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.

The Day The Hero Fell

Waking of Saturday, May 4, 2019 ~ 3

The Day The Hero Fell

Night is falling.

I step into the light....

Fire and Rain.

Guardians.... Guardians.... so many guardians.... so many Guardians, crawling, crawling....

One of them senses.... something....

Zelda and I.... we stand in the midst of this hell.

Filthy and ragged.

I.... am in a bad way.

We are all in a bad way.

“Link, save yourself, go!” The Princess’ hands are on my shoulders from behind as I kneel in the mud before her. We are both filthy and ragged.

My clothes are torn. I only pant in exhaustion....

“I’ll be fine! Don’t worry about me,” she sobs, “Run!”

But I bow my head in pain.... and then struggle back to my feet, hauling myself up with my sword, and stand unsteadily in front of her.

The Guardian sees us in earnest, and comes.

It comes closer, it targets its laser upon us—upon me....

“NO!”

Zelda—

She stands in front of me Princess what are you—and raises her right hand in strong warding and—

That light.

A brilliant, pure, golden light emanates from her open palm, the holy Triforce gleaming through her hand—

And bursts forth in a sphere, ever expanding, light shooting toward the heavens in a rupturing pillar—

And the Guardian stops, freezes up.... and wilts with a mechanical juddering.... And the Malice is purged, cast out of the Guardians all around.... it dissipates feebly into the air before evaporating with an evil hiss.... and the Guardians collapse and die....

Zelda’s Lullaby thrumming through soft women’s voices on an ooh....

Zelda stands bewildered.

“Was... Was that... the Power....?”

Thud.

I’ve fallen onto my left side.

I’m on the ground.

“Oh, no, no!” Zelda runs to me and rolls me to my back, puts her left hand under my nape and lifts me. “Link! Get up!”

She calls my name and lifts me up—I cough—and my eyes open, and I look at her but.... oh my wincing brow and . . . . I am . . . . no . . . . this is pain . . . . this is . . . .

“You’re going to be just fine...” she calls to me, but....

And I groan, but....

But....

And with a last sigh I fall limp in her arms.

There’s.... nothing....

And Zelda.... “No, no,” she cries—

And back down.... my form is heavy and she lays me back down onto her folded thighs where she kneels, her face crumpling into my chest. Muddy boots, gashes all over.

No.... no....

But the Master Sword....

Still clutched inverted in my left hand.

It....

It pulses. Gleams and pulses rhythmically a few times....

And it sounds like.... Fi....

The Princess hears it, lifts her head and sees it.... bright and anomalous in this nightmare world.

“The sword?” Zelda croaks.

As if it speaks to her.

“So he can.... he can still be saved?”

Dares she believe it....

“Princeeeess!”

Two strong Sheikah men come leaping over the field to her. Swiftly in and then quickly knelt down. Ready. Sharp and able. “Princess! Are you all right?!”

Princess Zelda snaps to. She is the Royal Sovereign and she is decisive. She instructs them, “Take Link to the Shrine of Resurrection! If you don’t get him there immediately we are going to lose him forever. Is that clear?!”

The masked Sheikah Soldiers nod firmly.

Her voice is strong. Commanding.

Stronger than I’ve ever heard it before.

“So make haste and go! His life is now in your hands!”

As the last crimson light fades from the ruined Guardian’s wasted shell....

Most memories I only let myself watch once, but....

This one I will spurge it again and again, and crystallize its essence in word.

What Garill Knew

Waking of Saturday, May 4, 2019 ~ 2

What Garill Knew

It’s 8:40 in the evening.

I’ll go out and get Dragmire.

Oh, but not before snagging a Korok behind Impa’s house first.

After that I come back to the broad thoroughfare before the house; I’d left Dragmire there to graze and lounge beside Cado and Dorian.

I give him a carrot.

And we are on our way.

Dorian says it’s dangerous to travel at night, but....

I’m going.

I round onto Hestu’s Hillside and can see the Dueling Peaks Stable in the far distance.

Very close.

Dragmire and I continue down the road at a trot.

Talk with Brokka.

Talk with Bugut.

Old friends.

But still keeping my eyes peeled for enemies.

I see the disguised Yiga by the foot of the mountain. In your dreams, creeper.

I pass by, and cross Kakariko Bridge.

And.... there’s another lady walking on the road. I suspect her, but—I hear them.

Stal creatures. And a Yiga man, laughing as he foregoes pretense and somersaults from nowhere to have it out with me....

