Before The Storm

Afternoon of Sunday, May 5, 2019

Before The Storm

As I stand in the field....

The Piano plays The Legend of Zelda theme, small at first, delicately....

A muffled:

“...

Link...

Link.

You have recovered all of your memories

of us from 100 years ago...”

Her voice sounds.... weary. A weary kind of relief.

“I am here...inside Hyrule Castle.

It is now time for you to defeat Ganon.”

And the Piano stretching across many octaves resounds the last refrain.... as I clench my firsts and set my brow against the storm to come.

I am ready.

*

Lost Memories – Complete

*

WHERE IS THE LAST SHRINE?

I searched all around Nirvata Lake, suspicious of that line of three trees up on the cliff above the waterfall. Nothing.

I CLEANED OUT the Deplian Badlands, killing three Lynels along the way, but found no shrines there either. (That first Lynel didn’t even land a hit on me. Noice.) I did find some Koroks though. That Korok circle back by the east Lynel.... I had to kill the Lynel to get the rock for the circle. Well, to get it safely at least.

And west into the Drenan Highlands was the third Lynel. Forgot it was there; I hadn’t left a stamp for it.

Killed it. In the rain. With Shock Arrows. I had rather a lot of those. They come in handy.

I went east to west across the entire Deplian Badlands. And then some into the foothills. But couldn’t find any shrines, or any explodable rockfaces.

Got a few pieces of Dinraal, though.

And I was getting better at killing Lynels.

Hm, how about the Eastern Reservoir Lake? Vah Naboris had blocked a shrine when it was running wild; maybe Vah Ruta had done so, too....

Mm, but I didn’t explore the reservoir too deeply.... I drifted into the Domain proper and....

Well, it was my bedtime.

For once.

I was short on sleep the previous night. I did need it tonight. Had some goob shadowing me the next day about Top-Up, in which I just was not an expert.

Oh well.

No new words of wisdom from Prince Sidon or King Dorephan.

But lots of familiar faces I hadn’t visited with in ages.... Rivan, Dunma, Torfeau; Tula, Toma and Laruta, the Prince Sidon Fan Club.... little Tumbo and Keye running around the square.... Tumbo more full of energy, Keye more.... low key. And he said he hoped, if anything ever happened to them again, that I would be around to help again, aww.... ^_^ .... Mei.... Ledo.... good old Bazz. Was it Tula’s or Toma’s older brother Cleff who ran the inn? No, some other shop. I love that name....

And Cleff had married.... Kodah, who 100 years ago had asked me to choose between Mipha and her.

She apologized for doing that.

She still calls me Linny.

Went to the Seabed Inn, It was 3:something in the afternoon.

I slept on a regular bed until morning.

Seven Prayers

Waking of Saturday, January 26, 2019

Seven Prayers

My last practice with Shelene and Jane went well.

We women are better singers.

jghjrlghrjlgjhrlea!!ASDFFGGHJKL;

It was time to pray.

After I awoke at Pepp’s, I warped to the Forgotten Temple, deep in the folded land at the head of Tanagar Canyon.

I first prayed before the Giant Goddess Statue, towering tall and smiling with her serene hands resting clasped over her belly. The powerful, imposing figure seemed to want and deserve being first.

And the Goddess granted me a Stamina Vessel.

From there I warped to.... but I felt no connection to Hateno Village.

I warped to Kakariko Village, placidly nestled in the mountains north of the Dueling Peaks, in the shadow of the Pillars of Levia.

I then prayed before the Little Koi Pond Goddess Statue, which was one of the smaller, more simplistic renditions, molded with the suggestion of praying hands. This one wore a little pinafore smock like an apron.

And the Goddess granted me another Stamina Vessel.

And, “Your being overflows with vigor. There is no need to further enhance your stamina,” the Goddess imparted to me. Or some such words.

That was three full wheels of stamina now.

That was what David had....

Following my old footsteps, from there I warped to Zora’s Domain, secluded in the fountains of the rugged blue mountains beyond the wetlands.

I then prayed before the Little Balcony Goddess Statue, which was unadorned, but held a prominent position before King Dorephan’s chamber.

Of course, as David had done, I asked for another Stamina Vessel just to see what would happen.... but the Goddess only reminded me once again that my being already overflowed with vigor, and there was no need.

So I asked aright, and She granted me a Heart Container instead.

From there I took a brief moment to put on my protective suit before warping to Goron City, high on the scorching western flanks of the mighty Death Mountain, crusted between claws of rock and lava flows, its air all flecked with embers.

I then prayed before the Little Crowned Goddess Statue, which was ensconced in a rough-cut shrine of rugged stone near Big Boss Bludo’s house. This one wore a bright yellow, three-pointed crown on its head! The make of it seemed to glow....

