Story: The Mysterious Rifts

Now we can escape.

Let's go.

You hear loud noises coming from beyond the stairs.

Why did we lock up the princess? What could the king be thinking...

You haven't heard? Apparently she's the one who created the rift in the throne room.

What?! There's no way!

So then...she might also be responsible for all the other rifts?

Yeah... They'll just keep popping up so long as she's around.

There's even word the king plans on putting her to death to save the kingdom.

I just can't believe the princess would be the cause of these things...

You can see me?

My name's Tri.

That blue monster? He caught me too. I've been watching you since then.

I followed you here, to this castle.

Oh, yeah. I should ask. What's your name?

Zelda, your life is in danger if you stay here.

The person who put you here is the king, right?

He told someone to hurry and prepare for your execution.

Once I heard that, I figured I'd better tell you.

The king and the other two got pulled into that rift. The three that came out seemed weird.

Oh, you noticed they seemed weird too! You think they're...impostors? What an odd word.

Anyway, it's too dangerous for you to stay here.

I think if we could save the people who've been taken into rifts, we could reveal the truth.

But none of those people will be able to get out on their own.

We have to save them together, Zelda.

But first, let's save you. Let's get you out of here.

You can't get through the bars?

Huh, that's interesting.

Let me help.

Zelda. Got it.

How did you manage to get out?

Well, whatever... You're here on the king's orders, so please stay put, and don't cause any trouble!

When people get pulled into rifts, they kind of... petrify and can't move anymore.

And if they stay that way? They'll eventually fade away.

But that won't happen to you, Zelda. You're special.

Hey. I remember this one from the castle.

I can restore her back to normal if we mend this rift.

This is theStill World.

Everything you see floating around in here was sucked in through a rift.

Anything that ends up here will begin to break apart and eventually vanish completely.

Me and my friends have the ability to restore things that have ended up in rifts though.

Speaking of, I sense my friends deeper in here.

Let's go, Zelda.

That was intense...

He looked like the guy who helped you before, but this one wanted to hurt you...

He was...weird. Like the impostors back at the castle.

Looks like he left something behind...

Huh?

Is that the person who fought the blue monster?

Good job. That's how you learn things.

Anything you've learned can be echoed with Y.

Did you learn to echo that monster?

Defeating new monsters leaves a shimmer, which allows you to learn about them like you just did.

Look at that. Perfect job.

What you created is called an echo.

Press ZR when you're near an echo to erase it.

If you want to erase all of your echoes, hold ZR.

I think I found some.

There's no saying where Zelda's father and the others might be.

But I did spot some big rifts we can go explore.

I've marked them on your map, Zelda.

If we fix the rifts, we may be able to save your father and the others.

So let's get to work, Zelda.

Princess Zelda, I must insist that you refrain from going to any more rifts! It's far too dangerous!

That's up to her to decide, Minister. I mean, she's the only one capable of mending the rifts.

During this time of crisis in Hyrule, we all have to play our parts. Princess Zelda included.

You make a salient point, Mr. Lueburry...

Princess, I urge you to go with Tri to the other rifts.

You're the only one who can fix them and save all the people who've gone missing!

Minister, you stay here and help me investigate the rifts. We'll play support for the princess.

Oh! Of course. Investigations are my specialty.

Princess, the rifts marked by Tri are located in the Gerudo Desert and Jabul Waters.

Please let me know if you require further information.

All right, Princess. I leave it to you to find the king, General Wright, and Link.

Oh, yeah, I almost forgot.

That sword you've got there? Pretty sure I can make it even more powerful than it is.

I'll have to do more research on it though. So talk to me later if you're interested.

You want to chat about the sword, huh?

As I mentioned before, the Sword of Might is my craftsmanship.

For a while now, I've been researching a type of crystal that's sometimes left behind from the rifts.

In my research, I discovered that it's highly effective against rift monsters.

I ended up calling it "might crystal." It's what I forged the Sword of Might from, in fact.

