Chapter Text
Zelda:
“King Rhoam Bosphoramus approaches!” A Gerudo guard I recognized as Samel called.
I stiffened beside Urbosa who frowned at me. “It’ll be all right, Little Bird. He’s probably checking on you.”
“Seven years of training away from the castle, with the Zora, Gorons, Rito, Sheikah and the Gerudo, and now he wants to come check on me? I don’t buy it. Something is up with him. He wants something.” I shook my head then raised my eyes to the gates that slowly opened.
“Zelda, he’s not the Calamity. He’s your father.” Urbosa gave me a last hug.
Hylia, help me. Please.
The King drew nearer, accompanied by almost two dozen guards and knights. One in particular being much younger than the others. A boy, barely older than me, carrying a familiar sword and standard shield with a Champion blue shirt.
Shame I’d held back for years creeped up my skin, chilling my core. Yet another failure that can be used against me.
My eyes darted back to my father, clad in his blue and gold armor. The same outfit he wore in court. The same outfit he had on when I last saw him. As a King, rather than a father.
“King Rhoam,” Urbosa stood tall against the King’s scrutiny. “To what we owe this pleasure?”
“I would like to speak with you, and my daughter privately, if I may?” He gave me a pointed look. It took seven years of training and small defiances to not cower beneath his gaze. “It’s about her training. The Final Test draws near, does it not?”
My mouth went dry.
I was supposed to have more time than this. Urbosa said she could hold it off for another three years.
“It does. But I want to be sure that she’s prepared for it. Another month of preparation is the standard ritual.” Urbosa refused to back down.
Rhoam carried on as though she hadn’t said the second part. “Good. Then I want her to—”
He was interrupted by a poof and maniacal laughter that enraged me. The Yiga Clan, dressed in red with those ridiculous masks. They stood along the walls of Gerudo Town and on top of shops with the rest blocking the entrance. One I recognized as Sooga accompanied his leader, Kohga.
I never understood how a man like him could be a leader of anything.
“King Rhoam! And his daughter! What a treat! Wouldn’t you say so, Sooga?” Kohga rubbed his palms together as I unsheathed my sword.
The knights and guards bristled, surrounding us. Urbosa’s warriors aimed bows and spears at the unwelcome guests.
“I would indeed.” Sooga’s mask seemed to be staring at me.
I bared my teeth at him, and Kohga laughed. “Yiga, attack! Me excluded, of course!” And vanished in a puff of smoke.
It left his warriors confused for a moment. A moment that the Gerudo and soldiers used to begin the attack. I bolted directly for Sooga, passing my father and Urbosa too quickly for them to grab me.
He jumped off the wall and launched himself at me. I dropped into a slide to avoid both his blades before spinning around meeting his swords with my own.
“Very bold, Princess.”
I pushed him away and slashed again. He narrowly avoided it and jumped back to circle me.
I finally noticed that everyone else was engaged in battle, save my father and two of his guards who took out Yiga that came near. King Rhoam’s eyes remained on me, or rather, my sword, through it all.
“Don’t worry, Princess. When I kill you, he will join you shortly in the afterlife. If there is one.” Sooga vanished but I sensed his presence behind me and put my sword over both my shoulder blades.
His swords ground against mine and my footing began to slip.
“You know what I think?” My elbow cracked across his face and he stumbled back. “I think you run your mouth too much. You should focus on fighting. Maybe then you’d actually win.”
I charged him again, avoiding both jabs before he teleported again. My sword slashed across his chest, drawing the first blood in our duel. Sooga put one hand to his wound and looked up with a new expression. He observed me more carefully.
“Perhaps I’ve been underestimating you. The mistake will be corrected.” He rushed me this time and dodged, parried and returned every jab.
I tripped him with a swift kick to his ankle and he fell. Sooga glanced up behind me as I pressed my sword to his throat. I whipped around to see that a Yiga footman had launched three knives at me from off the rooftop.
The moment seemed to slow. As if the fate of Hyrule hinged on this moment, and not the defeat of the Calamity.
