The Legend of Zelda – The Movie

Absolutely do NOT have the rights to these Nintendo characters. It’s a writing exercise!

1.

EXT.  Day.

A rapid, bird’s eye view of an epic high fantasy medieval kingdom of rolling fields, deep forests, lakes and villages (and the edge of deserts and mountains) with a huge walled city with a castle in the centre. We pull away from this spot and focus on a distant, unremarkable bit of friendly-looking forest. As we zoom in closer to the land, we see a single inelegant wooden carriage being pulled by two horses (one brown, the other an odd shade of turquoise) on a well-trodden path that cuts through the woods.

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2.

INT. Day.

Inside the back section of crowded carriage full of boxes and supplies are many happy and active but completely silent children (ages five to twelve), bouncing off the walls and even ceiling [one is feebly playing the ‘Legend of Zelda’ main theme on an ocarina]. The one closest to an adult (Link) is eighteen and is sleeping while sitting cross legged, an open storybook in his lap, his head bobbing up and down, until the carriage goes over a bump and everything shakes. He wakes up with a start.

Sahasrahla (off-screen)

Sorry!

One of the children (Malo) is looking at Link, half disapprovingly.

Malo (speaking via sign language)

You read storybook all night again?*

[*-subtitles for Link and the children are never grammatically smooth, and when many of them are talking at once, the text appears a bit haphazardly along the bottom of the screen for effect of chatter]

Link (signs, while smi ling)

No. Not all.

Malo (signs)

You lie bad.

Sahasrahla (off-screen)

Okay! We’re here! Let’s get ready!

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3.

EXT. Day.

The old man (Sahasrahla) who was driving has stopped the carriage in a clearing, but in the distance between the trees you can see some nearby buildings and homes (nothing big or fancy, it is clearly as small village). There is a creek close by.

He slowly climbs down and walks alongside the carriage. Printed on the side in fancy font is ‘The Wonders and Acts of Wizard Sahasrahla and His Little Kokiri Children’*.

[*-if it is written in an in-universe symbol language instead of recognizable letters, have the words translated as sub-titles]

When he reaches the back of it, Link is already helping the kids out of the back of the carriage.

Sahasrahla

We’ll have to hurry the set up, those horses were dawdling over the bridges. Epona is good, but Horatio is damn fool about water and everything else.

Link (signs)

Ok.

Sahasrahla

And glove.

Link looks slightly annoyed, but takes a fingerless glove out of his pocket and puts it over his left hand.

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4.

EXT. Day.

In the clearing Link is setting up some wooden creates and ropes tied at each end to make small circles and hoops. Some are placed on the ground, others are hung from nearby branches. The children are putting on identical green clothes as uniforms. Link eventually does as well.

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5.

EXT. Day.

Sahasrahla, Link and the children are performing for a crowd of villagers, maybe fifty or so. Some of it is dance, some of it is acrobatics, some of it is Link shooting an arrow perfectly through some hoops.

Sahasrahla

And now our young friends here will perform a wonderful medley of some of the best known songs in Ordon Valley!

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6.

EXT. Day.

Among the villagers watching, there is a man (Russ), his son (Colin, who has a bad haircut), and a neighbour (Barnes). Close by in the crowd are three shady, unkempt looking characters.

Colin

Will there be singing?

Russ

No, Colin, these children can't speak. They're a bit different.

Barnes (mumbling)

They're called petrifieds.

Colin looks up at his dad, confused, and the dad momentarily glares at Barnes.

Russ (to Colin)

That's the name some people call them. The healers say it is because of something that happened when they were very young. Something that scared them so much they can't speak.

Colin

How do they know what to do if they can't talk to each other?

Russ

They do it by making gestures. (pointing to the performance) See? That means 'come here', I think. That looks like it means 'go up'.

Colin

Are there moves for all the words?

Russ

Some of them we all use, right? Like 'hi' (he waves) and 'thank you'. (a simple, roll of the hand/forearm in front of the chest)

Colin

So they would know that?

Russ

You can find out.

Colin makes both gestures at the performing children, and some of them make the same happy gestures back.

Sahasrahla

Ladies and gentleman, let's hear it once more for my little Kokiris!

The audience polite applauds. Some of the troupe members go around with small cups and people place coins in them. One of the children in the audience (Fado) is frowning.

Fado

They aren't real Kokiris! Real ones live in a secret forest and can never leave!

Sahasrahla

Right you are, that's the story, but let me ask you young man, have you ever seen a kokiri?

Fado

No...

Sahasrahla

Then maybe they look just like you and maybe we're all in a great big kokiri forest! Maybe you've just seen the best show of your life and will now embark on a grand adventure, eh?

As if on cue, Link suddenly leaps through the air off some crates with his sword drawn and effortlessly slices down some of the ropes hanging from nearby branches. He lands right in front of Fado and catches one of the hoops as it falls just in time. Fado is speechless and in awe as everyone else claps, and the troupe bows.

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7.

EXT. Evening.

The sun is setting on the same spot, but with the staging area cleaned up, it’s just the carriage and a temporary tent that they put up for Sahasrahla to sleep in. The children are already asleep in the carriage, but Link is reading near the tent, and the old man comes over with a plate of food. While they talk there is movement in the forest nearby that they don’t notice.

Sahasrahla

We’ll leave for Mabe Village at dawn, make sure the horses are fed.

Link (signs)

We should go Kakariko.

Sahasrahla (speaks and signs)

Later.

Link (signs, annoyed)

Always say later.

Link goes towards the nearby creek with a bucket to get water for the horses, and Sahasrahla begins to walk around to the side of the carriage when he hears something, so he investigates. There are three thieves (who were in the audience earlier) trying to figure out how to sneak under or around the carriage.

Sahasrahla

You’re lower than deku scrubs if you’re stealing from children.

Thief 1

Then hand over the gold and we won’t have to hurt ‘em,  (trying to read the name on the side of the carriage) Sahar...shash...old man.

Sahasrahla

You were in the crowd. You saw how much money they gave us.

Thief 1

We did. I also saw some books back there. What's a slaver like you need books for?

Sahasrahla

I don't sell these children. I take care of them.

Thief 2

Don't try to act like you're some kind priest, old man. We saw the branding on your big kid's hand just now.  And here he is, right on time.

Link emerges from the shadows with an angry face and an unsheathed sword.

Sahasrahla (sighs)

Stop.

Thief 1

See, kid? He's trying to keep you from getting killed.

Sahasrahla

That's not what I mean.

Link is walking up to one of the thieves determinedly.

Thief 3 (pulling out a small knife)

You were tough against that rope, but how are you going to deal-

Link parries incredibly fast and uses the hilt of his sword to knock the knife out of 3’s hand and then elbows him in the face, and then spins around to punch Thief 2 in the face and then uses the hilt of his sword to gut punch him. Thief 1 pulls out a sword and Link briefly duels with him but disarms him quick and uses both swords to impale both blades against a tree while the thief is standing frozen in front of it. Both blades are super close to cutting the sides of the thief's neck, so he is essentially frozen in place in terror. After a moment Link removes one of the swords, and gestures with a tilt of his head that the thief should leave. The thief does, along with the other two, limping and scared.

Link and Sahasrahla watch them go.

Sahasrahla

You have to be careful. If you fight like a mercenary, you'll always be fighting mercenaries.

Link (signs)

Just trying to help.

Sahasrahla

And for Hylia's sake, always keep the glove on your hand.

Link looks annoyed at Sahasrahla as he puts his glove back on to cover the mark on his left hand. He makes a few un-subtitled gestures*.

Sahasrahla

They noticed, and they were fools with cutlery.

[*-there are times where subtitles are not used because the gestures are responded to by characters in a way that the audience can infer what the gestures were]

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8.

EXT. Day.

The carriage is going on path across a sweeping wide open field. Link is driving the horses, and the old man comes to replace him, and he goes into the back and the other kids are there.

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9.

INT.

The back of the carriage. To entertain the kids, Link uses a slingshot with small rocks to shoot out the back of carriage at random targets (leaves, knots in trees, bugs) with great accuracy. One of the kids holds up a wooden practice sword, and Link shoots rocks at it, which deflect off the blade to hit things outside. At one point one of the kids almost falls out of the carriage, and Link grabs him at the last minute with great reflexes. One of the kids tears their clothes accidentally and with some annoyance Link quickly takes it and begin to sew it up.

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10.

EXT. Day. Late afternoon.

In a different clearing beside a different village, the troupe is doing more or less the exact same show as before and it is just wrapping up, with the crowd applauding. Sahasrahla’s tent is already set up beside the carriage.

Walking out of the crowd and applauding with a big smile is a middle-aged knight (in white armour and sword at his side).

Eagus

Impressive! Wonderful!

The crowd and the children are both surprised that a knight is coming to address them all in the middle of the staging area. Sahasrahla looks particularly shocked and aghast.

Eagus

A wonderful display of youthful energy and talent! (to the troupe and the audience) While some of you may know me, some may not, so let it be known. I am Eagus of the Shiekah, and while I am on my way to the capital of our great land of Hyrule, I hope I will no longer be travelling alone. Sahasrahla, I ask of you, please bring your show to Castle Town to perform in front of the King and the Princess.

Gasps and cheers from the audience and the children.

Sahasrahla (awkward, unsure)

Oh, well, you are a very kind with your offer, but I’m not sure that-

Eagus

Come now, Sahasrahla. Certainly you won’t turn down an official invitation from a knight of the kingdom, will you?

Sahasrahla (almost through gritted teeth)

I suppose I am not one to refuse-

Eagus

Exactly! You cannot fight fate, Sahasrahla! Hyrule Castle is waiting for you and your talented children!

More cheers from the crowd and the children. Link looks very excited as well.

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11.

INT.

Sahasrahla’s empty tent. He walks inside it quickly, clearly angry. Seconds later Eagus enters, much more casually. Sahasrahla quickly spins around and punches Eagus in the face. Eagus stumbles back a bit but doesn’t fall over, and doesn’t seem upset.

Eagus (rubbing his jaw)

At least you still remember how to fight.

Sahasrahla

And you still have a very thick head. What are you doing? Do you know how many people might be out there, seeing you with us and putting two and two together?

Eagus

Fifteen years away from the temple has made you paranoid.

Sahasrahla

It's kept us alive. Say your piece.

Eagus (opening small chest he carried in with him)

You don't have to worry about eyes and ears that lurk in the shadows.  (places object on table) Soon they'll be all over the place in broad daylight.

Sahasrahla (carefully picking it up, shocked)

How far down have you been digging to find this?

Eagus

Didn't need a shovel. We found it in what's left of Owlan village.

Sahasrahla closes his eyes and takes a deep breath in.

Sahasrahla

I can go further afield, through the Gerudo desert-

Eagus

A Sheikah doesn't run.

Sahasrahla

I retired.

Eagus

You were given a mission and I'm here on behalf of the council to tell you that the mission is over.

Sahasrahla

It's not a mission, it's a life.

Eagus (sighing, taking more of a brotherly approach)

Sahasrahla, there's no reason to be so melancholy. You've carried it out admirably. It's time to see what the boy can do.

Camera temporarily pans through the tent to show that Link is there listening stone-faced, just outside. And then pans back inside the tent.

Sahasrahla (sighing, resigned)

He's never even seen the city outside of tales and paints.

