Chapter Text
When Zelda was six years old, she visited Kakariko Village for the very first time in her life.
She can't recall the reason behind this special voyage, though it probably had something to do with her mother's controversial policy regarding the reintroduction of the Sheikahs to high Hylian society that many traditionalist nobles still complain about to this day.
Zelda had spent most of that day glued to her nanny's hip, with her own entourage of glorified babysitters tasked with keeping her as silent and as well behaved as humanly conceivable to avoid any incidents or embarrassments on such a monumental day in hylian history.
Though such precautions hadn't been as needed as her tutors had expected, because their little princess had taken advantage of this occasion to prove just how much of a grown up she was in spite of her tender age.
No hissy fits her nanny dreaded, no tantrums over the food she didn't like, no laments over standing in the heat for forty minutes as the adults talked.
A perfect princess for a perfect family her mother could be proud of.
And proud she was. Once all the ceremonies were done, right as their maids were ready to prepare her for bed, her mother had sought her in the chambers the Sheikah chief had assigned her for the night and whisked her away after dismissing her servants.
Nestled in the Queen's warm embrace, she remembers almost falling asleep in her arms as her mother led them far away from the sleeping quarters.
A gentle tap on her cheek had roused her from her slumber, and her eyes had opened to the marvelous sight of a handmade tapestry hanging proudly in front of the chief's throne.
The yellowed fabric depicted a horrible, pig-like creature at its center, while two humanoid figures, one who resembled her mama and one who looked like a knight fought the ravenous beast. There were hundreds of smaller beings all round them, attacking the monster at the centre alongside the lady and her friend.
"Is that you, mama?"
Her chubby hand had risen from its spot on her mother's chest to point towards the mysterious woman with her index finger. The queen had chuckled, her voice softer than silk.
"No my little bird, the lady you see over there isn't someone you've met before. She was a royal princess from thousands of years ago who fought alongside the hero of legend to vanquish the great Calamity and save Hyrule from certain doom. One day a Zelda like us will have to follow in her footsteps when Ganon returns."
The little princess had squinted her fatigued eyes, analyzing the simple but familiar depiction of the blessed royal girl in all its glory. It really did resemble her dear mama.
Zelda yawned, then wondered absentmindedly if the loving woman that held her with unrivalled affection and care could be capable of such fantastical power if it came down to it.
"So could that girl be you one day?"
Her mother smiled then, and not with the hollow upturn of her lips that was reserved for the public or the courtiers, but with the true, spontaneous grin that only emerged in her presence, like a treasure stuck at the bottom of the sea surfacing with the low tide.
"I suppose so, little bird. As queen and bearer of Hylia's blessing it would be my duty, and a great honor, to follow my destiny and utilize the powers I was given. Though I doubt this is a burden either of us will ever have to carry. The seers have given us no warnings on the Calamity's dormant status as of late. It seems like it will not rear its ugly head in our lifetimes, but sti-"
All of a sudden, her mother's head jerked away from the tapestry, landing in the crook of her elbow as a violent coughing fit shook her gaunt figure. Zelda grimaced, her little hands now hooked to the collar of her nightgown.
This wasn't unusual. The queen had been afflicted by a mysterious sickness for as long as she could remember. Never able to climb more than a flight of stairs without wheezing uncontrollably, always in need of a physician by her side everytime she left the castle.
Everyone back home talked about it, even her nannies and the maids that cleaned her chambers. They said she kept on visiting the springs in spite of her condition, spending most of her time praying at the temples until the priestesses had to drag her out. That if she continued disobeying her advisors she wouldn't be long for this world.
Death was a word she heard quite often when people talked about her mama. It followed her whenever she went, in the palace staff's worried gazes, in the physician's dismissed warnings, in the priestesses' prayers to safeguard the queen's soul in the great beyond. Sometimes it felt like her mother was already dead to everyone but her. Like the court was expecting to find her in a casket at any moment. It made her blood boil.
