| On the housing situation |
[25 Mar 2018|03:42pm] |
The potluck had ended late evening, people starting to get hungry again, and everyone receiving the reassurance that the queen and Link would be around for further questions the next day- even right there where Uma sits, promise promise. So dishes were gathered up, tables and chairs were put away, and the wash basin was emptied and rinsed out, and then everyone departed to go settle into their own homes for the night, though Kass lingered a bit longer, just long enough to say goodnight and goodbye to the queen and his friend before retiring to the inn.
Link and Zelda both had agreed that the day had been mentally tiring enough that they wanted food in them before they did much of anything else, so after Link had changed out of his uniform and back into a proper tunic and pants, he cooked them a quiet dinner of a meat curry- nothing fancy, nothing with any special properties, just meat and rice and some Goron spice. There wasn't any conversation over dinner, nothing in particular, anyway, and dishes were washed just as quietly, except the occasional question about where things belonged again, once they were dried.
Honestly, nothing was really said after they'd sat back down either, not at first, anyway. Link was going over some decisions in his head, what all needed to be brought up and when. He decided that Zumi could wait until tomorrow evening- she wasn't likely to be in town tomorrow yet, not with how slow they'd have to travel with her condition, and the day was tiring enough, Link didn't want it to end in what was likely to be an exhausting fight. And even if it didn't end in a fight, Zelda was going to be going to bed upset, for one reason or another, and that wasn't the way to end the day, nor was it the way to start the next.
He'd just have to gamble that Zumi and Yammo weren't making better time than he thought.
Well, that thought pushed aside for the moment, at least.
But, the housing thing did need to be talked about, and that one, at least, would hopefully not end up with any sort of argument or hurt feelings. Neither one of them needed that to end their days.
Besides, night was approaching. And it was worse at night. Link didn't want to end up too mentally restless to sleep and go out all night again. He could find things to do, and there was food he could cook that would keep him going without the need for sleep, but even though that stuff kept his body going, his mind could only run so long before it hit a wall.
That's what'd gotten him into trouble with Zumi in the first place. He didn't even want to think what stupidity he'd get into this time.
So he spent several minutes studying the upstairs part of the house, and the roof, trying to at least get an idea of what could be done to the place to make it suitable for two people needing separate bedrooms, assuming it could structurally be done. Might as well have an idea in mind to run past Bolson, before they might be forced to admit defeat and build Zelda her own house.
Well, might as well start the conversation. Symin should've let her know that it was going to happen that evening so at least he wouldn't be popping it out of the blue.
"Symin passed my message to you earlier, right?" he asked, breaking the silence.
Better be sure about that first.
|
| A welcoming ... well, not feast, but a potluck works just as well |
[13 Mar 2018|11:47pm] |
Hateno Village was abuzz with talk. Talk and cooking.
Clavia had gone around that morning, knocking on everyone's doors and letting them know that there were a couple new residents to greet, so everyone get to cooking, it's time for our traditional potluck. Some were a bit unhappy with the last minute notice, but most were excited, because even though it would make most of them have to get creative with food prep to stretch it all, newcomers were always exciting- actually, anything new at all was exciting, as long as it wasn't a bad something new.
But two new residents and therefore members of the village's little family were a good new, as far as they were concerned, so the excitement was a good one.
One of the newcomers, most people had at least seen around regularly, though a few of the townsfolk hadn't known he'd actually moved into that old house at some point. He came and went so often that most just thought he'd been a traveler who frequented the area. But a bit of talking across the town made everyone realize that while he was there very frequently, he never stayed at the inn. Perhaps they'd all been a bit lazy with their awareness of the people in their town.
But, they knew this man- Link, Reede said his name was, and some of them actually hadn't known that -regularly went through after the Blood Moon and cleaned up the forest outside the town gates of monsters, making it safe for both the townsfolk and other travelers to come through. Reede assured them that this young man was going to clear that area out again, just for good measure, so the party could spread a little.
A few of them had met this other resident briefly, when she and the two Sheikah- goodness sakes, was that little girl really the old Sheikah woman that had seemed to disappear? scientists! -stopped at the store to buy a little of the dwindling milk supplies, before they disappeared up to the tech lab.
Her name was Zelda, they said.
Odd.
Wasn't 'Zelda' the name of the women in the lost royal family?
