Upon receiving an urgent message from Revali, Princess Zelda wasted no time arriving at the Rito's village. As she stepped out of her carriage, she couldn't help but notice the unusual tension in the air. The usually composed Revali appeared to be seething with anger, his eyes narrowed and his jaw clenched. Even as Zelda herself approached him with a polite greeting, Revali's demeanor remained icy and hostile.
Despite his usual tolerance for a few snide remarks to Link, Revali seemed on the verge of exploding his Remarks, appearing harsher than usual. His frustration was so palpable that it spilled over towards Princess Zelda herself, though he quickly apologized for his outburst. It was clear that something was profoundly troubling Revali, and his agitation was beginning to affect those around him.
Upon reaching the summit of Rito Village, Zelda couldn't help but notice the uneasy glances from the locals towards her and her accompanying guard. The villagers, who were typically reserved and kept to themselves, seemed on edge and couldn't resist staring intently in their direction. The young lady couldn't help but feel a sense of discomfort at the sudden shift in the atmosphere around her.
"Excuse me, Revali. May I know the reason for your urgency? Is there something that requires my immediate attention? Perhaps it concerns the Divine Beast?" Zelda politely asked, leading them to a secure private chamber for the Princess's utmost protection and confidentiality.
"I humbly ask for your forgiveness, Your Highness, for the delay in my report. However, I come bearing vital information regarding the Divine Beast and the persistent intrusions plaguing the land of Hyrule," Revali spoke, his tone respectful and formal. Zelda's countenance grew grave as she braced herself to absorb the information. "Although I cannot vouch for the veracity of his claim, the intruder with raven-black hair introduced himself as Link, much like your esteemed knight," he said as he side-eyed Link.
Zelda's worry was palpable as she asked Revali, "Are you absolutely sure about this?"
Revali's gaze turned towards the imposing Divine Beast looming outside as he replied, "Without a doubt, Princess. The man stayed with us for a full two weeks before embarking towards Hebra Peak. During his stay, we had the opportunity to learn a great deal about his intentions and motivations."
Pausing momentarily, Revali's eyes narrowed as he added, "It was during his time in Hebra Peak that we uncovered even more crucial information. Information that could change everything."
Zelda asked with concern, "What do you mean by everything?" Her knights stood behind her, their weapons ready, listening closely to Rito's tale.
"May I humbly request your permission to start from the beginning, Your Highness?" he respectfully asked, gesturing towards the winding path leading to the awe-inspiring Divine Beast. Princess Zelda nodded regally, flanked by her loyal guards and two formidable Rito warriors. Together, they strode in contemplative silence towards the towering Vah Medoh until they stood in its imposing shadow. It was then that Revali finally spoke, his tone measured and deliberate.
"During his stay, Link - as he preferred to be addressed," Revali shared, looking at the knight beside her. "He graced us with his presence for a fortnight and procured many weapons from our inventory. Bows, arrows, and other armaments were among the things he purchased. We found it rather unusual, but we didn't dare question his motives as simple assistants." Revali stopped for a moment, choosing her words carefully. "He paid the entire sum upfront, and to our amazement, he even paid more. Our shopkeepers were astonished and tried to persuade him to return his surplus money, but he refused, claiming that it was his pleasure to do so."
Zelda asked him, "How much?"
Revali answered, "Far too much for what it's worth," as he gazed down at the village.
Zelda glanced over at the Divine Beast, which remained perched. "However, what relevance does this have to the Divine Beast?" she inquired.
"I do apologize for interrupting the story," Revali stated politely before continuing his tale. "During his stay in our village, the stranger made himself quite at home. He took the time to get to know many locals and even participated in our weekly target practice competitions alongside our warriors. I must admit that I grew fond of him during his two-week stay. He seemed to be a genuinely kind individual who was eager to learn about our way of life. He and I became quite familiar with one another during his stay. However, as time passed, I noticed a change in his behavior. He became more withdrawn and secretive, and I couldn't quite put my finger on what was causing this shift. Despite my closeness with him, I was completely unaware of the plan he had in store. Eventually, the day came when he was to leave our village. I accompanied him outside the village walls, where he retrieved his black stallion from the stable. Little did I know that this would not be the last time I saw him again." Revali said as he got angrier as he spoke of their bond that they had made.