Shut up. She wanted to scream at them. Scold them so badly they would never think of these absurdities ever again. Shut your mouths and find better things to gossip about.
"I'm so sorry dear, just let me catch my breath for a second, okay?"
The little princess nodded, awaiting patiently until her mother stopped trembling so she could resume her speech. The woman took a few deep breaths, passed a shaky hand around her throat and met her worried eyes with a kind smile.
"I brought you here because I think now you're old enough to comprehend the vital role our dynasty has played in safeguarding the realm, how our fates are woven into the future of our kingdom like the threads on this wondrous work of art."
Her mama passed her slender fingers in front of the tapestry, almost coming close enough to touch it, but not quite. Always too far out of reach.
"My little bird?"
Zelda turned her head upwards, meeting her mother's pained gaze with a reassuring nod.
"Yes mama?
The queen's hand left the art nailed on the wall to softly caress her red cheeks. The comforting touch was so soothing Zelda had almost fallen asleep right then and there, but held on to her remaining energy to hear the end of her mother's speech
"Soon, i will leave you. I know you are aware of this fact. How could you not be? Even the butterflies flying in our gardens have been notified of my condition by now."
The soft smile resting on her face faltered, her little hands tugging on the cloth of her mother's dress like her life depended on it. She tried to interrupt her speech, to deny what her mama was telling her, but the newly formed lump in her throat wouldn't permit it. Tears welled in the corners of her eyes as she furiously shook her head in disagreement.
"Your father will surely do his best to fill in my shoes. He's a good, dutiful man, who loves you more than life itself. But i fear for you both. To raise a daughter of the goddess is to bear a type of responsibility only fellow descendants of Hylia can withstand. I doubt he will comprehend what it truly takes to awaken your full potential. The pressure of this task might push him over the edge, lead him astray."
Her mother seemed to notice her distress, passing a comforting hand through her hair and tightening her hold on her body as if someone was about to rip her from her feeble arms.
The Queen's eyes turned glassy and her voice wavered as she pressed her daughter close to her chest.
"And you, my darling child. Learning the ways of our holy mother without my guidance will prove to be an arduous task, but i know you will succeed. You're a strong girl, Zelda. You might not see that yet, but i do. As long as you follow your heart and trust your judgement, i am certain you will accomplish anything you set your mind to. Including this. Love is the key, little bird. Treasure these words."
When Revali descends from the skies to confirm their grim speculations on the catastrophic phenomenon they've just witnessed, her mother's comforting words are what resurface from the stormy sea that is her memory. They're like an obsessive mantra, a protective shroud her brain conjures up to shelter her crumbling psyche from the ugly monstrosity rising victoriously from the centre of Hyrule Castle like a phoenix emerging from its ashes.
You can do this. This is fine. You spent your whole life preparing for this. You know what to expect.
You're strong. Just trust your judgement, trust your friends.
Yes, her friends. The valiant companions that have volunteered to bear the weight of Hyrule's fate by her side, in spite of her disheartening track record. This is nothing like the cold springs she's so used to, the solitary world were only Hylia's lifeless statue serves as her duplicitous ally.
They're a team, a squad with a plan, a solid foolproof plan that will save their nation. They knew this would happen soon enough, they have this under control.
As to validate her thoughts, Daruk breaks their dreadful silence to reannounce the strategy she and the Sheikas came up with last year. Every champion is set to make haste for their respective Divine Beasts, Link shall head to Hyrule Castle, all while she...
"No!"
Zelda gently releases herself from Urbosa's warm grip on her shoulders, turning towards the Goron chief with defiance burning in her eyes.
"I'm not a child anymore! I may not be of much use on the battlefield...
But there must be something I can do to help!"
To think of herself safe in some nobleman's castle while the others fight her battle is inconceivable. She won't just stand by, twiddling her thumbs like any damsel in distress. Even just monitoring the guardians' attack against Ganon would be preferable over the role her friends want to reserve her.
"If I can just reach the lab, then I could meet up with Purah and Robbie. We could control the guardians' advance. Help the army integrate them into their ranks. This is my battle too!"
