songerein | open 🌻 a not so welcome return

Entry tags:

open 🌻 a not so welcome return

Who: Zelda and OPEN
Which: Open log
Where: Around town
What: Zelda returns to Song after disappearing for a canon update two weeks ago.
Warnings: Major Tears of the Kingdom spoilers in the first prompt. (opt out of TOTK spoilers here.) Also minor descriptions of choking and vomiting.

1. choking hazard

This isn't how it was supposed to happen.

They had it all planned out, Zelda and Mineru. They knew everything that needed to be prepared in advance, every task to plan or delegate so that all the necessary tools would be available to Link in the distant future. It was just a matter of getting it all in order before the end. They had only this once chance to get everything right. There would be no going back, no correcting mistakes, once Zelda swallowed her secret stone.

They had tried to plan for contingencies as well. What if Ganondorf broke free too early? What if the Temple of Time were damaged? What if Mineru's spirit faded before she could meet Link?

'What if the Princess is suddenly spirited away to a strange dream world before she could transform?'—was not among those contingencies.

Hidden away in a quiet alleyway not far from the Plaza, Zelda sits on the cobbled stone and tries to take stock of her situation. The Master Sword—more a stump than a sword at this point, its brilliant blade almost entirely corroded away—lays beside her on the ground. The princess's right hand rests protectively over its hilt, ready to grab the blade at a moment's notice, should anyone intrude on her.

'Songerein.' She knows that name. It stirs recognition somewhere deep, deep in the back of Zelda's mind. She had a dream like this once, during the long century she spent sealed away with Calamity Ganon. To think it was not (quite) a dream after all...

But that doesn't matter anymore. The only thing that matters is getting back to Hyrule, protecting the Master Sword, and--

Zelda tries to swallow a lump in her throat.

--giving up her life for the sake of the future.

For the sake of Link.

Her brows furrow. She already tried (and failed) to use her power over time to return herself to the moment before she woke up here in Songerein. But she isn't willing to give up that easily. Zelda absently rubs the stone attached to her choker with her thumb. A mortal might be beholden to the rules of this realm, but what about a dragon? Mineru said that a dragon is unbound from the shackles of time, becoming ageless—deathless—an immortal shell of one's former self. Surely such a being could not be bound by the rules of dreams either. Perhaps the transformation will be enough to wake her and free her from this purgatory so that she can do her duty.

She'll do anything if it's for Link.

Clenching her jaw, Zelda yanks the stone from her choker and cups it in her palms. Such a little thing, and yet it's capable of such great—and terrible—things. It can draw out the greatest strength in anyone, allow them to build a kingdom of prosperity and paradise. But it can also draw out terrible evil, the cruelest of ambitions, the downfall of any goodness in the world. It is capable of allowing someone to live forever—at the cost of everything that they are.

She'll do anything if it's for Link.

Zelda clasps her hands over the stone and presses her forehead against them. "You must find me, Link. I may not know it's you... You may not know it's me... But you must come for me. You must protect everyone."

She raises her hands to her lips and swallows the stone whole.

The lump sticks in the back of her throat. Zelda swallows again and again, trying to push the stone down, but it holds fast. She tilts her chin up and strokes her throat, trying to coax it to relax. Come on, go down. Zelda tries to take a breath in order to swallow again, but only manages to suck in the tiniest hiss of air. The stone won't move.

The edges of her vision start getting dark. Growing frantic, she slaps at her throat with both hands. Please, just go down...

All of the sudden, Zelda lurches forward, falling onto her hands and knees. Against her will, she heaves. Up comes the stone, along with the contents of her stomach, splattering over the cobblestones.

It takes a minute for her to stop retching and catch her breath. When Zelda opens her eyes and spots the stone, her gut clenches up again and she lets out a wrenching sob.

"Why?! Why won't you let me go?"

What a horrible scene to come across, should anyone be so unlucky.

2. about town

It's the next day.

