Chasing Magic (A Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Fanfiction)

8 - Link: Akkala Tech Lab

Though Link could've easily headed towards another Divine Beast that was nearby, according to his Sheikah Slate, he didn't feel quite ready to tackle another one just yet. Instead, after he'd registered the newly tamed, breath-taking white stallion, he headed back the way he'd come from, east. In fact, he'd even gone all the way back to Kakariko Village, wanting to speak to Impa and update her on the memories he'd regained.

The old Sheikah woman decided, after hearing what he had to say, to return a piece of garment that had belonged to him a century ago: his sky blue Champion's tunic and a pair of fingerless leather gloves.

Wearing it made Link feel like he was finally beginning to fall into the role he had to play, and the hero he used to be all those years ago. Wearing it brought him pride and fueled him with courage.

He was determined to save Hyrule from the Calamity's grasp.

After saying his goodbyes to Impa and the bashful Paya, Link headed into the Akkala region, his goal being the Akkala tech lab, which had been brought to his knowledge by Purah, the director of the research lab in Hateno Village. While Purah specialized in Sheikah Slate upgrades — and goddesses knew what else — the director of the Akkala tech lab, he was told, specialized in crafting gear and weapons using Ancient parts — gear and weapons that could prove to be very useful in aiding him against Guardians.

Upon reaching the somewhat familiar building — it wasn't too different from Purah's lab — the director he found inside, who called himself "Doctor Robbie," was just as odd as Hateno's, if not more.

However, one particularly outrageous request had him feeling somewhat peeved, and even violated, in a way.

"If you truly are the legendary hero, you must have the scars to prove it, right? If you show me the damage your body suffered 100 years ago, I'll have no choice but to believe you!"

Link blinked. "You... want me to strip?"

"Robbie." Jerrin, his wife, stepped forward, placing her hand on his shoulder. "Is this really necessary?"

"It is! If he doesn't have the same scars, then all of Hyrule is still doomed! The Princess will be doomed, too, if he's merely jesting... her fight with Ganon in Hyrule Castle, alone, will have been for naught..."

Link's eyes hardened at that. "My scars will be enough proof, you say."

Before either could get a word in, his hands reached for the hem of his undershirt and Champion's tunic — how that didn't prove his identity was beyond him — and lifted them up and over his head, discarding them to the side in one swift motion, leaving his chest out on display — and with it, the multitude of scars he'd gathered from being roughed up during many, many battles.

Both Robbie and Jerrin stood before him with gaping jaws, until Robbie shook his head and stepped forward. With his hands on his hips, Link silently allowed the director to inspect him, all the while keeping himself from glaring at the old man for shamelessly provoking him into complying.

"Well now... yes! The number of scars you have there is quite an unlikely sight. They're just as I remember... they line up with the wounds inflicted on you during your fight against the calamity!" Robbie nodded as he backed off. "I've seen all I needed to see, then — I acknowledge you as the Hylian Champion and the hero of Hyrule, Link!"

He refrained himself from rolling his eyes while Jerrin said, "Please don't mind my husband; he's in many ways clever, but he can get a little carried away with... investigating." She shot her husband a look. "Don't you have something to say to him?"

"Ah, right! If you aren't already aware, this is—"

"Not that, you old fart!"

After the bickering was finally out of the way, Link was informed that "Cherry" — the furnace, which Jerrin wasn't very fond of her husband referring to as Cherry — needed a blue flame to be functional again, similar to what he'd done back in Hateno Village. More than willing to remove himself from the situation, Link offered to bring them the flame.