I put on my Radiant Gear—too late—and kill the Stalkoblins, and the Yiga Archer....

And with the threats put down I see the lady breathe a sigh of relief....

I collect the spoils, and then go to check on her....

.... But she is yet a Traveler?

I must say, this is a trick I had not seen them use before.

Fine. What.

“Hey, buuuuuddy!”

“Me?” My response.

“Awwww! You’re so cuuute!”

Really.

“Want to spend some.... tiiiiime with meee?”

My choices: “OK...” and “I refuse!”

I’d rather not, lady.

“I refuse!”

“Whaaaaa—?! But whyyyyy?” she pouts. “Don’t you like meeee? If you doooo, please cloooose those eyes!”

Choices: “Well...OK, then.” or “No, I don’t like you.”

I’m not going to play your games.

“No, I don’t like you.”

“You’re so meeeean. Well, theeeen... Hylian Champion...”

The tissue-thin guise dropped and her face contorted into a snarl.

“Begone, enemy of my Master!”

YOU begone!

It’s on.

Aaaand it’s over quickly.

Not tonight.

I am busy.

So near the stable.

I’ll put Dragmire to manger first.

And I do. Thanks, Tasseren.

It will be light, soon.

....

I think I’ll go find Garill.

I kill things that get in my way. But that Bokoblin.... it went after someone else. I pursue and kill it anyway.

Still wary from the bridge I do not talk to the other man this time until I’m sure I know him. It’s Agus. And his donkey.

Don’t think the Yiga keep donkeys....

I buy all his milk and butter.

Thanks, Agus.

Heh, and as I continue along the winding road.... here comes Joute, the old Witcher III guy who spooked me in the rain before on his pale horse. Joute.

“White horsies, giants, and bony ones too. They’re out there for catchin’, and that’s what you should do...” he sings. “You like my song about the legendary horses? There’s only one of each, but I took some liberties to make it musical.”

I do like it, Joute.

The Guardians grow thick now. Here in the Valley of Terror.

I heard that.... Octorok....

Found it. Killed it.

So close to the fort now.... I’ve surely passed where the memory lies....

But I continue....

Garill. My friend. ^_^

“Incredible!” I hear him say.

And I visit with him.

“The more I see of this place, the more it hits me just how hard the old tragedy struck here. But even knowing that, seeing so many Guardians... It boggles the mind. That warrior must have been some threat to the forces of darkness, huh?”

Huh. Well, I would like to think so at least.

Garill doesn’t say anything else.

....

Good old Garill.

I’ll take his pictograph.

I coax him to speak again; try and get him to look up....

“If I’d been alive 100 years ago...I like to think I’d have fought these Guardians here, right at the warrior’s side.”

More....

“The warrior and his soldiers at Fort Hateno risked their lives to protect the world. I wasn’t there at the time, but I’m alive now because of them, and I’ve got to make sure future generations know it!”

Now there’s a good smiling face! ^_^

Got a good pictograph.

Now.... to find that memory....

Heh, I see Toma heading back toward the crossroads too, on her horse.

More familiar faces than I’d realized, around these parts.

Wander, wander.... back into the field.... I won’t be able to tell until I’m within a few feet of it.... There was a Guardian’s husk in the foreground of the painting on Impa’s wall. I look around all the clusters of Guardians, but.... No.... Must be further out....

I might have to kill all the central baddies....

And I do. That Frostspear did come in handy!

Searching, seaching.... Not in any of these clusters near the wall, then....

Perhaps that cluster farther back. Is that the one with an active Decayed one in it?

I go. Find three more Bokoblins, but.... nothing else.

I won’t be able to tell until I’m within a few feet of it.... Was that a trick of the setting sun’s glare? Or....

No.

It’s here.

It’s right here.

My memory.

!

And.... a lot of.... swords. In the ground. Oh....

Oh...

What....

What happened in this place?

....

It’s been two years and two months and two days.

It’s time for me to find out.

Impa's Final Message

Waking of Saturday, May 4, 2019

Impa’s Final Message

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....

Exhale

Waking of Monday, April 22, 2019 ~ 5

Exhale

I clung to the castle’s apex, beneath the blustery, unholy skies.

Talk about King Of The Mountain Syndrome.

....I should check and see whether I really can get onto one of those Guardians atop one of the Five Columns, I thought.

Fathomless tiers of glaring castle-land tapered dizzily in the doom-glow beneath my feet.

Oh my gosh.

But which column?

I got the memory.

Which column....

The one I knew had a Guardian?

