The sun had not even peeked over the mountains before the news of the queen's passing had spread throughout the city of Hyrule Castle Town. The usually bustling town had come to a complete halt, aside from the messengers that had come from the castle bearing the heavy announcement. The streets remained empty during the morning as dark clouds had begun to cover the sky above with a gentle wind blowing through the maze of buildings. It felt as though all of the colors had drained from the capital, the brightest blues of the city's rooftops appearing as a solemn grey, mimicking the emotions of each person that heard of their wonderful queen leaving their realm.

The castle itself wasn't any different. Though its inhabitants had known about the queen's death long before the townsfolk, it felt as though her passing was, for the first time, real. The walls seemed darker than usual as the flags fluttered weakly in the wind, while its interior seemed even dimmer. Even though some sunlight came through the windows, despite the cloudy weather, and each candle had been lit throughout the halls; the castle felt as though there was a dark fog slowly creeping through every room and walkway. The maidens, knights, and royal guard all felt as though they were walking through water as realization hit them all: the queen was no more.

The fog had traveled up the corridors into the guest bedroom, where Arn and his children were awake, preparing for the long, grueling day ahead of them. Aryll, frowning and unenergetic, sat on the bed wearing a new blue dress as she continued her newly acquired habit of looking down at her knees. Link stood next to the large mirror, allowing his father to help adjust his recently adjusted royal guard uniform that matched his father's current wear. With a large hand, Arn brushed the boy's bangs from his eyes, pushing them behind his ear before placing the navy hat on top of his head. After a bit of minor adjustment, he allowed Link to look at himself in the mirror.

"How do you feel?" Arn asked, getting up from his knees to stand next to his son properly. "We match pretty well, wouldn't you say?"

Link simply nodded, staring at himself in the mirror. Arn looked away from the mirror, now directly staring at his son before turning back to see his daughter sitting lifelessly on the bed. He gave a depressing sigh as he looked between the two of them.

"Aryll," he suddenly called out. The girl looked up from her knees, turning her head towards her father. He raised a hand and waved towards him, signaling for her to come over to where he and Link stood. With sadness remaining on her face, Aryll slid from the bed and made her way to Arn's free side with Link remaining unmoved at the other. Arn lifted both his hands, placing one on his son's shoulder and the other on Aryll's.

"This reminds you both of your mother, doesn't it?" he asked the two. Both of the children nodded. "I understand. I know this isn't easy, but we must show our support for the Royal Family. Do you two understand why I brought you with me?"

"Because you couldn't leave us alone?" Link asked. His father gave a slight chuckle. At that answer.

"Well, that's most certainly one reason," he said. "However, I brought you for another reason as well. Do you want to know what that is?"

Both his children nodded as they looked up into his eyes. With a smile, he got down onto one knee as he looked between the two.

"I brought you two here because there is no one in this kingdom who is as good at putting a smile on people's faces as you two can," he explained. "You both are special, and there's no one else I would like to have at my side than my own children."

The retired knight gave a gentle tug on each of their shoulders, pulling them into a hug. After a moment of embrace, the three released each other before Arn stood once more.

"The ceremony starts at breakfast," he said, taking one of their hands in each of his own. "Let us make our way to the Dining Hall. And Link... try not to stuff yourself."

The halls of the castle were quiet as they made their way to the dining area. It wasn't long before others began to join their journey through the castle. Maidens, knights, bakers, and other ranks of the castle joined them through the corridors before they entered the Dining Hall. In the hall sat two large elongated dining tables, decorated with a deep navy blue that contrasted the usual bright blue of the Royal Family. Each seat was ready with small plates and fancy silverware, many of which were unknown to Link and Aryll who followed their father to three empty seats. As the little boy sat, he looked around at those who had begun to fill the rest of the seats.

It was not only Hylians and Sheikah that filled the tables spots with other races filling the empty chairs as well. Gorons, Rito, Zora, and Gerudo also joined them for the ceremony, each wearing formal garbs that suited their distinct cultures. While many in race, each had come in small groups of two or three; however, of each group stood a unique individual that had caught Link's attention. Of the Gerudo sat Lady Urbosa, who Link had recognized from the night before. From what Link could only assume was her connection to the Royal Family, she and the rest of her kind sat closest to the throne-like dining chair that sat at the far end of the tables.