And the Goddess granted me another Heart Container.

From there I warped to Gerudo Town, the bustling oasis, jewel in the sands, and had to stop to put on some different clothing before entering town. I bought some arrows before finding my way back to the Forgotten Court and visiting with Muava.

I then prayed before the Little Court Goddess Statue, left alone in its quietude with only garbage and lost things for company, but no less faithful in its prayerful rendition, no less a conduit for worship.

And the Goddess granted me a Heart Container.

From there I warped to Rito Village, stacked in beautiful wooded seclusion in Tabantha’s piney wilderness, over breezy trails loved by the sun.

I then prayed before the Little Flowered Goddess Statue, set in its alcove in the Neck, adorned with comely cloths and wearing a circlet of flowers on its head and with flowers before its feet. Ahhh, this one is my favorite. :)

And the Goddess granted me a Heart Container.

And that was.... two statues of magnitude or personal importance.... plus the statues in the lands of the four peoples I had visited.... which made six....

Just one more.

And from there.... finally.... I warped to the Shrine of Resurrection, far away and back and long ago on the Great Plateau, back where it all began, hidden away in the cave so secluded, full of steps and barriers I had halted to climb when I was naked and weak as a kitten.

I rushed out into the sunlight quick as anything now in my rattling gear and thick clothing, and made my way to the Temple of Time, past the paltry Red Bokoblins around whom I used to be so cautious and calculated. One cut was all it took to bring them down now.

Past the crumbling walls and in the hallowed space inside, where the moss and the grass grew as soft as a prayer, and the air moved in glimmering haunts fit for fairies, I then prayed before the Temple Goddess Statue, standing in the midst of its attendant statuettes and smiling that same serene smile under a shaft of heavenly light.

And the Goddess granted me a Heart Container.

Seven Prayers. That would do.

I was stronger now.

Then....

Hateno Village.

I had unfinished business.

Errands in Zorana

Evening of Tuesday, September 4, 2018 ~ 2

Errands in Zorana

It was time to smarten up—I could at least aim for what materials I wanted. And Luminous Stone from Zora’s Domain was a pretty easy place to start.

I wandered around to Upland Zorana—finally spying on my way, via Magnesis, the Ceremonial Trident at the bottom of the channel beneath the western bridge. Trello had said it had fallen down there....

But I only took a mental note of its location and continued up into the hills, ranging all over, collecting Luminous Stone.

On a paraglide back down toward the Domain proper, I saw that Kilton had parked his balloon near Ralis Pond, so I went to pay him a visit.

Upon approaching him I noticed that the back of his hood (he always faced away from the counter at first) seemed to have.... a hole in it? What?

So I spoke to him, wondering if he had anything new.

And LO AND BEHOLD his hot new item tonight was the LYNEL MASK.

And he confided to me that he had recently nearly been killed while studying actual Lynels to design this mask! Well that explained the hole then! XD

Lynel Mask?

YES PLEASE!

I sold him monster bits for Mon—999 Mon!—and then exchanged again and the Lynel Mask was mine.

SWEET.

I tried it on right away—and laughed so hard—for similar to how he had done with other masks, Link immediately took on the stance and air of its.... what was that word.... exemplificator....

He stood up tall and puffed out his chest and held back his arms like some beefy bodybuilder posing for a film ad! XD Oh my gosh.... XD

Kilton warned me, though.... Lynels were smart. The mask might not fool them for long.

Well I’d just burn that bridge when I came to it then. :)

With my pockets full of Luminous Stone and my Lynel Mask in tow, I sailed down to try and pick up that Ceremonial Trident....

It was a bit of a chore to reach it. But only because I so often forget and neglect the Sheikah Slate power of Cryonis. With a little persistence I was able to ice-bridge my way out to the center of the channel, grab the Trident and get back to solid ground.

But I still didn’t know how to plunge it into the pedestal at the Veiled Falls. I spoke to Trello, I spoke to Laruta, I spoke to Keye.... Keye gave the same demonstration he always had: you jump up high and then slam your spear into the ground.

But I had already tried that with Lady Mipha’s Lightscale Trident, to no effect. And I gave it a go with the Ceremonial Trident. Still nothing.

What was I doing wrong?

I didn’t like damaging these weapons....

Jump up high.... jump up high.... Did I have to go higher? There was a way for that....

I put on my Zora Armor and jetted straight up the Veiled Falls, bursting out the top to hang in the air by my paraglider. Then down, down, down I floated....

I took care to center myself directly over the pedestal. And when I was still high up, but not so high that I’d injure myself.... I let go and plunged down with the weapon....

