Chapter Text
What are we to say about the rule of the House of Hyrule beyond that they failed in every respect to care for the common people? Both Norros and Zelda had extravagant coronations. Norros’ could perhaps be excused by assuming that there would be no challenge from Zelda, but she had already gone missing at the time. No reasonable actor could have possibly thought with the knowledge of that information that she would not challenge her brother for the throne. Zelda’s coronation was even more egregious. Hers was done in the middle of the war, when she still fought not one, not two, but three opponents. Even if one could have assumed that Norros would surrender, again a quite unreasonable assumption, when much of Hyrule Castle had just been destroyed, when she still had to fight both the Yiga Clan and the Rito, she chose to spend her rupees on that. Not on winning the war, not on helping her actual subjects, on meaningless pomp and circumstance. Why would she need a second coronation when she was already the Queen of Hyrule? The House of Hyrule’s actions beggar all logic, all rationality. The only assumption one can make is actual malice. – From A People’s History of Hyrule by Tari Matsuo, page 195. This passage, and a few others similar to it, are sometimes omitted from reprintings of the work. It is not any formal censorship, certainly, especially after the abolition of the monarchy, and the people depicted have been dead for long enough that any lawsuit for defamation, libel, slander, or otherwise would be swiftly thrown out. Perhaps it is due to being seen as blasphemous, even if the House of Hyrule is not seen as itself divine, merely descended from the divine. The phenomenon is quite curious.
A thunderstorm had formed over Hyrule Castle. They would normally be further south at this time of year, but Sooga was no meteorologist. There was perhaps some odd heat source, Death Mountain perhaps? Still, as he walked through the halls of Hyrule Castle, the sound of rain pelting the roof was penetrated by the occasional crack of thunder. Sooga knew his mission. He walked swiftly through the halls, making his way towards his ultimate destination. He was to find his way into Zelda’s court and do what he could—in particular, he was to expose people to the Gloom that the Prophet had given him. Why he had not simply been ordered to kill the Queen of Hyrule was beyond him, even if Sooga had his theories. Perhaps his Master or the Prophet believed that with Zelda dead, the realm would quickly coalesce around Norros. It was also possible that there was some higher plan, seen through Astor’s prophecies or delivered by Lord Ganon himself. Even if Sooga could not quite understand why he had been given his orders, however, he would follow them. Sooga would not question his orders.
Sooga had seen the Rito he had met earlier on his way into Hyrule Castle. It had not been a particular surprise, but it had been a disappointment. She had without a doubt not yet met Karranis Winterborn. Sooga made a mental note to deliver that information to his Master. Still, it was entirely possible that the letter had just recently been delivered. Sooga had heard rumors spreading of a brief Rito presence west of Hyrule Castle. A military response had been scrambled, but by the time they had marched out of the gates, the Rito had already left, flying northeast. Sooga considered whether they might be headed in the direction of Rauru Settlement. It would certainly be a shame to see the Yiga Clan’s first conquest reversed so quickly, but they would find another base. Really, what with their ability to teleport, they only needed one base. Karusa Valley was secure, certainly. Anything else would likely be a distraction. Sooga would not say that directly to his Master, of course. Besides, he had met one of the gaolers earlier, and he had said that he had met a Rito matching the description of the one he had captured earlier, when Norros had still reigned out of Hyrule Castle. As soon as the gaoler had mentioned confiscating a letter before Lord Algoreb had let her free, Sooga had lost any real hope. He pushed aside the mental image of Maril Algoreb pleading for his life. Now was not the time for that.
Sooga approached his destination. Walking in, he joined the line of petitioners for the makeshift court. What with the damage to Hyrule Castle and the fact that Zelda had taken it only very recently, there had not yet been time to establish anything more formal. The line of petitioners was still short, with many still avoiding entering Hyrule Castle, and so Sooga found himself at the front of the line only a few minutes later. He had rehearsed the speech, certainly. The Prophet had told him that it would work, that it was bound to work, but that did not stop Sooga from having his doubts. Said doubts were likely baseless anxiety, however. Even if the Prophet had been wrong a few times before, Sooga had been ordered to trust him and to take his prophecies as all but guaranteed to come true. Sooga would not question his orders. He stepped forwards, making eye contact with Queen Zelda. He took a quick breath before beginning to speak.
“Queen Zelda,” Sooga began, bowing deeply. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Topaz, of the Sheikah. I am a musician by trade, but that is not why I have come to you. My people have sent me to provide spiritual guidance.”
“Is that so?” Urbosa asked.
“It is, Chieftain Urbosa,” Sooga replied, producing an envelope. “Impa herself wrote this message for the Queen.”
It had been a forgery, but Astor had said that it would be convincing enough. Zelda took the letter and read it.
“You are who you say you are, then,” Zelda stated. “Anyone whom Impa sends is welcome in my court.”
Urbosa snatched the letter from Zelda’s hands, studying it closely. “Are you quite sure that this is Impa’s handwriting?” she asked. “The closer I look, the more of a forgery this seems to be.”