Dad was here and the ensuing atmosphere was tight and hard. Didn’t want to move....

And I was getting hungry.

I had not eaten all day today.

I am on top of the tallest, tallest Castle Spire.

Where to go from here....

Hmm....

I considered the northern Pillar.

Noo, I already know it has one.

Then.... one of the ones toward the field. For I wanted to fly afterward. Guardian or no.

7:05 am.

The sun was rising.

I go.

After spending the night on this godforsaken spire....

I jumped at 8:45 am toward the southeastern Column, the one on the way to the eastern edge of Hyrule Field. Seemed the safest.

There was a Guardian up there.

I landed on its head. It seemed to be dead.

The air was so much clearer down here. Am I.... Am I out of the Malice? I think I am.... No I’m still in it. Just down in the clearer air is all.

I could go anywhere from here.

I will.

But.... first.... remembering my clipping mishap through the northern Pillar.... I wondered if I could stand on this column.

Hop down from the Guardian....

I can.

....

Neat.

....

There wasn’t a lot of room or much to do.

....

....

I’m going to visit Benny.

....

Okay didn’t quite make it to Benny’s, but bent wide to the east to avoid the field Guardians. Killed the Hinox, got guts, sweet. Then to Benny’s.

Then the Stable was right there. Wetland Stable. Save Leekah, go to Stable. Blood Moon.

Hmmmmm....

Could go get Hinox guts again....

Think I’ll just sleep here at the Wetland Stable. It’s 1:00 in the morning, game time. Sleep until morning, yeah. I am half-dead.

Sleep. Get back hearts.

It’s raining in the morning.

****

Okay boot it up one more time before bed just to.... get my fix....

I watch all the memories I have in order. With Mom because she’s sweet.

And now.... things are beginning to make more sense to me, recalling it all in order.

We watched them all. Some of them I hadn’t even seen since the very first time I saw them. For I didn’t let myself go back very often, if ever. Even when I was first recording them.

Cinematics, viewed often, lose their charm after all.

But now seeing them all....

That was special.

....

But there is still that.... hole.... there, near the bottom of the list.

Between Despair and Hope.

What happened to me?

I feel like.... I might see Garill again soon.

I do like Garill.

I’ll find out.

Very soon.

The Princess and the King

Waking of Monday, April 22, 2019 ~ 3

The Princess and the King

I killed it. I killed the Flyer that had been circling the Princess’ adjoining tower. And a Turret that had targeted me from behind when I ventured out onto the bridge.

The memory was right there. I took a couple of pictographs, as I’d been doing at the site of every memory, but.... I didn’t recall it yet.

Instead I went across the way into.... Princess Zelda’s Study.

That’s what this tower was, was it?

There was a Silent Princess growing in here, springing up through the tumbled floorboards. I decided I would leave it alone.

And there was another diary—Princess Zelda’s research notes.

There were mentions of Impa, Purah, and Robbie, the discovery of the Sheikah Slate, and restoring functionality to it, and what it could do.... The Princess seemed particularly impressed that it could record images. Without the trained hand of an artist.

The research notes also mentioned the unearthing of the Guardians.... She said records indicated the Guardians were stored in five giant columns beneath the castle—[those things?]—But she said no matter how she looked, she could not locate these columns, and guessed they must have been buried deep.

Those giant columns.... I had seen a Guardian perched on top of one of them.... How were they even deployed? It must have been nightmarish.... All I could envision were Guardians spilling out the tops of those pillars like so many spiders.... and Castle Town.... wouldn’t have had a prayer.

I’d thought the mighty Pillars had aided somehow in containing Calamity Ganon, but.... maybe they were solely in Ganon’s power after all. They did glow red.... Maybe their massive presence and dark possession was the reason the Malice was so thick here to begin with....

In Zelda’s research notes again were recountings of the Champions mastering their Divine Beasts. Mipha had taken to it the fastest, heh....

And there was a passage regarding.... the Shrine of Resurrection.

I drew in a sharp breath when I read that.

She detailed its function and what it could do, but....

She hoped its power would not be needed.

....

When the time is right in the day, I will recall the memory.

But I fear this place.... It’s the wee hours now, but.... I have seen, every midnight, the air thickens....

Is every night a Blood Moon Night here?

Nice, this bridge. That Zelda should have a lovely walkway between her bedroom and her study. The views must have been glorious once. Now.... there’s just so much Malice....

I wait for the day to turn. I like to be in.... similar conditions. To the pictographs.

I climb the spire above her study—find a Korok!