Daruk's hand flies to his nape, his eyes suddenly enchanted by the patch of grass below her feet.
"I know you want to help us, tiny princess, and we all appreciate it, but who could look out for you while on your journey? Y'know Link has to go elsewhere..."
Zelda signs. So much for being an adult. She may be allowed to climb Mount Lanayru, but she still very much feels like a child begging her parents to stay up past bedtime. She can't give up though, not yet.
"Central Hyrule is littered with outposts and watchtowers who are swarming with competent soldiers. Link will have to pass one of them at some point, so I could just go with him, then he'll drop me off and we'll go our separate ways. How about that?"
This seems to catch the champion off guard. His panicked eyes land on Urbosa, who appears to thoughtfully ponder over her proposal before resting a warm hand on her cheek.
"Our clever little bird, always seeking a way out of her cage. I suppose this could work. After all, you were always meant to fight this evil, in one way or the other."
Zelda manages to form a tired smile for her dear friend, grateful to see such unflinching support from the woman that might as well be a second mother to her.
Unlike her, father would never approve of this. He would fight tooth and nail to keep her under lock and key, even if it came at the cost of engaging in a screaming match with all the champions combined.
-Besides Link obviously. Her Knight's greatest act of rebellion would be burning a hole in her father's back with his eyes and grit his teeth.-
Mayhaps the prospect of certain doom would instead compel the king to ship her off to a nearby temple, in a delusional last ditch effort to remind Hylia of their miserable existence.
He was most definitely still in the castle when the Calamity arose from its slumber, trapped in the thick, stone walls that were meant to protect him. He wouldn't just stay still and let malice consume him. No no. She's certain her sire is probably gathering all guards in the castle to oppose their foe, ready to lock himself in a pointless struggle he must know he can't overcome without her cursed powers.
Oh father...
Her face must have betrayed her, unmasked the worry that cowers underneath her flesh. Because Mipha quickly joins her side, catching one of her hands in between her crimson fins with a reassuring smile as soon as Urbosa lets her go.
"That's right princess. I am sure you will do a wondrous job with the sheikas! Your guardians will play a crucial role in the battle that is to come, I can just feel it."
Even Revali, in his own way, decides to showcase his respect for her determination with a confident upturn of his beak.
The only champion who doesn't show any reaction to the news is Link. She's obviously not surprised by it, by now she has mastered his subtle language of micro expressions and faint signs and has learned what cowers beneath his stoic mask. Even so, she'd imagined the awakening of the Calamity would have roused a genuine gasp out of his sealed lips.
If it weren't for the way his hands shake uncontrollably while gripping the cerulean cloth of his tunic, she would think he views their predicament as just another showdown with a lynel.
Zelda buries her worries for Links' wellbeing to focus on saying her goodbyes. They're quick and firm, a rapid farewell to save time as the tar-like malice from the castle expands its venomous influence in its helpless surroundings.
As much as she would love to properly send her friends off to battle, she harbours enough concern for her realm to prioritize it over a few pointless minutes of sentimentalities.
The champions might be her beloved companions, but they're Hyrule's servants first and foremost, and none of them would forgive themselves if their tardiness costed anymore lives than what Ganon must have already taken.
Revali is the first to fly away, having the longest distance out of them all to cross. Rito village would normally be a two day flight from here, an arduous gap for any rito to close on such short notice. But thanks to Revali's brutal training and a favourable air current, he should reach Vah Medoh before dawn breaks.
Next up is Daruk, who gets one last laugh by smacking Link's back as a final good luck charm before rolling towards the fiery peaks of Death Mountain.
Mipha follows suit, launching herself with a graceful plunge into the river down below to swim her way to Zora's domain. She will thankfully have the shortest journey, so they should find Ruta ready to strike Ganon in just a couple hours.
Finally, there's Urbosa. The Gerudo chief passes one hand through her golden locks for the last time as a motherly smile takes shape on her blue lips.
