Waking of Saturday, May 4, 2019
It was still the waking of Saturday, May 4, 2019, but I was into the morning of May 5, 2019, because that was two years, two months, and two days since this game came out, and DANG IT if I wasn’t gonna get some time in on it today. I wanted to see Impa. And so help me after so much bloody laundry and dryers and other chores and the sucking black hole of the following circuses of self-medicinal YouTube and its inebriating memes and vines for ever I WAS GOING TO FREAKING PLAY THIS BLOODY GAME.
I was already in Kakariko.
It was 8:00 pm.
Paya was polishing the guardian deity statues.
I decked myself out to look presentable. No beast weaponry.
Now. Impa.
I went up the stairs. I went through the door.
I had all Divine Beasts. All memories.
What would she say?
She sat cross-legged on her little tower of pillows.
I spoke to her.
“I sense it... Their presence.
Daruk. Urbosa.
Revali. Mipha.”
Her old face furrowed. “A hundred years ago, I put my life on the line to fight alongside everyone. But...I could not protect them. They died without fulfilling their destinies. I have lived all this time thinking they died in vain.” She looked so downcast, and then, “But this energy I feel from their presence...” she trailed off.
“It seems they have not given up,” she smiled. “I can also sense...that they were all overjoyed to see you again,” she said, still smiling.
Heh, even Revali?
Well.... guess he can’t hide it from Impa.
That’s comforting.
And then suddenly intent! “Now you all serve the same purpose! Now it is time to attack Calamity Ganon, while he is weak! Hurry to the princess! Go, now!”
Oh, my map opened. And there was a new dinger at the castle.
“I believe you will find Calamity Ganon in Hyrule Castle.”
And I came back out of the map now.
“Even with blessings of the Divine Beasts on your side, you must be careful,” Impa went on, “Calamity Ganon will be well protected. Be prepared for anything!”
And then, “By the way... How are you faring thus far?” A bit jarring. And with a dynamic little zoom out in the cinematography, back to my person and then coming in close.... all dramatic.
Ah, on to the other quest, I see.
I gesticulated my response.
“No... All twelve pictures already? You’ve visited every place?!”
Was it really that shocking, Impa, with how long I’ve taken? |D
“Hmm... Then I suppose it’s time.” The camera zoomed in toward her face. The music had changed. An eerie, haunting, mystical version of some Sheikah tune.... “I will reveal the location of the final memory,” she said, and there was another zoom in toward myself.... in such a beautiful shot....
This is what I have been waiting for. I’ve seen the empty place for the last memory. I remember flashes of trailers. I’ve heard the stories from all the people in the land.
But will it be where I think it is?
“Here is what happened.” Impa.... got up off of her cushion!—I’d never seen her move from that spot before—and walked over to... where are we going? I followed.... “Lady Zelda asked me to wait to show you this. She gave me very specific instructions.” Or some such words!??
“This is the final picture.”
What is it....?
I looked....
The painting on the wall.... illuminated by a small standing lamp.
It was a rolling green field full of.... Guardian husks....
I knew it.
The flashing final stand in the rain beneath my hood.
Watching the lurching, gleaming beasts from the highest battlement.
The Valley of Terror.
Garill’s Haunt.
Fort Hateno.
“Does it look familiar?” Impa asked, “From this village, you should be able to get there in a half day’s time. Now go, child. Seek out what Lady Zelda has shown you.”
And the music went back to normal.
Free the Divine Beasts – Complete.
The long, long-awaited banner gleamed across my screen.
....
How did Zelda.... tell Impa.... that it was....?
....
I will go. And regain my final memory.
....
Impa still won’t let me touch the orange orb though.
How....