I didn’t hit dead center, but it was enough.

The Dagah Keek Shrine rumbled out of the earth just up near Ralis Pond!

Well that would make an excellent waypoint up into the hills! It would save a long jog up the stairs and across the bridge anyway.

I entered the shrine and received the monk’s blessing. Excellent.

Trello later mentioned something about a similar effect the Lightscale Trident might have on.... Mipha’s pedestal?

What like the one in the square?

Which I considered and.... might have even tried once or twice.... but....

I don’t like damaging these spears.

Unwarranted Reserve

Waking of Friday, June 29, 2018

Unwarranted Reserve

Mary and Dorothy were over, and they wanted me to play, but I didn’t want to do the main quest.... And so from a save I had cast at the entrance to Chief Riju’s palace, I warped to the Forgotten Temple, and PROCEEDED TO CLEAN—IT—OUT.

It was awesome. Always good to get more practice in parrying Guardian shots. c: ....Though I must say it does tend to run my shield supply down right quick.... :c It’s harder when they’re far away.... and Daruk’s always having to help me.... I find the timing much easier when they’re.... hahhh.... RIGHT ON TOP OF YOU. 8(

It was a lovely hard drudge pushing the infestation out toward the canyon.... but well worth it. Did you know there are treasure chests down there in hidden cavities beside the air-fountain cracks in the ground? Rich ones, too! :D To say nothing of the treasures of Ancient Tech leftover from the slain Guardians.

It was nice to have my own run of the place when they were all gone. So spacious and cool.... It must have been a retreat most beautiful and serene once.

I paraglided back to the giant Goddess statue at the back, and offered a long overdue prayer, to receive another Heart Container. That was nice. :)

That particular exercise bumped me up to twenty-two gears, and so it was time for another visit to Robbie’s place.... and Cherry.

I spoke to her and she beeped and bwopped and I got through her menus and I scrolled down and—

....

I could get the pants. If I wanted to.

I could afford them.

But.... wait.

I quickly warped to Kakariko to check with Cotera, to see if there were anything else to which I could put my gears.... Oh, what was I thinking of? The difference betweeen a strong but partial set, and a weak but complete set? The Great Fairy told me what materials I needed.... But it looked like the higher Ancient upgrades would require more cores.

And I was short on cores.

....

Sooooo I warped back to Robbie’s, spoke to Cherry, dropped another great honking wad of cash.... and got the Ancient Greaves.

I had the set! 8D

My gosh when I put them all on I looked.... all dark and awesome and intimidating! ^_^ Especially when I put on the helm and you couldn’t see my eyes. X-)

So cool. XD

I had enough lesser parts to have Cotera upgrade my new Greaves by one level. But I only had two Ancient Gears left, and would not be able to upgrade further until I’d done a little.... mmmm.... shopping.

Or rather, a lot of shopping. A lot of shopping between Dueling Peaks and Hateno, looking for Teli and his miraculous wares....

I also took a moment every day to check with Hino in regards to the next Blood Moon. But I never did catch him at the right lunar phase.... there was a shrine waiting for me on Washa’s Bluff, I was SURE of it.... If I could just be there on a Blood Moon Midnight....

One thing I was very happy to discover was that, if I found Teli on the Hateno road, and it happened to be raining.... to lift the gloomy mood he would put out all his best wares! Including gears and cores! 8D

Ah, the rain in Hateno would be so sweet to me now....

....

Hateno Rain should be a song.

. . . .

Didn’t the Hateno Rain so depress and spook me once?

.  .  .  .  .  .  .

I do believe it did. Back on that long, weary road punctuated by my first Yiga Clan encounters.

Ah but I needn’t’ve let the rain spook me anymore. I was braver now, and the road was haunted anyway, rain or shine.

Because.... the Yiga were attacking me in the open now.

I guess my little trespass in Satan Canyon and the whole incident with Kohga must’ve.... not sat well with them.

I’d be jogging along a path, and that telltale orange glow would coalesce off to one side or another, that wicked cackle would clatter through the air.... Once in the bottleneck west of Teli’s Slope, I employed the Meteor Rod to fend off a Yiga Clansman, and the ricocheting fireballs nearly killed us both.

Travel was going to become a whole lot more.... interesting.

....

Well.... they wanted me to go full Curare—

I’d go full Curare.

I visited Kakariko to buy some carrots for one of my upgrades, played an arrow game for one Rola, and as long as I was there, decided to visit Impa.

She saw right away that I had reclaimed the Master Sword—my sword, she called it—and impressed upon me that Princess Zelda had sacrified everything to protect that sword and me, and told me not to forget it.

