Awakening [Oneshot, Plot]

[Link Queensguard]

How long has it been since you’ve last heard the calling of war, chosen of Hylia?

---

The battle was all around him, assaulting every sense he had in old, familiar ways. The din of the battle, the sight of steel cleaving through leather, the smell of viscera. The feeling of soreness, his shoulder burning from blocking the halberd, the copper taste of blood in his mouth. But he was still there, and still fine to fight. He had a moment’s breath, and as the incantation was finished, he felt things pop back into place, the healer’s charm removing his soreness, his minor injuries. Even the tooth that had been knocked loose and hastily put back in was fixed. But he could waste no more time. The charge of the Royal Family needed their commander.

He walked back to the front lines, slowly, where the archers were, keeping the Rogue Order’s defense of the Castle Wall left where they couldn’t peek out, but he could hear their battle-bards chanting, playing their drums, and knew they were planning something. This wasn’t a battle he could afford to lose, not this time. Drawing the Master Sword from its scabbard, the metal sang, a call that was met by the sounds of all the swords behind him drawn as well.

“FORWARD ADVANCE!”

He took off running as his people did, the sound of running and galloping only overshadowed by the cry of the final charge. Their archers ceased the volley, instead drawing other weapons of their own to join the assault. His sole focus was on precisely what Esme and the strategists had pointed out as the weak point of the defense: a wall, damaged by the initial siege, that would get them in the castle walls.

But then, the familiar whistling of arrows started again, this time from the other side. There were cries among his people, those who saw their death moments before them, but he was steeled. They had readied for this. From the cover of cloud, emerged a regiment of winged figures, the Rito given the sole task of protecting the Hero. Their wind magic knocked most the arrows away, scattering them in no man’s land, and the few that made it through were met with raised shields, including Link’s own. He couldn’t help but smile, as the plan had worked, and took a moment as he continued moving to look around. Soldiers to his every side, now dispersing to take their positions in the battle, the front line meeting the enemy, and-

No.

He knew that horse anywhere, as he had introduced its rider to it years ago, when he had taught the youngest of the Royal Family on horseback. Esme was in armor, her Sheikah guard keeping pace with her as she ran further into the chaos. Her bow was drawn, and arrow after arrow flew from her bow, but she was not meant to be here.

---

What destiny will you face, Hero? Do you have a chance for redemption?

---

He took off running in her direction, pushing through the front line 20 feet from where her guard began their assault, dancing from shadow to shadow, carving Esme a path. He met his enemies head on, bashing aside a spear on the front line, then driving the Master Sword through the wielder’s eye socket. His dance was precise, trained, but desperate. He could not disappoint Zelda again, his duty was to the Royal Family. A soldier of Majora on horseback rode up to him, brandishing a halberd, but fell before reaching him as a crossbow bolt painted his neck red, and Link took the moment his horse reared to knock the body from the saddle, hopping on the horse and pulling the reins. It was clear the rider spent no time with the beast, as it simply accepted its new rider, and he took off in a gallop towards the sight of the Princess, disappearing into a gap in the wall - one he’d used years before to sneak away with Zelda, nonetheless.

---

He thinks to defy our judgment, he thinks himself worthy. He is a fool.

---

His horse was left behind as he reached the wall, squeezing through the gap.

“ESME!”

No response but the din of battle behind him. Cursing, he moved through the gardens that hid his secret escape, looking for something that could guide him. And there, an arrow buried in the dirt, signs of an altercation. Small signs like this were a breadcrumb trail into the very castle the Princess called home, and he suddenly knew where she was going. Two guards met his path, only to become two corpses lying behind him as he ran. Then, more bodies, this time of Sheikah, and he knew the fate of some of her guard. She was in trouble.

The door splintered as kicked at it, the scene before him playing out in slow motion. Three guards, three crossbows, the Princess standing in her own room, unable to take all three down quick enough.

It’s too late to show such promise. Where you failed before, you will fail again to prove your Courage.

There was no thought in his action, no consideration for himself as he charged, hearing four bowstrings fire at once, and even as one man fell, and Esme reached for another arrow and drew it, it was too mate. But suddenly she found herself knocked to the side, and there was two thunks, and a cry out. One bolt, buried directly in the crest of Hyrule, and on buried in his shield shoulder. He bit his tongue to stifle the pain, but his gaze was level, his conviction steeling him, and as his hand held the Master Sword tighter, it began to glow.

---

IMPOSSIBLE. He does not hold our gift, he cannot have the Courage to-

---

Esme watched as the blade of the sword glowed a divine white, watched him cast his shield aside as his injured arm hung down, but he moved forward, moving the sword across his body as the guards reloaded, and still ten feet from them, slashed from left to right. There was a wave of energy from wall to wall, the sword firing off what energy had been stored in it, and a cry as the two guards were knocked back, dead before they could even finish leveling their weapons.

And all this time, Link knew he hadn’t been hearing clearly at all. It wasn’t the sound of battle that mattered, none of it should have affected him. As he planted the tip of the Master Sword to lean on it, panting in pain, he saw the royal mark on it glow, and he listened. He finally heard what his subconscious could in that battle.

“Master, I am finally with you again. You need not worry.”

There was an audible gasp as Link looked behind him, looking at what had been behind him this whole time, but only recently this physically. The spirit floated silently, looking down at him, and he looked closely, dropping the sword to reach a hand for her.

“Fi… That’s your name. You’re the one who spoke to me. You’re-”

“Yes, Master Link. You have awoken my power at its fullest once again. So long as you breathe, I will be by your side. Though my information on this emotion is incomplete, I once again feel… Happiness. But time is short. The act of staying here increases the probability that you and the Princess will die. We must make haste. I will guide us."

It took a quick moment, and Esme’s help, to remove the bolt from his arm, and a bandage stifling the wound, before he collected his sword and shield. Looking down at the sword, he saw what was once a white blade now was tinted blue, shining, and he could feel something familiar burning inside him. With newfound conviction, and alongside Esme and the long-lost sword spirit, he ran, knowing exactly where he was needed.

I’m coming, Zelda.

---

This- This is not possible! I stripped him of my very gift, and everyone in Hyrule like him. He doesn't wield my Triforce!

Sister, consider that may not entirely be true. We have seen those who have found the Shards, perhaps the hero possesses a piece of his former glory. That, and the presence of Hylia on her land again, maybe have caused a harmonic convergence.

Be as it may, it is not our place to interfere with mortal affairs, sisters. Long have we grown past that folly. Let this hero have his Courage, he will not succeed, as he did not last time.

…

…

…

Perhaps we were wrong about you after all, Hero. May Courage lead you down the path you were always meant, on abandon you in the inevitable end. I will be watching.