She twisted her wrists as much as she could, but still no noticeable progress.

Ten minutes later, there was practically no difference still, aside from Mipha's body getting more agitated from the temperature. What kept her going were the few times she felt like there was an opening there, the times she felt her jewel get the slightest bit of progress burrowing into the knot. It was deflating when that was immediately followed by it slipping back out, but it was the one sign she had that this could work.

The Zora's chest began pounding, her breaths ragged above the stifling cloth. At this point, it was beginning to truly sink in just how long and arduous this process was likely going to be … without even a strong probability of working at all!

"MMRRMM!!" she shouted as she pulled herself against the ropes, restlessness building on an already-strong foundation. She could already feel some cramping in her wrists, the new layer of claustrophobia in having so little wiggle room in her attempts, rather literally. It was tempting to try and stop to find another, more convenient way.

But she knew that she wasn't so lucky. And so she kept at it.

Half an hour later, she felt substantially worse.

She was gasping and panting heavily through her nose, the temperature now smothering her and making the consumption of air notably more difficult. She was boiling inside, like an alarm had gone off within her flesh and wouldn't stop blaring. Her arms and hands were even more sore from the precise movements required of them, adding to the physical toll. She often tugged her hands in the ropes, testing to see if they were finally loose enough to slip free, and feeling her spirits take a hit when no difference was found.

The bound and gagged Zora took to many different positions just for the sake of bare-bones comfort for her suffering form. She would lie on her stomach, not caring about the filth that stained her bright blue Champion's sash. She leaned herself against a wall, allowing herself a lounge-like position as her bound legs lay splayed out. Her limbs all twitched and shifted in anxiety, making it harder for her to remain coordinated and precise.

"Hmmm, hmmm, hmmmph," she huffed, her muffled voice growing more exasperated. She felt herself welling up a bit from the torturous experience.

But despite these worsening conditions, her hope had grown a little more.

She could sense that the knot, while far from becoming loose, was not quite as airtight as it had been before. She could feel herself able to push the edge in the slightest iota further. And that was enough for her.

She forced her will and, even more so, her patience, to be stronger than she could ever remember. She could feel something happening; she knew it could be done! But the time it took was eating away at her. Not just physically, but emotionally in how she didn't know what Link was going through in the time she was taking. He could be getting tortured at this very moment, or being put through this "ritual" that was mentioned by Ohram.

What would become of him in the grasps of the Yiga?

Nothing! Mipha yelled at herself. Not so long as I can help it!

That drive pushed her through the next half-hour.

It was the same, never-ending process, and it was driving her mad. She wanted so badly to stop, or at least take a break, but refused herself that luxury. She could taste the first bit of release that would get her the freedom she needed.

She ignored the aches, the confinement, the burning inside, the ever-slow progress. The knot was getting looser, and the rate at which it did so felt like it could be increasing. Or that could be in her mind, wishful thinking

Her whole body shook, flaring up at the sting of the ropes all over her.

She kept going. Twisting her wrists. Pulling her arms. Moaning and panting to get precious air. Praying that the Yiga wouldn't come back.

Her pace doubled as she felt the accessory go deeper than it ever had.

Please, just give!

She wriggled it further.

Please!

Further.

Please! PLEASE!!!

And then, after more than an hour of her horrible, taxing efforts, one pull of her wrists brought them apart.

They were free.

And Mipha allowed herself the slightest muffled yell of elation.

As Zelda and Revali rode their way to Gerudo Town, they explained the entire situation as they knew it to Urbosa. And as it all was being laid out in one single summation, going over the details confirmed to Zelda what she now believed to be true. And the Gerudo chief was having very little trouble believing it as well.

From the outside, Gerudo Town likely didn't look like anything special. The exterior was a fairly standard set of walls that did their job of keeping anyone from sneaking in undetected. But on the inside, life was bustling, busy, and prosperous. The many huts and shops aligning the walls of the domain gave it the resemblance of a market square, as did the many residents and travelers who spent their time either browsing through the attractions or just lounging around, taking it easy. A few rows of tall trees were grown to further decorate the town, and the babbling aqueducts that flowed across some of the flattened rooftops proved quite soothing for those able to see and hear it.

It was both a bustling town for Urbosa and her people, and a safe haven for anyone passing through the desert ... provided they met one specific criterion.

"No voes are allowed in the town," ordered the two guards at the town's entrance. One glared at Revali, the "voe", or male, in question. "You two can come in, but he must stay out."

Revali narrowed his eyes. He was aware and thought himself respectful of this Gerudo-specific custom, but now hardly seemed like the time for such strict adherence to it. He was ready to protest, but the tall, female Champion did so instead.

"He is an esteemed Champion and highly valuable to our current situation," Urbosa proclaimed, respectfully but sternly. "I am making an exception today."

The Gerudo guards didn't seem thrilled about it, but begrudgingly nodded and let the Rito pass. Revali turned and gave a subtle but grateful look to the chief, which she responded to with a gentle grin.

And just like that, the trio and Jacklyn were inside. And they wasted no time getting to work on a plan against the Yiga, one that would hopefully result in the rescue of their two captured Champions and friends.

The most obvious problem they faced was that none of them, nor anyone in this town, knew anything about the Yiga Clan hideout outside of its location. From the layout of the structures to the positions of the guards to even the best route of entry, almost everything about it was a mystery to all. As such, they were unable to form any specific strategies around it, or even know where to look for the duo they were trying to save. While they knew that they couldn't just go in without any thought at all, a lot of their mission would have to rely on improvisation. Which meant they would need to come up with a series of many different plans that they could execute and switch out on a whim.

Nonetheless, the soldiers of Gerudo Town made it clear that they were willing to go in and take the risks needed to help the captive Champions. They knew that this was their fight as much as it was the Champions' themselves, and a few even expressed enthusiasm at sticking it to these Yiga a bit. Some of them even volunteered to venture into the territory and scout out the lair for any information they could get. It filled Urbosa's heart with beaming pride for her subjects and sisters.

Several hours of planning passed, with frustratingly minimal progression. Needing a break from it all, Zelda stepped outside onto a high balcony. She let herself be blessed with the fresh air and looked out to the sky. It was just on the cusp of dusk, as she could tell by the sun's very slow descent to the edge of the horizon.

It was hard to believe where she was. She knew that being the Champions of Hyrule came with several dangers, but couldn't have imagined the stakes being so high for a mission, outside of the rise of Calamity Ganon himself. The princess shuddered as she thought of what might have been had she obeyed her father's orders to stay at the castle. By now he was surely going berserk, and a part of her felt regretful for putting him through that. But if her decision ended up saving two cherished lives, she would face the consequences with her head held high.

"Lost in thought?"

Urbosa's voice broke the silence. She casually walked up to join the princess on the balcony rail, looking fondly upon her.

Zelda sighed. "I just don't know how we'll pull something like this off. We know so little about what will be waiting for us." She turned to look at Urbosa, her eyes brimming with uncertainty and fear. "Link and Mipha have come through for us so many times. I just don't want to fail them when they need us now."

Urbosa lay a loving hand on the younger girl's shoulder in comfort. "The scout team should be back with at least some intel. And our warriors are well-trained to deal with many situations, expected or unexpected."

Zelda nodded, only somewhat comforted.

"Besides," Urbosa continued, "Your intellect and bravery got you here. You followed the smallest of bread crumbs to a crucial discovery. Who's to say more miracles won't bless us tonight? I know the odds don't look the greatest, but Hylia will be with us. All we can do is try and follow our own hearts and pray that our goals line up with hers."

The Hylian didn't say anything. She just gazed out into the town once more. Lately it hasn't felt like Hylia has been with me. Nor wanted me to see my desires realized.

One thing was for sure, though. She was ready to take more matters into her own hands going forward. She knew the duty she was bound by, the task set before her. But today was absolute proof of how much good could be lost by not venturing beyond them. Once her inevitable punishment was over upon returning home, Zelda was determined to take more charge of what she could do for her people. And even more than that, she felt herself ready to take charge of her relationship with a certain chosen knight. The idea of losing him had never felt so real, and it made her realize how fragile everything was in these uncertain times. So, once he was safe, she would finally follow her heart's desires and lay her true feelings out to him. She could only hope he felt the same.

It was another, extra personal motivation to ensure this plan worked.

"You've grown so much, Little Bird," Urbosa near-whispered, rubbing her back tenderly. "When our time comes to fulfill our destinies, you'll know what to do," she smiled. "We all will."

Zelda couldn't help but smile back. Even before Link, this chief was the one to provide her with the most sincere, unwavering comfort in her many times of doubt. No one could replace her deceased mother, but this Gerudo certainly came close.

"Thank you," she said softly.

"Lady Urbosa!" a soldier suddenly joined the ladies on the balcony, turning both of their heads. "Our scouts have returned. They need you at the town entrance right away!"

"What seems to be the problem?" Urbosa asked.

"It's ... just please, come quickly!"

Mipha's legs were burning, exhausted, and ready to give out beneath her. But she fought through it and forced them to power her across the sand.

Once her wrists had finally been freed, it had taken her an additional ten minutes to untie the rest of her bonds, another testament to how effective they were. That is, after she took off her gag and consumed what might have been gallons of air through her sore, arid mouth. The Zora then took another few minutes to get the feeling back in the many parts of her body that had been under such merciless constriction for such a long time, rubbing the scaly limbs and stretching herself in any and every way possible.

But knowing that the Yiga could be back at any second, she allowed herself no more time before beginning her escape. She first attempted to bust down the gate, finally having the physical capabilities that would be needed for such a feat. But while the barrier was by no means indestructible, her tiny form was not powerful enough to break it open, no matter how many well-placed flying kicks she delivered to it.

So, she then turned back to the beloved ornament that had made her current freedom possible. And it turned out its use was not over yet.

There was a padlock to the gate that kept it locked shut, one that Mipha could reach through the gate's bars. So, grabbing the jewel, she reached through the bars and brought it to the keyhole. Once again, it took many aggravating minutes of fiddling and fidgeting, something she was beyond ready to be done with. But with the grace of Hylia, she was able to persevere until she heard a clicking sound that was music to her ears. Almost too vigorously, she pushed the gate open, needing to grab and pull it back to prevent it from slamming into a wall and alerting her captors.

From there, she ran. She ran as fast as she could possibly go, in spite of feeling almost entirely drained in every way imaginable. Down the stairway, past the curtain, and through the circular corridor that she recognized as her first ever sight of the Yiga Clan hideout. She didn't look behind or around her; she just kept going, her movements a hybrid of a mad dash and the awkward stumbling that one would expect from a toddler walking for the first time. It certainly felt that way to her. Her webbed feet kicked up little clouds of the sand that slowed her down, and the late-afternoon sun beat down on her.

Mipha didn't know what she would do once she was in the clear. Her first order of business would have to be finding some way to ride off to sanctuary. She knew the desert housed a few sparse oases, including the home of the Gerudos, but getting there would be a battle on its own. She hoped that the Yiga kept at least one horse on the outskirts of their home, one she could use to ride her way through Gerudo. Then, she of course had to find a way to come back and somehow free Link. Doing so would be impossible without help, but the princess would stop at nothing to save her Hylian hero. The two of them had vowed to get out of this together, and she would ensure that promise went fulfilled, no matter the cost.

But she was so tired ... so, so tired. Every step was a test of endurance, each one more difficult than the last. She stumbled more than once, but got back up each time.

And unfortunately, in the middle of the winding canyon that led her out of the lair, she was forced to suffer yet another blow.

Her eyes caught a bomb arrow zipping by her, and she had no time to react as it hit the ground right by her feet, sending her falling on her side.

The eerily familiar shadow of a Yiga soldier ominously slithered over the Champion's downed form, lightly snickering. Mipha weakly lifted her head to look up at the dominant Yiga, and the two companions that joined him above her.

"... No ..." the Zora whimpered. She sloppily swung her arm out to try and hit a soldier with her three-mooned jewel, but her thin wrist was swiftly grabbed. The item was snatched out of her hand as another Yiga kicked her firmly in the back, bringing her down again.

"Looks like we underestimated you," one of them said.

No ... I can't fail now! I was so close! Mipha cried internally. The Zora tried to get back up, but the explosion from that arrow was the proverbial straw that broke her back. She had nothing left in her; she could feel every muscle trembling violently, and everything around her was becoming less and less distinguishable.

"Did you use this to get out?" a Yiga asked, sounding legitimately impressed. He admired the silver jewel for a few seconds, before tossing it to the ground like some worthless piece of trash.

"No matter," he said. "You're one slippery little fish, I'll give you that. But you're staying with us. And this time, we're tossing you into the deepest hole we have and never letting you out."