Zelda inquired politely, "May I know if he shared with you where he was headed?"
"Indeed, he informed me that he intended to partake in shield surfing in the majestic mountains of Hebra. He politely declined despite my offer to send a few of my warriors with him for additional companionship and safety. As I bid him farewell, Medoh, my trusted Divine Beast, suddenly released a Roar and took flight. As the appointed champion, I had to follow promptly and took along as many warriors as possible to accompany me, leaving him to pursue his own agenda."
Revali stopped and appeared to regret his choice at that moment.
" Having flown for several hours towards the Tabantha Snowfield area, I realized that it would be best to devise a plan to evade the sensors of the Divine Beast. After careful consideration, I decided to have all my Warriors hide in the Pikida Stone Grove for two days, carefully observing the movements of the Divine Beast as it flew through the skies until it turned around towards Hebra Peak. With our cover still intact, we followed the Divine Beast and were surprised to discover that Link was at the very top of the mountain. As we prepared to investigate further, we watched as he jumped onto the Divine Beast's wing and disappeared inside. The Divine Beast began to ascend further up into the sky, and we attempted to follow as closely as possible. However, the weather conditions started to worsen, and it began to snow heavily, causing us to lose sight of the Divine Beast. We were forced to wait until the following day when the skies cleared to locate it again."
Zelda showed interest in the story and asked, "What happened next?"
"As soon as I became aware of the situation, I immediately approached my Divine Beast when it was in sight to ensure everything was in order. Upon my arrival, I found no one present, but I did take note of the last known coordinates and thought it best to venture towards them with my Warriors, just in case there was any cause for concern. They led us up to the skies above as we followed the coordinates. It was rather curious that we encountered no other individuals along the way, considering those were the last known coordinates of anyone inside the Divine Beast. However, we persisted, and as we reached a certain altitude, the Divine Beast suddenly refused to ascend further. We consequently disembarked and were met with the sight of floating islands surrounding us. The floating islands were a sight to behold. They were suspended mid-air, drifting aimlessly in the sky as if once detached from the earth below." Revali stated
"What do you mean by floating islands?!" exclaimed Zelda, her voice betraying her shock and disbelief as she followed him.
"Indeed, my princess," Revali replied with a respectful nod. "During our exploration, we encountered a series of floating islands that piqued our curiosity. As we ascended higher, our eyes beheld a wondrous sight: a cluster of ships suspended in mid-air, encircling a massive cloud formation that swirled with the most tempestuous winds and crackled with lightning bolts. It was a breathtaking spectacle, one that defies description. However, we deemed it alert to go on with vigilance and return to report our findings to our fellow adventurers. but before we could, the clouds dispersed all around, and this beastly thing appeared."
As he turned his Sheikah slate, Revali showed a photo he had taken of a creature with six wings and five eyes that appeared to be entirely made of ice. The picture depicted the creature as intimidating, with ice spears protruding from its back and belly.
As the Sheikah Slate was passed to her, Zelda couldn't help but gasp at the sight of the photograph. The image before her was a genuine monstrosity that caused shock and even a slight feeling of terror to course through her. With a trembling hand, she passed the Sheikah Slate back to its owner and asked hushedly, "What is this?"
"I'm not completely certain, but I'll share with you another discovery I made once I'm finished. I apologize, Your Highness," Revali said, bowing.
"There's no need to apologize, please proceed," Zelda replied, sounding concerned.
"Allow me to share with you the recent events that have transpired. Our team had noticed that a menacing monster was approaching Rito Village, and we had prepared to engage in combat. However, we were then taken aback when we observed Link descending from the sky, fully equipped with weapons and ready to confront the beast. Despite his best efforts, the monster remained unresponsive to his tactics and continued its path towards the village. Alongside Link, we noticed the presence of a companion who appeared to be the one that took control of the Divine Beast before and was identified as the offspring of the Young Rito."
This revelation came as a surprise to Zelda upon hearing of it. "A Child?" she asked him in shock.
"Yes, sadly, I couldn't identify who the child was. He didn't seem to be a child from Rito Village. However, I am researching the Rito people who don't reside in Rito Village. I am trying to determine if he is someone's son," Revali explained as he showed Zelda a photo of the young Rito.
Zelda picked up the device and examined Rito's face. She scrolled through the pictures and came across a photo of a man named Link, whom she believed was the mysterious figure from earlier. She realized she could ask Revali a question that he had already answered.