During my investigations into the rifts, I met Link, who's from Suthorn Village.

I made the sword for him, and the rest is history.

Aha! And it appears you have some of that blue crystal with you!

Link's made good use of the sword. Meanwhile, I've continued forging things with might crystals.

See that machine in the corner? I designed it to enhance the sword.

You should give it a try. All you'd need to do is bring me some might crystals.

Eh?! Looking at the sword, it seems like it's lost some of its power.

But once we enhance it, it'll be back to its original state.

Mmm! I understand the situation now. Thanks for the explanation, Princess.

Phew, we finally got through to him...

All right, this has been bugging me ever since you barged in here. What IS that floaty thing?

You can see me too?

That's strange. Zelda's always been able to. But now both of you can as well?

You're telling me we're the only ones who can see you? That's odd...

Indeed! Such a fascinating, and might I add— adorable, creature.

Yeah, yeah, sure. But back to the matter at hand: What is it that you and I have in common?

We've both ended up in rifts and lived to tell the tale.

It seems the rifts change people somehow...

Oh, yeah! Guess I should introduce myself. The name's Lueburry. I'm Impa's older brother.

And the swordsman who saved you is Link. I made his weapon: the Sword of Might.

Mr. Lueburry, why did you make him a sword?

Princess, remember that big, nasty blue fella who captured you? The sword was for taking him out.

See, I spend my time researching Hyrule's history and its rifts.

For ages now, rifts have appeared, and sometimes folks have ended up in them.

Those unfortunate enough to be pulled into a rift vanished without a trace...

After which townsfolk would say they'd been stolen away.

Anyhow, Link made it his mission to fight the monsters that come crawling out of the rifts.

He also tried to prevent folks from going missing. And I've been helping as I'm able too.

Which's why I made him a sword—one that's effective against the rift monsters.

The Sword of Might Princess Zelda's wielding is the very one I hoped would be of use to Link.

So Link was helping out with the rifts as well...

Clearly we're missing something.

The rift in the forest is gone, but Link's not back. What we need is more information.

I may have something useful.

When I was taken by the rift in Hyrule Castle, it felt like I was flown somewhere far away.

The rift I was pulled into was at Hyrule Castle, but Princess Zelda found me in a rift in the forest.

So how did I end up over there?

Rifts don't follow the same rules as your world. Things connect differently inside them.

My friends had mentioned something about oversized rifts in other areas.

We might end up finding the king and other missing people in far-off rifts.

So maybe Link is somewhere else, then?!

Hey, Zelda.

I'm going to fly up high to look for some of the other big rifts.

Plenty of monsters come out of rifts, but that blue one was particularly powerful.

I've got a hunch that if we take him out, it'll fix the whole "people disappearing" business.

Princess, you shared that Link managed to take the blue guy out.

And yet the rifts keep coming.

Hello, sir! Pardon us, but my name is Lefte. Lady Impa is my colleague, and—

Whozzat? I'm a very busy man. No time for chatter. Now, get!

I apologize for the unannounced visit. But, please, we'll only be a moment.

No, no, no. I'm about to leave. Come back later!

If you could just hear us out...

I. Said. Nooo!

I've got to go save Link!

Hm?

Hang on here...

That's Link's cloak!

So why do YOU have it? Did you see him? Well?!

WhaAaAAat?!

OK. Tell me everything. Tell me about the rifts and anything you know about the swordsman.

Need something?

Tell me about Link. What should I do? No, thanks.

You want to learn about Link? Well, I suppose I've got a minute.

You know how I talked about people being stolen away over the years?

Well, there's one story about all that which is pretty unique.

At one point, there was a group of children who went missing, but they ended up coming back!

Link was one of the kids in that group.

Unfortunately, those poor kids lost a lot in that ordeal. Their memories, their spirits...

And they lost the ability to speak. But Link? He was different.

While he did lose the ability to speak, he's the only one who recalled being stolen away.

On top of that, he gained a special ability to sense when new rifts would appear.