Eagus

Well it will be a whirlwind of a day when we get there. The King swears the princess knows something is amiss.

Sahasrahla (murmuring to himself)

Wisdom...

Eagus

And we bring it together with courage. Although are you sure you're feeding him enough? He looks like he'll fall over as soon as you strap a breastplate on him.

Sahasrahla

Bringing them together might be the most dangerous thing we could do.

Eagus

Other than keeping them apart.

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12.

EXT. Early evening.

The carriage and Eagus (who has his own horse with a few saddle bags) travel along a river to get to the capital, which lies on the coast of the great sea. As the sun begins to set, they come across a burned out homestead. Link and Sahasrahla are both up top of the carriage driving the horses slowly past. The children are poking their heads out and around, curious.

Link (signs to children)

Stay, stay. Danger.

Sahasrahla

Down to the stones.

Eagus

There's been plenty of this up and down the coast.

Sahasrahla

They're travelling by water?

Eagus

Don't know for certain. Not even certain what 'they' is. Creatures like moblins or lynels, something amiss in the twilight realm, a madness that infects people. We've been in contact with the Zora about getting proper equipment.  Marine fighting is not exactly our forte.

Sahasrahla notices something in the ruins, stops the carriage, and starts to get down. Link quickly helps him.

Eagus

What is it?

Sahasrahla goes through the ruins and examines a skull. Link is already doing the same a bit farther away.

Sahasrahla

Did you pass through here recently? Before this happened?

Eagus

A half a moon ago thereabouts. All was keen then.

Sahasrahla

They're already bones.

Link makes some gestures. Sahasrahla makes a quick one back.

Eagus

What did he say?

Sahasrahla

No signs of animals. Like they're avoiding this place.

As the sun sets further, Link is looking through barrels when there is a strange cricket-like sound, and it's from bones of the dead monsters on the ground, reanimating and coming together to former skeletal versions of themselves.

He purposely makes a loud noise (banging on a barrel) to alert everyone else, because other skeletons are doing the same.

Link doesn't have his sword on him (it’s in the carriage), so he is using pot lids and barrels as makeshift weapons (they break quickly) to slow down the advance of the monsters, as the old knight is using his own sword to defend the old man and the children.

At one point Link grabs the arms of one of the skeletons to stop its attack, and pulls it off the skeleton's body. He's surprised at first, but then quickly uses the arm as a club, and after a couple hits it explodes.

Sahasrahla

Boy!

Link looks to the old man's call, and it's because one of the children has his sword, and tries to throw to Link, but it hits part of a broken wall, and lands far short of him.

The child winces, and Link sighs, shoulders drooping (played very lightly for a laugh if possible), because now he does this wild, acrobatic ruin over walls (almost parkour) to get to the sword as fast as possible, slicing the head off of a skeleton attacking Eagus just in time. Then Link impales it with his sword.

With all the skeletons taken care of, Link helps the knight up.

Eagus (muttering half to himself)

I remember when I was picking you up off the ground.

Link then goes to check on the kids to make sure they're okay.

Link (signs)

Safe? All safe? No worry?

Kid 1 (signs)

So cool.

Kid 2(signs)

Malo thought you were gonna die.

Malo (signs)

I thought not so such thing.

Kid 3 (signs)

I was so excited my shirt ripped, can you fix it?

Meanwhile Sahasrahla and Eagus confer quietly.

Eagus

You've shown him how to serve the sword well.

Sahasrahla

I haven't taught him anything about fighting.

Eagus (with a snort)

What have you been teaching him then?

Sahasrahla

How to be a good man. That's what I'm teaching all of them.

Eagus (a touch mocking)

Sweeter than a wild-berry...

Sahasrahla

Raise them right today and they won’t be thieves tomorrow.

Eagus

There's a coming darkness that might overtake everything from death mountain to the great sea, and you're worried about your parenting skills?

Sahasrahla

I thought I would have more time.

Eagus

For what?

Sahasrahla (getting back up onto the carriage)

For everything!

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13.

EXT. Night.

They travel through the night, with the children sleeping in the back, and Link and Sahasrahla switch guiding the horses at one point. Eagus continues to ride. At the switch, Link makes gestures to Sahasrahla. Sahasrahla smirks.

Sahasrahla

He wants to know if you’re tired, Eagus.

Eagus

Tell him a Sheikah is not allowed to get tired, Sahasrahla.

Link makes more gestures.

Sahasrahla

He’s telling me that he’s not deaf...(grudgingly)...and wants to know more about the Sheikah.

Eagus smiles at this and rides on ahead a bit.

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14.

EXT. Morning.

They travel through Hyrule field [with the appropriate Ocarina of Time music playing], showing the rolling fields majesty of the central region [including a ranch with a young woman (who could be Malon from Ocarina of Time) working out front and a portly, mustachioed man (who could be Talon) sleeping nearby].

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15.

EXT. Day.

Kids (and Link) are in awe as they approach and enter Hyrule Castle Town through a massive drawbridge that is already down. It is definitely an ideal sort of fantasy kingdom centerpiece, with spiral towers and huge buildings lining bustling streets full of shops and tightly fitted homes on second and third floors. Many people – from shoppers to tourists to beggars to everything in between – are all over the place.

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16.

EXT. Day. Sahasrahla leads them to a stable/inn (which is still right in the middle of the big city, with a small open area) where the owner, a friendly middle-aged woman [based on Twilight Princess's Telma], comes out to greet them.

Telma

Well look what the Lynel dragged in. The man whose name only his friends can pronounce. Hello, Sahasrahla. (glancing at the carriage full of excited children) You’ve been...busy.

Sahasrahla

Charming as ever, Telma. I actually have built an honest little business to-

Telma

Oh, I know. Eagus keeps me up to date with some things. (Turns to Link) Well hello, handsome.

Link (sheepish, signs)

Hello, ma’am.

Sahasrahla

Be gentle with him. (To Link) Eagus and I have matters to attend to before our performance. If you want to explore the city, do so, but be back by mid-meal. Understand?

Link (signs)

What should I explore?

Telma looks at Sahasrahla with a smile.

Sahasrahla (sighs)

You’ll find something appropriate, I’m sure.

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17.

EXT. Day.

In a montage Link explores the huge Hyrule Castle Town and is overwhelmed with everything [parts of the layout is similar to castle town in Twilight Princess]. Bigger markets, so many towering, architecturally interesting buildings, stores for clothes and armour and weapons and trinkets, gaming stands [one of them is run by a bored guy and it’s a battleship-like board game, similar to its appearance in Wind Waker], fortune tellers, statutes, cathedrals, etc. He is an ace at an archery stall, and is surprised that he is being given money for winning.

A young pickpocket/scammer (Linebeck) notices him looking like quite the rube, and sidles up to him.

They are now in front of a jewelry stand (run by a Gerudo woman) stand that Link is looking browsing at. As Linebeck talks to Link, he subtly pockets a jewel.

Linebeck

Hey man, you look new in town. You want to buy some of this stuff? It's easy to make money if you know how and the right people. You play the games? I know some with guaranteed wins. The owners got deku seeds for brains, you can see right through their chests with the right stuff. What do you say?

Link looks at him blankly, then tries to walk away, but Linebeck follows him, getting annoyingly close. A very bright, fairy-like looking bug is buzzing around Link all of a sudden and Linebeck swats it away.

Linebeck

Hey, listen! Come on, man, don't you want to know about this? It's a secret to everyone. You've got at least a couple rupees on you, right? That's all it'll cost. Double, triple your money, guaranteed.

Link stops, clearly annoyed, and makes an obvious rude series of gestures to him.

Linebeck

Hey, you know where you can stuff that dubious food.

Link (surprised, signs)

You understand me?

Linebeck (irked)

What, I’ve been around. I gotta talk to all sorts of people. (signs as he repeats) All sorts of people.

Link does a lengthy series of sign language gestures, excited that someone in the city understands him. Linebeck looks at him blankly.

Linebeck

Okay, I only caught half of that, chatterbox. You're some sort of babysitter?

Link looks around and sees a wall with posters promoting an upcoming performanceat the main courtyard. Linebeck notices this.

Linebeck

Need tickets for the big show today? I can get you prime seats. You'll be breathing on the princess's hair. No, no keep looking at the poster, take it all in...

But instead Links turn around because he notices two suspicious people advancing towards them.

Linebeck

You saw them? Really? Well, ignore those jerks. (Linebeck shoos them away subtly) Where did you say you were from? I know my way through all these alleys and sewers if you need a tour guide.

Both of them notice that now there are some guards walking and looking around.

Linebeck (patting him on the back)

Actually now that I think about it- well, look, it's been grand to talk, but I've got to- (Link grabs his wrist because Linebeck went into his pocket) -AAH! Come on, man. That's my quick hand!

Guards are suddenly running towards them (with the Gerudo woman pointing out Linebeck as the culprit), and Linebeck quickly goes over to a nearby sewer grate and pulls it open. Link watches this quite surprised.

Linebeck

So uh, yeah, like I said, good to meet you and all, no hard feelings, okay? Don't be a stranger. And I know you’ll keep quiet about me. (flips Link a coin) For those kids of yours, right?

Link watches him disappear as Linebeck ducks down and disappears down the sewer just as the guards arrive, not sure what to make of him and start to go down the sewer after Linebeck.

While Link explores the city, Sahasrahla and Eagus go to the temple (near or inside the castle) to have a meeting with the other Sheikah about 'the plan'. [Zelda tells Link this story about her listening in to the meeting after the two of them meet]

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18.

EXT. Day.

Link arrives back to the stable/inn, and kids are around the carriage, worried.

Kid 1 (signs)

You’re back!

Kid 2 (signs)

Where’s Sahasrahla?

Malo (signs)

We cannot endure another delay.

Kid 3 (signs)

Have to set up stage soon!

Link (signs)

Okay. Okay. Easy. Easy.

Telma walks out of the inn towards them and Link taps on the name ‘Sahasrahla’ on the side of the carriage.

Telma

Don’t worry, I’m sure he’ll be back soon enough.

Link begins to make more sign language gestures, but she calmly puts her hand on his wrist.

Telma

I won’t know what you’re trying to say, honey, but if you need to take a rest inside-

Sahasrahla then comes around the corner quickly, a bit out of sorts, clearly worried about something.

Sahasrahla

Sorry…sorry everyone. (to Link) I’m sorry. Are we all ready?

Link (signs)

Where is friend Eagus?

Sahasrahla

He's busy. Don't worry about him right now. (To children) Let's go everyone, come on, come on. It's time.

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19.

EXT. Day.

In the main courtyard (or an open amphitheatre) in the city, the different acts for the show are sitting around the sides of the central staging area. Above them are the bleachers for the ordinary citizens, and there is also the grandstand for the royals/nobility.

Link, Sahasrahla and the troupe, along with the other acts (such as jousters, singers, dancers, etc.) wait for the arrival of the royal family and their attendants, who are announced with pomp and circumstance (definitely a familiar leitmotif musical flourish by some court musicians).

Master of Ceremonies

Ladies and gentleman, please stand for King Rhoam and Princess Zelda!

Plenty of applause, as the King and Princess walk from a special entrance area onto the grandstand to look out onto the crowd. They smile and nod, but do not wave, and go to take their seats.

The Kokiri troupe is looking up at the royals, who are above them but actually quite close because they are next to the grandstand.

