[audition #001] I Can Go The Distance.

[Konungr of Hyrule]

I will beat the ODDS
I CAN go the distance
I will FACE the world
Fearless, proud and STRONG
I will please the GODS
I can go the DISTANCE
Till I find my HERO's welcome
Right where I BELONG.

———

This wasn't how the legend was supposed to play out. Hyrule on the brink—factions brawling and killing over who would be the next ruler of this one magical and prestigious landscape. Races divided more than ever due to the scarcity of resources and once strongly bonded alliances faltering as surviving became increasingly more difficult each day cycle. And the once noble bloodline chosen by the Goddess of yore in shambles—a grim reminder on how far this country truly came in the face of extreme adversity. There was only one true person to blame for this lands current state. Him; the failed Hero who single-handedly ended the cycle of legend. He lacked the needed strength to put an end to the reincarnation of all things sinister and wicked—The Great Evil that plunged this country into the everlasting darkness those that remain today endure. Instead of a happy ending that will transcend the eons, this land was given a nightmare, and this bad dream was the furthest thing from coming to an end; none of them would ever wake up.

But the people of this divided and ravished land still maintained some level of hope. A group of lionhearted warriors managed to free he who has failed them all From his prison—his own everlasting nightmare that tormented him for what felt like an eternity. Four long years later and he hasn't changed in appearance a single ounce. However, what these brave heroes found wouldn't be the same man all those years back. They may have freed a Hero, but what they got was a coward who was broken, filled with guilt, filled with sorrow, and yet, in those big blue eyes of his, there was nothing...

Welcome home, Link. You're gonna' carry this weight, Hero.

———

A celebration for his return would be the last thing he wanted, but there was no talking them out of this fraudulent feast. Link was the guest of honor and he simply had to suck it up. He sat at the massive banquet table surrounded by faces he perceived as scary—perceived as judgmental souls that blamed him for everything. He was timid, on the edge; avoiding all eye contact as he remained at Zelda's side through the celebration. She was the only one who made him feel remotely at ease, but even then that was very little. Despite how he felt about his once beloved, he too found it impossible to look her in the eyes—she was merely just another face he perceived as another judgmental soul that blamed him for everything. But by being by her side, when the voices that taunted him became too much to bear, he knew he could count on her—their bond stronger than the taunting punishments of the Goddesses and his past selves; his past legends. Link took a deep and painful breath, reaching over to the Heiress of this land and gripped her kneecap tightly. He needed her help, but couldn't find the strength needed to muster the words; not with all these judgmental faces around.

The anxiety began to hit him like a ton of bricks. Link broke out into a cold sweat, beads of perspiration rolled down a flawless visage as he began to shake. "T-they hate me..." He whispered with a painful and dry tone. His throat began to burn as he attempted to hold back the tears. He felt as if all eyes were on him as his mind constantly replayed the endless torment received from the Goddesses. In an desperate attempt to block out everything, he closed his eyes and began muttering incoherent sentences. Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, and no one to count on. Link just went into his mind, curled into the fetal position and began apologizing out loud; sheer reflex. "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. Please... Just stop." His voice a notch below a whisper, Link slowly opened his eyes; anxiety stricken and on the verge of hyperventilating. Directly ahead, across the way, Link was face to face with a warriors shield. Shiny, glistening, a shield fitting for a true hero. He saw his reflection through the Hylian engravings and markings. What he saw triggered something deep within the spirit of the destroyed man. Link jumped up and quickly dismissed himself from the banquet table, knocking over various dishes and silverware in the process. What he saw was a man with no future; a man that couldn't even save himself. That single sight frightened him more than anything in this world. He was a disgrace to his namesake, and he knew it—they all knew it. He was freed from one hell only to endure a new one, why couldn't he just die... Again.

Zelda Hyrule !

[Zelda Hyrule]