"That's him, Princess Zelda," Revali confirmed when he saw the image of a man with long black hair, a mask covering his mouth, and a muscular body wearing the Rito's Hylian clothing designed to keep him warm in the frigid Hebra climate.
"Does he look familiar to you?" Zelda asked Link in a strict tone as she turned the Slate towards him. After examining it for a few seconds, he shook his head, indicating that he didn't recognize the person in the image.
"Subsequently, I became involved in the fierce battle with numerous other Warriors. However, the ferocious creature persisted in its descent towards the village, causing great concern amongst us. That man, Link, proved instrumental in preventing this Calamity from fruition. Meanwhile, I descended to retrieve Vah Medoh. Still, it required considerable time to increase its altitude limitation so that it could join the conflict without endangering any lives. Finally, the beast was vanquished when Medoh seized hold of its body. That man, skillfully targeting its vulnerable spots with his arrows, shot the final blow along with his companion. Suddenly vanished into thin air, accompanied by the Young Rito."
"This sounds interesting," Zelda nodded in agreement as she gazed at the picture of the man.
"However, the problem at hand concerns the Divine Beast. I have called upon you to assist my Princess." Revali spoke as, Without hesitation, he began tapping on the control panel for the Divine Beast, causing everyone to stare at him in anticipation. Suddenly, the walls surrounding them began to shift and morph. Zelda's guards protected her, with Link positioned directly in front of her as an added precaution. After a few moments, Link's face lit up with recognition - the shifting walls were reminiscent of his experience in Vah Naboris.
As the wall ceased its movements and unveiled a pathway leading to the head of the Divine Beast, he had an epiphany. This was yet another one of those concealed chambers he had encountered at Naboris.
As Zelda stepped into the narrow hallway, she couldn't help but feel a sense of surprise wash over her. Her eyes immediately focused on the bright blue orb that shone brilliantly in the center of the space, captivating her attention completely. With Revali by her side, she took a slow and measured approach towards the orb, her curiosity getting the best of her. As they moved deeper into the room, she couldn't help but notice the various items scattered throughout the space. Despite the room's small size, it was spacious enough to accommodate everyone comfortably, and the eclectic mix of objects made it an intriguing and fascinating place to explore.
Upon entering the room, one's attention would immediately be drawn to the far left corner, where a wall of books stands.
However, their appearance hints at neglect, as they are covered in a thick layer of dust. A control panel similar to the one on the main ship but more advanced can be seen to the far right. The room's centerpiece is a power source, which may very well be the energy source for the entire Divine Beast, though nothing is certain. A grand statue of a Rito warrior stands at the back of the room, overseeing everything. The Rito warrior's head is adorned with a mask resembling the Divine Beast they are currently inside, but it appears to be far older.
Zelda found herself irresistibly drawn into the room, eager to explore beyond the dusty old books of the castle's library. The vast wealth of knowledge at her fingertips was exhilarating, and she eagerly perused almost every book in the room. As she made her way towards the back, she saw the statue of the Rito and approached it with curiosity. Though she picked up a bit of dust along the way, she quickly brushed it off and continued her exploration.
"Upon completing the battle, I returned Vah Medoh to its rightful perch. As I reviewed past commands logged by the intruders, I inadvertently stumbled upon a concealed room. With great care, I scoured through every file, control panel, and book, and to my surprise, I uncovered a treasure trove of valuable information. Specifically, I happened upon old battle plans and patrol routes for the Divine Beast, as well as a comprehensive catalog of historic attack strategies and significant locations. However, I did notice that some of the entries appeared to have been tampered with or erased, which made me wonder what other secrets might be lurking within the shadows. and that is when i called for you to come here Princess," Revali stated in a confident tone.
"Wow, this is incredible... I can't believe we didn't find any of this before," she exclaimed, taking in her surroundings. She approached the control panel and examined the files closely, confirming Revali's suspicions. A significant number of the files had been altered or deleted. After further research, she discovered that the most recent activity had occurred just a week before the attack.
The person using Link's name had discovered an area of the Divine Beast that even the protagonist and her team were unaware of. This made her wonder how they found it. Additionally, their erasing of files sparked curiosity about what they were trying to conceal. Zelda also observed multiple indentations in the dust, and the library confirmed that books were missing.
