The sight outside of her window was as sad as ever. Broken lands, overrun by monsters she would never truly be able to get rid of no matter how hard she tried, looked back at her like they were taunting her. She could almost hear them, singing an echo of the blame she carried on her shoulders. It was one thing to govern a long cursed kingdom. It was another thing to bear the death of her best friend. Sometimes, she thought maybe she was going crazy. The land was not a sentient being. It could not talk, and it certainly could not accuse her of murder. And yet, most nights when Hilda could not sleep, the wind would slip through the cracks of the castle and cry out her sins. They would carry a whisper of his name, and the current it traveled on would wrap tight around her throat until she was sobbing, begging for relief from the pain, for forgiveness. Did Ravio blame her, too? She should have never sent him away.
“Your Grace,” greeted Yuga, full of concern as he slid open the blinds of her room. It lifted the pitch darkness to a pale orange, washing her room with the early morning light. “Are you still not sleeping well?”
“I’m alright,” Hilda lied as she pushed the blankets off of her and sat up on the mattress. She flipped her pillow, hoping to hide the tear stains before Yuga could see them. It didn’t work; he eyed her suspiciously, but he said nothing, and she was willing to take that.
“It does you no good to blame yourself, your Highness,” he said as he crouched before the bed, taking her hands in his. “It’s been weeks.”
“And I still regret ordering him away,” she admitted, averting her gaze so she wouldn't have to see the look of disappointment that she hated so much. “Ravio was my friend. I should have treated him as such.”
“He could not see the dream you have for Lorule. There is no shame in turning away those who do not have your best interest at heart.”
Ravio would have moved mountains for her, but that argument did not find a home upon her lips. Instead, she pulled her hands back to herself and crossed the room to the divider in which her dress was hung upon.
“Your Grace, he would have had you continue a tireless search for a solution–we have a solution, do we not? The Triforce. You know the power it holds. You know how much glory it could restore to us. It is best that he left–”
“Is it best that he is dead, Yuga?” Hilda asked, spinning to face him with a venom she didn’t mean. Not towards him. “Is it best that Ravio left my castle betrayed and upset, only to turn up a body in a barren wasteland, likely with the thought that no one cares enough about him to keep him around?”
Yuga bowed his head to her in apology as he joined her to take her hands again.
“That is not what I meant, Hilda. I would never rejoice in something that causes you so much pain,” he told her. She had no reason to disbelieve him, so she sighed and gave his hands a squeeze, trying to dissipate her anger.
“He was dear to me. But so are you. It just… it will be different without him around.”
Hilda inherited the throne to her kingdom at the age of fourteen, when her parents disappeared without a trace. Yuga was nothing more than a mere sorcerer, an eye into the life of the common folk, when word spread of the disappearance. He’d been so kind to come and look after her, acting as caretaker in the absence. She trusted him more than anything, and then there was Ravio. He was a boy with a knack for trouble, always trying to earn a quick rupee by finding or inventing silly little tools to help with odd, ridiculous problems. Their unlikely friendship blossomed quickly, but now, he was no longer around to make her smile or laugh or roll her eyes.
“That is why you must carry on with our plan, to prove to him that you know what you are doing. Make him proud of you.”
“He would not be watching over me,” she argued, pulling her hands away again to grip at her nightgown, bunching the fabric with a frown. “Not after what I did to him.”
Ravio did not deserve what had happened to him. By giving him the choice to leave, she’d made him feel unwanted, unloved, and now he was dead. She’d killed her best friend, and really, she shouldn’t have been surprised. She’d never been worth much of anything, had she? With a kingdom in such a state of disrepair and an absence of people to care about her, fate had long since deemed her something lonely and broken. Something undeserving of love, of family and of friends and of all the things good in the world.
But she could bring it all back, couldn’t she? If she could get her hands on a Triforce, if she could wish her entire kingdom to rise from the throes of desolate destruction, could she also revive? Could she return Ravio to the world, to the happy person he was always supposed to be? Or would the world not pity her enough for that? Would the world laugh at her, tear her last remaining hopes to shreds?
She hadn’t realized she’d been crying until Yuga was pulling her to his chest, cradling her into him like he’d done when she was a child. It was so much, the pressure and the grief and the guilt and the blame– did he blame her, too? Did he blame her and her ancestors for the fall of the kingdom? Did he blame her for the death of the merchant he’d always argued with? She couldn’t fathom it if he didn’t, but he should. That was something she was deserving of.
She should have never sent Ravio away. She should have never spoken down to him. She should have kept that bracelet, the last little keepsake of the boy in the bunny hood that she loved so much.
“Yuga,” she spoke when she’d gathered her bearings, wiping harshly at her eyes. He’d said nothing when he was offering her comfort and for that, she was very appreciative. It was embarrassing enough as it was to be caught grieving in his presence. “Have you made any progress in locating a Triforce? I am in much need of some positive news this morning, it would seem.”
“Actually, Your Grace, that’s precisely what I wanted to speak with you about.” The way his entire demeanor changed was curious. He was no longer staring down at her in pity, stroking her hair and assuring her through his presence alone that things would be better. No, he was lively now, a hint of excitement sparkling in his eyes, and it would seem that maybe, things were going to start looking up after all.
“Well, speak,” she encouraged, nudging him in her excitement before she dipped behind the divider to change at last. It was something she should’ve done as soon as she’d woken up, but only now did she have the energy to do something other than sit and think of all the things she’d done and regretted.
“I’ve uncovered a world that seems strangely similar to our own. It’s called Hyrule, I believe, and I have every reason to think this kingdom has a Triforce,” Yuga explained, and she could hardly pull her dress on with how badly her hands were shaking.
“And?” she asked, prompting him to continue speaking. She needed to know more.
“It may be difficult, though, I’m afraid. It would seem that Hyrule’s history is as extensive and dramatic as that of Lorule. Their triforce was split long ago, and the piece that they refer to as the Triforce of Power is inhabiting a creature they’ve long since sealed away for crimes against the kingdom. If we have any hope of stealing their Triforce, we are going to need a plan to open the Sacred Realm of Hyrule and release the being called Ganon.”
Hilda frowned, tugging at a lock of hair as she thought. She was certain many key details were missing from that story, but it was worth a shot. How hard could it be, really, to revive this Ganon and steal the triforce from him?
“Where are the other two pieces?” she asked as she stepped out from behind the divider, crossing to her vanity so that she could refresh her makeup.
“One is held by the kingdom’s princess. The other… well, I’m sure we can find it.”
She pursed her lips, applying the purple lipstick to them, then glanced back at Yuga through her mirror.
“How are we to get to this kingdom, exactly?” she asked curiously, furrowing her brows. “It sounds as if Hyrule is a parallel. Is there a way to cross the boundaries?”
Yuga’s smile was wide and certain, sending a wave of excitement through her again.
“Just leave that to me, Princess. Say the word and I will do as you command. There is hope for Lorule yet.”
Ravio would be disappointed in her. Ravio would shake his head and try to convince her otherwise. But he was not here, and if there was even the slightest possibility of him one day returning, then she was going to do this.
“Invade Hyrule,” she said, a smile tugging at her lips. “Bring the Princess to me. I would love to meet her.”
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