Before the Wild

Subdued Ceremony

Six months later...

"We have started training the Champions who will pilot the Divine Beasts. It may sound rude and unexpected, but Mipha mastered the controls with surprising ease. Daruk struggled at first but eventually got the hang of it. Urbosa and Revali both managed just fine as well. I can finally see the light of hope in our fight against the Calamity."

Zelda set her research notes on bedroom desk, yawning as she reached over for a second book. This one was blank, given by her mother years ago to serve as a diary of sorts for the much younger princess. Zelda had never used it, but today was a much different day. She had a lot of things on her mind, and according to her father, writing it down helped clear the brain. He has a journal, so he must know something. She opened it and began writing down her thoughts.

"After meeting with the Champions, I left to research the ancient technology, but of note came of my research. The return of Ganon looms-a dark for taunting us from afar. I must learn all I can about the relics so we can stop him. If the fortune teller's prophecy is to be true, there isn't much time left. Ah, but turning over these thoughts in my head puts me ill at ease. I suppose I should turn in for the night." Zelda closed the book and headed to her bed just as a weak knock came to her door. Wondering just who would bother her at such a time, she rudely commanded, "Enter!"

In came her favorite Sheikah, Impa. The tall, dark-skinned woman didn't pass the threshold, instead, she just held the door wide enough for Zelda to see her. "Princess, happy to see you returned safely. But I'm not here for a casual visit."

"What is it, Impa?"

"The king requests, well, more like commands that you join the ceremony tomorrow afternoon to bless Link and his sword. He is to be your appointed knight.."

If Zelda wasn't tired, she could probably muster enough emotion to feel angry. She still hadn't gotten over Link and his ease at obtaining the sword that seals the darkness. Now she will have to see HIM and the sword every day. Thank you, father. Thank you.She sighed, nodding off as she returned to her desk. "Thank you, Impa. Good night."

"Good night, Princess." Impa closed the door, Zelda collapsing in her desk chair in rage. She had one more thing to write down in her diary.

"P.S. Tomorrow my father is assigning HIM as my appointed knight."

..........

Link

Link's childish dream was just mere moments from becoming a teenager's nightmare.

He stood in the center of the Sacred Grounds, watching as the royal procession came forth. The Champions had taken their place on Link's far left side, standing in the background. To his right were members of the Sheikah clan, namely Impa and two others he met today; Impa's older sister Purah and another named Robbie. He turned his gaze from them to the Champions, specifically Mipha, who encouraged him with a soft smile. He smiled in return, then turned back to the royalty, who had finally made it to the fountain.

Ever since he pulled the sword, Link had felt a daunting uncertainty about the task he would be expected to perform, and that feeling exponentially grew when King Rhoam pleaded to him that night months ago, Link could only think of him facing Calamity Ganon, what it will mean, what could happen, what will happen if he failed to defeat it, or more pressing, if the princess hadn't unlocked her power.

Is Link afraid? Hell yeah. But courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to overcome it, and if Link could overcome his father's training and the villainy of Groose, he could face the Great Calamity. His father would remind him that courage is the absence of fear, not the presence of recklessness, which Link does tend to do when he's trying to be bold and brave.