Zelda is still playing over the events of the previous day in her mind—she went to sleep in Hyrule, assured of her plans and ready to enact them. But when she woke, she was in this strange world, Songerein. A dream from long ago, a lifetime past, when the princess held back an ancient evil all by herself for one hundred years. Sometimes she was awake, watching over the land of Hyrule, watching over her knight as he slumbered. Other times, she slept, dreaming strange dreams about people from strange worlds and magic powered by the combination of dreams and emotions.

So it wasn't a dream after all.

Throughout the day, Zelda can be found wandering around town, looking lost and hesitant. She clutches the hilt of the corroded Master Sword with both hands, never once setting it down. She walks streets she used to know by heart, trying to stir memories that have been long dormant.

So lost in her thoughts, Zelda isn't entirely paying attention to where she's going, so it's very likely that she'll bump right into someone.

But even if she doesn't, she might stop you to ask for directions. Do you know the way to the library?—no, it was an archive. There's supposed to be a smithy around here, isn't there? Do you know of a place where they teach music?

Or maybe Zelda will make it to her destination—the smithy, the archives, dreambucks, the Plaza, or any such place. She'll linger outside, hesitant. Does she remember this place? Did she know someone here? Maybe she'll even step inside, milling around with the uncertainty of someone who knows they are looking for something but has forgotten what it is.

3. the wildcard option

Want a different prompt to meet or reunite with Zelda? Plot with me on plurk (

knighted), discord (triforce1960) or DM.

Also, feel free to reply in brackets instead of prose if you prefer.

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[He can't even begin to guess how long "long ago" would be from Zelda's perspective. Time kind of feels strange when you've been dead or holding back a Calamity for a century, and it's not as if Zelda herself looks significantly aged to give any sort of visual clues. Not that it stops him from looking over Zelda just in case there were something more than the obvious he might pick up on.]

Whatever it really is, it's real enough for the moment. How long is long ago for you?

Sixty years, perhaps more; but most of that time I spent sealed away with Calamity Ganon.

[ Time does feel strange in situations like that—it didn't pass as slowly as it would if she lived it, but it didn't pass quickly either. What most makes Zelda feel like a long time has passed is how long she has been free from the seal. ]

It has been four years since we defeated it.

[ Besides her (extremely cute) haircut, the princess probably doesn't look that much different than Revali remembers. She's grown only slightly, still just an inch or two taller than Link, and her figure is still petite and youthful. The strangest thing about her is the corroded stump of the Master Sword that she holds in front of her. In the 24 hours or so that Zelda has been in Songerein, she has barely let go of the sword for a moment. ]

I've heard that only a few weeks have passed here since I was last seen.

Edited 2023-07-29 17:22 (UTC)

About time it got what was coming to it.

[The state of the sword in Zelda's hands makes it difficult to feel much lasting pride or accomplishment in knowing Calamity Ganon was eventually destroyed. Sure, they had fulfilled their promises, and Zelda herself was finally free from her confinement, but the state of the Master Sword can't mean anything good. He might be critical of the sword and its connection with Link, but decay like this on a sword meant to seal the darkness seems like a bad omen. He'll get to that in a bit, though, don't worry.

He nods in agreement, since it truly hasn't been that long since he last saw Zelda here. A few weeks at best, not that he's kept particularly close track of her or Link.]

How has Hyrule fared during those four years?

[ Perhaps unexpectedly, Zelda's eyes light up at the question. When she was younger, she found herself always more aware of the bad things that were happening than the good. But in recent years, the princess's attitude has shifted. ]

The kingdom has grown so much, you would hardly even recognize it. Ever since the last of the corrupted Guardians were decommissioned, travel and trade have increased exponentially all across the kingdom—even to Death Mountain, of all places. The eruptions ceased after Link vanquished Calamity Ganon and the lava flows have cooled so much that you can actually travel most of the mountain without needing protective clothing. Lately, I've been spending a lot of time working with Hudson Construction in Tarrey Town to distribute raw construction materials to different parts of the kingdom to encourage resettlement. Oh, Elder Kaneli recently passed on the mantle of leadership to Teba. [ Laughs. ] I don't think Teba is entirely happy with his new position, but he has done an exceptional job thus far.