Well, they all supposed, there was no reason to think that her parents hadn't named her after the royal women because it was a famous name. Despite the fact that the royal family had been gone for a century, it was still against the practices of the people to name their little girls 'Zelda,' but someone must've finally broken that tradition. Tsk tsk, her parents should know better than to do that. That was strictly verboten. Honestly, even though nobody- except old Tokk -remembered the royal family, they still had been the kingdom's royal rulers, some respect was still owed, after all!
Now now, don't take that out on the young woman. It's not her fault, after all. Just be accepting.
The large serving tables that the townsfolk brought out for their traditional potlucks had been pulled out of the town's shared storage shack and were spread out, some pushed together and starting to fill up with food offerings from the residents, and others scattered a bit more loosely, with chairs from all households around them, ready for everyone to be gathered so the food could be served and eaten. Formal introductions would come first, of course, and all would stay standing for that, because how else are they all going to greet the newcomers if they aren't all standing around, ready to shake their hands and welcome to them to the fold?
Senna had been informed that dessert was being handled by Tokk- old man Tokk is making food and joining us? the world has shifted on its axis! -so while she was disappointed (and everyone else relieved), the surprise and shock of Tokk being the one to take that task and join them was enough to make her not inclined in the slightest to put up a protest.
(To everyone else's relief- honestly, someone was going to have to sit her down and convince her to either learn how to make desserts properly from someone, or she'd just have to accept that she wasn't any good at it, and everyone- including her -would be happier if she stuck to her special fried rices. She was the best at those, after all!)
Some offerings were already on the table- Koyin had provided a delicious-smelling glazed honey lamb, and what a wonderful smell that was! It was so nice that the monsters that had been stealing sheep were gone so that there were enough in the flock to spare a lamb for the meal! From what Koyin said, that was also thanks to this Link fellow, and they all really had to thank him for so much. He'd been keeping the town safe, all while living right under their noses. They were all ashamed of themselves for not noticing him.
Does anyone know where Bolson and Karson are? Oh, they're still in Tarrey Town? Still? Goodness, what's keeping them there? Ah well, they could do without Bolson's amazing salt-grilled greens. Nack was providing a wonderful spring salad, that would do nicely for their primarily vegetarian dish.
Did you hear that Link was so rude earlier today? He was leaving town- from up the hill, what was he doing up there? -and flat out ignored us! We know he heard us just fine!
Oh, shut up, you two. Nobody's in the mood for your back-biting. It's a happy occasion, to greet new residents, and not one we get often, don't you dare ruin this.
Manny, dear, we appreciate the poultry curry you've brought of course, you always make it so well, but could you perhaps not stand over everyone's shoulders like that? That's a little unnerving, and you'll give the wrong impression to Link and Zelda.
Something about the name Link- as common as dirt -next to the royal name sounded familiar- the children insisted it was because of the stories of the Hylian Champion and the princess from the Calamity! Just ask Symin! When he gets down there. Yes, children, we know, thank you for reminding us, but we're sure that's just a coincidence. And odd one, but thank you for reminding us. We apparently are all forgetting our lessons a bit too much, aren't we? We'll have to ask Symin for help changing that.
After the party.
|
| A fruitcake and an invitation to a bard |
[04 Mar 2018|12:33pm] |
((Weeeee all the self-play.))
After Zelda had finally chased them out, Link started off to Tokk's place, side by side with the old man who was actually younger than he was. It felt weird to say that, and even weirder to realize that it was true and not a flippant remark. And it was becoming an uncomfortable fact to deal with. He knew all his friends and family were dead, Zelda and Dorephan aside- there were the three Sheikah lords, of course, but he didn't recall really knowing them all that well, certainly not well enough to consider them friends. He was so closed off to everyone at the time he would've first met them that he never would've had a chance to become close with them. He counted them among his friends more from interactions since waking up than from Before.
And even counting them among his old friends, all of them were from entirely different cultures. Zelda had never even been allowed to see the people who loved her and fought and died for her, and the Sheikah were bound to the royal family as servants of the goddess, but they lacked the same sort of blood bond that the Hylians had to the Daughters. And the Zora were old allies and friends.
If he allowed himself to think about it, Link would have to admit that given the average Hylian life span, Tokk may well and truly be the only other person left in Hyrule who understood what it was like back then, growing up with the Daughters as a common man.