Well that was a sobering note.

Hhhh, in truth, I had not been using the Master Sword much, or at all. Barely.

I hunted Lizalfos, I hunted more Guardians....

Maybe I was subconsciously treating it like one of my other special weapons, like Mipha’s trident or Daruk’s hammerclub—no wait did I even pick that one up? I never used them because I wanted them to last, to stay pristine. They took up my pocket space.... If I bought that house in Hateno, would I be able to stow them there?

I bought more gears and another core. Or two.

I knew the sword wouldn’t break like any of my other weapons. I knew it could briefly lose its power.... But I had never taken it to that point. Why was I leaving it alone so much?

I showed Nebb the Duplex Bow. He gave me fifty rupees.

There’s a good lad.

I suppose there was the point that some of my other weapons were, in fact, stronger than the Master Sword.

But why was that?

I hunted still more Guardians.

I had seen David play, and his Master Sword had a damage-dealing level of sixty.

But my Master Sword.... had only a level of thirty.

No but sometimes it glowed with a brighter strength and a higher level....

No but then it was weak again.

Why did it do that?

Not that thirty was all that weak, mind; for a single-handed weapon that was pretty good....

But why did it change?

What was the pattern?

I visited.... Kaysa, to upgrade my greaves one more time; I had amassed the ten required gears. She kissed her giant finger and bopped me with it in a small explosion of magical dander, and that brought my third of three Ancient Armor pieces up to level two....

I put them all on.... Full sets of clothing that were double-enhanced came with a perk.... usually....

And this perk was.... Ancient Proficiency?

What did that even mean?

Or was it really a perk after all? Or simply a pronouncement of my own skill? I’d killed a lot of Guardians to get this far....

I supposed I’d find out soon enough.

I checked with the Great Fairy to go over my shopping list: Naydra horn, Molduga fins, diamonds, and cores.

I’d just figured Naydra was the name of the third dragon, the one I had not met.

For surely there must be three.

Well, I knew where to find the diamonds easily enough, and warped to Zora’s Domain. But before I found Ledo, I came across Prince Sidon not on his usual balcony above the square, but down near the fountain, before the statue of his sister Mipha.

I heard him murmuring to himself.... or to her....

“Mipha, are you still inside the Divine Beast?” He looked so heavily pensive. “Are you aiding Link in his fight?”

And then he turned—

“Link!” He started at the sight of me. But he made no pretenses. “So you heard that, huh? I’m afraid you caught me in a moment of vulnerability.”

He said.... something more, about his sister, though I don’t remember the words.

He was just a man missing a loved one.

And that’s all right.

“I’m sorry you had to see me in a weak moment,” he finished, or some such words, and I moved away.

Everyone’s weak some time. Even the Prince of the Zoras.

Even my sword....

Sure, I wielded it now, but did I really own it?

I needed to figure this out....

I found Ledo, traded him some Luminous Stones for a Diamond, and saved.

Patience

Evening of Sunday, June 10, 2018 ~ 2

Patience

I’ve been.... known to be a nice sister sometimes....

I would wait for David before entering the Yiga Nest.

In the meantime.... I erranded.

Off to Dueling Peaks to ask Hino about the moon.... No Blood Moon this time.

Away to Hateno to swoop down on Teli once more.... No cores this time either.

Then a warp to the Divine Beast Vah Ruta to start another float down the lazy river, fishing for more Hearty Bass. As well as venturing inland to clear out some of my obsolete stamps. More than a few Lizalfos misadventures there—I’d forgotten what fun Shock Arrows can be.... @_@

I ended up in the wetlands before I thought to go back to Zora’s Domain to see if anybody were simply selling Hearty Bass.

They weren’t that I could discover.

But my sensor did lead me to find some more of the fishies out back, shooting up the waterfalls into Upland Zorana, until finally, finally.... I had ten of them.

Another warp over to Cotera—the fairies had respawned—how long do they take?? I caught three of them, but failed to notice a fourth before accidentally scaring it away.... Rats!

The Great Fairy was able to upgrade one of the remaining two pieces of Zora Armor. But I found that I had been so focused on collecting Hearty Bass.... that I had completely neglected to watch my supply of Lizalfos Tails! I was SHORT! D8

I don’t know! I had just always assumed I would have enough! You know, like Bokoblin horns, I thought they’d never run out! I’d certainly killed enough of them....

Evidently not.

Well.... I knew where I could find them at least.

I warped back to the wetlands and got busy hunting.

[Masks.... are so handy.]

But the reptilian devils were stingy; I wasn’t able to collect very many tails.