[ Zelda chatters on brightly, barely giving Revali a space to interrupt. Notably, all of her good news about Hyrule doesn't explain her unusual outfit or the terrible condition of the Master Sword. ]

[Yes, he's concerned about Zelda herself, but he also does genuinely want to know about Hyrule and everything that's happened since the Calamity's apparent defeat. That was the real point of their stand against Calamity Ganon, after all. There would be little point of Hyrule didn't take the chance to thrive after their victory.

It's strange to imagine a dormant Death Mountain, not to mention hearing of Zelda's shift toward leadership, whether she realizes what she's saying or not. Zelda was so rarely confident in herself before everything went wrong, and hearing that she's personally helped take up the mantle to restore the Kingdom, seemingly not just because it's another burden on her she's expected to carry out, is refreshing to hear.

But of course, she's right; it's Rito Village more than the rest of the Kingdom that he cares about.]

From what I've seen of Teba, Rito Village is in good talons under his leadership. He has the right amount of courage to lead, whether he appreciates it or not.

[ Zelda is much more interested in telling Revali all of the good things that have happened since the defeat of Calamity Ganon than the bad things that have been happening recently. The Champions, of all people, deserve to know about how their homes have prospered thanks to their sacrifices. ]

I believe so too. He claims that he's "just a warrior," but he's quick to take charge when the situation calls for it and he is mindful of everyone else in the village. I actually feel like there is a lot I could learn from him.

[ Despite everything she has been doing in Hyrule, Zelda doesn't entirely see herself as a leader. Not a leader like her father, the sovereign of the nation. The people call her "Princess," but she feels less like royalty these days and more like... something else. Another citizen of Hyrule, perhaps—working as hard towards its future as any other citizen. ]

Oh, and speaking of learning, I believe Elder Kaneli intends to take over stewardship of your flight range. He has made mention something about the training of new Rito warriors being lacking in some way. Or so I hear.

There's a lot you can learn from an extended stay in Rito Village.

[It's less that he thinks Zelda now, after everything with the Calamity and how she carries herself now, has a lot to learn, and more that he thinks it's just beneficial in general to have more of an idea how the non-Hylian races in Hyrule live and behave. The Rito, of course, being a great place to start if you ask him.

At the mention of his flight range, for just a moment, a wistful sort of look crosses Revali's face before he tamps it down. He does miss that flight range; it's in the perfect area with the wind blowing in just the right way for aerial combat practice.]

I don't know that Elder Kaneli is best suited to lead those lessons with example at his age, but I don't disagree with him. The Rito have a reputation to uphold, and the flight range is the best spot I've found to practice in more difficult gusts.

[ He's right; there probably is a lot Zelda could learn from an extended stay in Rito Village. Or in Goron City or Zora's Domain or Gerudo Town. The brightness in Zelda's expression falters. She wishes she could say she'll take his advice whenever she wakes from this dream, but she won't be going back to Hyrule when she does. Not as herself, that is... ]

I do imagine Elder Kaneli will have an assistant to help him demonstrate techniques.

[ Zelda fidgets the hilt of the Master Sword between her hands and tries to shove that thought aside. Remember the reasons you're doing this. If you don't restore the sword, there will be no more Rito Village at all. ]

I should wonder how a Hylian would fare in his lessons.

[ By Hylian, of course she means Link. ]

They'll have to adapt the lessons to accommodate a lack of wings. If you can't adjust yourself in response to the wind, trying to aim an arrow is more of a risk to you than any targets.

[Which is to say, he doesn't think even a certain silent blond hero boy could end up holding a candle to his records. If other Rito can't get close, he doubts anyone who can't even fly could end up besting him on his own turf.