Link wasn't sure if that was a subject to explore with the old man or not. On one hand, it might be nice for Tokk to know he wasn't alone when old age finally got him, on the other, it made Link feel even lonelier than he already was, or even more than he was likely to get soon, when Zelda moved into her own place.
Well, something to let Tokk bring up. If Tokk wanted someone to talk to who understood, Link would, as ever, give as much as he could that was needed. It let him have something else to focus on than him.
"So what all tools and food do we have available at your house to work with?" he asked Tokk, once they were over the first of the two bridges that intersected the main road.
|
| Just to keep track, Link's running a couple errands |
[02 Mar 2018|08:34am] |
((This is both to give me something to do, and also so I know wtf all was said. It's not like I haven't done something like this before. XD;))
Link heard Pruce leave the store behind him only a few seconds after he did, but didn't turn around. What would be the point? The conversation was over.
"It feels like you're having some success," he said softly, looking around for signs of life in the early dawn hours. He was noticing that his thoughts had become narrow, almost hyperfocused on each task as it came. He was barely thinking about anything beyond getting to Uma. The rest was there, but it felt muted.
I'm sorry, Master Link, but this is the best I can do. I am unable to calculate how long I will be able to keep this filter in place, the Sword replied. But I will hold it as long as I can.
"Don't apologize," he said. "Glad for what I can get."
He nodded to Ivee as he passed by Reede's house, where she was waiting at the door. "Just running an errand," he said to her unasked question, passing past view of the door over the steep incline of the plot of land the house sat on and the main road.
First one on the left past Reede's house. Not far to walk.
He knew that Pruce said that Uma was used to being woken up at strange hours, and it was just late enough in the day that he figured most people in town would be awake and at breakfast, but given that he knew Uma was getting on the older side, he still would feel guilty if he was waking her up, or interrupting her breakfast.
Before knocking, he stopped to pull a sheet of paper out of the Slate's inventory- he used the notes function on it for his own stuff, but sometimes there was a need for doing things the old fashioned way, at least for giving people notes -and then the flowers, wrapping the roots of them in the paper to protect them. There was no need to announce the presence of the Slate's technology until Zelda was out and about.
Then, he took a breath, pushing any concerns he still held over the issue those flowers were for back behind that filter that the Sword had in place, and knocked on the door.
|
| The end of a long night, and the start of an equally long day |
[24 Feb 2018|10:38pm] |
It was four thirty in the morning, according to the Slate, when Link finally got back to Hateno. Zelda had been habitually waking up at about eight the last few days, but she was finally settling in to work now, so she might prove an earlier riser than all that.
With a sigh, he clipped the Slate back to his belt and trudged down the small incline behind the model houses built and displayed by Bolson Construction Company, and across the bridge to his house. The lights were off, which proved hopeful. It meant first off that Zelda had gone to bed properly, and two, she was still asleep. He might have time to roll out that extra bedding under the stairs and get some sleep.
Would you like me to alert you when the queen is awake, should she choose to not do so herself? the Sword asked.
"Yeah," he said quietly, stifling a yawn, hand on the door knob. "That'd be nice. Thanks."
The door hinges and knob were too new to squeak or creak, a nice thing most times, a blessing right then, and he took care to stay quiet as he shrugged out of his gear, boots and gloves. It took him a few minutes to find that extra bedding- he knew where it was, it just wasn't in the easiest of places to get to in the dark -but once he had it, it was quickly arranged into a tiny nest of inviting-looking comfortable sleepy place.
A few hours sleep was better than none.
|
| Link's out all night, for the exact opposite of a fun reason |
[23 Feb 2018|11:18pm] |
Link knew he didn't technically have to step outside to use the Slate's travel feature, but it felt a little less rude to step out before traveling than just up and disappearing in the house. He knew there wasn't exactly established protocol for any class for that sort of situation, but something about it felt rude, so he followed his gut on the matter and stepped outside, closing the door gently behind him.
Breathe. Zelda would be fine, she was right, they needed out from underfoot from each other for awhile. They both had been spending the last hundred years of this fight alone, they just weren't used to being in close quarters with someone else yet, and there was a lot weighing on their minds.
May I ask, Master Link, why you chose to be dishonest with the queen? the Sword asked.
Oh for the love.
"You know very well why," he said, using the soft voice he usually used when talking to what appeared to everyone else to be an inanimate object. "Unless something comes of this, it isn't her business." Then he scowled and looked back over his shoulder at the Sword's hilt. "I noticed you got pretty quiet when I pointed out what Hylia did."