Of the Rito sat a sharp-looking fellow, his navy feathers braided neatly behind his head as he sat with two other Rito next to him. His sharp green eyes eyed the rest of the tables as if inspecting any and every individual who sat in their seats to ensure they were worthy of attending such an important endeavor. Link noticed the slight raise of an eyebrow when his eyes landed upon him. Though it felt as though the Rito wished to say something, the moment his eyes laid upon the boy's father did her turn away in reluctant acceptance.

The Gorons sat on the other side of the Rito, sitting as comfortably as they could considering the chairs were not made for their kind. In retrospect, they were fairly used to sitting on the ground due to their unique physique. The Goron sitting in the center of them was bulkier than the rest of them, with a beard and spikey hair to match his rather rough appearance as chains were wrapped around his chest. Despite his appearance, even in these times, he did his best to keep one of the kindest smiles Link had ever seen, even from his own father.

And lastly, the Zora's sat just across the table from Link and his family. Two Zora's sat towering in front of them. With Hateno settled so close to the Domain of the Zora's, it wasn't uncommon to get a few visitors from the Zora tribe to Hateno. It was familiar to see their lengthy, scaly bodies as they could grow massive in size. Despite their usual tall growth, however, a tiny Zora sat in their center, her head decorated in the finest of silver. She seemed slightly nervous, looking around at all of the other tall races that sat in their respective places. Though it was clear she seemed uneasy, she took a deep breath as she placed a hand to her chest, allowing her nerves to settle. Of all the individual's Link had glanced at, this one had actually noticed his gaze. The two locked eyes before she gave a small gentle smile, waving at him before focusing her attention on the throne ahead of them.

Knights and the Royal Guard had begun to fill the room, lining the walls in synchronized steps before standing at place. Silence filled the room as the king and his daughter slowly walked through the large doors, the king's heavy steps echoing as they overshadowed the little girls that could barely be heard. The two made their way to their chairs, all eyes upon them as they walked. As King Rhoam stepped in front of his chair, he continued to stand as he waited for his daughter to take a seat before reaching down and picking up a glass filled with a deep red liquid. His eyes traveled from one end of the hall to another, he cleared his throat before beginning to speak.

"I appreciate each and every one of you for coming," he boomed, his voice traveling powerfully across the hall. "Before I begin, I must thank each representative that has come to attend this ceremony to support the Royal Family in such a difficult time. If each representing their respective towns could stand please."

With the sound of chairs pushing back, notably the Goron's being louder than the rest from his awkward size, the four stood at attention. The king nodded before continuing his speech.

"Revali of the Rito. It is an honor to have the best archer of our times join us today."

The Rito bowed his head, bringing a feathered hand to his chest before sitting down. The king nodded in acknowledgment before turning his attention to the Goron.

"Daruk, Protector of the Gorons. I thank you for coming," he said. The Goron known as Daruk nodded, bringing a hand to the back of his head with an awkward smile.

'It's nothin' really. She was a great Queen that will be forever missed," he said in a deep, but kind voice. "The boss apologizes for not being able to attend. You know how Goron's get at old age... Goron Shoulder, Goron Back... He really does truly apologize."

"As a man reaching his elder years, I understand," Rhoam said, raising a hand in understanding. "I welcome you all the same."

Daruk nodded before sitting back down at the table, taking a bit longer to adjust himself than Revali had. After Daruk had finished adjusting himself, he turned to the short, red Zora that stood at stiff attention.

"Mipha, Princess of the Zora," Rhoam said with a smile. "There's no need to be so stiff. Your father and I have long been friends. I welcome you to Hyrule Castle. This is your first time isn't it?"

"Y-Yes, Your Highness," the Zora squeaked out. "My father asked me to go in his stead due to his size. He sends his sincerest regards. I too, wish to tell you that the Queen will forever be in my heart. She has long reminded me of my own mother before she passed. And I know I'm young, so young that I just hit my growth spurt and..."

Mipha suddenly burst into a blush, a red just as bright as her red scales shining on her off-white cheeks.

"I-I-I just w-wanted to say that I want to be like her when I become Q-Queen of the Zora..." she said in a much quieter voice as she practically shrunk into herself. "T-That is all..."

Mipha quickly sat down, staring at her stubby legs in embarrassment, unknowingly receiving an eye roll from Revali. The king, however, merely chuckled slightly.