As she pondered over the man, her curiosity got the best of her, and she slowly approached the peculiar statue she had been looking at. At first glance, it seemed like any ordinary sculpture, but as she stared at it, she felt a strange familiarity. Unable to resist the urge to investigate further, she approached the statue and examined it intently. Then, she noticed an intricate engraving at the figure's base, where it stood proudly on its pedestal.
' A Tear for a Tear
May the Golden Dragon sacrifice and not go in vain
For our wings will continue to protect this Kingdom from the skies.'
Zelda couldn't help but ponder over the mysterious statue. Lost in thought, she slowly raised her hand towards it, wanting to touch its surface. However, an unexplainable sensation coursed through her body as she was about to make contact. Despite the odd feeling, she continued and attempted to reach the statue again.
Suddenly, when her hand made contact, a brilliant light emanated from her palm. Zelda gasped in amazement, recoiling in shock as her guards and the Rito warriors swiftly rushed to her side in alarm. Nevertheless, the radiant glow from her hand dissipated as quickly as it had appeared, leaving everyone present confused and bewildered.
A loud roar reverberated throughout the Kingdom as she was about to ask what had happened. Everyone froze and rushed towards one of the windows outside the room to see what was happening. To their surprise, they saw a dragon flying in the sky.
It wasn't just any dragon but a mysterious one that appeared out of nowhere, heading straight towards Hyrule Castle several months ago. They all froze in fear as the dragon came closer to them. The dragon didn't attack last time, but what if this time it did. It was the only one that showed hostility towards the Hylians. They saw Rito warriors getting ready to battle from outside as they took to the air.
Zelda's voice rang out with urgency, "Stop them! We cannot allow them to get any closer to the dragon." Reacting swiftly as she got a feeling, Revali issued orders to his warriors, instructing them to retreat. All eyes were fixed on the magnificent creature as it let out yet another resounding roar and gracefully soared higher into the vast expanse of the sky.
Accompanied by her loyal guards, the regal Zelda gracefully disembarked from the Divine Beast. She gazed upon the magnificent dragon as it majestically ascended higher and higher into the boundless azure sky. They watched in awe and wonder as the dragon gradually dwindled in size until it was barely discernible in the distance. Its elusive flight path seemed to be directed towards the west, but it abruptly vanished from view as it disappeared into the thick, billowy clouds overhead.
Zelda gazed upwards with awe and confusion at the dragon's sudden proximity. She couldn't help but ponder why this magnificent creature had chosen to descend from its usual heights and venture so close to the ground after all this time. The unfamiliarity of the situation left her with a sense of uncertainty and curiosity.
------
While surveying the vicinity of the Gerudo desert, Vah Naboris, the legendary Divine Beast, generates bolts of lightning that electrify the earth beneath its massive feet. Urbosa, the esteemed Gerudo chieftain, gazes at the majestic creature, which dutifully obeys her orders to scout the desert perimeter and keep watchful eyes on any potential threats, such as the notorious Yiga clan or any ferocious monsters lurking in the shadows.
After examining the chamber Link discovered in Vah Naboris, she found it intriguing.
During her exploration of the beast's hidden room, she came across a plethora of battle plans and books that were once utilized by the ancient Gerudo Warriors. Along with these intriguing artifacts, she discovered several missing items, pointing toward recent theft. This was common among the other Champions who had explored their Divine Beasts and uncovered hidden chambers.
Upon entering the room, she quickly scanned her surroundings and noticed several empty artifact stands. Her suspicions were confirmed when she realized that only a few books and files remained, indicating that the thief had taken the missing items. Despite this setback, she was relieved that the library closely resembled the one Zelda and the Champions described. At the back of the room stood a magnificent statue of their people, and upon closer inspection, a control panel was revealed to be discreetly mounted on one of the walls and the library on the other wall.
As she wandered through the room, her eyes fell upon the weathered statue of a fierce Garuda warrior woman. The statue was adorned with weaponry and appeared poised for battle, while the accompanying mask bore a remarkable similarity to Vah Naboris's. While the other Champions' legacies aimed to benefit the Kingdom, this statue carried a foreboding message that left her uneasy.
'Tear for a tear.
May the Golden Dragon forgive us for our transgressions and sins against Hyrule
With this, we pledge our loyalty to the royal family of Hyrule.'