But as long as I was there.... when I could find no more Lizalfos to fight, I turned to the loose Guardian Stalker that had so terrified me before, as I had skirted round it high on the naked cliffs....

I killed it.

And—oh delight of delights—it dropped a CORE for me.

Excellent.

As the days continued to turn, I bounced again between Hino for moon details, and Teli to check for cores. But I had no luck with either of them....

Until David came home.

But by then it was so late, and I knew I would have to wake up so early, that....

I wasn’t sure if I was even up to tackling the Yiga Nest anymore.

Which was a little dispiriting. For both of us. But.... I was trying to be as sensible as I could be, with whatever sense I had leftover.

In the end, out of juice, I flipped to my map and piddled around aimlessly looking at various locations....

“You know,” said David, “I think you spend most of your time in this game just looking at your map, groaning about places you can’t visit.”

KhAUgh! .... My heart! X⩄X

He was exactly right. I was hungry to play more and yet fearful of getting too far ahead of the log.... looking at all the places I could visit but didn’t want to let myself get to.... And I didn’t want to cheat myself of too much sleep besides.

A laughing groan was my touché back to him, and we grimly grinned in my plight.... fed up....

But I wanted to finish up with something.... And on my map I spied a very large Korok spiral on a butte southeast of Spectacle Rock.

Spectacle Rock....

I may not have played every Zelda game.... but there were some names I knew to hold in reverence.

Spectacle Rock was a huge, wide, flat-topped mesa just east-southeast of the Wasteland Tower. Or perhaps.... did it include the natural arch that connected to the tower’s butte?

Did it include both mountaintops?

I don’t know.

I warped to the Wasteland Tower, and paraglided as far as I could toward my destination, but was brought to my feet halfway across the natural arch.

I had never been to Spectacle Rock before. The vast openness of its upper reaches—its upper reach, for how could a plane so singular be anything but whole?—was unsettling.

It should have been the home of Taluses. I felt sure that once I crossed the midway point, some gargantuan monster of stone would erupt out of the ground at my trespassing to have a stern word with me.

Or perhaps in the center—those tiny little knobs there—surely between those would be a Korok hiding under a rock.

But there was nothing.

Just nothing.

There was a wolf. And a blue butterfly.

And nothing.

The afternoon was sinking; I wanted to be off that rock.

I steered according to my HUD and did not stop when I came to the edge but leapt off at once, heading for the Korok spiral’s butte.

I landed on the wall somewhat below the mark, but the scramble to the top was easy enough.

There were two spare rocks here. And a long way down on all sides, and so I knew I’d best not waste them....

I couldn’t quite tell where to put the extra rocks until I actually counted how many there already were in each arm of the spiral.

Two of them were shorter than the others.

Well, a little heavy lifting fixed that!

And out came the Korok and gave me a seed.

And that.... that was enough for the night.

I warped back to the Gerudo Canyon Stable.... and a good night’s sleep.

Gone Fishin'

Waking of Sunday, November 26, 2017 ~ 3

Gone Fishin’

I turned my attention to something that wouldn’t require a horse. Or rather something to which a horse would be most ill-suited, I suppose....

I recalled the time when Finley had sent me down the river with her love letter to Sasan—I had happily collected a lot of fish that day, and by doing no more than drifting with the current and floating right into them.

My Sheikah sensor was still tuned to detect the Hearty Bass I would need to upgrade my Zora Armor.

It was time for another ride down the lazy river.

I warped to Zora’s Domain, put on my Zora Suit and Lizalfos mask, and started floating down the river to pick up fishies. The pickings were rather slim however until I came to the Bank of Wishes. But the fishies weren’t the only things that showed up—the Lizalfos population increased dramatically as well. I remembered.

But my new mask made the passage much, much easier. Albeit a little alarming at times. As night fell I ventured onto the shore to catch my breath and regain my stamina again, when the single Lizalfos that had started eyeballing me was joined by three Stalizalfos bursting up out of the ground nearby!

In a trice and two steps they all stood in a tight semicircle before me with their noses inches from my own, creaking and chirruping their interest as they all looked at me. O.O

I excused myself back into the river. ^_^;;

And I did catch a few Hearty Bass along the way! The sensor was a big help—it can get so difficult to see the fish beneath the water’s surface, especially at night. Let alone tell what breed they are.

I scoured the wetlands below for the Bass as well. I had to switch between my Lizalfos mask and my Bokoblin mask quite a bit, but I’d say I did pretty good! If only those guys would have just kept out of the way....

They like to make small talk I guess.

After a time, my sensor could locate no more fish. And so with nine Hearty Bass in my pockets I warped back to Kakariko. I wasn’t sure exactly how many fish I needed, but nine seemed like a good hefty number to start with.