His words were muted and distorted to the fading Zora, but she understood them painfully clearly. She wanted to weep; after all she did to get herself to this point, to be dragged back into that hellscape was more than the poor girl could bear.

... Help ... someone ... help ...

With that last, hopeless thought, for the second time in under forty-eight hours, Mipha's mind slipped into darkness.

As a result, she missed the piercing wail than erupted from a Yiga, that Yiga collapsing, and the other two following suit. As well as the three arrows piercing their masked faces that caused their demises.

"Mmmmh. Mmmmgh."

Link breathed deeply in and out as he lay on his back, golden hair ruffled and dirtied on the cold, hard floor.

That was all that he was capable of right now. He'd spent hours in this room, bathed in its overpowering darkness as the lack of windows prevented any light from getting through. He was in the dark, alone, restricted ... so often he felt that way in his mind, but now it was both inside and out.

The floor had nothing, except for the heavy amounts of dust that would creep their way into his nose with every big shift he made that kicked it up. He kept struggling against the ropes, feeling them bite into the legs of his trousers and sleeves of his tunic, even though he knew that a full day of such attempts had resulted in nothing. His gag was still unbearable as it choked him and seemed to burn the corners of his mouth, every twitch of his lips renewing the pain. The hunger pangs were driving him mad, the drought in his mouth even more so, only second to the thoughts that wandered to his dear Mipha and how much she must be suffering. He desperately held onto hope that she would be able to use the accessory passed to her in a successful escape; he would have no regrets letting her have it if those hopes came true.

Link knew that should he perish in here, the world would be in a dire situation. There would be no hero to swoop in and fight off the darkness, no one to wield the blade of evil's bane. But then again, was it not foretold that the hero would be victorious against such darkness? If he were to die, would that mean he was, in fact, not the Chosen One? In which case, he would have simply let his life turn to silent servitude, let himself be sealed away in a tomb of distance and burden, all for nothing? Somehow, in the moment, that felt worse than leaving Hyrule to perish under Ganon.

As his dry lips twitched in sadness around the cleaving cloth, all Link could feel was defeat. Whatever happened now was completely out of his hands. And it made him sick. It made him want to close his eyes and never open them until the ordeal was over, however that came about. He tossed and turned, looking like a sleeping child having a bad dream.

The Hylian felt broken; he was being consumed by negative thoughts, and he wanted them to go away. Forever.

The creaking of the metal door in front of him halted his lamenting. It slowly slid open, and he was greeted once again by the hideous sight of Jora. Link didn't growl or make any noise. He just thrust himself to sit up, brought his tied knees to his chest, bit into the gag, and stared her down.

Jora, however, reached into a pocket and brought out a knife. The sight of it widened Link's sky-blue eyes and brought out a muffled gasp.

But Jora didn't use it right away, instead opting to speak first. "I won't even give you one final chance to join us, hero. I know what answer I'll get."

Link narrowed his eyes, but remained silent. For once, you're right.

"But know this," she stated, turning the knife so that it now lay in a reverse position in her hand. "Hyrule took you for no other reason than that you were needed. But with us, rest assured: we'll make you feel wanted."

She decked Link as hard as he could with the handle of her blade. The Hylian knight let out a choked "MMMPH!!" before his body went limp.

He didn't even feel himself hit the floor.

Notes:

Mipha's gag speech translated:
"Yrrrnnn gnnmwmmm nnrphthnnh!" - "You'll never get away with any of this!"
"NN!! YNNPHMMPH, YNNNGNGMM RNNMMMHH!!! NNH!!!" - "NO!! YOU FIENDS, YOU UNGAG ME RIGHT NOW!!! NOW!!!"

Chapter 11 Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Link hacked and slashed through empty air at an imaginary foe. Despite the lack of an actual threat, he remained ever focused as he spun and blocked nonexistent hits against him. His boots crunched as his feet moved great with finesse. He crouched to swing low, then sprang up to swing high. He twirled his Master Sword in his dexterous hands, before leaping forward, summersaulting on the grass, and finishing with a stab that would have vanquished anyone standing in front of him.

It didn't matter that it was just a practice session; Link was still as diligent as he'd be on an actual battlefield. Just as the academy had done, he trained himself to never waver in decisions or actions. After all, how could he be ready to face the biggest threats if his mind wasn't as well-trained as his body?

All the while, Mipha sat by a large tree nearby as she looked on. The glint in her copper eyes and soft smile gave away how much she enjoyed watching the man of her affections at work. He moved so fluently, his hair flowing with his momentum, muscles visibly rippling through his tunic. She rested her head in her arms, elbows on her knees, and sighed as she was lulled into the blissful visual.

That is, until Link soon ceased his efforts, standing still and turning his head towards her. Broken out of her daze, the princess did her best to veil the fact that she'd been ogling him so. She tried to hide her embarrassment as Link walked over to her, staring at her with confusion.

In truth, Link himself had needed to put a bit more effort into not diverting his own gaze towards her throughout his session. The peaceful, serene image of something as simple as her sitting against that thick trunk was a sight for sore eyes, and would surely break him out of his hardened concentration should he allow himself to take it in. It was also a contrast to how nervous she could often be, and Link wished to see this more relaxed side of the aquatic beauty more often.

But sadly, that seemed to vanish as soon as he addressed her. She now resembled a child caught trying to sneak in a bite of a meal before it was served. He couldn't help but still find it adorable, though.

"H-have you finished already?" Mipha stuttered.

Link shook his head. "A few more rounds and I'm done." Mipha nodded, and Link began turning around to resume.

But then an idea popped into his head. One that would not only serve as a reprieve between his rounds, but also hopefully bring his friend back to good spirits for longer.

So, instead of walking away, he went to pick up two of the retractable wooden staffs he'd brought with him. He then went back over to her and held out his hand.

"Care to spar for a round?" he asked. His subtle voice let out a trace of nervousness in the question, not used to being the initiator of such social activities, even with just one other individual.

He wasn't too surprised to see her reaction. She didn't look like she knew what to do, though Link still didn't fully understand why. Sure, he himself was nervous, but he largely credited that to the notion of sparring with his love interest. Still, he pushed that down and kept his hand extended.

"I would think I don't stand a chance against you," Mipha said, genuinely humble.

"Hmph," Link let out a dry chuckle and smirk. "Try me."

Mipha found herself taken aback a bit. While it would of course be all in good fun, she didn't want to make a fool of herself in front of the master swordsman, let alone her romantic desire. But something in how lightheartedly Link made the offer prevented her from turning it down. Instead, ignoring the pounding in her heart, Mipha took his hand, feeling its gentle yet firm grip as she was pulled up. She grabbed the second staff and followed the boy to where he'd been practicing before.

Both had sparred with others previously, so they knew the standards and precautions involved. And so, Link lowered himself slightly into a battle stance and raised his staff, and watched as Mipha slowly did the same following him. He then tilted his head, allowing her to make the first move.

After a slightly delayed response to the gesture, Mipha obliged. She shoved the end of her staff at his chest, trying to keep from hurting him but maybe going too light as a result. Link veered to the side easily to dodge it, before swinging his own staff at her feet, causing her to jump back. The hero had a mischievous glint in his cerulean eyes, inching closer to her as she awkwardly paced around him. Appearing somehow encouraged by this look of his, she took another jab at him, this time swinging diagonally in a noticeably stronger arc. Link backflipped out of the way, but still felt the weapon lightly graze his knees. He then took the opportunity to go in for a counterattack, which Mipha then blocked. Another attempt, another block.

In that moment, the two seemed to finally click, and engaged in their duel more assertively. Mipha began leaping and flipping around as her opponent gradually made his advances trickier, sharpening her focus and beginning to think a few steps ahead. And Link, in a turn of the tables, now found himself unable to resist staring at the Zora's lovely and alluring movements, just as she had at his earlier. The way she moved, her blowing sash highlighting her appearance, how she spun her weapon expertly, fins flowing and lithe frame weaving its way around his efforts. But most disarming was the confident and even slightly cocky smile he noticed her now sporting, appearing to finally be having fun with this contest, just as he'd hoped for.

It was distracting enough to keep him from dodging a hit to the gut with the tail end of Mipha's staff. As he reeled back, she then launched herself up to bring her feet onto his shoulders, before kicking them off to knock him onto his back.

Link was stunned by the bold move, along with the agility and surprising strength required for it. She even topped it off with a rather prideful look and pose, a rare thing to see from her that brought forth yet another layer of the attraction he felt for the princess.

The Hylian simply matched her smile with his own and uttered, "No more going easy."

Link then launched himself back up and, in a sneaky maneuver, hooked his staff around hers. He tried to yank it out of her hands, but she ended up dragged along with it. As a result, while the two were able to avoid a hard collision, they nonetheless now found their bodies touching. Mipha's shoulder was tucked against Link's chest, the side of her waist against the front of his.

The friends' eyes met each other, inches apart. They tried to steady their breathing as the minimal air between them went thick. Mipha had to suppress a light groan upon being reminded just how tight and firm Link's chest was, and Link could feel Mipha's smooth, slender thigh brushing up against his own. It went unbeknownst to either of them how badly the other wanted to close what little distance was left, wrapping each other up in physical declarations of intimacy. It was as if time itself had frozen.

Nonetheless, they merely remained in this state for a few more seconds, until Link was finally able to recover enough sense to release his hook. Mipha could then take a few steps back, feeling herself flush with heat despite being in a fairly cool location, while Link's usually steady hands trembled as they grasped his weapon.

The princess coughed awkwardly, her familiar shyness now returning. She brought her hands together tightly before uttering, "Thank … thank you for that. I certainly … um, enjoyed myself."

The Hylian took another second to further gather himself, before nodding his head quickly.

It was fun, indeed. Regardless of the pain in his heart that he'd just gotten as close to her as he believed he could ever get, it was worth it to enlighten the Zora and bring out that looser side to her, similarly to what she'd been doing for him since their reunion.

And yet, despite all that, they still held themselves back in one crucial regard.

The memory of that moment returned to Link in his dreams, one of his favorites with Mipha. In the few minutes required to relive the entire experience, he was granted sweet escape from the memories of his present terrors.

But that escape only ended up cruelly ripped away from him when the time came to reenter the world of the conscious. His eyes slowly began to peel back open, though not yet able to make out anything clear. He couldn't recall the exact last thing that had happened to him, but the dull throbbing in the side of his head told him it was nothing pleasant.

As his senses returned to him, Link could feel an unwavering grip around his arms and legs. He tried to move himself, but found his body unable to budge. His mouth was extremely dry, and swallowing was rather difficult.

It was then that he remembered his situation as of late, and groaned in dread, the sound muffled by cloth.

However, as he finally regained himself fully, Link saw that he was no longer bound the same way as before. Rather, he was now tied along some sort of metallic frame around his height. It was fairly simple structure, metal about four inches wide forming a large rectangular shape. The frame had been chained down to the ground, holding it securely in place. And standing in the middle of it was Link, his wrists tied crossed above his head with the rope knotted tightly at the top. His ankles were also tied separately to the sides of the frame, keeping them several feet apart. The symbol-sporting cloth that had been used to gag him was also now back over his mouth as opposed to running through it. Slightly more tolerable, but not enough to matter to him.

"Oh good, you're awake," a familiar voice entered his ears.

Link turned to his left, and moaned when he saw that it was Jora who had spoken, accompanied by Ohram. Both had their arms crossed and stared at him with much displeasure. Link pulled at his bonds in response, but they were unsurprisingly secure, and the frame hardly budged in his efforts.

Looking around, the Hylian found himself in a large, circular chamber. Mysterious markings were etched into nearly every inch of the large walls that barricaded the area. The sky was visible thanks to a red-tinted glass that made up the ceiling, which had been constructed in a peculiar fashion to not only resemble a giant, all-seeing eye, but to allow the full moon to shine through in a large, concentrated beam. And on that note, the full moon itself signaled that it was well into the night; torches had been set ablaze throughout the room to provide a more constant light source.

Link could also see many Yiga soldiers scrambling around in the background, both Footsoldiers and Blademasters, the latter of which gave away some special importance for whatever arrangement was happening before him. He could see some of the Yiga with small, unknown potions, while others held jars of a strange purple gas. Others still held a few needled syringes, their opaqueness concealing whatever was inside them, and a few more were grinding an array of herbs or spices into a wooden bowl. He also noticed that most of the Yiga were wearing some sort of dark red cloaks, keeping their already-masked faces even more hidden.