So he started using his uncanny ability to head monsters off whenever a new rift would crop up.

And he'd also do what he could to prevent others from being taken into rifts.

I bet he thinks if he keeps fighting, he might eventually be able to speak again.

Through his dedication, he's kept countless people from ending up in rifts.

So I'm sure he's also doing this because it's the right thing to do. It isn't just self-motivated.

That's all I've got for ya on Link.

You've got a rocky journey ahead of you. Keep your chin up, Princess.

Need anything else?

Tell me about Link. What should I do? No, thanks.

Ahhh!

Jumping from the ramparts like that is far too reckless for one of your station!

Over here, Princess! Let's travel together, shall we?

I'm sensing lots of creatures in this area. I think the place marked with marker is up ahead.

I knew it.

I can sense my friends in there.

But...they can't move. It seems like they're trapped.

If that's the case, they won't be able to mend the rift at all.

Hm...

All right. We can get in there now.

I think we'll have to go in there and help them. Then we can deal with this rift properly.

We can save them if we work together, Zelda.

So? What do you say?

Let's go save my friends!

Hm?

Was this where we were supposed to go? Looks like the rift is blocking the door...

Zelda. My role is to mend rifts.

I have lots of friends who do the same. We all work together, fixing up rifts.

Normally, my friends fix them quickly. So it's... weird that this is still here.

I wonder if something happened to them.

Zelda, will you investigate with me?

I'm guessing my friends are in the rift. And if we find them, we can mend this rift easily.

Let's head this way. We'll need to find an entry point.

Nobody's here?

But...I definitely sensed my friends in this spot earlier.

My friends! They're in that creature...

We've got to get them out of there. Come on— we can do this!

Zelda, these are my friends.

We set them free! They're filled with energy and ready to get to work.

So now we can finally fix the rift here.

Using our echo ability, we can restore the entire area that was swallowed up by the rift.

Watch this.

Another rift...

Rifts have appeared occasionally for a very long time. Mending them was our job.

Except...my power alone isn't enough to take care of a large rift like this one.

Let's get away from it for now.

You look strong, like that guy who wears green.

All right! It lit up!

These are waypoints. We use these a lot.

Rifts can appear all over the place, so we use these to travel quickly around the world.

Once you interact with one, you can travel to it at any time. I'm sure they'll be helpful.

Waypoints can be found in lots of different places.

If you spot any, make sure to check them out.

Come back.

Come check this out.

Hey, Zelda.

Have a look at this.

That's a pretty big rock, huh?

You know, when I'm fixing rifts, I have to move a lot of things around.

I bet the ability to do that would come in handy for you.

If you guide me with the rod, I can move things for you based on your movement.

Try facing this boulder, and then guide me by pressing X.

Lueburry's diary is here.

Read entry one. Read entry two. Read entry three. Read next page. Stop reading.

The crystal I unearthed at a rift site, what I'm now calling a might crystal, has strange power.

The monsters that sprang from the rifts seemed repelled by it.

If I can get enough of it, I feel certain it would be powerful against the rift monsters.

After many late nights of research, I've developed a technology that can refine the crystals.

From there, I'll be able to create a weapon from the crystals, as well as enhance that weapon!

So now I'm pondering what type of weapon I should make. I'll test some things, to begin with.

Keep reading. Stop reading.

I was nearly attacked by a monster in the forest, when a young man named Link rescued me.

Folks in Suthorn Village tell me that Link was among a group of kids who were stolen away.

These kids made it back somehow though! Remarkable.

All of the kids who were taken by rifts have lost something. For Link, he lost the ability to speak.

Despite all he has been through, he fights to keep others safe. His bravery has moved me deeply.

Then it hit me! This young man would be the best person to entrust the Sword of Might to!

I do believe I can support him in his efforts. Tomorrow, I'll visit Suthorn Village again.

Keep reading. Stop reading.

The Sword of Might I entrusted to Link packs a wallop against those rift monsters, as I hoped.

