Returning Home (BoTW x Reader)

Chapter Three

By the time we reached the Dueling Peaks, the sun was setting. I sigh in relief as I see the glow from the stable just up ahead. Link wanted to swim across the lake to get the shrine, but I told him we could do it tomorrow.

My legs hurt from how far we had to walk, and the last thing I wanted to do was swim. Not to mention, we'd have to climb up to get to the shrine, as it was on a small natural platform.

I lean against the counter when we reach the stable, eyes nearly closing. The man looks at me before directing his attention to Link, smiling.

"How may we help you today?" He asked. Link looked at me, shifting his weight uncomfortably.

"We would like two regular beds, please." I yawn. I fish through my pockets, pulling out the purple rupee we had found in a previous shrine while we made our way over.

"That will be forty rupees." The man says. I place the rupee on the counter, and the man gives me back my change. I place it in my pocket, before walking to an open bed and flinging myself onto it.

I groan as I kick my boots off, feet immediately feeling less pained. I throw the blanket on over my body and quickly fall asleep.

~~~

I whine as I'm shaken awake, rolling over to try and avoid waking up. I was having such a nice dream, I didn't want to wake up. The shaking grows rougher, and I slowly sit up, eyes still sealed with sleep.

"I don't have school today, mom." I groan. It's only silent, so I force my eyes open with a yawn. I look at the blurry blond figure, squinting to try and make out who it is.

"We have to go to Kakariko." The blond said. My eyes widen, and I'm struck by the realization I'm not, in fact, dreaming.

I kick my legs over the edge of the bed, strapping my boots back on in a daze. As we leave the stable, my mind wraps around the situation, and I nearly scream. I manage to stop myself before I do and play it off.

"So, did you have a good sleep?" I ask. Link nods, smiling at me as he asks how my sleep was. I shrug, before explaining I thought yesterday was a dream.

"Honestly, so did I. I guess being asleep for a hundred years makes the whole waking up process a little weird. I can't even remember what had happened before I fell asleep. Everything before waking up is just... Missing."

I nod in response, feeling similar. I remember what had happened after I got into the game, but I don't remember much before I first played the game. I thought it odd.

"Are you excited, though? To just... To just travel the regions, and meet all kinds of people and species. Gosh, I'm super excited to meet the Rito! And the Gorons, and the Zora and the Gerudo! I want to meet them all. I can't wait." I sigh happily, thinking of all the races. God, it would be a dream to meet some characters, especially the champions.

I smile at the thought, of meeting and conversing with them. How fun it would have been to live in the world when they were alive, to see how they interacted with each other on a normal day. It would be pure bliss just to meet them, much less do all that.

"Yeah, it would be pretty cool. Though, how do you know all the different races? I hardly know them." Link exclaimed,  looking at me questionably. My eyes widen a fraction, and I swear I start to sweat.

"I... Don't know." I lie, furrowing my eyebrows. "I guess... They just seemed so familiar to me, they just slipped off my tongue." I explain, hoping he bought the lie. He hums and nods.

"I guess that makes sense. There is a familiarity to them." He responded. I sigh out silently, glad he didn't question further. Suddenly, I remember the shrine at the stable, and the one just a bit further back.

"Hey, did you ever do those shrines?" I ask. Link looks at me and nods, rifling his hand through his trouser pocket before showing me a fabric. I recognize it as the climber's bandana. It makes me wonder if the outfits would still have their power-ups.

"That looks cool." I comment, grinning. He smiles back before placing it back in his pocket. Will he carry everything in his pocket? Dear Lord, what would the inventory be like in real life. This is the biggest question yet.

My head perks up at the sound of a cry. I look up, smiling widely as I catch sight of the large Korok, Hestu. It makes my eyebrows furrow quickly after, however, when I remember not everyone can see the Koroks. Guess I'm special.

"Looks like he needs help." I quietly mention to Link, nodding in the direction of the large Korok. Link nods and we quickly make our way to him.

"Do you need any help? You look troubled." I offer as we stand in front of Hestu. He jumps, peering down at us.

"You can see me?!" He exclaims. We both nod, which only seems to excite him. "Oh! My maracas have been stolen by some pig-like creatures." He cried. I frown, looking to the area the Bokoblins are.

"We can get them back for you." Link mentions. I grin and nod in agreement.

"Really?! Oh, thank you!" Hestu cried. He bids us good luck as we walk to the opening. I stop Link before he walks in.

"We don't have any good weapons and there are three of them. Follow my lead." I instruct. He does as asked, following me as I climb up the rock wall, looking down at the monsters.

"So, what's the plan now?" Link asks, obviously confused. I point to his Shiekah Slate, pulling mt own out. I wonder if I had any runes.

Turn out I don't, but that doesn't stop Link. He clicks on the remote bomb, a glowing blue orb appearing in his hands. He chucks it to the center of the area, quickly catching the attention of the bokoblins. They grew near, looking at it curiously.

"Now." I whisper. The bomb explodes with a click of the picture. Two of the bokoblins die, having been red. The other is a blue. I pull Link down as it looks around. We don't need it seeing us. It grunts and returns to its original spot. While it isn't the brightest, that's great for us.

Link does the process again, this time killing the final monster. I grin and hop down, grabbing a spear. I always preferred using them in the game, as they gave distance from the enemy. Of course, I'd only use them if I couldn't use the Master Sword.

I climb up to the chest as Link jumps down from the ledge, picking up weapons and the shield. I pull the maracas out of the chest, grinning widely. I would have shaken them, but they don't have any beads in them.

"Alright, time to return these babies." I whistle, marching back to Hestu with Link following me quietly.

"Here ya go, bud." I smile, handing over the maracas. Hesty gasps happily, grabbing them.

"If only I had seeds." He whines. I feel bad, but he'll definitely get them. I know most of the locations of the Koroks, but it's fairly easy to find anyway.

"Alright, we should head off, now." Link grunts. I nod in agreement, turning to continue up the winding path.

"That guy's adorable." I note, hands in my pockets.

"Adorably painful. He's kinda annoying." Link responds. I gasp loudly, looking at him in shock.

"That's so rude to say!" I yell, lightly slapping Link's arm.

"Hey- Ouch! Stop that!" He shouts, swatting at me in return. I smile at him as I stop. He sighs but smiles back, rolling his eyes.