I checked with Cotera—it took five fish per piece for the Zora set, as it turned out.

What does she use from all these fish anyway?

I upgraded what I could anyway, as it started to rain.... again.

Thanks, Cotera.

I peered through the gloom.

Satori Mountain was still not lit up.

It was just such a rainy, rainy time these days. -_-

I wandered eastward; I thought I remembered hearing a shrine over there that I couldn’t find, somewhere along the Hateno road, long, long ago.

On the way I scaled one of the magnificent peaks surrounding Kakariko Village (there was a Korok on top) and took a moment to look around through the thinning drizzle.

Satori was alight now?

It glowed tealy green. Right before my eyes.

But it was 7:50 in the morning!

I kept looking.

The light did not dim as the time passed eight.

I thought it only lit up at night....

Decisions, decisions.... Shrine? Or Satori?

....

Satori.

The Shrine wouldn’t go anywhere.

Girl Stuff

Waking of Friday, August 25, 2017

Girl Stuff

Nieces are delightful creatures.

Mary just really wanted me to “Play Zelda!”

So eh.... what the hey.

I started up the game, and found that the last time I’d played I seemed to have ended up at Cotera’s spring above Kakariko Village.

Mary wanted me to play whatever the main quest was but ehhhh I didn’t think so. Not under so much threat of buzzkill with all these people in the house.

Instead, I warped back to the volcano to see if I couldn’t find any of those Smotherwing Butterflies I needed to up my Flamebreaker clothes one more level. They were tricky little beasties! Especially when I tried to get a picture of one; it was difficult to keep it centered in the frame while it kept fluttering around. I think I barely snapped a pictograph of the tips of its wings when it finally alighted over the tiny horizon of a rounded rock.

But it did help to have the picture—and thus the ability to search for it—in my Sheikah Slate. I needed something like nine of them, and the girls and I did a lot of walking around Goron City and the surrounding areas. We even found a few Koroks along the way. And a couple of new shrines. And some hidden treasure I think too! A fruitfully circuitous hike.

Once we’d caught as many butterflies as we could stand, we warped back to Cotera, and had her do up my Flamebreaker armor. The giant fairy kiss made the girls laugh. XD They asked questions, and that led to my giving them answers, which led to more questions.... which led to somehow.... they wanted to see the Elephant.

So Zora’s Domain it was.

But how did we get into the menu? One of my weapons must have broken—maybe a bow; you can’t switch via the shortcut to a different bow if you don’t have one equipped.

So in I went to the menu. And Dorothy became quite enamored of just how customizable Link was. She wanted to choose his clothes.

I took off all of Link’s equipment and stripped him down to the skivvies. “Okay, what should he wear?” I said as I hopped the avatar around Vah Ruta’s bare black rock.

“He’s naked!” Dorothy laughed.

Mary and Dorothy were soon taking turns issuing orders for different combinations of clothing. They both quite liked the beautiful set of Zora Armor. Dorothy thought the Champion’s Tunic was a very pretty blue. Both seemed to prefer his open hair to most of his hats, though they thought the Firebreaker Helm was funny. The too-small Old Shirt and Well-Worn Trousers made them laugh too. But Mary and I got the biggest kick out of the regular Hylian Trousers, no shirt, and the Barbarian Helm. I threw in a Dragonbone Boko Club for good measure, and man our hero looked right fit to eat somebody’s face! XD

We rollicked around Zora’s Domain a bit more. They had me scale the giant fish tail above the throne room, and as I had more stamina under my belt this time, it worked! I was even gratified to find a hidden Korok up there. ^_^

But soon the girls had to go, and so.... at the end I warped back to Cotera’s spring where I had been before.... and quit.

The next day, David asked me what all I had done while playing Zelda with the girls.

When I told him we’d spent our time catching butterflies and playing dress up—

“UGHHH,” his eyes bugged, “How does Ben stand it with all girls and no boys?”

I’d never seen him look so disgusted.

Family Ties

Waking of Tuesday, May 23, 2017 ~ 2

Family Ties

I gaped, aghast. “Why would you cook a fairy? What did it—?”

“Dubious Food,” said David. “I just wanted to see!” he grinned with a shrug. And then, “One time I cooked a Diamond.”

My face bugged, if possible, even harder. Five hundr— “Why would cook a DIAMOND?”

“It was also Dubious Food,” David recounted with a somber little nod.

I’m so glad my brother is here to test out the combinations I consider too taboo to attempt in cooking.

But tonight.... it was Mom and me that happened to be together. <3

I love my Mother dearly; I think it’s safe to say she is my best friend.