What unsettled the captive Hylian most, however was when his eyes caught the familiar statue of the pig-shaped incarnation of Ganon that had previously been in Ohram's quarters, bright red rupee eyes and all. He had previously thought it to be but a decoration for the dreaded leader of the Yiga, making Link wonder why it was now here. Whatever the reason, its mere presence was enough to unsettle him even further as its "eyes" consistently held onto him.

"Curious, I see," Jora said, turning Link's attention back to his captor. Link's positioning in the frame gave him a bend at the knees, allowing Jora to be slightly taller than him when full standing height. Nonetheless, Link stared up at her as defiantly as ever.

"You should feel honored, Chosen One. All of this," she spread her arms, "Is the result of so much time and planning. And it's all for you."

The ritual? Link surmised. It was easy to piece together that these delusional beings somehow planned to make him join by force. Not just by means of some threat or sadistic choice, but against his own conscious will. But how was that possible?

"You'll thank us for our generosity soon enough, boy," Ohram said flatly, seeing the confusion on their captive's face.

"Mmphrrmmnn phrrnnnm," Link grumbled, his snark even making it through the gag.

"Have something to say?" Jora asked. "Well, how about we give you the chance … your last words before succumbing to our will."

With that, the Yiga walked up to Link. The hero reeled his head back, but Jora ended up not hurting him, but rather pulling the Yiga's symbol down to his neck. The boy was very surprised, but wasted no time in spitting out the other fabric stuffed inside. He found he could barely even cough from just how barren and dry his mouth had been after all this time.

There was so much he could say to this female right now, finally having such freedom after going for days without it. However, after trying to recover some fraction of his voice, there was only one thing immediately on the noble hero's mind.

He just barely managed to hoarsely whisper out, "Where is Mipha?"

Jora and Ohram exchanged glances at that. Their expressions were unreadable behind their masks, but Link became worried seeing Jora's head fall.

If they've done anything else to her, I swear on Hylia I'll ...

Ohram responded before Link could finish the vengeful thought. "I'm afraid she ... proved too resilient for us." Link's face hardened. "She somehow managed to escape, and our guards had to resort to excessive force to re-contain her ... too excessive."

Link's form tensed up, his wrists twitching in their ropes. If Ohram was implying what Link thought he was ...

"She's gone, Link," Jora finished, sounding convincingly sullen. "She's dead."

This was largely a lie. Yes, the Zora had indeed somehow gotten free from her bonds and escaped her cell, many hours ago. However, rather than being able to stop her, three of their own were found dead at the exterior of the hideout, and the girl had completely disappeared. Nonetheless, they were determined to feed Link a much more hopeless outcome.

And feed it they did. Link felt like he could wither away to pieces right there. Words couldn't do justice to describe the pit of emptiness he'd fall into should such a thing truly transpire. His eyes welled up, his body trembling, hands twitching. He barely felt the drive to struggle. It couldn't be true … it just couldn't … then there would be nothing for him.

Or was there already nothing for him anyway? No path to true happiness?

"No …" he uttered, his voice raspy. "She's not dead …"

"Is that what you need to believe?" Ohram asked.

"I'm sorry, Link," Jora stated. "But I-"

"YOU'RE LYING-" Link's outburst was cut off by a fit of coughing.

Hylia, he just wanted the pain to end. Physical, mental, everything in between, just let it end!

Ohram just huffed as he observed his pitiful prisoner. He may not have completely bought their lie, but it was clear that the seeds of doubt had been sown nonetheless. And that was enough; they could now grow, with the right treatment and nourishment. Just the same as all the doubting thoughts they'd instilled in his mind during his stay, and however many more had taken root beforehand.

And now was the time for the nourishment. Jora raised her hand and pointed to Link, and other Yiga in the room took various action in response.

"There is a tale," Ohram suddenly started, "Of a time where the minions of the great Ganon attempted to resurrect him after he was slain by the supposed hero. But, fascinatingly, they attempted to do so through sprinkling on his ashes the blood of the hero himself."

As he spoke, some Yiga began opening the jars of mist and spreading it throughout the chamber. There was more than enough to enfold the room in a dark purple fog, one that also gave a tint to the moonbeams flowing in.

"What is this?" Link demanded.

"We found ourselves first wondering how such a thing could be accomplished," Ohram ignored him and continued. "But then a new, more testable question came about … what does this say about the blood of you, or of your history of chosen sword-bearers?"

Link's eyes bore a sickly combination of hatred and bewilderment, both at the words being spoken and the potion bottles being shaken. But the former was keeping his attention more, preventing him from seeing more Yiga pour a liquified form of the grounded herbs into their needle-clad vials, and taking them to Link.

"It is a stretch, but could it be that through your veins flows some quantity of the essence of the Great One himself?" Ohram said. "That these heroes throughout generations are the links between the light and the dark? The great bridge that binds other destinies together through his own?"

His essence? The great bridge? How far gone are these people?! Link thought through the lunacy of the conjecture. "That's impossible," he growled.

"Perhaps," Jora answered. "But if true, Link, then tonight we begin our turn with the 'hero'. We see if indeed there is that lifeblood of Ganon ready to finally become whole … and in doing so, shift the tide of not just this new rising Calamity, but perhaps Hyrule history itself."

Link went not a second before shouting, "You're all insa-augh!!"

A sharp pain in Link's upper hip cut him off, as a Yiga ended up jabbing it with one of the vials' needles. An attached pump was then pushed, forcing the liquid herbs inside. Link struggled and squirmed, but it only made the pain worse. He hissed through his teeth as his opposite hip was also injected just as roughly.

Once the contents were all emptied, the two Yiga backed away. And suddenly, Link felt like his own blood flow was accelerating. His heart was pumping, with him feeling both the liveliest and most numb he'd felt in weeks. As if his body recognized danger but couldn't figure out the source.

Nonetheless, the stoic looks on Jora and Ohram's faces motivated him to weakly cry out, "What was that?! What did you do?!" He thrashed himself in his ropes, but not only were they too tight to budge, but just the action alone was suddenly enough to make Link feel dizzy.

Two cloaked Yiga then dragged the Ganon statue closer to Link, its eyes now appearing to bear into his soul. More Yiga were gathering around in some sort of circular formation. His sights were turned away from them, however, when Jora harshly grabbed his head by the chin and forced his mouth open, long enough to pour a bottle of the mysterious potion into his mouth. She looked him straight in the eyes with fervor as she tightened her grip. Link tried to resist swallowing, but the current state of his body somehow caused it all to slide down his throat practically involuntarily.

When it was done, Jora then took the cloth hanging around his neck and gagged him with it yet again.

"Mmph!" Link cried. Jora still gripped his face and brought herself to his eye level. Behind them, the hooded Yiga were beginning some ominous, unintelligible chant, repeating several phrases over and over. All the while, the jittery sensation in Link's body was now accompanied by a blurring of his senses. The chamber was still able to be made out, but it was fuzzy. As were the chanting voices he heard. Worse yet, every sight and sound he could register was somehow feeling more unpleasant, as if the entire world was now trying to beat him down and make him succumb to the worst it had to offer. It was a building assault on his senses.

Jora forced Link's head forward, giving Link a full view of the gem eyes of the Ganon statue. Except now, they shone brighter from the red-and-violet-tinged beams of the moonlight shining directly onto them, through the ominous eye-shaped ceiling. It looked as if the statue was coming to life right before the boy.

"The full moon has risen, hero," Jora said. "And through the eyes of our god, it turns to blood. Look into it. Look, and let the darkness and malice within you emerge … and consume you."

Try as he might, Link couldn't go against her wishes, couldn't look away. He was unable to tell if his body was blatantly disobeying him, or if he simply wasn't even trying. Either way, he kept a continuous gaze towards the frightening orbs.

The fire within his body, the harshening of his senses, the sound of the chanting - which Jora and Ohram were now joining in on - and the image of this sinister beast, were overpowering Link's body and mind second by second. It all intensified; whether in reality or in his head was unclear. He didn't even register himself leaning forward as much as his bonds allowed, now drawn in to the stare of the statue like a hypnosis victim.

"Mmmmgh …… nnnnmmhh …… rrrrmmm ……"

And then, everything was spinning. His body was going into what resembled a seizure. He no longer had control of himself. All senses now mixed as one. What he once could hear he now could feel touching him; what he once could see was now audial. It was an onslaught unlike anything he could possibly describe. The world around him turned red, with his eyes now glowing that same color to match the statue's. His sight then split into two duplicates. Then those duplicates duplicated. And so on, and so on, until there was an uncountable amount in his vision, separated by some eerie black void.

And then, all he could register was his own piercing cry. "HMMMMMMMPH!!!"

And then he felt that cry transform into the roar of a demon. And then the infinite copies of visions disintegrated into the void.

And then nothing.

"On your right!"

Urbosa warned of a Yiga Blademaster about to deal a blow to one of her soldiers, who was successfully able to dodge him thanks to the alert. Two more Gerudos joined their comrade to take the large brute down.

Having each other's backs in such a manner was crucial to keeping up their charge into the Yiga Hideout.

It had taken many hours, but Urbosa and her army finally had a suitable, multi-faceted plan for their attack and rescue of their Hylian ally. The first phase of which was getting through the canyon filled with defenses, undoubtedly on extra alert with the escape of their Zora captive. Many Gerudos took to the upper heights of the landscape, perched on the sharp edges of the terrain. From there, they had waited patiently until the rest of the army was in position, before finally making their moves against the enemy's higher-up forces. Their stealthy approach gave them the upper hand, easing the struggle as their ground troops attacked. Having seen the Yiga's fighting techniques firsthand, Urbosa and Revali were a major help in constructing the best formations to deal with them en masse.

Urbosa herself was, unsurprisingly, at the front of the ground assault. Her skills were invaluable for taking out swaths of Yiga with less effort than most of her fellow Gerudos. One minute she managed to stun an attacker by blocking them with her Daybreaker, followed by a swift finishing move. The next, she had three soldiers lined up perfectly for a massive swath of her Scimitar that slashed all three across the stomach, just before needing to slide down to avoid an incoming attack from behind by a Blademaster. Wanting to deal with this opponent swiftly, she summoned a burst of lightning onto the Yiga with the snap of her fingers, which took him down along with several other nearby Footsoldiers.

Revali, meanwhile, was suitably assisting those higher up, utilizing his famed combination of expert flight maneuvers and archery mastery to excellent effect. He had the greatest view of the battle as he soared above it, seeking out any weak spots in their advances that required his aid and quick to react accordingly. He could even use his specialized bow to knock down a Yiga soldier in one area while on the path to another, making him one of the army's most efficient members. At one point, Revali allowed himself to freefall from his position in the sky, so that he could fire multiple arrows towards Yiga getting the drop on some unlucky Gerudo soldiers. He landed on top of one once the rest were taken care of, and then took off again to allow the ground soldiers to keep up their own fight.

They were making progress, slowly but steadily. Currently, the army had gotten halfway through the canyon, all while successfully ensuring that they had the ground behind them covered, so as to avoid being newly trapped between hordes of foes. Their experience, skill, planning, and drive were enough to overcome the odds and get them ever closer to saving their hero.

And maybe even bringing down the Yiga as a whole in the process.

An environment began to form in Link's vision, surrounding him in dark pinks and purples. He could feel himself lying on a bitterly cold ground, hard as rock. As his eyes fully recovered and he scanned the area, he found that the whole terrain was like that: stone and rock making up an elaborate cave, colored in that same palette and pattern. The ground, walls, ceiling, and even stalactites and stalagmites glowed and throbbed, pulsing like blood through the structures' "veins".

Link couldn't make out any sensation of the air around him. It wasn't humid, dry, cold ... it felt as though none filled the cave at all, and yet Link could still breathe. Even stranger, and possibly just a figment of his imagination, the cave walls and floor were beginning to slightly move and swirl around in a just-noticeable fluid motion, as if the cave had been forming right in front of him.

He didn't recognize this place. He couldn't even remember how he got here. But it was sending continuous chills down his neck, and adding on to the weariness and disorientation he was feeling.

'You have nothing.'

Voices could suddenly be heard … or something that barely resembled voices. It was faint, coming through in a loud, distorted series of unison whispers, untraceable to any one location.

Getting up felt like a fight in itself. Link brought a hand to his head as he got to one knee, the other hand grasping a leg, trying to regain some semblance of strength.

As he lay half-risen, the voices returned again. 'No one cares for you.'

"Wh-who … who said that?" Link asked in an exhausted, bitter tone.

'Give in …' the voices only responded.

Give in to what?

The dazed Hylian stumbled his way further along the cave, pressing his hands against the nearest wall for support. His head was held low, his breathing deep, as just raising that few feet felt the same as transporting from the ground to a five-mile-high mountain, with all the effects that such a change in elevation would provide.