Had to get on the far side so a Guardian wouldn’t see me from below. A decayed one, down on the circuiting road.

Oh the day is all dusk all day in this Malicious bluster....

The time is right. The ten o’clock hour in the morning and the shadows line up. I go back down onto the bridge.

Memory....

Zelda and I walked on the battlement in the sunlight, I in my same Blue Tunic and she in that beautiful long dress—wait no was it even the same one? But she was beautiful anyway, and—a Guardian! crawled on the grass down below, surrounded by attendant Sheikah tribesmen, seemingly leading it along.

Zelda leaned over the battlements and looked down on it.... fondly. And.... ughuh, it sent a squirm through my gut.

She was pleased that we’d come to a point where we could actually control them. But....

“What are you doing out here, Zelda?”

The voice was a man’s I hadn’t heard before. Deep, and gruff.

We turned.

The clothes were rich and exquisite. Guards flanked the doorway behind him.

It was....

King Rhoam.

I sank to one knee and bowed my head and did not move again.

But Zelda could only face him.

He.... tore into her.

He had told her to forget bothering with these ancient machines while she had an as yet unfulfilled duty to her kingdom!

She knew that—she knew—

She brought up that she and I had only just been to the Spring of Courage, where she had poured out every ounce of her prayers to the Goddess—

“And yet you are back here, wasting your time!” the King held it in her face.

Zelda pressed that she was doing everything she could—there was nothing else she could do!

But the King was a hard man and he wouldn’t have it. “You must be single-minded in your training...” he went on again.

I did not move.

“Do you know what the rumormongers are calling you? They are saying that you are heir to a throne of nothing. Nothing but failure.” Some—such—words—

The sting!

I.... could only draw my breath.

So harsh.

But could I blame him?

And could I blame her?

“But it is woven into your destiny to prove them wrong,” the King continued, and I sighed in gratitude at his grace.

But the King was still a hard man.

“As King, I forbid you to have anything more to do with these ancient machines. Do you understand?”

I had no power here.

And neither did the Princess, in the face of her father the King.

She was trapped.

“Yes,” she could only answer, while the Guradian only swiveled between its handlers down on the lawn....

The sound coming out of the memory was different this time.

I have all the memories now.

I have to go back to Impa.

....

And I need more arrows.

Privy Thoughts

Waking of Monday, April 22, 2019 ~ 2

Privy Thoughts

I looked around.

There was comfortable (albeit ruined) furniture, a bookshelf, a little dressing screen over on the other side—there was a chest behind it, but.... not yet—and.... the remains of what must have been a grandiose bed. But the upper canopy was collapsed down upon it. Wardrobe. More.... more furniture....

Was this.... Zelda’s room?

I read her diary.

The first entry:

After meeting with the Champions, I left

to research the ancient technology, but

nothing of note came of my research.

The return of Ganon looms—a dark force

taunting us from afar. I must learn all I

can about the relics so we can stop him.

If the fortune-teller’s prophecy is to be

believed, there isn’t much time left...

Fortune-teller?

Ah, but turning over these thoughts in

my head puts me ill at ease. I suppose

I should turn in for the night.

P.S. Tomorrow my father is assigning

HIM as my appointed knight...

Oh my gosh, she.... she hated me....

Next:

I set out for Goron City today to

make some adjustments to

Dvine Beast Vah Rudania.

I still recall feeling his eyes on me as I

walked ahead. The feeling stayed with

me so long, I grew anxious and weary.

I remembered that day! Walking along the little lake, what was its name?

It is the same feeling I’ve felt before in

his company... And still, not a word

passes his lips.

So I really am silent.

I never know what he’s thinking! [Oh, I must be infuriating!] It makes

my imagination run wild, guessing at

what he is thinking but will not say.

What does the boy chosen by the sword

that seals the darkness think of me?

Will I ever truly know?

She.... wanted to know what I thought of her?

Then, I suppose it’s simple. A daughter

of Hyrule’s royal family yet unable to

use sealing magic... He must despise me.

OHHHH NOOOOO no no no, Zelda, no!  D8  >__<  T__T Oh gosh I can’t—

Next:

I said something awful to him today...

Eh? What.... could that have been?

My research was going nowhere. I was

feeling depressed, and I had told him

repeatedly not to accompany me.

But he did anyway, as he always does,

and so I yelled at him without restraint.

Could that have been.... at the Ancient Pillars, in Tabantha?

He seemed confused by my anger. I feel

terribly guilty...and that guilt only makes

me more agitated than I was before.