But oh, what adorableness was this . . . .

After I had upped my stamina by the Goddess statue—So that was what Stamina Vessels looked like . . . very beautiful—I decided that, as long as I was in Zora’s Domain, I may as well just ask Jiahto where the rest of those historical tablets were, and go find them for him.

This involved a great deal of climbing and paragliding.

And every time I ran up to a precipice to have a look at my surroundings—

“Oh be careful—” “Slow down—” “Watch out—!”

X-)

Oh Mom, you’re so sweet to think of my safety, even on a TV screen.

She became quite alarmed when a Blood Moon rose (I stopped to watch it on a little hillock with no baddies nearby) and just plain creeped out when the sky began to bluster with thick red clouds. “Oh, they’re ugly,” she said of the reincarnating monsters in the cutscene.

And after the Blood Moon, a shooting star fell not too far away! I ran for it, and Mom still started at almost every bold leap I took onto the air with my paraglider. X-)

Well, I wanted to hurry!

The last giant hill in my way had part of the mountain road winding around it, just before the last bridges into the Domain proper. I was moving northeast.

I could see the fallen star’s light round the left side of the hill, but.... the pathway that wound all the way around the right side guaranteed a sufficiently high altitude to paraglide from to reach the star!

I booked it and took the path on the right. It was a close thing, but I floated down over the star just as the sky was beginning to lighten, just as the star fell from where it had impacted in a cliff-face onto a path below.

A Star Fragment.

Never seen wunna those before....

Cool!

But.... the evening wasn’t all starts and scares—Mom and I were actually quite amused by the one tablet we found detailing the toils and labors and future glory of the, heh, humble stonemason who made all these tablets. That made us laugh.

Other tablet stories were sadder, like the one about the King regretting letting his daughter Mipha pilot Vah Ruta (that was the last one I found—rather tricky!); or touching, like the one about the origin of the tradition of female Zora making armor for their men.

Personally I was most fascinated by the tablet regarding the ancient Ruto, who became a Sage and repelled an invading evil long before the Divine Beasts were constructed. It was Ruto for whom Vah Ruta was named. How interesting....

I can only imagine what explosions the internet must have sustained after that tablet came to light.

Uhm..

As I paraglided back into the Domain proper to report back to Jiahto one time, I was coming in over the last long bridge, relishing my increased stamina.... when my altitude decreased such that I thought for sure one of the bridge’s archways would just stop me cold and force me to float straight down.

One of them did stop me cold; but I didn’t sink down. Instead I just stuck onto the broad face of the arch and clung there like Spiderman. Hit it in just the right spot I guess! XD That made us laugh again.

I wriggled around on the surface of the arch for the two more breaths of stamina I had, and then fell down to puff out my exhaustion; Mom was charmed by the cute animations. <3

And after I visited all the tablets, in exchange for the information I was able to deliver about them, Jiahto gave me a Diamond.

“That’s the second Zora to give me diamonds in gratitude!” I said, “I should do favors for Zoras more often!”

We laughed.

After all the fun we could stand in Zora’s Domain, I just asked Mom, “Would you like to see Princess Zelda?”

“Do you know where she is in this game?”

“Well, I know where I can find some memories of her....” And I’d meant to visit those now anyway, now that Mei was taken care of.

I warped all the way back to the Outskirt Stable.

I had marked the Eldin Canyon memory on my map, but not the Sanadin Park memory. I ran up to the park just to drop a little stamp on my map for it. Like Eldin Canyon, Sanadin Park was still off my recorded map and out in the empty blue on my Sheikah Slate’s display.

That aspen wood, however.... I could see that one now. Even on my map.

I debated for a moment between Oman Au and Kaam Ya’Tak.... and then warped to the shrine of Kaam Ya’Tak. The hill above the Kaam Ya’Tak Shrine is what I have learned to be called Mount Daphnes, and it was from its crest that I had originally seen the aspen wood beside the water.

However, Mount Daphnes was still very close to that loose Guardian Stalker by the scary tower, so I decided to follow the river away from it a bit before I crossed into the more dangerous territory.

I went all the way to Aquame Bridge and the Coliseum and said hi to Dai before I paraglided over the water. I changed clothes in midair just to make Mom laugh again—I’d been wearing full Zora Armor, but switched to my Hylian gear and Bandana—and touched down on the other side just as it began to rain.

This did not help the visibility, but I tried to go by my map. A few ruins loomed through the haze.... and a commotion....

“Let’s go, you filth!” I heard. I moved closer....

It was Mils and Mina! Having it out with a couple of bokoblins!

Of course they were.