"Be careful out there, alright? Both of you. I know how reckless that knight of yours can be at times. And please, I know how hard this must be for you, but don't worry little bird. We will get through this, and we'll always believe in you. No matter what."
Zelda has to fight the tears that threaten to spill unannounced out of her eyes. What would she give to have Urbosa by her side instead of saying goodbye so abruptly and part ways so soon.
The princess knows she should be responsible enough to contain her impulses, but a childish, selfish part of her just can't seem to help herself. Her arms wrap themselves tightly around her dear friend, and every muscle in her body has to fight tooth and nail to try detaching her from the gerudo chief.
"There there..."
Urbosa doesn't hesitate for a second to hug her back with the crushing arms only a true warrior could flaunt. She runs her hands on her back, drawing circles on her trembling skin as her tender words try to soothe her spirit.
"This is not a goodbye, so don't act like I'm heading to my grave. It will all be over before you know it. Your mother is watching over us, little bird, so we have nothing to fear."
Urbosa hesitantly unwraps the princess's arms from her torso, planting a final kiss on her forehead before beginning her grueling descent from the mountain.
Once her oldest ally has disappeared towards the desert it is Link who she turns to, partly so they can begin their own journey towards the promenade where they left their horses at dawn, and mainly because she doesn't remember the last time she felt so alone, so helpless.
He's just a few feet away from her, eyes staring obsessively at the pig-like monstrosity inhabiting her castle like a hawk. His sword hand rests rigidly on the hilt of his sacred blade, his head held high against their common enemy.
When she looks inside those clear blue irises, she finds them boiling with determination and a hint of anger as he furrows his eyebrow for just a second, before that flash of fury is replaced with eerie composure.
It's good to know at least one of them came prepared to fulfill their holy destiny. Maybe the odds aren't truly stacked against their valiant cause.
"Link, may we begin our last adventure?"
She hadn't even thought about it until now, panicked as she was over the upcoming disaster Hyrule is facing. No matter how this ends for them, this will be their final journey.
Once the Calamity has been defeated, she won't need an escort to travel around Hyrule to check on the divine beasts or pray at the springs anymore.
And in case they don't succeed...well, she supposes corpses aren't in need of protection.
Link's eyes shift from their foe to her shaky figure and something in his battle hardened gaze softens. A knot tightens in her stomach. Her knight allows his thin lips to curve themselves slightly into a smile, before answering her question with a slow nod.
The end begins now.
The start of their decisive journey begins almost like any other quiet trip back home from one of the springs. Same fruitless hours wasted in freezing waters, same old disappointments and frustrations, same heavy silence fueled by her newly reignited hatred for her uselessness. Except now all of these unpleasant feelings are ramped up to their maximum degree any time she catches sight of the malice scourging the castle from afar.
They reach their horses in half an hour and find them startled and violent, pulling at the ropes tying them to an oak tree and kicking their hooves in the air. Poor things. Ganon's ascension must have spooked them.
Link intervenes almost immediately to soothe their sorrows. He initially keeps himself out of kicking range, waiting until their steeds recognize him, then gently unties Epona from the tree and leads her a few feet away, making sure to keep the horror of the Calamity far from her range of sight or sound. Once calm, he softly runs his hand on her head, before finally feeding her an apple he found on a nearby tree.
Zelda looks by the sidelines as a twinge of envy takes root inside of her. Her Storm still hasn't allowed her to approach it without almost kicking her face in, and it looks like she'll have to wait for her knight to gallop back towards her before she can hope to mount her horse.
The princess thought she'd made some real progress with her steed after all the time Link spent helping her bond with Storm, but she supposes some people just aren't built to master certain skills.
Unlike her friend obviously, who seems to grasp almost anything life throws at him with relative ease.
Zelda signs in frustration and twirls a lock of hair around her finger.
No, no that isn't true. Her knight has already told her in the past how much he struggles with the life he has been given, how much pressure weights on his shoulders. It isn't fair to still ogle him with childish jealousy over a frightened horse.