I thought about dodging but knew I wouldn’t be fast enough. Blocking them would have to do.
I raised my sword to meet the blades when I sensed another presence hurtling at me. A tap on my shoulder alerted me that it was the young knight from earlier. He stepped in between the blades and I, raising his shield.
One after another, the blades struck the shield until the Yiga footman was shot down by a Gerudo Warrior.
I turned back to Sooga who vanished once and for all, defeated for the time being. Kohga called for a frantic retreat and each of his followers disappeared.
We stayed on the defensive for a moment before relaxing again, the knight at my back.
Urbosa gave me a look I knew meant I would be in trouble later for taking on the most powerful Clan member so recklessly.
Hylia, I am very close to either coming up there and dragging you down here, or going up there with you and staying there to hide for eternity.
I turned back to the knight. “Thank you. Your help was invaluable.”
What I wanted to do was scream that he had already successfully fulfilled his part of the prophecy, wielding that cursed sword. Instead I respectfully forced a smile.
Urbosa taught me to have manners even when upset. Ladies do not stoop to the levels of small children. I’m only slightly spiteful.
The knight crouched into a deep bow with his eyes downcast. I walked away, feeling the panic rising in my chest again.
No one had bowed to me in a very long time. I had specifically asked that no one would while I was here. Pressure built but I pushed it to the back of my mind.
King Rhoam didn’t need to push through the crowd of warriors to get to me. They parted for him, bowing to him. He stopped in front of me. I put a fist over my heart and lowered my head to him out of respect.
“Your fighting was impressive, if a bit reckless.” A veiled knife ready to stab at the slightest vulnerability. “It’s a good thing that Sir Link was there to save you.” I spotted Urbosa inching closer. “As King, I demand that the preparation for the Final Test be cut, so that you may leave immediately.”
My jaw must’ve landed on the floor with how hard the shock hit me. I raised my head enough to meet his gaze. “With all due respect, I cannot leave immediately. My partner, Lady Impa, is not here to join me on this quest. The rules state that I may bring whomever I wish to embark with me.”
“Then I will send Sir Link with you. Either way you are leaving tonight, Zelda.” His face contorted with barely restrained anger and annoyance. My father’s eyes, however, looked anywhere but at me. “Sir Link,” the boy rose from his bow. “Protect my daughter at all costs. Bring her back at the slightest issue.” He finally deigned me with his gaze.
“I implore you to rethink this, Father. The Molduga is a dangerous monster that few have killed. If you send someone who does not have the knowledge of the Molduga then you are sending that knight to his death!” My voice raised the slightest hint, and instant regret hit my gut. “I just wish for the safety of everyone involved. Impa has studied every text available, Sir Link may be good at fighting people, but not this vicious creature.” I lowered my head again, knowing that all eyes in the courtyard were pinned on me.
“I do not care, Zelda! You are leaving and you are leaving immediately! Go pack! From now on, you will do as you’re told!” He shouted at me, raising his hand. I closed my eyes and turned my head to the side, waiting to feel the sharp sting on my cheek. One I hadn’t felt in seven years.
Come on, slap me. I know you want to. Because I will never live up to your standards and expectations. It’s fine, I don’t even live up to mine.
I waited but nothing came so I opened my eyes again. Father stared at Urbosa who stood by my side.
“It’s the nerves, King Rhoam. The Molduga is daunting for anyone attempting to approach.” She wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “Please excuse her behavior.” Urbosa nudged me slightly. “Why don’t you go pack? And in the meanwhile, you two,” she ordered two of her warriors. “Outfit the knight with what he needs to survive in the desert, night and day.”
I blinked slowly, trying not to collapse with the adrenaline wearing off.
Urbosa walked me to my room that lay beside hers. When the door closed, I sat on the bed trying to regain composure.
“He almost slapped me.” I breathed.
Urbosa nodded, glaring at the door. “If I hadn’t intervened… he would have.”
“I know.”
