Fan Fiction Friday: The Era Without A Hero – Part 28

|| Part Twenty-Seven || Part Twenty-Nine ||

Part Twenty-Eight

The boy sat calmly in Ribura’s chamber. Calmer than this mysterious figure expected him to, quite honestly.

“And you feel no guilt about performing this task?”

The boy shook his head, “If it would lead to justice for my mother, I would perform what you ask a thousand times over.”

“Good,” the man smiled under his cloak. “You will need a new name… One that the Hylians will not connect with your previous crimes or mother.”

“No. Let them know me. I want it to bring fear into their hearts and minds.”

“And in time it will, but we mustn’t proceed with childish emotion and ambition driving us like cattle. We must proceed with care and patience.”

The boy remained still.

“A legion of Hyrulean Knights will arrive here just before dawn,” the man continued. “Do not kill them, but you will resist. They will arrest you and will take you to the prison in Medina. All that has happened here tonight will be used to convict you and imprison you. You will say nothing in defense besides cursing the name of Hylia and her chosen people. In ten years’ time, you will be issued a pardon, however, it will be challenged, and you will be taken to a special place for people in your unique position. You will not arrive there though, as an unseen benefactor will set you to liberty. From there, you will fulfill the quest that your mother began you on in venturing across the Haunted Wasteland to the home of the Sand Goddess.”

“How can you ensure such a plan?”

“As surely as these events occur, you will learn to trust me entirely. I do not profess to be all-knowing or all-powerful… What I am offering though, is the path to a power that does provide these things.”

“Knowledge and power do not concern me. All I want is vengeance.”

The man’s lips curled, “Then consider what I offer as the greatest means to your end.”

“Am I simply a tool to you then?”

“We are all tools to some person or another,” he motioned to the mutilated body on the ground. “To Ribura here, you were her golden cucco to a throne she could never reach otherwise. Yes, you will be in service to my interests by doing this task. But I assure you that by doing so you will also fulfill all you desire.”

The boy took a moment to consider the offer, then nodded.

“Very good.”

“I have one question for you, stranger.”

“And that is?”

“Who are you?”

The man chuckled lightly, “A tool in service to a being far older and more powerful than you can fathom. In time you will know my name and face, however I cannot reveal these to you yet. My station requires these to remain a mystery until the time when all is in place.”

The boy nodded.

“Together we will do amazing things.”

*          *          *          *          *

Queen Zelda paced her chambers. She had declined Lord Kalia’s advice of retreating to the North Castle with her husband. It hadn’t seemed the safe move to leave Castletown with no member of the Royal Family present. There was too much here that needed protecting.

Impa could certainly handle it, she thought. But doubt overshadowed her faith in even her strongest of allies. There had to be another option, some way of ensuring the safety of their people from whatever evil the Spirits of Light had warned Kalia of.

A painting on the mantelpiece drew her attention. It was a small watercolor of the hills in the south of Hyrule Field. Her mother-in-law had painted it as a wedding gift, and it had been honored by holding this place upon the shelf for many years since her passing.

She lifted it and studied the small touches of white that created the clouds in the sky. Something about them called to her in a way that reminded her of the tales her own parents had spoken to her over the years. Happy memories of wandering the courtyards with Daphnes when they were young and still betrothed to one another returned to her.

“Come on, Zelda!” the boy prince called to her, rushing past the guards.

“Are you sure it’s alright?” she giggled, taking his hand.

Daphnes only smiled, and pulled her along with him into the doorway.

They entered the quiet and reverent place that only a few had been honored with visiting over the years. The tall white walls towered around them, with the light cascading in through the stained-glass portals near the ceiling. Shadows filled the corners of the room, while its center pedestal remained illuminated at all times thanks to the position of the windows.

“I love coming in here to read,” Daphnes said. “It’s quiet, there’s no one allowed in save for the Sages and my parents, and I feel powerful just looking at the blade.”

“So, it’s power and solitude you seek?” Zelda smiled.

“No,” he frowned over the misinterpretation. “I seek wisdom and assurance that I’m doing what is right. This place offers both those to me.”

“For a prince, you don’t think very highly of yourself.”

“I do too!”

She laughed and again, he frowned.

“Oh, I’m only teasing!”

“It’s dangerous to tease royalty, don’t you know?”

She raised her eyebrows, “You hardly seem royal to me. Sneaking into the Master Sword chamber, running about Castletown with a girl, and getting into mischief. You seem to be more adventurer than prince.”