I ran in and put the monsters down, and Mina gifted me with a Sneaky Meat Pie, which name for a dish just made us smile. X-)

After we all calmed down, Mils told me, “just to be clear” that any treasure in this region belonged to them, and so not to go poking around! But he also mumbled some expression of doubt, perhaps due to the dangers of the area.... and something about his sister....

At which Mina flared up and snapped something impelling at him. That treasure was theirs.

“Family,” Mils murmured.

Huh, so they were siblings! I thought. But Mina had looked so like a Sheikah. I looked at her face again....

Maybe they’re both half-bloods, and she just got the white hair.

The rain soon dissipated, and a short jog through the grass and a small herd of horses later, I had arrived at the aspen wood. A few deer darted off at my approach.

I could make out the exact spot easily, the little jut of land beside the shore.

I stepped up into the light, and let Mom push the button.

She loved the cutscene....

Princess Zelda and I walked along a gentle, gravelly trail by the little lake. I was about five paces behind her, and stayed there as she spoke.

Her eyes were intent upon the Sheikah Slate in her hands as she moved, as if reviewing information. Just talk about learning and progress and getting a Divine Beast to work. Figuring out how to make it move, I think. And she mentioned one Daruk, its pilot.

Was Daruk a Goron? What had Impa said in her tale....?

But then she stopped.

I stopped too.

We stood on the path in the sunlight.

She didn’t turn. But she wasn’t looking at the Sheikah Slate anymore.

“Link, I have to ask you.... How proficient are you with that sword on your back?”

[Oh my gosh it was the Master Sword]

I felt a tiny fleeting jolt of defensiveness, of vigor.

My sword.... it was grand and beautiful on my bandolier. It had a blue sheath, embellished with intricate gold designs.... and those three little Triangles....

“They say a voice sleeps within that sword,” said Zelda.

She looked at me.

“Can you hear it, yet... Link?”

The sunlight swallowed us....

A Voice?

I thought of an old friend I’d known in another life....

Mom just thought the whole exchange was just sweet. <3

And well.... so did I.

So that was my sword.

It really was delightful, having Mom there as I played.

But it was getting late.

I took a few pictographs of the spot, dropped another stamp on my map for it, headed back to the Outskirt Stable.... and slept until the morning.

Whereupon I went to bed.... so I could sleep until the morning.

David had recently come out of hiding.

“Uh!” he exclaimed in dismay, “But who am I gonna watch play Zelda?”

All Heroes

Waking of Thursday, May 11, 2017 ~ 6

All Heroes

One thing left to do.

I warped back to Zora’s Domain.

I found Mei hiding in Kapson’s pool away behind the stairs. She told me her husband had given her a stern scolding. Well, good on Fronk. What had she been thinking?

I found her children in the square; Tumbo only ran in his hyper little circle as children do, carefree as anything, and Keye was still playing with Laruta beside Lady Mipha’s statue—imaginary spear practice.

They both seemed untroubled.

But where was Fronk?

As always it was a trek around the entire Domain before I found him, hard at work on one of the many pillars along the stairways and ramps.

“Oh Link... LINK... LINK!!” he shouted when he saw me, and promptly began almost to melt at my feet, words spilling, tumbling, cascading out of his mouth—

I honestly don’t remember the specifics of any of the things he said to me, though I know there were many Thank yous.

But—I remember his gratitude. His sincere, unadorned.... unfathomable relief and gratitude to have his family back together again.

And that was all.

And.... it was enough.

Maybe I had been a fool.

I knew setting out to find Fronk’s wife wouldn’t necessarily bring me any closer to resolving the ills of the world.

But I did it anyway.

And I knew Robbie was waiting. And Purah. And Impa. But....

I kept searching anyway.

I put the whole world on hold.

Why?

....

Well to find one slippery fish woman, that’s why.

I did it because I wanted to.

I did it because.... families should be together.

I did it because—

That’s what Heroes do.

They help people.

Even when it’s foolish.

Even when they’re laughed at.

Even when the thanks are small.

Even when it’s terrifying or painful....

They do it because it’s what’s right.

Maybe I’ll try on the flight gloves next time. Seems like Dad’s old occupation may just sum up my whole job as the Hero of Hyrule, my whole experience just playing this game:

I Search, and I Rescue.

Maybe I hadn’t been a fool, whatever all Heroes may be called.

I don’t regret anything.

Waking of Tuesday, May 23, 2017

After all the places I’d been, all the towers I’d climbed, all the memories I’d found, all the shrines I’d combed, and all the friends I’d made, at the end of my Fool’s Errand, I prayed once again before the Goddess Hylia, and received a Hero’s Reward, manifold greater than any yet that I had gained.

Because I am a Hero.