Kid 1 (signs)

See her? The princess?

Kid 2 (signs)

That's her?

Kid 3 (signs)

She's beautiful.

Malo (signs)

She's pale.

Kid 3 (signs)

You're pale!

Malo (signs)

I sleep in a potato sac. What is her excuse?

Link is looking up towards the grandstand with interest, a bit mesmerized.

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20.

EXT. Day.

The royal grandstand with the royal family and attendants, but we focus on King and Zelda. The former looking content and the latter looking distracted.

Zelda’s imposing-looking handmaiden Impa walks up beside the princess and hands her a harp.

Impa

Here you are, your grace, if you choose to play later with any of the musical acts.

Zelda (taking it)

Thank you, Impa.

But Zelda puts the instrument aside, and still looks nervous. The King notices this.

King

How are the ghosts?

Zelda

Father?

King

You look like you've seen one.

Zelda

I've just been...thinking.

King

And wandering around the east wing?

Zelda

You're having me followed?

King

I'm trying. (he smiles) They have a hard time keeping up with you. (She smiles a bit as well) After all, there are hallways and caverns in this castle I hope to never find myself in.

One of the advisors (Cole) goes up beside the King.

Cole

Shall we get started, sire?

King

Yes, Cole. The sooner, the better.

Cole nods to the Master of Ceremonies.

Master of Ceremonies

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our first act, coming all the way from the Highland regions…

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21.

EXT. Day.

Courtyard. Another act a bit later in the show, which is a singer who is singing a portion of the ‘Ballad of the Goddess’ [a song from Skyward Sword]. As she finishes up, two female dancers step forward and begin doing an odd, slow interpretive dance in tandem [Majora's Mask reference].

The Kokiri troupe watch this, confused and underwhelmed.

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22.

EXT. Day.

The royals watching this, not overtly bored, but not super excited, either. The King looks over to one of his advisors.

King

Cole?

Cole

Majesty?

King

How much longer is it to go on?

Cole

A moment, sire. (gestures to someone else and they whisper to him) Another six acts.

King (annoyed sigh, under his breath he suggests what he wants to Cole)

I hereby decree a short break after the next performance.

Cole

Of course, your majesty.

Cole sighs deeply but then stops and looks up into the sky and squints at something that has caught his attention we do not see.

Master of Ceremonies (off screen)

Ladies and gentleman, please bring your hands together for the Magical Kokiri Children of the Forest!

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23.

EXT. Day.

Large shadows appear on the staging area that are moving too fast to be clouds, but the Kokiri trope begins to step forward to start their act, and as one of the kids blows into an ocarina a dragon's/monster's roar is heard. The child is so shocked that they drop the instrument and look up and around.

Everyone in the amphitheatre (including Link) begins to do the same.

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24.

EXT. Day.

Above the amphitheatre are several dragons that have suddenly appeared, but that is only the beginning, because several black portals open up on the stage floor as well as in the stands.

People are in shock, and they begin to flee in terror when the dragons start to breathe fire and monsters with weapons begin to emerge out of the portals.

Sahasrahla (looking around)

No, not now. Not when- they had to know...they had to...

Sahsrahla sees Cole up in the grandstand and his face hardens in anger. But then he hears a bellowing screech and turns to see a giant, monstrous purple bird (Helmaroc) making a dive-bomb towards the royal grandstand.

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25.

EXT. Day.

The royal grandstand. Knights and guards are already trying to keep monsters from approaching, but the monsters come in a way that has blocked the escape for the King and the Princess.

Cole seems remarkably calm as he stares disdainfully down at Sahasrahla.

Cole

Fire down into the staging area.

Archer

But there are children-

Cole

And monsters that threaten the lineage. Fire.

The guards do so, trying to obviously hit the monsters, and there are already some soldiers fighting them down there.

At this point there is another screech is heard and the Helmaroc bird perfectly swoops in amongst the chaos clearly aiming to snatch Zelda, but Impa rushes forward to push Zelda out of the way at the last minute, and so the bird snatches up Impa instead and flies around the arena with her in its talons.

Zelda

Impa!

CUT TO:

26.

EXT. Day.

There is a massive fight between soldiers/kinghts and monsters in the courtyard as many of the acts have fled.

A human-ish monster tries to attack a knight, but their sword doesn't even dent the knight's armour.

Soldier (tapping his armour)

Goron-forged, monster scum.

He is then crushed by a massive club wielded by an even larger Cyclops=like monster [a Hinox, from Breath of the Wild].

Nearby Link is already attacking them with the bow and arrows that he would have been used for the show, and he also fires at the bird Impa trying to fight while its clutches, until it flies away.

Then Link grabs a nearby sword and shield from a downed soldier and begins to protect Sahasrahla and the children from advancing monsters.

Sahasrahla

The princess!

Link looks at him momentarily confused at an inopportune time as he is slashing with his sword.

Sahasrahla

Protect the princess!

Link (signs)

Princess?

Sahasrahla

Yes! There! You must! Go! I'll get the little ones out of here!

CUT TO:

27.

EXT. Day.

Cole notice Sahasrahla and notices the connection between him and Link. Then he turns to the scene in front of him, with monsters and guards fighting, the King and Zelda trapped and unable to flee at the moment.

A monster looks like they are about to attack Cole, but instead stops, sniffs him, looks him over, and then gives him a weapon.

King

Cole!

Cole (turning to the King)

I follow the strongest side. It is all I have ever known. Without power, King Rhoam, there is nothing.

King and guards go to strike Cole, but he quickly pulls out an amulet from around his neck and under his shirt and throws it to the ground. The black jewel in its centre suddenly shines brightly, blinding everyone. When the light from it recedes, standing in front of them, hovering right above the black jewel, is the spirit-like presence of an imposing man in strange black armour, wearing an imposing skull mask [the freaky Phantom Ganondorf mask from Ocarina of Time].

Guard

Ganondorf?!

Cole (practically murmuring in awe)

Silence your tongue.

Guard

It's not possible-

King (defiant)

By the goddess Hylia-

Ganondorf’s Spirit (dismissive)

Yes, I've heard of her. 

With superhuman quickness Ganondorf’s Spirit rushes up beside the King and effortlessly stabs him with a ghostly, ethereal knife right in the chest.

The king falls to the ground feebly, as Zelda backs away in shock.

Ganondorf’s Spirit (turns to a shocked Zelda)

Speaking of whom, my lady, we have business to discuss.

Zelda

No!

A guard tries to attack but goes right through Ganondorf's ethereal presence. Despite this, Ganondorf is able to grab Zelda's left wrist, and despite the fact that the princess is wearing long white gloves, the symbol on her hand seems to glow through the clothing.

Ganondorf’s Spirit

Raised for one thing.

Zelda

Let me go!

Ganondorf’s Spirit

Choices are a luxury neither of us have.

King (dying growl)

Thief!

Ganondorf turns to see the King weakly letting his blood drip over the black jewel as he holds onto it, making the jewels smoke and then crack.

Ganondorf’s Spirit

Clever by half-

Cole

Master!

Ganondorf's spirit is suddenly sucked back into the jewel, but he slashes the knife against the king’s chest as he passes by, clearly killing the king immediately in the process.

Zelda

Father!

The princess runs over to the King’s lifeless body, wrapping her arms around him in obvious grief.

While initially shocked at Ganondorf's suddenly disappearing, Cole recollects himself.

Cole

Grab her. Bring her…just…we’ll figure out what to do later.

The monsters rush over to Zelda, who seems oblivious to them approaching, but just as one of them is about to put an arm on her, that arm suddenly flies off.

Link has arrived just in time to fight off the remaining monsters.

Zelda (to Link)

Who are you?!

Not being able to answer, he grabs her right wrist and gestures that they should go off the side of the grandstand, down to the open amphitheatre floor below.

Zelda (still terrified)

Leave me alone!

More monsters suddenly approach, so Link releases Zelda and fights, and she escapes through the back of the grandstand while he does. Then he rushes after her.

Cole sees all this (but didn’t want to fight himself), and he sees the shadows of people approaching him, and he gestures to where Zelda and Link went.

Cole

Capture. Both. Alive.

CUT TO:

28.

EXT. Day.

A bird’s eye view of all of Hyrule Castle Town, being attacked and destroyed by monsters on land and from the sky. Plenty of smoke and fires as buildings are toppling over.

CUT TO:

29.

EXT. Day.

Link chases after Zelda, through the alleys of the overwhelmed, burning capital. There are people around fleeing the chaos, with monsters leaping on random strangers from above and below, with Hyrule soldiers and guards being overwhelmed.

Zelda narrowly avoids being attacked by some of them, and because of that runs into Linebeck, who was about to get beaten up by three other goons (Strutch, Dovos, Croo).

Linebeck

What the-

As the monsters lunge forward to attack them all, Link arrives to fight them off, and everyone is shocked.

Linebeck

Buddy! I mean, uh...pal! You're back! (notices Zelda) And you brought a-

Stritch

The Princess?!

Dovos

Princess Zelda?!

Croo

These your new friends, Linebeck? Or you just gonna stiff ‘em like you did with us?

Dovos

Think of the reward we'll get for her!

Croo

Come on princess, I got a place for you to hole up during all this.

Linebeck

Hey, hey, let's not get too hasty-

Croo (pushing Linebeck aside)

Any friend of Linebeck is a friend of mine.

Zelda (backing up, fearful)

Stay-

Link goes through Croo like a hurricane, throwing him against a wall.

Zelda

Away...?

Zelda looks at him in shock, as do the other gang members. One throws a rock at Link and he bats it away with his sword back at them, and they all run away. Link turns to Linebeck intensely.

Link (signs)

We go to Telma inn. The children. Show me where. Tell Princess she must follow.

Linebeck

The city's on fire, in case you didn't notice.

Zelda

What is he-

Link eyes thin towards Linebeck.

Linebeck

All right, all right, you can protect us until we burn to death. Yeesh. (mumbling) Telma might even have something worth… (starts to walk towards what looks to be a dead end, to Zelda) Your highness, apparently he's trying to play hero so we should probably go through here.

Linebeck steps on a particular stone floor tile and really put his weight on it for a moment or two, and wall rumbles to the side to reveal a secret opening.

Zelda

It's a secret exit!

Linebeck

Actually it's really popular for those of us who want to get around the city undetected real quick...and some shopkeepers have to know about it...probably a lot of the guards, too...and a bunch of kids, they'll play in here...so it's a secret to nobody...(looks to Zelda) unless you grew up in an ivory tower... (looks to Link) or inside a tree in the woods.

Link grabs both their wrists and leads them down the hidden alley. They have to avoid monsters and fights (including hiding from Hinoxes), and fires from crumbling buildings.

CUT TO:

30.

EXT. Day. They arrive at the edge of the open square of Telma’s stable/inn, and despite the fires and explosions in the vicinity, it is oddly empty and quiet (no horses remaining).

But there is Sahasrahla gagged and tied to a large stick in the middle of the square. Link looks carefully around the stand the three of them are hiding beside, noticing some shadows moving in carious corners of the open area.

Linebeck (gesturing to Sahasrahla)

That's bait.

Link makes gestures to Linebeck.

Linebeck

He wants you to stay hidden.

Zelda

Who is he?

Linebeck

He's not dead yet, so he's all good in my book.