"I'm glad my wife is an inspiration to you," Rhoam said, raising his glass to her. "Though young, I see great potential in you. Just as Zelda here will one day take over as Queen, I hope that the two of you form a bond, and can assist each other when needed. I thank you for joining us today, Mipha."

The Zora nodded vigorously before the king turned his attention to the remaining standing person.

"And last, but certainly not least, Chief Urbosa of the Gerudo. A long-time close friend of the Queens, and a friend of mine," he said as he raised his glass to her. Urbosa simply nodded before looking down at Princess Zelda with a gentle smile, placing a hand on the girl's head.

Urbosa sat elegantly back in her chair, leaving King Rhoam as the last standing as he once again began to survey the room.

"And to the rest of you in this room, do not be mistaken," he called out loudly. "I thank, each and every one of you for attending today. As we all have known, it is with a heavy heart that I remind you that a few days ago my wife, Queen Zelda Nohansen Hyrule, has passed from this world."

King Rhoam closed his eyes and lowered his head, with everyone else in the room following suit. After a moment of silence, the king raised his head.

"To answer a question that is sure to come my way," he began again. "We have no known reason as to why the queen has suddenly left us. She went to bed perfectly healthy one night and refused to wake the next. While there are many more questions that need answering, such as how I will run this kingdom and what to do going forward, I wish to respectfully place these questions to the side for now as we raise a toast in celebration of the queen's life before taking her to the cathedral where she will be laid to rest. If you would please."

Everyone, apart from any children in the room, grabbed and raised their glasses in the air along with King Rhoam himself.

"To the life of Queen Zelda Nohansen Hyrule," he said loudly, echoed by everyone else in the room. "In prayer, we take this drink, in hope that her soul rests well alongside the Goddess Hylia and the Three Golden Goddesses themselves. In the name of Hylia!"

After another echo repeating the last sentence, the room drank. The feast didn't last long, as everyone had sat silently in respect of the king. The atmosphere, despite the attempt at making it a celebration of life, remained that of grief. Sadness remained in the air as the group, finished with their meals, filed out the room to follow a group of Royal Guards, dressed in their red and navy attire, as they lifted and carried the elegantly crafted coffin the Queen now rested in through the halls followed closely behind by the king and princess.

Rain had begun to sprinkle as a row of knights filed in front of the king and the guards that held the coffin as they walked out the castle doors. Following the line of knights, some holding spears as others held banners with the signature emblem of Hyrule's red bird on their front, a line of the guest from the Dining Hall followed as they made their way into the moist outdoors. The line slowly walked down the path, passing through the outer gates of the castle and down into the town. The once empty town had now filled to the brim with citizens standing in the streets to watch as the coffin, the King, and the rest walked by. Though most of the streets were crowded, the people left one street completely empty to allow the line to travel through with ease towards the cathedral. Some of the people held lanterns, while others held banners or flags of Hyrule into the air.

The line continued to travel through the streets before arriving at the entrance of Hyrule Catherdral. As the Royal Guards walked through the narrow path between the lines of benches, the knights filed once again along with pillars walls of the building. King Rhoam followed behind the guards as they continued walking towards the large statue of the Goddess Hylia that sat at the end of the building. The rest of the line filled in the benches as they flowed through the doors with some commoners sneaking in to stand against the walls with the knights. Link, Aryll, and Arn sat near the back to allow the maidens and workers who knew the queen better to sit upfront. The Royal Guards set the coffin upon an elevated stone platform just in front of the Goddess Statue before lining up on each end of the coffin. Allowing the king to stand in front. King rhoam waited until the room had settled into their places before beginning to speak to the crowd once again.

"It is time, for us to say our final goodbyes and give our final prayers to the Goddess before resting our beloved queen in the Hylian Royal Catacombs with the rest of our royal lineage. If you would please join me in prayer to the Goddess Hylia and the Three Golden Goddesses," he exclaimed before bringing his hands together behind his back and lowering his head. "In the name of the Golden Goddess Farore. In the name of the Golden Goddess Nayru. In the name of the Golden Goddess Din. And in the name of the goddess that connects our world with theirs, the Goddess Hylia. I pray that Queen Zelda's soul may rest in the sacred realm of the goddesses and watch down upon us as we continue living on in this world without her, knowing that even without her being here she is always with us..." he glanced over at Princess Zelda, who wasn't crying but had a face filled with grief. "... as she watches over us forever and always."