He then felt the wall he was touching move, some wet texture shifting through his fingers as a squelching sound could be heard. He pulled his hands away quickly, only to see them now having some slimy substance on them, a swirl of the same colors that coated the cave itself. It was only then that Link realized that this same substance was crawling along the cave's whole interior, like a layer of paint in motion.

Link gasped and stumbled backwards, having to keep himself from falling back down. He could hear and feel more gooey squelching at his feet with each step back he took. Deeply unnerved, he shook his hands frantically to dislodge the substance, with most of it thankfully coming off.

'It's all around you.'

'It calls to you.'

As the voice made more remarks, Link's head shot around in all directions. He clumsily reached down for his sword, drawing it from the sheath and tensing up to prepare to fight.

'That's not your friend. We are. Your only friend.'

"Who are you?" Link uttered weakly, trying to ignore the words. Despite them coming from a complete stranger, he couldn't help but feel struck by them somehow. Like their opinion was the only thing that mattered to him now. "Sh-show yourself-"

Link's feeble demands were cut off when something caught the corner of his eye below him.

His face then burst into utter shock and horror when he saw his shadow begin to move!

It was stretching out, taking on some indeterminable shape, but moving freely regardless. Link took several steps back, and the shadow mirrored him accordingly while simultaneously acting on its own accord. Link's chest heaved in and out, with him feeling close to panicking at the freakish occurrence.

But then, as if that wasn't enough, the shadow soon, seven feet away, began rising upward. Not on the ground, but into the three-dimensional space of the cave. Link's heart raced as he observed it mold itself into the form of a being like him … very much like him, actually. Equal height, equal shape and outline. The difference being that it was just a single, uniformly black entity.

That is, until it began to slowly take on distinguished colors. It began sprouting white hair that matched the style and thickness of his own. Its black skin transitioned into a sickly dark grey, along with the texture of a Hylian's and the same Hylian ears Link had.

But the most disturbing part was when clothing came to dissolve onto it … clothing that was the exact same as Link's Champion wear, except shades of black and grey instead of the noble blues and whites he sported.

It was something out of a fever dream, but what he saw was unmistakable; from Link's shadow, a dark, twisted version of himself had grown.

And then, after moments of lingering, it opened its eyes. Its glowing, bright red eyes.

Link's current unsavory journey looked a bit more peaceful from the outside.

While he experienced the twisted sights within the plane of his mind, Jora, Ohram and the still-chanting Yiga around them watched his eyes remain locked onto those of their hog statue. His stare was blank, but unwavering, eyelids not even blinking, telling the ritual's initiators that their plans were going accordingly.

This was confirmed even further when the physical changes to their hopeful new recruit began. The hairs on his head were now displaying silver slivers amidst the sea of gold, and his skin was growing a tiny bit darker with every passing minute. He was falling, succumbing to the darkness within himself. Darkness that he'd repressed, unknowing that releasing it would serve a far greater good, a necessary evil.

Jora sighed at the sight, still regretting that this well-intentioned young man forced himself to be put through this. But it was too late for him. Their soldier would awaken soon.

Their only true fear was the news that an invasion had broken out at the front of their hideout. It was apparently the work of the Gerudo people, led by the chief herself. Sightings had even been reported of a Rito in the fight, which Jora was quick to realize was another one of their Champions.

They clearly knew of the Yiga's possession of their precious hero. Jora believed that their escaped Zora prisoner had somehow made her way to the desert town and told them everything … little did she know that it was, in fact, the deductions of Princess Zelda that blew their cover. Regardless, the situation had become far more urgent. And she could see behind her father's stoic posture that he too was concerned.

But they couldn't quicken their pace. Everything had to be just right.

She just hoped that, judging by the changes already noticeable in their captive, they had enough time.

We're almost in! Urbosa thought.

The battle had grown fiercer the closer the invading army got to their destination. The Yiga soldiers were upping their aggressiveness, throwing more caution to the wind in their attacks. This made it easier to beat each one due to the added carelessness, but also meant that they had managed to take out more of the Gerudos at a quickened pace. And needless to say, Urbosa's Fury no longer just applied to her specialized ability; she felt her rage awakened with every death on her side she was unfortunate enough to witness.

But they persevered through all of it, finally reaching the entrance to the hideout. The new issue, however, lay with the Yiga's wise decision to put their heaviest concentration of units there. As effective as the Gerudo army had been in picking off their numbers, these troops guarding the way inside had gone untouched.

This didn't faze Urbosa, as she made her charge, her sisters following behind her. Many Yiga appeared from multiple directions, but were bashed aside where surrounding Gerudos could deal with them. Urbosa kicked one leg out to knock back a Footsoldier on her left, while slicing her scimitar through the neck of one on her right, followed by a sweep of her shield to send one in front of her off his feet before finishing him off.

Unfortunately for her, the Yiga by this point had realized that the chief was their biggest combat threat. Which meant that as the fight continued, she was receiving more and more of their comparative focus, causing her to be worn down quicker than usual. It was for this reason that she ended up surrounded by three Blademasters, their Windcleavers pointed directly at her. Even she had to admit that these guys were tough to take down one-on-one, let alone a trio of them. One of them parried with her for a bit, until he managed to get an opening on her shoulder. It wasn't too severe, but it was enough for him to then knock her beloved scimitar away. She had just used her Fury, rendering her with few options as Footsoldiers joined in from all sides, while one of the Blademasters prepared to attack.

That was when Revali soared above the fray. But he was not alone. On his back was a figure light enough to not weigh him down, gripping tightly onto a long, silver trident. As the Rito circled around, his passenger got her weapon ready, eyes locked on to the Blademaster about to strike Urbosa. Revali then swooped down lower, before the figure leapt off and descended to the ground.

The Blademaster's efforts were halted when the sharp trident was suddenly jammed through his neck, its speed from above giving it enough power to finish him off. The wielder of the weapon then flipped herself over him as she dislodged the trident, before landing beside Urbosa amidst the horde of enemies.

The Yiga were surprised to see the assailant be none other than the Zora who had slipped out of their reach.

When Mipha came to after passing out in the Hideout, she found herself in Gerudo Town, with her saviors turning out to be the scouts sent by Urbosa. They had brought her back to the town just in the nick of time before her condition became too serious, bathing her in the crisp, cool aqueducts and providing her with the treatment, food, and water she so desperately needed.

When she was filled in on everything, however, Mipha immediately sought to take action, insisting on joining in the rescue efforts. The passion and determination in her eyes appeared almost alien on the princess many knew as rather timid and unsure of herself. But it was clear that not only was her drive to save their remaining captured Champion as high as theirs, but whatever she'd been put through in that hellhole had brought out this headstrong side to her that she was not going to let go to waste. She pushed to take part, and made clear that nothing they did would stop her. She even asserted herself into the planning of the attack, bringing forth her knowledge of the hideout's ins and outs from her time there and making the picture much clearer for the Gerudos. Many watched her take the charge and saw the capable future queen she'd been born to one day become.

Mipha was more than ready to face whatever more she needed to save her hero. Whatever it took. She spun her trident around in an act of intimidation, her fiery eyes daring these Yiga to come forth and face her wrath.

With the enemy's attention now turned to her, Mipha provided the new path for Urbosa to once again gain an upper hand. The two Champions exchanged looks of relief for each other, before getting to work on their surrounding foes. They worked considerably well together, Urbosa's fluid and heavy style complementing Mipha's more rapid and precise style.

Keeping together and not letting up, it wouldn't be long until they were inside the villainous lair.

Fear not, my love, Mipha thought. We're coming.

She just hoped they weren't too late.

Notes:

Link's gag speech translated:
"Mmphrrmmnn phrrnnnm," - "I'm sure I'll be flattered,"

Chapter 12 Chapter Text

The dark doppelganger of Link didn't attack him. It didn't even move. It just stood there, arms to its sides, the slightest hint of a crooked smile on its newly-formed mouth.

As far as Link was concerned, this made it vulnerable. And so was prompt in dashing up to it and swinging his sword to chop its head clean off. But the figure suddenly was in motion as it slid to the side effortlessly. But it didn't use its legs at all; rather, it was dragged by its feet by the purple-pink substance coating the ground. Link gasped, but was quick to lash out once more. He missed feebly as the duplicate slid to evade it again. A few more swings, all similarly missing.

The hero's anger grew with each attempt, causing him to become more reckless and sloppy in his movements. Not helping was the heaviness he already felt in his chest and back from some unknown source. He soon reached the point where the figure didn't even need to move to avoid him; he just missed on his own, causing his enemy's smirk to grow.

Just as Link brought his sword up for another strike, something suddenly yanked it back and upwards. Link doubled his grip on the hilt to avoid losing it, sliding along the mucky ground as he was dragged a few feet.

As he looked up, yet another frightening sight came about. From one of the stalactites, the sinister-looking goop had stretched itself out into a thick, slimy tentacle, which had reached down to wrap around Link's blade.

Eyes turning to saucers, Link managed to position the sword to slash through the tendril, freeing it and causing the appendage to retreat back into the stalactite. Trying to keep some level of composure, he turned back and forth between the dark body double and the ceiling. He had a strong feeling that this disfiguration was somehow in control of the slime in this cave, as they all seemed to assist it and do its bidding, by some sort of telepathic means. Yet the figure itself still didn't strike, rather standing there taunting the Hylian.

'You know it's pointless,' the warped voices returned.

Link growled, twisting his head around once more, only to find no source of the cruel words. He then returned to facing the duplicate, pointing his sword at him.

"What are you?" Link huffed, trying to fight through the dreariness relentlessly infecting him.

When the figure gave no reply and only took a single step forward, Link repeated the question with increased ire. "What are you?!"

He lunged out for a stabbing strike. This time, however, the figure's middle opened up as the sword went through. Before Link could pull it back, the dark being closed its middle, trapping the blade.

Panic built up as Link tried to wrench the sword free, the doppelganger still just standing there mockingly. He then heard the sound of the surrounding paint moving again, followed by something brushing up against his boot. Link looked down, and gasped when he saw another tentacle slithering over his foot, before beginning to wrap around it.

'We'll protect you. Forever.'

"No!" Link shouted. He pulled his sword even harder to free it from the dark duplicate's insides. He could feel it slowly sliding out, but the tentacle was still moving, having fully encased his foot and now crawling further up his leg.

He grunted as he kept violently wrenching and wriggling his sword, gritting his teeth harshly as the appendage grazed his lower thigh. Just as it reached the top of his leg, he finally got the sword free with a final fierce tug, and immediately sliced through the tentacle, loosening it around his leg and sending it back into where it had emerged in the ground many feet away.

Link took many quick steps back, heart rate drastically accelerating as he soon saw more tentacles slithering around the cave's interior. They extended from the ceiling, walls, and floor. Most went in an aimless direction without any clear purpose, but he could see a few starting to slowly shift their trajectories towards him. Looking back at the doppelganger, its eyes glared at him with malice and sick, twisted pleasure, matched by the grin it now wore ear-to-ear.

'You're ours.'

"Sire!"

A Yiga Footsoldier scurried into the ritual chamber, getting the attention of his master. Ohram faced the newcomer, largely displeased with him intruding on the ceremony.

"What business do you have interrupting us?!" he snapped angrily.

"Sire, the invaders have broken into the hideout! They're inside, including two Champions!"

Several of the chanting Yiga were alarmed at hearing this and halted their sermons, to which Ohram barked, "Do not stop!" They obliged and hastily resumed.

Jora watched as her father began to pace around in thought, fully aware of the unexpected situation now closing in on them. This wasn't part of the plan, and after so much time and anticipation for this holy night, it was looking more and more possible that it all could come crashing down.

"Father, we can't just sit here and hope they don't make it to us," Jora spoke up. "This is far too close."

The large Yiga leader hummed in reluctant agreement. "Indeed. Very well."

With the snap of his fingers, the Yiga once again ceased their chanting, this time at his request.

"You five," he pointed to the five Blademasters closest to him. "Join my daughter in protecting this ritual. The army and the Champions shall not enter at any cost until we are finished. Is that understood?"

"Yes master," the five all said in unison, the remainder continuing their chants without hesitance.

"Father," Jora said, surprised that she was asked to go as well. "Are you sure you don't need me here?"

"Go with them, dear daughter," Ohram said softly. He placed his hand on her shoulder and smiled behind his mask with a warmth uncharacteristic of most Yiga. "I trust in you. I always have."

A moment of silence lingered between the two, with the younger Yiga silently returning the same proclamation of trust in him, the very being who had saved her from starvation and showed her a new path and purpose to follow.

Finally, Jora nodded her head. "Thank you, Father."