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[attr="class","textie"]Four years of grief and desperation, shrouded by the pressure and humility that came with the ending of a god--the young queen was surrounded by those she loved, the people who followed her to her death, despite her lack of effort that lead to the aftermath of her exile from the throne. She spent the better part of the last few years searching for answers--anything that would lead to the rescue of her beloved, but the only answer seemed to be the collection of every single shard--wherever those may be. It seemed impossible, and many laughed in her face at her fruitless efforts, but she persevered. While she continued to find another way, she led forward the Heroes to search every crevice of the land, finding any kind of clues to where stray shards may be hidden.
[break]
[break]The shards were still few and far between for the guild, as they still had a long way to go before they could truly reunite the relic of the gods. It seemed to be the only way--for the Master Sword refused to lift for anyone it did not deem worthy to call its master, and with him trapped away, they were in a stand still, the doors of time sealed shut as the faint glow of the blade mocked the heir, being so close and able for release, and yet not allowing those who tried to take it to arms. She got lucky this time.
[break]
[break]And still, it was a secret she would take to the grave--a problem she would solve on her own, as the old woman had told her--and it needed to be true--the sacrifices she made would be reversible. For now, it was simply a waiting game, when the time was right. Still, the questions had blurred in her mind. So many people had asked her how she managed to enter. But she couldn't respond--at least--not truthfully. "It was the work of her divinity," she would say--and while that part was true, it was not whole. Entering the realm, and pulling Link from the torture was the easy part--but leading up to that had been nothing but pain, exhaustion, and patience.
[break]
[break]Truthfully, the whole process had haunted her. The pain left a ghost of its intensity latched to her brain, as she often awoke in a sweat, dreaming of her body twisting and her skin felt like flames to parchment--scattering across her body. The pain would vanish in an instance though, and it just seemed to be all in her head. The woman had mentioned she would experience a mental struggle for a bit of time, but it would pass. Now that she has been able to rest, and the hero has had his time to adjust to his environment, many of the the Heroes had insisted on throwing a feast in celebration.
[break]
[break]
Zelda sat at a large table with her allies, Link to her side as many cheered and talked among themselves in laughter. A day of rejoice, the young hylian decided to wear her hair down, accompanied by a crown of white and purple flowers. A lavender dress of silk had hugged her tiny frame, her hands gently rested on the table as she looked around, a tired gaze to those whose morale seemed to boost in the sight of the hero, she suddenly felt a tight grip on her leg, blinking several times as she snapped back to the reality of the room. She turned to the hero, who looked absolutely terrified.
[break]
[break]"What... what's wrong, Link?" she murmured slightly. He spoke of the room hating him, to which a had her concern had painted into deeper worry, her hand lightly clasping over the top of his own. "What do you mean..? No one hates you, everyone is so overjoyed that you're back!" she spoke just low enough for only him to hear, but it seemed to do no effort as he suddenly clasped into himself, taking to a position of fear in his chair as he began to whisper--stuttering words she could barely understand. "Link--Link, it's okay--"
[break]
[break]He suddenly had stood up, the table jerking slightly as the dish that rested in front of him shattered to the ground, to which she gasped and the room went silent. He quickly exited the hall, disappearing as the door closed, to which all confused faces turned to the princess. "I'm... I'm so sorry, please excuse us," she said, awe washing over her face as she removed herself from her seat and quickly followed after the young man. It was dark out, although the area was lit with torches, signalling the several stable buildings that were made use of, and she could see the form of the hero just beyond the shadows as she quickly followed after him. "Link--wait, please talk to me!" she shouted desperately to get his attention.

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[attr="class","tagsie"]Konungr of Hyrule

❤

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[Konungr of Hyrule]

He was broken into a million tiny pieces—his mental state akin to the nursery rhyme Humpty Dumpty. Sharing the same symbolic meaning behind the plummet the mighty egg sustained, Link too could not be pieced back together, regardless of how hard the heiress and her loyal subjects tried. This was a inner-turmoil Link had to face himself, a turmoil that required the Hero to face his own inner demons and failures head on with the vigor of a mighty lion. Time heals all wounds, both bodily and mentally—this was a fact Link should never take for granted. But, until it was time for this timid male to take back control over his life and fate, he'd continue to run—his nonstop hellish ride the furthest thing from being over.

Link followed the blazing torches in an desperate attempt to flee the crippling judgment he subjected himself too—judgement he made up and placed upon himself due to his own self-loath and disgust. He fled for his life, the calls of Zelda drowned out by the earsplitting taught's in his head. "Leave me alone..." He said in retort to the haunting voices of Din, Nayru, and Farore. Din's words scorched his flesh with intense heat, the disdain she had for the Failed Hero burn't hotter than the deepest magma pool of Death Mountain. Nayru's words were like a raging tsunami, drowning Link and sapping the very breath from his lungs. Farore simply rooted him, her words powerful and inducing crippling fear into the heart of the Failed Hero. She rooted him like how a tree roots itself deep within the earth. To be scorned and harassed by the very goddesses that gave you life; a purpose; a simple task... Truly devastating.

The Failed Hero took a sharp left, only to stop dead in his tracks with his mouth a gap—cerulean eyes dilated and shaking. Link found himself face to face with a massive tree, its appearance and grand stature easily telling one it was one of the oldest within this vast forest. He found himself in a miniature trace—his mind shifting to another realm; another time and dimension. Beside him floated an illuminating ball of energy with wings. While directly ahead of him stood a kingly tree, the wisdom practically radiating off the magnificent entity. The trance lasted for only a split second, Link faded in and out, his head on the verge of bursting like a grape. "Enough." He whispered, dropping to his knees and allowing both his hands to rest in his lap in balled fists that quivered; trembled.

"I can't do this, Zelda. It hurts too much. I-I don't have the will too carry on. Not like this; not knowing everyone hates me for my failure." Link spoke up as he heard the gentle footsteps of Zelda finally catching up. "What do I do? What can I do? How can I redeem myself? Please... I need help." That burning and tighten sensation in the back of his throat returned, he was still holding back the tears through it all. But like powerful waves crashing up against a flood bank, the levee was on the verge of breaking.

Zelda Hyrule !