There was an almost uncharacteristic pause on the Sword's part. She usually was quick enough to reply; she was definitely far more 'human' than she'd been when she first bonded to his ancestor, and had been even by the time they had parted ways, but she still had her programming at her core.
My creator was not happy with Her decision, the Sword finally replied. She made Herself content that it might prove to serve a greater good. She paid a terrible emotional cost when She was human and had regained Her memories. And my first master forgave her. I have observed many generations of the goddess-blood princesses and my masters over the many times the cycle has repeated, and I have learned that human emotions are far more tumultuous than my creator was able to comprehend when She made Her first decision.
She didn't add it, but Link got the impression that the Sword was wondering what other choice Link thought Hylia'd had at the time. Strategically speaking, it wasn't a bad idea, and he knew She'd had little time to work out a better one. If he was as pressed for time as the goddess had been, he might not've come up with anything better either.
He sighed, realizing that he had lost that one. "All right, you're right. It'd help that if you're going to be feeding me all this information by giving me memories of your previous masters instead of talking like a history book, you'd be choosier about which ones you threw at me."
My apologies, Master Link the Sword replied. I have not had cause to reteach such a large amount of history in such a little amount of time, and your mind is fragmented and difficult to work with. I am no more divine than you are. When he didn't answer, she added, I calculate a 65% chance that you think I have understated myself.
"Smartass," he grumbled. "And don't even say it, I know I don't have a lot of room to talk. Are we all like this?"
The Sword thankfully didn't ask him to elaborate- it's not like she needed him to, imprinted into his mind. He didn't really even need to speak out loud, it just felt like a more natural way to hold a conversation. Circumstances vary and create different outcomes, but you have all shared many traits in common.
"You must've learned it from us, then." He pulled out the Slate and called up the map. The only thing he could really think to do was just go to Serenne Stable and hope she was there, and if not there, a quick jump over to Snowfield Stable would be all it took. He looked at the time on the Slate. Eight o' clock. The route that Yammo usually took took about ten hours to travel on horseback, assuming there weren't any interruptions from stal-monsters. The Sword had said there was a decent chance they wouldn't appear, but it wasn't the highest of her calculations, and Link didn't want to swear by it.
And for all he knew, Yammo had changed her route since he was last there, or had made another stop at her supplier before going back to her route. That'd complicate the process even more. This may all be a wasted effort.
"I don't suppose you have any ideas on how to find her," he asked the Sword, not really expecting a helpful answer. It was more rhetorical anyway.
I'm afraid I did not record a reading of Miss Zumi's aura to track her with, the Sword answered. It is possible, perhaps, that if she did conceive, I may be able to find her through the unborn child she carries, as it would share traces of your aura. I calculate a 40% chance of success of this.
He didn't like those odds. "Let me check the stables, first. See if they've heard anything. If she told Sprinn anything that sounds suspicious, we'll try that." He tapped the icon that lit up the markers for the travel gates, then hovered his finger over the Monya Toma shrine icon, hesitating.
Master Link, I believe you would feel better knowing, rather than delaying discovering the truth.
She was right, and he knew it. Hesitating wasn't helping anything at this point, so before his worry could stop him, he selected the shrine's travel gate, and pressed travel.
To his dismay- but no surprise -it was raining up in the Salari Plain, though not a downpour. With a frustrated noise, he pulled his hood tied around his neck up over his head, and sloshed down the hill to the stable. The ground squished under his feet while the light rain pattered on his hood, that was thankfully water resistant enough to handle what was closer to sprinkling than true rain. Still, the clouds and the rain itself made it that much darker than the near-lack of sun already did, so he put a hand on the Sword's hilt, listening for sounds of any stal-monsters trying to ambush him from behind or another blind spot.
Although the rain had disappointed him, the lack of attacks relieved him, for a two-folded reason- one, it increased the Sword's calculated odds that Ganon being gone meant the end of their attacks, and two, even though a good fight might work off some of the nervous energy pent up in the back of his mind, it also wasn't a distraction he needed.
He hopped the outer perimeter fence of the stable, pausing to pick the endura shrooms that grew under the trees and put them in the Slate's inventory, then hurried over to the stable itself.
"Well, look who it is," Sprinn said once he'd reached the counter. "The lad that convinced my only stable hand to run off on me."