But it doesn't seem to be enough for the blue monster, who we believe is creating the rifts.

It is a fearsome monster indeed. I suspect the sword is not yet powerful enough to defeat him.

However, I should be able to further enhance the sword. So I must gather more might crystals.

Keep reading. Stop reading.

Lueburry's diary is here.

Read entry four. Read entry five. Read previous page. Stop reading.

Link stopped by on his way home from his travels. He likes the hood I gave him the other day.

While he cannot speak, his feelings come through as clear as day.

I've decided to make a new weapon. I must do what I can to continue to help Link.

Keep reading. Stop reading.

Link stopped by. He's off to defeat that blue monster once and for all.

He seemed to be in a huge rush, but I couldn't figure out why.

The Sword of Might has been forged as best as I am able. I gave him some other weapons too.

Yet, I cannot help but worry.

Please, stay safe and return to us, Link.

This is where you were trapped not too long ago.

We're getting closer to my friends. They're farther in, but we're getting there.

You know that gross stuff over there blocking the way? Maybe you can slice it with the sword.

Zelda, please wait.

Let's check out that sword.

Oh, yeah, Zelda.

There's one more thing you can do when using bind.

After binding yourself to something with X, try holding R.

While holding R, your movements will follow what you are bound to.

We're bound together.

OK, now try moving.

Yeah, that sword has a special kind of power...

The Sword of Might is now Level 2!

The Sword of Might is now Level 3!

You got a mysterious sword!

It's the weapon the swordsman in the green tunic had. The name "Link" is engraved on it.

I feel powerful energy coming from that sword. Even more powerful than the large rifts!

All right, check out the machine whenever you want to enhance something.

That's it! There's nothing more I can enhance for you.

But! If you bring me might crystals, I'll make something I think you'll like...

Well now! Seems you've got might crystals!

I could use them to make something I think you'd really like. What do you say?

Please do! Maybe another time.

All right! I'll take these and make you something extra special.

No problem. Let me know if you change your mind.

Whew, it's ready.

I've placed it outside the house, so take a gander at it later.

It's loaded with power from the might crystals.

The energy gauge is now Level 2!

The energy gauge is now Level 3!

The energy gauge is now Level 4!

No time like the present. Give it a try!

It's already fully enhanced!

I can't enhance it any further right now. Come back after I do more research.

You don't have enough might crystals.

That's it! I've made all I can make!

Get out there, and enjoy the fruits of my labor!

What do you want to enhance?

Sure thing. Leave it to me!

I'll need to take from you.

OK. I'll pass for now.

The Bombs of Might are now Level 2!

The Bombs of Might are now Level 3!

The Bow of Might is now Level 2!

The Bow of Might is now Level 3!

Your sword...

My bow.

My bow. (Lv. 2)

My bow. (Lv. 3)

My bombs.

My bombs. (Lv. 2)

My bombs. (Lv. 3)

My energy.

My energy. (Lv. 2)

My energy. (Lv. 3)

My energy. (Lv. 4)

My sword.

My sword. (Lv. 2)

My sword. (Lv. 3)

The rifts...

Princess?!

I'm so glad you're safe! You're not hurt, are you?

I can't even imagine what his majesty is thinking!

Claiming that you created that rift— it's preposterous!

What?! The king, general, and minister are all impostors?

And your friend Tri made you a...Tri Rod, was it? I see...

Zelda can make use of the rod's power.

Where might Tri be now? You're here all on your own?

I think you're the only one who can see me, Zelda...

Interesting. The world is truly a mysterious place.

Well. Come what may, I will always support you, Princess. No matter what mysteries unfold.

We'd better not dally. The phony king is speaking of executing you. We need to leave, and quickly.

You'll stand out in your current attire, so I've brought something for you to change into.

Oh, what is that blue fabric sticking out from your pocket there?

I see! It's the cloak the swordsman was wearing!

The size seems workable... It will do a fine job of shrouding you.

Quickly now—before we're spotted.

You got a disguise!