But at this point, as Zelda fidgets with what remains of the Master Sword, it's impossible to ignore that it's clearly not just sunshine and rainbows since the defeat of Calamity Ganon. There's nothing he can think of that would cause this kind of damage to a sword, let alone one with such a legendary reputation as the Master Sword.]

Tell me the rest of it, though. That sword looks different from how I remember it.

[ Ah, no more beating around the bush, then. Zelda would've preferred not to tell Revali anything about the new troubles plaguing Hyrule. He's already given up everything to protect the kingdom, including his own life. That his sacrifice only bought a few scant years of peace.... It makes Zelda feel like she's failed him. Failed all of the Champions.

But as long as he's here in Songerein, there'll be no keeping this a secret. Even Daruk would know something was wrong the moment he saw the Master Sword in this state. She doesn't want to have to tell Revali about the Demon King, but she also doesn't want to lie to him.

Zelda heaves a resigned sigh. ]

A few months ago, a strange substance started to appear throughout Hyrule. At first, we thought that it was Malice—it looks nearly identical—but this substance is different. It is corrosive, clinging to you like a leech and sapping your strength. People have taken to calling it 'Gloom.'

We discovered that the Gloom was emanating from beneath the ruins of Hyrule Castle, so Link and I ventured underneath to investigate it. The depths of the castle have always been forbidden, even to members of the Royal Family, and I finally understand why. What we found down there... It was the corpse of a man—a monster—once known as the Demon King.

When we approached him, the enchantment binding him dissipated and he awoke. When he saw me, he recognized me and tried to attack me. Link tried to defend me, but he was injured by the Gloom and it shattered the Master Sword.

[Revali may be the way he is, but even he knows there's a time and place for some things, and this is definitely not the place for him to voice any of his thoughts about Link. Out of respect for Zelda only, of course, not for Link.

He listens to Zelda's explanation, a serious expression on his face while she continues. There's a lot here that's, well, very obviously concerning, not least of which being some ancient corpse that had apparently been hanging out beneath the castle for thousands upon thousands of years at the very least. In the back of his mind, he can't help but wonder if that's why the Calamity seemed to center on the castle, rather than any other corner of Hyrule.]

The corpse recognized you?

[Well, all things considered, it's probably not too strange as far as Weird Shit in Hyrule is concerned. Zelda was all but stuck with some variety of Ganon for a century, after all.]

So, what, did the Calamity have consciousness after all?

Of a sort, yes.

[ Just wait, Revali. It's about to get weirder. ]

I believe that the Calamity—every Calamity, actually—may have originated from this Demon King.

When he tried to attack me, the entire foundation of the castle began to crumble beneath us. Everything happened so fast from there. I remember falling, Link diving after me to catch me, but then all of the sudden, I was outside instead of underneath the castle, falling into the grass instead of a bottomless pit.

[ Her face contorts as she tries to figure out the most clear way to explain what happens next. ]

I was.. somehow transported backwards in time to the era of Hyrule's founding, shortly before the Imprisoning War. [ There's a glance to see if Revali recognizes the name of that war, but he probably won't. Very few people other than scholars seem to have heard of it. ] The Demon King was the instigator of that war. Before he became the Demon King, he was a man by the name of Ganondorf Dragmire, who ruled as King of the Gerudo.

[Weirder is right.

Revali actually listens attentively, taking in the information Zelda is sharing and not interrupting. (even when his first thought about the castle crumbling is that Zelda would've been totally fine if Link had wings. He'll just leave that to himself for now.)

It's ridiculous, especially the time travel. But Zelda is one of a handful of people Revali respects and trusts to not be just bullshitting him about something this serious. The Imprisoning War is something he has no idea about, sure enough, but he doesn't need to know specifically what it was to piece together that it was a major event.

That name, though--]

I've heard that name before. [Thanks Sheik.]

So this Ganondorf has been below the castle for nearly as long as Hyrule has existed? He's the one who was imprisoned, then?

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open 🌻 a not so welcome return

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