The courage to find me - The fate of us: Part I

Chapter 12: About forgotten relics and ripped researchers

POV Zelda

"So, Z, when are we going to visit the Sacred Spring in the Faron Woods?" asks Purah while I watch a group of volunteers dismantling the Sheikah Tower in Hateno. "It's been two months since Fi guided you to do that. At some point, you'll need to stop postponing it."

I run a hand over my face, exasperated.

"Soon, Purah, soon," I say, slightly irritated.

"I understand it must be hard to go back to them, but I think the sooner you start learning more about..."

"Purah, enough. My powers have calmed down again, and I haven't had any problems since Gerudo."

It wasn't true: I woke up every day since then with that faint golden glow and my skin much hotter than usual. One of my sheets had a burnt hole where my right hand had been resting. But I live alone, and she doesn't need to know that.

"I understand the need, but I'm not ready yet."

Purah sighs, frustrated.

"What does Impa think about this?"

She knows I respect Impa's opinion a lot—and that's exactly why I'm avoiding talking to her. I don't need another person pressuring me to embark on this journey again.

"She thinks I should go when I feel ready," I lie.

"Liar. I talked to her a few days ago when I was in Kakariko. She also thinks it's essential for you to go as soon as possible."

I clench my fists as I feel irritation take over me in an instant.

"You two gossip about me behind my back?" I snap, sharply.

"When you're acting like a child? Yes!" she replies in the same tone.

"Oh, and you two are so much wiser and smarter than anyone, with all your life experience, huh," I say, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Go on, Purah, tell me what I need to do since I'm a child. Are you going to tell me to eat more vegetables too?"

People around us try to pretend they're not noticing the argument. Two young men walk past me, behind Purah, carrying the giant crystal that sat atop the Sheikah Tower. We still have no idea how it worked, but we know it could extract regional information and load it onto the Sheikah Slate map.

"I am TIRED, Purah! TIRED of having to take care of everything, TIRED of chasing after a power that first eludes me and then wants to overpower me, and most of all, TIRED OF EVERYONE TELLING ME WHAT TO DO," I shout, furious.

At that moment, the crystal the young men were carrying begins to glow a deep blue, as intense as sunlight, and moments later, it shatters into a million pieces that fly like shards.

A deadly silence falls over the village. Everyone who stopped to watch the scene stares at me, astonished. Frightened, I see that the people closest to the explosion suffered several small cuts. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries, but I still feel overwhelmed with guilt. I realize the crystal has been reduced to dust.

Purah looks at me with her arms crossed, her gaze full of frustration, as if I were a spoiled child throwing a tantrum. The shame I feel is suffocating; it paralyzes me, and I feel, yes, like I'm seven years old again. I want to run away, crying, hide under the bed, and wait for someone to clean up my mess and my image.

But I am the Princess of this place, and I am still earning the acceptance of the people. My original subjects died many decades ago, and this new generation is still skeptical about my capabilities as a ruler. I don't question their stance—I myself feel like I'm just pretending to know what I'm doing. The only reason people "accepted" me as Regent Princess was that the Sheikah and the Zora vouched for me and confirmed to hundreds of very confused people that I was indeed the same Zelda who disappeared over a hundred years ago.