It's light and flowy and conceals your identity nicely. It smells like a musty dresser.

You should be able to head along now without worry.

The princess is missing! Find her!

Hmph. It seems we have company.

Leave this to me.

Lady Impa! Who is that over there? It isn't the princess, is it?

If it is, you must stand aside this instant!

Stand aside, hm?

No. I don't believe I'll be doing that.

Here, Princess. Take this with you.

You received a log!

This log was given to you by Impa. There is a folded map inside.

Make your way to the house marked with marker. Tell them Impa sent you—they'll surely help you.

Ahead you'll find a shortcut that leads out of the castle. Use it to make your escape!

This way!

Hurry now, Princess. We will see each other later!

Ah, sweet child! Such a relief to see you safe! Welcome home, Princess!

I must say... Your loyal Impa felt so flustered that I could not save you myself.

On top of your kidnapping, rifts have been appearing all over—it's a source of much fear...

I am certain your return will be a great comfort to the people during these troubling times.

You've always been quite spirited, though I didn't expect you to make it back on your own.

Well! I'm so overcome with emotion that I've spoken out of turn.

Off you go now! The king awaits you.

In the meantime, I'll draw a nice, hot bath for you to enjoy when you're ready.

Princess! I'm so relieved you're back!

Oh, Princess! What an absolute joy to see you safe and well!

Despite that joy, I...feel ashamed that we were unable to find you...

On behalf of Minister Lefte and me, please accept our apologies, Princess!

General Wright. Minister Lefte.

I appreciate your sentiments, but let's not dull this joyous moment with our regrets.

Zelda, my dear daughter, you did well to return to us. Come closer so I may look upon you.

Ah, I am so relieved... You are healthy and whole and well.

So, tell us, Zelda. What happened to you?

A swordsman in green saved you from a fell beast! Quite the tale...

But after defeating the monster, the swordsman was taken by a rift...

It's him we have to thank for saving your life. Hm...

So he was pulled into a rift... Another one, stolen away.

Indeed. I hope he is safe.

Stolen away. A tidy phrase for a terrible fate, being taken by a rift...

An unsettling phenomenon.

Our fair Hyrule has continually been plagued with these rifts and disappearances.

As you know, rifts have been appearing for a long time, claiming our young ones...

Indeed, so many children have been stolen away. We've remained vigilant...

But despite our best efforts, we've never been able to prevent the rifts from appearing.

Ultimately, those who've experienced losses have been left to contend with their grief...

Now, I've been receiving reports about people disappearing from every corner of Hyrule.

And it isn't just children anymore. Adults are disappearing too.

What could be causing such an uptick?

For now, we should also work on finding the swordsman in the green tunic—and with haste.

General! Minister!

Sire!

Minister Lefte, continue your investigations into the rift phenomenon.

I am expecting you to find a way to save any and all who have vanished into the rifts.

You can count on me, Sire.

General Wright, I leave the monsters to you. Prepare your troops, and head into battle.

On my honor, Sire!

This crisis must be dealt with. Continue looking into the rifts, and locate those who've been lost!

Guards!

Lock her up immediately.

Lock up...the princess?

My daughter created the rift you see behind me. We cannot leave such horrible power unchecked.

Disturbing though it may be, General Wright and Minister Lefte bore witness as well.

Well? Don't just stand there! Lock her up at once!

Yes, Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

What is it, soldier?

Urgent news!

The rifts! They're causing serious trouble!

Oh no!

Please, soldier. What are the details?

Ah, of course, Your Majesty!

Firstly, we received word that someone from Suthorn Village was swallowed up by a rift.

Then we also received news of dark monsters attacking people in Hyrule Field.

That is troubling news indeed.

Thank you for your report, soldier.

Tell the rest of your battalion to prepare for departure immediately.

Yes, Your Majesty!

It's a mysterious rod the same color as Tri. It's warm to the touch.

I can create echoes of things in this world.

I'm not sure what will be most useful to you, but I'm sure this will come in handy.