"In the name of the Goddess Hylia and the Kingdom of Hyrule!" a royal guard captain shouted.

"We offer you this prayer!" the rest of the royal guards shouted together, slamming the bottoms of their spears down sending an echo throughout the cathedral. It seemed as though the cathedral shook with their might as the walls shook after the echo. King Rhoam lifted his head, surveying his people one last time before continuing.

"Now then, let us-" he began to say, however, just as before the cathedral's walls shook once again, with dirt falling from its roof. Rhoam looked up at the roof in confusion before turning back to the royal guards, where the captain shook his head as a signal that they had not moved. Before Rhoam could continue, the Cathedral shook once again as a dull thud echoed through the room. The room remained silent as the people began to look around, the shaking now becoming increasingly more periodic. Link, still sitting on his bench, noticed that his father, along with the representatives of each race, had stood in response to the shaking. All turned their heads towards the magnificent doors of the cathedral, which had closed once they had arrived. As the shuddering became stronger, distant sounds of screams could be heard from the town.

"Captain," Rhoam said, turning back towards the royal guard captain behind him. "Go see what that is, and hurry."

The royal guard captain nodded before breaking away from the line as he hurried down the aisle towards the door. Link stood as well, grabbing his sister to pull her close as he looked around with furrowed eyes. He noticed Daruk the Goron, shifting awkwardly, but quickly through the benches before hurting over towards the tiny princess, standing in front of her ready to defend if necessary. Urbosa, already at Princess Zelda's side, had slightly raised her arm, her fingers brought together as if she were prepared to snap.

The guard finally reached the end of the aisle. It felt as though every heartbeat could be heard throughout the room as the guard opened the door, slowly walking out into the rain with his spear at the ready. After a moment, the shaking stopped and silence filled the room. The room waited in anticipation for the guard to walk back in. The silence continued.

After a few moments, the deafening sound of splintering wood filled the room as the guard was thrown through. He soared through the air before his back slammed against the stone body of the Goddess Statue. He fell towards the ground, landing on the coffin before rolling onto the ground at the king's feet. The king looked down to see the unconscious captain, however, it wasn't long before a scream pulled his attention away. A large hand had burst through what remained of the large doors. It grabbed the archway before pulling its head in. The blue beast had a large, lengthy snout nose along with a singular long horn protruding from its head. With a violent shake of the cathedral, the gigantic beast stepped inside as it roared, seemingly eyeing not the coffin, but the little girl behind the Daruk and Urbosa.

People screamed as they rose from their seats, trying to head away from the doors and towards the Goddess Statue. The beast advanced, raising its massive club before bringing it down upon the wooden benches, allowing another deafening crack of splintering wood to fill the room.

"Daruk! Guard the princess with your protection ability!" Link heard someone shout. He looked up to see his father, holding a sword in one hand as he shielded his kids from the flying wood as he quickly shouted orders. "Urbosa! Be ready to finish with lightning! Revali, prepare a shot to aim between the eyes on my signal! I want all Royal Guard members to surround the king! Knights of Hyrule defend the people!"

"Yes, Captian!" the guards and knights called out. With a slam of his fist, Daruk had a powerful orange dome around himself and the princess. Revali had already had a bow aimed and ready while Urbosa had her fingers raised. The royal guards surrounded the king as the knights guided the people to the back of the cathedral. Arn looked down to see a shield had fallen from the unconscious captain's back and now lay on the floor at his heels. He quickly grabbed the shield before raising it high in preparation. He quickly looked back at his son.

"Link!" he shouted. "Stay here! Do not move! Protect your sister!"

Link nodded as his father darted forwards, grabbing the attention of the beast in front of him. The beast gave a violent roar before raising its club. With incredible strength, the moblin brought down its thick, wooden weapon to smash the retired captain to death.

"Papa!" Link shouted, however, Arn smiled. With incredible speed, he brought his shield up, smacking the beast's weapon away. The moblin flew back, losing its balance from the force of the parry.

"Revali!" Arn shouted. With a release of the bowstring, Revali's arrow fired through the air, striking the monster directly between the eyes. The moblin stumbled back even further, dropping its club as it began to fall back through the archway. However, before it could completely lose its balance, the beast grabbed each side of the doorway, saving itself from its fall. Arn clicked his tongue.

"Not enough," he called back. "We need something more!"