She sat beside me and wrapped her arms around me. “We don’t have much time, but I want you to know that I had no idea he was coming at all.”
“I know.” I sighed. “That poor boy. He’s coming with me, and he has no idea how to deal with a Molduga. It should be Impa. She prepared for months. But, of course, the King has his own agenda that I need to follow, otherwise I’m nothing more to him than any of the knights whose lives he so carelessly endangers.”
“It’s not right, but it’s happening anyways, Little Bird.” She gave me a soft smile. “But you can solve it. While I’m not impressed that you took on Sooga all by yourself, it was very brave of you. He may not have the information, but you do. That knight is very skilled. I saw firsthand what he can do in battle. It may be advantageous to have him with you.”
“Hmmm.” I snatched my day bag off my dresser and gently placed my clothes in it along with the Sheikah Slate. Urbosa set out desert armor that would keep the sun from beating down on me too badly.
I got changed into the armor. The black wide sirwal pants with white designs that reminded me of the Guardians’ patterns cinched at my ankles. My feet slipped into short Gerudo heels. I wore a blue top that left my stomach exposed, lined with gold metal wrapping around my neck to keep it there.. Urbosa pulled my hair back with a gilded tie into a high ponytail. She set a small crown with two custom red rubies with matching earrings. According to legend, the ruby would protect the wearer from the cold and any danger they come across. Four was practically asking for immortality.
Staring at the mirror, I frowned. “Thank you, Urbosa. For everything.”
“Little Bird, you don’t have to thank me. I care for you more than you know. We’ve been over this a thousand times. I don’t need your thanks, I just want you to be happy and safe. You deserve it.” Urbosa gave me a tight hug and tears once again threatened to spring to my eyes. “Your father loves you very much but… he has his strange way of showing it.”
“Like hitting me anytime he pleases.” I grumbled.
Urbosa lowered her head to look down at me. “He’s not the father I wish he was for you, but he could be worse. I’m not defending him or taking his side, but I can think of two reasons why he sent you out here.”
I gritted my teeth. “What could I have possibly done to make him do that?”
“He sees your mother in you, Zelda, and he can’t stand it. He can’t look at you without thinking of my dear friend and it pains him. Another is that he wanted to protect you from himself but he can only keep you away for so long before he has to bring you back for public appearances.” She tucked a stray strand of hair away from my face.
“Urbosa, I understand what you mean about seeing my mother. I stare in the mirror every day and see her staring back at me. Not a day has passed that I wish she were here.” In private I’ve even regrettably thought about what would happen if she were here instead of father.
She gave me a watery smile. “The same can be said for me. But the difference is that I also see you.” Urbosa gently cupped my face. “I see who you are, rather than who your father wants you to be.”
My knees buckled at last and Urbosa caught me, lowering us to the ground. “The day I left he told me that he didn’t want me studying or working on such frivolous nonsense as working with the Guardians and the Divine Beasts, and doing everything within my power to help Hyrule against the Calamity.” I cried. “All I wanted was to help but he told me that there was nothing I could do to help, save unlocking the power within me. But I can’t! I’ve tried, over and over. Yes, it’s there and I can feel it, but I can’t summon it on command like he wants. I can’t control it.”
“He doesn’t know that, does he?” Urbosa softly asked.
I shook my head. “He doesn’t. If he did, it would mean another slap and more ridicule about how I fail him, both as a daughter and a princess.”
“You’re not failing anyone, Zelda.” She pulled away from the hug. “You are perfect the way you are. You will blossom on your own time. Not his.”
I blinked away my tears and wiped my face. “I should finish packing.” In a matter of seconds I regained full composure, compressed my emotions, and finished packing.
Urbosa left for a moment before coming back with two bows, and a ton of arrows. “I got these from the armory. You and the knight will need them against the Molduga. One hundred and one bomb arrows and four bows in case they break.”
I thanked her and carefully placed the bomb arrows in my bag. “Hopefully they don’t explode on the way there.” Heat rose in my cheeks at the nonexistent embarrassment.