“Perhaps I am both. Surely, you have read tales of great leaders being bold travelers as well. Or great heroes settling foreign nations and becoming their monarchs.”

“Of course, I have, but they were in fantasy worlds. Times long past. They were not now in such happy days or places.”

“These are happy days then?” He smiled at her.

“Infinitely so.”

“And this is a happy place?”

“Yes, quite.”

“Then when I am king one day, I want the whole of the kingdom to be able to enjoy such a place so they may know the same feeling.” He hopped up onto the pedestal, placing his hand on the hilt of the legendary blade. He spoke in a deeper tone, acting as if his age were much beyond the one he currently assumed, “Citizens of Hyrule! This place is special to us all, but for me especially. I would like you all to be able to visit the place I met an angel from above!”

“You have seen a spirit here?” Zelda asked seriously.

“Why no, but an angel in the living flesh and blood,” he continued his posturing. “For it was in this place, this hallowed chamber of the Goddesses, that I was blessed to encounter an incarnation of the Goddess Hylia herself. A being so graceful and divine, she could only have been touched by the beings above.”

Zelda began to blush.

“I hereby profess openly and proudly, that I Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule, love thee, Zelda Kasuto de Kakariko. I ask you to be my queen forevermore, beyond even the days our worldly bodies fail, into the heavens and the sacred realms that await us in the great beyond.”

She stepped up onto the landing as well and took his outstretched hand.

Almost thirty years later, she aimlessly had wandered down the halls of the castle and to a balcony that overlooked the Temple of Time. The blue skies above warmed her skin as she clutched the small painting to her chest.

“A happy place,” she said softly to herself.

“Beg your pardon, m’lady?” a passing attendant asked.

“Oh, nothing. Just thinking back to some older times. Ones I hope I’ll get to see again.”

Zelda remained at the balcony for a while longer, quietly taking in the daylight and listening to the birds singing playfully.

As noon shifted into late afternoon though, clouds began to grow in the south and move toward Castletown. She rose from the bench she had taken residence upon, leaving the painting on the lounge and examined the storm clouds deeper. They carried a cold wind on them, and she turned to return to her drawing-room.

Her path was stopped though by an unexpected presence.

“Lady Laruto?”

The Zora Sage of Earth held her hands close to her chest, with a distressed look upon her face. She looked back over her shoulder quickly, then fell at the queen’s feet.

“Your Majesty, forgive me.”

Zelda knelt down and helped the young sage back to her feet, “Quite alright. What’s wrong though? You seem as frightened as if death itself were following you.”

“Where are you, usurper wench?!” a bitter voice called out from inside.

Laruto shuddered at the voice and Queen Zelda stiffened.

“It’s Rutela, your grace! She’s gone mad!”

Zelda lifted her eyes to see another Zora standing in the doorway. Rutela, wearing her customary blue and pink silk gown, towered with a shadowy demeanor as she looked down on the duo.

“Lady Rutela, what is the meaning of this?”

Rutela’s countenance darkened and she stepped forward, “You retreated to the Hylian matron… I shouldn’t be surprised. He said this would be the likely outcome.”

“Rutela,” Zelda stood up between the two Zora women, “what is going on?”

“I was resting in my chambers here in the keep and awoke to her standing over me with a dagger, Your Majesty!” Laruto cried.

Zelda’s eyes flashed with a wild look of concern.

“I am only ensuring the future of the Zora people. They cannot be led by some weak orphan who leans on the Hylian’s for everything!” Rutela lunged for Laruto.

Zelda thrust her palm into the mad queen’s gut and propelled her backward into the hallway.

The sky above darkened as the clouds drew closer. Zelda looked around as Rutela recovered to her feet quickly.

As Rutela prepared to attack again, Laruto ducked behind the wall. The blast of magic exploded against the stone and left a patch of frosty evidence.

“Rutela!” Zelda snapped harshly.

The Sage of Ice ignored the plea for reason and fired another blast of white magic from her hand, this time toward the queen. Zelda reacted just in time, raising a magic barrier that absorbed the attack.

“Laruto, go and get Lords Sagesse and Kalia!” Zelda commanded.

Laruto emerged from her hiding place and sprinted down a nearby flight of stairs, narrowly evading the next attack.

“What is the meaning of all this, Rutela?”

“As I said, I am ensuring the future of the Zora race.”

“By attacking one of the sages who ensure their protection?”

“By siding with a force more powerful,” she hurled another magic blast.