Link looks left and right and then steps out of the shadows and walks towards the old man slowly. At the exact same time, several ninjas clad in dark red and black (except for white masks) step out of the shadows as well [they are Yiga clan members, from Breath of the Wild], and are already beside the old man.

Yiga 1

Looks who's here.

Yiga 2

He's the guy.

Yiga 3

Course he's the guy.

Yiga 1

Where's the girl? Cole said he's got the girl.

Yiga 2

Can't be far. He wouldn't bail on her. Look at that face.

Yiga 3 (putting knife to old man's throat)

If you don't tell me exactly what I need to know, I'll kill him.

Yiga 4

Don't bother.

Yiga 3

What?

Yiga 4

Look at him. He don't talk. He's one of those petrified freaks. (Mocking hand gesture) Can-can-can you even tuh-tuh-tell me to go to hell?

Yiga 2

Get him some paper then.

Yiga 4

You think he knows how to read or write?

Yiga 1

What are we gonna do then?

Yiga 4

We’re gonna make the old man talk… by beating this guy to an inch of his life.

Three of them rush Link right away and he has to fight all of them off. It is a very different fight, as they are using short blades like knives and sickles. Link has to adopt a different fighting strategy, but he does.

Somehow, not exactly intentionally, Link has Yiga 4 fall onto his own blade, clearly resulting in Yiga 4’s death.

Yiga 1

Master!

Yiga 2

No!

Yiga 3 (to Link)

You-

The remaining Yiga members look to each other, and then around, and then leap onto rooftops and escape.

Link quickly rushes to Sahasrahla, climbing up the large stick in the middle of the courtyard.

Zelda and Linebeck have watched all of this in awe.

Linebeck (excited, going into the courtyard)

He got him, we got him-

Zelda

Wait-

But Linebeck keeps going and she follows. Sahasrahla sees them approaching as Link removes the gag.

Sahasrahla

Stop.

Link (signs)

Children.

Sahasrahla

Telma got them out. (looking around) But Cole and…him… they just want the princess. Take her and go. Far. There is a place...on the shore...

But Link is trying to untie him.

Sahasrahla

Stop. More will come. There will always be more. Just go.

As Link gets one of his arms free, Sahasrahla suddenly raises it quickly to grab Link's shield and raise it slightly while still on his back so that arrow strikes it instead of hitting Link in the chest/shoulder. Link nods in thanks.

Sahasrahla

Just go!

But Link is already turning to fight as the surprise attack begins, with Link deftly avoids arrows while taking down attacking monsters.

Other monsters/attackers find and grab Zelda and Linebeck.

Cole (off screen)

This why monsters are preferred over men.

Link turns and sees Cole on a second floor landing overlooking the open area, holding a crossbow.

Cole

They don't overthink things. They don't second guess, or get selfish, or retreat, they just do exactly what you want, or die trying. And their stench makes them easy to follow.

Link looks at Cole, then at the monsters dragging Zelda and Linebeck towards Cole, then at the still-tied-up Sahasrahla, who is making subtle gestures to Link with his free hand. Cole notices this.

Cole

I don't have time for any last second plans, so let me make this easy for you. (gesturing to Zelda) She is necessary. (to Link) You are...noteworthy. (to Sahasrahla) He...is not.

Cole casually shoots Sahasrahla in the chest with a crossbow, and the old man makes a helpless wheeze.

Link makes strong, angry attacking sound, but Cole quickly aims it at Zelda, as the monsters drag her and Linebeck past Link and closer to Cole.

Linebeck

He won't do it. He said she’s-

Cole

Oh there are plenty of places I can shoot her to make sure she survives in agonizing pain. (to Link) Sword down, scrub.

Link – still full of barely restrained anger - looks around quickly (especially at the mortally wounded Sahasrahla), and then throws his sword towards the side of one of the close buildings to that it sticks in a wooden wall, blade first. Everyone watches, confused, as if it's supposed to do something. Link uses this time to quickly take out his slingshot to fire three rocks at the same time at the blade, which ricochet off it and go right towards Cole, smashing into and knocking the crossbow off target/out of his hand.

Cole

Ah!

Link uses this distraction to rush the monsters, throwing one of them in front of (but not at) Zelda so when Cole recovers and fires it hits the monster instead of Zelda. During that Linebeck runs over to Link’s sword.

Linebeck (throwing Link’s sword back to him)

Hey!

Link catches the sword and fights the rest of the monsters off, while Cole scrambles for a sword of his own from one of the fallen monsters.

Soon the two of them both have blades and are circling each other. Link has a look of pure anger, Cole is mildly amused.

Cole

You’re as fascinating as you are frustrating, kid. Are you one of his protégés? Training all your life for a moment like this? You’ve wasted your time. See, when my master arrives in-

While he is saying those words, they are still circling, and Link is now beside a wall with a rope that is holding up a heavy iron outdoor chandelier (or something to that effect) that is right above Cole at that moment. So Link uses his sword to cut the rope, which falls on Cole, killing him mid-sentence.

Linebeck (shocked)

What are you doing? He was going to tell us everything we need to know! 'In five days we will unleash hell at the Tower of Hera!'  You don't kill them before they start blabbing, you let 'em go on and on! Haven't you ever done this before?

As Linebeck says this, Link is rushing over to Sahasrahla, untying him, even though the old man's is clearly dying.

Link still tries to cauterize the wound.

Sahasrahla (weakly)

No…Stop.

Link (signs)

Quiet. Okay. All okay.

Sahasrahla

I'm sorry. I tried to give you a normal life. As long as I could.

Link (signs, almost violently in intensity)

You will be okay.

Sahasrahla

No listen...listen...

Old man is fumbling or something under his coat and shirt.

Link (signs)

Easy...easy...

Sahasrahla

I'm sorry...I can't...when we found you...

Sahasrahla weakly pulls out a piece of torn old cloth with a marking of three triangles arranged in a way to make a larger triangle. Despite being only a cloth, somehow the marking seem to shine with bright yellow light. Link looks at it, and then his covered left hand, and then stuffs the cloth in his pocket. Zelda is cautiously coming closer during this.

Link (signs)

Who am I?

Sahasrahla

You are...the link... ['the' is said very feebly]

Zelda (thinking it's his name)

Link?

Sahasrahla hears her and gets excited and tries to gesture her over.

Sahasrahla

Both of you...you must go...the observatory...on the shore...

Linebeck

Observatory? I know there's a lighthouse thing past Aris beach.

Zelda

It's not just a lighthouse, if the stories are true.

Sahasrahla

Below...there is a way...both of you…it is dangerous to go alone…

He dies, and Link grieves in the same position/angle as Zelda with her father. Zelda looks overcome as well, clearly thinking about what happened to her recently, but then she takes a deep breath and looks determined. Linebeck has been picking up equipment like bows, arrows, shields.

Zelda

I think I know who will be there. (to Linebeck) You said you knew how to get to the observatory?

Linebeck

Well the smoke and chaos is kind of throwing me off but if Beedle’s shop is…(pointing)… that-a-way, then we can start going north for a bit...

Zelda

I don't think the streets are going to be the safest-

Linebeck

Oh I don't mean the streets. (he uses all his strength to push open a nearby sewer grate) After you, your highness. Do mind the sewage.

Link rushes up to them making a wild gesture.

Zelda

He's saying something...

Linebeck sees it, and looks in one direction and is shocked.

Linebeck

He's saying go, go, go!

A giant, screaming giant ogre on fire (a Hinox) in a panic pushes over a building around them, and Link leaps down into the sewer without a thought and pulls Zelda down quickly with Linebeck not far behind.

CUT TO:

31.

INT.

The sewers. The three of practically tumble into a pool of dirty water, and they all get up a bit dazed, because it’s dark and there’s not much ceiling.

But then there’s a rumble from the surface above, and the ground collapses as the Hinox tumbles into the sewers through the giant hole it made.

Linebeck

Woah...

The entire sewage system begins to crumble, and they have to outrun its collapse. Suddenly they don’t seem to be alone, as a huge, disgusting (and terrified) eel monster is behind them and also trying to escape (and bite at them).

Link keeps shooting arrows every so often to slow the creature down, and soon a cascade of water catches up with them and they are on like a terrifying water slide through the sewers underneath Hyrule Castle Town.

Eventually the sewer section they’re in breaks completely, but perfectly at a spot that spits them out on the sandy beach area (but still dark and ominous because it's close to the fiery and smoking city).

CUT TO:

32.

EXT.

Day. Since water has been spilling out of this broken pipe there is a makeshift pool of water on the beach that they land in.

Zelda

Is…everyone okay?

The eel monster spills out after them, and ignores them completely, feebly swimming (and crawling) towards the waves of the sea. Linebeck makes a gesture to shot an arrow or attack it, but Link lightly pushes the bow, down, shaking his head, since the monster is not a threat.

Linebeck (exhausted, gesturing lightly)

Lighthouse is over there.

Zelda (looking)

Where?

Linebeck (a bit annoyed)

If the shore’s there, then where I'm (looks where he is gesturing)...pointing.

He look towards a cove around some rocks. There is no tower or anything but a ruined, smoking building on top of this rocky outcropping.

Zelda

Oh no. No!

Zelda runs towards it, with Link and Linebeck following close behind.

CUT TO:

33.

EXT.

Day. They all climb up a bit of an incline away from the shore, and stand in shock over the ruins, as there are dead bodies of many Sheikah swordsmen and swordswomen.

Zelda

By the goddess…

Linebeck

What happened?

Zelda

This isn't possible...they are supposed to be the secret protectors...the kingdom's hidden might…

Link finds Eagus and he does a solemn gesture of respect for him by kneeling then making a gesture with his right arm slowly before gesturing to Linebeck.

Linebeck

He says he knew him.

Zelda (to Link)

You know the Sheikah?

Link gestures.

Linebeck

He says he’s heard the name but doesn’t know much. But that this is...Eagle?

Zelda

How could this have happened...how could they all...

The three of them look back across the beach and the city, now on fire and in ruins, a strange black cloud hovering and expanding over it.

Zelda is overcome as she watches this in horror, and then turns to look at Linebeck and then Link.

Zelda

This can’t be! It’s all just…just tell me everything will be okay! Please. Even if it's not true, can you at least try?!

Linebeck

Your highness...he can't.

Zelda

What do you mean?

Linebeck

He's a petrified. He doesn’t talk, he just does gestures.

Zelda

Oh. I thought they were all... I’m sorry, I…(looks Link up and down)...I didn't think they would be so...

Linebeck

Yeah, he's full of surprises.

Zelda

So you understand him? You’re his translator?

Linebeck

Yeah, let’s go with that. I've known a couple like him who gesture like that and while there's a lot of similarities it's like each one has their own different way of doing it.

Zelda reaches to touch his face and Link flinches.

Zelda

It's okay...

So Link lets her touch his face for a moment.

Zelda

Thank you...Link?

Zelda looks to Linebeck after saying that name for confirmation.

Linebeck

It's better than anything I can come up with in a pinch.

Zelda (after a heavy sigh, and looks away briefly)

I know this has been…terrible. That we’ve both lost people very close to us. I saw who killed my father. His name is Ganondorf and he…is looking for me now. (looks up at the distant castle, on fire) I can't trust anyone at the palace. If there's even anyone left... (looks to Link)…I need someone with your courage to help me, but I don't feel like I can just ask...

Link just takes Zelda's hand and nods. She takes a deep breath of relief.