Link peered past him into the stable. The three idiot 'researchers' were still in there, and he saw two people dressed in the stable system's uniforms. "Looks like you hired more help," he said.
"Took me awhile, but yeah," Sprinn said. "Needing a horse?"
"No," Link said, shaking his head. "Wondering if you've seen Zumi and Yammo."
Sprinn gave him a grumpy look. "What, you lookin' to take her from her lady friend now, too?" Then he motioned back towards the east. "They were here a few days ago, taking a rest. Said they were expanding Yammo's business to include rare flowers. Dunno why. Zumi didn't look like she was feeling the greatest, got some stomach upset when I offered her food. But they went that way, saying they were going to see if anyone near the Great Forest had seen anything interesting."
Link looked over his shoulder towards the east. The flowers thing made no sense to him, but the report of Zumi's stomach upset made him worry even more about her condition. If that was morning sickness, riding a horse wasn't the best of ideas. He wasn't even sure how she'd been handling riding a horse all this time, her hips weren't built for it, they hurt too easily trying to sit with her legs spread like that. Maybe she'd been walking. On foot, the walk taking a straight line from Serenne to the Forest would be a good ten hours or so, by horse, depending on how fast they were walking the horses, less.
Then something flashed through his memory, and he got a sinking feeling in his stomach.
"Thanks," he said off-handedly, walking away without even looking back at the stable owner. Once he was back across the path and over the fence line, he pulled out the Slate and stared at his map.
He hadn't misremembered. There was a Lynel between those two points. If he remembered right, a straight line between the stable and the Woodland Stable that sat at start of the path to the Forest would skirt just south of the beast's territory, but that assumed that not only did they take a straight line, but that the Lynel hadn't expanded or shifted his territory.
Shit.
It was only by repeating to himself that running would wear him out too fast that kept him to a light jog instead of at a sprint. He had no idea how he'd tell if the Lynel had gotten them short of hoping he caught up to them somewhere down the road; he'd never seen any remains of victims or even whatever Lynel ate as prey in one's territory, so if the Lynel had gotten the women, he wouldn't know.
Shit shit shit shit.
"Now would be a good time to try that trick of yours," he said to the Sword, keeping his voice low as he neared the Lynel's territory. It was dark and the rain was picking up the farther east he went, but that wouldn't be much help, since while that'd make it marginally harder for the Lynel to spot him, he was pretty sure that the last time he went through there, it was a blue-maned one, and those were nearly impossible to see in the dark, especially when it was raining. He'd almost run headlong into one up in northern Akkala that way, and only by the goddess's good grace had avoided alerting the creature to his presence before he got out of range.
I am attempting to search for auras with similar signatures as yours now, Master Link, the Sword replied obligingly.
He checked his map quickly, judging how closer to the Lynel's territory he was before slowing down his pace. He was nearby, and though he couldn't see or hear the beast, that didn't necessarily mean that he was safe. He had an ancient arrow on hand, if he had to, and he could always buy himself the time to nock it by using Urbosa's power to stun it, if it spotted him, but that was time he didn't want to waste.
The Sword still hadn't given him an answer by the time he heard the distant roar of the Lynel. He froze, looking around for how far north it might be, but with the rain and the dark, there was just no seeing it. He turned and went a little south before resuming east.
I'm sorry, the Sword said eventually, but I cannot sense any similar auras. This is a feat outside of my programming, I may be simply unable to perform this task.
"Don't apologize," he said, feeling comfortable that he was far enough away from the Lynel by that time to not try to keep his voice low. He sped back up to a jog. "Just keep trying. We may get lucky."
At that point, he'd call her being pregnant lucky, if it meant he could find her. Just knowing she and Yammo were alive and had avoided the Lynel and the sundry of other monsters that haunted the areas off the paths more than the normal routes that the merchants tended to follow would be a relief. He knew Yammo carried a sword and shield, but if he remembered right, they weren't the greatest, and knowing how to handle herself in a pinch wouldn't be good enough against a crowd of bokoblins while trying to defend someone who wasn't a fighter, much less a non-combatant who was pregnant. Much less against a Lynel.
Please let them have gotten by that thing. He didn't pray often, not seriously anyway, but he sure as hell was praying right then.