“They won’t. You can swing that bag around as much as you want and they won’t budge.” Urbosa gave the bag a smack and I jumped even though nothing happened. She smiled.
“So, how do I prove that the Molduga is dead? Do I bring back a fin? A tooth? Its head? I mean, its head would be difficult to accomplish, seeing how large it is but if that’s what it takes—”
“Its tongue, or if preferred, its eye will suffice.”
I turned to Urbosa, pale and frozen in place. She bursted out laughing at my expression. “I’m kidding! But your face was priceless, Little Bird. All you have to bring back is photographed evidence with the Sheikah Slate. Leave the rest to me.”
I paused at the term “rest” but nodded anyway. “All right.” I hefted the bag over my shoulder and started toward the door but stopped. I ran back and hugged her quickly before she gave me an affirmative nod.
“Come back safely.”
“I will.” I walked out the door, toward the courtyard where I spotted Sir Link, practically shirtless, in gold and green armor. My breath caught and I quickly turned my face away to hide my blush.
Until I made eye contact with my father.
Crap.
“I trust you are ready, Zelda?” Father stood stoically with his arms crossed. I nodded as I sensed Urbosa emerging from the building behind me. “Urbosa?”
“You will be travelling with sandseals. Both of you. Any weapons you require, you have been outfitted with. You have two days. May the Goddess be with you both.” Urbosa announced to the surrounding crowd.
I strode toward the two sandseals with Sir Link at my back. He glanced confusedly down at the shield so ungracefully thrusted into his hands. I was given mine and held it up for him to see.
Sir Link knelt to my father and I bowed my head to him. We turned back and I set my foot into the shield, picking up the lead connecting to the harness on the sandseal. Sir Link followed suit and I tugged lightly on the lead.
The sandseal took off and I put my other foot on the shield. Sir Link barely managed behind me, but I waited until we were at the Outpost to stop.
“Do you need help?” I held onto the lead and stepped off my shield.
Sir Link froze, blinking repeatedly. Then reluctantly nodded.
“Here, put the lead around your waist, it won’t give you rope burn. Try putting your dominant foot under the leather belt across the shield. Having only your toes under it will cause you to lose your balance and fall. Your other foot should be angled forward.” I offered, correcting his posture.
He nodded again with a grunt.
I pulled away from him, feeling a bit rejected. Then again, who would want to talk to the disappointment?
“It’s roughly another mile then we’ll be done with the sandseals. They’ll leave but return in the evening tomorrow and the next day.” I tugged on the seal’s lead and it bounced forward with anticipation.
We travelled in silence until nightfall. A group of run down ruins came into view and I began to hold my breath. A large rock formation jutted up from the sand as though thrown there by giants. Atop it, multiple palm trees swayed and I knew there was an oasis up there where we could refill our waterskins.
I pulled back on the lead enough to halt the sandseal, and unwrapped it from my waist. Sir Link followed what I was doing and picked up his shield. Both sandseals retreated from the ruins.
“Here we are. The edge of Molduga territory.” I grabbed my shield and straightened. “We’ll go one at a time to the rock formation. It can’t get us if we’re on there. I’ll go first, and remember to be quiet, this creature can sense sound waves.” I almost started to rant about the Molduga but decided against it. He’d probably tell my father, landing me in deeper trouble than I cared to bargain for.
Carefully, I crept forward in the sand, listening and watching for the Molduga. Luckily, I had already been taught by Impa to cover footfalls. I reached the rock and quietly heaved myself on top of it, gesturing at Sir Link to start walking.
His expression, as usual, revealed nothing of his emotions.
He attempted to match my stealthiness, even placing his feet where I had stepped but he unmistakably made noise.
My senses jumped like a frequency and I noticed the unforgettable trail of a Molduga. “Link, run! It’s right behind you!”
With a glance over his shoulder, his creeping turned to bolting. Sir Link ran but the Molduga moved faster.
I quickly took out my pack and a bow.
Thank Hylia for Urbosa.
