Princess Zelda turned and walked over to a book shelf, having to traverse the piles of books layed about the room. Her hand hesitantly ran across the book spines, searching for the right title. Once she had selected the book she was looking for, Zelda returned to Impa's side, and lay it down on a coffee table. Then she opened it to the precise page.
"Here you are, princess." Impa said, as she handed Zelda a small purple capsule without being told.
Zelda smiled, and nodded in thanks before breaking the capsule and pouring it's contents onto the page.
Link jumped slightly in surprise, and watched as the glimmering, lavender dust formed a sparkling cloud over the book. As it settled, certain particles within the cloud shone brighter than others, almost forming a picture, or message. But Link couldn't make heads or tails of what it was.
"This book is part of a collection of my grandfather's." Zelda explained, focusing on the sparkling particles. "To the unknowing eye, it is nothing more than a record of Hyrulean monarchy. But with a special dust called Fibber's Ash, the true contents are revealed. It is a secret technique created by the Sheikah tribe. Very few of us are able to read it, such as those with special abilities, or those educated in the forgotten shadow magic."
Link considered this. "So, can you teach me?" He wondered, squinting into the sparkles.
Zelda smiled, and shook her head. "There's no need. You should already know. Take a good look, but not with your eyes."
Link wasn't sure what she meant, but when he gazed into the cloud again, it wasn't necessarily something he could see. Something stirred deep within him, almost like he was about to remember a forgotten memory. Link broke his gaze from the bright spot, and suddenly, it felt as if someone had just told him something.
"I.. think I read it..." Link struggled. "Something about a task?"
Zelda smiled again. "Yes. This part tells of a task, within it, three trials must be completed." Zelda began scanning the dust. "'When a dark void grows from within the purity of the crown, he who bears the symbol of courage shall commit to the trials. The tablets tell all!'." She read aloud.
Suddenly, Zelda glanced at a candle set on an end table, and gasped. "There's not much time!" She cried. "The barrier won't hold forever, especially with this evil influence around. Link! There isn't much time for me to explain, but I can't stay in this castle. Sooner or later, my brother will find me, and if he does, he could use me to reveal the Regal Flame. We must escape!"
Alarmed by her urgency, Link hesitated, but asked,"Okay.. what can I do?"
"You and I will use the warp tile to travel to Lake Hylia, like I explained yesterday. I need you to protect me while we're out." She answered.
"But what about my comrades in the square?" Link asked, worried.
"I'm afraid you're not fit enough to finish off that stampede of blins." Impa told him sternly. "But don't worry, lad. I can handle that."
Link looked to Zelda questioningly. Zelda reassured him with a nod. "We can trust Impa to do this much."
Impa pulled her cloak from around her shoulders, and wrapped it around Zelda. "Please be safe, princess."
The two of them guided Link to the glowing blue tile they used to get to the library. "The princess will further explain our plan once you are safe." Impa promised Link. "Now, protect her with your life." Link bit his lip, then nodded in determination.
Once standing over the tile, A bright blue light began glowing all around Link and Zelda, until it blocked their view entirely. When it settled, and faded away, the place they stood was a different one: a small, dark room with a single beam of light streaming in from a stairway, and walls made of stone.
"This is a small, hideaway in Lake Hylia, long used by the loyal servants of my family in dire times," Zelda's soft voice echoed in the darkness.
She lit an Ember Seed, and placed it in a lamp. Then another. The room became lit, but dimly.
"Please allow me to explain what I've been able to gather." She said, sitting down on a dusty couch. Link leaned on a creaky end table.
"From the books I've studied in my grandfather's library, I've learned more about the Regal Flame. In a crisis, the flame and the sword of evil's bane together have to power to restore Hyrule altogether, that much we already know. But I've discovered that losing the Master Sword will lose balance, that is, the balance that bestows the power of the gods upon us. Meaning, both forces only are in tact when it is safe for the Triforce to be in our world, carried by those of us chosen. But should one or the other be lost, the Triforce will slip through our grasp, and return to the Sacred Realm."
"But wouldn't that make it safe?" Link asked.
Zelda sighed. "That's how it should be. But I believe our enemy is very clever. To manipulate my brother through his desire for power, I will become less likely to succeed my father if the Triforce of Wisdom leaves my heart. With that, Regis may gain the throne, along with the Regal Flame, and they will have the means necessary to open the way to the Triforce."
Link swallowed hard. "The odds don't sound likely that we can regain the upper hand after that..."
"That's why we need to recover the Master Sword before they find it, and do away with it's force. Link, I'm sorry to ask you this, but will you please find and acquire it?" Zelda looked at him through the dim light, and leaned toward him in a desperate gesture.
Link felt his face turn warm, and couldn't refuse her. He cleared his throat, then bowed his head, mostly to hide his face. "I promise I will loyally work for the good of Hyrule, and the Royal Family. And specifically, for you, Princess Zelda." Link immediately wondered what came over him.
Zelda smiled slightly, then stood, and took Link's hand in both of hers, in a gesture of thanks. "Thank you, Link! I know you can do it!"
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Ugh, okay, NOW we can begin the adventure <:D Also, I noticed I hadn't planned on any romance, which is strange, because I, like many others, am a big ZeLink supporter, so I'll see what I can do from here on out. So, thanks for reading! ^^
YOU ARE READING
The Legend of Zelda: The Regal Flame
AdventureThe Regal Flame was an everlasting mystical candlelight given to the the ruler of Hyrule. It seems some would go to great lengths to obtain it...
