Story: Still Missing

Oh no! The castle town!

The rift! It's pulled people in!

What should we do?!

Pull it together!

Huh?!

You are soldiers of Hyrule!

So, soldiers, what is your duty?!

To... To protect the people!

Correct! You know your duty well!

Now, then! Brave soldiers of Hyrule!

Guide all of those who are fleeing to safety.

I'll seek out anyone else who's been left behind.

Together, we will protect our people!

Yes, sir!

This is terrible...

Princess, you're the only one who can mend the rift. Please, rescue those who've been taken!

I'll help with the evacuation!

Why won't you believe me?!

Look at me! Listen to me! Behold me! Clearly you can see that I'm your general!

It's just as I said, General... The impostors have taken control of our kingdom.

The king told us to be on the lookout for impostors like YOU wandering around.

If you're the real deal, then tell me the password.

You should know it, unless you're bluffing.

The...password?

That's right. The king set a password. If you're who you say you are, then you'll know it.

I see.

Clearly the fraudulent king is trying to frame US as the impostors...

This is preposterous!

Those frauds have outmaneuvered us!

They're the real Lefte and Wright...

But these people think they're the impostors. This is kind of a mess...

All right—listen up! The king, general, and minister in the castle are fakes! Frauds! Phonies!

General Wright, let's revise our strategy. They certainly won't believe us NOW...

But if I can just—

Huh?

The...rift!

So your father was here all along.

Don't worry, Zelda. Once we mend the rift, he'll go back to normal.

Hey, she's...

She's the one who helped you escape from the dungeon.

The rift took her too...

She'll be back to normal soon though. We'll get this rift sorted out.

Huh? What's this?

That torch is kinda out of reach...

Remember how you can echo things at a distance?

I bet you could echo something through this barrier here.

Oh, my dear daughter. You have done well to make it here.

You've worked tirelessly to mend quite a few rifts.

I find that vexing.

So I will put an end to you. I will use my master's power to be rid of you once and for all.

It's that blue monster. I thought Link defeated it...

No, that isn't the same monster Link defeated.

The power used to create this monster is the same as the power we use to create echoes.

This monster is an echo.

Master Tri.

I find it interesting that I can see you now, where I was not able to before...

Ah, and I know that the princess has been safe because she's had you as her guide.

So now that I can see you, I can say this to your face: thank you for everything.

I've been wondering for a while... What does "thank you" mean?

Everyone keeps saying it to Zelda.

Oh! Well, it's an expression of gratitude.

I've been both happy and relieved that you have aided the princess.

So to express that feeling of gratitude, I say "thank you."

Hm. I'm only helping Zelda so that I can get rid of the rifts.

But I'm glad you're happy.

Already waking up, then, Princess?

You appear well. I'm glad to see it.

Tri told us everything, about how you faced extreme evil, putting yourself in peril.

All to save us—to save your kingdom. You pushed yourself, Princess, but you are safe now.

I think about how small you once were... And I look at you now. Oh, how you have grown.

Ah, there I go, getting myself all worked up again! I am so very overjoyed to see you again, Princess.

Well, my apologies for disturbing you so soon after waking, but I bring a message from the king.

He requests you come to the throne room once you are fully rested.

I will go on ahead. We'll be waiting for you.

That was Link! The real Link. I'm sure of it.

Did he get captured or something? What should we do, Zelda?

Oh...

Zelda!

Where... Where am I? The castle? Everything feels hazy...

Ah, I recall it now! I was pulled into a rift!

Ah, my dear daughter... You saved me. Thank you.

What has happened to Hyrule in my absence?

I... I see.

You have put your own safety at risk.

You have done so to protect our people—to save Hyrule.

Zelda. My brave and selfless daughter.

I am so very, very proud of you. Well done.

Your Majesty!

Are you all right?!

Halt! Intruder!

Stand down, soldiers. Have a closer look. It is my daughter, Zelda.

Princess Zelda?!

But Princess Zelda was the one creating the rifts, wasn't she?

My daughter? Creating rifts?

It seems the impostor posing as me has spread some damaging untruths.

I will clear up the misunderstandings. Please, go rest for now.

You have done well. Thank you, Zelda.

Something about this feels even worse than what we've dealt with before.

Zelda, let's be extra careful.

Ah, Zelda. I trust you got some rest.

Now, then. We are all here.

It is time for us to discuss next steps.

Tri informed us earlier about what is occurring in Hyrule.

Through your hard work and determination, the large rifts have been tended to.

Still, peace has not been restored to Hyrule. There is work yet to be done.

Right. The Ganon we fought beneath the castle was an echo. He was created...

So it's possible that the monsters that captured my friends were also echoes like Ganon.

Initially, I deduced that everything had been at the hands of that monster, Ganon...

That following Link's defeat of Ganon, we were seeing the aftereffects of their battle.

But, Tri, you believe we may have been facing a different enemy all along?

And Link saved Zelda from this mysterious foe...

But then Link was captured!

Oh, Link... I hope you are safe...

Your Majesty!

Large rifts are opening up all across Hyrule again!

Three of them at once this time...

No...

Where are these rifts appearing?

