Before the Calamity

As the throne room buzzed, the air felt thick with excited whispers and frantic feet. The young princess glanced from side to side as she watched the researchers and court officials from all over Hyrule settle in their respective seats, shaking their heads and rubbing their hands as their chatter overwhelmed the atmosphere. Her father sat behind her, next to the queen’s throne, while she stood at the balcony, stiffly watching the chaos below.

She brushed her long, thick hair over her shoulders as she awaited her friend’s return, along with the other technologists who had advanced the research into the Divine Beasts and Guardians. The room only bustled because there was a rumor they had completed excavations on the four large mechanical structures, which would be vital for their success, and no doubt simply incredible to witness. Sighing, she turned her gaze towards the legion of soldiers making rounds among the noise, checking memos and identities of those attending the meeting.

The strange knight caught her eye. She knew he would be there, but when wasn’t he there? He was one of the most important people in Hyrule, if not the only one. He stood still, hand on the hilt of his sacred blade without blinking. Curious, she stared down at him with the Master Sword, the rarest weapon in all of Hyrule, forged in ancient dragon’s breath and once said to be a spirit sent by the goddess herself. She removed her distracted glare before he could notice, and just as she turned back towards the main hall, Impa, the royal advisor and her long-time friend, gracefully entered the room, followed by her older sister, Purah, and another scientist, Robbie.

She bowed to the princess and her father, King Rhoam, and the room hushed immediately at her entrance. They were all waiting. The room grew eerily quiet and the king stood, sharing the same anticipation as Princess Zelda, who moved to the side as he stepped forwards.

“Lady Impa,” he said with his voice low, bowing his head with respect towards the young Sheikah.

“Your Majesty,” she replied, curtsying to the royal family.

The other Sheikah following her bowed, offering their regards as the king kept his chin high, glaring down below. “Is it true? Are the giants free?” Everyone waited impatiently, eyes bouncing from King Rhoam to the young woman. Zelda fidgeted with her fingers as Impa replied.

“Yes, Your Excellency. The four Divine Beasts; Vah Ruta of Lanayru, Vah Medoh of Hebra, Vah Rudania of Eldin, and Vah Naboris of Gerudo, have all been successfully excavated. Though in the Breach of Demise, we are still undergoing recovery of Guardians.”

Though her father was taking his time to think over this information, an immediate feeling of glee flooded Zelda’s chest. She pursed her lips to hold back her smile, knowing her father would disapprove of her involvement. King Rhoam nodded finally, and presented the question everyone was thinking. “Are these beasts ready for Champions?”

Impa turned to her sister, who gladly took the floor. “Check it, your Majesty! At the current rate of progress, I’d wager it’s safe to start looking for Champions to serve the Divine Beasts.” Zelda took a deep breath as she controlled her excitement, and glanced at the king.

“Father! I would like to be in charge of picking the Divine Beasts’ Champions,” she exclaimed immediately, unflinching in her confidence. Though surely he would condemn her behavior, a lot of the researchers knew of Zelda’s consistent contributions to the relics’ unearthed history.

He paused, rubbing his long white beard as she stared at him. “Daughter,” he began, his voice unsure. “You currently have another role to concentrate on. It would be unfair to ask this of you.”

“I insist!” she answered, glancing back to Impa. “I’ve been there since the beginning, day after day when I could, tending to the research. I would love to help. Please?”

Purah and Impa nodded, agreeing with Zelda’s statement. “I suggest it would be most professional to have someone of the royal family meet with these potential Champions, and none other than the princess would be ideal for this task. She has more insight than we can offer,” Impa concluded, lowering her head towards the king. “If that is acceptable, your Majesty.”

The room was silent as the king listened to the advice. It was true, a royal family member would bring more authenticity and pressure on the Champions, and only the best would dare try their luck. Zelda, his beautiful daughter, was one of the best scholars Hyrule had seen in a long time, and she dedicated more than enough time to these silly relics.

Though, seeing the determination in her eyes and the trembling smile breaking on her lips as she hoped for his approval had him guessing his own intuition. Perhaps Zelda was the right person for this role. “Alright,” he admitted. “I will allow you to visit the four Divine Beasts in their regions to find potential Champions, but, Zelda, you must return to your prayer when this is over.”