Just as he shouted for a call of assistance, a blur of red flew past him. With incredible speed, the tiny stuttering Zora from before had darted ahead, with an elegant spear in hand. Stopping just before the beast, Mipha jabbed at its front, delivering a barrage of attacks. The moblin groaned, losing its balance as it fell through the doorway and onto its back. Arn ran forward, jumping onto its stomach before delivering the finishing blow to its chest. With a cry of pain, the moblin's body became limp before turning into a cloud of purple steam, leaving behind a pile of leftover body parts in the rain.

Arn pulled his sword up from the moist ground, looking around for any sign of another monster. With a deep sigh, he let the sword hang loosely at his side before wiping rainwater from his brow. He turned back towards the doorway of the cathedral, noticing the young Zora still standing in its wake.

"A spear?" he asked, looking down at the Zora-crafted weapon. "You've got skills. Familiar skills might I add. Were you trained by Muzu?"

"Y-yes..." Mipha answered. "Though I... still have a lot to learn. My ability is more suited towards healing."

"Then you best attend to that captain," Arn said, turning back to head into the cathedral. Mipha's eyes grew wide, realizing that someone was hurt.

"Yes, of course!" she said as she hurried inside, followed quickly afterward by Arn.

"Is everyone alright?" King rhoam billowed, receiving a murmur of an answer. Mipha rushed to the unconscious captain's side, raising her hands as a faint light and what seemed to be tiny bubbles began to form under her palms. Link, still holding his sister tightly, looked around before spotting Princess Zelda, free from Daruk's defenses, and was now clinging helplessly to Urbosa's arm.

"Arn!" Rhoam called out as Link's father walked forward. "Any explanation as to what that was?"

"None that I can think of," the retired knight answered, pulling his hat off of his head to reveal ahead of greying, shaggy hair. "There's much that doesn't add up. It was blue instead of its usual red color, and even if there was a moblin coming this way, the town's entry guards should have sent a signal. And even if they couldn't, it shouldn't have gotten through the gates-"

"It was summoned here by the power of malice," a voice came from behind Arn. He turned, along with the king focusing on the source of the voice. Standing in the aisle coming towards them were seven older Sheikah, all dressed in traditional, dark clothing of their kind. "It is a sign... a sign Calamity Ganon is due to return."

"Calamity Ganon?" the king asked. "What is this Calamity? What do you know of it?"

"Calamity Ganon is a being that has been kept a secret of the Royal Family for the last ten thousand years since his previous return," another of the seven Sheikah said. "He is a being of mass destruction, the reincarnation of pure anger and greed."

"Why wasn't I told of this before?" Rhoam asked, balling his fist in anger. "I am part of the Royal Family; This could have been prevented-"

"You do not have the Blood of the Goddess," answered another Sheikah. "There is a reason the Calamity is a well-kept secret. Even now, we can't release too much information to you. Now, however, is time to prepare. The death of the Queen and the arrival of malice is no coincidence. We have no choice but to entrust the knowledge of the Calamity to you."

"What threat does this Calamity pose to the kingdom of Hyrule?" Rhoam asked deeply. The seven individuals stood silently for a moment before all speaking at once:

"Complete annihilation."

"Can our current army stop it?" he asked. The Sheikah shook their heads.

"With how you stand now, you have no chance of defeating the Calamity," another Sheikah said. "There are two things you must have. First, the legendary sword of old: The Sword That Seals the Darkness."

"The Master Sword?" Arn asked suddenly. "That blade is a myth, and even if it is real it hasn't been seen in-"

"Ten thousand years, when it was last needed," the Sheikah finished. "Second, the Sacred Sealing Power of the descendant with the blood of the goddess."

"If you're referring to my wife, then we might as well be as good as dead," Rhoam said bluntly. "If you're messing with me-"

"There is another," one of the Sheikah interrupted. "Another... with the Sealing Powers currently unawakened.

"Surely you don't mean-" Urbosa, who was now clinging tightly to the princess began, however, the Sheikah nodded.

"Yes. The current princess of Hyrule has the power to seal the Calamity," the Sheikah said. The building stood in paralysis, though a murmur could be heard amongst the people. King Rhoam looked around before raising a hand into the air.

"Everyone back to your homes! Knights of Hyrule, patrol the city streets to ensure there isn't a chance of another attack. Move!" he ordered. In a flash, people had begun to move out of the building. Soon, only the royal guard, the king, Arn, and his children, along with Zelda and Urbosa remained.