With that, she and the Blademasters took off, leaving their leader to observe the still-transforming ritual subject. More streaks of white were forming in his hair, and his stance, while still passive and bound, was becoming more tense, more readily aggressive.

Ohram reached down into his scabbard attached to his waist, and pulled out the most coveted weapon in all the land. The Master Sword had been confiscated when Link was captured, and stashed away once he arrived to their home. But now, Ohram held it in his hands, looking down on it with both scorn and admiration. Scorn for the purpose it had served in the hands of the corrupt for generations, and admiration for what he eagerly hoped its future would be: wielded by the new and improved Link as an inflictor of darkness, not a sealer.

It wouldn't be much longer now.

Once they successfully broke into the hideout, the Gerudo army separated into several large teams, each one rapidly scoping out sections of the lair. They didn't have knowledge of the full layout, but they'd set up methods of choosing branching pathways and reacting accordingly, largely based on what Mipha had been able to see and report from her imprisonment. Mipha and Urbosa were each in one of these teams, while Revali continued to provide defensive support back outside.

Mipha brought her trident forward and jumped down a flight of stairs, stabbing several Yiga as she descended before landing with a summersault back onto her feet. She ducked, weaved, and fought her way through every enemy that got in her path. A bolt of red streaking through the dark corridors and bringing down anyone foolish enough to get too close.

That bolt was temporarily halted when a Blademaster stood before it. But Mipha moved swiftly, sliding between the enemy's legs and slashing through his ankle. The Blademaster retaliated with a swing of his Windcleaver, but a Gerudo swooped in and blocked the attack with her shield, following up with a strike to the waist. Between her and Mipha, the large Yiga soon was down and out.

Unfortunately, five more of the same kind of enemy then came into their sights. Mipha's eyes widened at the horde, grateful to see her own group of Gerudo women behind her at her aid. But she was disheartened to see a swath of Footsoldiers and even more Blademasters coming in from their side as well, surrounding them.

Mipha's eyes narrowed. While Footsoldiers commonly attacked in groups big or small, she hadn't heard of Blademasters doing the same thing. And as they got into formation, they clearly planned to intercept anyone coming down this stretch of the hideout. As if this part in particular was home to something especially important …

Or someone especially important … Mipha realized. As the Blademasters moved to attack and she was forced to dodge, the Zora quickly made up her mind on her next decision.

"Everyone!" she shouted to the Gerudos fighting around her. "I believe Link is this way!" she pointed.

"What?! How do you know?!" one of them asked in between hits to her foes.

"These guards are too concentrated! We must be close!" she responded, unable to land a hit on the swarm around her. "Please, trust me!" she asserted.

The Gerudo appeared to do just that, abandoning their current quarries to follow the Champion. Mipha made a precise dive in the air to narrowly get past the wall of Blademasters and darted forward. The urgency and possible proximity to Link boosted her speed and focus, so much so that she didn't realize until she turned around that her fellow fighters had still gotten caught up in their grapples with the Yiga.

As several Yiga made a dash for the Zora, one of the Gerudo shouted, "We'll hold these guys off! Go, get to him, quickly!" A few more women joined the fray, but they would still be slowed down considerably should they try to follow Mipha.

Mipha didn't want to leave them behind, but knew they were capable. So, she spun around and continued her run, navigating through corners and searching through every room she came across. All while dealing with the soldiers that intercepted her, either by fighting or simply avoiding them.

Another figure came bursting out from around the next corner, and Mipha prepared to attack once more. But it turned out to be Urbosa, whose path in her search apparently ended up crossing here.

"Urbosa, I think Link is down here!" Mipha shouted. "I need you, come!"

Without waiting, she kept running ahead. Gratefully, Urbosa heeded her words and joined her, the two of them barreling down the lair to what they hoped was their primary goal.

Mipha dearly hoped she was right.

The tentacles were slow at first, with Link being fairly easily able to cut one up whenever it approached him, even as he tried to juggle them with trying to find some way to fight against the dark version of himself. He landed a few hits on the freakish thing, but its body would nightmarishly just morph itself back together each time. Link was beginning to believe he could only win by mutilating the creature to its smallest parts, in a rapid set of attacks that ensured it would be too broken to fix itself.

But this prospect was made even more difficult when the gooey tendrils became more aggressive. They sped up their movements towards him, the wet, sludging sounds distracting him even further. Just as he found some opening in his foe, he'd have to turn and deal with an appendage moving to constrict him. Link shuddered each time he felt the slime succeed in coiling itself around his frame. One tentacle had even come down from above to wind itself around his mouth, making him wretch in disgust. It had lifted him a foot above the ground before he managed to cut himself down, hacking loudly as his mouth was freed.

It only got worse when the doppelganger brought out a sword of its own, once again a color-altered replica of Link's own blade. It was now fighting back offensively against Link, if casually so. It was as if the longer he spent in this foul place, the stronger his duplicate grew, both in its own movements and its influence over the cave.

It was all topped off by the ceaseless taunting voices, whose words were infecting his thought process more and more and throwing him off his guard. Especially as they got slightly more specific, with one instance having them say, 'She's gone. They'll all be gone.'

"Stop," Link said back in a low voice. Who was gone? Zelda? Mipha? No, how … how could they be dead?

'They'll be gone, because you couldn't save them.'

"Stop!" Link yelled, making another vicious swing at the doppelganger he was sure was the source of the voices. However, he was then stunned to see the being actually stop the blade by grabbing it with its own hand. Link grunted loudly as he tried to get it back, but the being's grip was vicelike.

And then, to Link's absolute horror, the being tightened its hand around it, tighter and tighter, until eventually, the sacred sword that sealed the darkness cracked. The cracks spread, until it couldn't take the pressure any more, and shattered. Right before the Hylian's terrified eyes, his divine weapon burst apart into mere shards that ended up scattered across the floor. Adding insult to injury, the crawling goop was quick to make its way over to each shard and swallow them up, leaving Link with nothing.

'Not that they wanted you anyway.'

Desperate and feeling the nightmare close in even further, the Hylian resorted to launching his fist forward in a punch to the being. But it merely grabbed his wrist and delivered a brutal kick to the chest, sending Link to the sticky floor on his back. He then had to scramble up and away when tentacles rose from the floor to coil around him, just feeling them brush against his fingers.

Link went in to try and attack the figure again, but he missed, this time from uncharacteristic clumsiness as his fist swung a foot away from its target. When the figure lashed out with its sword, Link stumbled back, and then twisted himself around to avoid the creeping tentacles that had been sneaking up behind him, ready to spring while he was distracted.

He realized then that he couldn't fight these tendrils now, nor the figure.

So he ran. He darted away through the further recesses of this vast cave. His speed was rather poor, and he had to use the walls for support, but only for a second as some tentacles tried to grab his arm almost every time. These grabbing limbs could come from anywhere, at any moment. He had nowhere to rest, nowhere to hide, and he doubted very far to run.

As he looked behind him, he could see the doppelganger following him. Not running, but rather calmly strolling to him, as if it knew it didn't need to put in any more effort than that. He had to keep going, however, when the figure was joined by many large, gooey tentacles racing towards him at an alarming rate, the sloshing sound sickening to the hero's ears.

'You see it now, don't you? The futility.'

"No," Link said, albeit without any conviction.

'You're no hero. You're frail. You're hollow.'

"Enough," he nearly pleaded.

He kept moving, needing to stay on his toes as new tentacles ended up sprouting closer and closer to him. They appeared to be through with fooling around, now determined to snatch up their target with newfound haste.

He had to pause at one point to catch his breath. Despite a mere minute of fleeing, he felt absolutely drained. He rested his hands on his knees and huffed deeply in and out. He simply didn't have the energy to keep going at this pace.

Unfortunately, that one rest proved to be a mistake, as he then felt two coils emerging from right beneath him and wrapping tightly around his booted feet.

Link gasped and tugged his legs urgently, but only got the sound of stretching goop as the tentacles held on tightly. It only got worse when the tentacles slithered up to his knees and squeezed, making him hiss in pain.

As the doppelganger rounded the corner into his view, two more tentacles emerged from the ground and tightened around his waist. Link held his arms up to avoid them getting wrapped, but could tell it would buy them little time. One tentacle circled itself around his upper legs before tightening, squeezing them together and causing Link to buckle under the pain and unsteady stance. His duplicate watched with glee as his slimy minions continued their work, getting to his lower chest as a few more came to ensnare his forearms and left shoulder. Link pulled at them, fists and teeth clenched, but to no avail. As their viscous tips slithered and brushed against his body in adjusting themselves just right, he shook and cringed, feeling violated by the snaking coils.

"Stop this," Link begged the dark copy. "Plea-agh!"

He was choked off when another large tendril swiftly wrapped around his neck. He reached up to pull on it with his ensnared hands, but it only slid through his grip, continuing its work as it kept slithering further around his neck and eventually made its way over his mouth.

"Mmmmf!" Link's cry was muffled and gurgled under the wet appendage. He wrenched his eyes shut first in pain when the tentacle squeezed his face terribly, then in disgust as it caused slivers of goop to seep into his mouth.

He kept pulling at the gagging limb, but this unfortunately allowed another tendril to sneak in and wrap his upper arms to his sides, restraining him further. The Hylian lashed his forearms and twisted his body in any possible direction, but the remainder of his arms were quickly pinned as well.

'We have you now. It's over.'

"Nnnmmmgh!!"

It was working.

Ohram observed the Hylian hero's transformation quicken. He now matched his fabled dark alternative almost perfectly. The blonde locks of his hair were now few and far between, the pure whiteness having nearly taken over completely. His skin was a light grey, a shade that he could see darkening very slowly.

The statue continued assaulting his eyes, those blood red gems glaring under the eerie moonlight and submitting the poor hero to its master's will.

"It's almost over, boy," Ohram uttered. He knelt down to get a closer look at Link's glowing, entranced eyes. "In succumbing to the darkness, you will see the light," he said with downplayed mirth, gently brushing his palm through Link's whitened hair as if petting a sleeping puppy.

But all of a sudden, the Yiga leader's reverie was sharply halted by the sound of a door busting down. His head shot up instantly to the chamber's entrance, and his face contorted into rage and hidden fear when he saw a horde of Gerudo warriors, fronted by the famed Chief Urbosa and familiar Princess Mipha.

They all immediately charged forward, engaging in battle with the cloaked Yiga. With the exception of Urbosa and Mipha, who sought to deal with the master himself.

Ohram withdrew the famed sword still in his possession. "Lady Mipha," Ohram growled. "How thoughtful that you would return to us."

"That weapon does not belong to you!" Mipha cried out, unable to contain the fury steaming within her in the face of her former captive.

"Really?" Ohram said. "Come and get it."

Her hatred boiling over, the Zora cried out as she leapt at the brutish Yiga, only to be tossed aside by the heavier fighter. Urbosa took advantage of this diversion and slashed Ohram across the shoulder. The leader hissed at the sting but returned with a mighty swing of his own, which Urbosa successfully blocked. She ducked down to get a hit on his hip, then majestically spun low to the ground as he slammed the sword down, missing her by inches.

Mipha returned to the chief's side, as both female Champions glared at the Yiga Master, all while the rest of the clan members were gradually taken out by the remaining fighters.

Ohram watched the slaughter and roared at his opponents. "Foolish children!" He raised the sword. "You will not deny us our rightful place! Not anymore!"

Mipha lowered herself in a battle stance, only for Urbosa to bitterly respond, "Think so? Then you're in for quite a shock."

She then snapped her fingers.

Streaks of powerful lightning came crashing down through the glass ceiling, smashing it to red-tinted pieces and dealing a powerful shock directly to Ohram. He screamed out in agonizing pain and collapsed to the ground, Link's sword flying out of his hands and landing by the frame the Hylian was tied to. He was then forced to endure the many shards of glass that fell onto him and pierced his flesh, further incapacitating him.

"Master!" a Yiga cried out, before her distraction came at the cost of her life through the blade of a Gerudo.

Urbosa ran up to the fallen Yiga king, while Mipha made a beeline to the tied-up Link.

Ohram moaned, his voice crackling and weak. He tried to bring himself back to his feet, but his body refused to cooperate. As the shadow of the chief washed over his head, he could only turn it to look up at her. Urbosa scowled at him as she raised her scimitar.

"It's for nothing," Ohram whispered. "The Calamity will prevai-"

He never got to finish his final sentence before Urbosa plunged her weapon through the Yiga's face, silencing him for good.

Around her, her army was just finishing up their work on the last remaining Footsoldiers. Soon enough, she watched as the final one was taken care of, clearing the room of all life except for the two Champions.

Mipha, however, didn't even register any of it. For as she looked on at what had become of her hero, she held her hands over her mouth as tears streamed down her face.