There were a pair of horses wandering along the path by the ruins of Rauru settlement, which wouldn't have normally meant a thing to Link, except that he knew those two used to have bokoblin riders, and there were no sign of any monsters.
Still no stal-monsters. That was a relief that he'd enjoy more later.
He slowed down to a walk as the Woodland Stable's lights became visible through the rain that was still coming down, though it had once again slowed down to a sprinkle. A check of the Slate proved that despite slowing down near the Lynel's territory, he'd made that trip an hour faster than he'd figured. Jogging instead of walking should've only reduced the trip by a couple hours, but without having to stop to deal with the bokoblins that usually haunted the Rauru Settlement ruins, or any stal-monsters, he'd made better time. It was three-thirty in the morning.
Four in the morning, and he'd been on the run for just shy of eight hours. Yup, going to definitely need that omelette when he got back to Hateno, whenever that might be. His stomach was unhappy with him just for neglecting to feed it, trying to operate the virtually no sleep he was going to get at this point was going to make him irritable from it if he wasn't careful.
Master Link, the Sword spoke up. I suggest you stop your search for the night if the women cannot be found here. I calculate the chances of finding them if you continued without rest to be 30%, decreasing the longer you go without food or sleep. The queen will also be worried if you do not return until mid-morning or later.
Link let out a defeated sigh as he avoided a particularly large mud puddle in the road where the path split up towards the Forest. Unless the women were inside the stable's guest area, they weren't there, and he was officially out of ideas where to find them. There was only one person that was visible from the outside that wasn't the stable owner, and whoever she was, she was sitting down on the ground at the open entryway to the left of the registration counter, too low to see clearly. But she was alone, and that wasn't promising.
|
| Okay, so Zora's Domain may wait a bit |
[09 Feb 2018|01:58pm] |
Nobody had intended on the visit with Robbie dragging on past lunch, but Zelda had reluctantly called an end to it, reminding Robbie- who would've happily gone all day and then some, though Jerrin reminded him that he didn't recover from going past his limits as well as he used to, so she wouldn't have let him -that she and Link had a letter to deliver to Purah, and that might take another few hours of visiting, and it wouldn't be fair to her to only give her a brief appearance before they skipped off for the wild blue yonder.
So after Link and Jerrin managed to pry Zelda and Robbie apart from a heartfelt goodbye and several promises to see each other again, Link and Zelda stepped outside, made sure both had a hand on the Slate and the Slate showed only one orange marker for them, then traveled over to Hateno.
Whatever it was the Slate did to break them down to whatever it was they were broken down to, it reassembled them on the travel gate at the Hateno Tech Lab, a tall building that wasn't really in any better shape than the Akkala Tech Lab had been. Somehow, Link and Zelda were going to have to get the funding for the two labs to be fixed up and repaired. It was ridiculous how the two Sheikah scientists and their assistants were living.
Like the Akkala Tech Lab, there was a furnace with Sheikah text embedded on it that overhung a burning blue flame, protecting it from the elements. Above the door was a small frog statue, much like the one over the Akkala Tech Lab, though unlike Robbie's, this frog had big glasses frames with little triangular decorative protrusions along the upper corners. (Or, as much of corners as a round shape could have.) Robbie's had had eye focals similar to Robbie's own, and much like Robbie, Purah had decided to customize her Sheikah symbol to look unique to her own style.
Sigh.
Without thinking about it, Link took the Slate and hooked it on his hip, where it'd been for the last several months. "Here we are," he said, looking out over the village. "Looks quiet down there. People must be enjoying the post-lunch break."
Then he peered at the sky. There were clouds off to the southeast, so goddess only knew that rain might be coming- it was always raining, and he was so sick of it, he would offer his soul over to just about anyone to make it not be as constant as it was. He spent way too many hours stuck on the side of a cliff, unable to climb farther up because of how slick the rocks were, but absolutely unable to survive going back down, even with the paraglider.
Well, it wasn't like they had far to go to get to his house if it started raining when they were leaving Purah's place.
He turned and grabbed the door handle. "I know Robbie was probably a shock, but Purah's weirder," he said. "So brace yourself."
|
| The start of a new chapter |
[15 Jan 2018|01:54pm] |
The war was over.
It would start up again some day, it did again and again and again. But for this generation, at least, it was over. What was left of Hyrule could finally rebuild.