I nocked a bomb arrow into the bow and fired on where the Molduga was. It made a high-pitched screeching noise and retreated into the sandy depths of the desert. Sir Link made it to the rock and I pulled him up.
“That was close.” I panted. “Are you all right?”
Sir Link regained his breath and nodded.
I swallowed and my eyes for a moment dipped to his abs and I quickly looked at his face. “Right then. Let’s head up there. It’s a bit of a climb so I hope you have some energy left. It’s too dangerous to stay down here when there’s a risk of monsters.”
Blushing madly, I placed my hand in a crevice that Urbosa had shown me the last time I was here to study the Molduga in person. We began the short climb up and Sir Link made it to the top before I did.
I heaved myself on top of the rock and started a checklist of everything we had. “Sheikah Slate: check. One hundred bomb arrows: check. Four bows: check…” While I rambled on to myself, Sir Link refilled the waterskins, acting like he was listening.
To check if he actually was, I added another item to the checklist. “Did I already say whether I had packed the knives?”
Sir Link shook his head.
So he is listening. Intriguing.
After I finished the rest of the checklist, I took the ax I brought and approached a tree. Sir Link stopped in front of me and gestured for me to give him the ax.
“You want to cut down the trees?” I asked curiously. Does he think I can’t do it? Or is he being a gentleman? Or does he just like cutting down trees?
He nodded.
I handed it over. “Then I’ll roll out the bedrolls.”
Unpacking both his bag and mine took less than five minutes and by then the fire was blazing hot. Sir Link gathered different fruits and vegetables along with some meat from his bag and threw them on a pan. He added a few spices, humming as he worked.
Sir Link is quite expressive for not being a talker. Maybe he’s mute? He’s not deaf. I wonder why he doesn’t talk.
“How much do you know about the Molduga, Sir Link?” I started up the conversation after he was finished adding the spices.
He put his index finger and his thumb close together.
“Ah, makes sense.” I quickly added. “Since you’re a knight and all in the castle, it’s unlikely you’ve ever encountered such a monster as the Molduga.”
Sir Link watched me intently as I talked.
“Well, I’ll give you a hopefully summarized version of what I’ve learned so far. That way, we’re ready to meet it head-on tomorrow.
I started talking with my hands. “The Molduga keeps to unpopulated areas of the desert so that it is not hunted or killed by travelling warriors as often. It also mainly preys on large birds, Electric Lizalfos, Fire-Breath Lizalfos and Chuchu Jellies. But it will eat anything that it senses the vibrations of. They normally get anywhere from twenty-to-forty feet long. I’d say it’s roughly about fifteen feet in height. The way it gets its prey is by burrowing beneath it,” I angled my hands down. “Then hitting the surface fast enough to jump straight out of the sand and snaps its jaws shut around its prey.” I clapped my hands together to imitate it. “From what I’ve seen of it, I’d say that a Molduga probably moves anywhere from twenty-five to possibly even fifty kilometers per hour.”
I rubbed my upper arm with a bit of embarrassment. “I’m annoying you, aren’t I? I can stop and jump right to my plan of how we’re going to kill it if you want. I get on a ramble and then can’t stop myself.”
Sir Link shook his head and his hands, gesturing for me to keep going.
I sat next to the fire, stunned. “Okay, um… well, its teeth are extremely large and sharp, scholars believe that they would battle these great beasts called Leviathans. The common hypothesis about the Leviathans is that they had very thick skin, and the Moldugas needed sharp teeth to pierce it. Leviathans supposedly hunted the Moldugas in packs but I’m not sure I believe it. Personally I think that since we’re finding Leviathan skeletons across Hyrule that they didn’t only hunt the Moldugas. But I guess we’ll never really know.”
I let out a breath, and shifted my gaze from the fire to Sir Link and back again.
Still watching. Still listening. Most would have tuned me out by now.