Zelda

Again. Thank you. I-

Linebeck (interrupting)

Ah, you’re welcome. I’m sure once we’ve killed evil to death there can be some sort financial arrangement that would be fair for all concerned parties.

Both Link and Zelda just stare at him for a moment.

CUT TO:

34.

INT.

They are inside the rubble and ruins of the observatory [interior is like a faded, dusty version of Majora's Mask observatory, complete with scarecrow in one corner], Link carefully going first to essentially climb down into gaping holes in the floor.

Linebeck

Is there even any point? Whoever did this would have taken anything important, right?

Zelda

Look.

Linebeck

What? Where?

Zelda

The walls.

There are crude, cave-like drawings on the walls. Link stares at them, Linebeck doesn’t seem to care.

Zelda

It's the ‘Birth of Hyrule’ myth…

Linebeck (looking in busted pots, chests)

Yeah?

Zelda (gesturing to the drawing)

The goddess that made the earth...she split her power into three and hid it from the power of man...but an evil demon grew jealous of the people's reverence for the goddess they called Hylia...

Linebeck (glancing)

That's the evil demon? I could draw better than that. I even apprenticed under Pikango. Well, I mean I sold some paintings that he left out in his backyard.

Link makes a gesture, Zelda is uncertain.

Linebeck

That means, 'tell me more'.

Zelda (speaking more to Link now)

But the goddess knew that such a threat might come, and ensured that there would be relics and guardians to ward off the evil. And that's the one of them. The Master Sword. The blade of evil's bane.

Linebeck

Sounds fancy.

Zelda

It's imbibed with the power of the goddess, a magic that we cannot even begin to understand.

Linebeck

Well how much of a 'magic weapon' are we talking about? I mean five fairies and a sprinkling of gold dust on a Gerudo scimitar blade is all anyone needs to become an unstoppable killing machine. That's just science.

Link makes the ‘tell me more’ gesture to Zelda regarding the story on the wall.

Zelda

Well it seems to just end there…

Link begins to look around as if there should be another wall painting somewhere, but as he does this part of the floor gives way and he tumbles down to the basement/lower level.

Zelda

Link!

Linebeck

Buddy!

The two of them rushes over to look into the newly formed hole, but Link is fine having essentially landed on his feet (it wasn’t really that far down) and is looking around.

He finds a rope and tosses it up, and Linebeck ties it around a heavy piece of rubble, and he and Zelda carefully climb down.

Link is brushing dust off a wall, and when Zelda sees this she goes to help, exposing more of the same painting style as above.

Zelda (smiling as she ‘reads’ the painting)

The sword rests on a secret island that no one can find unless they have the proper blessings.

Linebeck

Do they mean the blessings that don't really mean anything, or some sort of actually valuable thing? Because if there's treasure out there, on the islands or under the great sea, someone has found it.

Zelda (annoyed)

You've tried, have you?

Linebeck (avoiding the question)

We're going to follow what an old painting on the wall says?

Zelda

No. We're going to...(tries to push over a broken cabinet, Link helps)...search for a blessing.

Linebeck

Like I said, if it looks valuable then it's gone.

Zelda

Exactly.

Link and Zelda start doing this, exploring this dusty basement. Plenty of broken stuff, but they soon notice a half busted open chest (with some kokiri symbols on it, the same on the side of Sahasrahla's carriage), and just stare at it for a moment before opening ordinary-looking wooden items, but both grabbing a wooden compass with the three triangle symbol on it.

Zelda

There.

The compass is spinning wildly then suddenly stops, clearly pointing in a specific direction.

Link and Zelda look at each other and both smile.

CUT TO:

35.

EXT. Evening.

The sun is setting, but it looks quite ugly with the smoke and flames still coming from the city.

The three of them walk out of the observatory ruins, and into the cove below. There are some boats half stuck under some rubble. Two look damaged beyond repair, but a third looks good. Link starts to inspect it, and nods. Almost like magic he has a shovel in his hands, and holds it out for Linebeck, gesturing.

Linebeck

Oh, no. Come on. I hate the shovel. Everyone hates the shovel. I chose a life of what some might call crime just so I wouldn't have to dig all day.  (Link gestures again) Fine. Fine. I'll start, but I get to be captain.

Nearby Zelda is doing supply inventory, and Link comes over, a bit sheepish.

Link makes some gestures and when she doesn't seem to understand them at first, Link seems a bit frustrated and starts to look in Linebeck’s general direction.

Zelda

No, no, it's okay, I don't mind figuring them out. Does this mean (makes a gesture Link had made)...'good'…’okay’?

Link’s clearly appreciates this, and then takes out the cloth that Sahasrahla gave him.

Zelda

He was your father?

Link shakes his head, gestures.

Zelda

Almost father? Like father.

Link nods.

Zelda (after a deep breath)

The man who did it. Who betrayed us. The man you killed at the stable. Cole. He knew. He knew everything. Where the Shiekah would be, why they wouldn't be guarding us at the courtyard.

Link looks at her quizzically, gestures.

Zelda

I...I saw him earlier today. (Looking up to the dark sky) If it's still today.

Link gestures 'tell me more'. Zelda takes a deep breath.

CUT TO:

36.

INT. Zelda in the exact same position Link was listening to Sahasrahla and Eagus as they were in the tent. She is on the other side of a pillar in a dimly lit windowless room, in the basement of the castle. It is a meeting room, and there is a long table with about twelve people, mostly middle-aged or older.

Eagus and Sahasrahla enter from one of the doors quickly, and everyone watches them take a seat.

Eagus

Apologies for being late, although Sahasrahla's skipped the last fifteen years.

Shad

We'll try to get him up to speed.

Auru

Eagus, we've moved up the water training from next week to this afternoon, just so we won't look like fools when the Zora arrive in a few days.

Eagus

What about tonight's ceremony?

Ashei

That's still going on as scheduled. The princess will be escorted by one of her handmaidens.

Shad

Busy days and long nights.

Auru

So we'll all head to the observatory after this meeting to test our sea legs and then prepare for tonight.

Sahasrahla

What about protection in the amphitheatre for the royal family? Are they still going to appear?

Dorian

The King's own guard will suffice for this one afternoon, Cole?

Cole

Oh certainly, it’s just a quick show for the masses. But while I have the floor, I should say that the towns along the river will not be happy with Zora patrols in it.

Auru

Will they be happier dead?

Cole

While they are living they are going to make their voices heard to the governors, who are going to explain to the king that there are some rules and regulations that must be observed-

Shad

This is beyond politics.

Cole

Are we talking about procuring armaments? Are we talking about the process of stockpiling food and supplies to keep our citizens from starving after an unimaginable disaster you keep saying is right around the corner? Merchants cannot feed their family and pay their employees with 'this is beyond politics'.

Auru

Cole, you were permitted to come to this meeting at the behest of the King, but-

Cole

And I greatly respect the role the Sheikah have played in keeping Hyrule safe for many, many years. It is a wonderful sign of camaraderie that the Rito, the Gorons and the Zora have committed to offering troops, but where are we going to house them, what are they going to bring and what are we expected to provide? Which farms are going to have to be briefly requisitioned and turned into bases for these soldiers? Are you going to throw those families out, will you conveniently pass the job down to the king's own guardsman, creating resentment in the people we are trying to save?

Everyone is clearly annoyed at Cole, and Sahasrahla is barely paying attention.

Shad

We'll provide a list.

Ashei

Are we boring you, Sahasrahla?

Sahasrahla

I see I haven't missed much after fifteen years.

Dorian (slightly joking)

You were preparing the boy, we were preparing everything else.

Cole

'The boy'?

Eagus

Sahasrahla said if we gave him a name he'd get too attached to him.

At this point two Sheikah members get up and casually go towards a cabinet against a wall that's close to the pillar where Zelda is hiding.

Sahasrahla

It was for his safety.

Auru

Well you'll just have to keep up appearances one more time for your children's show, but tonight will be-

As they come closer, Zelda starts to worry and then sneaks away quietly.

CUT TO:

37.

EXT. Evening.

The observatory ruins. Link is listening to this intently, a look of seriousness on his face.

Zelda

I don't know what they were planning to do with...us. I just know my father told me to trust the Shiekah, that they've been our protectors for generations, but now...

Linebeck walks back to them, holding the shovel, looking sweaty. Zelda and Link immediately and awkwardly stand up, almost embarrassed at being caught just talking.

Linebeck

Okay, it's been...long enough...let's make this actually a team effort guys.

Link catches the shovel Linebeck throws, and then goes down to continue the dig. Zelda clearly feels a bit awkward around Linebeck at first and picks up Link's bow and quiver almost as just something to do. But she looks to the ruins of the observatory and there are some leftover training dummies up against a wall, so she prepares to take aim.

Linebeck

Careful m'lady. Don't want to shoot your eye out.

Zelda glares at him and then fires an arrow perfectly into a distant target dummy's eye.

Linebeck (after making a face acknowledging he’s been put in his place)

Yeah, but how are you with a shovel?

Zelda smiles thinly and fires again, another good shot.

Linebeck

I'm surprised your wet nurse let you get your hands on that thing.

Zelda

My father insisted. He said he wouldn't leave me the same way he left my mother.

Linebeck (confused)

How's that?

Zelda

Defenceless.

Link returns to the two of them, dusting his hands.

Linebeck

See? Told you we'd need to go in shifts until tomorrow.

Link rolls his eyes and makes a quick gesture.

Linebeck

What?

Linebeck runs over to the hill and looks and sees that the whole ship is excavated and ready to go.

Linebeck

Oh you-

He runs back to Zelda, tries to hide what he's doing from Link.

Linebeck (showing her a gesture)

Make this gesture to him, please. He'd punch me in the face if I did it.

Zelda does it haphazardly. Link raises his eyebrow towards Linebeck, who raises his hands in a 'not me, not me' gesture. But when Link clearly walks towards Linebeck with more of a smirk than anger, he backs away comically.

CUT TO:

38.

EXT. Night

Link and Linebeck tending to the campfire close to the ruins. Zelda walks out of part of ruined basement wearing some large, poorly-fitting Sheikah clothes and carrying more.

Linebeck

You look...comfortable.

Zelda

It's all I could find. It's not like what I was wearing is appropriate seafaring attire, let alone for what we've gone through so far.

Linebeck (looking at the clothes)

It's like the Sheikah people really let themselves go.

Link casually snatches one of the garments, holds them up, angles his head to show he is inspecting it, then tears it in two along the seam. He pulls out a thread from it, then a needle from a pocket or pouch nearby.

Linebeck

Don't tell me...

Link stands up and holds a bit of cloth beside Zelda’s side in clearly a ‘professional tailor’ sort of way, and then starts to sew.

Zelda

Oh, uh…

Linebeck (watching this)

Okay, now you're just flexing.  Do you know how to cook and dance, too?

CUT TO:

39.

EXT. Night.

The campfire has been put out and they are going to sleep on blankets in the ruins.

Zelda

So, um, this is where we sleep then, right? Yes, um...okay.

She tests the ground where her blankets are. Link gestures, Linebeck rolls his eyes.

Linebeck

He's offering you all his blankets.

Zelda

Oh, no. No, no. It’s okay. I don't want to be treated any differently. This is fine. I'll be fine. Fine.