With the ceiling destroyed, Link's eyes were no longer locked onto the statue, instead now closed as his head hung limp. But the physical changes that had already taken place still remained.

Mipha's hand shook heavily as she forced herself to bring it up to his white hair. The softness that she was familiar with was gone, rough and wiry strands now taking its place. She grasped his chin and stared at his greyed face, disbelieving that this was the best friend she knew.

"What have they done to you?" she whispered between gasps of sobs.

"Mmmmgh! Hmmmph!!"

Despite Link now being secure in their hold, the tentacles just kept emerging from the floor and wrapping him up. They piled on top of each other, crisscrossing and interlocking as they made sure that no matter how much the hero struggled, pulled, or thrashed, there would be no escaping. His forehead was even wrapped up, the slimy residue getting into his hair.

Link struggled in their squelching grasps. They were constricting him tightly, too tightly for him to breathe properly. And as they shifted and tightened themselves up, he could feel the foul slime slithering along his form, and was nearly sick through all of it. He fought hard for every breath through his nose, moaning faintly with each squeeze.

'We'll be your friends, Link,' the voices cried out.

"Nnnrrmm!!" he shouted, heavily muffled by the pile of tendrils. The dark Link had walked up to him, looking victorious as it silently commanded its tendrils to keep crushing the life out of their victim. They soon ended up rising to block his nose, completely cutting off all breathing.

'Your friends. Release. Rejoice.'

Desperate and now suffocating with all air sealed off, Link gave it his all in his final squirming fits. But his fight was waning. The pressure on his body made him drop down to his bound knees, reeling over and huffing for the air that couldn't come. He shook pathetically as his eyes welled up with tears, his mind going numb.

"Hrrrmmm ... rrrrmmm ..."

He couldn't take this anymore. It was too much. It all was too much.

The shadow of the dark Link then began extending beyond its host, just as Link's shadow had done to create the abomination. Except this time, the shadow met on the floor with the mass of tendrils killing Link, and began to crawl over it. Everything it touched turned to its own pitch black, and Link could feel himself fading the further up it got. It would soon reach all of him, taking him down and turning the good, noble Link into a literal shadow of this new, evil version.

Mipha ... Zelda ... Hyrule ... I'm sorry ... I failed you all ...

Feeling one more bit of tightening from the tentacles, he believed these to be his final thoughts. Ready to succumb once and for all, he closed his eyes and gave in, saying farewell to everything he knew and loved.

But then, suddenly, the tentacles halted. Their grip didn't give, meaning Link was still suffocating, but they were no longer in motion.

'Link.'

A voice spoke again. But it wasn't the cold, distorted chorus that had been tormenting him. Rather, it was the single, soft, melodic voice of a female. One that he could recognize anywhere.

... Mipha?

In the physical realm, Mipha sat in despair. She'd cut Link's bonds and demanded Urbosa and the Gerudos go keep the Yiga at bay, while she tried to revive him.

But it was going nowhere.

"Link, are you in there?" she cried. "Please wake up."

Nothing. No response, no change. The Hylian just lay in her arms, eyes closed, expression blank, and chest barely moving. Mipha tried using her healing, hovering her glowing hands all over him to try and rid him of whatever wretched spell he was under. But while it did wonders on the cuts and bruises he'd sported from his bonds, his catatonic state of being remained the same.

The Zora brought her head to his chest, sobbing as she kept begging him to come back.

"No, no, please. Please don't do this, Link. I love you, please wake up," she begged, the words hardly audible in between her sobs.

This couldn't be how it ended, couldn't be how this wonderful, perfect man was lost. Everything they'd been through couldn't have just been leading to ... this. She wanted to tell him everything. She wanted to be with him! Why, why would the world allow her to lose him now?!

"Please, Link. I love you," she whimpered, not caring if anyone heard it. Not anymore. She wailed out, despair crushing her very soul. "I love you."

'I love you.'

Link heard the words. Clinging on to the smallest threads of consciousness he still had, he could hear what the Zora was saying as her voice echoed throughout the cave.

And she was not only alive, not only free, but she was saying to him the three words he only believed he'd ever hear from her in his dreams. The three words that could change everything about how they lived their lives together.

She loves me.

He felt a strength rise within him. His weariness, fatigue, and anguish were beginning to wash away, like filth off one's body in the East Reservoir Lake. He could no longer feel the crippling pain of the tentacles despite their hold remaining. Instead, something inside of him was beginning to burn.

The dark doppelganger's expression became concerned. And as a golden burst of light became visible through Link's eyes, the only part of him not covered in tendrils, it took a few steps back.

She loves me.

And I love her.

The rest of Link's body now glowed gold, and that gold began flowing through the unmoving tentacles, infecting them with streaks of light. That light then began spreading throughout the cave, weaving its way through the pinks and purples.

Then it all burst, drenching the cave of darkness in the bright yellow hue. The dark Link screeched in pain as it was swallowed up.

I love her.

And I won't fail her!

In the midst of Mipha's crying and begging, the Hylian she cradled suddenly shot up, gasping and heaving for air. He put his palms on the ground as he tried to control his breathing. Moreover, the twisted appearance he'd taken on was fading away, in its place the familiar resemblance of the Link she knew and loved taking hold once more.

He rolled himself onto his back, pushing himself up to a half-sitting position. He looked around him, recognizing the dreaded location, but realizing that he was no longer bound to that frame as he was in his last memory of this place.

Cautiously, hoping this wasn't some trick, Mipha crouched beside him, reaching out a hand to touch his face.

"Link?" she asked quietly.

The Hylian slowly turned to look at her. He had to blink a few times to ensure that his eyes weren't deceiving him. There it was; that beautiful face, one that he felt the world didn't deserve.

"Mipha?" he whispered.

"Yes," she replied, her hopeful smile growing as it seemed her Link was back. "I'm here."

Link breathed deeply, keeping himself steady as he put a hand tenderly on her cheek. The two gazed into each other's eyes, both overcome with emotion and love.

He was back. She was here.

They were both free.

And now, knowing how Mipha felt about him, Link acted on his own love and brought his lips to hers.

Mipha's gasp was muffled as her brain nearly went haywire. It took her a second to realize that her fantasy, her dearest fantasy, was enfolding into reality.

But she soon unleashed her long pent-up desires by returning and deepening the kiss, bringing both hands to hold the sides of Link's face gingerly. Link brought his arms around her waist, feeling her aquatic skin and pulling her close as they both swam in each other's perfection. Mipha tilted her head, savoring every piece of this heaven.

The lovers broke off, but kept their foreheads against one another. Link was smiling ear-to-ear as he let out a dry, airy chuckle of unrestrained happiness, and Mipha couldn't help but do the same. They may have been in the home of the Yiga, but the two couldn't remember ever feeling this free. It felt like nothing short of a miracle.

But they were then reminded that they were indeed in such a perilous place by the sounds of eight Yiga Footsoldiers and two Blademasters barging in, breaking their moment. The Yiga were quick to notice the lifeless corpse of their leader, along with the freedom of their failed subject. Their masks couldn't hide the rage they now held as they swiftly raised their weapons.

The two Champions slowly rose up, Link regaining proper use of his movements. His eyes darted to the ground beneath him, where a familiar darkness-sealing blade lay at his feet. He gasped internally at the sight, but he slowly lowered himself down to pick it up. The hilt in his hands felt as natural as ever, and he twirled it around to reacquaint himself with the weapon he knew like an extension of himself.

As the Yiga closed in, Link and Mipha turned back-to-back, weapons drawn and ready to finish this.

Together.

Chapter 13 Chapter Text

Link ducked an upward swing before using his low ground to slash at a Footsoldier's gut, knocking him back. At the same time, Mipha swept her trident at another Yiga's feet to trip him, and followed up by piercing him through the side as he fell. She had to leave him for another soldier teleporting in a cloud of smoke and papers, which she evaded through a roll that she ended with a charge and a fatal strike to the enemy's chest.

Link, meanwhile, also managed to take out one foe when she teleported above him; he'd planned accordingly and forced the Yiga to fall right onto his sword. He threw the body off the blade and onto another Footsoldier, before charging at him. In the ensuing tangle, the Footsoldier's sickle ended up caught in the band keeping Link's hair tied back. With a sharp pull, the tie came undone, bringing the hair cascading freely down to his neck.

Mipha had two Yiga ready to charge at her. She lowered her stance and prepared herself. When the first soldier reached her, she leapt up and sprang her feet off of his shoulders, sending him flying back just as she'd done with Link in their sparring session. But it also allowed her to strike and finish off the other charging soldier in midair.

However, she then found herself confronting one of the Blademasters in the group. Certainly more imposing, his reach forced her to dodge an attack from over a foot away, yet still ended up sliding back from the gust of his Windcleaver.

You're no Lynel, however, Mipha thought, recalling her grueling experience days prior.

When she was further away, the Blademaster's fist glowed pink, he brought it to the floor, and a fissure emerged that sent an updraft straight for the Zora. She was about to roll away, but then Link, sidestepping his previous opponent's attack, jumped in with a makeshift shield at his feet and a bow and arrow he swiped off a fallen Yiga. When the shield hit the updraft, it sent him a few feet in the air, where he shot an arrow dead in the center of the Blademaster's head. While the Yiga was stunned, Mipha took the opportunity to toss her trident at his neck, bringing forth the final blow from their combined efforts.

Once Mipha grabbed her weapon again, she found her back against Link's once more, and the two stood surrounded as the remaining six Yiga engaged with them in a tense standoff, each waiting for the other's next move. One of the Yiga took that honor by firing an arrow, which Link blocked with his shield - which was essentially just a large piece of rectangular wood.

Link still had his bow but was short an arrow. Thinking creatively, he reached down to pick up a large shard of the glass from the shattered ceiling, placed it in the bow, and fired it at an unfortunate Yiga. The shout of pain was sharp, and Link was quick to grab another shard and do the same to the Blademaster. This created the opening he needed, and he ran towards the first Yiga he'd hit and slashed through his back. Another horizontal slash finished the job, just as he blocked the Blademaster's blow with his wooden shield, facing off against him one-on-one.

This left Mipha a chance with her own group. They all created their symbols and disappeared, and she had to move continuously to avoid being in their paths when they returned. She took one out just as it re-emerged, but this left her in the middle of a circle of three furious Footsoldiers.

After a tense back-and-forth, Link had performed enough counterstrikes to weaken his Blademaster, culminating with a perfect block that stunned the Yiga for a finishing strike.

But he then turned to see the Zora surrounded. "Mipha!" he cried.

She, however, appeared not too worried. Instead, she took a deep breath, concentrated, and wound herself up. Then, she spun herself around in a powerful fashion, her trident moving alongside her as it plowed through all three Footsoldiers. Two of them were offed by the move, while the third was flown into Link, who timed a swing to finish the job, killing the Yiga before it hit the ground.

Link recognized what Mipha had done; it was his own Spin Attack, the very same one that he'd demonstrated for her upon request. As she finished with a huff and looked over at the Hylian, he could help but beam with pride and awe. The Zora rubbed the back of her neck with her hand at the praising look.

Both Champions then dropped their weapons, hearing them clang on the floor, as they sprinted over to each other and embraced as tightly as possible. Mipha felt her legs leave the ground as Link lifted her up, and both of them buried their faces in the other's necks, staining them with tears of relief. After everything they had been through, finally having this long-awaited reunion, free together, on top of having made clear how they truly feel for each other, reduced them to heaving messes.

Link tightened his loving hold on her. "Th-they told me you were dead."

Mipha ran her fingers through Link's loosened hair as she whimpered, "I had a promise to keep."

Link let out a brief huff of tearful laughter. "Me too."

The Hylian spun his love around gleefully. He wished he never had to let go of her, wanting this beautiful moment to last the remainder of his life. With the grace of Hylia, however, in some ways it might. Truly understanding just how precious this girl was to him, Link wasn't about to let his own doubts and what-ifs hold him back from her any longer.

He was hers, and she his. That's all there was to it.

But then the most agonized, horrible scream either of them had ever heard shocked the duo out of their hug.

They separated swiftly, and turned to see a dreadfully familiar Yiga now in their presence.

Jora was standing over the body of her now-dead adoptive father, hands over her mask as her body shook and legs ultimately collapsed to the floor. Another wail of distress followed, one so achingly emotional that neither Link nor Mipha could believe it was coming from a Yiga. Nonetheless, they also knew that this would yield another nasty encounter, and so they both reached back for their weapons and readied themselves.

Jora did soon look up, ever slowly, her body still trembling with grief, despair, and unfiltered rage.

"You …" she hissed. "You MURDERERS!!" she screeched. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!"