“The plan for tomorrow is fairly simple, I hope. I thought of it on the way over here.” Among other things. “Researching the Sheikah Slate has led me to believe that it has different abilities beyond spotting and mapping shrines. It carries these bombs inside it and also detonates them. I had to travel to the Great Plateau and complete four borderline dangerous shrines but I managed to unlock its abilities. The one we’ll be using is Bombs. It carries two kinds, round and square. We’ll be using the round one.
“My idea is that the round one will create the same vibrations you did that alerted the Molduga, but it will roll around slow enough for the Molduga to easily catch it. While it jumps, we’ll detonate the bomb inside. That should stun it long enough to use our bomb arrows on it. Splitting the arrows between us leaves fifty each, and we’ll probably only be able to fire about two rounds per stun. So we’ll have about twenty-five chances each. We have to try to make our bomb arrows count. If we run out, then it’ll come down to hand-to-tooth combat. Which means we’ll likely die.” I said, getting a small chill from the wind. “That or we use the bombs which will take forever and we’ll likely starve before we kill it.”
Thankfully I remembered to pack a spare blanket. I wrapped myself up in it. “Thank you, Sir Link.” He straightened, a bit confused. “For saving me earlier. I doubt I could’ve blocked those three knives with only my sword.”
He nodded with another grunt.
“I’m sorry for my father. I didn’t want him to send you with me. I intend for us both to get home safe, Sir Link. He really should not have sent you here with no idea how to kill that. I should’ve fought harder to go alone.”
A sort of solemnity settled on his face. “He almost hit you, Princess.”
“That’s normal. He does that often when I don’t follow his orders. I’m just surprised he almost did it in public.” I waved it off.
He didn’t look at me. “I was prepared to shield you from it before Lady Urbosa intervened, My Lady.”
“You didn’t need to. I would’ve taken it. He hits me because I’ll never live up to his standards and expectations… and I’m fine with that. Even if it hurts.” I brushed off his concern, even though it felt nice to be seen by someone who didn’t even know me.
Sir Link glowered before sighing. “It’s not okay, Your Highness. No one should be abusing you. Especially when you’re going to be the future Queen of Hyrule. It’ll mess with your reign and leave you with anxiety.”
“Personal experience, Sir Link?” I questioned.
“No. I knew someone who was and though they’re now dead, I still remember the vacant look in his eyes. The way he would deflect and pretend he was fine.” Sir Link took a breath. “And it’s just Link to you, Your Highness. Not Sir Link.”
Link, I mused thoughtfully. What kindness he shows me.
It wasn’t until I remembered the sacred sword across his back. “How long ago did you get the sword?”
“A couple of years ago in the Korok Forest. The King demanded I be tossed into knight training even though I was fifteen at the time. Most of the knights I’m around are twenty-five and up.” Link stared at the fire.
“We’re too young to be fulfilling a prophecy of this magnitude.” I mumbled. “You know what’s sad? I hate that sword. I hate what it means for me. It means that I’m no closer to unlocking my full power and more abuse at the hands of my father. I can’t even summon my power on command. I’ve been able to use it in small doses on a few dangerous occasions. Only because I was in distress. Now I can’t even use it.” My voice cracked and a tear streaked down my cheek and I wiped it away before Link could see it.
“I know that you’ll figure your powers out.” Link tilted his head, curiously and his fingers twitched.
“How? How do you know that? Or think you know that?” I inhaled deeply.
“Because you’re smart. You know every detail about a monster that most would have overlooked and not cared about. You care. And a heart like yours will find some way to unlock it.” Link gave me a weak smile.
I nodded.
“The only reason I have the sword is because there were different monsters that were getting too close to Korok Forest. We, with the King, were supposed to protect the sword from the monsters. The guards around me fell and the King was cornered. My weapon was halfway across the clearing. I pulled the sword to save King Rhoam and we beat the monsters back. All I thought about was that I needed to protect my colleagues, and my King.” Link admitted.
“I don’t blame you for anything. If anything, I blame myself. It’s my fault I needed a rescue, and it’s my fault that you’re here.” I sighed, pulling my knees to my chest.