Go up to something that's shimmering, then press ZR.

I'll be here helping Mr. Lueburry investigate the rifts so we can better support you.

Princess, welcome back! Earlier, it looked like the sky was shimmering...

I imagine it was related to you mending a large rift!

What an amazing accomplishment, you two!

Princess, how can I help?

Tell me about the rifts. Let's talk. Farewell.

Right now, there are large rifts in Jabul Waters and the Gerudo Desert.

I'm happy to share anything I know about those areas.

Jabul Waters? Gerudo Desert? Thank you.

Jabul Waters is northeast of here. It's home to the Zora, who are remarkable swimmers.

The residents are divided into the Sea Zora and River Zora.

On the coast, soon after entering Jabul Waters, there is a small Hylian fishing village.

I'm sure the villagers there will have interesting morsels to share with you about the local area.

Gerudo Desert is west of us. It's a harsh land with high temperatures and sandstorms.

Skilled warriors known as the Gerudo live in a town far into the desert.

Oh, yes! I almost forgot to mention: they're all women. Not a man among them.

They're often on patrol near the desert entrance, so you may want to talk to them there.

Please take care of yourself. We're counting on you to find the king, the general, and Link.

I'll share anything I know about the remaining location, if you're curious.

Jabul Waters? Gerudo Desert? Thank you.

The rift that was here is gone now.

Which means we can reach the place you were trying to go to earlier.

If we keep this up, we'll be able to fix all the rifts. And we'll be able to save your father.

You there! A moment of your time?

I am Lefte, minister of Hyrule. Pardon the intrusion, but...could you tell me where we are?

Oh! Princess Zelda?!

I'm embarrassed to admit I didn't recognize you in that cloak... Er, why are you wearing that?

So...we failed to save you from that beast, and now you're out here facing much danger...

I must confess, I am surprised to hear of your abilities.

And your friend Tri accompanied you this whole time?

Thank you so much, Tri!

You can see me?

Who could miss you? You're floating right there, and aren't you precious!

I thought only Zelda could see me.

Oh? So Lady Impa couldn't see you? How odd...

Oddities aside, I'm worried about His Majesty and the general. We'll need to make a plan...

There's much to consider, but for now, let's head to the marker location Lady Impa told you about.

Oh! I'm getting ahead of myself. Would you mind showing me your map?

If I recall correctly...

Yes, that's the place. That's where Lady Impa's brother lives. Makes sense she'd send you there.

I'll lead the way. Follow me!

Right in here, Princess.

Princess Zelda, where are you off to?

I must insist that you make your way to the castle to speak with the king.

Princess Zelda! You're safe! What a relief!

You're not injured, are you?

We were sick with worry! A whole week is a long time to be missing...

We thought you'd been stolen away, like all the others. The soldiers searched for you every day!

Princess! Play with me, play with me!

I'm so glad you're back! But...now one of those icky rifts opened up here too...

Princess Zelda, now that we've arrived, please allow me to welcome you back as well.

May I suggest you promptly speak with the king?

I'm sure he'll be deeply relieved to hear that you've returned safe and sound.

You're awake. Good. Let's go.

Where are we?

Maybe that map thingy that person gave you can help us figure it out.

Oh! A monster!

It noticed you...

Zelda, can you fight monsters?

I've got you!

Huh? Did you hear something?

Probably just your imagination again.

So, the other day I broke a pot—to test a theory—and General Wright came running.

I'm sure he gave you an earful about it.

Actually, no. I threw the pot kinda far, and he ran to where he heard it break! Ha!

General Wright is a simple man.

Whew... This field is so big...

At least we finished putting up wanted posters in the west. But nobody's seen Princess Zelda yet.

First we were ordered to save her, and now we're ordered to capture her.

It doesn't really sit right with me to be treating her like some sort of villain...

I mean, it's weird to me too, but orders are orders and all.

Yeah, I guess.

Anyway, we learned nothing out east in Seesyde Village. Let's patrol here for now, I guess.