Chapter Text
It was such a pleasant day in Kakariko Village. The sun rose warmly over the mountain vale. The tribal pennants waved gently in the breeze. From Paya’s perspective, it was far more pleasant than any other day in recent memory.
She still could not believe the absolute whirlwind of events she had found herself caught up in. First, her grandmother had summoned her, only to reveal that she was stepping down as village chieftain and passing the mantle on to Paya. And as if the sudden weight of responsibility were not enough to shake her world, the world itself was now falling apart! Even now, signs of the upheaval were scattered throughout her village—fractured mountains, ancient ruins fallen from the sky, dreadful pits sinking far below the surface of their world.
It was enough to break even the sturdiest of chieftains, and Hylia knows, Paya had never been the most confident of souls.
Still, even as she stared at these fallen ruins and, alarmingly, some ruins that had yet to fall, Paya felt strangely at peace. Perhaps it had everything to do with the man standing next to her. He was so smart, so confident. Princess Zelda had certainly selected the very best of the best to be the leader of her Zonai Survey Team, and Mr. Tauro did not disappoint. Why, he had nearly translated the script of the floating ring itself, climbing up for a closer look at the runes with those big, strong arms of his...
“Chief Paya, are you alright?”
Paya twitched, her eyes flicking up from Tauro’s firm bicep to his deep, amber eyes. “Oh! Um, yes, quite alright,” she assured him, flustered as ever. “I’m so sorry. What were you saying?”
“I was just wondering if the princess explained why we should not approach the ruins at this time. I mean, I understand the floating ring appears dangerous, but I can assure you that it felt quite stable during our initial survey.”
The young Sheikah woman crossed her arms, troubled by the memory of Zelda’s recent visit. “No, I’m afraid she left as soon as she arrived. I wasn’t able to ask her anything more about those... unusual instructions.”
Tauro sighed, his dark chest rising and falling before her. She was only slightly distracted by how small his leather vest and utility pouches seemed, resting upon such broad shoulders and those rolling abs. Only slightly.
“Ah well, that’s disappointing,” grumbled Tauro. “There’s still so much we can learn about the Zonai from these ruins. I had to keep two of our team members from crossing the red flags earlier today, but to be honest with you, it’s getting harder to control myself from doing the same.”
Paya felt for him. Oh, how she wanted to play the role of a confident leader and reassure Mr. Tauro now. She would know exactly what to say, exactly how to satisfy both his desire to obey and his raging curiosity. She would gently touch his firm, naked arm and...
She drew her hand back, suddenly aware that she had nearly touched the leader of her survey team in such an indecent manner. “Yes,” mumbled Paya. “I understand how hard it can be to... control oneself. Hm?”
The wind had suddenly died away, and all of those bright red pennants ceased their dance. Paya could feel it, a familiar presence standing directly behind her. She turned, her bamboo hat tilting slightly as she spun about.
“Master Link!? Is that you?”
It was a fair question, for while Paya was certainly happy to see the hero standing before her, he was almost unrecognizable. For one, his hair was considerably longer, though still fine and golden brown in the morning light. His skin was peppered with soot and a white, ancient dust, although it would take more than a light dusting to conceal the hero’s lean muscles and excellent physique. And speaking of physique, his fine attributes were certainly looking finer than usual in this minimalist outfit.
“What... what unusual clothing,” she said, barely above a whisper. “It’s so archaic, and I’ve never seen such a short tunic...”
It only took a moment for Paya to realize her eyes were wandering, something which was most unbecoming of a village chieftain. This realization gave the young woman quite a start, and she looked away as quick as can be. “Oh! My apologies, Master Link! I was so pleased to see you, I completely forgot common courtesy.”
Paya gestured to the scholar by her side, who had already taken a step towards Link. “Please allow me to introduce you to Mr. Tauro, an esteemed member of the Zonai Survey Team.”
The two men faced one another, a study in contrasts if ever there was one. And yet, even as the dark, handsome scholar towered over the short, fiercely attractive hero, Paya could feel a similar energy radiating between them. They were studying one another, studying with an intensity that left the chieftain a bit unsettled.