Zelda skillfully stepped out of the way of the attack and sent a golden blast of her own back in response. Rutela created her own defenses with a sheet of ice. A moment after the barrier absorbed Zelda’s attack, Rutela burst through it wielding a rapier that she’d conjured.

As the Zora villainess slashed at the Hylian queen, Zelda rolled away and over to a wall where some weaponry was on display. Just as the next swipe came in, Zelda drew a blade and deflected it away.

Zelda thrust the tip of her blade at Rutela, and grazed the flesh on her side. Rutela groaned and blasted Zelda with a burst of magic. Zelda stumbled backward and swung her sword at the Zora. Rutela ducked under the attack and again sent forth a shot of magic.

A rush of pain erupted from Zelda’s shoulder and she stumbled back away. She began to recover and move to retaliate when another attack fell upon her. This magic strike took her off her feet and propelled her back out onto the balcony.

“I have held my throne for nearly thirty years,” Rutela said as she emerged onto the balcony. “In all those years, the threat of it being seized was one that haunted my dreams. My predecessor was weak, followed her emotions over logic, and laid us in bed with you doomed Hylian scum. I vowed that when I inherited the throne, I would raise the strength of the Zora kingdom.”

Rutela blasted a shot of magic at Zelda’s feet and froze them in place. Zelda pulled hard to free herself, but to no avail. Rutela continued her menacing approach.

“When I assured myself the throne and claimed my powers, I was approached by a being far more powerful than I could imagine. He showed me things that would come to pass. He showed me a path of such enlightenment, and all I had to do was wait for his signal. When Castletown was attacked, the plan was set in motion.”

Zelda raised her hand to fire a blast of magic, but Rutela struck first, sending a blast of her own icy magic and freezing Zelda’s hand to the ground.

“Now I will fulfill my agreement, and seize the Triforce of Wisdom. The Zora people will forever be free and never live under the thumb of the Hylians again!”

“Rutela!”

Kalia soared up beyond the balcony and blasted rays of golden light down on the Rutela. She threw her arms before her face and recoiled, stumbling back into the hallway.

“Stop this madness!” Sagesse leaped from the stairwell behind and summoned magical chains that bound Rutela.

“Your Grace,” Kalia said, relenting of his attack and perching on the balcony railing. He drew his short golden blade and broke the ice restraining the queen.

“Thank you Lord Kalia,” Zelda panted.

“I can’t hold her for long!” Sagesse called out as Rutela fought wildly against the magical restraints.

“What is the meaning of this?” Kalia asked.

“It would seem that Rutela stole the throne after murdering Queen Ruto,” Osmond announced suddenly.

He, Fado, Princess Zelda, and Laruto stood at the top of the stairs.

“Laruto is the rightful queen. She was adopted by Queen Ruto just days before she was killed. Rutela claimed to have vanquished the monster that ravaged Zora’s Domain, but in fact, it was her that summoned it.”

Kalia turned and looked down at the infuriated Rutela. Her eyes had filled with seething hatred, with flickers of purple and black flames igniting from their edges. The wizened owl knelt down before her with a pitiful gaze.

“You have long been deceiving us then. Trusted you, we did. Put our lives in your hands, on occasion. Your treachery will go down as one of the great betrayals in our annals. Justice will come to you as swift as the wind. I hereby strip you of all titles, rank, possessions, and liberties afforded to those who dwell in the Kingdom of Hyrule, and place you in the custody of the Hyrulean Guard.”

As Kalia recited the laws she would be afforded as a conspirator, the fury in her eyes receded and her head dropped low to the ground. She placed her forehead and palms on the carpet and became motionless. Sagesse, still controlling the ethereal chains that were binding her, relaxed slightly.

“Have you anything to say in defense of yourself at this time?” Kalia asked.

“Yes… I have,” she replied softly.

Just as the words had been spoken, Rutela’s body stiffened and she sent a powerful pulse out from her body. The blast knocked everyone off their feet.

Osmond’s eyes slammed shut, feeling the same sort of pain he had in the cavern. When his back hit the stone wall, he dropped hard to the floor. As he got to his hands and knees, he watched as the queen charged in to attack.

Rutela, now free of her bindings and standing upright, had a vile grin on her face as she prepared an attack of her own.

The queen and Rutela clashed with another powerful blast that shook the foundation of the castle itself. The stone in the walls cracked, the furniture in the hallway blasted apart against the walls, and windows on the floor shattered outward.

“This day marks the beginning of the new era! One not ruled by the hypocrisy of the Hylian Royal Family, but of a new order!” Rutela shouted. The fire in her eyes was returned with greater intensity.