Zelda shook her head. “A Sheikah would never do such a thing. To do so would be high treason, would give them the death penalty. Besides, their culture would not even allow them to.”
“There are always bad actors,” Urbosa began, “even if we granted your premise that this was a Sheikah. Have you ever met a Sheikah named Topaz?”
Zelda thought for a moment. “I do not believe I have before today.”
“Is that because this so-called ‘Topaz’ is really a Yiga traitor? I can practically smell the bananas on him…”
Sooga feigned offence. “Me? A Yiga? You mean to intimate that I am one of the ancient enemies of my people?”
Zelda sighed. “I do apologize for Lady Urbosa’s outburst,” she began. “She means the best for the both of us, but she can sometimes be overzealous.”
“You mean to accept this stranger into your court?” Urbosa asked. “You are potentially putting not just yourself, but all of us into danger by doing so.”
Zelda thought for a moment. “You have wanted me to make my own decisions, have you not?” she asked.
“I have,” Urbosa stated.
“Then I am allowed to disagree with you. Am I the Queen, or am I meant to be a mouthpiece for your decisions?” Zelda continued.
“You are the Queen, of course,” Urbosa submitted.
“Then you will allow me to make my own decisions, as you have asked me to do,” Zelda stated firmly. “I will have Topaz in my court.”
Zelda produced a piece of paper and wrote something down before handing it to Sooga.
“Take this to Yenna Holva,” Zelda began. “She should be in the same room as here, one floor up. She will arrange quarters for you. You will be expected at my coronation tomorrow.”
“A coronation?” Sooga asked. “Are you not already Queen?”
“It was my idea,” Urbosa stated. “Zelda has taken Hyrule Castle, and having a formal coronation will only serve to reinforce her legitimacy. Norros has already been defeated on the battlefield, and soon he will be defeated in the hearts of the people of Hyrule.”
Sooga nodded before taking his leave. He found a flight of stairs and made his way up before meeting with Lady Holva. The Gerudo showed him to his quarters and Sooga prepared for bed before falling asleep. His dreams were haunted, as they always were, by the man with the long face. He had killed his family, and even though Sooga was sure that he was dead by now, it seemed as if he lived still, still haunted Hyrule somewhere. Sometimes, when he had had free time, Sooga had posed as an Akkalan soldier and met many of the officers, but none had quite matched the man with the long face. Thinking of Maril Algoreb’s death always brought the thoughts of the older pain to the forefront, however. Perhaps it was simply his mind torturing him, mixing old pain with new. Still, Sooga found himself a young boy again.
“Is there food in this village?” the man with the long face and the aquiline nose asked once more. Sooga hid behind a tree, as he always did. “Rupees? Where is Captain Seggin? How many men did he have with him?”
When his parents failed to answer, the man with the long face asked once more, then asked about food, before frowning. He unsheathed his sword, the scabbard with rubies inlaid in the shape of the red dragon of Akkala falling to the ground, and thrust through his mother’s chest. She gasped in shock before the blade was removed, red staining her clothes as she began to bleed out. His father desperately gripped at her, holding her just above the ground as tears welled up in his eyes. He dropped her as soon as the blade passed through his heart as well. A few moments later, they were both dead, as they always were.
Sooga woke up the next morning and made his way to the throne room. Rubble was strewn to and fro. He had heard that much of the damage from Calamity Ganon’s abortive assault had been repaired, but the Divine Beasts had done worse as they had danced. Sooga almost wished to have been here during Ganon’s assault. Certainly, he had been doing important work distracting the Gerudo, and he likely would not have changed anything here, but he almost wished to walk through Hyrule Castle, the halls on fire. Smoke would choke the people around him, some even burning to death themselves. Sooga could practically smell the mixture of wood smoke and burning hair. Realistically, however, Sooga was glad that he had not been there at that time. Being in a burning Hyrule Castle would only serve to kill him, most likely.
Arriving, he took a seat far to Zelda’s future seat’s left. Urbosa was on the right. He then remembered that he would likely be the presiding Sheikah—even if he was really a Hylian from Goponga Village—and moved closer to the empty throne where Zelda would go on to sit. There were great banners hung from the ceiling, just a few feet above the crowd, the flag of the royal family. A few minutes later, Zelda entered with great fanfare, trumpets playing as she walked. She was in a beautiful white dress, the banners being unfurled and covered with gold ones—Zelda’s personal sigil—as she walked forwards. Eventually, she arrived at the front. Sooga had a few words to say, but they were nothing of importance. It was all merely pomp and circumstance. Sooga did what was expected of him before eventually sliding the crown that King Rhoam had once worn onto Zelda’s head. Zelda had, of course, been using her father’s crown the entire time, but this would make for an incredibly powerful symbol. Sooga did not doubt the role of symbols. Besides, once he had begun to spread the Gloom, all would be dealt with. That was what Astor had ordered him to do, anyway, and Sooga did not question his orders.