Was it curiosity? She knew Link was famous for solving outlandish puzzles and exploring the farthest reaches of Hyrule, and Tauro was much the same, eager to uncover the secrets of the past. And yet, as Tauro reached out to shake Link’s hand, a hand now covered in strange armor, she was honestly afraid that one of them would throw a punch. But what reason did they have to fight? Was Tauro wary of the hero’s thirst for battle? Was there a hidden rivalry that she knew nothing about?
Or was the scholar simply being protective? Paya shook her head. No, it was impossible. They were good friends, yes, but Mr. Tauro had never shown an interest in such things.
She had to say something, or who knows what would have happened. “I invited him here to investigate the Ring Ruins that fell on our village!” said Paya, a little louder than usual. “He has incredibly deep knowledge of the Zonai civilization.”
Luckily, whatever tension had been brewing appeared to subside, and Tauro stepped away from Link. They were still glaring at one another, wild as hawks, so Paya resolved to keep a close eye on them as this meeting continued. She certainly didn’t mind keeping an eye on Tauro, with that firm chest and those athletic legs of his. “He’s even familiar with Zonai script! He is truly an incredibly talented individual.”
When Paya turned to Link, she no longer felt the same intensity. In fact, it seemed the hero was diminished, turning his gaze from the chieftain and her scholar as if her words somehow made him feel dejected.
Oh Link, she thought. What has happened to you since our last meeting?
“Um, I’m sure we can talk about the ruins some other time,” said Paya, feeling like she would trip over her words at any second. “I’m just so overjoyed that both you and Princess Zelda are safe, Master Link.”
If the hero of Hyrule appeared downcast before, he was practically crestfallen at the mention of the princess. And then he went on to explain all that had transpired—the troubling discovery under the castle, the disappearance of Zelda, and his fateful encounter with those who dwelled in the skies. Tauro appeared to be listening to this strange story with growing interest, his amber eyes examining the hero’s new arm as he would a recently excavated artifact. Despite being a scholar herself, Paya was far more concerned for her friend, who was clearly traumatized by recent events.
She approached Link with sympathy, taking his hand and inviting him to walk with her. It was not her intention to study that strange arm, but now that she was holding his dark hand, Paya could not ignore the wellspring of magic that dwelled within. Goddess, what power! Why do the fates torment this poor man? Hasn’t he suffered enough?
Once they were alone, Paya pulled him into a warm embrace. She would not let this magic and the weight of responsibility keep her from a friend, especially one as special as Link. “I do not know what comfort I can give you, but know that I will always support you. If you ever need me...”
She felt the hero wrap his arms around her, and for a moment, Paya was transported to the past. Was it so very long ago that this wandering soul came to Kakariko Village, bereft of his memories? They helped one another then, as they each discovered a deeper meaning to their lives and so much more. As her soft bosom pressed against Link’s chest, Paya remembered the first time he visited her bedroom, exhausted from battle, and they discovered such a wonderful means of reviving the body and spirit...
The chieftain shuddered. What was she thinking? They were out in the open, and she had an image to uphold! She certainly did not mean to push Link away, but Paya could find no alternative than to break free of their embrace.
“...er, I mean, if you ever need anything of this village,” she said, pressing her hands to his bare chest and immediately feeling a spark of desire, “or if anything transpires, we are here for you. I do hope our paths will cross again, but please, feel free to rest here. I’m sure there are some soft beds at the Shuteye Inn, although I’ve heard the innkeeper has been a little lax in his duties. Anyway, if you need somewhere to stay the night...”
It was Paya who was now lost in those eyes, those sky blue eyes that were now penetrating her soul and promising to quell every raging storm within her. No! She could not give in, not now! “G-goodbye, Link! Safe journeys!”
She did not stay to see how he would react. Paya could already sense the judgment of an entire village descending upon her as she turned away. She could feel the survey team questioning her rules, unusual rules passed down to her from a missing princess. She could feel Tauro watching her as she ascended the steps of her ancestral home, his feelings toward the chieftain and the hero a complete enigma. And worst of all, she could still feel the lingering presence of her grandmother, a presence that would not go away even as she closed the doors of their home.
Even now, she could imagine the old woman reprimanding her from atop those pillows. Hmph, it seems I left the wrong woman in charge, didn’t I? You have a great deal to learn before you can go about calling yourself the chief, Paya!
Paya covered her face, shattered, for she knew in her heart that it was all true.