"I hope you don't mind me staying," Urbosa said, still clinging to the little girl in her arms. Arn nodded.

"I as well," he followed up. "I'm retired. If I must leave-"

"You both may stay," Rhoam said without taking his eyes off the Sheikah group. "Why must I accept what you're saying? You are saying that an ancient beast of legend is soon to arrive and we have to rely on a sword that hasn't been seen and my six year old daughter? You were the original council to the Queen before I became her husband yes? I thought you were just that: a council."

"We are a council, but not to the queen of Hyrule," one of the Sheikah said. "We are the council to the Goddess Hylia and her descendants. Just as the blood of the Goddess that runs through her veins, the blood of the seven sages that helped forge the Blade of Evils Bane courses through our own."

"My wife never mentioned anything about some, Sealing Power!" Rhoam roared. "What nonsense is this?"

"S-She told me..." a tiny voice came from across the room. Everyone turned to see Zelda, peeking out from behind Urbosa's legs. "Mother always told me... that we had a special magic. One that could help save those in need from any evil."

"Zelda... is this true?" Rhoam asked. Urbosa frowned at the heartbreak in Rhoams voice. Zelda nodded.

"Her mother was gifted in the ways of the Sealing Magic, though now that she has passed it will be tough for the young one to awaken her abilities," one of the sages said. "There is a way for her to do this, despite not having a teacher."

"Do you realize what you are asking of a little girl?" Urbosa said loudly. "She is six years old!"

"When is the Calamity foretold to return?" Rhoam suddenly cut it without looking at Urbosa. Her green eyes grew wide as she darted her gaze towards the king.

"It is impossible to pinpoint the Calamity's exact return," the first Sheikah said. "However, there has always been a pattern when it comes to Calamity Ganon."

"First monsters will begin to flood the lands in higher numbers..." a second sage continued.

"Then the Sword That Seals the Darkness will reveal itself to the Chosen Hero," another said.

"Finally, the purity of the sky will grow dark with corruption," finished a fourth.

By this point, King Rhoam had begun to pace back and forth.

"Are Zelda and the sword the only ones we can rely on for this?" Rhoam asked as he paced. "There must be something else we can do."

"There is, in fact, something you can do to help," the Sheikah answered. "However, it is up to you to find them."

"Find what?" Rhoam asked, stopping his pacing.

"The Divine Beast, buried amongst the land of Hyrule, and their Champions," they answered. "And the Guardians, buried under the ground along with their beast. Weapons of the past forged by our ancestors. They were considered too dangerous to use after sealing away the Calamity thousands of years ago."

"It is what gave birth to the Yiga Clan," one of them spoke up. "Angry that their research to save the kingdom had been marked as treacherous."

"The Divine Beast..." Rhoam muttered. "Guardians..."

"King Rhoam!" Urbosa said loudly, causing him to stop his pacing and look at her. "Do you realize what you are considering? Think well about this. If this is true, then there is nothing that can be done but to do as they say. But we haven't any proof other than a moblin appearing."

"There is more," the Sheikah said. "However, only King Rhoam must be the one to see and hear."

"Why not my daughter?" Rhoam immediately asked. "Right now she's the only key to this plan you have told us that we actually have. Why mustn't she see?"

"Because it is not her time," the sages said. "We would prefer to show only those who have the blood of the Goddess, however, you are our only option at the moment."

"If you wish to learn more, and find the path necessary to save your kingdom, then follow us," one of the sages said as they began to turn around, slowly walking towards the castle. King Rhoam began to walk after then, however, he quickly turned back to face Urbosa and Arn once more.

"I apologize for asking this, but can you two wait for me before you head home?" he asked. Arn and Urbosa both nodded. "I thank you. Guards... please do me the service of putting our queen to rest."

"Yes, your highness!" the guards called out in earnest. With one last glance back at the queen's coffin, Rhoam turned before disappearing through the doorway of the cathedral.

* * * * *

"What do you mean Zelda will begin her training tomorrow?" Urbosa asked, unable to keep her emotion from spilling into her tone. The sun had begun to set as she, Arn, and King Rhoam stood alone in the center of the Sanctum, the tallest tower of the castle. The rainclouds had long passed as now a brilliant orange light now shown through its windows. Rhoam, his back turned to the both of them with his hands placed behind him, barely turned his head to look at Urbosa.