Zelda lays down on her side, and then a few seconds later, switches sides, then switches again. Link watch her briefly then looks away, out at the city where fire's still rage.

CUT TO:

40.

EXT.

Sunrise. It’s a blood red sun, though, and black clouds are even worse.

CUT TO:

41.

EXT. Early morning.

On the shore beneath the ruins the three of them are pushing the ship into the water and throwing their supplies in and jumping in right after. The boat has a small area under the deck. Link hoists up the sails with help of the other two.

CUT TO:

42.

EXT. Day. Essentially a montage of their trip on the boat [with appropriate seafaring music from Wind Waker playing].

Link truly looks excited to be on the high seas.

Linebeck is showing them some sleight of hand tricks with small rocks, Link is teaching Zelda more gestures so she can understand him.

Sometimes they consult the wooden compass and then change the sails accordingly.

Everyone tries their hand at fishing with a makeshift rod, and they each catch some. They cook on the boat as Link holds a torch and Linebeck slowly turns the fish on a stick as Zelda has a small bucket of water in case something catches fire.

CUT TO:

43.

EXT. Day.

They eat fish on the boat in relative silence (as a contrast to all the excitement above).

Linebeck

So...do you guys know any songs or anything?

Link and Zelda stare at each other, almost trying to see if the other will say something first.

Zelda

Well, if I had an instrument to play...

Link gestures.

Linebeck

He has the same excuse. All right then, are we supposed to strategize about this secret island? Is there going to be a gang of friendly folk, not friendly folk, friendly folk until we steal the Magic sword?

Zelda

I'm sorry, I don't know what kind of threats or treasures we might-

Linebeck

Treasure? Real treasure, or 'it was the friends we made along the way' kind of treasure?

Zelda (annoyed, but trying to be patient)

If all you care about is wealth, you won't find true peace in life.

Linebeck

With all due respect your highness, but if you've grown up with wealth, you have no idea little peace you get without it.

Zelda (taken aback)

Well…I mean, I suppose that’s true but…(sighs, feels guilty) Linebeck, I apologize for not-

Link suddenly stands up and goes to the very edge of the boat to look out at billowing mist that seems to be on the horizon while also enveloping them.

The water becomes eerily calm, and even though there is no wind the boat continues to move through it. When they look over the edge of the boat and into the water, it looks like there are swirling silhouettes of castle spires and other buildings that could suggest a kingdom below the water.

CUT TO:

44.

EXT. Day.

Eventually the mist parts and there is an island, but it is dark and ominous, and the water near the shore quickly gets choppy once again, and all three of them need to help steer the ship.

CUT TO:

45.

EXT. Day

The shores of the island, and it seems to be an uninhabited forest, and the shore is not a sandy beach. They have trouble tying the boat up safely to a large tree at the edge of the rocks without damaging it because of the crashing waves.

Linebeck helps Link and Zelda off the boat, but remains on board.

Linebeck

If you find anything shiny, valuable and easy to carry that might make a nice gift for someone who keeps the boat safe, keep me in mind.

Linebeck and Link nod as they part.

CUT TO:

46.

EXT. Day.

Link and Zelda start walk across the rocks carefully and are quickly inside a deep, dark forest. It's full of fog as well, and while there is a muddy path, it curves frequently, there are several branching forks, and they are soon lost.

Zelda

We didn't turn around somehow, did we?

Link (signs)

No. Not possible.

Link is leading and carefully pushing branches and leaves out of the way. Zelda is looking around as she follows and suddenly sees a small, humanoid-like creature with a wood mask-like face (a Korok) peeking out from the foliage.

Zelda

Look!

Link turns to do just that, but the creature scurries away.

Zelda

Did you see that?

Link (shakes his head, signs)

Where?

Zelda

It must have...gone.

They continue, and Link is crawling over a large, gnarled tree trunk, and slips on a patch of wet moss and starts to tumble down an incline.

Zelda

Link!

Zelda thoughtlessly runs after him, but as Link tumbles he leaps up at the right time to grab a branch and holds onto that, and then catches Zelda with his other arm as she stumbles down the incline after him.

Zelda (looking up to him as he holds onto her)

You have to be more careful!

Link rolls his eyes.

CUT TO:

47.

EXT. Evening.

The weather gets slightly better, but it starts to get dark, and they find a small clearing to set up camp for the night.

Link is preparing the campsite/fire (to roast the fish they brought), and Zelda goes and practices archery close by.

Link comes over and helps her practice her aim by standing close to her and putting his left hand over hers to steady it. She is bit surprised at first, but then is absolutely fine with it. Just before it could be 'a moment', she notices the triangular mark on his hand, and is shocked and quickly moves away from him.

Zelda

What?! You- that mark! Who are you?!

Link (shocked at her response, signs)

Don't understand.

Zelda (she holds her own left hand as if in pain or a trance)

'Whether skyward bound, adrift in time, or steeped in twilight...' (breaks trance, upset) But they're just stories! They aren't...

Link (signs)

I want to help-

Zelda

That’s not possible! That’s…

Link (taking a step forward, signs)

Don’t understand.

Zelda

Stay away from me!

She goes over to a nearby tree and leans against it, head in her hands. Link stares, baffled and a bit hurt.

CUT TO:

48.

EXT. Evening.

They eat in awkward silence, not close to each other.

CUT TO:

49.

EXT. Night.

Both Link and Zelda are lying in blankets apart from each other as they try to sleep, but their eyes are wide open, looking up at the few stars peaking out from the clouds and fog.

Zelda

Late at night when the rest of the castle slept, my mother would tell me stories she said were important, because they were secretly passed down though the royal family for centuries. She told me they were so old no one knew if they were ancient myths or prophecies. I was very young but I remember them all. That there were kingdoms in the sky, that time was a song you could play, that there was a shadow world where people could become beasts. That long ago a legendary thief somehow found an entrance to a place of the gods and goddesses and stole a divine treasure from there, and that it took seven noble knights to defeat him and return it. But the seven knights gave more than their lives, because they didn't die. They became something else. Sages. Guards that protected the treasure for all eternity. A treasure that was called the triforce because it was now split into three to prevent it being used for evil. It was split into courage, wisdom, and power. My mother told me that people who held wisdom could not save the kingdom alone, because without courage, wisdom could never defeat power, only equal it.

I don't know how much I believed it when I was a child, or when I decided they were just fables supposed to teach us how to be good people.

After my mother passed away, my father told me that these were just stories, and that he didn't like the idea that our fates were out of our control, were dependent on the whims and gifts of the gods. He didn't want me to believe it because it would make for a bad ruler, one who would rely on something that had nothing to with leadership or responsibility. And I agreed with him. But I knew the real reason I didn't want to believe these stories was because it meant horrible, horrible things could happen. And I didn’t want any of it to have anything to do with me. Or the mark on my hand.

Zelda turns onto her side after this, and Link does the same, facing away from each other.

CUT TO:

50.

Darkness. Then twinkling flashes of light. First just yellow, but then a hint of green, then a reddish-pink, and then a blue-purple.

Deku Tree (voice over)

Children of man…awaken...those chosen by the goddess...brought together by destiny...you must awaken...

Link and Zelda open their eyes, but they are not at their campsite, and are instead floating in a void with distant stars. These stars swirl together to create silhouettes of humanoid figures coming together, first harmoniously and then violently, attacking each other and exploding into more stars and star dust.

Deku Tree

The will of the goddess…the wish for life and death…the force that must be divided and brought back together…again and again…like endless waves on the sea of time…

Tumbling three dimensional triangles seems to cut through the silhouettes of people, bringing a momentary peace, but as the shapes continue past and out of frame the silhouettes begin to fight again.

Deku Tree

The seasons pass as they must…the seeds grow, the fruits ripen, the vine withers and dies…

But then the silhouettes began to fade as brightness begins to over take them (with lens flare?). Now there is a strange space with a blue hexagonal platforms and the Triforce triangle logo on each platform at its centre. Slightly more detailed spirits and seen moving around this space, but no close ups of them at all. [can be ethereal version of sages from past games]

Pleasant light is shining from above and below. Link and Zelda are slowly falling through this place as it shimmers.

Deku Tree (while the above is shown)

But there is a place beyond these cycles…where things cannot end, because they have always been…The Sacred Realm where the gods and sages can look down upon the din below…

When Link and Zelda’s feet reach the ground they look around and up. They are in a massive forest that seems to alternate between moments of beautiful green bounty and grey ash death. The only thing that remains constant is a large tree, which they are sometimes standing in front of, and is sometimes a great distance away.

Deku Tree

Children...come...I am the spirit of the endless forest...all your walls of stone...all your laws and rules…can fall like blades of grass...support the other like soil and root...until you both...awake!

CUT TO:

51.

EXT. Night.

Link and Zelda’s campsite.  They both suddenly wake up with an energetic start and quickly make eye contact and understand each other perfectly without a word. They get up and begin running through the woods as if they know exactly where they are supposed to go. They crawl over thick roots and wade through bogs, getting very dirty but don’t care at all.

Despite the darkness and the spooky atmosphere, they find a clearing overseen by a towering tree (it doesn't talk now, but it very faintly has a human-ish face) and at its base they find a pedestal and a sword with soft, soothing light shining on it from above (despite it being night time). Around this area are slightly shy korok creatures that Zelda had seen earlier when they first walked around the island. The two of them are at the edge of the clearing, and Link cautiously attempts to take a step forward, but he rebuffed by an invisible force-field that shimmers upon touching it (Link tries this a few times).

The mark on Zelda’s hand begins to glow and she instinctively holds it up, and by doing that simple gesture, the field begins to shimmer without touch. She begins to cautiously move both her hands as if in a trance. She quickly becomes adept at ‘moving’ the field, soon creating a doorway for Link to walk through.

He does cautiously, entering the clearing. But then Zelda feels emboldened and whips her hands and arms around and the entire field shatters and explodes outward (safely).

Link just stares at her for a moment in surprise, and Zelda’s face is a mixture of shock and relief.

Then Link sees that the mark on his hand begin to glow, as does the sword, specifically the identical mark on the blade.

Link looks back to Zelda, and she nods eagerly.

He approaches the pedestal slowly and respectfully, and triumphant (familiar) music begins to play as Link pulls the Master Sword out and holds it high.

CUT TO:

52.

EXT.

Sunrise. Link (with Master sword in a sheath on his back) and Zelda return to the shore and the boat, tired, ragged but relieved. Linebeck is happy to see them, leaning off the side of the boat.

Linebeck

I broke the fishing rod. How'd you guys do?

CUT TO:

53.

EXT. Day.

Sailing again, Zelda is practically falling asleep, and Link doesn’t have a ton of energy, either. Even as he helps Linebeck with the sail and steering, he is still a bit tired.

CUT TO:

54.

EXT.

Evening. The already darkening sky turns extremely stormy, and the waves become extremely choppy.

Linebeck

Just our luck...

There is definitely something happening beneath the water, and as all three of them (Zelda has awakened) look to investigate, a giant kraken-like sea monster emerges from the depths.

Zelda

Oh-

Linebeck

-kay, maybe our luck is taking a seven year nap.

The monster is using its many tentacles to attack and smash the ship up, as well as trying to grab the three of them.

Link leaps into action and with the master sword, he is able to slice into (and off) the tentacles of the monster very easily. It reacts both terrified and angrily, spewing poisonous ink/gas that Link has to avoid. Zelda tries to use arrows but it doesn’t make much of an impact.