The queen thrust her hand forward several times, but each was met by a stronger force to stop it. They became locked with one another, neither relenting for a moment. Queen Zelda began to fade though, dropping to a knee while keeping her attack going. Rutela seized the moment and summoned a new surge in her attack.

Another tremendous blast pushed everyone else back to the ground again. This blast though also overpowered all that Queen Zelda had and pushed her out onto the balcony. She slammed against what remained of the railing with blood beginning to flow down from her scalp.

Osmond began to crawl towards Rutela, who was now floating out onto the balcony. He looked around. Kalia and Laruto were unconscious on the other side of the hall. Fado was crawling towards the princess, who in turn was trying to move toward her mother. Sagesse was flat on his back, a pool of blood gathering near his head.

When Osmond looked back, Rutela was holding the queen up over the edge of the balcony.

“Give it to me!”

Queen Zelda looked past her attacker, and instead down at her daughter, “Take care of your father for me…”

“Give it to me, now!”

Princess Zelda’s eyes suddenly filled with the realization of what was about to happen. Against all the pain in her body, she rose to her feet and charged out toward Rutela and her mother.

“I love you…” the queen closed her eyes.

Rutela pulled an arm back.

Osmond reached his own hand out, desperately hoping to grab something.

Then came one last blast.

Princess Zelda flew back into Osmond as Rutela plunged an icicle into the queen’s gut.

Silence fell for what seemed an eternity.

As the queen’s body went limp and Rutela began to cry out in frustration, Osmond tried getting to his feet.

“Where is it?! Where is the power I was promised?!”

A glowing light drew her attention. Osmond noticed it too. The back of Princess Zelda’s left hand was starting to send out a blinding golden light.

Zelda cried out.

All her pain. All her anger. All her love.

It exploded in a flash of golden radiance that obliterated part of the castle.

Osmond felt his body hurled into the air before a presence that could only have been described as divine enveloped him.

“Now is not your time…”

Moments later, Osmond opened his eyes and looked up at a tower of ice, jagged and twisted, standing where a corner of Hyrule Castle had stood. Dust and debris were falling across Castletown from several more pillars of ice.

Princess Zelda floated to the ground with golden flames fading away from her body. She stood a moment, then collapsed before the body laying on the ground in front of her.

Stained with the crimson of her blood and in the arms of her sobbing child, Queen Zelda lay dead.

*          *          *          *          *

After the King returned, three days past before any official word on the events were issued.

Reports that Rutela had managed to escape came back to Castletown. She had retreated to the Zora City in Lake Hylia and told its residents the Royal Family had betrayed them. She persuaded the Zora people that lived there to stand against Hyrule and the crown or else be made slaves to them.

A full mustering of the Hyrulean Army was called and would march on the Zora City following the queen’s funeral.

As Osmond stood in front of the mirror in his room preparing for the ceremony, there was a quiet knock at his door.

“Come in,” he said.

Zelda entered and closed the door behind her. She crossed the room and stood at the window, looking out over the dark city. Osmond soon was standing behind her, slipping his arms around her waist and placing his head against hers. She moved her hands onto his arms and closed her eyes.

“This is the only warmth I can feel anymore.”

Osmond held her tighter.

“The sun is cold. My father is lost in a sea of anguish. My life is in chaos because I have some divine curse that I’m told is a blessing. And so I’m left with this. This tender and loving embrace that I now believe I cannot live without.” She paused, holding back her tears, “Do not confuse what I say as saying this is less, simply that it is all I have.”

“I will never let it be less.”

“I know.”

The two stood together until an attendant came to tell them it was time for the ceremony. Osmond remained at her side for the remainder of the night.

As the queen’s body was returned to the earth by way of the flames, Zelda remained like a statue. It wasn’t until long after that her barrier collapsed, and even then, it was only Osmond who saw.

 

The Era Without A Hero will continue…

 

David Wayne Nystrom is a Staff Writer for Zelda Dungeon. This story is an imagining of the final days in Hyrule prior to the Great Flood talked about in the opening cinematic of The Wind Waker. The first six chapters are available in audio podcast form and there’s a complete soundtrack for the first volume here. Head over to erawithoutahero.wordpress.com or follow the story account on twitter @ZeldaTEWAH where you can keep up on information regarding the future of the podcast, soundtrack, and other TEWAH news that will be coming soon! David’s top three Zelda games are Ocarina of Time, The Wind Waker, and Link’s Awakening. He’s also an avid Smash Bros. fan. Every Era Has Heroes…