"I mean, the princess of Hyrule will begin her training to unlock her Sealing Powers that rest deep within her veins," he said with his tone completely emotionless. "She will travel to the Spring of Courage and the Spring of Power in order to offer prayers to the Goddess. She will also have training here in the castle to accomplish as much as she can."

"And what of the Divine Beast they mentioned?" Arn asked.

"I will be gathering a team of researchers, Sheikah led, in order to uncover these beasts," Rhoam explained. "The Divine Beasts are somewhere, along with the Guardians. They are necessary for our success."

"King Rhoam," Urbosa spoke up. "You're... different. Tell us; what did you see?"

The king remained silent, refusing to answer the question. Urbosa, however, spoke up once more. 

"Your Highness-"

"I saw enough," Rhoam billowed. Urbosa stepped back, frowning at his sudden raised tone. "I saw enough. I'm sorry, but I cannot say what I saw under there-"

"Under there?" Arn repeated. Rhoam closed his eyes and gave a deep sigh.

"No more questions," he said forcefully. "My word is final. The Calamity Ganon will soon be upon us. Since the Master Sword has not revealed itself as of yet, it's safe to say that we have time. At least a few years. But as King, I have to do everything in my power to keep this kingdom safe. It's my responsibility, as well as Zelda's."

"But-" Urbosa began, however, she was immediately cut off once more.

"No buts!" Rhoam said almost threateningly. After a heavy silence came between them, Rhoam looked apologetically at his friend. "I'm sorry, Urbosa. But this must be done."

"I... I understand," Urbosa said, hanging her head low. The three sat in silence before Urbosa turned, beginning to walk towards the exit of the sanctum as her heels echoed throughout the tower. Despite her attempt at exiting, King Rhoam called out to her once again.

"I will tell you this," he said solemnly, causing Urbosa to look back at him, as well as catching Arn's attention. "My wife always said... that Hyrule Castle was more than just our home. I didn't realize how serious she was when she said that. Urbosa... I need you to trust me."

Urbosa stared back into the king's dull eyes as if trying to understand what Rhoam meant by those words. However, after what seemed like an eternity of silence, she turned her back towards him.

"I hope you're right," she said simply before walking away, exiting the sanctum and disappearing down the pathway, leaving the retired knight and the king alone in the tower.

"Why keep me here?" he asked Rhoam suddenly. "Why did you want me to stay? I'm getting old Your Highness. I can't fight as I used to; especially if this Calamity is in the following years to come-"

"It's not that," Rhoam said, turning to face the retired captain. "I want to say thank you for taking charge there in the cathedral. I also want to tell you not to worry. I will ensure you are not drafted into the ranks. You've done everything you can for these lands. I will not force you to do more."

"Thank you, Your Highness," Arn said, bringing a hand to his heart as he bowed. "I do still apologize. I wish there was more I could do." 

"Worry not," Rhoam said. "You are free to go."

"Yes, Your Highness," Arn said. With one final bow, he turned before following Urbosa's path. However, just as he began to walk through the archway, he stopped and turned back around to face Rhoam.

"Daruk, Mipha, Revali, and Urbosa," he called out to Rhoam. "I remember they said something about Champions. If my opinion matters... I think those four would be best suited for the job."

With that he began to turn back out, however, Rhoam called upon him one last time.

"You've heard legends of the Sword that Seals the Darkness, correct?" Rhoam asked. Arn stopped once again, turning to face King Rhoam. "How do we find the knight that's supposed to wield its power? The sages said that though their ancestors helped forge it... the spirit of the sword works on its own accord. Do you know anything?"

"According to the legend..." Arn said, thinking back to all he had learned about the ancient sword. "The sword chooses its master. It can't be found by anyone else but them, and when it's needed, it will show itself. I thought it was just a myth, but... here we are."

With that, Arn disappeared, leaving the king by himself in the Sanctum.

* * * * *

A week had passed since that day in the cathedral. Arn had taken his children home back to Hateno, where they were ordered to stay quiet about what they had seen at the capital. Despite these orders, rumors about the impending Calamity had already spread due to the witnesses who were in Hyrule Cathedral at the time of the funeral. It was assumed that it wouldn't be long before King Rhoam had to make an official statement regarding the so-called Calamity Ganon. Arn, however, chose to avoid any conversation regarding the impending doom, choosing to follow orders instead of add to the fire. As noble as it sounded, it wasn't the fire of outsiders knowing the truth. It was the fire that was noticeably burning under his own roof, and he knew it was only a matter of time before it finally reached him.