It mattered not that the deed was Urbosa's doing. Jora didn't know, and frankly, she likely wouldn't care. Her father was dead; now hell must be paid.

"You call us murderers?" Mipha scolded. "Ha!"

"SILENCE!!" Jora screamed. She reached behind her back and haphazardly withdrew dual sickles. She pointed one at Link and shouted at him. "You … I tried to vouch for you! I saw hope in you, a chance at something greater! W-we tried to give you everything. And now … n-now, you've taken everything!"

"Jora … I-" Link tried to say.

"But I was wrong! You're just like all the rest! Filthy, despicable Hylian SCUM!!"

The screaming Yiga then dashed toward him, swinging in a manner too rapid to counter. Link swung out to fight back, but she either dodged him or completely ignored any hit she received. Mipha jumped in and made to hit her, but the Yiga blocked her by hooking a sickle around the trident. Link went for her next, but she used her other sickle to do the same with his sword. The trio wrestled in their locked position, until Jora kicked Mipha square in the stomach and sent her on her back.

Link let out a grunt of anger and yanked the Yiga towards him, before slashing her across the face. This created a tear in Jora's mask, and as she recovered from the hit, she raised her head to expose a single yellow eye to the Hylian.

Link saw pure darkness in the iris. Something that once held an innocence to the world, but had morphed over years into a blind anger, resentment, and twisted sense of right and wrong.

Jora seemed aware of the newfound vulnerability this exposure provided, but only lingered for a few seconds before she and Link re-engaged in combat.

Mipha had recovered and joined back in the fight. The two Champions worked in sync to keep the Yiga from gaining any ground, but also were struggling to wear her down as well. She was fueled by emotional adrenaline, fatigue appearing foreign to her in the heat of the fight.

However, that changed when Link managed to knock her against the frame he'd been tied to, slamming her into it brutally. In her momentary daze, Link ran, leapt up, and delivered a powerful stab into her heart.

Mipha winced and recoiled at the deafening scream the Yiga let out. She dropped her sickles and collapsed down the frame and to the floor, a sheer mess of blood and sprawled limbs.

Link sheathed his sword, observing one of the key people responsible for his recent suffering quickly fading away. She looked up at him, her exposed eye not letting up on its hatred for him. But it now also revealed a subtle tinge of regret, as she glared at the man she had tried and failed to make an ally, friend, and true savior.

Link kept his composure, not willing to yell at her or stoop to her level despite what she'd put him and, even worse, Mipha through. Instead, he opted to speak softly spoke to the dying female.

"It didn't have to come to this."

Jora's eye widened slightly, but he continued. "Hyrule is imperfect. But," he turned to Mipha as he finished his sentence, "There's always something worth fighting for."

Jora huffed, coughing on her own blood as her body came down to its last few breaths. "Maybe now. But you'll see, Link," she rasped. "The happiness you think you'll have … it won't last … nothing good ever does …"

That was it. Her head lowered to the floor, her eye went blank, and her breathing came to a halt.

Alongside the Yiga's king, its princess was also no more.

Link and Mipha looked at each other somberly. They both saw something in Jora that made her more than just a mindless slave to her father. A fire, a drive to bring justice. But what she saw as justice made her too far gone to save, and thus she was given the grisly fate that she deserved.

But it didn't matter anymore. She was gone, Ohram was gone, and most importantly, they were saved.

Well, almost, Link thought.

They still needed to get out of here.

It was a glorious sight to behold Link and Mipha emerge from the Yiga Hideout, alive and well - or as well as Link could be given the circumstances.

Revali and the Gerudos on the outskirts were holding their own against the Yiga, but time had been taking its toll on them as they waited for their forces on the inside to return successful. All were grateful when that moment did come, although behind the two was a horde of Yiga soldiers too numerous for even them to take down. These villains were determined to keep their treasured Hylian, and as soon as those on the outside saw him, they too diverted their focus to him.

It was for this reason that the army didn't wish to stick around any longer. They had their hero rescued and out; their first priority now had to be getting him away from here and back to the safety of their town.

"Spread the word!" Urbosa called out to all soldiers around her. "We have Link, we need to go. Everyone get to their sand seals!"

All obliged, proceeding with the established protocol to make a break for it and making sure no ally was left behind. The Yiga caught wind of this and rushed further to desperately contain their enemies, but it was clearly becoming a losing battle for them.

Link had fought well inside, partially thanks to Mipha's healing, but she couldn't heal sheer exhaustion. He was slowly falling behind in the army's mass escape. However, to his surprise, he found Revali descending down beside him, and bringing himself low to the ground.

"Need a lift, hero?" he asked.

Link was taken aback by the generosity from Revali of all beings, and perhaps even more so by the lack of bitterness or contempt he was used to with the Rito. Rather, the remark seemed made out of a genuine want to aid him.

Nonetheless, he didn't hesitate to hop onto his back. With extra required effort due to the added weight, Revali was able to take off with the Hylian on board, and joined the rest of the army through the canyon and away from this evil domicile.

It was a while into their journey back before everyone felt that they were truly in the clear. They looked behind them and saw no signs of any Yiga in the empty, cool desert. At that point, it was only a matter of waiting for their sanctuary to finally emerge into view, which would signal that their long, challenging mission had not only been a success, but was at its end.

Urbosa made a mental note to honor those who fought so bravely, and especially those whose lives were lost in the process.

From the top of the town, Zelda gasped as she saw them returning, and rushed down to the front entrance. They were quick to arrive, each Champion and Gerudo barreling in. Urbosa ordered Link to be taken to receive treatment at once, and he was aided by Zelda in getting there.

Once he could verify firmly that he was, at long last, safe and among friends and allies, Link allowed himself to fade away into a much-needed sleep. This one not plagued by nightmares or battles against darkness, but blessed with peaceful silence.

Mipha sat by his bedside for over an hour as he slept. She reached to gently place his hand in hers, brushing his knuckles with her thumb and being sure to heal even the tiniest little scrape she saw that she'd missed on previous checks.

The Zora didn't want to admit how tired she was herself, but it couldn't be denied as her yawns became more numerous. Yet at the same time, she really didn't want to leave the sleeping Hylian's side, not after an ordeal that had made her so heavily fear that he would perish.

It was then that she had an idea that would settle both problems at once. One that she'd envisioned doing whenever she went to bed at night, but now was about to experience in reality. Carefully so as not to disturb his rest, the Zora cautiously crawled herself onto the bed next to him. She arranged herself slowly, trying not to lose her nerve.

He feels the same way you do … right? she told herself. He hadn't declared his love for her as she did, but he'd initiated that kiss … that amazing kiss. He surely felt something.

She soon managed to get herself into a comfortable position, her small form nicely fitting into the space not occupied by Link. Feeling both the rush and soothing from being right against him, Mipha took a further step and slid an arm under his torso, and brought her other arm over it. She enclosed them around him, and proceeded to snuggle up to her love like a long, firm pillow, trembling happily as she felt his chest rising up and down with each breath.

It was even better than she'd imagined it.

And when she rested her head on Link's broad shoulder, she felt herself hum softly in contentment, and it was mere minutes before the Zora found herself drifting off as well.

The process of waking up was easily the most pleasant it had felt for Link since his capture, and perhaps further back than that. It didn't feel weary or dread-filled, but rather serene. He didn't wish to go back to the land of dreams, but rather embrace his return with the knowledge that he wouldn't be tormented by painful bonds, fear for his friends, or psychotic captors.

But it couldn't compare to what he felt, and then saw, pressed up securely against his side.

The dear Zora girl of his dreams had apparently decided to curl up with him for her own slumber, her face buried into his shoulder, arms wrapped around his frame, and legs intertwined with his. From what little he could see of her face, her bright red lips had been lifted into a peaceful smile. He only then noticed that he had his own arm draped over the slender female, which seemed to have added to her comfort.

Was he actually awake? Because this certainly seemed like a dream.

But he remembered last night. Amidst the horror and violence, beautiful revelations had occurred between them that made such a thing suddenly plausible.

After taking a few minutes to enjoy himself in this newfound position, Link planted a kiss onto the Zora's head, before trying to get out of the bed without waking her. He gently raised her arm off of him and brought it to her side, then put her head on the pillow. He then carefully freed his legs, rolled to the edge of the bed, and steadily rose to his feet.

His hair was still undone in the back, and he made a note to find a tie for it later. For now, he simply walked up to the balcony of their bedroom. The town wasn't visible at this position, but rather he was greeted with a view of the desert. The sun's height told him that it was mid-morning as it coated the sands in a bright yellow hue. The town's aqueduct ran directly below his feet, adding the pleasing sound of running water to the morning visuals.

He soon could hear the rustling of sheets behind him, however, and surely enough Mipha ended up standing next to him.

"Did I wake you?" Link asked.

Mipha shook her head. She was telling the truth; shortly after Link left her side, she felt herself stirring as well.

Link then smiled at her, more brightly than she'd ever seen since he was a child. It flustered her enough to look down for a moment, but she then shot her gaze back up and curled her lips similarly. The Hylian saw her eyes light up, those perfect brown eyes. To think that he could very well now stare into them without any reservations.

"How are you feeling?" Mipha asked.

"Better than I can remember," Link replied deeply, still beaming.

Mipha brought her arms around him, and he did the same to her.

"What I saw of you in that hideout, Link … I-I can't even describe it."

Link sighed. He'd been informed that in addition to that torturous cave in his mind, his physical form had been changing to match the doppelganger he'd been facing. And apparently his transformation had been almost complete when his rescuers arrived. He couldn't bring himself to think about if they had been too late. He'd be as deranged as those Yiga, attacking anyone opposing them. And with Mipha in the same room …

"What did they do to you in there?" Mipha asked. "How could they-"

"Please," Link whispered, unraveling himself to place his hands on her shoulders comfortingly. "I don't want to think about it any longer."

Mipha nodded, but still felt building tears starting to drip down. Link brushed them aside lovingly, but still a bit nervously. The two had little to no experience in the ways of love and romance, meaning there were going to be some hurdles to jump before they became truly used to interacting so intimately. Nonetheless, Mipha's smile returned wider than ever at the gesture.

"I love you," Link uttered.

The lightest of gasps escaped Mipha's lips. She could surmise as much from how he now interacted with her, but to hear the words actually come from him, to have it confirmed, was another thing for her entirely.

They both were in love with one another, and both wanted to be together.

"Really?" Mipha asked, not wanting to be hearing things.

Link didn't confirm it verbally, but rather pressed his lips to hers again, palms cradling her face. Mipha stood on her tiptoes to press herself further into him, running her fingers through his flowing golden locks, while Link's hands slowly made their way down her face and onto her smooth, scaly arms. He didn't think about where they went; it was simply what felt natural. The two angled their heads to further deepen the kiss, lips locked in a passion that had brewed for longer than perhaps either of them realized. They were silhouetted against the sun, as if it were shining a new, radiant light onto their lives.

Their kiss went on for roughly a minute, before the two finally pulled themselves apart, but not releasing their holds on each other.

"When we get back home," Link asked, about to mirror the proposal she'd made to him, "Perhaps we could spend some time together?"

Mipha knowingly, happily replied, "I'd like that."

A few minutes prior, Princess Zelda was in the midst of a conversation with Urbosa, reflecting on the events of late.

"This was possible because of you, Princess," Urbosa told Zelda. "You pieced together everything that happened, and what's more, you had the will to act on it."

Zelda's head went between her shoulders as she awkwardly took in the praise. After so much failure and feeling like she was useless, this experience made her feel greatly accomplished. What was more, she did it not by following the rule set out for her, but by defying them. Her father may be upset at her initially, but when he heard of everything that transpired and what was salvaged because of her, she had faith that he would see reason. Perhaps he'd even change his mind in his decision to forbid her from studying their robotic Guardians? Her prospects were looking up.

But she still had unfinished business. Zelda remembered what she told herself she would do once Link was free and safe. And seeing how worn and beaten he'd been, watching as he lay sleeping before turning in herself, she now knew she had to commit herself to that. She would tell him everything; what she truly felt for would finally be known, and if things continued to go the way they'd recently gone for her, she hoped that those feelings would be reciprocated. If so, then there was a chance that she would walk away from this with everything she had been longing for.

She could hardly hide the butterflies in her stomach. And clearly Urbosa caught on to them as well.

"If you want him," she said with a wink, "Go get him."

That was all she needed. Zelda got up without a word and made her way to Link's current room. He could very well not be awake, even if it was well past breakfast - Hylia forbid the gluttonous hero miss a meal - in which case she was willing to wait.