Is she going to muse on all the memories I’ve recovered?

Next:

I am unsure how to put today’s events

into words. Words so often evade me

lately, and now more than ever.

He saved me. Without a thought for his

own life, he protected me from the

ruthless blades of the Yiga Clan.

I remember.

Though I’ve been cold to him all this

time...taking my selfish and childish

anger out on him at every turn...

No, but you were always so weighed down.... with something....

Still, he was there for me. I won’t ever

forget that. Tomorrow, I shall apologize

for all that has transpired between us.

And then...I will try talking to him.

To Link. It’s worth a shot.

She called me by my name!

Next:

Bit by bit, I’ve gotten Link to open up

to me. [Uh! What does she remember that I don’t?] It turns out he’s quite a glutton. [WHAT?]

He can’t resist a delicious meal!

When I finally got around to asking why

he’s so quiet all the time, I could tell it

was difficult for him to say. But he did.

What.... did I say?

What did I say?

With so much at stake, and so many eyes

upon him [hahh, truly], he feels it necessary to stay

strong and to silently bear any burden.

I can accept that.

A feeling I know all too well... For him,

it has caused him to stop outwardly

expressing his thoughts and feelings.

I wonder what I had been like before, then.

I always believed him to be simply a

gifted person who had never faced a

day of hardship. How wrong I was...

You’ll feed my ego with talk like that, Princess.

Everyone has struggles that go unseen

by the world... I was so absorbed with

my own problems, I failed to see his.

Well.... to be honest I didn’t think much of yours with all I’ve had on my plate lately. I only knew something had been weighing on you.... and I only wondered why....

I wish to talk with him more and to see

what lies beneath those calm waters [heh, calm?],

to hear him speak freely and openly...

And perhaps I, too, will be able to bare

my soul to him and share the demons

that have plagued me all these years.

I wished you had....

Next:

Father scolded me again today. He told

me I am to have nothing more to do with

researching ancient technology.

The basis of the plan? But I can’t judge a king....

He insisted that I focus instead on

training that will help me awaken

my sealing magic.

That’s hard.

I was so frustrated and ashamed I could

not even speak. I’ve been training since

I was a child, and yet...

Mother passed the year before my

training was to begin. In losing her,

I lost not just a mother, but a teacher.

Oh Zelda....

Mother used to smile and tell me,

“Zelda, my love, all will be well in

the end. You can do anything.”

But she was wrong. [No.] No matter how I try

or how much time passes...the sealing

power that is my birthright evades me.

What does it even mean to be born Hylian Royalty?

Tomorrow I journey with Link to the

Spring of Power to train. But this, too,

will end in failure. Such is my curse.

No, Zelda, you’re not cursed!

I wish I could reach back and tell her so....

Next:

I had a dream last night... In a place

consumed by darkness, a lone woman

gazed at me, haloed by blinding light.

Oh.... I do like hearing about dreams. Did you know that about me?

Go on.

I sensed she was...not of this world.

I don’t know if she was a fairy or a

goddess, but she was beautiful.

Tell me.

Her lips spoke urgently, but her voice

did not reach me. Would I have heard

her if my power was awoken?

Or was my dream simply a manifestation

of my fears? I am sure I will know the

answer soon, whether I wish to or not...

Don’t let it worry you. Only take what you can from it. But you should never let a dream worry you.

Next:

I turned 17 today. [I remember this too!] That means this is the

day I will finally be allowed to train at the

Spring of Wisdom.

I’m suddenly just so grateful and admiring that the Princess kept a journal.

When Link arrives, we will set out for

Mount Lanayru. The other Champions

will accompany us there.

Oh no.

Is it the memory I’m thinking of?

I have not seen my father since he last

scolded me. [Oh no.] Things are too strained

now... I will meet with him when I return.

Oh no, oh no.... no....

...

Actually...I’ve had a horrible feeling ever

since that weird dream. No one would

believe a failure of a princess, but...

What is it? What did you do?

Right now, for no particular reason, I am

filled with a strange and terrible certainty

that something awful is about to happen.

....That was the end.

She never said what she might have done about that feeling.

Did she see her father again?

I tried to remember King Rhoam, so far away and long ago on the Great Plateau.

Did they part well?

I don’t know.

And now I’m here in.... what may very well have been Zelda’s bedroom.

The sun was sinking in a fiery radiance, beautiful despite the Malice dripping through the air, it set the room with a golden light.

I’ve got to kill that Guardian up top.... the Flyer.

There is a memory up there....