But while this happens and he is focused on this, other sea-like monsters somehow emerge from the entrance to the lower deck of the boat. Linebeck and Zelda see this and confront them, the former with a dagger, the latter with her bow.

Linebeck

What the hell did you take from that island?!

CUT TO:

55.

INT.

Zelda and Linebeck below deck, and there is an attack upon the bottom hull, which is cracking as monsters/tentacles come from underneath, the lower deck slowly filling with water.

When it looks like they are going to lose, Linebeck throws a brown cloak and hood to Zelda from among the supplies left down her, as he holds a second pair.

Linebeck

Quick!

Zelda

What?!

Linebeck

Put this on! We’ll be both look the same!

Zelda

Are you mad?

Linebeck (putting on his cloak/hood)

As mad as they are stupid. I did it all the time until my partner stabbed me in the back. Look like me and look dead.

She looks around and sees they can’t fight their way out and puts on the cloak, each one covering their faces and body entirely so they do look the same. They both lie on top of boxes as if unconscious, just as more monsters arrive, who do look stumped for a moment.

CUT TO:

56.

EXT.

Day. Link fighting the sea monster, seemingly torn between the idea of staying on the edge of the boat which is falling apart, or leaping onto it.  As one of its tentacles smashes down almost on top of him, he makes the decision to run up along one of the tentacles to kill the monster by stabbing it in its eye. As he is about to do this, though, he looks back and sees that the monsters on the boat are taking Zelda and Linebeck (both still in brown cloaks) away onto monster-filled rafts, and he makes a movement to turn around to run back towards them.

The sea monster turns quickly as he does this, and Link falls off the tentacle and into the water. He begins to swim back towards the sinking boat when one of the tentacles wraps around his waist and drags him down under water.

Silence for a moment, with just the waves going up and down.

Then the monster leaps out of the water with Link stabbing it in its eye as he still wrapped up by its tentacle, the monster shrieking and suddenly expanding in its mid-section.

It explodes in a mess of guts and black-ink like goo, creating a terrible tidal wave that tosses and turns Link towards a distant shore.

CUT TO:

57.

EXT.

Day. Link is washed up on a sandy beach. A friendly seagull wakes him up, cawing (‘Ballad of the Windfish’ from Link’s Awakening plays subtly).

Link struggles to get up and he blearily looks around and in the distance he sees a large inlet/grotto with what look to be coral/crystal like buildings that naturally fits into the environment. He also sees the blur of three vaguely-human-ish creatures approaching him, carrying spears. He grabs for the sword on his back and is very slow at it. He is able to hold it up to them feebly before he falls right over.

CUT TO:

58.

INT.

A large ornate, water-themed throne room. Link is still very weak, and is dragged in front of the king/leader by the three guards, all of whom are fish-human hybrids (the Zora). At a further distance away in the large room there are several other fish-men and fish-women [one of whom is a tall, red male who is holding his arm in a bicep-flex in front of his chest, and another who is a shorter, red skinned female that looks at Link with great interest, as a reference to Sidon and Mipha from Breath of the Wild]. The king’s movements are slow and deliberate, and while at first he seems to not be interested much in Link, he changes slightly when he sees the sword on Link’s back.

Zora King

Hmm…

Link slowly comes to.

Zora King

Welcome traveller, to Zora’s Domain. That sword on your back means you are a great hero or a great thief.

Link says nothing to this, still weary as he stands up.

Zora Advisor 1 (to Link)

What say you, Hylian? You are being addressed by King Dorephan of the Zora.

Link makes an 'I can't speak' gesture. Advisors look unimpressed. The King studies Link slowly.

Zora King (to advisors)

Leave us.

Zora Advisor 1

Oh, no-

Zora Advisor 2

My liege, at dangerous times like these we can't allow you to-

Zora Advisor 3

We know nothing of him-

Zora. Advisor 1

At least have him give up his weapon.

But the King just sits there silently, which is proof of the finality of his decision. Eventually his advisors and attendants silently exit the chamber, and it's just Link and the King.

Zora King

Last night, creatures came ashore close to where my guards found you. They attacked and overwhelmed a nearby patrol, who saw that other Hylians were being held captive by them. These creatures used magic we have not seen in a very long time. Thankfully they did not come towards our city, but instead went to the temple ruins on the far side of the cove. It is a dangerous, cursed place that I’ve forbidden my fellow Zora to enter. Years ago some of our strongest soldiers attempted to drive the evil from its submerged dungeon. Only one returned, having been driven mad by what she saw. Now most of my advisors don't give much thought to that day. The waves of time can wash away so much.

But I remember.

Just as I remember the stories told about that sword, and the symbol on your hand.

Link suddenly puts his other hand over the mark, as if ashamed. The Zora King turns to a chest right beside his throne, and slowly grabs and holds out a small container whose top opens by touch.

Zora King

My advisors mean well, but they would be aghast if I put this in the care of a stranger, even one I believed to be as well-meaning as yourself. For this item is fatal to the touch for a Zora.

Link goes closer and takes it out of the case curiously. It is a shining, blue, ancient-but-futuristic-looking cylindrical battery. There seems to be an electric charge pulsating through it, but Link doesn't seem affected, whereas the Zora King himself is already flinching. Link notices this and takes several steps back.

Zora King

My thanks. I know where you found that sword, or should I say where that sword found you. We Zora are masters of the Great Sea and yet we cannot find that sacred isle. Some say it is a gateway to another realm. But if you are the chosen one to wield the master sword, then it is my duty to humbly ask you to cleanse the place of evil that once again is threatening Zora’s Domain. Just as it is your duty to agree. Even if you are in pursuit for a different reason altogether, you will find that at times like these, interests fortuitously align.

After only a brief moment, Link nods firmly.

Zora

Then please, go.

The Zora King shuffles very slowly from his throne to reveal an exit behind it.

Link makes a gesture of thanks, and then approaches the throne. The King is slightly wincing again because of the battery-device in Link’s hand.

Zora King

The remains of many past Zora warriors are there. Please honour them.

Link nods and disappears through the passage.

CUT TO:

59.

INT.

Link descending down a stairway/tunnel that goes deeper and deep underground.

When it suddenly ends, Link is in near complete darkness, and he has to feel his way to find a small crack in the wall and squeeze through.

CUT TO:

60.

INT.

A large room with a bit more light, and at the far end of it there is a massive door. Link steps into it he notices the floor moving, and it’s because it’s water. He eases into it and it’s up to his waist. He wades through it and soon large water bugs that skim on the surface try to attack him and he fights them off.

He kills most of them and gets to the big door. Nearby there is a slot for the battery, and Link cautiously inspects it before placing the battery there.

The doors rumbles and slowly opens, and Link trudges through.

CUT TO:

61.

INT.  

In this next room Link suddenly falls underwater because the floor ends and he’s now at the top section deep multi-levelled atrium, most of which is below the water, including the ground floor far below. There are many old iron chains coming out of the water attached to some musty old chandeliers at the top.

He goes underwater a bit and swims around, then comes up for a breath. He swims across the surface to the other side of this level of the structure where there is a floor that is just above the water’s height. He climbs out of the water and begins to wring out his clothes (while still wearing them).

On this floor there is a door with a large ornate keyhole. Link still tries to open it with brute force, to no avail.

Looking around he sees that there are two other sections of floor above the water, each with a door. He climbs on the walls carefully and slowly (and with grunts) to avoid having to swim in the water and arrives at one of the floors. The door here is not locked, but still require plenty of strength to open.

Inside is a small room and in it there is a raised table with a stone bowl built into it, with a lit torch and an unlit torch. Link goes to the bowl and finds that it is full of orange coloured sand. He frowns and picks up a handful and gives it a sniff. He isn’t sure about it, and lets some of it slip through his fingers and he suddenly sees the sand grains spark on the floor.

Link is surprised, thinks for a moment, then picks up a handful of the sand, and then throws it quickly at the unlit torch. With the forced of the throw the sand/powder catches fire in a quick flash, lighting the torch.

There is suddenly a loud rumble from behind him and he looks back outside the door and sees in the main atrium that floor area on the opposite side of where he is now has an opened door (this is not the locked door with a keyhole). He puts a lot of this fire powder into an empty waterproof pouch on his person.

He looks around and decides to jump into the water to swim across the open area to the opposing floor. He climbs out of the water, and as soon as he gets up, bones that are on the floor reassemble into skeletal creatures with swords and spears and he fights them off. After the fight Link is going through all the loot of the dead, picking up food, weapons, supplies, examining them, and then dropping what he doesn't want. [a 'mocking' of how players do it in Breath of the Wild]

He goes into the room and it is extremely dark, so he feels his way until he finds a torch, and uses the magic powder to light it.

While nothing ‘happens’, the room is now lit, and he can see a crude, decayed map on the wall indicating the various levels of the structure, and how one can access different floors.

Link stares at the map carefully, even using a finger to trace a sort of path for himself, starts to walk away, thinks for a moment, sighs, and then returns to look at the map again.

CUT TO:

62.

INT.

Link diving into the water and swimming lower and lower to a submerged section with a door cracked open that he can slip through. In this room there are four pillars in the corner, and in the centre there are four tiled spaces that are lower than the floor (suggesting that the four pillars should be placed there). Link goes as fast as possible dragging them to the centre, but the pillars are heavy, and after the first he has to exit the room and swim back up the surface for a breath.

He swims down again and moves two more, then goes and has a breath, and then moves the last one into position.

There is a loud rumbling, and something begins to crumble, including the doorway, making it impossible to exit the room.

Link swims over in a panic and tries to push away the rubble, and is able to only get a hand/arm through when it’s really getting bad for his breathing.

Fortunately what he did by moving the pillars into position began to lower the water level, and as soon as there is air in the room he rushes to the new surface to take deep breaths in.

With the water now out of this room he can move the debris in the doorway and walks through.

CUT TO:

62.

INT.

Link now stands looking at the large central area, a bit less submerged. There are plenty of chains and chandeliers (covered in moss and seaweed) around.

He is at the mid-level floor, which is now the current water level. There is a firmly shut door that Link can’t open as he inspects it close. He begins to walk backwards a bit and steps on a floor tile switch that opens the door quickly. But when he steps off it, the door immediately shuts again. He tries to run it, but it doesn’t work, he can’t move fast enough.

Link looks around for something heavy, and looks up and sees pieces of lumber affixed to the ceiling. He grabs some fire powder and throws it up, and the lumber catches fire and breaks apart, and a heavy stone square falls out from this hidden spot. Link pushes the stone onto the switch so the door will stay open, and then he walks through it.

CUT TO:

63.

INT.

The room is surprisingly dry and dusty for being submerged, and Link barely has time to look around before he hears a skittering, and many small spiders are running across the floor.  He ignores them and goes to the centre of the room and notices a similar four tile pattern on the floor as in the previous room to lower the water level.

He looks around and starts to walk to the corners to find the pillars to move forward, but suddenly a massive spider descends from the ceiling and makes a disturbing clicking sound towards him.

Link looks around quickly and make a lunge for it but the spider is surprisingly quick, avoiding his sword attacks. The spider attacks with its legs and Link has to dodge them, and also sprays a sticky webbing he has to avoid.

When some webbing is sprayed on his leg and floor, sticking him to the ground, he was to use his sword to slice himself free at the last minute.