Rebuilding was going to take a lot of time, though, and the first thing to do was re-establish alliances between the last surviving member of the Hyrule royal family and the other rulers of the provinces and clans in the kingdom. And currently, a large part of that was to make sure that the Divine Beasts that had become active again with the recent resurgence of Ganon's power didn't turn on the people who'd Championed them, before the real work could begin. Nobody would be willing to invest in rebuilding infrastructure if they couldn't be certain that it wouldn't get knocked back down before it was even finished by the technology that nobody trusted in the wake of the destruction of Hyrule. Even a century later, and most wounds hadn't healed. And the Beasts recently active again had only reopened that wound. They may have been calmed by Link's efforts, but that didn't mean there was a lot of trust in them just yet.
It didn't help that for whatever reason, Vah Ruta had stopped working again. It didn't seem to be rampaging this time, from the reports that King Dorephan had sent to Link and Zelda. Fyson's little brother had decided to start up his own business- Link was sure that upset their mother, since that took both Fyson and Dyson (what names) away from helping with the family business, so he hoped there was another child or a niece or nephew to enlist and pass the store along to -and that business was courier work, and he'd been hired to deliver the message. Link didn't know what the Rito normally thought of that sort of work, but it was certainly one that benefited from their ability to fly at the drop of a hat.
But whether Fyson and Dyson's mother approved of Dyson's new business or not, Link had enlisted his help once he and Zelda had had a decent night's sleep at the inn in Tarrey Town to let the Zora royal family know that the fight was over. He had enough rupees to keep Dyson hopping for awhile, so he didn't feel the need to overwhelm him by sending him off to every major town that was involved in the reawakening of the Divine Beasts and the spirits of the Champions, and quite frankly, Link had a feeling he and Zelda would have to go see Riju personally, since Gerudo Town had that pesky 'no voe' policy. Kass might've been willing to 'step outside his comfort zone' again to get in, but Link wasn't sure where the bard had gotten off to, and he wasn't going to ask someone who was clearly uncomfortable dressing up as a woman to do so again when Link had no problem doing it himself. They'd just have to go down there as soon as the message was sent to the other three towns first.
When Zelda had asked why he chose to send word to the Zora first, Link had simply said that of the other tribes, they were the only ones who'd known her before the Calamity, and had a more personal investment in their well-being. She mentioned Impa and the other two Sheikah lords, but since none of them had a Divine Beast sitting in their backyards, she finally agreed that the Zora were the best people to start establishing contact with. She was tired, and while she'd held up well between the Wetland Stable and Tarrey Town, once she'd been able to drop into a proper bed and get properly cleaned up and in clothes that fit, the years started to catch up with her, and her brain decided to take a brief vacation from thinking too hard.
Fortunately, she'd been back to functioning levels when Dyson had knocked on their inn room door to deliver the message from Dorephan.
I am overjoyed to hear that you are well, and that Calamity Ganon is finally just a memory. And to have Princess Zelda back is a relief, for all of us, and for you, dear friend. I know that even though you may not remember us all fully, you have few people left from your life before to call friends. But I should be ashamed of myself for saying so! I'm certain you have people today that you can call friends, with your heroic deeds, calming the other Divine Beasts. I hope, however, that you will consider us among your friends still. My people would love to see you and the princess, when you are well enough to visit.
I hesitate to add this request, in light of your recent battle that must've been quite hard on you both, but if you were to visit, may I ask for your assistance? After Vah Ruta roared to life and sent a beam of pure energy to the castle, it shut down. Perhaps this is by design, as it seems its purpose is fulfilled, but even though I know now that its recent wrath was caused by Calamity Ganon's renewed blight, I cannot be calm until I know for certain that it will not once again cause harm to my people.
I assure you, however, that though I have made this request, my heart is not so heavy with worry that it could not be lightened simply by seeing you both. Whether you choose to come or not, would you be so kind as to send back a message with this delightful young Rito with news of your well-being? And if you are to return to us, give us notice, so that we may prepare our best accommodations for you.
With warm regards,
King Dorephan
Link read over the letter for a second time, waiting while Zelda completed her morning routine in the washroom. She sure was taking a long time. He'd say he didn't remember her dragging her feet so much in the morning, but not only did he understand that she was still tired and recovering and would need more time, he honestly didn't remember anyway, so teasing her would backfire.
At least he'd had the fortune of waking up before her and getting his turn in the washroom before she took it over, or else he might never get in there.
|
| | | | | | | |