Link returns just as predicted and manages to pacify her steed in no time.
With their horses finally ready, the pair is free to properly depart on their quest, heading for the magnificent pomp of the promenade.
The elegant path so often crossed by nobles and pilgrims is uncharacteristically empty. She doesn't spot a single living soul beside them, which is queer, knowing how popular this wondrous marvel of architecture is amongst high Hylian society.
In the few rare occasions where the walk is void of ostentatious nobles strolling by, she is at least used to finding various groups of holy travelers heading to the Spring of Wisdom to conclude their sacred journey.
Knowing the catastrophic circumstances they find themselves in, she was sort of expecting to find some Hylia crazed zealot running to the mountain in hopes of finding sanctuary under the goddess' statue. But nothing.
A chill runs down her spine and settles itself in her belly. She tells herself the goose pumps forming on her arms are only the result of the chilly air and nothing more.
By the time they reach the outskirts of Kakariko village, the sun has dipped over the horizon, welcoming the first twilight under the grim light of magenta malice instead of the stars in the sky.
Zelda doesn't even consider stopping by the village to rest for the night. Any minute wasted is a minute Calamity Ganon takes advantage of to ravage her kingdom. Her companion tries to persuade her, but nothing gets through her iron will. Well, at least until he outright refuses to keep going unless she accepts to take a couple hours off before they descent the Rikoka hills.
Recognizing the pointlessness of a heated argument and the familiar stubbornness she's being confronted with, she's forced to, very reluctantly, yield.
So Link victoriously lights a campfire. It's strong enough to keep her warm, but not big enough to attract unwanted attention. He dutifully keeps the first and only watch as she lays down on the dirt, curling her body onto itself to preserve some body heat. He tries to serve her some kind of improvised dinner, an assortment of apples and edible flowers he picked around their camp while searching for wood to nourish their flame, but the mere thought of ingesting anything makes her stomach turn, so she only takes a few generous sips of water from his pouch before trying to get an hour of sleep.
It turns out to be a worthless endeavor. She tosses and turns like a rabid beast, mentally chiding herself for wasting such a precious opportunity to regain her strength over her inability to lower her guard. Every sound has her jumping, every gush of wind makes her blood run cold. Not even the knowledge of having the holder of the Master sword by her side can help steady her nerves.
Speaking of which, Link should have been the one resting instead. Her knight may be a very light sleeper, but he could take a nap in the heart of Death Mountain if he had to. Knowing all the fighting that awaits him, a little sleep would have been a good idea.
Oh well, she supposes it's too late for regrets now. After tiring herself out even more by miserably failing to find sleep, Zelda abruptly decides to call off this avoidable display of insomnia and resume their journey.
Dawn finds them at the feet of the Rikoka hills, carefully galloping down the rocky path towards the paved roads leading to Central Hyrule. Their horses don't appreciate the hostile terrain, and getting them across proves to be a bothersome challenge for the both of them. Storm in particular seems to harbor a special hatred for the gravel beneath his hooves, that or he's afraid of falling down the stony slope and tumbling down the grassy plains below.
In spite of this aggravating inconvenience, they're still making decent progress. If she squints hard enough, Zelda can already make out the faint outline of the road they are to follow next, so their pace can't have been hindered too much by their stubborn steeds.
Though before eyeing that sought after route, something much larger catches her attention.
Something she was certainly not expecting to find out in the open without any soldier or Sheikah supervising it.
A guardian.
All alone, walking around the meadow that awaits them, she sees it carefully scanning the road they're approaching, snapping its iron head from one side of the road to the other. As if someone had programmed it to protect it.
Out here in the wilderness, so far from the lab and all that cherished Sheika tech, she can't possibly know what Robbie and Purah are currently planning to face Ganon. They'd come up with a few half baked plans before on how best to place the Guardians around Hyrule when the Calamity made its return, but no concept of theirs had ever made it past the first few improvised arrangements.