Link countered. “It’s not. I chose to. I could have told the King no. Besides, I’ve dealt with worse than killing a Molduga from a distance.”
He’s comforting me, and he’s a bad liar.
I pressed my lips together and laid down on my bedroll. “Good night, Link.”
“Good night, Princess.”
Link:
I’m a liar. I’m a fool.
I stole a glance at the sleeping princess who shivered. Her blanket had been pushed away when she rolled over. I pulled it back over her and sighed softly.
I lied to her when I said that I only thought about protecting the King and my fellow knights. All I could think of was her. How torn up she would be when she found out her father died.
Zelda shifted and rolled over again, snuggling deeper into the bedroll.
Not only that, I broke rule number one of knighthood.
Don’t fall in love with the princess.
Zelda could talk for hours and I would listen to her. Hang off every word she said.
My eyes began to droop and I took another glance around to look for enemies before collapsing onto my bedroll.
Zelda:
I yawned and rolled over, trying to blink away my sleepiness. Link stood with his sword pointed down and a bead of sweat running down his temple.
“How long have you been up?” I stretched my arms and yawned again.
“Only a couple of hours.” Link said.
Sitting up, I noticed two things: food on a plate in front of me that smelled amazing, and a pile of bones on the other side of the fire.
“Are those monster bones?” I asked, a little shaken.
“Stal-monster. Just a Lizalfos. I didn’t let him get close.” Link stared at the trails left by the Molduga.
I unwrapped myself from the blankets and ate quickly. “All right. Let’s see.” I handed Link a bow, and a quiver of bomb arrows. “I’ll drop the first bomb, when I detonate it, we will each try for at least two bomb arrows to hit before it dives back under the sand.”
I hit the button and a blue glowing round orb appeared in my hand. With a breath, I threw it over the edge of the cliff.
It rolled around for a moment before I spotted a moving path. The Molduga slithered after the bomb beneath the pale sand until it vanished. It reappeared, leaping up and snapped its jaw shut around the bomb.
I detonated it, and the Molduga screeched again, collapsing onto the ground. Link nocked his bow and fired. I put the Sheikah slate down and let the arrow fly alongside Link’s. Link and I managed to only hit it twice with the arrows, instead of four times.
The Molduga disappeared again.
Fifteen bombs and seventeen misfires later, the Molduga still moved as quickly as ever.
“Thirty-six bomb arrows left. Sixty-four gone. Endless bombs though.” I panted as I nocked yet another arrow and fired.
“We’ll get it.” Link assured me.
Thirty-two bomb arrows left. Sixty-eight gone.
I threw yet another bomb down onto the sand and the Molduga leapt. I detonated the bomb again and the Molduga came tumbling down from the sky, smacking into the rock formation. The rocks shook under our feet and part of the rock formation crumbled beneath Link’s feet.
“Link!” I rushed forward but he fell onto the sand beside the Molduga. “No, no, no, no, no!”
“Stay there! I’ll handle this!” Link put his hands out against the Molduga. It bared its teeth at Link and bit down on air.
I slid down the side of the cliff, praying to Hylia that I would make it in time.
What are you going to do to stop this? Wave your hands around like a maniac and hope that something actually happens.
Shut up! I have to save him.
My head warred, whispering words of defeat. I did my best to tune it out and finally made it to the bottom, staggering forward from the momentum.
I face planted into the sand right in front of Link and got up. Link unsheathed his sword and pulled me behind him.
The Molduga hissed and leaped for us.
“No!” I pushed Link aside and bright light emanated from my hands consuming the Molduga and surrounding landscape until not even I could see it. When the light faded, the beast paused, shaking.
It collapsed one final time; dead.
Exhaustion I hadn’t felt before screamed at my bones. Between the stress of my father, and the energy of killing the Molduga, I felt completely spent.
I swayed and two strong arms surrounded me. They hefted me up and I wrapped my arms around Link’s neck. “I got you, Princess. You can sleep.”
My eyes closed on instinct and sleep took all control away.