With an anxious wrinkle of her nose, she turned back to the crowd, who mumbled and watched her with accusing eyes, and her smile quickly faded. Impa continued, “Though we have suggestions of a fifth Divine Beast, it is nowhere to be found and no proof of its existence. They did not need more than four in the last calamity, so I suggest we drop that exploration and concentrate on what we have.”

With the mention of Calamity Ganon, everyone silenced, and Zelda’s enthusiasm completely diminished. The king closed his eyes momentarily, sharing the loss of morale, then turned towards his only child. “I task you with finding the Champions, and I trust you will work fast. There is not much time.” After Zelda nodded, he returned his attention to Impa. “Terminate the excavation on the fifth, and work with the current. We need to get the Guardians moving and I want to see all of our archers, soldiers, knights, guards and warriors training. Captain Link--”

Everyone’s eyes darted towards the young man with the blue blade, standing calmly even as a swarm of eyes followed him. He looked up to Zelda, then towards the king as he continued. “I expect you to keep training even our best ranks. You are my second in command of the royal army, and I need your skills to resonate with Hyrule’s representation. Because of this, I need you to check Zora’s Domain. There are too many complaints for my liking.”

A determined nod from the quiet boy was good enough for Zelda’s father, though she saw through his smug attitude. Did Link really think he was better than everyone else for holding such a crucial sword? Was her father not worthy of his words? Zelda shook her head, rolling her eyes. The knight’s gaze followed her, and she turned away quickly to avoid him.

“Professor Amadeus,” King Rhoam continued with the instructions. “Will you and your apprentice see if you both can gather any more fragments of the future? There might be something else we are missing.”

Zelda watched the two discuss, and she looked around the room as her father continued onto the only swordswoman above Link. General Getrian, royal commander and first in line, was an albino Gerudo woman with stunning white hair. Zelda had always admired it, even when she was a child, in contrast to her straw-colored blonde. Though Getrian rarely showed her face as she was clad in armor at all times, Zelda had known her for more than ten years, and knew her unique beauty underneath.

As her father finished a conversation with the great warrior, he began talking to Captain Soren, and soon the meeting was adjourned. As everyone leaked out of the main hall, the chatter faded and Zelda was alone with her good friend, Impa, and her father.

“Thank you, Lady Impa,” King Rhoam said as he walked towards the Sheikah with his daughter trailing behind. “Your insight and research is very valuable. And Daughter,” he added as he smiled to her. “Thank you too. I trust you in finding suitable Champions. And I trust you will put your own duty before your research after this.”

Both Impa and Zelda nodded, and he strode back into the castle as the two girls walked out towards the garden. “I’m glad you're safe,” Zelda said as they stopped near the gazebo outside of her bedroom. Her white-haired friend glanced at her as the two stopped in the shade.

“Thank you. I’ve also brought back the Sheikah Slate,” Impa remarked as she opened her satchel hanging from her shoulder. “It finally helped activate the Divine Beasts, but it still has its secrets. There’s runes in there, more we could unlock, yet I’m not sure how.”

Zelda took the stone relic from Impa’s eager hands as the two stared down at it. The princess’s fingers grasped the slate with excitement as she replied. “It responded to the Divine Beasts?” Impa confirmed with a brief nod. “So that does mean they are ready for Champions. For now. Are Purah and Robbie continuing the research into the functionality?”

“Of course. I will watch over the results, and report back to you,” Impa answered as the princess handed back the slate. She dropped it into her bag before tilting her head as she moved her waist length hair behind her shoulders. “Um, Princess,” she began, eyeing Zelda with concern. “Who are you thinking of enlisting? For the beasts.”

The princess looked out over the mountains of Hebra and Gerudo, enjoying the cool breeze on the warm day. She fondly revealed, “Of course, Chief Urbosa of the Gerudo, to pilot Naboris.”

“I hope that’s not nepotism,” Impa advised, her glare on Zelda intensifying. The princess shot her a sneer and Impa corrected her words. “I know she’s a great warrior, but she’s important to her community and people. They won’t be willing to risk a chief, and tensions with the Gerudo aren’t good. They won’t sit well with us trying to--”

“Impa,” Zelda groaned, narrowing her eyebrows as she glared, clearly annoyed with her friend’s counsel. “I know perfectly well how the Gerudo will respond. But it is up to Urbosa, not them.”