The princess had hoped to conceive some kind of strategy once she was reunited with her favorite scientists, but now it seems like that might not be necessary.
Distributing their best defence weapons all around the main roads appears to be a pretty acceptable idea already, though she still hopes her friends were sensible enough to leave a sizable chunk of their Sheikah built army at the heart of the kingdom, where Calamity Ganon resides. The royal Army will need all the relief they can get before Link and the divine beasts make their crucial assault.
Zelda gives Storm's sides a slight squeeze with her calves, hoping to convince her horse to speed up his pace. Which seems to work for once, perhaps because they've finally surpassed the steepest section of the hill and his fear of heights has dissipated. The princess has no tasty snack to offer as a reward for his active obedience, so she settles for running her hand over his neck, gently petting him while praising his quickened velocity.
The thought of being reunited with one of her beloved machines fills her with indescribable delight.
All her life, when the priesthood's scrutinies and her father's jabs at her faith took their turns splintering her confidence and joy, she found refuge in the sheikah and their otherworldly tech.
Guardians weren't people with expectations, desires that clashed with her own, or animosity towards her passions. They were complex machines, with wires, complicated programming and a rigid maintenance schedule to keep them sharp and functional. Most people she knows find them inaccessible, hard to comprehend or too off-putting to want around.
However she can't find herself ever agreeing with these individuals. To her, there is just something so simple in their predictability, so reassuring in their complexity, that she just can't enjoy in anything else.
Which is precisely why her panicked mind can't come up with any valid explanation as to why she's currently the target at the end of a guardian's glowing laser.
She raises her widened eyes to meet her traitorous aggressor, and only now does she notice the unusual pink tint covering the guardian from head to toe, replacing the previous orange color she had come to associate with all sorts of sheikah tech.
It can't be. She just can't wrap her head around it. It just doesn't make any sense. From the new color, to the strange behavior, and especially to the lack of supervision from any qualified expert. This guardian is an anomaly. A dangerous, impossible anomaly. It's the only way she can try to define the creature that is about to take her life.
She hears a scream from behind her, a voice yelling her name. The sound of hooves smashing against the ground over and over, getting closer with every second. She wants to escape, but her body is frozen in place, her muscles liquified like chuchu jelly. Even Storm has noticed her stiffness, her lack of guidance to advance. He has stopped moving and has turned his head towards her, as if asking how to proceed.
But nothing can steal her attention away from the piercing blue eye that has locked itself onto her, preparing to fire.
It all happens in a flash.
The guardian's eye shoots a devastating white beam that would have pulverized her in an instant, had it not been for Link's shield colliding with its head at the last possible second, redirecting the laser just barely enough to spare her life.
But not Storm's.
Her loyal steed, frightened by the loud noises and the gigantic mechanical horror targeting his rider and himself, tries futilely to run away from the incoming blast, but is unable to prevent his hind legs from being completely blown off by the hit.
In spite of his catastrophic injuries, the poor horse still attempts to keep running, probably as a result of the adrenaline that must be swarming every atom in his body. He fails, obviously, and collapses onto the grass below. The fall has her tumbling in the mud next to him, watching as her poor, dear friend neighs in agony one last time before succumbing to his wounds.
The cursed guardian hasn't returned to finish her off, so Link must be keeping it busy enough to forget all about her. The distant sounds of a sword slashing through metal confirm her theory. She could just raise her head and see for herself as the sheikah machine is hacked apart like a butchered cow, but her eyes won't allow it.
The princess can't stop staring at the maimed carcass watering the soil with its blood.
Zelda had only ever assisted to an execution once before. Her father hadn't wished for it, he valued her innocence and purity as the latest incarnation of Hylia and preferred to ban her access to the castle courtyard altogether when these barbaric events took place.
She and her sire had quarreled in the past on many subjects related to her future as queen and her duties to the realm, but this had been one of the few arrangements they had unanimously agreed to.
She'd never had a particular fondness for bloody justice, and the mere existence of the castle prison, with all of its torture devices and humid, claustrophobic cells were enough to make shivers run down her spine.