They have appeared in Eldin Volcano, Faron Wetlands, and Holy Mount Lanayru, Sire.

Eldin, Faron, and Lanayru. I wonder.

Considering those locations, then could it be...

What is it, Sire?

Those regions connect directly with the Prime Energy!

With the what now?

The Prime Energy—a source of power beyond our understanding, left behind by the goddesses.

The knowledge of its existence has been passed down through the royal family since long ago.

Those three regions connect to the three goddesses and, in turn, to the Prime Energy.

It's as though the rifts are targeting those areas very specifically...

This might mean...the rifts aren't natural occurrences but are being created by someone!

That's impossible...

But, then...if that's true...the Prime Energy could end up with the enemy!

There are yet more legends passed down by the royal family of Hyrule...

"When evil strives for the Prime Energy, a wise priestess and a courageous hero will appear."

"Together, the priestess and the hero will rend this evil asunder."

A priestess and a hero...

Zelda has gotten rid of many rifts...

Could Zelda be the priestess of legend?

She... She must be! But then, who is this hero?

Perhaps it is the swordsman, Link?

Eh?!

Come to think of it, Zelda mentioned that Link's able to move, even while in the Still World...

He's also been fighting the enemy all on his own.

If Link is the hero, then that means both the priestess and the hero have indeed appeared!

True, but Link's been captured by the enemy...

Zelda.

Mend the three rifts in the regions connected to the goddesses. This will thwart our enemy.

In order to stop the enemy completely, however, you must do even more than that.

You have to find the hero Link, and the two of you must join forces, fighting together.

My daughter. I have only and ever wished for a peaceful life for you.

But it seems that fate has other plans. You are the priestess of legend, the hope of Hyrule.

We will do everything in our power to support you on this most dire journey.

Minister Lefte. You are to continue working with Lueburry, monitoring the rifts.

General Wright. Lead your soldiers to contend with the monsters across Hyrule.

Yes, Your Majesty!

Impa. It is time. Provide Zelda with the garments.

I will do so with haste, Sire.

Come with me, Princess.

Oh, Princess, these clothes suit you well!

These are your ancestral vestments—passed down through the royal family.

They will be perfect for your needs as you continue on your quest.

I imagine the enemy's ultimate aim is to obtain the Prime Energy.

We do not yet know the enemy's true nature, but I fear that Hyrule is in grave danger.

As a leader of Hyrule and the priestess of legend, please do what you must to protect our kingdom!

That isn't the way to the throne room, is it?

After the princess escaped from the castle, I was captured by the soldiers and thrown into a cell.

I was outnumbered. I did what I could, but in the end, I succumbed to them.

Keep reading. Stop reading.

I keep hearing people shouting, "Find her! Find the princess!" from the halls.

Which means that she is still safe. She has not yet been found.

At least I can take solace in that.

Keep reading. Stop reading.

The soldiers spoke of a rift disappearing—being mended. The princess must have managed this.

Yet I worry. Is she injured? Is she overextending herself for the sake of the kingdom?

I am frustrated here in this cell, being unable to do anything but pray for her safety.

Keep reading. Stop reading.

The castle is in an uproar.

Could something have happened to the princess? Or could the enemy be making a move?

I must find a way out of here so I can warn the princess!

Welcome back, Princess. I imagine you've got a lot to catch me up on. Go on, then.

So despite mopping up those rifts, there's still no sign of the king or Link.

Alas, my king! Where could you be?

Your persistence has paid off, Princess. Thank you for taking care of those rifts.

That leaves but one large rift—the one located in Hyrule Castle.

Ah, right. That's the one that took these two as well as His Majesty...

Our magnanimous king is in a rift even now...

And while we stand here yammering away, those frauds are waltzing around in the castle!

General Wright, calm yourself.

Princess. Mr. Lueburry. Minister Lefte.

As Hyrule's general, I cannot stand idly by!

What is it you intend to do, then?

Take action, obviously!

I am going to expose the true identities of those impostors tainting our beloved castle!

Chaaaaaaaaarge!

Wait! General Wright! For the love of—

Yeesh, we weren't even done talking. That guy can't sit still for long, can he?

Well, back to it. You mentioned you've yet to find Link...

I hope he's all right.

So, I'm guessing you'll head to the castle too, then?

Those fakes are after your head, Princess, so please proceed with the utmost caution.

S-s-scared...

Aw, you poor dear. It's going to be all right.

Come, let's go.

O-OK...

Oh, Princess!

This child was left behind. For now, I'll guide him to safety.

Please be so careful, you two.

We need to get underground, beneath the town. Do you know how we can, Lefte?

A way underground, is it?

If I recall, there's an underground passage at the bottom of the well near this house...

Got it.

Hold on tight, ma'am!

Hrrrraaaaaaaah!

So, Zelda.

We've gotten rid of the rifts in both Gerudo Desert and Jabul Waters.

But we still haven't found your father or Link.

What should we do next?

I wonder.

Maybe we should go tell Lueburry and the others about what's happened so far?

Hang on...

Maybe it's below us...

Found it.

There's a place down below where I should be able to create an entrance to the rift.

So let's make our way underground.

No getting past us!

Hmph...