The Legend of Zelda: The Silent Princess

The Yiga Clan

I held the torch as we ventured inside the Yiga hideout. As Riju said, the place was vacant. We searched carefully, finding nothing to hint where they went. I didn't like it.

"This seems like a trap," I whispered as we continued to the main room.

"Perhaps but this is why I have you with me."

I smiled as we crept along the dirt floor and entered the last room before it led us to the big circular opening. The room was empty as well.

Link led the way into the opening. The wind howled above us. Again, there was no one to be seen. I watched as Link walked forward towards the gaping hole in the ground.

I waited from a safe distance, though I got the feeling he wanted to see what was down there. Unfortunately, I too wanted to explore the unknown despite the dangers that could be down there.

Link turned to face me again. When he did, his stance went defensive as he shouted out to me. Just in time, I hear the swish of a blade go past my head.

I quickly backed up to Link, pulling out my own sword. In front of us was a Yiga, wielding a sickle. At their feet were strands of my hair. My hand went immediately to my neck. When I pulled it back a spot of blood stained my fingers.

"Are you alright?" Link asked.

I nodded, "Yes, it won't kill me."

Then all around us, we heard the sound of Yiga popping up left and right. Archers floated in the air while the rest stood around us on the ground. Yet, none of them attacked besides the one that sliced at me.

"What do you want!" I demanded, shouting at the first one that appeared.

"Your doom!"

All at once, they attacked. Before I could do anything, Link grabbed my hand and jumped down inside the hole. I screamed, not expecting the drop.

I made my way through the air to get a better lock around Link. As we fell, the light from above vanished. We couldn't see hardly anything besides the Sheikah Slate on my hip and the glow of the Master Sword.

My body lurched as Link decided to pull out the glider. I took in deep breaths as we slowly floated down. Thankful there was a sign of the ground by the blue glow of one of the many keys that needed an orb to unlock a shrine.

We landed safely on the ground. I let go of Link and looked straight up. I could hardly see the opening at the top. To the side, light sparked.

Link held up another torched. He gave it to me. I took it with gratefulness. With the light, we could see more of our surroundings.

I walked forward a bit to see a huge ball off to the side. No doubt it was the same one summoned by Master Kohga. There was no sign of his body. Then again, the ball looked as if it had been moved. Very little could be seen outside of our circle of light.

"Where do you think we are?"

He held his own torch out, grabbing my hand, "Guess we'll find out."

We walked in the darkness but were stopped in our tracks as we reached a cliff. If we hadn't had our torch, we probably wouldn't have noticed the drop. Link shoved the end of his torch into the grayish dirt and pulled out a bow. He shot off a fire arrow, and we watched it sail endlessly through the air. The cave was much bigger than we originally thought.

I squeezed Link's hand, not ready to go spelunking, "Maybe we should take a break."

He guided me over to some rocks, set my torch near us, and sat down. As I caught my breath, Link pushed back some of my hair. He looked at the cut on my neck.

"Good, it isn't as deep as I thought," he sighed before pressing his climbing bandanna against my wound. Then he chuckled, "Though maybe it would be best to give you that haircut now."

I hemmed, "It will be like a new beginning, I guess. Plus it would be better to avoid getting my hair caught on anything else." I bit my lip, turning so my back faced him, "Would you do it?"

I heard him breathe nervously as he got out a small dagger. Then I felt a weight lift off my head. It never really occurred to me how much my hair weighed until then. I hadn't cut it since Mother died. I always thought it was because I wanted to have hair like Urbosa but maybe that's just what I told myself.

Slowly I turned around, feeling the back of my bare neck. That was when I noticed Link's face turned bright pink. I pressed my hand against his forehead.

"Are you feeling alright?"

He took my hand off his head and held it, "Yeah, it's just, it looks like the same haircut from when you were younger."

I smiled, "Guess that means you don't mind the change."

Link cleared his throat as he stood, "We should keep moving."

Picking up our torches we explored a different way, coming across an orange glowing light. As we drew closer, the light looked to be a large seed with roots surrounding it. Underneath the seed was an odd circular symbol. In the center of it was a hand shape. I lifted my hand up, but it was no way near close enough to touch it. Suddenly, Link lifted me up onto his shoulders.

I gasped as my hand shot through the symbol. Nothing happened. Link set me back down, and we both stared at the magical seal.

"Hm, this reminds me of the Zonai," I said before looking off into the darkness, "Do you think this place continues underneath the castle? It would explain how the Yiga Clan entered the palace walls."

"Zelda," he whispered, drawing my attention, "You don't think the Yiga wanted us to go down here, do you?"

I sighed, "I can't say. But the sooner we get the Divine Beasts working again, the better. For now, we'll use our house as a base of operations and meet with the new Champions there. I'm worried the castle was never safe to begin with."

Link nodded, "Agreed."

The depths! What fun. Vote, comment, and what do you think about Zelda's haircut?