[EDITING] The Legend of Zelda: Goddess of Secrecy

Overworld Chapter 12 - Royalty and Companions

...and to find where it had come from. He looked up at the red eyes of a tall, slender woman, much like Endeavor in figure, but this woman had gray hair, and was garbed in the regal blue of the Sheikah.

Link lowered his blade a little as the woman glared at him. Yore hovered overheaded.

"Sit down, you overprotective Guay. This is the Hero, not some cowering monster. Or are you as foolish as I thought your people were?"

The Sheikah returned, "Do not be a fool, Drex. The Sheikah do not have to hide to be able to practice what they believe in."

"Yet you fail to recognize your only hope."

"Link!"

Link looked up towards who had called his name. Suddenly, a young woman around his age was wrapped around his neck. He put his arms out to support her as her weight collided in greeting. She laughed, before dropping them both to the ground. She said, "It's so good to finally meet you in person."

Stepping back, the blonde girl went on, "I have to say, it took me a while to get use to the thought of the Hero being a nameless, but I suppose it doesn't really matter. The Hero's Spirit choses who Hyrule needs most, and I think we could use a good reminder about the nameless and the bad memory with that title. I still don't understand why my father brought it back."

More than a little confused, Link looked the girl over. She was dressed in regal travel clothes, a light purple top with light brown pants. A golden bow was hung over her back with a quiver full of golden arrows. Her belt was clasped with gold, as were her wristbands and the necklace around her neck that held the royal crest.

Link kicked himself for forgetting. He replied, "Thank you for that, your Highness."

Zelda laughed. "None of that. If you've gotten this far, then you've proved your worth ten of my father's best knights. And you're the Hero, so we can't get caught up in all that."

Rubbing the back of his neck, Link nodded. "Thank you...Zelda." That felt a little off still, but Zelda didn't seem like one to argue with.

"Good, now," Zelda said, "there's the matter here. I was trying to help you get into the temple once you caught up, but the Queen says that you couldn't get in anyways, the temple being underwater and all. You wouldn't be able to breathe down there.

"The good thing is the Zora have a way of getting you down there. They call it the Zora's Armor," Zelda went on. "It's designed to let you breathe underwater, indefinitely."

"That's great!" Link agreed. Zelda's enthusiasm was infectious.

"There's just...one problem..." Zelda said, tapping her fingers together. "The Zora's Armor is kept in the Royal Vault of the Zora, but...it seems that something has gone and gotten itself between the vault where they kept it..."

"I thought you said nothing was getting near you with that bow," Link asked, surprised at himself for the response. Not the best move for someone he'd just met to be sarcastic, much less the Princess of Hyrule.

Zelda put her Triforce in his face. "I've got the Triforce of Wisdom for a reason. Running straight into a small room defeats the purpose of a bow. It's not a matter of fear, Link, it's a matter of knowing my strengths. This thing is as big as the room, at least. I wouldn't stand a chance alone."

As Zelda pulled back her hand, Link murmured, "Right...excuse me, princess."

She grinned. "You're fine. But we need to get you that armor now. After all, we've got the deal with that Dark Lord, and you're not getting there without finding the Master Sword."

"It is not in Nayru's Temple."

"Well, of course it's not there," Zelda replied, laughing. "I would be able to tell you that. But I know where we could figure out where it is hidden."

There was a deeper voice suddenly, drawing both of their attention to Yore as he returned to follow Link, the Sheikah woman close behind. "Princess! Princess, are you alright?"

Zelda asked, "Daniel? Is that you?"

"Move, you are disturbing the link between Yore and I."

"I'm not going anywhere, it's my duty to protect her, and I need to know that she's safe."

"You are going to be tumbling in the river if you do not move!"

"How far are you from Zora's Domain?" Link asked, hoping to break the two up.

"It has been ten minutes since we last spoke, Link. We are still hours away."

Zelda leaned forward, exciting herself with the news she got to share. "We found a way for Link to get into Nayru's Temple! There's a set of armor that will let Link breathe underwater. It's in the Royal Vault being guarded by a minion of the Dark Lord."

"Do not consider pursuit until we join you."

"But by the time you get here, it could be too late," Zelda countered, no room for argument in her tone. "We're going in."

"Princess, don't leave that city. You've got no idea what these monsters can do."

"I'm not afraid of them, Daniel," Zelda retorted, folding her arms across her chest. "I'm tougher than you think."

"Princess," the Sheikah started, "it would be unwise to enter this without the Drex's knowledge of this region. Their people have vast swaths of knowledge that could aid us on the history of the armory and the monsters within."

"For once I concur with the Sheikah. Impa is correct."

Impa narrowed her eyes for a moment, before remembering she was talking through a bird and dropping it.

"Just, wait, Princess. It won't be that long."

Zelda's nose flared as she turned away, unhappy with the advisement. Impa went on to fill Daniel in on how she and Zelda had escaped. While they were talking, Zelda grabbed Link by the shoulder, and pulled him away from the throne room.

Once they were out of range of the Impa and Yore, Zelda said, "Come on, let's go."

"Go...into this vault?" Link asked.

"Where else? Come on!" Zelda replied, pulling Link on into the back of the upper cavern.

A huge, round, blue metal door stood in the back of the room. Link pulled on the round gear that held the door shut. The door swung open with a deep moan. Link winced, hoping no one heard it.

As they stood there looking down into the darkness that was the entrance of the Royal Vault, Link asked, "Why are you concerned with helping the Zora? It's not your duty." The Princess didn't fight in the stories.

"Why does it only need to be the Hero? Didn't you have friends help you get here?" Zelda asked. Link nodded his head. "Then why shouldn't I be able to help? They're my people and I'm a part of this story too."

"You are," Link replied, even if the titles they shared hadn't sunk in for him. She certainly had come to some conclusions.

Zelda said, "Exactly. Besides, if it hadn't been for the Zora, I would never have gotten this far up the river. I'd be stuck down the river, traveling by foot, if those last few Zora from Lake Hylia hadn't shown up with their canoes. They helped me outrun Zeal. I owe them their own safety. If that means fighting giant monsters, then that's what I'll do."

Pulling her bow from off her back, she asked, "Now, are you ready?" Link nodded again, not sure he could say no to the princess. For a couple reasons. Zelda didn't seem to notice. "Then let's go before they figure out where we've gone!"

Link drew his sword and shield, and together they walkedinto the dark chamber...