Free to Love - A Zelda x Link Fanfiction

XXXII: Harboring Powers

Link's Perspective:

Purah didn't waste any time, placing the Shiekah Slate on one of the tables that had the tiniest bit of free room. She tapped on the screen nimbly, flipping through what looked like pages, leaning over the device. She pushed her glasses up her short sharp nose as she hummed a tune to herself, examining the ancient slate.

Zelda shifted her weight from foot to foot, unsure of what to do, finally crouching down to examine some of the papers on the floor. Her fingers passed over each paper quickly, before finally picking up the doodle I saw before. She giggled, pressing a hand to her mouth to quiet her laughs, before showing it to me. Upon further examination, it wasn't a Divine boogie but rather a Divine disco, complete with a neon disco ball.

"Can I keep this?" she asked, turning to Purah, who was still examining the device with a keen interest.

"Huh?" she said, blinking and glancing at Zelda. The princess took a slow step forever, showing the doodle, when Purah lunged forever. I genuinely wasn't prepared for the short scientist to jump up, setting one foot on the table then taking a running leap, to lunge at Zelda, small hands fumbling for the scratch paper and ending up landing, both feet planting heavily with a "oompf!"

"No!" She said, hugging the paper to her chest and circling around Zelda, who was standing wide-eyed, and marching adamantly back to the table. "Nope, this is, uh, very important scientific research! Very, very important. Research on the mechanics of the Divine Beasts and stuff, nothing that you should concern yourself with, rest assured."

Well, Purah was personal with her stuff. That was important to know.

"Whatever, on the other hand, I figured out what's wrong with the Slate," she continued, placing down the paper and replacing it with the device, which she presented to Zelda. "See these weird squares?" She swiped the page to reveal a picture with 4 squares, all of which were glitchy and odd. There were words clearly written to be there but the screen pixels ended up not revealing the picture.

"These are runes," Purah explained. "Basically, like, powers and now, if my basic investigation is correct, which it should be because I'm a genius, the Shiekah Slate can be powered with your power."

"W— What?" Zelda asked, blinking. She gently took the device from Purah's hands. The scientist turned briskly and began to examine a large shiny grey rock, protruding from the ceiling, that lurked above a pedestal.

"I think that the device was created for a previous reinacarnation of you," Purah continued, "or maybe even by you. The point is, Zeldy, you can charge that thing and probably use it to channel your power. Like how Urbosa can channel her power through that dumb-looking spider helmet thing, I don't remember whatever it's called. Anyways, if I can unlock those runes for you, you can probably use it to better understand your powers." She tapped away on the pedestal, finally dragging up what looked like a list. "With the runes you should be able to... uh — Oh! Freeze shit, blow up shit, freeze shit in time, and move around magnetic shit! Rad!"

Zelda blinked, obviously overwhelmed. She stared at the screen, rolling her finger across the screen. She didn't look up at as the scientist worked away on the pedestal but it was obvious she was scared. Her knees rattled slightly and I heard the quiet hitched of her breathes. I touched her elbow, smiling gently. She twitched at my touch but slowly settled to move her elbow into the palm of my hand, enjoying my quiet reassurance."

"Hey, lovebugs!" Purah called, waving her outstretched hand at Zelda, palm up, indicating she needed the Slate. "Stop considering getting nasty in my lab and give me the stupid Slate."

Zelda blanched at the comment, her knuckles turning white from gripping the edges of the screen so hard. "I—" she stammered, at an obvious loss for words. "I— We were considering nothing of the— the sort! I was... just l—lost in thought is all!"

"Uh-huh," Purah hummed sarcastically, raising a sharp pale eyebrow. "Whatever, just give me the Slate." Zelda glanced down at the Shiekah tech in her hand, reluctantly handing it to Purah. She shook the device in her hand, examining the base, then flipping up a small metallic plug on the pedestal, which she settled the slate onto.

She reached up and pressed the silver rock, did something I couldn't see and then something miraculous began to happen. The stone began to glow blue, faintly at first, then brighter. The light illuminated white letters on the flat surface of the rock, letters from a strange alphabet I had never seen before. Based on the look on the princess's face, she was as awestruck as I was. Purah just grinned smugly, pressing her glasses up in her nose.

The blue light started at the base of the rock, the end embedded in the ceiling, and began to fill out downwards, finally reaching the tip of the stone. When it reached, a blue drop began to form on the edge, finally dropping onto the center of the screen. The device flickered and sparked slightly, trembling on the plug for a moment, before laying still.

Purah pulled it up, turning it on. The screen reflected bright blue on her face as she tapped away, finally nodding and puckering her lips. She handed it to Zelda, who immediately began to swipe across the screen, examining for any damage.

"How is it?" Purah asked, smiling, putting a hand on her jutted hip. "What do you think?" Zelda didn't respond for a long moment, face buried into the screen.

She pulled the screen away, looking up at Purah. I immediately saw the scientist's face droop and pale slightly. Her eager smile twisted into a confused and concerned line. Zelda turned to grin at me and I saw why Purah was suddenly so worried.

"It worked," she commented and her glowing turquoise eyes flashed.

(Sorry for the late update, I had a lot of shit to do. I went to see some old family friends and then I visited my grandmother. Thanks for understanding!)