Still, on one unique occasion, thanks to the brilliant idea of her father's most respectable council members, it was deemed necessary for the heir to the throne to view how exactly she would one day be expected to carry out the correct punishments for the turncoats languishing in their cells.
The victim had been a yiga. Some high ranking traitor who'd gotten caught in a carefully strategized ambush led by some important captain.
She could still picture the way he had limped to the scaffold, cradling his stiff, broken hands, giving a final speech with an irritating lisp that had annoyed her right up until she had realized his missing teeth were its cause.
The cut had been messier that anyone would have liked.
The executioner couldn't have been older than twenty, and it was clear from the fear plastered on his face that he'd had very little practise on relieving real men from their heads.
It took three or four swings of a large, heavy axe before the deed was done, though she still can't be too sure on the exact number, since by the second hit she had already averted her gaze and covered the gruesome view with her hands, all while fighting her breakfast from coming back out of its entrance.
As they left the scene of the execution a few minutes later, Zelda had, somehow, gained the courage to turn back and give the dead man one last glance before returning to the comfort of her most cherished studies.
She'd felt like she owed him one honest look. Her father had always said something about having the valor to stare a man straight in the eyes while condemning him to death with his words.
The sight had been grimmer than she'd remembered after witnessing the first blow.
Some servants were removing the headless corpse, while the head in question, now paler than a handkerchief, had stared at her with dark, hollow eyes, while its dark blood still oozed from the severed neck, polluting the wood underneath with its crimson liquid.
Zelda realizes she's been throwing up near Storm's body when Link rushes to her side, holding back her long blonde hair and patting her gently on the back while she spills her guts on the ground, staining the already soiled grass with even more bodily fluids.
His touch is firm but tender as he delicately helps her get back up on her trembling feet.
Under different circumstances his presence and the assurance of his safety would be enough to quell the storm raging inside of her.
Now though, with the chilling view of a disembodied guardian laying deactivated a few dozen meters from them and the corpse of her cherished pet right in front of glassy eyes, she feels like not even an embrace from her late mother could ever make her feel safe again.
An aggressive guardian wasn't an impossible sight to dread. There had been a few curious cases of these ancient machines turning on their researchers.
But never like this. Never on sight, with such baseless savagery.
No. This had to be the result of some sort of hijacking. It was the only logical conclusion.
She takes a few tentative steps towards the creature. She can hear Link following her, five paces behind like always, master sword drawn in case the damned thing decides to open its magenta eye once again.
That won't be an issue. Her hero has definitely given his all to destroy it as quickly and as efficiently as possible. Most of its legs are detached from its body, and the core beneath its torso is littered with deep lacerations.
What catches her attention, and unfortunately confirms her suspicions, are steaming remnants of malice floating in the air, exiting from the many holes covering the mechanical carcass.
That's all she has to see.
"It's Ganon." Her voice comes out a frail whisper, like a defeated admission she can't believe is true.
"He must have found a way to seize the guardians, knowing they would have been powerful adversaries to fight against if left under our control."
Her father the king had once told her, while reprimanding her unconventional activities, that she was the heir to a throne of nothing but failure.
His words had stung immensely, like daggers entombed deep within her flesh, but her faith in the ancient sheikah tech had kept the fragments of her broken morale intact.
Zelda's powers may have evaded her, but by discovering these formidable wonders long lost to time, she had still contributed in the fight that awaited their beloved realm.
Turns out she really has played a crucial role in turning the tide of the war, just not on the side she wished to safeguard.
Traitor. Murmurs a deep, austere voice in the back of her mind.
You handed over Hyrule to Ganon on a silver platter because you wanted to play at being a scholar.
Her blood runs colder than ice as a sudden sense of discomfort begins coiling at the pit of her stomach. She feels like throwing up again.
Link's warm hand on her shoulder is the only thing preventing her from keening over the grass and emptying what little bile her body still holds.