But when she reached the room, she saw an empty bed. Smiling in anticipation, she slowly walked inside, wanting to be mindful of his privacy.

And then she glanced towards the balcony.

The object of her affections was there, but he was not alone. Princess Mipha was with him, and they were exchanging words that Zelda couldn't quite make out.

But that wasn't what made her heart drop to her feet. That occurred when she then saw the two lean in for a clearly passionate kiss.

Zelda couldn't tell for sure if what she was seeing was real. It felt like some sick joke. But as she ducked back behind the wall to avoid being spotted, she couldn't hide behind that delusional notion.

She knew that Link had a history with the Zora and the two were good friends, but … never could she have predicted this! How long had this been happening? Had they been keeping this secret? When did they intend to tell anyone? Did they tell anyone?

As she slowly walked away, the princess felt like she had just been stabbed. She wished she could blame this sense of betrayal on Link, but he surely wasn't aware of her feelings, and she'd learned the foolishness of pinning her frustrations onto him. Mipha was no more complicit, for the same reasons. Plus, few beings were as unwilling to step on people's desires than her.

There was nothing and no one to lay the fault on.

Except herself.

She clearly hadn't been enough for him. As always, she was never good enough.

She didn't even notice herself walking past Urbosa, nor did she register when she was called to.

"Zelda?" Urbosa asked, concerned by the body language of the Hylian. That concern was made worse when Zelda didn't acknowledge her. The chief got up and followed her, wondering what went wrong.

But even she wouldn't be sure how to deal with this.

Chapter 14 Chapter Text

Everyone at Hyrule Castle was relieved when their hero returned home, but were stunned when they learned about what had happened to him. They listened in horror as the entire experience was recounted, with Link highly uncomfortable speaking to so many people, let alone about such a terrible ordeal. Without question, he skipped over many of the more gruesome details, even if he had a feeling he may need to cover them some day. After all, while the Yiga's forces had been seriously hit by the rescue mission, the fact that they were able to pull off what they did in the first place was deeply troubling.

While most were happy, however, King Rhoam was less than pleased with his daughter. Zelda expected and was prepared for some degree of this, but much to her surprise, it turned out that her father was far more angry that she disobeyed orders than that she helped save Link.

“Father, I understand that I went against your orders, but think of what would have happened otherwise. We would have lost Link, you must see that.”

“I do, Zelda. But in the process, I almost lost you. It is mere luck that you’re still with us now. You cannot partake in such foolishness, regardless of the results in this single instance.”

The king was not budging. All he could see was the worst that could have happened and what might have become of her. He was far too paranoid to look beyond that or see that there was more to her than just going along with the plan laid out before her.

To the point where she was sentenced to remain in the castle for a full two weeks, guarded every hour of the day to ensure she stayed in place this time. Link himself was often one of the guards assigned to this duty, making things uncomfortable between them when both wanted Zelda to have her freedom back, but Link knew he had to follow the king’s demands. He would try to cheer her up whenever he was around, but little did he know that simply being in her presence when she knew his heart was taken only ended up rubbing salt in the wound, let alone when he was being so considerate of her.

Hylia bless him for trying, though, Zelda thought miserably.

But something made it all even worse. Zelda thought back on her rescue journey; specifically, she recalled that surging sensation seeming to come from within her. It not only felt like light itself was flowing inside of her, but it also had given her deeply-rooted gut instincts that could swear were coming from Hylia herself, every single one of which proved accurate. It was at night while she waited for the rescuing army to return that she began to wonder if, at long last, her powers were beginning to awaken. How or why was beyond her, but she felt it all the same.

And yet, once they returned to the castle, that surging had left her. She could no longer get it relit, not even a spark. As she sat miserable in her room, trapped there in her punishment, she spent countless hours trying her best to get it back, but it never came.

This was the final straw to break her down. Having her heart crushed and then being heavily punished for her efforts were bad enough. But now to feel that she had been close to finally unlocking the tools to her destiny, only to fall right back to square one, made her feel even more small and empty.

It all felt so unfair.

The reactions of the Zoras to their princess coming home were more exclusively celebratory than that of Hyrule Castle.

Mipha had Link accompany her, both to serve as an escort and because they wanted to share another certain bit of news involving them. And Link looked on delightfully as the gigantic king scooped his daughter up in her arms, with young Sidon piling on top of the reunion.

“You had the entire guard in a frenzy, dear Mipha!” King Dorephan declared. “What in the world happened to you?”

“It shall take time to – ugh! – explain,” Mipha croaked out, nearly smothered in the overpowering hug.

It was clear by how shakily she returned home that Mipha had been put through a very dire situation. Initially, many Zoras believed that she had been injured and washed away by a fight with the Lynel they ended up spotting on Ploymus Mountain, needing to spend her time slowly recovering before coming back. While that was partially true, they had no idea what that fight ended up putting her through afterwards.

But the princess didn’t wish to answer every question just yet. "I will tell you everything in due time, Father," she said when out of the embrace. She was now holding Sidon in her arms as he squeezed her chest as tightly as possible, no less happy to have her back. "But now, I just want to cherish being home.” She brought a kiss to the top of her sibling’s head, relishing in the warmth of the family she had been struggling to believe she would ever see again.

"Hmmm ... very well,” Dorephan agreed. “However, we will certainly celebrate tonight! A feast to honor Lady Mipha’s return!"

He then turned to Link, who had been a silent observer to the emotional reunion. "As well as the return of you, my boy. Many of us were nearly as concerned for your safety.”

Link smiled subtly but warmly at that, his heart grateful as he realized just how much these Zora sometimes treated him as one of their own. Even now, with the way Dorephan looked at him. If Link didn’t know any better, he would swear that the king considered him part of his family.

Maybe, Link thought, now he had that chance after all.

“But I trust that you and Mipha did whatever you could for each other out there, as any true friend would.”

Link simply nodded, expression still happy.

Mipha then put her brother down and walked over to the Hylian. "I assure you, Father, he did … In fact …"

Now was the moment, she felt. The two of them had nothing to hide, and had agreed that whatever pushback their new relationship received from either the Zoras or the Hylians, whatever it meant for her future reign as queen, they were prepared to face it and keep together.

And so, Mipha looped an arm around his and leaned into him gingerly as she said, “You'll find that through it all, we came out more than … friends.”

The king's face did a double take, quick to catch on as to what his daughter was insinuating. Sidon cocked his head in confusion, obviously not old enough to have the same realization. Link and Mipha could only look on as he absorbed the news, hand-in-hand as they waited for some reaction. Link found himself looking up sheepishly, feeling somewhat awkward to be now known by his majesty as his daughter’s significant other, yet still comforted by his love’s touch.

Thankfully, that anxiety he felt was somewhat mitigated when Dorephan’s face lit up in pleasant surprise. When he fully recovered himself, he leaned down to tower over the two. “Well, well … I must admit the timing is rather unexpected, but Mipha, I was wondering what had taken you so long!” he said with a hearty laugh.

His daughter rolled her eyes at that, having put up with enough teasing on his behalf over the matter. It was a surprise to Link, however, who thought to himself, So long?

“I suppose this is yet another cause for celebration!” the king said joyfully. “That is … if you both are willing to make this known to the whole domain.”

Having talked the matter through, their response was quick. They merely looked to one another, nodded, and Mipha stated, “Yes father. I will be proud to.” She gently pressed her lips to the Hylian’s cheek to support her statement, mildly flustering the boy.

“Very good,” Dorephan said. “And don’t worry about anyone who takes the news poorly. I assure you they will have me to answer to,” he added proudly.

“However, Link ... Let me make something clear to your right now.”

The large being’s face was now contorted in warning, his voice was suddenly imposing, intimidating, and displeased. And nothing amused Mipha more than seeing the great, powerful hero shrivel up underneath the oversized Zora, frightened by him out of all the countless dangers he'd faced as a knight.

But then the king's tone and face then returned to their pleasant, upbeat state as before. "I could not think of someone better suited for my daughter."

The Hylian visibly deflated in relief, with Mipha lightly massaging his shoulders playfully. You'll soon grow used to my father's playful nature, she thought.

Sidon may not have fully understood the situation, but couldn’t mistake the delight in everyone’s voices directed towards Link. The happiness proved contagious as he went up to Link and hugged the Hylian’s leg. Link was unable to resist the soft laughter that came from such an adorable sight, and reached down to lift the little Zora into his arms.

"Hey there, bud," he said softly.

Sidon responded with a giant grin aimed up at him, and Mipha's heart welled at the sight. Link and Sidon had always gotten along, but it was only now that she was able to look at the two and see how strong their bond could become going forward. Link was surprisingly a natural with children, and Sidon looked more than happy to be on the receiving end of this gift.

Yes, in spite of him not being of their species, Link would fit into her family just fine.

That was three months ago. Now, Mipha stood on a grassy field a few miles out from her domain. Against a tree trunk lay her bag, and stored inside it was something very precious. Something she'd spent many days and nights slaving away at, wanting - needing - it to be just right. It was that item that she wanted to meet Link here for today.

Since they finally came together, their relationship had been flourishing. They both had worked out their shyness towards romantic gestures, and in doing so showed all but the stingiest of skeptics how well they went together. Soon, Mipha had become convinced that she was ready to take one of the biggest steps in a Zora princess's life. A step that showed just how much of her existence she wanted to share with the love of her life. She didn't know what he'd say, but if she'd learned anything lately, it was that one only attained one's desires by making moves like this.

In the midst of her contemplations, she was surprised to find herself suddenly swept off the ground.

"Oh!" she cried out, having not heard the Hylian in question sneaking behind her to scoop her up into his arms. With her being so light and him so strong, she was nearly weightless to him. Ironic how years ago, Link was a small child that Mipha could pick up with ease. Now, it was the reverse case. And both were very much okay with it.

Link now held her by the back of the thighs, leaning in for a kiss. This playful, affectionate side to Link was one she felt privileged to be in on. Not to say that it was a complete opposite to how he now carried himself to others. On the contrary, she was noticing him be more open in general, a bit more vocal and trying less to hide every single emotion he felt. He had by no means become an extrovert, still generally reserved and soft-spoken, but there was a noticeable difference that she was happy to see. Nonetheless, the bulk of his outward affections were reserved for her.

The kiss broke off and Link grinned at her cheekily. "You summoned, milady?" he quipped, causing the Zora princess to giggle.

She wrapped her arms around his neck. "Why yes, I do require a strong, handsome knight to assist me at the moment," she played along with the silliness. The feeling in her gut as he held her right now told Mipha that this was, indeed, the right time to make her full intentions known to him.

The Zora walked past Link and went to her bag, picking it up and returning to him with it. Her hands clasped at it tightly; while she had faith in what Link's answer to her proposal would be, she couldn't help but still feel understandably nervous.

"Link," she began. "These three months have been the most wonderful of my entire life."

The Hylian lovingly took her hand in his. "Mine too," he said softly.

"And as they've gone on ... I've thought about us," Mipha continued. "About where our future could go. A-and I don't know if you're aware, but there is a tradition among Zora princesses."

Link waited, patiently, as his love gathered herself.

“Do … do you remember that night, wh-when I asked to do some … er, some measurements of you for some Zora-style clothing?”

A knowing smirk crossed Link’s features. He did indeed remember, specifically because said measurements involved him stripping down for the Zora to get the most accurate recordings possible. As she went across his bare body, it had taken much of her self-control to forego her measuring in favor of exploring him in a … different way.

“I may recall something like that,” Link said knowingly.

Mipha’s laugh was airy. She needed a moment to keep her breathing steady, and Link was left in anticipation of her next words.

The Zora began to unzip her bag. This was it. This was the moment she'd waited for ...

But she only got a little of it open when the ground suddenly began shaking violently. Mipha dropped her bag and stumbled forward, with Link able to catch her but struggling to keep standing himself. It was identical to an earthquake, but this was far more severe than either of them had ever experienced.

The two of them looked at each other with great worry, as they both heard lightning crashing in the far distance.

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Comments

ZeldaStrife on Chapter 14 Sun 30 Apr 2023 05:04PM UTC

Talk about subverting expectations. Wow. I’m not even a LinkxMipha shipper and I’m blown away.
Using the spell from Zelda II with the Yoga Clan was pure gold. Like, it makes perfect sense. And the massacre at the stable and using Link’s own kindness against him was also perfection.
I binge-read this in one day, haha.
Thanks for writing and sharing!

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1. TheTopTier on Chapter 14 Tue 02 May 2023 02:32AM UTC
  
  Yay, that's the best kind of praise to get! Seriously, thank you for saying all that; it's so nice to hear! It's tough to connect different iterations of Zelda in coherent lore, but I'm happy to have done that in this particular instance. ^^
  
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