Upon reading the statement, Urbosa felt compelled to return home and investigate further. She was left pondering the reasoning behind her ancestors making such a claim and was determined to unravel the mystery. Her quest for knowledge led her to revisit her private library in the grand throne room. She meticulously examined every book she had collected, leaving no stone unturned in her pursuit of answers.
She confirmed her suspicions that ancient history had been lost over time while examining a book in her private library. However, the book paled compared to those in the Divine Beast's secret room.
The books she read narrated a story that almost resembled a fairy tale about a Gerudo King who turned evil. Moreover, these books emphasized the importance of loyalty to the Hyrule Royal Crown for future Gerudo chief women. Other books talked about maintaining peace between Gerudo and Hyrulians at all costs. Although she couldn't understand why her ancestors were fixated on allegiance to the Hyrule Crown, she never challenged it. After all, she had friends who were members of the Royal Family.
She has come across some books describing an ancient period predating the creation of the Divine beasts, which changes everything from her point of view.
The vast collection of literary works contains volumes that recount the fascinating story of the renowned and mighty Gerudo King. As per the accounts, this revered figure was believed to be reborn every century without fail. The pages within these books describe numerous instances where the King acted in the best interests of his people. However, a chapter in the King's saga shows a dramatic turn of events. It is said that a devastating war consumed the Gerudo Kingdom during a particular era and led the King down a path of darkness. In his bid for power, he sought to conquer the Hyrule Kingdom. Nevertheless, his efforts were thwarted by the courageous Garuda women who stood firmly against him. Despite the King's formidable might, their bravery and unwavering resolve ensured he would never achieve his goal.
As she read, she discovered that her distant ancestor had held a leadership position amongst the women who stood up against the King and ultimately exiled him. However, since this event occurred in a time preceding the emergence of the Divine Beast, further investigation was required to fully comprehend the details and intricacies of the story.
Among the plethora of books that talked about the life of the King, there was one that piqued her interest more than the rest. It described how the King was deceived by his own people, leaving him with only a handful of faithful followers. These loyalists and the King vanished into obscurity, only to reappear more than a century later as the Yiga clan, now residing in the Canyons of the Gerudo desert under that new identity.
While reading, she discovered numerous musical notes that had the power to control specific monsters. Upon further investigation, she came across books that explained how to train Moldugas to obey commands simply by playing a single note of music.
While extensively exploring the Gerudo books, she stumbled upon many exciting discoveries that piqued her curiosity. One that stood out was the ancient maps she came across, which depicted grand and intricate structures now buried beneath the sands of time. Amongst these maps, one caught her eye in particular - a temple with peculiar and mysterious passages. She was determined to uncover its location and spent countless hours wandering the unforgiving desert in search of it but to no avail. Despite her tireless efforts, she remained empty-handed each time she returned from her quest, leading her to conclude that, most likely, time had done its job at coving its tracks, and the building was no more.
While attempting to gain insight into the Ancient King, Urbosa became distracted by her own people's rich history. In her research, she uncovered that her ancestors held a deep gratitude towards the Hyrule King of their time for accepting them despite the wrongdoings of their own King. This newfound information piqued her curiosity regarding the actions taken by the King that led to the betrayal of the Garudo woman.
The Gerudo people were known for their unwavering loyalty, but defying their King was unheard of, particularly during the period in question. Although she was curious to learn more, the historical texts indicated that the King had lived many centuries ago, and no other monarch had claimed the throne since his reign. Thus, the line of kings had come to an end with him.
Once more, she gazed out at Naboris and pondered what other secrets her Divine Beast held. As Naboris strode forward, she couldn't help but fixate on the spot where the chamber had been concealed. She couldn't shake the thought: Was that mysterious girl to blame for all the chaos unfolding? The girl had materialized out of nowhere, and now everything was in disarray. Could she indeed be at fault?
Urbosa's mind was consumed with worry as she pondered the reason for the sudden strange happenings. Was it an indication of the impending return of the dreaded Calamity? Were they all in grave danger? It appeared as if a forgotten and dark past was resurfacing, causing immense unease and distress throughout the whole Kingdom. Urbosa understood that she couldn't afford to be complacent; she had to remain vigilant and prepare herself for any unforeseen circumstances that may come their way.
Notes:
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