Arn sighed as his thoughts consumed him. He stood outside in the backyard, picking as many apples as he could from the tree he and his wife had planted many years before. He had decided to pick them in order to take his mind off of the impending question he knew he would be asked. The boy was only six years old. He wouldn't ask now, especially after the talk they had a week prior. At least, so he thought.

"Papa," a voice came from behind. Arn turned to see Link standing behind him, wearing his usual brown tunic and no shoes in order to feel the grass beneath his feet.

"What is it, m'boy?" Arn responded, lifting a hand up in order to take another apple from the tree. However, the answer that came from Link stopped his hand mid-grab.

"I want to become a knight."

Arn sighed once again as he lowered his arm, bringing his fingers to the bridge of his nose.

"Link, we talked about this," he said as he set down the bucket he was putting the apples into. "You can't be a knight just to be like me; especially now that the Calamity is a possibility."

"It's not because I want to be like you," Link said seriously. "You said that I should only become a knight if I have a strong resolve. I found mine."

Arn raised an eyebrow as he faced his son, staring into his blue eyes. To even his father's slight surprise, they were unwavering. However, Arn still grunted.

"You're six years old, Link," he said as he crouched down to the boy's level. "I doubt the resolve you would have found is-"

"I want to see Princess Zelda smile," Link said immediately. Arn blinked.

"Son," he said, stroking his beard. "If you want to be a knight to sneak into the princess's room again-"

"That's not it," Link said in an earnest tone. "The princess has to deal with that Calamity thing, right? She's going to be all alone. I want to do what I can to help her, and the best way to do that is to become a knight. If she's all alone... there's no way she can smile."

Arn kept his gaze locked onto Link's, however, the boy's gaze was unwavering. It felt unreal; unnatural even. It was almost unheard of for a boy to be this dedicated to someone, especially if they barely knew them, princess or not.

"Link, do you realize what you are committing to?" Arn asked slowly. Link nodded. The father took a deep breath, keeping his eyes locked onto his sons before getting up. He walked over to the shed behind the house, unlocking it with the key before stepping inside. After a moment of shuffling, he returned to the backyard, holding two wooden swords in his hands.

"If you can impress me, then I'll let you go into training," Arn said, handing the boy a wooden sword. Though it was a simple, average-sized practice weapon, it seemed as though it were a two-handed greatsword in Link's hands. Arn placed a hand behind his arm, holding the wooden sword lazily at the ready. "Ready up... you can do it."

Though Arn was slightly making fun of his son, knowing that there was no way a boy of six years old would know how to properly hold a sword, to his utter amazement Link got into a stance, and it was perfect. As if it were natural instinct, the boy had adjusted the oversized longsword to fit his body, using it as a claymore. Arn furrowed his eyes in curiosity before getting into a more proper stance.

"Come, Link," he said. "Try to hit me."

In a flash, Link was already closed in on his father. With incredible speed and accuracy, the tip of the wooden sword was headed for his father's side. Just barely, Arn was able to deflect the blade, however, he quickly help his hand up in pause.

"Stop! Stop right there!" Arn said, placing his practice sword onto the ground as he got on his knee. "Link, where did you learn how to do that?"

"It's just... natural," Link said, confused as to why they had stopped. "Can't everyone do that? That's how I see you fought back at the castle."

"No... Not everyone can do that..." Arn said in disbelief. He looked between the sword in his son's hand and back into his eyes. With a final deep sigh, he asked Link in a tone more serious than he ever had before. "Are you sure you want to be a knight?"

"Yes, Papa," Link answered immediately. His father slowly nodded before reaching over to take the wooden sword from the grass it had been placed in. In a proper stance once more, he prepared himself for his son's attack.

"They open up knight's training at ten years old," Arn said. "You've got four years to prepare under my guidance. Don't expect this to be easy."

Link's eyes lit up as he prepared his own stance.

"Yes, Papa!" he said, however, Arn shook his head.

"No," he said. "That's Captain to you."

Link's face filled with surprise for just a brief moment before smiling as he prepared his stance once again.

"Yes, Captain!"

..........................................................................

I'm sorry for any spelling errors in this one! If you see any, let me know in the comments!

Kenny Boi