The sudden touch startles her and she almost jumps out of her skin. Right. Zelda had practically forgotten her trusted knight was here.
He's dirty. Covered in a thick layer of grime from head to toe, definitely a result of the fight with that guardian. Just like the hair in his low ponytail, whose ends were burned off by a laser blast that must have missed him by a few inches.
Overall though, he's fine. Thank Hylia.
The one thing that causes her any sort of concern are his eyes. He can hide his emotions pretty well on most occasions, but by now she knows him well enough to see what others may overlook, and right now, she can spot the worry clouding his gaze.
Zelda looks down on herself, notices what has become of her once immaculate prayer dress, now soiled in horse blood with grass patches at the height of her knees, reeking of smoke and puke, and thinks she can't blame him for being slightly worried about her.
Her right hand comes to rest on his own in a simple act of affection. A shy smile makes its way on her cracked lips.
"I'm okay Link. Don't worry about me. We have more pressing concerns than the pitiful state of my garments."
The comment seems to work its magic. Her hero's hardened features relax a bit, a soft smile replacing the earlier frown.
Zelda's gaze settles towards the castle.
"This changes everything. I cannot believe not one of us ever considered the possibility of Ganon taking control of the guardians during the calamity. There are so many cities and villages surrounded by those wretched machines..."
Castle Town, Lon Lon Ranch, Mabe village, Gatepost town and countless other garrisons and military outposts must already have been reduced to ashes by now.
Soon enough she and Link will travel close to the heart of her kingdom and she is not ready to witness with her own eyes the absolute devastation that the guardians must have left in their wake.
The only thought that brings her any unsettling solace is the knowledge that most of those machines were located in the castle and its surroundings.
The rest of Hyrule should be safe.
Sure, some guardians could still cause problems, but their numbers should be low enough to be discarded with minimum damage. Especially since the other regions will be able to count on the divine beasts for support. That is unless...
The theory that surfaces in her mind is so distressing she considers erasing it from her psyche the moment it enters her train of thought.
But it makes too much sense. It can't be dismissed just to make herself feel better. Still, she struggles to get the words out when the time comes to inform Link of the speculation that rattles her brain.
"A-and the divine beasts too! What tells us Ganon can't seize any type of technology built by the sheikah?"
As used as she is to his stoicism, she half expects his face to betray nothing of the emotions that must affect him. And yet, such a revelation seems to be just enough to leave a dent in his mask. His eyes widen, and she hears a faint gasp leaving his lips. His grip on her shoulder tightens to an almost uncomfortable degree.
How could Ganon turn the divine beasts against their pilots?
Zelda doesn't even want to entertain the idea, but a few horrid visions play in her head nonetheless.
Revali losing control of Vah Medoh, the beast falling down from the sky and crushing Rito village with its body.
Van Rudania assaulting Eldin with devastating eruptions, sending magma bombs flying all over the region, destroying everything in its path.
Vah Ruta flooding Zora's domain with its downpours, breaking the Rutala dam, annihilating the domain and killing who knows how many zoras in front of sweet Mipha's helpless eyes.
And Urbosa, fierce, kind Urbosa. The image of her dear friend stuck in a machine ready to murder her makes her skin crawl.
Vah Naboris could disobey her orders, turn towards Gerudo town and zap it out of existence. Just like that. It wouldn't take more than a few minutes.
No no no no no.
"The champions are in grave danger. Some of them might already be inside of their divine beasts. We must find a way to warn them of the risk they face! Forget the castle, this is our top priority until we have secured control of our allies."
Without the pilots in control of their beasts, their whole carefully constructed plan falls apart like a house of cards. Link might be the greatest knight the kingdom has seen in generations, but she can't expect him to fight Ganon and his army of guardians all on his own.
Zelda grabs the warm hand that rests on her shoulder and holds it tight in her muddy hands. She tries with all her might to imitate Urbosa's confident voice as she utters her proposal.
"Are you with me ser Link?"
She doesn't have to wait for an answer. She doesn't need to. Not with him.
"Then let's go."