Eventually he lands some blows and slices off a few legs, and the spider screeches.

Little spiders come in droves to attack, and Link uses fire powder on them. He notices that the large spider scurries away from the fire, so he uses it on the many cobwebs around to light the whole room up and corner it.

But the spider fights extra quick and intense as its wounded, and eventually uses its legs to pin Link’s sword arm to the ground, so he grabs a handful of powder and throws it in the spider’s eye/face. It quickly catches fire and scrambles backwards in shrieking pain, letting Link escape. He drives a fatal blow into the spider’s eye to kill it.

After some deep breaths, Link goes and starts to move the pillars to the centre of the room to lower the water (We hear the rumblings as soon as he moves the last pillar into place).

CUT TO:

64.

INT.

Link leaves the room and climbs down to the lowest floor of the structure since the water has drained completely.  There are two doors and everything is still dripping wet and soggy.

Link walks into one of them and there are just a few large pots in the room. Link looks in one, then scoops his hand into and pulls out some coins. When he sees them he rolls his eyes but still pockets it.

Since that’s all that’s here he leaves and crosses the open area to the other door, looking up at all the chains and chandeliers that are all over the this cavernous main room.

Link steps though the other door and into the room and immediately his foot lands on a tile switch, which locks the door behind him and activates the walls of the room to suddenly slowly close in on each other. Link tries the door to no avail. He looks around the room and sees that there are cracks and holes in the walls that are coming closer, and through one of the holes he can see a target. He grabs his quiver but finds that he has no arrows. He looks around the room and sees four pots lined up against the wall (a non-moving one). He quickly smashes them and the last one has several arrows in it.

The walls are getting closer and closer, and Link fires and arrow through the small hole, which hits the target and stops the walls from closing in any further. The door automatically unlocks.

Link seems exhausted, and gets up and starts to walk out of the room, when he looks up and notices some pieces of lumber up on the ceiling. He throws up some powder and it catches fire, the lumber breaking and a chest falling out from the ceiling. Link opens it, and it’s a large, ornate key.

CUT TO:

65.

INT.

Link exits the room and entering the large open atrium area. He looks up to several floors above, and looks around to see the chains and chandeliers, some in ruins, some drooping, some taught.

He realizes that the way they are strung up, cutting them with the master sword and holding onto a chain with one hand will launch him as the weight of the chandeliers switch as they rise and fall. [It looks like him using a hook-shot from previous games]

He eventually gets back to the top floor of the large atrium where he started (but now without all the water).

He goes and uses the key on the locked door and then steps through.

CUT TO:

66.

INT.

It is a large, dimly lit circular room, and at the far end from where Link entered, he sees two people on the ground dressed in the cloaks that Zelda and the Linebeck were wearing.

Link runs over, but when he reaches the centre of the room, three large, imposing semi-monstrous knights (Darknuts, so their faces are shielded with helmets) drop from the ceiling.

An epic three-on-one sword fight ensues.

Before, during and right after the fight Link notices that there are several large picture frames with dark, black glass along the circular wall of the room, and a figure (Ganondorf) seems to be moving from one to another easily, watching the fight.

Link uses the magic powder at one point to set one of the darknuts on fire.

The final blow is Link using a chandelier’s chain to swing around and impale the last Darknut against the wall.

A screeching howl emerges from all around and a black smoke rises quickly from the knights’ armour and goes out of the crack at the top of the room.

Link sheathes his sword then rushes to the first cloaked figure, but it’s a skeleton, and Link gasps. He checks the second and it's Linebeck, gagged. Link removes the gag.

Linebeck (weakly)

Sorry…they took her...

Suddenly the room gets darker somehow, and Link immediately stands back up, on edge, looking around.

Ganondorf’s Spirit (off-screen)

Just a boy.

Link turns quickly and unleashes a quick volley of arrows in the direction of the voice. It is the ethereal presence of Ganondorf, and the arrows pass right through him. This time he is not wearing a mask or helmet, so we can see his face.

Ganondorf Spirit

Fast but foolish. I understand the arrogance of youth.

They stare at each other, and circle each other in the centre of the room.

Link unsheathes his sword, slowly moving closer.

Ganondorf Spirit (studying him)

Hmm. You would have been a formidable foe several years from now. But time is not fair. I myself have waited an interminable amount of it for particular moments to come to pass. Time is not something you can wield like an instrument or weapon. My name is Ganondorf. I am a man… on the precipice of becoming something greater.

Link attacks quickly, slicing through the ghostly apparition, and Ganondorf’s Spirit reappears behind him.

Ganondorf Spirit (almost insulted that Link attempted to attack)

What do you know about that sword, boy, or that mark on your hand? There is a long and secret history about those two things along with the blood that runs in your veins. That I never found you is testament to the Sheikah. I can see from your face they haven't told you much. You are searching not just for the person who shares your mark, but for answers to very deep questions. Questions that you have about yourself, about this world you’ve barely seen until now. Because you've always wondered why you seemed different than everyone else in so many ways.

And I have those answers. And I will tell you...everything. I want to tell you everything. I want you to come to me.

I needed some time alone with the other one for...research. To piece this all together, so to speak. And this was a chance to examine your form, your mettle, your promise. Diversions are the highest form of strategy.

Princess Zelda has been quite useful no doubt, but now...

I need you. She needs you. We all need each other, in ways that only the goddess Hylia and I know.

So come to me. Where the old centre of Hyrule fell, a new one rises. That is where I wait. Do not deny your destiny.

The apparition disappears, and Link sheaths his sword slowly, looks around the room at the large frames, no longer black and empty, but clear and with the skeletons of ancient Zora, still holding spears and weapons.

Link solemnly goes on one knee to honour them, placing the master sword carefully on the ground, and bows his head for a moment. Then he picks up the sword, stands up, and notices that there is a crack in the ceiling above with a light shining through, as well as some climbable vines to reach it. Link walks back to Linebeck and begins to untie him. He is still very weak.

Linebeck

At least you eventually let him talk this time.

CUT TO:

67.

EXT.

Day, but maybe not, because it is extremely grey and dark. Link and Linebeck are crawling out of the crack and into the 'daylight', but everything seems to be permanently dark and stormy. They are close to the shore of the great sea, Zora’s Domain in the distance.

Linebeck

What…how long was I out?

As they go towards the beach, Zora troops approach them, but they quickly lower their weapons.

Zora Guard 1

Our king sends his thanks.

Zora Guard 2

All of Zora’s domain does the same.

Zora Guard 3

We offer it from the depths of our hearts.

Link makes gestures.

Linebeck

He wants to know when these clouds and storms started to happen.

Zora Guard 1

Not long ago. This morn.

Zora Guard 2

We thought it implied your death.

Zora Guard 3

We are pleased to see it is not the case.

Linebeck

Why is it happening here? (gesturing to Link) Didn’t he fix it in the dungeon?

Zora Guard 2

It is happening everywhere.

Link gestures.

Linebeck

We can stop it. We have to get back to Hyrule Castle Town as soon as possible. Do you have a boat we can take?

The Zoras’ stare at each other.

CUT TO:

68.

EXT.

Day possibly. On the raging waves a ship that looks more like a carriage roars across the water, being pulled not by horses but Zoras, who are diving quickly in and out of the water, pulling the carriage (where Link and Linebeck are sitting) at amazing speed. Link looks thrilled and excited, but Linebeck looks terrified and a bit nauseous.

CUT TO:

69.

EXT.

Day possibly. The carriage slows some distance away from (the changed) Hyrule Castle Town, not quite getting ashore. Both Link and Linebeck make thankful gestures toward the Zora and then swim/walk the rest of the way.

When they get ashore, Linebeck looks up to the skyline.

Linebeck

He did all this in a couple days?

It's not just a darkened sky and smoldering city ruins, but a crooked, twisted version of the former city. Some of it still in disrepair, but some of it monstrously rebuilt, with a strange building with several towers (and a main central one), essentially replacing the central castle.

Link (signs)

Dark magic.

Linebeck

Well yeah, I didn’t mean it like I thought he had the stone mason’s guild working around the clock before a festival…

They cautiously walk across the beach and towards the town, hiding behind some debris when monster guards riding on skeletal horses come by looking around. When they start to pass, Link effortlessly knocks them out and stealing their brown cloaks for him and Linebeck. They get on the skeletal horses and ride into the city.

CUT TO:

70.

EXT.

Day possibly, maybe now night. As they begin to enter the city, there is rubble and fires in areas that make it impossible to ride, so they get off the skeletal horses.

Walking through the ‘new’ city, there are flipped versions of people, more monsters, decay, almost chaos, obviously meant to be a reverse of Hyrule itself.

Linebeck

This used to be a weapons shop. And that was a games parlour. It’s like a flipped version of everything we…

Monstrous Barker

You think you're tough? You think you got what it takes? Come into 'the cave of ordeals'!

Ghosts (that look like Poes (from Twilight Princess), and cackle like them) pass through them.

A monster/man suddenly grabs Linebeck’s shoulder and spins him round.

Monster

You look new in town.

Linebeck

Hey man, I don’t want no trouble.

Monster

Then you’re definitely new in town.

Link quickly steps in and fights the monster off with his sword. He then looks around, ready for more to pile on, but everyone around seems to ignore them.

Link sheathes his sword in the scabbard he has on his back without a thought. Linebeck watches.

Linebeck

How do you do that without stabbing yourself in the back?

Link doesn't acknowledge this and they keep walking.

Someone in a cloak and face shawl who was watching the fight is following them, and even Linebeck notices, and makes a quick, subtle gesture to Link, who nods.

They intentionally go into an empty alley that has a dead end, but just when Link is ready to expect an attack so he can quickly spin around and get the drop on them, the person in the cloak and face shawl stops moving and they standoff against each other.

Impa (slightly muffled)

Where did you get that sword on your back?

Link and Linebeck look at each other, unimpressed at this line of questioning.

Linebeck

Found it in the woods.

Impa

There are sacred symbols on the blade. Only members of the royal family and their attendants know their true meaning.

Linebeck

Well, I’m sorry it’s not for sale.

Impa (taking a step forward)

You will give it to me, so I can honour the memories of the King and the Princess of Hyrule, even in this twisted world.

Link makes a gesture.

Impa

What is that?

Linebeck

He says you’re wrong, and you are. The Princess is alive.

Impa (immediately pulling off shawl)

What? Where?

Both Link and Linebeck are surprised to see she is not a monster. But Impa does have a large (but cool) scar on her head/face.

Linebeck

The big evil tower in the centre of town, obviously.

Impa

Then let’s go! Now! (begins to run out of the alley) This way!

Link and Linebeck look at each other then follow.

CUT TO:

71.

EXT.

Day, possibly night. Impa briskly moving through the streets of the twisted Hyrule Town, Linebeck and Link eventually catching up with her.

Linebeck

Sorry, just who do you happen to be?

Impa

My name is Impa. I’m the princess’ handmaiden.

Linebeck (looking back to Link)

Does that sound right?

Link gestures.

Linebeck

He says he thinks he saw you with her on the day of the courtyard attack.

Impa

His good eye makes up for his silent tongue.

Linebeck

Says you got picked up by a giant horse.

Impa stops and so does Link, both staring at Linebeck with confusion. Link gestures again.

Linebeck

Sorry, giant bird. That’s on me.

Impa (starting to walk again)