“Is it fair to ask this of her?”

“Is it ignorant to not?” Zelda responded, folding her arms. “She is my first choice.”

Impa let out a sigh as she nodded, knowing arguing with Zelda was often a fight not worth engaging. The princess was extremely stubborn, and whatever she said usually went. “Okay, what of the others?”

“I’m not sure for Medoh. There’s rumor of a Rito in Hebra who has unmatched skills, but I had never heard of him until recently. I can’t remember his name, but I have it in my notes. I’ll interview him, perhaps, and then for Ruta, perhaps Princess Mipha? I’m not sure how willing she will be, or her father.”

“The Zora princess is a healer, but she is a warrior too. I’ve seen her skills with the spear, but her father is overprotective. We’ll have to see.”

“I agree.”

“And Vah Rudania?”

Zelda took a moment to think as she thought of the limitless Goron options. Gorons, strong rock-like creatures of the Eldin Volcano, were all impressive to her. But there was one who was taller, larger, and even wielded magic barriers to protect himself. “Daruk.”

Impa listened for a moment, and she nodded. “I think he is a great option, though he is quite a strange creature.” They shared a giggle as Zelda nodded. “He might need more training than the others, but Lady Urbosa should do fine, and Princess Mipha… Her father will likely not approve.”

As she listened to her advice, Zelda closed her eyes. “I think so, too. But he will come around when he realizes what is at stake. He will lose both his children if Ganon is set free.”

With a small shrug, Impa followed Zelda’s gaze out towards the highlands. She hesitated before she decided to bring up the Hylian knight. “He might be persuaded by the presence of Captain Link.”

At the mention of the boy with the blue blade, Zelda grimaced. “I highly doubt it. He’s not that impressive like everyone insists.”

“He is the final Champion, Your Majesty.”

Majesty? Zelda playfully smacked Impa’s arm, rolling her eyes. “Don’t pull those titles with me, Impa,” she warned, and the girls laughed together for a moment. “You are my friend, not my advisor.”

“I am both, but as your friend I must advise you as well.”

The princess sighed, knowing sooner or later Link would cross her path permanently. “I know his destiny… and the fate he and I share together, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

Impa placed her hand on Zelda’s back and gave her a comforting rub, acknowledging the weight over the princess’s shoulders. She was not only trying to fill her mother’s shoes as queen, but her historical role as a goddess reborn into the form of a mortal. Goddess Hylia had yet to deliver her half of the bargain, and Zelda stood, hands empty of her hereditary gift.

“I hope these Champions are the right choice,” Impa sighed as she turned away. “This is all moving so fast. When are you leaving?”

“When they all reply. It could be a couple of days, but I will write personally to each of them.”

The princess’s royal advisor put her hands on her waist as she frowned. “Well… alright. You’ll ask Captain Link, formally as well, won’t you?”

The princess stiffened. “I suppose I will have to,” she sighed.

A strange silence sat between them as they watched each other. Impa felt she would have to be there for the situation, just to make sure Zelda didn’t say anything out of line. Just as she was stubborn, she was blunt. “I will join you, but for now I must return to Purah. I hope you can forgive my leave.”

“You are dismissed. You can continue the research on the Sheikah Slate.” As Zelda waved her away, she added playfully, “Ask Purah if she has a better name for it." Impa curtsied with a smirk. Zelda watched her quickly disappear into the castle at a pace Zelda couldn’t match wearing her gown, and suddenly she was alone. Only the breeze kept her company now, and she strolled out into the sun, feeling the heat beat down on her hair and back as she crossed the soft grass towards her bedroom.

Inside, she undressed from her crown and finally into something more comfortable. She settled at her desk beside her large bookcase and looked over her notes about the Divine Beasts, and now she could finally write, “Accessible. Looking for suitable Champions. Thoughts of Urbosa, Mipha, Daruk, and… Revali.”

She quickly began her individual letters to the four chosen, asking if they would be willing to serve Hyrule in a way no one had served in over ten thousand years. She finished easily, keeping it short and sweet. As she sealed the envelopes, she closed her eyes. “You’ll see, Father. This is the only way to defeat Calamity Ganon.”